Every Day Is a New Adventure in Atlanta, Georgia

Our recent adventure trip to Atlanta, Georgia was coupled with downtown accommodations and relaxed, southern dining. Hyatt Place Atlanta Downtown, located in central Atlanta, is within walking distance of the Georgia Aquarium and countless restaurants to match everyone’s taste buds. After a day of hot air ballooning, biplane flying, and whale shark swimming, there is nothing better than a tasty meal and a full night’s rest.

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Attention to Detail – Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, SC

The meticulously-restored Wentworth Mansion exemplifies grandeur with its twelve-foot
ceilings, 21 spacious rooms and suites, original hand-carved marble fireplaces, Italian crystal chandeliers, and Tiffany glass, but it is its gracious hospitality, luxurious amenities, and attention to detail that makes it Bucket List Publications’s Hotel of the Year!

Feels Like Home to Me

Charlotte, NC is currently our home. We’ve only lived here for two weeks, but our goal is to buy a house and make North Carolina our permanent residence, a place where we’ve lived long enough to remember the address, have family for neighbors, and be part of the community. Before moving here, we lived in California. It was a like being on permanent vacation with the perfect weather, unlimited possibilities, and endless adventures, but it was never my home. I never felt that connection to my environment. Growing up in Nova Scotia gave me a true feeling of “home”. It wasn’t only because I was surrounded by family, but because I was surrounded by community; I smiled and waved at the people around me and they smiled and waved back.  I want that friendly-neighbor association for Athena, which is what prompted the move from our permanent vacation in California to our new home in North Carolina. Moving back to the east coast is a reminder of all the great things that surrounded me as a child in Nova Scotia. Beautiful, majestic trees, fishing off of a pier or in a lake, swinging from a tree, vacationing at the beach, and parties with family and friends, thinking about Nova Scotia warms my heart and reminds me that I am home.

A Million Dollar View – The Omni Charlotte Hotel

Most four and five diamond hotels offer more luxuries than you could possibly use during one stay. Who uses a phone in the bathroom anyway? And I don’t even know the difference between Egyptian cotton, satin, or silk sheets. There are some luxuries, though, that make me say, “wow” when I walk into a hotel and a hotel room. The Omni Charlotte Hotel envelopes you in comfort with a touch of genuine North Carolina hospitality and a million dollar view. Centrally located in the heart of Charlotte’s financial district, The Omni Charlotte Hotel offers over 300 degree views from the corner suites. I was able to unwind in the Signature Lounge and delight in a dish prepared at Trade Restaurant & Bar. Offering an ideal location, inviting atmosphere, and attentive service, The Omni stood out as a quality hotel with luxuries worth sharing with others.

A Royal Hideaway in Mexico

The Royal Hideaway Playacar, Mexico does all-inclusive right. This breathtaking, adult-only resort claims a spectacular beach, infinite pools and services, and exquisite suites! Royal Hideaway is a new level of all-inclusive.

Dominican Republic ~ Travelogue of Firsts

Dominican Republic ~ Travelogue of Firsts
Featured Writer~~Mistress Bliss~~
http://steppingmywaytobliss.wordpress.com/

I’ve debated about how to post about our vacation…give a day by day account (boring); tell all the details in a big, long-winded post (snore); write a dissertation on the culture shock I suffered for 2 weeks (bleck!); do a post on cockroaches and the Damn Devil Bug that bit me the first day (now that could be interesting)….???? Instead I have decided to keep it positive and focus on the new things I saw/experienced through some photos. Enjoy!

Window to Paradise – Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico

 Featured Writer: Susan Edel
www.SKEdazzles.com

Have you ever stayed at a resort that completely changed the game for you? A resort where the accommodations are gorgeous, the amenities are rich and the service is impeccable. The turning point when you knew that those economy motels will never be good enough for you again. For me, that resort was Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico. As the name implies, it truly is a window to Paradise. As one of the most acclaimed resorts ever, Las Ventanas has redefined luxury and pampering, reaching out with special touches that are the hallmark of refined hospitality.

While the Rest of the World Moves at a Frantic Pace, Sunset Cove Villas Cultivates an Air of Unhurried Leisure and Tranquility

Laguna Beach, and the surrounding Orange County areas, is the reason my husband and I moved across the continent. There are quaint shops, delicious restaurants, art galleries, beachfront beauty, year-round sunshine, and friendly people that remind me of eastern Canada. Sunset Cove Villas, located directly on the beach and minutes from the heart of downtown, are ideally situated to take full advantage of these benefits. Rising directly above Laguna Beach’s dramatic coastline, one of the most desirable beaches on the California coast,  Sunset Cove Villas face the majestic beauty of the Pacific Ocean, creating a picturesque setting and romantic atmosphere. The crashing waves, white sand, spectacular sunsets, and gentle breezes make a stay at Sunset Cove Villas priceless. What nature has not graciously provided, the owners of Sunset Cove Villas have; luxury, ample amenities, and attention to every detail are all part of the Villa experience at Sunset Cove. I’ve stayed in hotels in 33 countries and countless cities, but none have compared to the 180 degree view of the ocean I experienced while waking up at Sunset Cove Villas. With a balcony on the water and access to the ocean just footsteps away, our Seychelles Villa was the kind of oceanside experience I’d associated with Southern California living, but had yet to attain. I finally soaked up the chance to spend some time living my California dream.

The Full Vegas Experience without Setting Foot on The Strip

In 2011, the AAA (American Automobile Association) added 15 more top-flight properties to its list of 5 Diamond Hotels, bringing the number to 124. These proprieties, all meet the highest standards for hospitality, service, and accommodations. Planning a getaway in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, or Mexico couldn’t be easier. Just choose a Five-Diamond Hotel award winner and you can guarantee a successful trip, right? I wanted to put one of the hotels to the test so I chose the largest 5 Diamond resort in the world – The Venetian & The Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada. With spectacular suites, top shows, exquisite dining, and an abundance of amenities, The Venetian Resort offers it all; it is a center piece, a piece de resistance, for Vegas. During our four night stay, we were able to experience all that Vegas is known for and has to offer by visiting just one resort.

Where Romance and Childhood Dreams Come Alive – Winter in Venice, Las Vegas

The Venetian and The Palazzo, the world’s largest Five Diamond resorts, magically transformed into the most majestic winter surroundings Las Vegas has ever seen, creating Winter in Venice. An outdoor wonderland complete with a skating rink, charming string lights, brilliantly lit trees, holiday music, holiday treats, and displays set the scene. We were greeted by colorful characters wandering the property, spreading good cheer; we were dazzled by a spectacular light show performance; we were blessed with Santa’s presence during the Santa Story Readings; we indulged in chocolate chips cookies and milk; we relaxed at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub; and we gazed into our future together while being serenaded by a gondolier. Winter in Venice made romance and our wildest imagination collide during our four night stay at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada.