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press trip ireland: lahinch to doolin

Carolyn — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:12:45 +0000

My favorite pub in Ireland, McDermott's, Doolin.

The West Coast of Ireland is the stuff of legends: fantastical sweeping landscapes, navy blue skies heavy with impending raindrops, craggy rock faces, black and white thatched cottages dotting the countryside with grazing sheep, and small shrines festooned with flowers and candles, the Virgins outstretched hands, eyes downcast.

Road to Doolin, west coast paradise.

It’s heady stuff. You are not exactly on the Autoroute de Soleil, Provence-bound, rather you driving on winding, two lane roads up the coast. Driving on the left side of the road does take some getting used to, as does seeing a several ton tour bus, hurtling by within inches of your car. After you get used to the idea that these tour operators have been going at it for years, you can stop white knuckling it and enjoy the ride. For pure visual enjoyment, Ireland is a surreal time-warp: it feels like you are wrapped in a dream, or bit players in a historical film.

Irish villages are everything you would imagine: charming, and well tended, with window boxes, bright green doors, and the quintessential pub (every town has one). The pub serves up food and drink to be sure, but it is also a meeting place for friends and family, best seen at Sunday afternoon ceilidhs.

Beautiful, Ballinalacken Castle, 15th century.

If you lucky enough to catch a real ceilidh in a rural area, you will be rewarded in spades: with locals playing fiddle, tin whistle, accordion, the bodhran, and in some instances, the haunting uilleann pipes (Irelands version of bagpipes).

I already mentioned the Claremont, where we were able to listen to spectacular fiddlers, and hear a group of old friends from the retirement home up the street sing ballads that sent chills through my veins. One of the a cappella songstresses was in her late 80’s and explained that the song she sang was an old (and very sad) farewell love song, which I believed to be early Sinn Fein in origin. It remind me of the Pogues song “Kitty” from the original “Red Roses for Me” album, and will stay with me forever.

The Burren, desolate, Druid inspired, magic.

Driving at sunset, amidst a pink and pewter sky casting shadows over the countryside, we stop by Ballinalacken Castle, to meet Declan and his Dad, Mr. Callaghan who bought the castle from the O’Brian clan in 1939. The castle is situated 5 miles from the spa town of Lisdoonvarna, close to the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Connemara & Galway. We were lucky enough to get a private tour of the 15th Century Castle which looms right beside the Ballinalacken House. The wood paneled bar is a perfect spot for a nice pint before dinner, where fresh and delicious Doolin seafood is brought in daily. The wine list is superb, the dining room lovely, the food top notch. In the Doolin Harbor, you can jump on a boat to the Aran Islands, which harkens back to 1950’s Ireland: retro, rural and very Gaelic (they speak it there).

Back again at McDermott's for a proper ceilidh.

You can’t go to the beautiful seaside village of Doolin, on the northwest coast of County Clare, without hitting McDermott’s, my favorite pub in town (and in Ireland). I trekked there many moons ago in my back packer days (hiking miles through the farms in Lisdoonvarna). Back then, there was one small grocery store, 3 pubs and one muddy campsite. I was attracted by the bohemian spirit that brought in Dylan Thomas, J.M. Synge, George Bernard Shaw and every musician worth their salt over the decades.

Backpacker Flashback, Doolin: There’s something about being in your 20’s with a backpack, two adventurous German friends, in the rain: but the music makes it all worthwhile. We were foolish enough to camp on the Cliffs of Moher in a rain storm (better than to pay 8 quid for a crowded, rain-drenched camp site!). Fast forward a few years, Doolin has undergone mild growth but did not lose any of it’s charm.

Beware, it is a tour bus destination, as Doolin is known for it’s trad music sessions, some of the best in the country, but belly up to the bar, flirt with the Irish barman, (who owns a family farm in the Burren), have him pour you a nice glass of peated Connemara single malt and settle in for a seriously good session. There is live music every night from April til Autumn, and music on the weekends in the winter months. Note: get there early to get a good seat, as the tour bus crowd packs the room shoulder to shoulder. Patsy, the owner is a cute and quirky lass in cats eye glasses who looks like she’s led a fun life (and continues to do so running the best pub in town). We left her with our friends The Hooks new CD, Everything is Golden for her jukebox and headed back to our crib at Vaughan Lodge.

The majestic Cliffs of Moher.

A quick trip to the Cliffs of Moher showcases a sweeping vista of cliffs that drop into a dark and inky ocean, where brave surfers are towed in for sometimes Mavericks-level conditions. The Cliffs are very different than they were 20 years ago, (when I foolishly camped there in a downopour!) with guard rails, gift shops and plenty of tourists, but they are breathtaking, and a must see.

