Archive for the ‘Destinations’ Category
Shopping and Dining in Park City’s Historic Downtown
To be brutally frank, none of The Vacation Gals is a true shopaholic. We typically prefer doing at a new-to-us destination, not browsing it. (To wit: our fun ski day at Park City Mountain Resort). But with an entire morning free during our long weekend in Park City and our fabulous boutique hotel The Sky Lodge just steps from historic downtown’s Main Street, it made perfect sense for us to relax over a leisurely breakfast followed by a stroll around town.
Posing with Franz the Bear in downtown Park City, Utah.
And what a fun morning we had! How often do you make the time to just chill with girlfriends with no huge agenda in mind — except to be aimless for a while? Since the only real morning objective we had was picking up souvenirs for the kids back home, the three of us took time to just chat (and chat and chat), peek in the local boutiques, snap photos of the century-old storefronts and admire the surrounding snowcapped mountains.
Here’s a peek at just a few of the highlights we discovered in Park City:
The Eating Establishment: We fueled our day with omelets, potatoes and plenty of caffeine at this casual restaurant at the “top” of Main Street. A landmark in Park City, the eatery serving breakfast, lunch and dinner been around since 1972. I give it huge thumbs’ up for it’s open and airy atrium with plenty of seating, plus its hearty portions. Note, however, that when one of us (who shall remain nameless) tried to order a mimosa, we were told that liquor isn’t served there until noon. It is Utah, after all…
The mining town of Park City incorporated in 1884.
Village Keepsakes: There are plenty of gift shops in town, but this one stands out for its funny gear: “SL,UT” T-shirts and goofy “Danger: Women Cocktailing” martini glasses made us giggle. The store has a huge array of Del Sol gift items: T-shirts, flip-flops, jewelry and hair accessories that change colors in the sunlight. This is just the tip of the iceberg of miscellaneous souvenirs here.
Mary Jane’s: This darling, girly boutique sells women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. I thought it was named after its owner, but rather takes its moniker from the feminine shoe style (that I adore — giving me yet another reason to love this store). Prices here aren’t necessarily bargain basement, but TwinCitiesGal found a cute hat and I picked up sassy and lacy, um, undergarment off the clearance table!
From left, that's The Diva, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Black N White - well worth every calorie!
Sugar Buzz: If you’ve got a sweet tooth, do not miss this candy boutique just one street over from Main at 651 Park Avenue. Kids love picking out their own “penny candy” from the clear jars lining the shelves. We couldn’t resist the $3 gourmet cupcakes. Owned by a mother-daughter team, this shop also sells retro goodies (can you still get Sugar Babies or a Sugar Daddy in the local grocery store?), cookies, truffles, and espresso coffee drinks.
High West Distillery: You can’t leave Park City without at least poking your head in this historic house and livery turned distillery and restaurant. A block from Sugar Buzz, it’s Utah’s first legal distillery since the 1870’s and claims to be the “world’s only ski-in gastro distillery.” I just call it really cool. You can take a tour of the distilling operation to understand the purpose of a gorgeous 250-gallon copper pot (on display behind a floor-to-ceiling glass window) and how the whole process works. The High West whiskey still needs to age, but right now it’s offering three different ryes from other distillers, as well as vodka made from locally grown oats and a Utah Peach Vodka. We sampled items off the apres-ski afternoon menu (like yummy French Onion Soup) and some of the signature cocktails, including refreshing High West Lemonade with Rendezvous Rye and mint. Tasty!
Kids walk from the slopes to this popular pizza place in Park City's downtown.
Davanza’s: Across the street from Sugar Buzz, and a stone’s throw from the in-town chair lift, Davanza’s, we’re told, is the place for kids go to for lunch during their ski day. Indeed, judging by the number of skis and snowboards parked outside at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, we’d have to agree. In fact, with tweens and teens spilling outside of the restaurant to sit with their pizza on the porch steps and sidewalk, we didn’t even want to go inside (hey, we were child-free — no need to go seek out the local kids). But if we ever return with our families to Park City, we’ll surely bring them to this popular pizza joint.
Thanks to Park City Mountain Resort for hosting The Vacation Gals on our incredibly fun girlfriend getaway!
