Our trip to Aspen last week was absolutely fabulous. I really don’t have the words to describe the breathtaking scenery, so just enjoy Fab Photo Friday in Aspen, CO!
Fab Photos Friday: The Natural Beauty of Aspen, CO
The Ritz Carlton Club in Aspen is Absolute Luxury!
As one would expect from the Ritz Carlton, this Residence Club has everything. Our residence was lovely, with a view of the mountain. I can only imagine what it would look like in winter, because the ski lifts were a stone’s throw from our balcony. I could imagine all the snow and the skiers dashing down the mountain and then going back up. The Aspen Trees were just beginning to change color, and they shimmered within our view.
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Monday Musings: Aspen
Aspen, Colorado! How often I’ve heard of that small ski town. I’m finally going to see it next weekend. Randy and I are headed off for a week with friends, and hope to see the Aspen Trees turn gold.
We’ve planned a float trip, a backroads Jeep drive, dinner at Justice Snow…is there anything we are missing that is a “must do” for Aspen? It will be interesting to see a town where selling weed is legal. I’ve watched several shows about the dispensaries, now I will see for myself.
I bought a new GOPRO with an LCD on it for our float trip and the Jeep ride. I’m really quite excited about seeing the mountains! We are staying at the Ritz Carlton Club residences…and I look forward to reviewing it!
So, folks, what do we need to see and do? What restaurants do you recommend? I really want your advice!
Empty Nesters Enjoy Austin: Stay at the Hyatt Regency Austin!
Empty Nesters, there is a lot to do in Texas! How about Austin? What do we really want to know about the Hyatt Regency Austin? The important stuff, right? Like the incredible location and views! Our recent stay was fabulous, and we enjoyed the view so much we didn’t even close the drapes at night…Austin looks mighty pretty as it twinkles in the dark!
One of the best perks was the online check-in. Check-in, and they email you when your room is ready. Don’t want to wait at the front desk? You don’t have to. Just pick up your keys at the kiosk. Love it!
The hotel feels big and airy as it has an atrium in the lobby of the hotel which goes all the way up. Very pretty!
The service is top notch. Any time I had a question or a request, boom! There it is. The staff is super friendly and helpful. A delight after staying in hotels where you are just a number.
Activities for Lady Bird Lake are right on the Hyatt’s doorstep. If you want to rent a paddleboard or kayak, there’s no better place to be.
The Hyatt hosts weddings and other events all the time…it is a fantastic venue for any occasion. Who wouldn’t want this backdrop for a special event!?
They serve a wonderful brunch at the Southwest Bistro, and their Pure Luck salad is delicious! The Bistro has views of the water and the cityscape. Soooo relaxing!
What makes a hotel stay great? An inviting lobby area, friendly reception, and comfortable room are givens. These you expect, and the Hyatt Austin delivers these elements perfectly. In addition, they provide a great location, for in Austin, staying on Lady Bird Lake is the ultimate experience. Add an incredible view, friendly staff, good food, and Texas hospitality, and you have the Hyatt Austin. On your next trip to Austin, be sure to stay at the Hyatt, I guarantee you will be glad you did! And tell them Travels with Tam sent you!
*The opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Funny Things Happened on the Way to Austin
Austin, Texas is one of those places known as “cool”. Austin has always been a cool place to be, whether you are a college student or a Texas politician *(it is the capitol of Texas). It is also a vibrantly active city. The river runs right through downtown (*but it is known as Town Lake, or Lady Bird Lake) and nature exists right in the heart of the city. People are jogging, paddle boarding, kayaking, walking…and there are dogs with their owners. Like I said, a very cool town.
My husband and I drove down to Austin yesterday to visit with our son while our daughter and her friends are having her “bachelorette” weekend at Lake Travis, only an hour away. Coincidentally, our daughter’s car full of young women left Dallas about the same time we did. Lucky for them!
I received a call about 20 miles north of Temple, Texas from my niece who was in the car. “Tam, the air conditioning just suddenly went out. It’s not cold air.” Uh oh. That may not sound like a tragedy to people living in more temperate climes, but in Texas it is a calamity! They were driving an older Escalade, so I called the Cadillac dealership in Temple and arranged to meet the girls there.
They needed a new compressor. Did they have the part? No. Could they get the part? Yes. They really went out of their way at Garlyn Shelton Cadillac to help us! We spent 2 and a half hours with the young women (it is hard not to call them girls even though they are in their late twenties…a sure sign of advancing age) and we just laughed and said it’s another Minton adventure. Life is full of the unexpected, and since the unexpected seems to be the norm in my world, we just flow with it.
We ended up late to meet my son for dinner, and we were even later to our hotel, the Hyatt Regency Austin (the view is AMAZING!). We met our son at a delicious sandwich place called the Noble Sandwich Co. which has been featured on Food Network. Delicious? Oh yes, and we were very hungry!
So off to the Hyatt where our room awaited, and the view sparkled from our window. I know I am going to enjoy this stay!
5 Things You’ll Only Find in San Francisco
Once you decide you’re heading to San Francisco, you probably have a long list of items you want to do during your visit. Everywhere you go you’ll have your camera out trying to capture every moment you’re in this big, beautiful city. There’s so much to see and do, but make sure these five things you’ll only find in San Francisco are added to your list of things to see and try.
