As I mentioned in my previous entry, I joined my husband last weekend up in Flagstaff, since he had to work a job up there and the hotel room was, therefore, free.
On Saturday night we went out on the town. We’re trying not to spend a whole lot of money, these days – I think everyone is feeling that way, lately. So our goal was to have as much fun and hit as many places as we could, for as little money as possible.
First we stopped at Altitudes and had a beer ($3.25 each – we like microbrews, domestic beer is cheaper), and we split the hummus plate with veggies and pita triangles ($6.99). We lounged there for a good hour, watching college football and conversing with the bartenders. Grand total spent (including a $5 tip): $19.84.
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 »
I just spent a 3 day weekend in Lexington, Kentucky.
The locals were fantastic. The service at my hotel was phenomenal. My traveling companions were wonderful to hang out with.
And I could not wait to get out of Lexington.
I absolutely love experiencing new places. Before I leave, I always do a quick google search for “things to do in INSERT CITY NAME HERE” to get an idea of the must see attractions in the area that will give me a sense of the local culture. When I arrive, I immediately ask the hotel concierge what tourist (and not so touristy) attractions they recommend.
All of my attempts to discover “things to do in Lexington” lead me to the same response.
After many years of political wrangling, Clayton finally managed to move forward with its plans for The Grove Park, which is now a focal point for many of Clayton’s downtown activities.
Situated between Main St., Center St. and old Marsh Creek Rd, the park is home to what was once a huge orchard of Eucalyptus trees, referred to by locals simply as “the grove.” As a kid I spent many a 4th of July in the grove. Residents would gather there after the traditional 4thof July parade to enjoy barbequed corn-on-the-cob, hot dogs and watermelon. There were greased pole climbing contests and other great activities. Nowadays the grove is home to a local farmers market and some fabulous evening concerts. Saturday night Lisa and I took in local act, Mamaluke.
Billed as one of “the Bay Area’s premier classic rock dance bands,” Mamaluke was also one of two finalists in KFOX radio’s “Last Band Standing” competition. Adding to their local roots, two members, lead singer Kenny Byers and guitarist Chris Rossi, graduated from Clayton Valley High School. And, to drill-down even further on the local slant, I was in Mr. Almond’s 5thgrade class with Chris Rossi, and worked at Skipolini’s Pizza with Kenny Byars. Did any of this earn me a guest vocal during last night’s show? Performance fail!
Nevertheless, take one warm summer night, mix in a pitcher of sangrias and one of Skipolini’s famous pies, and top off with some great rock and roll; result - a guaranteed great time. All of Clayton’s local eateries literally surround The Grove, and all of them offer food to go. Or you can even save a few bucks and bring your own picnic.
There’s also the Clayton Store on the south end of the park for those last minute snack and beverage purchases. I’d suggest arriving a little early to stake out a nice spot on the lawn. Throw out a blank, have a beverage and a snack, read and enjoy the sunshine before show time.
The Grove Park also has a playground and plenty of room to run, so Concerts in the Grove is definitely a kid-friendly event.
The first to pop up was the Jupiter Hotel and from the initial look of the website, it was everything I hoped to find my one night in town.
It’s a motel with a makeover. I can dig it.
I got off of the plane and into the cab.
‘800 East Burnside, please’, I said.
‘Jupiter Hotel! Nice choice, man’ he said.
‘Thanks!’ I said back, suddenly reminded of how nice everyone was in this town.
‘Have fun!’ he said as I got out of the cab, which seemed weird, but I didn’t mind as he was so kind to only charge me $4.
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‘Hi!’ said the very nice boy behind the counter.
‘Hi!’ I said back, again reminded of how nice everyone was in this town.
‘Here’s your key!’ he said handing me a key.
‘Thanks!’ I said, taking the key.
‘No problem, sweetie!’ he said as I walked out of the office, which seemed weird, but I didn’t mind as he was so kind to ignore the fact that I was from Oklahoma…with a last name of Queen. Which usually gets me a few comments.
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And so I walked past a lot of very nice guys with beards to my room.
‘Hi!’ a lot of them said.
‘Hi!’ I said back to a lot of them.
And then opened my door:
It was like a forest! With nice pillows and a flat-screen television and some ‘cool’ and ‘funky’ toiletry ideas for a greener world:
And so I sat and thought about how quaint and wonderful this place was and how nice everyone was in and around the area and it wasn’t until I noticed the condom on the pillow that this might be a little bit more than ‘cool’ and ‘funky’.
It could be a gathering place of boys-who-like-boys; which is fine. I’m fine with it. Even tried a little makin’-out with another boy back in the 90’s to see if I was. I was not, but have no problem with it.
But just to be sure, I went ahead and re-visited Google for some answers…
‘Jupiter Hotel’, ‘Portland’, ‘possibly gay’.
