Travel The East

As we continued our journey into Southern California, we planned a stop at the Hotel Irvine .  It is located just 10 minutes outside Newport Beach in Irvine, CA.  The property had a modern look and character, which featured spacious guest rooms and many onsite amenities.  Some of our favorites were the fully stocked 24/7 marketplace and the Club 12 lounge on the 12 th  floor. The deck outside of Club 12 was a great place to enjoy breakfast or happy hour and take in the great views. For our daytime activity, we made the short drive to Newport Beach Harbor to set sail on a Duffy Boat. We did a 2 hour rental which allowed us to comfortably make a big lap around the whole harbor and take in the sights. In addition to the beautiful waterfront houses, the boats on display throughout the harbor were a sight in themselves and had our jaws dropping for the whole 2 hours. Duffy boats are electrically powered boats that make it easy for no...

After our time in Napa , we started heading south to our next destination— Glen Oaks in Big Sur . This was the beginning of the drive down the scenic Pacific Coast Highway and it lived up to expectations. There were endless miles of dense forest cascading down into the ocean and plenty of vista points to take in the spectacular views. You’ll want to leave yourself at least a half-day to make this epic drive. Pacific Coast Highway We arrived at Glen Oaks Big Sur in the late afternoon. Glen Oaks features private cottages nestled in a secluded section of redwood forests. We stayed at the Sycamore Cabin which was an experience like no other. The newly renovated cabins each have their own unique character and are equipped with kitchenettes and living rooms, in addition to the cozy bedroom. Outside our front door was a private fire pit, adding to the outdoor ambiance. Fairy Circle of Redwoods Swinging Bridge The next morning we headed out for a...

Silverado Resort & Spa, Napa Valley A California road trip is an adventure that’s been on our bucket list for quite some time. This April, it was finally time to make it happen. While the prospect of driving 1,000 miles in 9 days isn’t everyone’s idea of a vacation, the dynamic landscape of California leaves a new adventure around every corner and that’s what we were most looking forward to. After spending our first night in San Francisco, we began our Cali road trip by heading northeast over the Golden Gate Bridge to the most renowned wine region in the US – Napa Valley. We began our stay by checking into the Silverado Resort . This resort featured multiple golf courses, fine dining, tennis courts, a market place and many other top-notch amenities. The location and property itself was beautiful. The golf course even hosts the PGA tour event- the Safeway Open.  Perhaps the most impressive and unique aspect of the Silverado was the guest rooms. Our sectio...

Now that spring has sprung (sort of), it was time to put our ski gear away and turn the page to warmer weather activities. This past weekend, we took a trip straight west of Boston to the Berkshires Region of MA. We decided to make a pit stop halfway at the Tree House Brewing Company in Monson, MA. This was a place we had been itching to check out, as the internet reviews were world class. It certainly lived up to its reputation, as we purchased 3 of the best double IPAs we've ever had! The ‘Haze’ was our favorite.  When we arrived in Stockbridge at the Red Lion Inn , we were greeted to a beautiful wrap around front porch and a lobby full of character. The Red Lion Inn was one of the original landmarks in the town of Stockbridge,originally built in 1739. Over the years the owners have done a great job preserving the rustic charm while providing guests with a luxurious stay. Our room was in the newly renovated Maple Glenn House and featured artfully crafted design an...