Archive for the ‘Girlfriend Getaways’ Category

When the good folks at Walt Disney World Resorts invited me to attend their Sporty Blogger Media Mixer during Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend (March 5-7, 2010) I thought the timing couldn’t be more perfect. I was already searching for the right race to launch the “Run Wifey Run Tour,” my new adventure where I’m running in several road races around the county supporting my mission to be the healthiest I can be and, hopefully, inspire others to do the same. Besides, Disney is the most magical place on earth, maybe I could find a little pixie dust to help me cross the finish line.

Participants in the Disney Princess Half Marathon run through Cinderella's Castle.

While more than 13,000 women ran the half marathon, there were nine of us princesses treated to a whirlwind weekend discovering Disney’s sporty side. Saturday, after checking-in to Disney’s Polynesian Resort, we headed over to the newly renamed ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to attend the race expo and learn about the 220-acre state-of-the-art facilities. Beyond impressive, it hosts more than 2 million professional and amateur athletes per year, ranging in age from 6 to 86, from more than 70 countries and features more than 55 sports. There is always a game to catch, a competition to cheer for or an opportunity to just relax and grab a bite to eat.

Speaking of eating we did just that at celebrity chef Cat Cora’s restaurant, Kouzzina, located at The Boardwalk. I’m still smiling from the delicious pre-race meal I devoured. If you ever have the opportunity try the Pastitsio, Greek-style lasagna with bucatini pasta, cinnamon-stewed meat sauce and béchamel – um, yum!  After dinner we turned in early to prepare for the big race.

All smiles after finishing the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

Fun does not begin to describe the time I had participating in this event. Sporting my tiara, I started the 13.1 mile run from Epcot to Magic Kingdom and back with a bang – literally. Fireworks flew at the starting line and many of Disney’s most popular characters met and cheered the runners on along the way. The excitement of running through Cinderella’s castle and all of Disney’s magic makes this race tons of fun for a newbie runner or a veteran, too. This event is just one of Disney’s Endurance Series featuring the Expedition Everest Challenge (June 12, 2010), the Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (Oct. 1-2, 2010), the Walt Disney World Marathon and Half Marathon (Jan. 6-9, 2011) and Champion 5k at ESPN the Weekend (February 2011).

Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club

After receiving my beautiful, shiny medal, and nice hot shower, I was thrilled to learn that I had an appointment arranged for a 50-minute Swedish massage at The Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club. To say it was AMAZING is an understatement. It was the perfect way to recover from such an active morning. I was truly starting to believe I was a princess, lounging in the lap of luxury. If you’re a spa lover, you’ll love it. If you’re not a spa lover you will be after visiting The Grand Floridian.

The remainder of my weekend was spent exploring some of the other sporty activities Walt Disney World has to offer. Who knew you could water ski, parasail or drive a real race car 140 mph while visiting Mickey and his pals?

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach Water Park: WDW has two family-friendly water parks open year-round, with fun for all ages. Typhoon Lagoon is home to nine waterslides, a children’s play area, a Shark Reef, and one of the world’s largest Surf Pools. Blizzard Beach boasts raft rides, toboggan slides, a wave pool, a children’s play area, and some mega water slides – it has one of the tallest and fastest in the country.

Gearing up to ride shotgun at 140 miles an hour at the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Water skiing champion, Sammy Duvall, brings the thrill of water sports to WDW. Water skiing, wakeboarding, knee boarding, and tubing instruction are available for all ages. Parasailing and guided excursions, as well as personal watercraft rental are also available. Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the center offers an alternative experience from the traditional Disney theme parks.

Richard Petty’s Driving Experience Disney Speedway Orlando: Ever wanted to speed around a track at 140 mph? Well thanks to Richard Petty’s Driving Experience at Disney Speedway Orlando you can. Open 7 days a week, you can ride shotgun in a NASCAR-style stock car driven by a professional instructor or sit behind the wheel yourself and put the pedal to the metal. I can vouch for this awesome experience firsthand as I wrapped up my Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend during a ride-along. It was three laps of pure exhilaration. A must do for any thrill seeker!

Thanks to the wonderful folks at WDW for hosting me during this fun-filled weekend!

RunningGal, Lorraine “Wifey” Robertson, is also a wife, mother, freelance writer, digital media consultant, tennis player and chocolate lover. When she’s not running, you can find her at one of her sites, Ask Wifey or The BlogRollers. Keep an eye here at The Vacation Gals; she’ll be posting more dispatches from her Run Wifey Run Tour this year!