And I found out…well, everything and nothing.
Portland is a free-thinking city, that’s what makes it so wonderful. So I’m sure I could replace ‘Jupiter Hotel’ with any and get some hits.
Let’s try:
‘Hilton hotel’, ‘Portland’, ‘possibly gay’.
Oh. Okay, nothing, really.
Which means it was either, yes, a very gay hotel, or just run by a bunch of well-dressed hipsters who were nice.
I left more confused than when I came in – which, if owned by the types that I think own it, is exactly what they wanted.
“And back there is the soaking pool,” said Tim, continuing the tour.
“Where?”
“Walk past the theatre and take a right,” he said, motioning with his free hand, the other holding one of the beers that they make on-site.
I walked by a restaurant, pub, hotel rooms and an old meeting room before getting there.
This wasn’t your regular trip to the movies, the wood-oven baked pizza on our laps and pitchers of golden pale ale underneath the retro couch hinted at that – but then again, Bend, OR, isn’t your average town.
The McMenamin Brothers knew that. They were good at finding places like Bend. And inside these hidden secrets of towns, they were even better at finding things like this old Catholic school. Or sheds. Barley mills. Chapels.
You get the idea.
For more than 30 years, the Portland-based duo have been taking old run-down locales and transforming them into what they call ‘Kingdoms of Fun’ – historical buildings remade into pub-based spaces that usually include three-to-four star accommodation, breweries, conference halls and more. In fact, as long as it’s ‘not too formal, too complicated or too orthodox’, they’ll probably be interested.
So should you ever be passing through the Pacific Northwest, give one a try.
Chains? Well – sure. In theory.
But it won’t be long before you – like the others before you – consider experiencing the other 44.
Las Vegas has thrived on witty slogans, such as “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” “Las Vegas: What you want. When you want,” and “Your Vegas is showing.” Regardless of the vacation Mecca’s strategically contrived marketing campaigns to attract visitors, there’s never been any doubt about the uninhibited fun and exhilaration offered in Sin City.
Truly, where else can vacationers go to eat, drink, gamble, dance and mingle alongside actors (A-list to Z-list), wealthy heiresses and rock stars?
I still have very vivid memories of playing Blackjack with Jenny McCarthy, having cocktails with Dennis Rodman (when he was still in the NBA), hanging out with Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails and getting a drink spilled on me by an extremely inebriated Paulie Shore. Okay, the latter wasn’t fun, but you can see the variety of celeb-types that hang out in Vegas.
If carefully planned – choosing the right place and the right time – you can “do” Vegas like a rock star and even bump into some real ones during your night out on the town. Here are some tips:
First, and most important, leave the kids at home. While it’s fun to plan family vacations, sometimes it’s essential for dads and moms to have some fun “adult” time.
Dress the part and you'll be ready to party like a rock star.
Definitely dress to impress. Many vacationers come to Vegas with nothing more than shorts, t-shirts and a pair of flip flops. While these clothes may be acceptable for an afternoon poolside, they’re definitely not for hitting the party scene. Dress codes are strictly enforced at all of the top lounges and clubs, so be sure to pack appropriately or you’ll be turned away.
Prepare to spend some money. As you might expect, living the glam life doesn’t come cheap. It takes a little bit of cash to party like a rock star. If you’re planning a vacation, be sure to bring enough of your hard earned money to make the trip worth it, otherwise you‘ll be watching other people have fun instead of having it yourself. For example, when going out to a popular club or ultra lounge, it’s best to call ahead and make a reservation for bottle service, which can cost $1,000 or more. Instead of being cramped on the dance floor, you’ll have a sanctuary to rest your feet, socialize and have some drinks without a long wait at the crowded bar. A reserved table also gets you on the VIP list so you can bypass the long line to get in the door. Reservations can be made through your hotel’s concierge desk.
Choose your vacation time strategically. Celebrities flock to popular events, such as concerts, big ticket boxing bouts, club, hotel or restaurant openings, holidays, etc. Plan ahead by checking the Las Vegas calendar for upcoming events.
Stay at a “hot” hotel. Celebrities love the Palms, Hard Rock, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and Caesar’s Palace and Venetian. If you plan on having a rock star vacation, you’re probably not going want to book the local Motel 6. See tip number two.
Nothing compares to the nightlife in Las Vegas.
Ask around for the night’s hot spot. The place to see and be seen varies from night to night. On some nights it may be Lavo at Palazzo and on other nights it might be Tao at the Venetian or XS at Wynn. Sometimes celebrities host parties at nightclubs, so inquiring can direct you to the best place.
Now that you have your tips, remember to let your inhibitions go. You’re on vacation in Vegas, so live a little. It’s time to momentarily forget about the kids, work, etc. and let loose and truly party like a rock star. That also means you should be prepared to stay out all night long. Don’t worry; you can spend the following day resting by the pool.