Gals on the Go – Park City Mountain Resort Ski Trip
The Vacation Gals are in Park City, Utah, on an amazing resort ski trip! There are plenty of winter sports in Park City besides skiing, of course; snow boarding, tubing, sleigh rides and snowmobiling are popular winter activities here. Park City Mountain Resort is hosting us for this stay, and we’re keeping pretty busy. On the first day of this Park City travel adventure, we enjoyed some ski experiences in the morning, lunch at High West Distillery and Saloon (a fantastic new restaurant), an afternoon of spa time, followed by dinner and nighttime snow tubing. Tired yet? It’s actually exhilarating to be out in the snow, engaging in winter sports for hours at a time. ColoradoGal is a skilled skier, but not TwinCitiesGal or SoCalGal. In as such, we parted company pretty early on. Here ColoradoGal boots up for her three hours on the ski slopes. 
TwinCitiesGal and I spent the morning on the bunny slope at Park City Mountain Resort, and deservedly so. We had a private lesson with Rob Newey, who is probably one of the most patient and good humored ski instructors in Park City, Utah. He’s great for people of all ages who are just beginning to learn to ski. 
Our private ski lesson with Rob was so much fun. We learned a lot about getting comfortable on both the skis, and on the low grade slope. Yes, there were plenty of six-year-olds better and faster on their skis than us, but everybody has to start somewhere. If you’re an adult wondering if it’s too late to learn to ski, it’s not. My friend and I aren’t about to tackle any black diamond trails or anything, but we got pretty good at Not Falling. Attainable goals, you know? It’s all about setting attainable goals.
It was a balmy day, and the early morning snow left fresh powder on the slopes. While we had our private ski lesson, ColoradoGal had her own fun schussing down slopes we could only dream of tackling. She stopped to take this photo of her view:
We can’t all be ColoradoGals, of course, but with a little practice nearly everyone can have a fun ski vacation. Park City Mountain Resort, with its patient, funny, and amiable ski instructors, is a great place to start.
Thank you to Park City Mountain Resort for hosting The Vacation Gals.
A Different Kind of Babymoon in North Carolina
There are a few things you need to know about me and my husband. We love to travel. We love to meet strangers. We are trying to have a baby.
I’ve always been a traveler. I took my first trip to France in high school. I spent semesters abroad in college and graduate school. Then I moved to Fargo, North Dakota and met my husband. At 28-years-old, he had never flown on a plane.
Meeting me changed that. Roughly a year into our relationship, we flew to my home state of Maine. Trips to Boston and Florida followed. We honeymooned in St. Lucia. His world was opened.
Self-portrait in front of the Old Well at UNC Chapel Hill.
Part of the reason my husband (whom I call SuperFutureDad) and I are compatible in life, and as travel partners, is because we enjoy meeting new people. Strangers. The people we sit next to on the plane. The clerk at our hotel. The tour guide who eats ground provisions with us at Castries Market in St. Lucia. Strangers provide us the stories we tell about our vacations.
They are often also the people with whom we share an intimate secret — we’re trying to conceive a baby. You see, SuperFutureDad and I have found a way to combine what we love best — travel and strangers — with our biggest adventure yet: trying to become parents.
It all began last spring. We were planning a trip to Pittsburgh for a friend’s wedding. About that same time, my best friend who lives in Carrboro, NC, also happened to be due with her first child. That got us thinking, why not plan our debut baby-making effort(s) around this trip?
I booked a one-way flight to Raleigh-Durham (and a return trip from Pittsburgh), reserved a rental car and planned a rough road-trip outline. We would start in the college basketball mecca Chapel Hill, NC, drive north to the Civil War towns of Fredericksburg, VA, and Gettysburg, PA, and call it quits in Pittsburgh. We would rest and refuel at our whimsy. We called it a babymoon.
I’ve since learned that a babymoon is what expecting couples take as a last “hurrah” before the baby arrives. They relax, rejuvenate and treat each other to some romance. SuperFutureDad and I are taking a more… shall we say… proactive approach.
Sights and scenes in and around Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
In early June, we checked into a newly remodeled hotel close to the University Of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The designers gave the hotel’s interior a modern facelift, with stark colors and sparse furniture. Not what we were expecting from a hotel in the South. We dumped our stuff in our room (in the process eyeing our big, fluffy bed with lots of pillows!) and hit the road for the 15-minute drive to our friends’ house in Carrboro. We had a baby to meet!
