Vacations Blog

My husband has been traveling for work the last three weeks and will be gone for one more. So, writing about romantic vacations in Santa Fe this weekend felt like a cruel joke. But, even while feeling sorry for myself, I couldn’t help getting excited about this post!

I think that Santa Fe is one of the most romantic places in the United States to spend a vacation. It has all the right elements…it is mysterious, beautiful and earthy. It is a city of great restaurants, shopping, cultural attractions, outdoor activities and scenic drives.

Visit during any season and you will not be disappointed. In the winter the ground is covered in snow and the air smells of sweet pinon and smoke. In spring and summer you have green mountains, clear sunny days and cool nights. In fall, you have blooming Sage, vibrant Chimisa and intense yellow Aspen. This georgous year-round backdrop is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway.

There are so many wonderful things to do, restaurants to dine in and hotels to stay at that I couldn’t possibly whittle it down into this space. So, to make it more enjoyable for us all…I have put together a description of one perfect day.

Here it is:

Romantic hotels: I would want to stay at the very expensive Inn of the Anasazi (this is my ideal romantic day, remember-so money is irrelevent!). Second choice would be one of the distinctive rooms at the St. Francis hotel. In small touches and design, both places evoke Santa Fe’s rich history and colorful Southwestern culture.

Romantic (and tasty) restaurants: I don’t really think of breakfast as being romantic, unless it is served in bed. So, let’s just talk about some good restaurants that serve breakfast. I would want to spend the morning eating fluffy eggs and freshly baked pastries at CloudCliff Bakery. It is a nice spot to linger and read the paper. Pasqual’s is excellent as well with communal tables and a spectacularly unique and tasty menu. Get there early as the secret has been out for quite some time. Dinner would be at Geronimo’s or Santa Cafe. Both are very expensive, have exquisitely prepared food and are fabulously atmospheric. They exemplify the gourmet Southwestern cuisine that Santa Fe is famous for.

Romantic activities: There are two main things I would have to do (in addition to visiting museums and driving the many scenic drives heading out in any direction from town). First, would be to walk down Canyon Road. One of the oldest streets in Santa Fe, it is a haven for galleries, artist shops, and good restaurants. You could spend an entire day wandering down it’s cobblestone streets, looking at local paintings and sculpture.

This is sure to tire your feet and make you ready for some R&R…which bring me to my second “must do”. Ten Thousand Waves is a full service spa modeled after a Japanese Onsen. It is located on the scenic road up to Santa Fe’s ski mountain. They have a wide menu of treatments, from blissful massages, private hot tubs, meditation rooms and much more. I’m partial to their salt scrub massage and their fresh cucumber water that is available all over the property.

S0, break into that savings account, book a flight and ‘get your romance on’ in Santa Fe. After all, you only live once!

Thanks to Mark Coggins for the Santa Fe picture!

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Okay, so maybe Los Angeles doesn’t come to mind when you’re thinking of planning a romantic getaway. Freeways, smog, Paris Hilton – I admit none of these inspire an enchanting escape with that special someone. But take a look at these hotels – you might just change your mind. And if not, well – there’s always Paris.

Though I’ve never stayed here, I’ve heard people say that the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills is an ideal romantic retreat. Done in a fifties retro-style, the rooms feature Eames cabinets and Noguchi furniture, which may not seem romantic to you but really gets furniture designers hot. But here’s why this place intrigues me: My husband and I used to live around the corner when the hotel was the run-down Beverly Carlton. We visited once when we were considering putting up some friends there, but changed our minds when the place had the vibe of a Motel 6 infested with crack dealers. (Although, this being Beverly Hills, those would be filthy rich, Gucci-clad crack dealers.) But they’ve done an amazing transformation with the hotel – it’s now a hangout for hipsters and celebrities who like to lounge around their swanky pool.

For a more classically romantic feel, you can’t go wrong with the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. The hotel is currently celebrating it’s 85th anniversary, and has a rich history – besides hosting many celebrities and presidents, the hotel was the site of the Academy Awards back in the 30’s and 40’s. In honor of their birthday, the hotel is offering a special 85th Anniversary Celebration package that includes a deluxe room, a nice bottle of champagne and dinner for two at their acclaimed restaurant. Round out your romantic stay by indulging in their daily Traditional Afternoon Tea – just like a Royal couple! (Are any of them still together?)

One of my most memorable romantic getaways was at the Mondrian Hotel on the Sunset Strip. My husband surprised me with an anniversary weekend here, and it was amazing. Make sure you get one of their packages that includes a reservation at their famous Asia de Cuba restaurant and admission to the unbearably hip Skybar (opened by Cindy Crawford’s husband). This place features more celebrities per square foot than any other location in L.A. besides the cosmetic surgery ward at Cedars Sinai Hospital. Kick back with your amour in the stunning Seabar, have one of their unbelievable watermelon martinis and do what I do – try to figure out a way to make off with all their designer furniture. Now that’s romantic.

Photo: Mondrian Hotel

Romance starts with the hotel.  We first discovered Madrona Manor on a bike ride through the valley and I always thought it would make a great place to celebrate an anniversary or promote romance. It offers perfectly landscaped grounds, colorful flower border along manicured lawns, beautifully appointed rooms and the service to match.  It also offers a world class & romantic dining experience.

We arrived on Friday night for the weekend, had breakfast in the town of Healdsburg the next day, shopped a bit around the town square, bought a picnic lunch and rented two bikes to tour the wineries and get some exercise.  The ride is easy on relatively flat roads, there are few cars and the wineries are within a short ride from each other.  We then returned to the hotel for a lazy afternoon and then went to dinner at Madrona Manor.  A perfect day. The next day we toured a few more wineries, picnicked along the river and then drove back to the bay area.

If you wish to go wine tasting, there are too many wineries to recommend.  I would suggest you ask the desk staff to recommend a few wineries.  Personally, we like the family vineyards of  Bella and  Zichichi.

Plan your next romantic getaway in Healdsburg and the Dry Creek Valley. It offers sunny skies, great food, flavorful wine and a beautiful hotel to make it  memorable.

So, I have heard the buzz about town. Apparently, as a tax paying citizen, I have a stimulus check coming my way in the next several months. Now, I have not been a taxpayer for very long and this concept is totally new to me–even somewhat suspicious. The government is sending me hundreds of dollars—just so that I will spend more money?

Really? Read More »

Continued from Part I…..

The Bali Packing Guide:

Sitting on in your room (or just outside it) with a hot breakfast waiting for you, and some of the most amazing and fragrant scenery it’s possible to forget where you are from (and want to stay in Bali forever)

With all these amazing surroundings, at may be possible to imagine that you are in paradise. And that nothing could disturb you! until a mosquito lands on your leg.

There are a couple things you need to bring with you; they are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, if you don’t have them you will wish you did. Read More »