Twitter may have you hooked, and you can't really seem to unplug from Facebook either. Then, there's life as you know it -- work, family, friends, love, money, food. Not so easy to balance. At least not all of the time, anyway. It was where I found myself last year, when I crawled into bed with Overload. Not a happy affair -- I suddenly found myself emotionally crawling toward to the Exit Sign for 2009. Still, I knew one thing: I had to refill the well. But how? I live in Northern California. Isn't everything a Kumbaya moment?
Not quite.
So, I forced myself to go on a road trip and begin exploring some of America -- well, its western side at least. Once I got moving, I later used a good chunk of 2010 to visit a number of truly unique travel destinations. The list below comprises my top picks. Take a look. Then indulge yourself.
7 Hot Spots Out West
7. Tempe Mission Palms(01 of07)
Back in the day, when the day found me attending Arizona State University as a journalism student, I reveled in the funky vibe that was Mill Avenue in Downtown Tempe. The area was undergoing a major overhaul then, and the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel had just been birthed. It was a lush hotel back in the late '80s, but during a stay in the past year, I was impressed with its multimillion dollar facelift. Plush, spacious and now a hotbed for both tourists and convention attendees, The Tempe Mission Palms is a refreshing surprise -- not too formal, not too unconventional. A mecca in the sense that it's surrounded by striking desert palms -- glamorous as if you're on a movie set -- the venue boasts spacious hallways and rooms, an equally spacious rooftop pool and terrace -- check out the stellar views of Phoenix and downtown Tempe -- several jacuzzi spas and the popular Mission Grille restaurant. Summer months in the desert may be brutal -- unless you're a Bikram Yoga enthusiast and dig that 108-degree heat -- but I've found this affordable locale situated at the perfect spot -- right between metropolitan Phoenix and Scottsdale. Take note of the infusion of hip culture coming off Mill Avenue, which eventually runs adjacent to ASU. Not a bad place for visiting parents whose kids attend college, but certainly a worthwhile experience, whether you're in town for the golf, for rest, sight-seeing, shopping, a convention or more. (credit:Courtesy of Tempe Mission Palms)
6. Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco(02 of07)
In 2010, you can't beat anything that's "eco-friendly." That may be a great selling point with The Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco's Financial District, but this place is a little gem. A friendly staff and a charming hotel restaurant (the amazing Roots) off to the side of the lobby stand out. You can move around in the rooms -- a plus. Some of the room views of the city are striking. My room, overlooking downtown San Francisco, had a spacious patio/balcony with relaxing lounge chairs and just enough of a patio wall to block out sounds from the busy street below. The best thing, though, may be that Orchard Garden is a spotless 86-room boutique hotel and one of the first in The City to be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. It has also introduced one of The City's first key card energy control system. That's right, you can control temperature, lights and more by using your key card in the room. (I was intrigued by the fact that the inspiration for the hotel came from its 83-year-old owner, Mrs. S.C. Huang, who has devoted herself to creating an environmentally safe and sustainable hotel after the unfortunate deaths of family members to cancer.) Needless to say, everything from the lighting, water use and the materials used to create the place, all seem to have some kind of environmental benefit. Good to be green here. Especially when you want to relax. (credit:Courtesy of Orchard Garden)
5. Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco(03 of07)
One of the best stays in San Francisco. The Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco is a dramatic wonderland and somewhat of a surreal trip back in time, although it boasts a very modern feel. There's a sophistication here -- a kind of classiness -- that has been bled out of culture, overall, now that we've become humans who have to Tweet everything. But I digress. I had a divine experience here. Tea service in the room upon check-in was a definite plus -- afternoon tea is always on hand. You'll find real exotic Asian flair in this award-winning hotel. You can sense it upon entry -- the lobby is intimate, yes, but it has a Verdi marble floor inlay that portrays a stylized Chinese pattern called "shou." Translation: it stands for longevity, good fortune and good luck. Check out the fabulous MO Bar, a great social scene from 5 p.m. on, and take note of the jazz on hand, too. Executive Chef Rick Bartram oversees the venue's restaurant, Silks, which wins points for its Asian-inspired cuisine. (I was also impressed with the Napa Valley wine list here.) As for the rooms in this wildly intoxicating high-rise, the views are often dramatic and take your breath away. Better still, the rooms are generous in what they offer you, and spaciousness rests right at the top of the list. I got a kick out of how much attention is made to "comfort" here. The bed, for instance, is big and rests higher than you'd find in other hotels. (Nice touch on the headboards, which hold a symbol of eternity that glows in the center.) Everything here appears to be designed for your comfort. You tend to feel like a king or a queen. And any hotel that can make you feel like royalty is just fine in my book. Book a room now. (credit:Courtesy of the Mandarian Oriental)
4. The Shadowbrook, Capitola(04 of07)
It's not a hotel but it's certainly a destination. For those traveling to Northern California, Shadowbrook Restaurant is a must-see and an experience you'll relish. Situated in picturesque Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz, and just over an hour's drive south of The City, this little haven feels like something plucked right out of the Shire in The Hobbit. Perched just above the precious Soquel Creek, this outstanding -- outstanding, outstanding -- restaurant has old-world charm and top-notch dining, not to mention one of the finest wine lists in Northern California. Owner Ted Burke has kept the classy feel of the multi-leveled structure, which has been impressing locals and visitors since 1947. Beyond the inventive menu -- read my review here -- everything outside of the restaurant is just as delicious -- visually that is. Take note of the plush, garden paths and ride the venue's own -- downright quaint -- cable car down to the dining destination. Amazing happy hours and winemaker events stand out, along with the outside patios and terraces. An unforgettable experience. (credit:Courtesy of Shadowbrook)
