The Last Ride at Paws Up

On tap for today was supposed to be an ATV ride and clay pigeon shooting. Instead, my day included an ATV ride and a ride to the Emergency Room (45 minutes away). After my ATV flipped over on top of me, pinning me up against another ATV, I was checked out by the "wilderness first response team" (which at the time I was told were EMTs, but later found out they are more like Boy Scouts). Paws Up was kind enough to have one of their concierge staff drive me to the hospital (I haven't been charged for that--yet...) and food delivered to my room. Paws Up gets a gold star here --actually Katie, the concierge gets it. She was absolutely wonderful. The entire staff could learn a lot from this young lady.

Termite Wings, Dirt, and Slug O My!

Note: I was invited to experience Paws Up Resort in Missoula, Montana on a meeting planners FAM. (i.e., be wined and dined so I bring groups/events/conferences to their venue)

Allegiant Air flies three times a week to MSO from LAX: Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays at 6am. Yippeee!  So upon arriving at MSO, the staff picks you up and 45 minutes later you arrive at the Ranch: a 37,000 acres ranch in the middle of nowhere Montana. I'm sure they were aware of my 9:25am arrival, so I'm unsure why my room wasn't ready until 4pm...but that's ok. I was given a tour of the property and prepared for the big "Montana Grillers Weekend." Couples were spending $5K+ for this weekend, and here I was experiencing it! My "estate" was huge...and I was so happy to see a large jacuzzi soaking tub in my bathroom. I eagerly filled it with hot water anticipating a relaxing, hot bath before dinner. Upon turning on the jacuzzi jets, termite wings, dirt and slug spew out of the jets. Nice. Clearly no one cleaned the jacuzzi in months...welcome to Paws Up, Dear Meeting Planner. Please bring all your high level executives here. It's only $1500/night lodging...termite wings and slug included.

Plan B: A hot shower. The shower was huge--complete with two rainfall shower heads and enough room for 6 people to shower. Oops...no hot water?  Really.

Ring Of Fire

Around 6:19pm this evening I ran outside, and over the ocean I saw it… the much anticipated partial solar eclipse. So cool! And due to the “marine layer” I could actual look up without too much harmful glare. The partial solar eclipse reached its peak in Los Angeles at 6:38 p.m.

When’s the next eclipse?

You'll have to wait awhile. The continental United States won't see another good show for five years. And LA won't see as stunning a show for 59 years.

But here is a sampling of what's next in store for the solar eclipse front in the United States.

A partial solar eclipse is in store for the western United States on Oct. 23, 2014. Western Canada, Alaska and the northern edge of the U.S. border from Washington state to Wisconsin should have the best view, with more than 60% of the sun's diameter (its center line) blocked by the moon's shadow. California and the Southwest should see more than 40% of the sun's diameter covered.

This is the one to travel for. A "total" solar eclipse -- an even better one than Sunday's "ring" eclipse -- will completely cover the sun's light, blotting out even the sun's outer fringes. Total eclipses are far more exciting because they will shroud the land in an eerie midday twilight. The Aug. 21, 2017, total eclipse will glide through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and South Carolina.

Los Angeles will see more than 60% of the sun's diameter covered up by the moon.

Seattle Really is Dreary

St. Patty's Day weekend in cold, rainy Seattle was not THAT bad:)

There are many sites to see in Seattle and among the top attractions, there is certainly the Space Needle. You can easily stroll by the Original Starbucks--it’s right by the Public Market and quite non descript. Do yourself a favor and snap a pic in front, but stroll around the corner to Le Panier for an amazing cup of caffe mocha and delicious macarons! Drive over to Freemont and see the infamous Freemont Troll. Nestled under a bridge, he’s one ugly dude! Highland Park on the edge of Queen Anne offers a wonderful view of all Seattle. And don’t worry if it’s a cloudy day. It probably will be and some of the best photos are captured on those days when harsh sunlight isn’t blinding you.