Next we are bound for The Burren, or Boireann, meaning “great rock,” a vast, barren, and beautiful landscape up the coast. The R479 winds through rock strewn, rolling hills, and made us wonder how our new farmer friend from McDermott’s was able to operate a farm here: it’s as studded with rocks as a Hershey bar is studded with almonds. Desolate and deserted, you can understand why poets, writers and musicians were inspired by such a mystical place, with elements of Druid influence everywhere.

Stay tuned for the road to Galway in our next Travel Tuesday post!

Note: I’m going to space out the posts on Ireland because there are too many disparate, beautiful and magical places to show you, thanking Tourism Ireland. Slainte!

press trip ireland: limerick to lahinch

Carolyn — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:10:27 +0000

You have not a care at the Adare.

The road has indeed risen to meet me, and the properties I’ve been lucky to stay in (and friends we’ve made, food we’ve eaten) have been spectacular. The food and drink are so good, in fact, that it’s a very good thing they don’t keep scales in the room! Operative word about food and drink here: fresh, pure, honest, and well presented. What the foodies in San Francisco wax poetic about (and celebrity chefs never stop talking about) is de rigueur over here. As I was told by many a GM: “In Ireland, we don’t talk about the food, we eat it.” Well said, and truer words were never spoken!

Room with a view: the gardens of Adare Manor

Adare manor is one of the top properties in the world, hosting presidents and world leaders, coining the term “Adare Style” negotiations, for informal negotiations between countries. The rooms are classic and Victorian: brocade, intricate woodwork and dark wood. The common areas are lit by candlelight and huge chandeliers, and hung with ancient tapestries, casting a majestic spell that is other world. The grounds are an Irish version of Versailles with sculpted gardens in the traditional “Big House” style of the last part of the 1800’s.

Our room is a Victorian masterpiece overlooking the topiary gardens, gargoyles perched right outside our window. I almost expect aristocrats in corsets and riding gear to come bounding by on horseback! Adare has been voted the 4th best golf resort in North America, the Caribbean & Atlantic, Ireland and Scotland in the highly prestigious Condè Nast Traveler Magazine “Top 100 Golf Resorts 2008 Readers’ Poll”. The romantic bar area, rendered in pink, red velvet, deep mahogany and vaulted ceilings harken to another time. In hushed tones, we recount our day over a Red Breast whiskey. The next day, breakfast is in the stone dining room with vaulted ceilings, a gourmet traditional Irish brekky: with puddings, eggs and rashers. Life is good….

Coastline, County Clare by Lahinch

Moving to the coast, we stayed in Lahinch, County Clare where pro surfers such as Fergal Smith shred the icy waves. Vaughan Lodge is a lovely 4-star country town house hotel, owned and operated by Michael Vaughan and his lovely wife Maria. The food is spectacular, fresh and exquisitely prepared, the room, modern and restful with sea breezes blowing in through the windows.

Breakfast of champions, pre-hike, Vaughan Lodge.

The traditional Irish breakfast (“a fry up”) is a belly buster of trad favorites like black pudding, and rashers that will hold you until dinner). Heaven is sitting by the fire in their wood paneled bar and sharing a pint. We went to a trad pub in town, the Claremont, where we were able to listen to spectacular fiddlers, and hear a group of old friends from the retirement home up the street sing much loved ballads. We made wonderful new friend named Amy Flynn, an Irish beauty in voice in demeanor (who doesn’t look a day over 60, although I’ll never reveal a woman’s age), and got hugs all around upon our departure. We met the nicest family of farmers, the McDermott’s of Galway, who specialize in Ireland’s best potatoes, on holiday. Michael and Amy, see you in SF!

Guinness by a graveyard - love black Irish humor!

We took a drive down the coast to Spanish Point in the rain and saw the gorgeous coastline in the intermittent rain and sunshine, and got to chase a beautiful rainbow (and possibly a pot of gold). Doonbeg, is a top spot for surfing, according to our new pals at Lahinch Surf Shop.

Irish charm starts with seeing things differently....

I’m going to space out the posts on Ireland because there are too many disparate, beautiful and magical places to show you, thanking Tourism Ireland. Slainte!

Quality assurance on behalf of the Guinness family.

press trip: all roads lead to ireland

Carolyn — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:23:12 +0000

Get off the tour bus and discover Ireland.

No GPS required, Ireland is a breeze to navigate

...and if you do get lost, help is on the way!

