Montefollonico Italy

It’s been a busy year of traveling, both in Europe and much closer to home.  It’s always fun for me to look back on where I’ve been over the year, so I can plan where I want to go the following year.

Here are the highlights from 2010:

January

• Starting the New Year with a stay in Seattle, I saw the fireworks at the Space Needle from the warmth and coziness of my hotel room.
• A sponsored trip to Spokane took me back to a city that I’ve been away from for far too long.  The occasion for the visit was the US Figure Skating Championships (in preparation for the Winter Olympics), but while there I got to see so much more of the city.  From a gondola ride over the river to a ride on the carousel in River Front Park, from visiting Barrister and Whitestone wineries to  Dry Fly Distillery to learn how vodka is made, and from experiencing the beautiful new Northern Quest Resort and discovering new gourmet restaurants, spending a few days in the Spokane was a bright spot in a gloomy winter.

February

• Heading south to Sacramento, and a little nicer weather, I attended Go West, a travel and tourism media event that focuses on the western United States. Along the whirlwind media appointments, I had a chance to see a few sights.  I panned for gold at Sutter’s Mill, visited the fabulous train museum, and visited the state capitol.  I also learned about the Sacramento Valley’s impressive wines and look forward to a return trip to visit a few of them.
• A road trip took me to the southern part of the state for Bed and Bookfest at Skamania Lodge.  A drive along the scenic Columbia River Gorge, a visit to the Bridge of the Gods, and cozy room at the lodge is a perfect winter getaway weekend.  It would be great in summer too, although a totally different experience.

March

• After an absence of several years, I headed back to Maui,discovering much had changed since I’d been there last (10+ years).  There was much to enjoy, including the warm weather and a visit to the Maui Lavender Farm to learn how master horticulturist Ali’i Chang has lovingly tended to the land.

April

• Spring brought another opportunity to explore another spot in the state, this time with a culinary themed press trip to Bellingham.  From visiting and learning about some of the local farms, to tasting Whatcom County wines, to visiting the Taylor Shellfish to learn how to shuck and prepare oysters, to discovering local restaurants, to enjoying the Chrysalis Inn and Spa, a Bellingham foodie getaway is a great spring getaway.

May

• A week in Orlando for USTA International Pow-Wow gave me plenty of opportunity to learn about travel trends in the United States. It was a great opportunity to meet travel suppliers from across the country and to discover what’s new and great in the travel industry, as well as to tour some of the Orlando sights.  Between media trips and various events, I had the chance to visit Daytona Speedway, Walt Disney World, and Universal Studios Orlando where we got a glimpse at the new Wonderful World of Harry Potter exhibit.  WOWZA on that last one!  It was also great to see fellow travel blogger Jennifer Miner, from The Vacation Gals. This annual travel event provides me story information and contacts to last the year, and is one of my favorite industry events.

June – July

• Heading off for the annual sojourn to Europe, the first stop was Sicily. We stayed at a lovely villa in the middle of a lemon grove in the small town of Giarre.  With a view of the Ionian Sea in front and Mt. Etna in back, the villa provided a wonderful place to stay as well as serving as home base for day trips to Taormina, Noto, Siracusa, numerous small villages along the sea, and climbing Mt. Etna.  We were in Sicily for a little over a week, just enough to whet our appetite for this charming island, and I think all of us would love a return trip.
• After Sicily, we headed to Tuscany for a couple weeks, staying at our favorite agriturismo, La Montalla, in the small town of Contignano.  We got to go back to some of our favorite Tuscan towns, including Pienza (for the traditional dinner at Latte di Luna), Montalcino (to order some of the delicious Brunellos and Super Tuscans to ship back home), Montepulciano (a necessary hospital visit), Radicofani, Orvieto, Montefollonico, and others, as well as had plenty of time to hang out at the farmhouse and enjoy the Tuscan sun.  Owner Giuseppe always makes us feel welcome, and we’ll be going back again in 2011.
• Lake Bolsena was a couple of hours away from where we stayed, but we had so much fun there that we made the trip twice.  It’s a lovely lake and town, and was a perfect place for watching a few of the World Cup matches.
• The heart of Italian art, Florence is a town that can overwhelm.  Since we’d visited before, we didn’t feel compelled to see ay of the “big” tourist spots, and could, instead, wander the streets as we wished.  In a city full of impressive architecture and art there were plenty of opportunity to stop and gawk, as well as multiple gelato opportunities.  It was great to be in Florence without an agenda of must-see attractions.
• After nearly a month in Italy, I got home in time for a quick press trip to Las Vegas, and a stay at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino.  The weekend included dinner at Diablo’s Cantina, the Frank Caliendo show, including a chance to meet the comic star, and a chance to bond with some other travel bloggers.

