movie lovers Archives | TRAVELS WITH TAM

Fabulous Photo Friday: Laguna Beach

February 15, 2019 By Tam Warner 16 Comments

The California coastline has been completely developed, and the sheer number of people residing there is astronomical. Houses and apartments and condominiums dot the landscape, and yet the incredible lure of the ocean is almost impossible to resist. Laguna Beach is irrestible. There is something about the way the town sits on the hills looking down at an often rugged coast that catches one’s breath. My favorite walk in Orange County is Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, an ecological reserve with walkways and paths to unbelievable coastal views. When you go to Southern California, make time to visit Heisler Park! There is no prettier view in Laguna Beach.

travels — Heisler Park is my favorite walk in Laguna Beach

travels, midlife adventures — The park is beautiful, and peaceful.

Laguna Beach, midlife adventures — Incredible views

travels, midlife — Sit and relax and watch the ocean.

I Always Leave My Heart in San Francisco

November 6, 2016 By Tam Warner 9 Comments

San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Travels with Tam — The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco!

San Francisco is one of those cities that once you have been there, you have to go back. And back again. I love the city, and on my last trip I was only able to spend one day because of the San Francisco weather. My flight out of Denver to San Francisco was canceled, so I only had one day to enjoy the city. And enjoy it I did!

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco at the foot of Market Street and Embarcadero Center, a great location in the city. I have never seen a bigger lobby and atrium…and I quickly discovered that it holds the world record for largest lobby with a length of 107 meters, width of 49 meters and height of 52 meters, in other words, 15 stories! It is huge! Also, if you are an empty nester or midlifer, you might be interested to know that the Hyatt Regency San Francisco lobby is where The Towering Inferno, starring Steve McQueen, was filmed back in the 1970s! It is still spectacular.

Hyatt Regency San Francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco travel — The surreal lobby at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco!

So, one day in the city! What to do first? We arrived at the airport at 11 a.m., so we had to get going quickly. The first thing we did was check in to the hotel, and kudos to the Hyatt for having our room ready! I had alerted the staff that we had been delayed a day, and it was a relief to have our room ready so early. Next, off to the Hop On Hop Off San Francisco Bus Tour. As I always say, one of the first things I do in any new city is to do a bus tour, and even though I know San Francisco from having been there so many times, I decided to enjoy the city from the top of the double decker bus.

San Francisco, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, san francisco travel — City Tour!

First stop: Fisherman’s Wharf and Scomas Restaurant! I ate at Scomas for the first time in 1989, when I was there for a conference. Every trip I take back to San Francisco I eat at Scomas. The restaurant was founded in 1965, and I’m not sure it has been updated much since then…but that is a major part of its draw. The walls are covered with photos of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of the rat pack, along with other Italians of note. The waiters still wear their white dinner coats, and the seafood is always fresh. For a trip back in time, head to Scomas! (Be sure to have Dungeness Crab! YUM.)

With little time in the city, we enjoyed a bus ride and took in the sights! It was impossible to hit every district in the city…but we certainly went through many of them.

I love the murals in San Francisco…they are everywhere. But the Mission District has the most.

My all time favorite thing to do when in San Francisco is to go to Chinatown. I don’t know why, but just entering the gates is a thrill for me. (Also, our favorite Chinese Restaurant is there…Hunan Home. No frills, just good family food. Try it!)

Why I Didn’t Get Eaten by a Komodo Dragon While I was in Komodo National Park!

August 15, 2016 By Tam Warner 24 Comments

Why I Didn’t Get Eaten by a Komodo Dragon While I was in Komodo National Park!

Komodo Dragons have a fearsome reputation and stories of their ferocity and venomous bite are legend. Komodo Dragons look extremely formidable, I can attest to that! My trip to Komodo National Park gave me a close up look at the largest of lizards, now vulnerable to extinction.

On my Wednesday Wish List: Outrigger Resorts in Hawaii!

June 7, 2016 By Tam Warner Leave a Comment

outrigger resorts, hawaii, travels with tam — Aloha!