1. Golden Gate Bridge
There’s a reason this is the No. 1 suggestion given by everyone in San Francisco. When it opened in 1937, the San Francisco Chronicle called the Golden Gate Bridge “a thirty-five million dollar steel harp,” and it’s the most magnificent giant steel harp you’ll ever lay eyes on, as well as the perfect place to start any trip to San Francisco. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1964 and is now the ninth longest. Although it’s called the “Golden” Gate Bridge, the bridge’s color is actually an orange vermilion called International Orange.
Image Source: Mobilus In Mobili
The consulting architect recommended this color as something distinct from the cool colors of the water and the sky and because it provided visibility for ships and boats coming into the Bay even with fog. It was only supposed to be a temporary color, but it’s remained the same. When it first opened, you had to pay a toll to even walk across the bridge. Luckily in 1970, the toll for walking was eliminated, but today there’s a toll for driving across the bridge. On a clear day you’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Bay on the other.
2. Sourdough Bread
Yes, you can get sourdough from just about any store, but if you want to try authentic sourdough bread, you must go to a bakery in San Francisco. Sourdough is so popular in San Francisco, the sports teams even get involved, like the 49ers naming their mascot Sourdough Sam. French bakers brought sourdough bread methods to San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush, and some of the bakeries have been making this bread continuously since then. Tartine Bakery is one of the bakeries locals will recommend you get your bread from. You’ll need to order your delicious loaf ahead of time or be prepared to stand in a long line after 4:30 p.m.
Image Source: Breville USA
Boudin Bakery is known to be where many tourists stop, and for good reason. Right in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, Boudin boasts some of the best sourdough bread in the city. If you want something besides a sourdough loaf, many recommend the clam chowder in a bread bowl. You know you’re one of the best bakeries when vendors proudly claim that their sandwiches are made with bread from your bread company, and that’s exactly what Acme Bread Company experiences. As one reviewer said, “I hate you but I love you.” Acme Bread Company was founded in 1983 and has plenty of varieties of bread they make today, but nothing compares to the sourdough. When you want just a slice instead of a full loaf, stop by The Mill. They’ve not only figured out the best recipe for bread, they’ve also figured out exactly how much time it takes to perfectly toast a slice of bread. You will be asking for their secrets so you can replicate the process at home.
3. Coit Tower
Coit Tower is even older than the Golden Gate Bridge, and at the top of Telegraph Hill, it provides a full 360-degree view of San Francisco. Built in 1933, the Tower is a memorial to Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy and eccentric socialite. She obtained some of her money by dressing like a man and gambling in male-only establishments. Her will stipulated that some of her fortune was to be used to beautify the city she loved so much. The funds were used to build the tower and a monument in Washington Square.
Image Source: Michele Ursino
You don’t even have to ride to the top to get an amazing view of the city, but with a few extra dollars and either a climb up 80 stairs or a short elevator ride, you can have an obstructed 360-degree view of San Francisco. You’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge, just as long as there’s no fog! You will definitely want to have your camera set to panorama to capture beautiful pictures of the cityscape.
The bottom of Coit Tower features beautiful murals that nearly everyone who’s been there mentions. Artists employed by the Public Works of Art Project originally painted these murals. Funded by the New Deal during the Great Depression, these artists were able to earn a wage while documenting life in San Francisco. In the past few years, these paintings have been restored so the colors are more vibrant than ever before. You will not want to miss seeing this piece of history.
4. Mission Burrito
There are burritos, and then there’s the Mission burrito. This burrito is so big and full of fixings that it has to have foil wrapped around it to keep it structurally intact. Rice, beans, meat, and salsa are all included in this burrito. It’s so amazing that other restaurants outside of the city have added it to their menu as the “San Francisco Burrito.” To experience it the authentic way, you need to stop into one of the restaurants in the Mission district in San Francisco. Warning: You won’t want to plan a big dinner after or a big lunch before because this burrito will fill you for the rest of the day.
Image Source: An Mai
Taqueria San Francisco is hands down the favorite place to purchase a burrito. Many reviewers have pitted Taqueria against other restaurants, and it always comes out on top. One of the many secrets is they use the same griddle for the meat as they do to warm the tortillas. If you have a late night craving, stop by Taqueria Cancun to get your fill. The burritos will be enough for two people so don’t feel bad about having to share or take some home. Taqueria Cancun is cash only so make sure you have some of those dollar bills on hand. If you want something a little more fancy than a local hangout, Papalote Mexican Grill has won every award for their burritos. If you’re not a burrito fan, the homemade salsa will definitely get you to return.
5. Ride the Cable Car
Other places may have trolleys or subways, but cable street cars are San Francisco’s mode of transportation. It’s also the last manually operated cable car system in the world, so you know you won’t find this anywhere else. Originally 23 lines or routes were established between 1873 and 1890, currently only three are still in use. Two of the lines run north and south, and the third line runs east to west. Buy an all-day pass and ride across town. You can snap pictures as you ride and get off at specific stops without worrying about parking, traffic, or finding your way around the city. You can travel to Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf, pass by Lombard Street, and discover Nob Hill.
Image Source: Alfonso Jimenez
Once you’re done riding, visit the San Francisco Cable Car Museum to learn more about the history of the cable car system and to learn about San Francisco’s history. You can take a peek at three antique cable cars from the 1870s. If you’re someone who’s dying to know how the cable cars work, the museum even lets you go downstairs to see how the machinery works to pull all the cars around town.
The City By the Bay will fill up your itinerary quick with plenty of places to see and visit, but be sure that you make time to enjoy these five adventures that help make San Francisco a unique vacation destination.
This post was written and provided by IHG Hotels. IHG offers hotels for every type of occasion and has 4,700 properties in nearly 100 countries.