Vacations Blog

Napa Valley

Nancy Brown, Uptake lodging editor, takes on a funny and fun drive north into the Napa Valley for a visit to Avia Napa, the Pink Mansion, Calistoga, Solbar, Solage Resort, Castello de Amorosa & Twomey wine tasting. It sounds like a trip where you won’t get thirsty  – she starts off with a great cup of hot chocolate and ends with good wines and fine food.

Indeed, Nancy’s first day “required” a stop a day spa! Listening to this trip, one clearly gets the impression that this two day jaunt is just the ticket for a great getaway.

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A painting featured during ArtCrawl Harlem

Soho and Chelsea may grab all the attention when it comes to New York’s art scene but Harlem boasts a vibrant array of galleries and museums, minus the crowds.   Artcrawl Harlem rounds up some of these art discoveries with a three and half- hour trolley tour that supplies historical background and a reception with food and live music at the end of the tour. For its second year, the Artcrawl focuses on East Harlem galleries and Spanish Harlem history.  If you’ve ever tried to explore Manhattan landmarks in an afternoon, you know that New York’s long stretches of streets and sprawling layout don’t make it easy.  Artcrawl Harlem’s trolley tour gives you easy with 30-minute trolley stops at 5-7 galleries and art spaces, giving you time to actually peruse the art without worrying about parking or schedules. Read More »

If you're out of town on Halloween, you won't have to carve that pumpkin

I’ve never been a big fan of Halloween. As a kid I loved dressing up and, of course, the candy, but I never quite warmed to the idea of going to strangers houses begging for a handout. Fast forward thirty a couple of years to the present, and you’ll find me manning the candy bowl at home rather than taking my son around the neighborhood.

However.

Fall is my favorite time of the year, and I will use any excuse to travel. Even Halloween. And if you’re going to use it as an excuse to get out of town, why not make it interesting by planning a haunted vacation? That’s something even I could get into.

You could be obvious and head to Salem, Massachusetts, but you’d be missing out. Across the U.S. there are a ton of spooky destinations that you may never have considered.

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Purple Roofs is “your GLBT key to world travel” and features Gay and Lesbian Bed & Breakfasts, Inns, Guesthouses, Hotels, Travel Agents, & Tour Operators.

The site is run by Mark and Scott and they have been kind enough to share some of their favorite vacations with us.

Today we’re looking at the weekend getaway of Amador County in Northern California for wine tasting, bed and breakfasts and everything in between.

When most people think of California wines they think of two places: the Napa Valley and the Sonoma Valley, and then they go there by the busload.  This premier wine region in Northern California overflows with tourists in the summertime, and wine tastings are often $5, $10, or $15 a glass.  Yes, for a tasting.

However, there are a number of other lesser-known wine regions in California that offer fantastic local varietals, scenic vine-covered hills, and best of all, elbow room.

The Shenandoah Valley in Amador County is such a place.  It is a lovely wine-growing region about an hour southeast of Sacramento. There are at least 32 wineries here within 15 minutes of each other, most of them can be found on one large loop of road that makes it easy to enjoy the grand tour.

How to Get There:

From the East (Lake Tahoe/Highway 50), catch Highway 49 in Placerville south. In 14 1/2 miles, you’ll reach the small town of Plymouth – make a left onto Fiddletown Rd., and you’re there.

From Sacramento proper, you have a couple options. The shorter route is to take Highway 50 up to El Dorado Hills. Take the Latrobe Rd. Exit (it only goes south), and follow Latrobe Rd. about 14 miles south to Old Sacramento Rd. This runs about 5 miles into Plymouth, and becomes Fiddletown Rd., leading you right into the wine region.