Want a great ski trip? Park City Mountain Resort in Utah offers just about every kind of winter sport activity imaginable. TwinCitiesGal and I had fun learning to ski on the actual Park City Mountain Resort slopes, and then that night a whole gaggle of gals went to Gorgoza Park for some nighttime snow tubing. Was it fun? Yes, absolutely: Take a look for yourself.

I thought my hat was going to fly right off my head! Gorgoza Park is part of the Park City Mountain Resort family, and it’s great fun to get pulled up the mountain (it’s lift-served, so no trudging in the snow) and then go speeding down. It operates during the day and night during the winter ski season. Gorgoza Park is also well lit for nighttime snow tubing. We went down a whole bunch of times together; to form a group, switch off who holds whose lead ropes. It’s a faster, more thrilling ride when we can scream and laugh with our friends.

I also went down solo. This was fun too: While not as fast a ride, the tube spun around in circles on the way down, and I got a face full of powdery snow. After my solo snow tubing ride, I joined the larger group in a yurt for hot chocolate and general laughter.  Funny; I’d never been in a yurt before, either. Check one more item off my list of things to do on a ski trip!

Park City Mountain Resort also has snowmobiling, sleigh rides, and an alpine coaster, so there’s plenty to do in Park City besides ski. I recommend tubing at Gorgoza Park. For those of us who are, shall we say, less than proficient skiers, it feels great to be able to be good at a winter sport activity. Even if it IS just sitting down.

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!

Orlando triggers visions of themed characters, roller coasters and funnel cakes but actually, not every Orlando Resort has a character-themed environment. When my family traveled to Orlando recently we stayed at  and Orlando golf resort: Omni at ChampionsGate. This luxury resort presents a tropical ambiance and appeals to the entire family and is only a short drive away from the theme parks (six miles from Disney World).

We’ve always loved Omni for their terrific service and family-friendly features. Upon check-in the kids received backpacks which are part of the Omni Kids Program. The bags held surprises such as toys, a water canteen (which can be refilled around the hotel), a flashlight and other kids items to keep the kids entertained throughout the stay.

The resort itself is neighbored by 1,200 acres of orange groves and wetlands, making Omni Orlando the perfect setting for its two world-class golf courses and The David Leadbetter Golf Academy headquarters which is equipped with some of the latest golf swing analysis technology. Golfers appreciate the complimentary Callaway practice facility with both a putting green and short game area. The golf carts are equipped with GPS Industries Informer yardage systems which can assist with skill improvement, PGA-type scoring and overall play enhancement.

While I could go on and on about the resort’s attractive golf offerings, I also want to tell you about this gorgeous and elegant hotel. For one, it’s huge. There are five restaurants, a gym, spa and  720 guest rooms, suites and villas. The rooms are modern, comfortable and quiet. We were lucky and received a room with a balcony which I highly recommend. Our view overlooked the outdoor recreational area and once you see it you won’t want to spend your time indoors. The pool area consists of a lazy river, swimming pools, a water slide, sand volley ball court and private cabanas complete with fans and TVs (see photo above left). Since we visited over the winter we didn’t get to enjoy the pools as much as we wanted but I can tell you staying here is one spectacular way to spend a vacation.

Every morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at Trevi’s. The staff was helpful and friendly and made an effort to get to know us. Not to mention the food was fresh, delicious and healthy.

Our final morning we were surprised to see a number of hot air balloons lifting off in the distance. Before long they were heading our way. I was thrilled the kids were getting the opportunity to see so many balloons in flight but it got better. One balloon cruised right by our room at eye level. As we stood on our balcony the passengers waved and shouted out “good mornings” and we did the same. It was a great way to end our memorable stay in Orlando but we’ll be back.

There are some things in life that you experience once and have such an awful encounter you promise to never try it again. For me, that was skiing. Fifteen years ago my family (parents and siblings) moved to a Colorado ski town. Raised in the South (Louisiana and Texas), the cold was new to me and so were winter sports. A friend of mine energetically offered to take me up the mountain and give me ski lessons. The day was cold, my boots were too tight and, in hindsight, I wasn’t dressed properly. After a 2 mile run down a top-to-bottom trail, sore legs and many exasperated sighs, the day was considered a bust and I lost all interest in skiing.

My family (husband, two tots and I) moved to a cold region this past fall and since arriving my interest in winter sports has surprisingly begun to pique. The four of us have spent the winter ice skating and sledding, but when The Vacation Gals were invited to experience Park City for a girls’ weekend I nixed the idea of  “skiing” down the mountain. However, when ski lessons were offered, courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort, I reconsidered and began to feel excited about the opportunity. It occurred to me that maybe ski lessons were just what I needed.

