by Sandra Crittenden

Although we did have a car, we tried to get in our 10,000 steps a day while we were visiting Santa Monica. From our hotel , we were able to walk to the Pacific Park Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. These are some of the major tourist attractions in the area and there were people everywhere enjoying the beautiful sunny weather. We were not there for the rides as we still had an upcoming day at Universal Studios planned but it is free to walk on the pier and take in the expansive views.. There are many restaurants along Ocean Ave to get a quick bite or a beverage should you need refreshment while sightseeing in this area. In addition to enjoying the crashing waves on the sand and the people watching on the pier, you can find artwork and some historical monuments, like a cannon, along the walking trails above the beach as you move towards Palisades Park. If shopping is more your speed, then head to the Third Street Promenade where you will find three blocks of stores and cafés with ...

Our most exciting discovery was a group of restaurants that I found while googling best breakfasts in Santa Monica. They feature local produce, meat and artisan baked goods, most of which is organic. The search had led me to Huckleberry , a bakery and café on Wilshire Blvd not too far from our hotel . It was our favorite breakfast that we had while we were there. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures that day (it was very early) but if you are in the area, it is one that you should not miss. We enjoyed a few different pastries along with hot breakfast dishes like the poached eggs and market vegetable bowl with basil pesto and parmesan cheese, everything we tried was fresh and flavorful. Also serving breakfast in this group is Milo & Olive , a restaurant I had on my list for a potential pizza night. We didn't end up doing that but we did enjoy a late breakfast/brunch there one morning which they serve from 7-11 AM daily. I enjoyed the creamy polenta and poached eggs...

Refreshment on the patio of the Lobby Lounge My husband and I stayed at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows with our adult daughter this summer after her graduation from a Masters program at Claremont Graduate University. We wanted to be near the beach but still be able to easily get into Los Angeles to visit some of the tourist attractions. This was our first time to stay at a Fairmont Hotel . I chose the Miramar for its ocean views and its proximity to the Santa Monica Pier and the beach. It has a long history with a Hollywood connection, it has been a destination of the stars for almost a century. After looking over the various room options, I decided that the Palisade King Suite would easily accommodate us. My husband and I shared a private bedroom and our daughter got the fold out couch in the living room. The six story Palisades wing which housed our room is a historic part of the property that was built in 1924. For a more luxe experience, you can also book a pool...

We decided to take an impromptu vacation after our college kids' finals this year. They wanted to  relax on a beach and we were lucky to find space awaiting for us at the Ritz-Carlton on St Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands for a few days escape. This hotel reminded me of a smaller version of The Ritz-Carlton in Maui.  After checking in, we walked out back to survey the beautifully landscaped grounds. An infinity pool led the eye out to sea. The beach was wide with comfortable lounge chairs with optional shade tops. It was well attended with offers to bring food, drinks, towels, etc.  We spent the majority of our time on the property. The food options at the Ritz-Carlton in St Thomas were varied enough to keep our small group happy for our short stay. I enjoyed the Carribean lobster dinner at Bleuwater and the fresh fried fish wrap at Sails , in particular. We snacked on chips and guacamole by the pool. Enjoying the array of adult beverages kept our col...

I am no stranger to the delights of a Ritz-Carlton stay but the El Dorado Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico exceeded my expectations. My husband and I arrived late in the evening with a small group of friends. We were celebrating a momentous birthday for one in our group. We were quickly checked in and settled into a spacious and welcoming room. Our comfortable accommodations along with the lulling sounds of the sea right outside our terrace quickly put us to sleep after a long day of travel. We awoke the next morning and found ourselves in paradise. The casual elegance of the room along with the capacious bathroom made a perfect temporary home. We fueled up for our day of fun with the breakfast buffet at the hotel. Omelettes to order, prosciutto and an array of fresh fruit and pastries became the way to start off each morning. We spent most of our days enjoying the grounds; we biked, we swam and we napped poolside. The complimentary guava popsicles were a treat to look f...

As a Houston native, I can say that going to Galveston has been a part of every summer of my life for as long as I can remember and, as some family pictures would indicate, I've been going since before I can remember. Like New Yorkers escape to The Hamptons, many Houstonians escape to the little island paradise to the south. There is no better time to escape the city heat than in August. My daughter and I woke up with the spontaneous urge to take in some sea air so we headed south on I-45 to spend the day in our local oasis. In less than an hour we were in Galveston's historic Strand District ordering an early seafood lunch before we headed to the beach. We opted for the Black Pearl Oyster Bar and Grill to get our fix of the local fare and then headed to the touristy Stewart Beach. After a couple of hours of sun and surf, we were back in the car and home by dinner. I have traveled to some of the world's most amazing beaches and while these destinations offer t...

My husband and I stayed at the St Regis  in Princeville on Kauai this past January and it makes my list of highly recommended hotels. We had gone with a group of my husband's co-workers to Maui and when that trip ended we island hopped. This was our first time on Kauai and we unquestionably have a new favorite Hawaiian island. Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeted with kukui nut leis, a lei or necklace made from a local nut instead of the usual flowers. We checked in and headed to our junior suite which comes with butler service. The room had an understated elegance that acknowledged the amazing oceanfront view, the picture on the left was taken from the window. We indulged in a light dinner of Champagne and sushi at the bar before calling it a night. The next day started with coffee service delivered by our butler, something I could easily get used to enjoying regularly and did every day of that trip. We had a rental car so we headed out right after our coffee to exp...

I had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui with my husband this past January. The grounds were absolutely stunning with an expansive view of the ocean, we saw whales almost every day while we enjoyed our morning coffee. Our room was comfortable yet elegant. This was not our first time in Maui but it was our first time at this resort, it is definitely the one to beat right now for us on this Island. We had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dinner on site at The Banyon Tree with excellent and entertaining service from Robert. We were pleased to eat again at  Merriman's  located nearby; they have a diverse wine list and fantastic local seafood. Both get crowded so make your reservation in advance. We also love Sensei  for fresh sushi though we did not have the opportunity to enjoy it on this trip. The hotel spa featured private open air couples massage rooms where we indulged in the lomilomi massage with coco butter...

As I prepare for some Hawaiian island travel later this month, I keep thinking about our trip to Jamaica last spring. My husband and I took our college-age daughter and one of her friends on a beach vacation to recover from mid-terms. We stayed at the  Secrets resort in St James on beautiful Montego Bay . We thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing stay at this hotel. We thought that the grounds were beautiful, the rooms were comfortable and the wide array of cuisine options on-site made it a fantastic destination hotel. In addition to that, they have a spectacular co-ed spa with multiple indoor water features, pools and saunas where we each enjoyed a stress relieving massage. The hotel also has a long stretch of beach with beautiful scenic views. We spent almost all of our time at the resort venturing out only a few times. We left to enjoy a day of snorkeling and sailing, to have dinner on one evening at the House Boat restaurant which is famous for their Caribbean lobster and on one m...