For a slightly longer scenic route, exit Highway 50 at How Ave. Go South on Howe and make an almost immediate left onto Folsom Blvd. Stay to your right – in about a block, Folsom veers left and Jackson Highway (16) veers right. Stay on 16 for about 30 1/2 miles, passing through lots of farmland and rural scenery. 16 then becomes 49 north bound and veers to the right – a little more than 2 miles takes you into Plymouth. Make a right onto Fiddletown, and you’ve arrived. Read More »

Originally founded in 1849 as an Army outpost, Fort Worth still embraces its western heritage and traditional design more so than its contemporary sister-city, Dallas.  Whether you’re in town for business or pleasure, the local bed & breakfast community has plenty to offer any traveler who wants a more intimate, unique view of this colorful town.The Texas White House is an award-winning, historic home restored to its original 1910 décor.  Located just minutes from downtown, guests still have plenty of privacy in the main house or the carriage house with relaxed private sitting areas in their rooms and claw-footed tubs for showers or bubble baths.  Breakfast is offered in the dining room or in suite, and other amenities include television, laundry service, secretarial services, early morning coffee service and afternoon snack and beverages and on-site massage services.  Rates start at $145 a night and up.

A stately plantation sitting on one acre in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood near downtown is the site of another bed and breakfast in Fort Worth.  Azalea Plantation offers spacious rooms with whirlpools, high ceilings, mahogany beds and balcony views.  A gourmet breakfast is served in the elegant Victorian Dining room every morning.  The Dallas Morning News called this B&B the “Best Kept Secret in Dallas/Fort Worth.”

Heart-shaped whirlpool tubs for two are in every room at Lockheart Gables along with personalized cookies, a special arrival drink, and lots of candles to light, fresh flowers terry robes and breakfast in suite on your own schedule.  Three rooms are available in the mansion as well as two romantic cottages on grounds.  Built around 1893 by an acclaimed English architect, Arthur Albert Messer, it’s the perfect spot for a romantic getaway.

Photo courtesy of Rhea.

Whether you are in town for business or pleasure, Dallas has a lot of different activities and attractions, and what better way to immerse yourself into what the city has to offer than by staying in a bed & breakfast. Here are four to choose from in neighborhoods near downtown.

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I personally feel that spring break should be a mandatory holiday for every man, woman and child…not just those lucky enough to still be in school. Alas, this is not the case. So, these days, when I am feeling the siren call of a spring holiday, but just don’t have that kind of time, I plan a spectacular spring fling weekend.

There are a surprising number of appealing options in and around Austin. Plus, spring in Austin is more like summer for most states. By April, the skies are sunny, the hills are green and the temperature is climbing into the mid-eighties. So, water is an essential part of any getaway weekend here. One of the best bodies of water near Austin is Lake Travis. This large and beautiful lake is about a 45 minute drive away, and is a haven for water lovers. Surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs and green bluffs, the lake is nearly 64 miles long. It has a multitude of swimming coves and open spaces for skiing and boating. No matter your preference, you can find something to do here. There are ski boat and ski rentals, as well as jet-ski, canoe and sailboat rentals. Or you can be easier on your checkbook and just drive to one of the many beaches or coves around the lake, where you can lay out, picnic and swim.

For overnight accommodation, there is a plethora of options. Several companies rent house boats. This is a fun option, especially if you are traveling with a large group of friends or family. You can spend the entire weekend away from dry land, exploring the nooks and crannies of this spectacular lake. A few campgrounds are located on the water’s edge, including spots at Pace Bend Park. Many bed and breakfasts are located on or near the water and there are several spas nearby as well. I would recommend Barton Springs Resort and Spa or Casa Del Sol Bed and Breakfast.

Spending all day on the water will work up quite an appetite. Luckily, there are some fantastic restaurants to choose from if you don’t feel like cooking. Hudson’s on the Bend is a wonderful fine dining experience. For a good, old-fashioned hamburger, check out Sandy’s. Also, no trip to Lake Travis would be complete without visiting the Oasis. This landmark restaurant is nestled on a cliff, 400 feet above the lake and has an extensive network of multi-tiered decks from which to enjoy the view. They have a broad menu and typically offer live music. The sunsets are amazing and so are the margaritas!

If you live in Austin or are just visiting, I highly recommend making the short trip out to Lake Travis for the weekend. With beautiful views, clear water and a wealth of activities, it is sure to cure your spring holiday fever. It might even become a springtime tradition!

Where do you like to go when spring rolls around?