Jen Miner (SoCalGal) joined me in a private lesson with long-time instructor Rob Newey. Step by step Rob taught us the simple beginner instructions such as how to put the skis on and how to stop, a very important lesson, and as we mastered each challenge we moved along to the next step. Rob was extremely intuitive of our personal needs and coached us accordingly. Before long we were riding up the ski lift to First Time trail. Our first couple of rides down we practiced the “snow plow” stop then transitioned to learning to make turns. Rob kept reminding us to let gravity do its job. Then it happened.

It “clicked” and I could feel the which leg needed weight during the turns and I understood the concept of edges. Rob gave me tips as I progressed and on the last run he told me to ski as fast as I could and I did. As I cruised along I couldn’t believe I was skiing. Apparentl all I needed were some ski lessons and encouragement.

And if you’re wondering, I did fall – once.  But I insist it was a good thing because Rob was able to show me the proper way to get back up (turn the skis horizontal to the slope).

What now? I can’t wait to get back on skis again. During the lessons I discovered I really do love skiing and look forward to practicing and getting better. Is there something in your past that you wrote off due to a bad experience? If so, I urge you to give it another shot, maybe this time with a private or group lesson – you might find you really do love it.

Thank you Rob and Park City Mountain Resort for the ski lessons and this life-changing experience. My outlook on skiing will  never be the same. See you next season!

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.

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.

It’s not too often we promote win-a-trip social-media contests here at The Vacation Gals, but the San Juan Marriott has a particularly special spot in our hearts, given we were hosted by the resort for a girls’ getaway this spring. At the property, we very much enjoyed lounging by the pool, drinking an array of differently flavored mojitos in the lobby bar, and indulging in tasty Puerto Rican food at La Vista’s buffet spread and Italian specialties at the Ristorante Tuscany.

You can win your own mini vacation (no passport required for American citizens) through the San Juan Marriott’s “Countdown to Christmas” social-media scavenger hunt. Start following, if you’re not already, the San Juan Marriott crew at @SanJuanMarriott on Twitter. From the contest announcement:

Beginning Monday, December 21, @SanJuanMarriott will tweet a holiday item at 10 am EST each of the five days leading up to Christmas. The first day of the search, the first follower who replies to @SanJuanMarriott with a picture (via TwitPic, Tweetphoto or otherwise) of the item will receive a complimentary 3 day / 2 night stay at the San Juan Marriott Resort in Puerto Rico. The second day of the scavenger hunt (December 22), the second person to find the item and submit a photo will receive the 3 day / 2 night stay prize, the third day will be the third person, and so on. Additionally, anyone who tweets all five pictures of the requested scavenger hunt items (one per day) will receive a free room upgrade on their next visit to the San Juan Marriott Resort – valid throughout 2010.

Sounds pretty fun to me — I’m so curious what the scavenger hunt items will be… something simple like a photo of a Christmas tree or stocking? Or more difficult, like a fruitcake or mistletoe? I wonder if anyone has frankincense lying around. It’s fun just thinking about potential photo subjects; I bet the creative marketing crew that conceived this promotion had a ball coming up with them.

Advice for folks who win: consider tacking on a night or two to your free vacation in Puerto Rico. You’ll want to have time to explore El Yunque rainforest, maybe do some evening kayaking through a bioluminescent bay or wander through Old San Juan’s historic sites. Of course, lolling on the beach must be on the agenda, too. Good luck!

Quiet beach in front of the high-rise San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico.

Black Friday has come and gone for this year, but if you are thinking about testing your shopping luck next year, or even plan to visit the Twin Cities area anytime soon, have I got a major tip for you: stay at Country Inn and Suites.

Last week I told our readers I was going to spend Black Friday at Minnesota’s Mall of America then afterward I was invited to experience the closest hotel by the mall. My host was Country Inn and Suites and this was my first experience with the chain. I was pleasantly surprised to find it a complete and total delight. If I had to describe it in one word  it would be cozy. But before I talk about the hotel let me tell you about my day.

First off, Black Friday at the Mall of America is absolutely insane. By the time I arrived in the early afternoon herds of people were making their way from (normally empty) parking lots that surround the mall. Police were directing traffic and I heard there were some pretty bad traffic jams in the mall parking garages. I managed to avoid it all because Country Inn and Suites has a free shuttle to the Mall of America. Sure I had my car with me, but why bother with the chaos?

Looking back, had I not had the option of taking a shuttle I probably would have avoided the mall all together. And the good  news is that this Country Inn and Suites property has more going for it than just a free shuttle service:

1. Location, location, location. On a nice day you could walk across the street and through the main doors of the Mall of America (the entrance by the Lego store and just past that is the Nickelodeon theme park).