August

• August is a great month to be in Seattle, so this month was spent pretty close to home.  It was a great chance to finally check out Cafe Flora, the city’s notable vegetarian restaurants, as well as to do some wine tasting at Pour on the Plaza in Bellevue.
• I did have to make a quick trip to Washington DC for a hearing, and because of a variety of flight delays and misconnects had to sleep in the Chicago airport.  I haven’t had to do that in a long time, and it was a humbling reminder of the not-so-glamorous side of travel.

September

• I spent a few days in Southern California (Irvine) attending Travel Media Showcase, another travel media event.  This was my first year attending the event, and was pleased with the quality of contacts made.  There was also the opportunity to see some of the sights around the area, including horseback riding in Irvine Regional Park.
• Following TMS, I went on a FAM to the wine country of Temecula.  There is an incredible array of wineries there, and it was fun to visit three that spanned the spectrum:  Ponte Winery, Palumbo Family Vineyard & Winery, and Briar Rose Winery and its Snow White house.  And what would a visit to any wine country be without a delicious dinner with wine pairings?  We enjoyed the hospitality of the Temecula Creek Inn and Leonesse Cellars as they worked out the menu and pairings for an upcoming event.  I love being a guinea pig like that!  I was also thrilled to go on my first hot air balloon ride with California Dreamin’.  The experience was amazing, and I couldn’t keep the smile off my face and we watched the sun come up and floated above the vineyards of Temecula.

October

• Fall had me heading back to Spokane for a quick overnight to attend the opening of South Pacific, courtesy of the Red Lion Hotel.  The production is part of Best of Broadway Spokane, and the Red Lion Hotel offers some great weekend getaway packages.  While in town, I also had the opportunity to wander the Gonzaga University campus, including a look at some Bing Crosby memorabilia at the campus museum.
• I also headed back to Las Vegas for several days, for Blog World Expo.  For me it was a perfect blend of travel, tech, blogging, and business, all rolled together with some great networking.  I moderated a panel called “Travel Blogging as a Second Career” and was honored to meet and participate in the panel with Trisha Miller of Travel Writers Exchange, David and Carol Porter of The Roaming Boomers, and Rick Griffin of Midlife Road Trip.  During my time at BWE, I was the guest of ARIA Hotel at City Center, a beautiful LEED Gold certified hotel at the new City Center.  While there I had the opportunity to see the new Cirque du Soleil show, Viva Elvis, taste the delicious Spanish menu at Julian Serrano, and get a wonderful pampering Spa treatment.  Another highlight of the trip was a delicious wagyu steak dinner at craftsteak at the MGM Grand.

November

• I headed back to the sun in November, with a very quick trip to Fort Lauderdale and another travel media event, Visit Europe Media Exchange.  The event was held at the Westin Diplomat, and although the property is lovely, the stay and service were a big disappointment.  Still, the event gave me an opportunity to make some great contacts in Europe and to get lots of story ideas.

December

• Home, sweet home, in Seattle for the holidays!

Looking back, it was a pretty busy travel year.  As always, there were places I had hoped to get to that I didn’t, and places that I hadn’t expected to get to but did.  It was a great year – and I’m busy making plans so that 2012 will be just as great.

Where did you go in 2011?  And what was your favorite travel experience?

Photo credits:  All from the personal collection of Mary Jo Manzanares

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I’m sitting on my balcony on the big island of Hawaii as I write this, knowing that after a few more hours in this sunny paradise, I’ll be flying back to a much cooler Seattle.  Once home though, it will be a quick turn around before heading off to sunny Las Vegas for Blog World, the world’s largest and preeminent blogging and new media conference.

