Destinations Archives » Page 16 of 19 » Adventures of Empty Nesters

A Pasadena Showcase House of Design Adventure

February 28, 2020April 27, 2017

This is not a sponsored post. I just wanted to share my enthusiasm for architecture and design as well as promoting a worthy fundraising event. This is a HUGE experience in my town of Pasadena, CA.

Pasadena Showcase House of Design 2017 – This year’s Tudor estate looks especially over the top fantastic.

In the article Behind the Scenes: The making of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design written by Bonnie McCarthy of the Los Angeles Times, she offers a detailed behind the scenes peek inside the project. She shares that it is “recognized as one of the oldest and most successful not-for-profit showcase houses in the country and the showcase will see more than 35,000 visitors. It’s a chance for the public to see what’s on the style radar in the months to come and meet and speak with the designers about their work.”

For many years Mom and I would make the drive from Orange County (about 60 miles) to visit the next masterpiece. Ironically, this year’s design house is literally in my neighborhood! I live on one of the “smaller house” tree-lined streets nearby. 🙂

So Many Great Restaurants in Washington D.C. – Not Enough Time!

February 28, 2020April 18, 2017

Just several of the many great restaurants in Washington D.C.

When the list of great restaurants in Washington D.C. contains at least one hundred possibilities, how do you choose? I know…first world problems, but seriously it wasn’t easy!

I scoured DC Eater, Washington D.C. and the detailed list that my traveling-foodie-friend Angela gave me and then made some hard choices. Our longtime friends Angela and Jon enjoy lively restaurants and delicious chef-inspired dishes as much as we do. The four of us had a blast and ate our way through New Orleans a few months ago and we barely dented our list.

An Empty Nesters Guide to the 17 Best Things to Do in Washington D.C.

February 28, 2020April 14, 2017

What are the best things to do in Washington D.C.? How much time do you have?

Washington D.C. is an incredible place to visit (and live) and I found that people I talked with about visiting there fell into one of two categories. One, was that they have visited several times and knew the city really well and the other was a person who always wanted to go but for whatever reason never seemed to have gotten there! It was interesting to hear about the two extremes.

A Sensational Spring Flower Display in Seattle

February 28, 2020April 3, 2017

The rain showers of the Pacific Northwest bring a spectacular spring flower display ~

If you were asked to describe where you would find the best spring flower display, does Seattle come to mind first? It is doubtful. The Pacific Northwest owns the quintessential bad weather rap for constantly raining with never ending gloomy skies. However, that is just a ruse, because I lived there last spring and it was spectacular.

An Empty Nester Foodie Lunch Adventure at Kismet in Silver Lake

February 28, 2020March 29, 2017

It’s Kismet!

Just down the road from the Griffith Park Observatory is a cute little shop with delicious Mediterranean food created by two clever chefs, Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson. I was familiar with Kismet only from reading popular food and wine magazines, as well as a recent glowing review by the Pulitzer Prize winning, food critic, Jonathan Gold of the Los Angeles Times.

A Sunny Spring Weekend in Scottsdale

February 28, 2020March 27, 2017

Our busy empty nester weekend in Scottsdale ~

What kind of ingredients do we need to enjoy the perfect weekend in Scottsdale? For this discerning empty nester couple, our list includes, fabulous accommodations, delicious food, fun activities, pleasant weather, beautiful scenery, a cultural excursion, spring baseball and best of all, simple relaxation.

Yes please to the entire list! Craig and I have wanted to spend an adventurous weekend in Scottsdale, AZ for quite some time. However, we truly first and foremost wanted to attend Spring Training to see the Los Angeles Dodgers!

Spring training is super kick back and relaxed and a fun way to get up close and personal with the teams.

We are huge fans of Dodger “Manager of the Year” and UCLA Bruin, Dave Roberts and are enthusiastically optimistic of our chances for a successful season!

Park Hyatt Aviara – The Perfect Destination for Spring Break

February 28, 2020March 23, 2017

Line up ten discerning travelers and each will offer a different idea for the perfect destination for Spring Break. Craig and I are not huge fans of flying to popular beach vacation spots like Mexico or Florida during Spring Break. No offense to the college students, but they travel by the thousands this time of year and I would rather not hang out with them. They probably hope the lounges at poolside are not full of empty nesters either!

Really Fun Things to do with Your Adult Children in Seattle

February 28, 2020March 9, 2017

What are the best things to do with your adult children in Seattle?

First, make sure you create plans that everyone will be happy with and talk about it, negotiate if you have to. Just don’t make it all about Mom and Dad, include everyone’s favorite activities.

Traveling with a young family is entirely different from deciding what to do with your adult children. When the kids are younger, they pretty much have to do what we say and acquiesce to any plans that we make for them. We are the adults and they are the children.

Once these little people grow up, the game changes. Everyone is living on their own paying their own bills (except their cell phones) coming and going as they please and making their own traveling choices. Deciding what to do with your adult children now becomes a bit more of a conversation, not to mention a logistical nightmare sometimes.

All that aside, we happen to have two enthusiastic grown travelers who are willing (mostly) to do anything that I decide to plan. The fun part is that now they can insert their own experiences and planning skills and our combined efforts turn out some pretty awesome trips.

The four of us took two successful trips together last year and will hopefully be planning one for 2017.

My Best Dinner in Los Angeles, Maybe My Best Ever

February 28, 2020March 6, 2017

I think it was for sure my best dinner in Los Angeles. No contest.

Yes – it’s true. This may have been my Best Dinner in Los Angeles ~ maybe my favorite meal ever. Whoa – BIG statement. Don’t forget that I have been to the French Laundry in Napa and thought that dinner was my favorite. Those are some big shoes to fill.

Trois Mec, roughly translated, means “three guys” in French. So three guys, who happen to be accomplished and now famous Los Angeles chefs, created this one of a kind restaurant. I have known about it since it opened, but this was not an easy evening to put together. We lived in Orange County which is located about 90 minutes to 2 hours each way (only because of typical Los Angeles traffic) plus, the reservation is not easy to get.

It actually isn’t a reservation at all, but a ticket, a golden ticket. Every other Friday, they release about 30 seats for two seatings each night. The meal is pre-fixe and you pay in advance. Sounds a little sassy and daunting doesn’t it?

Where is the best view in San Francisco ? We found it.

February 28, 2020March 1, 2017

Hands down, no joke, the best view in San Francisco ~

Just a couple of days ago, we visited Point Bonita Lighthouse and thought we had enjoyed the best vistas of San Francisco. But once again, our personal local tour guides, Nick and Kylie, have struck San Francisco gold and really showed us the best view in San Francisco! This is a very tall order (pun intended) because everywhere you look, this unique city shows off its beauty. Many of the tall downtown buildings have incredible bars and restaurants on the top floors offering spectacular views.

However, the view from Cityscape is 360 degrees of wonder. Because of the recent perfect weather and crystal clear skies it allowed us to see for miles and miles! No detail was too small and every hill, every bridge, every street light, every street, every landmark and the ocean seemed so close you felt you could touch it.