Just west of Chapel Hill, Carrboro is a mix of bohemian earthiness and collegiate spunk. It’s home to the Maple View Creamery where you can lick homemade ice cream cones on the store’s front porch, a reformed cotton mill that now houses one-of-a-kind clothing and toy boutiques and Weaver Street Market where you can choose from an assortment of freshly-made organic foods, breads and desserts. Chances are you’ll hear some live music while you’re lounging outside on the lawn or sitting on one of the Market’s colorful picnic tables.
We did all of these things while my girlfriend’s baby napped — during our first day there. Needless to say, by the time we got back to our hotel room SuperFutureDad and I only had one thing on our minds. We slept for 10 hours straight on that big, fluffy bed of ours. So much for baby-making duties!
AlmostMommyGal on a pretty walking bridge at Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
The next day we ate a hearty breakfast at the hotel restaurant (they give you coupons when you check in) and headed back for quality time with friends and their latest addition. Parents for only three days, the bleary-eyed couple already looked like pros. She nursed while he did the dishes. He held the sleeping baby while she scolded the curious dogs. In the afternoon, grandmother took over duties so the new parents could rest.
We took our cue and headed out to explore the “crown jewel of Duke University,” the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. We sniffed our way through the delicately landscaped rows of native plants, walked paths lined with wooded sentinels stretching up into the sky and watched turtles sunbathe at the pond in the Asian-inspired garden.
Maybe it was the heady scent of the flowers or the heavy, humid air but something put us in the mood that afternoon and we finally put that big, fluffy bed to good use.
What a way to start our babymoon!
AlmostMommyGal Patricia Carlson has high hopes that she’ll soon be able to write at her computer with a baby on her lap. In the meantime, she’s an award-winning television news reporter and freelance writer. You can find her stuff at patriciacarlsonfreelance.com. Stay tuned for future posts about Patricia’s procreation vacation to Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.
Tubing at Keystone’s Adventure Point: Fun, Family-friendly Activity!
It’s not often I use exclamation points in my blog-post titles, but tubing at Keystone absolutely deserves one. This well-run, adrenaline-charged-yet-safe winter activity was a highlight of my family’s weekend stay in Keystone, a ski resort about 90 minutes from Denver in the Colorado mountains. Okay, so maybe just three of our four family members really embraced tubing — cautious ColoradoKid #2 took just one run (with trepidation) down the steep hill that’s at least 900 feet long. He announced it was “fun,” and then chose to warm up in the mountain-top yurt with our buddy Travel Savvy Mom and her son. But my husband, 9-year-old daughter and I took quite a few laps as the sun went down — despite the wet snow and chilly temperatures!
Gearing up for a fun-filled run down the Keystone tubing hill.
For the rest of the 2009/2010 ski season, Keystone tubing costs $29 an hour for as many runs as you can fit in (ColoradoKid #1 said she made eight). The fee includes the ride up the gondola from Keystone’s River Run Village to the top of Dercum Mountain. If you only want to watch the tubing, it still costs $23 for the gondola “foot pass” to reach Adventure Point from the village. For skiers and snowboarders who just want to take a break from the slopes for an hour can absolutely take a few tube runs, but they’ll still pay the $29 (even though they have a lift ticket or pass — no price break for them). The tubing hill discourages pregnant women from tubing (understandable); there’s no age limit — you just have to be at least 42 inches tall.
Before you head out to the tubing hill for your designated hour (reservations are highly recommended), you get a brief safety talk inside the yurt. Then you head outside to choose your tube and decide which of six runs you’ll head down — some are for single riders, on others you can “link up” with friends — up to four tubes at a time. A friendly staffer tells you exactly how to sit and hang on, and he’ll ask if you want to be flung quickly or slowly, spinning or no-spin, down the hill. (Though they don’t always listen to the right person when you say “slow” and your husband says “fast.”)
It’s a roller-coaster-like ride down a wide chute — each lane has half walls so there’s no chance you’ll veer off into someone else’s space. The run is a straight shot and over a big , bump toward the end, and the total ride down lasts no more than 20 seconds. You ride back up the hill with your tube on a covered conveyor belt. The people- and tube-mover is also staffed at the bottom and the top — perfectly safe.
