The Amtrak Cascades Review – Business Class from Portland to Seattle

“You’re last”, “You’re last” were the words the small four year old boy in front of me was yelling about at Union Station in Portland, Ore.  He was very cute along with his older sister as they jumped with excitement for their first train ride back home to Seattle (the […]

Cheating with Voodoo Doughnuts

I cheated, I didn’t mean to but the concierge had visited Voodoo Doughnuts before I arrived and left me two doughnuts as a welcome amenity (I had joked that i was working out at the gym like a fiend before my visit having heard about the doughnuts). I cheated because […]

Portland suggestions and map from concierge at Vintage Plaza Portland

Hotel Review: Hotel Vintage Plaza, Portland, Oregon

Attending a conference in downtown Portland, there were a few preferred rates offered by the local hotels.  With such a great stay at the Kimpton in NYC (prior post), I decided to stay at another Kimpton hotel, the Hotel Vintage Plaza in Portland. Arriving after 9 pm from the East […]

Willamette River Waterfront Park Portland

A Local Experience in Portland – Exploring Downtown by Bike

Visiting any city in the U.S. on July 4th (Independence Day) can be challenging as there will probably be fireworks on display somewhere after the sun has set but many (most) businesses and tourist attractions will be closed so what to do with your time?  In Portland, Oregon, I would […]

The Pool at Peninsula Chicago

The Peninsula Chicago on the “living like Oprah vacation”

Nothing about my “living like Oprah without her money” vacation was cheap.  Despite the pay for 2 nights, get the 3rd free promo, the Peninsula Chicago was still an expensive stay but worth every penny! I wasn’t concerned that I was forgoing points by staying here, I wanted to treat […]

Chicago Art Institute – my continued “What is Art” quest

The age old question of “what is art” continues to challenge me as I travel and am exposed to so many varied types of art.  Everyone has an opinion and I have learned to just like what i like whether or not someone deems it “good” or “bad” art.  Ah, […]

Two days in Chicago on my “living like Oprah” vacation

For all of the international travels I have done, there are a few U.S. cities that i am a bit embarrassed not to have visited yet – Chicago was one of them.  The flight from Philadelphia is short enough, there are two major league baseball teams and a plethora of […]

Miraval Art in desert

Breaking barriers….climbing walls at Miraval Spa

I was scheduled to leave Miraval around 11:30/noon for my flight to Chicago.  A lot can be done before noon at Miraval and I was ready to do it.  My day would start with a morning hike on the grounds out in the desert.  We would have two guides, one […]