I’m pleased to be a part of the Travel series of educational sessions this year, and will be moderating a panel on Travel Blogging as a Second Career.  Also on the panel are some online friends with impressive blogs and credentials:  Trisha Miller of Travel Writers Exchange, David and Carol Porter of The Roaming Boomers, and Rick Griffin of Midlife Road Trip.  I’ve not had the opportunity to meet any of these bloggers in real life, but I’ve enjoyed getting to know them as we’ve prepared our panel and I am looking forward to spending some time getting to know them better.

Whether you’re an experience blogger and user of social media, or perhaps just wanting to learn more about it, Blog World Expo will provide plenty of opportunities for you to learn more.  You can still buy a ticket to the event, just click the icon here in this post (it’s an affiliate link), and if you can’t make it to Las Vegas you can get a virtual ticket and enjoy the recorded sessions from the comfort of your home or office.

In addition to three days of educational sessions on a variety of blogging and social media topics, I have plenty of other activities on my schedule.

I’ll be staying at the new ARIA Hotel at City Center, a LEED Gold certified hotel.  I’ve had the chance for a quick walk through the property, but this will be the first time that I’ve stayed there, and I’m looking forward to experiencing first hand all the special touches that I’ve heard so much about.  Look for a review of the property and its amenities upon my return.

Also on my to-do list:  a spa visit, some pool time (it’s still in the high 80’s during the day), dinner at a couple of fabulous (or at least reputedly fabulous), and seeing the newest Cirque du Soleil production ELVIS.  I’m a big fan Cirque du Soleil fan, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what they’ve done with this subject matter and music.  And tucked into the odds and ends of time on the schedule, I’m sure there will be time spent talking with friends, or soon-to-be friends, over drinks or a bite to eat at any number of local spots.

I’ll try to blog a little bit while I’m at Blog World Expo, but most of what I’m experiencing can be found in my twitter stream.  I invite you to follow me on twitter at @flyawaycafe for more news (not only from BWE, but travel news in general), and you can follow the entire twitter stream of BWE news under #bwe10.

And if you’ll be a BWE10, please be sure to say hello!

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Seeing one of my favorite musicals, Phantom of the Opera, in a Las Vegas environment, was a chance that I jumped at.

This Phantom is an all-new production, reuniting the original creative team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince.  It’s the same storyline, including all the songs, but has new staging and illusions that are perfectly Vegas-inspired.

Without giving away some of the twists and turns of the plot, the story basically is this:

Young Christine Daae, a member of the chorus at the Paris Opera House, becomes the protege of a mysterious man who lives in the underground world of the Opera House.  This mysterious phantom is a disfigured man who for years has extorted a monthly salary from the managers of the Opera House.  lives in the bowels of the opera house.  The phantom falls in love with young Christine, and mentors her career advancement in rather extreme ways.

To the phantom’s dismay, Christine falls in love with Raoul, setting up a love triangle played out in the opera house and in the phantom’s home in the opera house basement.  Unrequited love has never sounded so beautiful.

Even if you’ve seen Phantom of the Opera before, you’ll want to see this production, as it’s different in subtle ways.

From the minute you enter the Venetian’s Phantom Theater it’s like being in the Paris Opera House.  The attention to detail in the room, from the draped walls to the “people” in the boxes, all added to the feel of actually being in the opera house – a participant in the evening’s events rather than a mere observer.

You’ll find the plot line enhanced with special effects that are sure to impress.  The classic chandelier scene is spectacular, and the Phantom’s appearances and disappearances are entertaining and magical.  And that includes taking his final bow!

Shows are at 7 pm Monday – Saturday, with a second show at 9:30 pm on Monday and Saturday.  The theater is dark on Sunday.  Tickets can be purchased online, at the theater box office, or through your hotel concierge.  There are lots of special available, so it’s a good time to take in a show.

For me, much of the enduring feelings I have for this musical is wrapped up in the music.  After I saw the performance for the first time, I bought the CD.  For a few months I played it every day.  Eventually, the novelty wore off, but my enjoyment of the music did not.