I cannot believe I have never been to Hawaii, but when I go, I plan to go with Outrigger. Outrigger Resorts is synonymous with warm hospitality in iconic beachfront destinations, where local culture meets world class hospitality – like Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu where there are only seven true beachfront properties and two of those resorts proudly fly the Outrigger Resorts banner. The Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort offer guests the perfect beachfront setting and heartfelt hospitality in The Outrigger Way, with each providing a multitude of opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in the local culture, offering a compelling guest experience and distinctive sense of place.

VOYAGER 47
Outrigger Resorts has opened its first branded Voyager 47 Club Lounge in Hawaii. Located at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, the Voyager 47 Club Lounge is available exclusively to guests staying in the resort’s Voyager 47 Club suites or Voyager 47 Club oceanfront rooms. The premier club lounge is located on the 3rd level of the resort’s Diamond Head building with both indoor and outdoor seating available and an expansive deck that overlooks Waikiki Beach with spectacular views of the blue Pacific, iconic Diamond Head and colorful Hawaiian sunsets in the evening. Premium refreshments and elevated amenities are available that allow guests to discover specially curated localized experiences. Club level guests are invited to start their day with a “Sunrise Invitation for Exploration,” a locally inspired tasting menu, including premium Kona coffee, as they review expert advice for their day’s travels. Before leaving the lounge, guests can take a local snack to-go.

The “Signature Sunset Celebration” is an early evening reception that welcomes guests back to the resort for a night of rejuvenation and relaxation. Guests can enjoy light snacks, cocktails, and a specialty draft bar by Kona Brewing Company that features seasonal brews, other spirits by local distillers and mixology specialties created for Voyager 47. In addition to the Voyager 47 Club Lounge at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, current lounges at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort in Thailand and Outrigger Guam Resort will soon be rebranded, with more premier club lounges to come at other Outrigger Resorts properties.

OUTRIGGER RESORTS JOINS GLOBAL HOTEL ALLIANCE
Outrigger Resorts has joined Global Hotel Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands with 33 brands and more than 500 hotels spread across 76 countries in its portfolio.The integration of Outrigger Resorts into GHA will be completed by early fall, at which time DISCOVERY members will be recognized and rewarded across the Outrigger Resorts portfolio of premiere beachfront properties located in some of the world’s most iconic beachfront locations, including Hawaii, Guam, Fiji, Thailand, Mauritius and the Maldives.

OZONE – OUTRIGGER RESORTS’ GLOBAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
OZONE, which stands for Outrigger’s ZONE, is the hospitality company’s global conservation initiative centered on preserving coral reefs around the world and specifically waters fronting its nine premier beachfront resorts. Outrigger works with like-minded partners on OZONE to protect and preserve coral reef systems by promoting conservation initiatives and public education. Outrigger’s OZONE partners include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (U.S.), Polynesian Voyaging Society (Hawaii), Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (Hawaii), Waikiki Aquarium (Hawaii), Underwater World (Guam), Mamanuca Environment Society (Fiji), Reef Conservation Mauritius, Best Dives Maldives and The Phuket Marine Conservation Biological Center (Thailand), including the Waikiki Aquarium and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

OZONE ECO ADVENTURE PACKAGE
Outrigger Resorts has introduced an exclusive OZONE Eco Adventure Package at its two Waikiki beachfront properties in Hawaii – Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort and Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, to encourage guests to get into the water and experience the wonder and beauty of the Pacific Ocean. The OZONE Eco Adventure Package features a buy one get one free Snorkel Eco-Adventure Sail Tour, two admission tickets to the Waikiki Aquarium and an in-room welcome gift that includes reef-friendly sunscreen, swim goggles to provide swimmers a clear underwater view, a dive mesh bag to help with collecting plastics and other manmade materials found in the ocean or on the beach and a 2017 OZONE Ocean Life calendar. Pricing for the OZONE Eco-Adventure Package starts from $239 USD per room, per night (taxes and fees not included). Reservations can be made online at outrigger.com/ozone, by phone at 1-800-688-7444 or by contacting your preferred travel professional.