3. Enchantment Resort, Sedona(05 of07)
The truth is I never stayed here -- I simply spent the day, and it was hard to pull me away. But the tour I received and the meal I had in the resort's restaurant remained active in my memory long after I left, which is why I am recommending it. This is a heavenly hot spot in picturesque -- boldy dramatic -- Sedona. Yes, Enchantment Resort stands out for many reasons -- there are a number of suites to choose from which are dynamite -- but the most notable jewel here seems to be the Mii amo Spa. You'll never experience anything like it. (There's a daily resort fee which includes access to Mii amo.) The inspiration behind the spa comes from the spiritual nuances and traditions of Native American people. Beyond the steam, sauna, whirlpool, fitness room, indoor pool (with fireplace), outdoor lap pool -- there are even art lessons and cooking demos -- you might be drawn to the unique meditation room, which houses a number of amazing crystals. Enchantment rests on more than 70 acres in the scenic Boynton Canyon, so if you're bored, you can't really blame the resort -- you can experience everything from hiking to mountain to croquet here. Big plus: Enchantment Resort offers a complete Native American program with impressive activities that include ruin walks, medicine walks and more. The food: Yavapai Restaurant offers a breathtaking 180-degree of the canyon. You sense the Gods want to talk to you here. Fortunately, the meals are a heavenly experience, too. You can dine in or outside in two separate dining venues. Nice wine lists and meals made to excellence -- you'll note the attention to fine preparation in entrees, whether it be meat or fish. A terrific variety all around. Drink a glass a wine, sit back and breathe. It doesn't get any better than this in Arizona. (credit:Courtesy of Enchantment Resort)
2. ARIA Resort & Casino, Las Vegas(06 of07)
What's not to like? You're in Vegas and you're staying in an environmentally sustainable hotel in one the city's most lavish new portals -- City Center -- so, yes, The Aria should take a spot at the top of your travel list. And I can go on and on about how great my suite was (so comfy, so lavish and oh, the views, the dramatic views) or how there's so much here to take in (the casinos in the lobby are smartly laid out for starters) or how the pool area is lush, plush and has a bit of that old Hollywood charm with cabanas and all, or how much passion seems to go into the food preparation in any one of the numerous places you can find culinary wonders to nosh on, but what really stands out, for me, the traveler, is the attention and dedication to being "green." The hotel has a LEED Gold certificate, but part of that comes from City Center itself, whose main thrust seems to be all about being eco-smart. This is one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities. Wood products come from responsibly managed forests, there's high-efficiency water use -- both inside the building and outdoors -- and some alternative fuel options for limousines. Imagine that. ARIA also has the 5 Green Keys, from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. Not bad at all. Above all, this place is loads of fun, too, so when you do stay, in between gambling and shopping, check out the latest Cirque du Soleil Show, "Viva Elvis," which has been turning heads. Another Cirque treasure is "KA." See my behind the scenes tour of "KA" here. ARIA is sublime and tres futuristic a la Logan's Run -- but undoubtedly with a longer life span. Lucky us. You'll be blown away. (credit:Photo by Nancy Rubins)
1. Esalen, Big Sur(07 of07)
Every now and then, you stumble upon a place of pure magic; a destination where the land and the elements and its people all merge together in some sort of cosmic dance to give birth to some fancifcul harmony. Esalen Institute is one of those places. Co-created as a "think tank" of sorts for scholars and knowledge seekers, and, actually the more curious culture-shifting titans, back in the sixties by Michael Murphy -- a prominent character in the Human Potential Movement -- Esalen rests on a precious 120 acres of land between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more striking view of the coast, of nature, of land, of sea, than right here. But where to begin? Most of the people that arrive at Esalen are here to experience any number of workshops or course studies. There's an art center, a work-study program in various arenas and, perhaps, one of the nation's most prominent massage certification programs. (The massage here: to die for.) Then there's the Esalen baths -- mesmerizing. (At night, it hearkens back to ancient Greece.) Designed by award-winning architect Mickey Muennig, the baths, rebuilt after the El Niño storms of 1998, are made of mostly of board-formed concrete, sandstone, and what's known as clearstory windows. They rest on a rocky cliff, perched about 50 feet above the Pacific. Natural hot springs flow from the ground at 119 degrees at 80 gallons/minute. Interesting to note: These "healing" waters have been flowing for centuries, actually, and provided relief and remedy for the Esselen Indians. Depending on the time of year, you can spot migrating whales and nice glimpses of otters, seals and birds. During my stay, a didgeridoo meditation was held on one side of the baths -- the "silent" side. Thirty minutes before, I enjoyed a rejuvenating massage and then just lay there afterward, soaking up the unique sounds and elements reverberating from that magic chamber. There's so much to report here -- the food, oh, the food, most made directly from what comes from the gardens and the homemade bread, stop me -- but check out Esalen's website and learn more about personal retreats, workshops, its history and more. This hits the top of the list for a number of reasons, but mainly because in a day and age when we're prone to keep doing more and are forced to pay attention to "more" -- of "everything" -- the true vacation really comes from removing yourself from "life" and finding a spot somewhere on Earth where you can reflect on the one you're really living. Few traditional vacations can assist you in actually unplugging. And while Esalen isn't so much a vacation spot in the traditional sense, as it is an experience, it is refreshing to know that it does have a living, breathing spiritual heart. And, just by it's very nature, it seems destined to help people discover theirs (again). It's one of the most magical spots on the planet. (credit:Courtesy of Esalen Institute)
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