Prickly Pear Cactus

My husband and I are spending the entire weekend celebrating Valentine’s Day. My husband isn’t what I would call overly romantic, but this year a few things caught his eye, and before I knew it he had an entire weekend of activities planned. Far be it for me to not take advantage of his warm and fuzzy mood!

Saturday:

We will partake of breakfast at The Farmhouse Restaurant in Gilbert. I’ve been wanting to check this place out for ages, I hear they’ve got incredible Belgian waffles, and my husband is an aficionado of biscuits and gravy.

In Queen Creek, the Peach Blossom Celebration at Schnepff Farms is open the weekends of February 10th-13th, 17th-20th, and 24th-27th. Admission is free! I’ve seen cherry orchards and apple orchards, but I’ve never seen a peach orchard in full blossom. It seems like it’s been AGES since I’ve had a really great peach – the produce in the grocery stores always seem to be mealy and dry.

We’ll be wrapping up the day with dinner at The Melting Pot in Ahwatukee. Nothing spells romance like raw meat on sticks and boiling oil. I may skip dinner and go straight to dessert, though. You can’t go wrong with chunks of cake dipped in melted chocolate.

Sunday:

After indulging in breakfast in bed, we’re taking a drive up to the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior. This weekend features their annual flower exhibit. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12.

We’ll partake of dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants, Lo Cascio’s in Tempe. They have, hands-down, the best chicken marsala I’ve ever had. And the tiramisu is heavenly.

I’m one lucky, lucky girl.

Photo Credit: “I Heart Prickly Pear Cacti” by Andrew Atzert on Flickr Creative Commons.

Lobby or gallery? Both.

Thinking about visiting Oregon for your romantic Valentine’s Day getaway? We’ve got the spot for you. The Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland features amenities and service that set it apart from the competition. It is classy without being stuffy, and the personalized attention makes guests feel totally pampered. And then there is the artwork.

The lobby, hallways and hotel rooms are adorned with the Pulitzer-prize winning photographs of David Hume Kennerly. It’s enough to make one consider knocking on the suite of a stranger just to continue the tour of Kennerly’s work. However, on behalf of the other guests we ask that you control yourself.

The Hotel Lucia is currently offering a Valentine’s Day special called “Turning Up the Heat” that starts with rose petals and ends with breakfast in bed. What you do in the meantime is none of our business.

When my wife and I were guests of the hotel it was in the summer. We wore shorts and spent our days walking through the city. We sweat a lot. We were afraid that we might not fit in at the Hotel Lucia. However, unlike other boutique hotels that seem above such things, the Lucia never batted an eye. They just opened the door, invited us in or wished us well, and they always called us by name. That’s a nice touch.

The city of Portland is very walkable and friendly. However, if you desire a faster mode of transportation the public offerings are safe, clean and efficient.

If you’re hungry and/or in need of a drink, the Typhoon! Restaurant and Bo Bistro are both run by Chef Bo Kline, who is something of a hotshot in the culinary world. One bite and you’ll know why.

Turning your Hotel Lucia stay into a Valentine’s Day treat is as easy as being there. The lavish offerings and attention to detail surround you.  The food and drink set the perfect mood.  A walk in the city, whether browsing paperbacks in the gigantic Powell’s Books, shopping in one of the many fine stores or standing in line for two hours at Voodoo Donuts, is exhilarating (well, once you get the actual donuts).

All that’s needed for romance is you. And your date.

Follow the Hotel Lucia on Twitter (and UpTake, too!).

To learn more about Portland and the Pacific Northwest, listen to The Life Cascadia on PDX.FM. I show up there now and again.

St. Joseph's Silver Beach

For a laidback romantic getaway, nothing beats the small town charm of St. Joseph’s, Michigan.  Just an hour or two away from the big city hustle of Chicago, St. Joe’s offers a soothing escape. I enjoyed a memorable anniversary celebration in the lakeside beauty of St. Joe’s for a long weekend without kids.  The people were so friendly, the scenery so appealing, that we seriously considered staying and sending for the kids later.  Whether you’re looking for a short rip off the beaten path or an extended vacation, St. Joe’s offers a great retreat Read More »

UpTake on Palm Trees in Hawaii

Happy February everyone!! How did that happen so quickly? I feel like just yesterday I was clinking a champagne glass and looking around a crowded room for the recipient of a New Years smooch…. if only…. actually I was at home, in my pj’s and curled up in bed with my chihuahuas by 11:30. Lame. NYE Smooches from pooches.

Alas, Welcome February and cupid and heart shaped boxes and all things romantic! Yup, you have 14 days to make plans for you and your sweetie. Perhaps, you might want to get away for a weekend, if so, check out UpTake.com for help in finding the best romantic inns and hotels around. This is not a shameless plug at all, UpTake is where it’s at for navigating you towards a lovenest for February 14th.

My idea of a lovenest?? No, not in a palm tree! But looking UP and TAKE-ing a mental snapshot of the blue sky and palm fronds blowing in the gentle Hawaiian breeze while swinging in a hammock, sipping a tropical drink from a coconut. Insert “lei” joke here.

This post is part of our blog photo series: Things are Looking Up! If you would like to share one of your “UpTakes”, please submit your photo by using the editor contact link in the sidebar.

Photo courtesy of: Blipsman