HAWAIIAN VOW RENEWALS
Lovebirds traveling to Waikiki can renew their vows in a unique Hawaiian ceremony, with the rising sun, the ocean and the beach as witnesses, during a beachfront vow renewal ceremony available exclusively to guests of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort and Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. The unique cultural ceremony opens with a traditional Hawaiian chant to cleanse the past, present and future so that love may reign. Couples then exchange vows in the Hawaiian language and a gentle sprinkling of seawater preserves their love everlasting. Sealed with a kiss, the ceremony concludes with a performance of the beautiful Hawaiian Wedding Song, accompanied by a hula. A commemorative certificate is presented to each couple as a memento of the special memory. Couples can sign up to participate at their respective hotel’s concierge or front desk by 3 p.m. on the day prior to the ceremony or they can contact the hotel prior to arrival to get their names onto the list. Space is limited so early registration is recommended.

BE PART OF OUTRIGGER’S SOCIAL OHANA
Join Outrigger’s social network to Find Out. Find Outrigger!
Twitter: @OutriggerResort
Instagram: @OutriggerResorts
Facebook: facebook.com/OutriggerResorts.

Easy Ways to Go Meatless Monday!

May 1, 2016 By Tam Warner 18 Comments

It isn’t that difficult to go without meat, at least a day or two a week. I’ve gone from being vegetarian to eating meat/fish/chicken only 2 or 3 times a week. When I do eat meat, I try to eat grass fed, cageless, no antibiotics, no steroids, sustainable. We cannot always be perfect, but we can try!

There are plenty of places online to get vegetarian recipes, but I do want to share with you a few ways to painlessly not eat meat!

meatless, vegetarian — Yum yum yum! I love it!

One of my favorite meals is spaghetti with meat sauce. I make it with a meat substitute, and my favorite is Beyond Meat. This brand is somewhat new to me, but what I have tried, I have loved! Meat from plants is a great way to get your protein, and I agree with their Mission Statement: “We believe there is a better way to feed the planet. Our mission is to create mass-market solutions that perfectly replace animal protein with plant protein. We are dedicated to improving human health, positively impacting climate change, conserving natural resources and respecting animal welfare. At Beyond Meat, we want to make the world a better place and we’re starting one delicious meal at a time.” Find a store that stocks it near you!

I also am a fan of Morningstar Farms. They make all kind of meat substitutes, and the Good Guide, which rates products 1-10 on Health, Environment and Society (how the company treats employees), gives MorningStar a good score. They have all kinds of substitutes, including burgers. You can buy MorningStar in almost any grocery store.

Have you made the pledge to go vegetarian one day a week? How are you doing it? What are your favorite meat substitutes?

By going meatless one day a week you are contributing so much to the planet! Encourage everyone to go meatless one day a week! MAKE THE PLEDGE.

Diving the Revillagigedo Archipelago: Roca Partida!

March 10, 2016 By Tam Warner 11 Comments

Roca Partida is the most happening place in the islands. Roca Partida is a rock covered with birds and their guana, sticking up in the middle of the ocean. Beneath the sea are mantas, sharks, sharks and mantas. Oh, and dolphins. And fish. It is amazing. Since it is Friday, this will be a photo blog, mostly. Enjoy Roca Partida! The action was so incredible we stayed for 3 days!

diving, roca partida, travels with tam — Roca Partida

Roca Partida is the most happening place in the islands. Roca Partida is a rock covered with birds and their guana, sticking up in the middle of the ocean. — Getting the bubble treatment! Photo by Bob Kaltreider

Hammerheads are so shy! The shoaling Hammerheads were 20-30 feet away, but when you take a photograph, they almost disappear!

diving, travels with tam — Dolphins, thank you Marie-Elizabeth Mali! (go check out her website…amazing!)

Sorry about the lousy quality of some of my photos…very difficult to get good shots in the blue. I’m hoping some of the other divers got better photos of the hammerheads and dolphins than I did. Thanks to Bob Kaltreider and Marie-Elizabeth Mali for sharing.

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