Here’s a peek at the fun we had at Keystone’s tubing hill at Adventure Point — an adventure this Vacation Gal heartily recommends! Those disco tunes you hear in the background are not my music overlay; fun, upbeat music and a disco ball at the top of the mountain are the norm. Enjoy this two-minute clip!
Best NYC Things to Do with Kids
My family spends every spring break vacation in New York City. It’s the best! My children were born there, and it’s a fun home away from home for us. Spring Break in NYC sure doesn’t have the connotations of Florida and the Caribbean – no drunk girls in bikinis or frat boys behaving badly – and since I’m so comfortable in NYC, I see it as a completely family-friendly place to travel. Every time my kids come to New York City, they have a few fun things they want to do. These are some of the best things to do in NYC with children.
The Best Things to do with Kids in New York City
American Museum of Natural History - Those of us who grew up 
going to this museum on family outings all remember running around underneath the life-size blue whale suspended from the ceiling right by Biodiversity Hall in Ocean Life. The Museum of Natural History is incredibly fun for kids. The Discovery Room, for small children, is perfectly hands-on and interactive, and the staff doesn’t let too many kids in at once (it’s a small space). Older kids love exhibits like the Butterfly Conservatory (seasonal) and the famous, iconic Fossil halls. With dinosaurs, of course. Rose Center – formerly the Hayden Planetarium – is one of the best planetariums in the country. Also: If your kids are older and appreciate art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the best around.
Broadway shows - You can’t beat a live show in NYC, on Broadway or off, for world-class entertainment. If 
you decide to take your kids to a Broadway show or musical, make sure that it’s one that is appropriate for their ages. Those puppets on Avenue Q look cute, but what they say would make Oscar the Grouch blush. Long-running shows that are better-suited for kids include The Lion King, Mary Poppins, and Wicked, but Broadway is the most sought-after venue in the world – shows are constantly changing. Also: Older kids with a tolerance for lack of narrative – and loud noises – eat up the Blue Man Group and Stomp, both off-Broadway.
Central Park - Spring is the best time of year to visit Central Park, along with, well, autumn. And summer. Okay, and winter, Central Park is awesome! New York City’s backyard has a beautiful, refurbished old-timey carousel (watch for those tourist trap balloon carts, though) 
that little kids love, and huge 15-acre Sheep Meadow is one of the best spots in the city for little kids to run amok. Bethesda Fountain, in the Bethesda Terrace by the lake, is probably one of the most photographed points in Central Park. The Great Lawn is where to go to find the Delacorte Theater, which is home to the free Shakespeare in the Park series in the summer. Also: Riverside Park is long and thin, stretching along the Hudson River from 72nd to 158th St. Lots of pick-up games and dog walkers, and the 79th St Boat Basin is a scenic place to relax.
Central Park Zoo – This zoo is a real institution on the east side of Central Park. My kids love the Central Park Zoo; it’s a small zoo, especially compared to the Bronx Zoo, but the polar bears, the puffins and penguins, and the rainforest exhibit are wonderful. If you go to the rainforest exhibit, be sure to go upstairs – yes, it’s muggy – and look at the brightly colored poison dart frogs. The California Sea Lions, during feeding time, create quite a show (with a little help from their minders). Also: The Bronx Zoo is bigger, with a huge diversity of species. It’s not in Manhattan, though; the subway trip and walk is just under hour.
Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex – Right at 23rd and the Hudson River, this sports complex is a big deal for NYC. There’s rock climbing, soccer, basketball, golf driving range, bowling, and more. Chelsea Piers is incredibly popular with residents and tourists alike, so prepare for crowds. Oh, and parents – did I mention there’s a SPA here? I haven’t experienced a spa treatment there yet, but I may have to during my next vacation in NYC.
Dylan’s Candy Bar – Yes, it’s really just a gigantic candy store. I know. But my kids insist on going to Dylan’s 
each time we travel to New York City, so I’d be remiss by not including it in a best things for kids list. Name a candy, and you’ll probably find it here. From old fashioned salt water taffy to Twilight New Moon themed candy hearts, the history of sweet stuff is on display here. The last time we went to Dylan’s I was pretty disappointed in their upstairs ice cream shop; it was understaffed, and those working there were petty apathetic. I’d recommend keeping your children downstairs, that’s where all the candy and fun is. Also: Serendipity, on the Upper East Side. The frozen hot chocolate and foot-long hot dog will keep your kids full of energy for the rest of the day.
