Category: Travel

Birmingham /

Birthday Staycation – Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort

I celebrated my birthday at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort. This beautiful hillside hotel is located (here) in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Inside of Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort is intricate artwork along with Mediterranean inspired decor. 

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The Spa at Ross Bridge

I booked an appointment at the spa and received a manicure and pedicure.  When I have free time, I prefer spa nail services because they use all natural products. In addition, it’s an intimate environment and provide delicious refreshments.

Sitting in a bathrobe and inhaling essentials oils was very relaxing.  The Spa at Ross Bridge has several additional services including a quiet and steam room, boutique, and chlorine-free pools.

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Additional Resort Photos:

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My visit to Ross Bridge Golf and Spa Resort was the perfect staycation.  I can’t wait to stop by again for an afternoon of golf or deep tissue massage!

Fall 2016 /

A Toast to Travel – Holiday Celebration

It’s not too late to join exclusive bespoke trips for Christmas and New Years while visiting Tuscany. While most people are leaving milk for Santa, you’ll be toasting la dolce vita in Florence.

A Toast to Travel’s weeklong boutique experiences are lead by John and Natalie, an American couple who are THE experts in Tuscany. You’ll benefit from their time living in Italy when they discovered the best the region has to offer and cultivated relationships that ensure you will see Italy like a local. From meals at the best neighborhood ristoranti, to tastings at small vineyards with special access, and to special holiday bonuses like:

  • Christmas Eve Mass led by the Cardinal of Florence at the Duomo
  • A visit to Christmas Markets
  • A New Years Eve of the Eve dinner at a 1400’s castle turned winery where Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa
  • A special New Years Eve Dinner and Celebration

The holiday trips include all the food, wine, art, history and architecture that are hallmarks of A Toast to Travel experiences.  Guests enjoy:

  • Museum and city tours led by a native Florentina certified guide

  • A unique culinary experience at one of the oldest Florentine restaurants which has one of the last wood fired grills in the city

  • A gelato tasting at one of Florence’s oldest gelateria

  • Exclusive cooking class with the chef at a five-star hotel in Florence

A Toast to Travel groups are always small, ensuring good camaraderie and the ability to keep the schedule flexible to cater to the group’s interests and desires in the moment. All of our travel within the region is done via Mercedes vehicles-never, ever a tour bus!

For detailed information about Christmas in Tuscany please visit:

http://www.atoasttotravel.com/new-d-christmas-in-tuscany

For more information on how to ring in 2017 in Tuscany, visit:

http://www.atoasttotravel.com/new-d-new-years-in-tuscany

 

Fall 2016 /

TURKS & CAICOS RESORT FOR TWO RETREATS

The private, tranquil luxurious beachside Blue Haven Resort offers the perfect backdrop for a life changing transformation during two impactful retreats from Retreats Unlimited.

Right at the time when most people’s New Year’s resolution is out the window, New York ‘s dynamo, “No Excuses” trainer Zack Schares, is ready to kick it back into gear with a 4-day/3-night Bootcamp from Feb. 5-8, 2017, featuring goal setting, a beachside obstacle course and a mini-marathon. But it’s not all work, as there is also a unique focus on food and fashion woven into the retreat.

In April, husband and wife team Drs. Michelle & Mark Sherwood bring their integrated functional medicine approach to health on a retreat designed to teach guests how to identify root causes of health challenges and take charge of their own health. Held April 2-5, 2017, participants will learn how to balance their hormones, build muscle and burn fat, and how to make nutrition and supplements work for their bodies.

One of TripAdvisor’s Top 25 Hotels in the Caribbean, Blue Haven Resort is an exclusive resort with a private beach and some of the newest, most spacious suites on the island. Facilities include a gym, Elevate Day Spa, market, two restaurants and whimsical hammocks swaying amongst palm trees on the beach. The resort is also adjacent to an IGY Marina, providing convenient access to world-class diving, kayaking, SUP and other marine adventures.

Both retreats include:

  • 4 days/3-nights in luxury accommodations at the magnificent Blue Haven
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and non- alcoholic beverages included
  • All taxes and tips at the hotel restaurants
  • Retreats Unlimited Swag Bag

Both retreats are priced at $2,983.50 Double Occupancy /$3,369.00 Single Occupancy.  The retreats are curated by Retreats Unlimited. To make a reservation, review the detailed itinerary, or for additional information visit Retreats Unlimited or call 312-961-3280.