2. Spacious. I stayed in a King Suite which was absolutely lovely, but besides the spacious room the hotel has so much going for it…

3. Great beds. I didn’t expect the beds to be so comfy. But they were. I could have stayed in bed all day.

4. Fresh cookies. It seemed like everywhere I looked there were fresh cookies ready for the talking.

5. Close to MSP Airport. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is literally right down the road from the Mall of America and Country Inn and Suites. In fact, the planes appear so close while landing you might be able to see the passengers waving. So, what does this mean for your quality of sleep? Believe it or not, you can’t hear them. This is one hotel that has done an outstanding job at soundproofing their rooms.

6. Free shuttle. Did I mention this? The hotel offers shuttles not only to the mall but also to the airport. The service is free, so don’t forget to tip your driver.

7. Friendly staff. You’ve probably heard the phrase “Minnesota nice” and the staff certainly lives up to that reputation.

8. On site food and drinks. There is a TGIF’s and an IHop on the premises.

9. Free breakfast. If you’ve read my posts in the past you will know I’m a big fan of free breakfasts – and you better believe Country Inn and Suites has one, complete with waffles, fresh fruit, pastries and oatmeal, with fresh berries (my favorite)!

I honestly tried to find something to improve about the hotel, something, anything that would have made my experience more pleasant and I couldn’t. The shower had a curved curtain rod, the entire hotel was spotless, and every staff member I encountered, even walking the halls, was courteous.

If you’re wondering if I got some good deals at Mall of America, my answer is yes. Many stores had 25% or 50% off the entire store and there were a ton of in-store promotions, such as Steve Madden’s scratch cards (I scored 40% off and used that on a pair of cute shoes that were already 30% off – good deal indeed). But I really think the best deal of all was being able to visit the mall and avoid the parking madness, then getting a great night sleep in a cozy bed. Now that is priceless.

What can you get for the proverbial “man who has everything?” My husband has a gratifying career, happy kids, and enough consumer electronics to keep his geeky self busy for a while.  So for his big birthday recently (let’s just say it’s a number divisible by 10), I thought about past romantic getaway weekends we’d had, and picked one of the best for a repeat trip. Once I thought about it, the choice for a weekend luxury vacation was pretty obvious: The San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito CA was named The Best Hotel in North America by Forbes Traveler (2009) and is adjacent to Santa Barbara, our favorite nearby town for an upscale getaway.

Suite living room at San Ysidro Ranch

We arrived to find we’d been given an upgrade to a gorgeous suite – hooray! Since a few other couples were joining us, we let our living room be “home base” where they joined us for breakfast in the mornings and wine in the afternoons. Each cottage at the San Ysidro Ranch has a

Santa Barbara wine at SYR

private outdoor patio with hot tub, fireplace, and breakfast area, along with wi-fi and huge flat screen televisions (but don’t spend too much time watching TV, please). It’s really the personal touches that help elevate the San Ysidro Ranch above others to become a best hotel in North America for couples, though. Guests’ names in blocks by the front door, wine and cheese, handwritten notes, turndown service with rosemary right from the citrus garden, attentive service, and easily made appointments for in-room massage services all add up to a perfect luxury travel experience.

There are a few hiking trails right off the ranch property; all the couples on our birthday celebration weekend enjoyed these. Montecito is great for hiking all year round, after all. We also had one of the best meals of our lives at the San Ysidro Ranch’s popular restaurant, the Stonehouse. Everything was extremely well prepared and beautifully presented, and the sommelier knew his stuff. There’s a more casual restaurant on the property as well; the Plow & Angel is pub-style in the back, with a casual and friendly atmosphere.

Stonehouse Restaurant near Santa Barbara

The town of Montecito is charming and lovely, and Santa Barbara is less than 10 minutes away.  Santa Barbara is simply wonderful; from the mission to the art museum to the huge variety of restaurants on State Street, my family never gets tired of weekend vacations there.

Even when traveling with family and close friends, it’s important for couples to get some alone time. The cottage arrangement of the San Ysidro Ranch, with their privacy, crackling fire in fireplaces, and incredibly lush interior, make the San Ysidro Ranch perfect for the best romantic getaway trip. Those Forbes Traveler people knew what they were doing when they named this spot the best hotel in North America, at least in terms of couples’ vacations. After a couple of fantastic weekends here, I completely agree. A weekend getaway at the San Ysidro Ranch is a great gift, too, for the man who has everything. Thank you, SYR, for helping make this a most memorable birthday celebration.

Cheese plate at SYR, Montecito