To this day, despite seeing the performance a number of times, I often find myself quietly in tears as the final notes play.  I’m not a musician nor a singer, but I assume this is a slight approximation of what an artist must feel when they truly become one with their music.

Take a listen and enjoy the Music of the Night:

Image credits: Amazon

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Yahoo! Travel recently released its list of the most popular cities of 2009.  Based on leading travel research and booking websites, here’s what travelers have to say about where they went this year:

1. Las Vegas
2. Miami
3. Cancun, Mexico
4. San Diego
5. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
6. New York City
7. San Francisco
8. Orlando
9. Honolulu
10. Paris, France

New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

Are there any surprises for you on that list?

I was a surprised to see two Mexico destinations on the list, in light of the Swine Flu scare of this year.  Mind you, that’s not that I think people should avoid travel to Mexico (I don’t), but more what I experienced there earlier this year with plummeting hotel occupancy rates.

I was a little surprised to see Las Vegas at the top of the list, too.  After a campaign promoting the city as one of excess (What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas), it seems like a good time to dial back a bit, and fill some of those hotel rooms.  Vegas Means Business is trying to remind people why the city is such a great business destination (value-priced rates, top-notch meeting facilities, and broad range of restaurants and other services, and I have a hunch that is a good part of why it ranks at the top of the list.

Of the cities on this Top 10 list, I visited the following this year:  Las Vegas (several times), Miami (for a week), Cancun (several times in the midst of the Swine Flu scare), San Diego, New York City (a quick trip, not nearly enough time), and San Francisco (still one of my all time favorite cities),.

Which of these cities did you visit this year?  Did your travel choices help shape this list?

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

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I was in Las Vegas a few months back, and had an opportunity to chat with a waiter and one of the local restaurants.  As I usually do, I asked him where he goes when he’s going out for the evening.  And, I always stipulate that he can’t choose (or try to sell me on) any of the restaurants or bars where he works.

On this occasion the answer surprised me.  My waiter shared that his favorite place to take someone that he’s trying to impress, or for a special occasion, is the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas Hotel

I had always viewed visiting this restaurant as an expensive tourist choice – much like visiting the Jules Verne Restaurant in the real Eiffel Tower.  Expensive, so-so food, and no real value for the money spent.

My waiter pointed out how I was wrong.  Yes, it is expensive, with appetizers starting at $15 and entrees at $25, but he added, he considers this a special occasion restaurant where he’s going to be shelling out some serious money anyway.  He said the food was impressive, the service memorable, and the view spectacular.

I’m still not sure.  A recommendation from a disinterested local weighs heavily in my consideration, though.  Have you been there?  Is it worth a try as my waiter recommended?  Or would you pass?

NOTE:  For some great photos and great posts from travel bloggers around the world check out Photo Friday (this post is my contribution to the effort).

Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares

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The Stardust Hotel & Casino long ago bit the dust, and I do mean that literally as well as figuratively — it was imploded on March 13, 2007.  The implosion was accompanied by a big extravaganza, complete with fireworks, prior to the building crumbling down. The casino-hotel complex was nearly completely rebuilt in 1991, meaning that it was a fairly new building at the time of its demise.

The Stardust opened in 1958, and had a rather checkered existence.  There were numerous rumors that it was a front for mob activities, and several managers and associates has criminal histories that gave credence to the rumors.  But the Stardust was also known for launching careers.

Magicians Siegfried & Roy got their big Las Vegas start at the Stardust, as did plenty of other entertainers whose names became, legendary around town.

It’s amazing how many of the old standards of the strip have gone by the wayside, making way for bigger, better, and splashier hotels and casinos.  I love some of the new places, but also appreciate the history of the old.

Do you have a matchbook collection, or maybe just a couple of them knocking about in a drawer?  I’d love to feature your matchbook in an upcoming Matchbook Monday.  Just take a quick photo and email it to me

Photo credit:  personal collection

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We have a winner in the contest for the Las Vegas getaway!

Our winner is Gayle J, who left this comment:

I have been to Las Vegas twice and still haven’t seen everything. I want to go to the Hard Rock Cafe and want to see the Blue Man group and of course gamble. Thanks.

Congratulations,Gayle.  Now you can go back and see a few more things.  I’m sending you an email to get your personal information so that I can have your prize sent out to you.