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Blue Haven Resort

Voted one of the top 20 resorts in the Caribbean in 2016 by TripAdvisor fans, Blue Haven Resort has earned a reputation for offering fabulous service, and exceptional facilities and value.

Blue Haven Resort’s private beach, and its address adjacent to a five gold anchor IGY Marina, provides visitors with the ultimate combination of a relaxing and adventure filled vacation experience.  Resort facilities include two restaurants, an infinity swimming pool, a gourmet market and café, Elevate Day Spa, a 24-hour gym, and beach service and hammocks at the resort’s private beach.

Spacious air-conditioned rooms and suites offer contemporary décor, free Wi-Fi, flat screen tv’s, and free coffee and tea provisions.  Suites feature state of the art kitchens, washers and dryers, and private terraces or balconies.

For reservations and information, visit http://www.bluehaventci.com.

Retreats Unlimited

Retreats Unlimited is a full-service retreat company offering fitness, self-improvement and wellness vacations. Unlike any other, our retreats and wellness holidays are in destinations that are unique. The resorts are luxurious and each retreat offers unique experiences. http://www.myretreatsunlimited.com/

 

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Tailgating and Visiting The Westin Hotel

Last weekend I took a road trip to my collegiate Homecoming celebration, Alabama A&M University.  I’m a traditional girl and returning as Alumni was a big accomplishment.

Aside from viewing the football game, I enjoyed Tailgating because it’s one big party filled with music, food, and a lot of fun!

My attire for the Tailgate was a crop top, high-waisted jeans, and sorority clutch. I selected a pair of heels for height but any true fashion girl has a set of flats nearby.  We also stayed at The Westin Huntsville and I was delighted with the view and room service.

Homecoming was an awesome event and I had a blast catching up with old friends!  Don’t forget to visit my IG account @kwest1908 to view more photos.

Fall 2016 /

Williamsburg Harvest Celebration – America’s Original Farm-to-Table Destination

First garden-to-table (check). First water-to-table (check). First free-range domestic animals (check). First beer (check). It all started in 1607 and continues in Greater Williamsburg with the second annual Williamsburg Harvest Celebration from Nov. 4-13, 2016.

More than 30 culinary food events and happenings will blanket Greater Williamsburg (Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown) over a period of two weeks. Thirsty for more? The booming beverage scene – including Williamsburg Tasting Trail partners offering beer, wine, distilled spirits and mead – will also join in the celebration.

Tickets for the various events range from $0 (free) to $125. Some of these will sell out, so don’t wait to get your tickets! Highlights include:

  • Lambs + Clams at The Williamsburg Winery: A night of inspired culinary creations from some of the region’s top chefs paired with world-class wine, beer and spirits.
  • The Cycling Shepherd and His Flock: Enjoy a 30-mile bike ride along historic Route 5 and the Virginia Capital Trail culminating with a lamb-tastic wine-paired brunch.
  • Merchant’s Square Tapas Crawl: A dining tour of The Cheese Shop, Berret’s Seafood Restaurant & Tap House Grill and Hound’s Tale.
  • Private Wine & Chocolate Party at MAD About Chocolate: A chocoholic’s delight of French and Belgian chocolate creations paired with wines that complement the flavor.
  • Williamsburg Tasting Trail Craft Brewery Tour with Lunch: Including stops at Virginia Beer Company, Alewerks Brewery, Brass Cannon Brewery and Second Street Bistro.

  • Pop Up Late Night Speakeasy: Featuring Prohibition Era cocktails in a secret location with limited seating. Look for the doorman and the blue light somewhere in Merchants Square…

  • Masters of Taste, Sommelier Challenge Wine Dinner at The Williamsburg Winery: Enjoy a five-course meal paired with wines selected by three renown Sommeliers. And many more events including Chowder Fest, Oyster Roast, Family Fish Jamboree; breakfasts and brunches, farmers markets, wine tasting seminars and brewery tours!

The Harvest Festival will also feature guest chefs from outside of Williamsburg, on hand to demo some of their most popular dishes: Walter Staib, City Tavern in Philadelphia; Ian Boden, The Shack in Staunton, Va.; Jason Alley, Comfort and Pasture in Richmond, Va.; and Sam McGann, The Blue Point in Duck, N.C., among others.