One attraction that may not be on your list of things to see is the Ballard Locks. The Locks are actually the third most visited site in Seattle! The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks provide a link for boats between the salt water of Puget Sound and the fresh water of Lake Washington. It’s very cool to see a boat come into the canal and watch the water rise or fall as it passes from one body of water to the next. And while you’ll probably see the fish mongers throwing fish at Pike’s Place Market, you can see the fish really fly here as they jump up the 21-step fish ladder that was created to allow a variety of salmon to swim upstream to spawn.

Be sure to see the Floating Houses on Lake Union too. Landless in Seattle, many people live on the docks. Think of a marina, but instead of boats, there are houses.

Post Alley is where you’ll find the Gum Wall. Yep, it’s a wall, on a narrow brick walkway, covered in gum. It’s colorful. It’s germy. Get close enough for a photo, but don’t touch the gum! Located not far away in Post Alley is The Pink Door. While the door IS pink—it’s a pale pink—and easily missed. The food is Italian, the atmosphere is Cirque du Soleli. And somehow, it works. Order the pasta with rabbit, and stay for the Burlesque show.

Café Campagne is not to be missed. We were disappointed that Matt’s at the Market was closed on Sundays, but the Cassoulet and spicy Bloody Marys changed our minds.

I found a hidden treasure of a hotel at Inn At The Market. The entrance is truly hidden and located a few steps from Pike’s Place Market. Every room has an amazing view—whether it’s of the city or the water. And don’t let a “partial water view” discourage you. Some of those are the best. This 70-room gem started out as a B&B and is now a customer service focused haven for the well-travelled. Paul Newman stayed here regularly with his wife! Ask for Room #310—it has cool window box seats.

Seat with a View at Cirque Du Soleil Ovo

While I normally wouldn't post about my attendance at a Cirque show (I've been to a dozen over the past decade), this experience was special. I was invited to the dress rehearsal last night--as a photographer! Now this is a rare experience as usually no photography is permitted under the Big Top. I had a front row center seat and got some amazing photos! Although my face was behind my camera nearly the entire time, I saw enough to be wowed! I was then invited to be a panelist in a roundtable interview with the creator of Ovo, Deborah Colker. While I couldn't make the roundtable, I did interview her, exclusively, one on one. So exciting!

(You can read my interview here: http://bit.ly/xSlwXt)

Meeting best-selling author Patricia Schultz

I brought my friend Amy and her boyfriend, Michael along with me to the 7^th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show. This show, billed as "the ticket to discover authentic travel experiences, snap up the deals, win trips and giveaways, and be entertained and delighted" was a bit of a letdown.

I was hoping to connect with tourism board reps and agency reps but it seems that everyone working the booths were "volunteers" who were simply "collecting business cards"....oh well. (If I get one FAM out of it--so worth it!)

I did have an opportunity to meet and chat one-on-one with Patricia Schultz, best-selling author of “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” I promised her that whatever page I opened to in her book, that is where I’d go! And she wants to hear about it.
Oh, and I even got a great workout in a giant hamster ball as I “walked on water.”

(Shout out to Amy for snapping my pic!)

Wine, Food, Beer & Cheese.....uh?

Photo: Andrea Cannistraci

For the 4th year out of five years, I headed down to the Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, now in it's 8th year. (I missed 2010 when I was in Morocco--well worth it!) This international showcase of the world’s premier wines, spirits, chefs, culinary personalities, and gourmet foods did not disappoint! And I invited my man, John Puopolo, along this year to indulge with me.

Since we are both huge Kimpton Hotel fans, we called Hotel Solamar home for the weekend. It's an amazing property located in the heart of the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter.

Our weekend of gluttony included a Belgian Beer Tasting & Cheese Pairing with Chef Daniel Joly (Mirabelle at Beaver Creek). This was all for the boy as I dislike "white" beers and we all know how I feel about cheese. I guess this is what being in love is all about :) And at the Reserve and Limited Tasting Event, it was more than just wine... There was scotch!  SipSmokeSavor was pairing scotches with chocolates...and I was in my glory.

It was a sunny San Diego Saturday for The Grand Tasting Event down at the Embarcadero where we ran into a number of unique luxury brands such as Chuao Chocolate, DelGrosso Sauce (yes the sauce from back home!) Wild Hibiscus, and Ca’momi Wines.