A very big thank you to all the readers here at Flyaway Cafe who entered the contest, and to VisitLasVegas.com for providing such a great prize!

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Many of you followed along on my recent trip to Las Vegas, and my quest to find some G-Rated activities.

Here are the top things that I found:

• Spent a day at the pool at Mandalay Bay.  Renting a cabana, and have a place to get out of the sun occasionally, made a 100+ degree day at the pool bearable.
• Watched the volcano erupt at the Mirage.
• Saw Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay.
• Dinner & a show at the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur.

Win a trip to Fabulous Las Vegas!

I’ll be writing about my experience, and providing some reviews and recommendations about them soon, but I wanted everyone to know that I had a GREAT time!  I have some future Vegas trips coming up that will be adult-oriented, so this trip was a little out of the ordinary for me.  But it was was incredibly fun!

How would you like to have a GREAT time in Las Vegas as well?  If you tell me what you would love to see or do in Las Vegas, you just might have the chance to do it!

The nice folks at VisitLasVegas.com are providing one lucky winner a $250 gift card on Southwest Airlines to take a flight to Las Vegas.  SWA flies there from most major cities around the United States.  In addition, the winner will also receive a $150 AmEx pre-paid debit card for spending cash.

To enter the contest all you have to do is leave a comment here on the blog post and answer this question:

When you go to Las Vegas, what do you want to do or see?

Deadline for comments is Tuesday, August 18th, at midnight ET.  After that, I’ll select a random number and match it up with the comment.  You must leave an email so that I can contact you.

Not sure what you want to do?  Or maybe you just need a little help narrowing it down?  Visit Las Vegas will help you out with all sorts of suggestions to tempt you.

Now what are you waiting for?  Enter the contest and tell me what YOU want to do?

Photo credit: Bukowsky18 @flickr

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I was in Las Vegas last week, and if you haven’t been recently, well. . . you haven’t been at all.  The landscaped has changed so much over the last several years.  With the demise of many Las Vegas institutions, and the building of new ones, the skyline along the strip doesn’t bear many of the original founding names.

Today’s Matchbook Monday is a little trip down Las Vegas memory lane, back to the glory years of the desert, and the once infamous Desert Inn.  The Desert Inn was once the home to reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, who rented a couple floors and holed up there for so long that he eventually bought the place.  This was the first of many Las Vegas purchases that Howard Hughes made.

The Desert Inn was one of the premium resorts on the strip, and all the top stars played its Crystal Showroom.  You weren’t anybody till you played the DI.  The original 1960’s version of Ocean’s Eleven was shot here, and it was the setting for the television show Vega$ which aired in the late 70’s.

The resort celebrated it’s 50th birthday in 2000, with a huge, splashy week long party that included many of the starts that had played there over the years.  Just three short days later, the resort was purchased by Steve Wynn.  The hotel eventually closed and was demolished, making way for the Wynn Resort.

I remember visiting the Desert Inn at a time when it was considered one of the elite spots on the strip.  Anyone else?

Photo credit:  personal collection

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I’ll be heading off to Las Vegas tomorrow, and exploring the family-friendly side of Sin City.  While the city once promoted itself as a family-friendly destination, it has long since abandoned that idea, and has had great success (and fun) with “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

The Fountains at Bellagio, Las Vegas

With so many families wishing to vacation close to home this year, and often trying to find a destination that keeps both adults and kids satisfied, Las Vegas seems to be cropping up as destination that’s starting to appeal to families once again.

Las Vegas offers bargains galore, on food and accommodations, has shows suitable for all ages, and hotels that sport some pretty great pool areas.    Although Las Vegas will never shed it’s well-deserved party reputation, and I enjoy the city for a weekend getaway, there are lots of families and adults who want to take advantage of the many amenities the city has to offer, while bypassing the more  risque activities.

That’s my mission for the next few days.  To spot out what’s G-Rated in Sin City.

I already have a pretty decent list to choose from, along with a couple of shows, but if you have some favorite all age-appropriate Las Vegas spots, please leave me a comment with your suggestions.

Photo credit:  The Fountains of Bellagio courtesy of MGM Mirage

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