Beauty /

Butter Elixir: 5 FALL TRAVEL BAG UPGRADES

“It’s difficult enough as it is to fit everything you need for a weekend getaway or midweek work trip into a carry-on suitcase so when it comes to your beauty bag, less is always more. To prevent lugging around a vanity full of products, look for things that can pull double-duty; a oil for hair AND body, a cosmetics bag that doubles as clutch – you get the idea. Also, keep in mind that paring down should not mean giving up quality. Splurge on luxe minis, you and your hair will be much happier. Here are 5 travel bag upgrades you should make asap.” written by 

Read more at Mane Addicts.com 

Fall 2016 /

Kingsmill Resort and River Contest

Are we are all late to the party? Every mountain, lake, island, desert and forest is already named in America. It must have been a blast in 1607 to land in what’s now the United States and say, “Hey, let’s name that river The James after our dear old king, and let’s name that one over there The York River to remind us of home!” So now, in 2016, we’ve got nothing to name except our kids and pets.

Or do we?

Down on the Virginia Peninsula in Williamsburg, intrepid travelers and vacationers have discovered a new waterway, a river– and it has no official name. The powers that be, being amazingly creative, call it the “No Name River,” but even they now think it should have a proper name given tens of thousands of people come from all over the U.S. to swim, play, float and jump into it. It’s not navigable to commercial traffic; there is no industry on it; and the water is so clear you can see to the bottom.

And they want the public to name this river.

The river is found at Kingsmill Resort, and it surges with 250,000 gallons of water and travels an incredible 500 feet. It has no headwater and no mouth, but it flows at around 3 miles per hour and is ideal for floating, wallowing and rafting on colored tubes, given it goes around and around, yet never really begins or ends.

The naming contest is simple. Anyone over 18 can go to

www.kingsmill.com/name-the-lazy-river and enter their suggestion by November 1, 2016. There are rules, so check them out, and the winner will be notified on November 4, 2016, and receive a free “Kingsmill Loving Summer Prize Package” for 4 people with two nights accommodations, daily breakfast and a $25 credit to spend at the lazy river when it opens on Memorial Day weekend in 2017.

For information, dive into www.kingsmill.com or call (800) 832-5665.

Fall 2016 /

Round Hill Resorts with Shayna Hiller

Ring in the new year with one-of-a-kind coach, Shayna Hiller at the beautiful Round Hill Resort in Jamaica, January 19-22, 2017.  Shayna will take you through a practice of intention and goal setting and help you press the reset button as you ring in the new year.

Shayna is a one-of-a-kind coach who provides effective methods for integrating mind, body, and spirit. She supports people who have a desire to feel their best, physically and emotionally.

Guests of this transformational retreat will learn how to love their bodies, eliminate self-doubt and shame, manage stress, feel more confident, increase intimacy in their lives, and lose excess weight.

Great tools that guests can take home include:

  • Simple meditation techniques that they can use in their every day lives to reduce stress and increase energy and mental clarity.
  • Step by step guidance on how to visualize clear intentions and a game plan for materializing desires.
  • Guests will leave feeling stronger and more connected with their bodies through mindful yoga, and more peaceful and balanced in their minds.
  • Healthy food for one week will release stagnant energy and toxins in the body and leave people feeling light, refreshed, and inspired.
  • The art of conscious eating, breathing, and living.

This retreat will provide guests with the space to gain mental clarity, set meaningful intentions, create a comfortable game plan, identify your top priorities, and maximize your overall health.

Shayna Hiller is an expert in the fields of nutrition, yoga, and meditation. She is the author of ‘Don’t Judge Me By My Cover‘. She supports people in overcoming eating disorders, increasing intimacy in their lives, and discovering and actualizing their life’s purpose. Shayna offers first hand knowledge and expertise to gently guide people on their path to wellness.

Round Hill, in Montego Bay Jamaica, welcomes you with genuine Jamaican hospitality while captivating you at every turn. This beautiful 110-acre private enclave of luxury villas, boutique oceanfront rooms, award-winning seaside dining and an exquisite spa that lies nestled in a lush tropical hillside along a private bay of turquoise waters.

Josef Forstmayr, Managing Director at Round Hill Hotel & Villas comments: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with wellness expert Shayna Hiller to create a unique retreat that will help our guests feel completely re-energized after the festive season. The panoramic views of the ocean from our fitness centre/gym at Round Hill provide an encouraging environment to inspire and motivate guests as they exercise. The stunning location of our gym and yoga pavilion, combined with the positive energy that Shayna will evoke through her exclusive wellness programme, will no doubt make our guests leave the resort feeling completely rejuvenated both physically and emotionally. We look forward to inviting visitors to experience this wonderful wellness and mindfulness retreat.”

An Early Bird Promotion is available until December 10 for $2,662/double occupancy – shared room (per person) and $3,465/single occupancy.