There are, of course, many other fun things do with with kids in New York City. These are my children’s favorites; I’ve already promised them that we’ll go back to The Met and take another look at the mummies over spring break. We’re always up for new travel experiences, though. Any suggestions?
Malibu, California and a Perfect Day’s Vacation
Many towns in Southern California have certain reputations, and these stereotypes often inform Los Angeles-area travel plans. For those of us who live here, of course, the picture is often totally different. My tween didn’t have school this past week, but since my younger kid did, we couldn’t take too grand an adventure (apparently, the school system frowns upon parents not picking their children up from school). My daughter and I drove up for a day trip to Malibu, and did several activities before returning home.
Malibu is considered the first real surfing destination in the Los Angeles area – it’s no Half Moon Bay, of course, but it’s pretty good for Southern California. We went to Zuma Beach, and there we saw one solitary, sad little surfer. Maybe the waves weren’t rad this particular day! My tween took most of these photographs, by the way, and she was more interested in the cute sandpipers busily running up and down the shore than she was that surfer dude.
Malibu has that mellow surfer culture in spades, of course, but there’s also a seriously swanky side to this beachy community. Lots of media moguls live here, and where there’s money, the luxury shops shall follow. There are a bunch of high-end stores in the Malibu Country Mart and beyond. In fact, one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Nobu Malibu, is in this shopping area. No, we did NOT go there for lunch! We did, however, indulge in a little mother-daughter shopping splurge.
We went to Duke’s for lunch. There are Duke’s in Maui and Kauai, so it was fun to come to this one and compare. My tween thought the coconut shrimp was exactly the same, but I felt that the Hawaii style dresses and uniforms seemed out of place. It is winter now, so the whales are goofing off around Hawaii, but the windows in Duke’s in Malibu give great views of the humpbacks as they migrate to and from the South Pacific.
The northern coastal tip of Malibu has one of those perfect beaches for exploring; Leo Carrillo State Park Beach is rocky, with small caves that can only be accessed during low tide. My kid and I had the best time wandering along the coast here. As an aside, when I was a child myself, my whole family was in a commercial for Tang that was filmed at Leo Carrillo State Park Beach. Little did I know then, that I’d be living within driving distance of it as a parent.
My daughter found one of the largest limpets I’ve seen outside of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. We’d bought a fancy hair clip for her at the Malibu Country Mart, and I’d spent more on a pair of sunglasses there than I usually do – but this limpet, maybe 6 inches long, sun-bleached and almost alien-looking, was hands down the best find of the day.
In fact, she made a necklace out of it when we came home, and wears it still, today. Rather than rush through our day trip and also see the Getty Villa, horse stables and pretty Malibu Gardens (it’s a nursery that looks like a luscious backyard), we took it slow. Enjoying each others’ company, strolling on a beach together, and discussing how a found shell can be more exciting, memorable and valuable than a bought hair accessory – these are the details that make up a perfect day’s vacation in Southern California.
The Elysian Luxury Hotel in Chicago – Q&A with Design Firm
Every time I’ve traveled to Chicago, Illinois, I’ve absolutely loved it there. From the great restaurants to Lincoln Park Zoo, to Old Town and Second City, there are always lots of fun things to do in Chicago…in the summer, at least. I’ve never been brave enough for a winter vacation in the Windy City! Now, a new luxury hotel in Chicago brings a new level of sophistication to this most cosmopolitan of midwest cities. The Elysian’s interior design and architecture brings iconic 1920’s Paris design to mind; the designers were inspired by Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, and the Art Deco movement that was born in 1920’s Paris. The entire interior scope shows off the results of their inspiration. I spoke with Lisa Simeone and Gina Deary, the owners of the Simeone Deary Design Group in Chicago, about their part in creating the luxurious Parisian feel of The Elysian hotel. Anyone curious about creative, inspired interior design, or finding an incredibly romantic luxury hotel stay for a Chicago trip, should find this interesting.
Many Chicago travelers are saying that The Elysian is the best new luxury hotel in the Windy City. Could you please describe what, if anything, is inherently “Chicago” about the Elysian?
Aside from the fact that the Elysian flagship is based in Chicago and that the architect and interior designer are Chicago based – the design of the Elysian is not necessarily inherently Chicago but embodies the spirit of the glamour and excitement of an urban city. We did make reference to design motifs found in Chicago art and architecture during the 20’s and 30’s – and these are woven throughout the hotel – but the overall feeling is more European and not city specific.