Photos by Las Vegas News Bureau and Barbara Kraft.
One of my favorite places to get together for a weekend with girlfriends is Orlando, Florida. The weather is great year round and there is so much to do on a girls’ getaway without having to go too far.
Where To Stay For a Girls’ Getaway in Orlando, Florida:
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando is my first choice for a weekend getaway with the girls. It’s obviously not cheap, but if you’re splitting the cost with three or four other women, it’s a great opportunity to spoil yourself. Nobody does luxury like The Ritz and their spa is the perfect place to spend a day pampering yourself with some of your closest friends.
Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort is next on my list of places to stay for a girls weekend in Orlando. The rooms are beautiful, the staff is amazing, and the location is excellent for access to other things to do in the area. The best part about staying at a Universal hotel is that you can get to and from Universal’s City Walk at night by water taxi. It’s a safe way for a group of girls to travel back and forth after a night of drinks and dancing.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club on International Drive is the least expensive hotel on the list. It still provides a great central location with easy access to shopping and entertainment. And with rooms at about $98 a night, you’ll have more money to spend shopping!
Speaking of shopping…
Things To Do On A Girls’ Getaway in Orlando:
Outlet Shopping in Orlando
Shopping, of course! What, too cliche? Whatever. Girls love to shop together. And the shopping in Orlando is fantastic! Oggle things you’d never dream of buying – or splurge on a pair of real Jimmy Choos – at the Mall at Millenia. Do your power shopping and bargain hunting at one of the two area outlet malls. Yes, two. Did I not tell you the shopping in Orlando was wonderful?
Check out the Orlando Shopping Guide for the inside scoop (and details on which outlet mall is better).
Go to the spa! Is there anything more girly than a trip to the spa with your girlfriends? I can feel my estrogen levels rising at the mere thought. The best spa in town is at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando. And the good news is, you don’t have to be a guest to partake in the spa services.
Head to the beach!
I am constantly hounding my girlfriends to go to the spa at The Ritz with me. My favorite part is that you can spend the entire day there with the purchase of any service. So once you’ve enjoyed your manicure (or pedicure, or deep tissue massage, or massage where people walk on your back!!), you can spend the rest of the day lounging in the zen like atmosphere. Soak in the jacuzzi or go for a swim in the pool. Cleanse your pours in the steam room and then rehydrate with orange water. The fluffy robes alone will make you feel like a princess. This place is my own personal nirvana, I swear.
Go to the beach! Sure, your hotel will have a pool. And you can always head on over to one of the local water parks. But when I’m hanging out with my girlfriends, I’d much rather lay out on a white sandy beach and watch the ocean. The closest beach to the Orlando area is Cocoa Beach. It’s about 40 minutes east of Orlando, but worth the drive if you’re a sun worshiper.
Of course, shopping and the spa and the beach are great things to do during the day. But when the sun goes down…
Girls Night Out Nightlife in Orlando:
Universal Studio’s City Walk is my favorite place for nightlife in Orlando. It truly has something for everyone. Upscale or casual dining, dance clubs, and dueling piano bars can all be found in Universal Studio’s “entertainment complex”. You absolutely have to stop into The Rising Star, a karaoke bar that features a live band and back up dancers. The people watching is fantastic and you’re sure to have a great time.
Universal City Walk - Orlando Nightlife for Girls' Getaway
I also think City Walk offers a safe environment for women out on the town. The entire area is well lit and crawling with Universal staff and security guards.
Downtown Disney is Walt Disney World’s answer to City Walk. I don’t think it offers quite the same nightlife experience as City Walk and Disney recently closed most of the bars in the Pleasure Island section. However, Ragland Road – a very popular irish pub with waitresses who river dance on your table – is still open.
The Parliament House is an all gay resort – with a wickedly fun gay bar scene. Of course, you don’t have to be gay to hit the clubs. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, there’s a female impersonation show in The Footlight Theater. You will laugh until it hurts, and laugh some more. After the show you can dance and drink and not get hit on if you’re a straight married woman. I guarantee you will have the most fun you’ve ever had with your girlfriends here.
RuPaul at Parliament House in Orlando
Church Street is the bar district in downtown Orlando. To be an honest, I’m too old and fat to be hanging out on Church Street, except for the occasional girls’ night out. Women are younger and thinner in packs. The biggest concern here is going to be safety. Try to catch a cab back to your hotel about 30 minutes before closing time if possible. It’s not top on my list of recommendations, but it’s an option.
See why I love a girls’ getaway in Orlando? There’s so much to do and a million ways to bond with the girlfriends you don’t see often enough. Relax, gossip, be safe, and have fun!
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.