The retreat does not include airfare, but flights can be booked through Retreats Unlimited.  For more information on the retreats, visit http://www.myretreatsunlimited.com/new-year-new-shayna-hiller/.

The New Year New You retreat is curated by Retreats Unlimited. To make a reservation, review the detailed itinerary or for additional information visit Retreats Unlimited or call 312-961-3280.  For more information, interviews or photos, please contact Tammy Petersen at

tammy@myretreatsunlimited.com
Lifestyle Tips /

BELIZE THIS FALL AND FIND LIFE BALANCE

The Osi Mizrahi’s Life in Balance Retreats Unlimited retreat in Placencia, Belize Oct. 25-30th embraces solo travel with no single supplement. Mizrahi brings together Ayurveda, yoga and meditation in her powerhouse Ayurveda Oils and Yoga Retreat.

The retreat is designed to teach participants how to live an Ayurveda lifestyle in order to create a life filled with joy and vibrancy. They’ll learn what their Dosha is and how to optimize it through food, exercise and other self-care practices.

Days will be filled with learning rituals to take home, from morning and evening yoga and meditation to how to use Ayurveda oils to calm the nervous system to promote better skin and hair, less chronic pain and better sleep.

Mizrahi studied with Ayurveda master Dr. Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute and is a certified Kundalini, Hatha, and Anusara Level 500 Yoga instructor and certified Shambhala meditation guide.  She used the practices she teaches to cure herself of 15 years of digestive issues.

The retreat is 5 day/4 nights and includes all meals, shuttle service to and from the airport, all taxes and tips, and a daily gift bag. Early bird pricing runs until September 25, 2016 and is $2344/single occupancy. Airfare is not included, but can be booked through Resorts Unlimited.

The award-winning Robert’s Grove Beach Resort, is a comfortable, beautifully appointed property set amidst 22 acres of tropical, art-filled gardens and sandy beach that offers easy access to all of Belize’s top attractions.

 

Lifestyle Tips /

CostaBaja™ Resort and Spa – Sun-Kissed Yoga Bliss Retreat

One of the nation’s most popular yoga instructors, Kylan Fischer, will host a five-day wellness retreat for those seeking to unwind from everyday stresses and find their bliss.  The retreat will be offered October 5-9, 2016, at the spectacular CostaBaja Resort and Spa, an all-inclusive property just 10 minutes south of downtown La Paz, the capital of Mexico’s Baja California.

“Treat yourself to this opportunity to sweat it out, let it go and relax,” offered Kylan. “This tropical getaway enables you to detox from deadlines and dreary daily routines. You’ll feel the exhilaration and pride of gently pushing your yoga practice to new levels,” she observed.

To take advantage of substantial savings, opt for early bird discounts and book by September 5, 2016. Additional nights can be reserved.

 The five-day, four-night retreat includes:

  • Seaview room accommodations (double or single occupancy available)
  • All meals
    • Vinyasa yoga, Heart Opening yoga, morning yoga and sunset meditation
    • Stretch your practice by performing yoga on a stand up paddleboard, on the beach and blindfolded
    •  Experience a new level of joy as you swim with the seals

 Sea View Room total package price for bookings:

  • 1 person (single occupancy) $2,840.68  USD per person
  • 2 person (double occupancy) $2,544.79 USD per person (shared room)

To make a reservation, review the itinerary or for additional information contact Retreats Unlimited at 312-961-3280 or http://myretreatsunlimited.com/.

About Kylan Fischer

Kylan Fischer’s yoga story began with her extensive background in dance. Once she learned yoga to achieve better alignment for dance stretches, the practice became her passion. Since earning her Yoga Alliance Certification, Kylan has led workshops and retreats nationwide. See her amazing poses by joining her more than 91,000 followers on Instagram: @Yoga_ky

About CostaBaja Resort and Spa

The all-inclusive CostaBaja Resort and Spa is just 10 minutes south of downtown La Paz, the capital of Mexico’s Baja California.  The resort, unmatched in the region, is set on the magnificent Sea of Cortez overlooking a 250 slip marina and a white sand beach.  It is nestled like a jewel within 550 acres of environmentally protected costal lands.  Just north of the hotel lies Isla Espiritu Santo, a designated UNESCO World-Heritage bio-reserve, and adjacent waters that offer the best sport fishing in Baja Sur. CostaBaja offers exclusive access and preferred rates at Mexico’s only Gary Player-designed golf course; the tranquil Espiritu Spa featuring locally-inspired treatments and full spa services; three pools and multiple dining options.