What was your inspiration? Do you always tend towards such sleek, high-end decor?
Our inspiration came from many and varied sources from our client’s wishes, to the architecture of the building; however we built the foundation of our design on the artisan movement, the Paris exposition, the glamour period of the 20’s and 30’s and the timeless designs of Coco Chanel and Christian Dior.
Typically our design aesthetic leans toward the project that we are working on and the concept that we develop for that particular project – currently, in addition to the Elysian hotel, we are working on a ranch resort in Wyoming, a green café in Illinois and an uber modern high end home downtown.
To what degree (if any) did you work with the architect, to ensure a sense of flow from the exterior to the interior of the building?
At our firm, we feel it is critical to work with the architect to ensure this flow….we strongly believe in cohesive and congruent design – it gives a project harmony that is evident to the guest.
What would you hope that the interior conveys to Chicago tourists staying at the Elysian?
We hope that the interiors give any guest that stays at the Elysian that sense of wonder and awe, that each and every detail was thought about to enhance the guest sensory experience and that they feel transformed to a time when high design and detail and client service really meant something.
If there is one thing you could go back and change, tweak, or improve, what would it be?
This is a tough question because there are many little things that we would love to go back and tweak – not so much on the design side, but more on flow and planning. Truly, the end result of this project is almost exactly as we envisioned it.
The Elysian just officially opened around 2 months ago. How would you say it has been received so far?
From the comments we hear, it is very well received and guests are quite inspired by the design…..it also helps that the talented and passionate staff of the hotel are extremely dedicated to the guest experience. This was truly a project that does not come along every day.
Well, looking at all the lovely photographs of The Elysian, I have to believe that Lisa Simeone and Gina Deary’s inspiration is paying off in spades. This is an absolutely beautiful looking luxury hotel in Chicago; one that almost makes me consider a winter trip to the midwest. After all, as windy as Chicago is in the winter, it must be incredibly pampering to come in from the cold and warm up in The Elysian.
Australia and Stupid Tourist Questions
None of The Vacation Gals have been to Australia, but it’s high on our bucket list. In fact, a week in Australia and a week in New Zealand is my current fantasy travel experience. It’s not going to happen, not anytime soon, anyway…but you know what they say (with apologies to Mick Jagger): We can’t always get what we want, but we can dream.
While we fantasize about our dream travel destinations, we can at least also learn about them, so as to not be idiots when we get there. Sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? I had to laugh when I saw these Frequently Asked Questions on Amazing Australia, a tour company and website. Some FAQs are not so frequently asked, but quite amusing nonetheless.
Q: Can I pick up my camper van in Auckland and drop it off in Darwin? – Belguim
A: Sure, take a ferry, change the registration plates from New Zealand to Australian, and find a way to calm down the people you rented it from when they hear where their vehicle has ended up.
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain
on TV, so how do the plants grow? – UK
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? – USA
A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking!
Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney – can I follow the railroad tracks? – Sweden
A: Sure, it’s only three thousand miles, take lots of water…
Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? – Swedes
A: So it’s true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? – USA
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not… oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is North in Australia? – USA
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we’ll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? – USA
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? – USA
A: Aus-tra-li-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is…oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? – France
A: No, WE don’t stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? – USA
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? – UK
A: You are a British politician, right?
Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? – Italy
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? – France
A: Only at Christmas.
Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? – Germany
A: No, we are a peaceful civilisation of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is illegal.
Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. – USA
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It’s a kind of bear and lives in trees. – USA
A: It’s called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was in Kings Cross. Can you help? – USA
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? – USA
A: Yes, but you’ll have to learn it first.
Some of these questions may be apocryphal – that is, not actually ever asked – but it’s fun to think they were. According to Snopes, my favorite myth-debunking site, lists of “cheeky answers to dumb tourist” questions have been making the rounds on the Internet for at least ten years. Thanks, Amazing Australia, for keeping your sense of humor intact (you gotta love a website that describes Australia as “even more amazinger than expected”). It’s great to see that in a travel website.
Gal on the Go: Photo Friday from Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Ski Area
This Gal’s still in Lake Tahoe, loving the amazing blue-sky days here in the Sierra Nevada. Yesterday’s activity, as part of the SATW Western Chapter meeting: skiing Heavenly. (I know, rough assignment, right?)
The Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority could not have ordered up a more beautiful day. Truly, we couldn’t see a cloud in the sky when about a dozen SATW members started our ski day at the base of the Heavenly gondola in Heavenly Village, dominated by a Marriott Grand Vacation Club, shops and restaurants (including the super cool Stateline Brewery).
Representatives from Heavenly spent the day guiding us on the slopes of this massive resort that sprawls across two states and 4,800 acres. I have to give huge props to Troy Gier, an incredibly patient ski instructor and all-around awesome guy who was my group’s guide for the day. He’s passionate about skiing and Heavenly, and his enthusiasm for the sport and the slopes was contagious.
Brilliant blue Lake Tahoe — surrounded by white mountain peaks — from 10,000 feet is an unparalleled view. I snapped a dozen photos of the phenomenal scenery today, but my favorite came from my Blackberry (as if you needed a sign to tell you this was a scenic viewpoint):
Gal on the Go: Perfect Day on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore
This week I’m having a fine time on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the Nevada-California border in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. I’m attending my first Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Western Chapter meeting, and it’s been a great introduction to the organization, with networking and professional development, as well as plenty of activities that highlight this gorgeous area of the country (one I hadn’t seen before). My personalized events today centered around snowshoeing, snacks & a spa treatment. That’s my kind of ideal day!
With my private tour guide, Jennifer Boyd of Weidinger Public Relations (a peach!), I traipsed around the snowshoe trails at Camp Richardson, a historic, lakeside resort. Here, visitors can rent cross-country skis and snowshoes at the Mountain Sports Center to explore the 35 kilometers of trails on the property.
Jen and I checked out the neighboring Tallac Historic Site; maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, it’s the site of the former estates of three very wealthy families who descended upon the lake every summer to escape bustling San Francisco around the turn of the century. The restored buildings — from grand homes and big ol’ barns to gardeners’ quarters and the tutor’s house — are open in the summer to visitors and are decorated with period furniture. But even in the wintertime, boarded up and buried in snow, the buildings evoke a romantic, opulent era — I could easily envision women in Victorian dresses, and later Great Gatsby-esque flapper dresses, enjoying tea in the wooden gazebo or playing croquet on the lawn.
We also skirted the lake on snowshoes, taking in the absolutely incredible view of Lake Tahoe. Surrounded by snow-covered peaks that rise from the water, the lake is so clear by the shore — reflecting the sandy bottom, it appears tan — but blends into a bright royal blue and then deep midnight blue as it increases in depth. Truly stunning!
After about an hour and a half of post-holing through deep snow and walking along packed trails, we met up with our group of SATW cross-country skiers for appetizers and beer at the Beacon Bar & Grill, also part of the Camp Richardson resort and an amazing venue for enjoying lovely views of the lake. In the summer, I’m told, it’s packed with locals and visitors especially when bands play on the patio. The restaurant offers a great mix of beers on tap — plus its locally famous Rum Runner — and a family-friendly menu. After 
working up an appetite, we devoured plates of steamed clams in savory broth, tortilla chips with spinach and artichoke dip, meaty calamari (right) and cheesy garlic bread with vodka marinara sauce — all washed down with microbrewed beers, including yummy Back Country Blonde from the local Mt. Tallac Brewing Company.
As if vigorous outdoor exercise and good beer weren’t wonderful enough, I topped off my afternoon with a half-hour massage and a steam at the MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa. With a nondescript exterior and massive, old-time, individually lettered sign (circa 1970 Vegas), the MontBleu doesn’t exude hipness from the outside, but its Onsen Spa is all about tranquility and sophistication. Removed from the blinking lights and dinging slot machines at the hotel casino, the Zen-like spa with Asian decor, trickling stone fountains, and muted grey and beige accents soothe the soul. Heated massage tables, a women’s steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi (with ice-cold towels on hand), plus two women-only relaxation areas, are appreciated amenities at this upscale hotel spa.
Great food, outdoor adventures, pampering relaxation — three ingredients for my perfect afternoon at Lake Tahoe’s South Shore.
Disclosure: I paid a fee to attend the SATW conference, but most outfitters and restaurants provided complimentary activities and meals to travel-writer participants.