Hi everyone, I’m on the best press trip ever thanks to Tourism Ireland for Destination I Do Magazine. Spoiler alert: My family is Irish on all sides, from Kerry and Cork, so I’m predisposed to love it. But I haven’t been back since my backpacking days, and other than staying in 5-star 12th century castles this time around, found it to be blessedly unchanged: the friendliness, the beauty, the people (and the pints). Everything looks new and fresh and the

Barberstown Castle: owned by kings, lords, Eric Clapton and Ken Healy.

The beer is blessed by a higher power at Castlemartyr (the bar is built in a former church!)

rain isn’t as bad as they say. I’ll let the pictures do the talking over the next two weeks, and will post as it happens. Barberstown Castle, Castlemartyr Resort, Adare Manor and Vaughan Lodge are superb and wildy different, and the drive between them hasn’t exceeded two hours, (making Ireland the ultimate road trip for a destination wedding or honeymoon). My favorite part about staying in a castle, a resort, a manor, and a lodge is that all the venues have intriguing yet different points of view, adding dimension and texture to your trip (and avoiding the “Ground Hog Day Syndrome,” or, day-after-day blur of staying in the same place). On the drive in between resorts you’ll be rewarded tenfold, as Ireland is gorgeous: castles on the side of the road, and quaint villages to stop for lunch or explore.

Castlemartyr's Kerry Gold, potatoes, whipping cream, enough said.

Look for more expanded posts in early Sept, as I’ll be diving in with detail on all the venues, and our Spring Destination I Do issue will cover the trip in depth. At each venue, I’ve made some lovely new friends and plan on keeping in touch with them all. But that’s vintage Ireland: I’m still friends with people I met here 20 years ago! Heading out to Ballinalacken Castle in Doolin for dinner, trad music and pints. See you in Galway at the hippest hotel in town, the g, in a few days. Slainte!

rustic luxe weddings and speakeasy glamour at seattle’s edgy edgewater

Carolyn — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:57:57 +0000

The Space Needle, Seattle, the Edgewater: perfection!

How much do I love the Edgewater? Let me count the ways!

May 30, 2009: The mister and I throw on hipster cocktail gear, head to Pier 67 and score a dockside table at Six-Seven, overlooking Elliott Bay inside the Edgewater, where gigantic antler chandeliers, exposed timber, floor-to-ceiling windows, sparkling candelabra, and an overall ‘mod meets lumberjack’ design sensibility screams ‘rustic luxe.’ Enjoying gingeritas, mohitos and live music, we watch a fuchsia sunset over the Olympics. Executive Sous Chef John Roberts whips up decadent lobster mac and cheese and Penn Cove mussels. The Beatles stayed there and so should you! Check out some of the hip trends in wedding that are happening in the Pacific Northwest, courtesy of the Edgewater!

Sleek, rustic meets mod by Elliott Bay

The economy may have put a cramp in some people’s style, but certainly not local brides at The Edgewater Hotel, located on Seattle’s sparkling waterfront. There, brides are going ultra luxe – though not in the usual ways. Rather than spending big bucks, brides are getting a luxurious feel through the use of gold tones throughout and by utilizing vintage styles and themes – taking inspiration from vintage Hollywood and shows like “Mad Men.”

Weddings are also shifting from summer to fall, which is naturally filled with the gold tones found in falling leaves and the abundance of the harvest. The cooler weather also means that furs are making an appearance, from elegant stoles and wraps to fur petticoats.

The Edgewater, Seattle’s only waterfront hotel, is the perfect match to this new ultra glam style. With sparkling waterfront views and grand spaces, like the Olympic Ballroom, brides can easily go from princess bride to Hollywood starlet with The Edgewater providing the perfect Northwest-inspired “set.”

The Edgewater Hotel’s Wedding Trends:

Gold Reigns Supreme – Gold has become one of the hottest tones to use. It’s no longer about silver, gold has taken over. Gold is warm, inviting, elegant, old world. It has become a staple in jewelry, table decorations, flatware, and even vases and dresses.
Fall-ing in Love – Autumn/Fall is now the TIME to get married. With the recession, people feel that fall weddings are less expense, and are therefore finally getting married during this wonderful time of year. With fall colors, autumn leaves and the abundant bounty of the harvest to use for appetizers and distinct dishes – it’s created an entire new wedding style featuring antique bronzes, fur petticoats, dried flowers, and red apple centerpieces.
Brides Become Starlets – Old Hollywood and circa 1920’s speak-easy glamour have come back again. The use of cracked leather, red lips and long thick silk dresses are reappearing. Think cigars, scotch, and Big Bands.

You can catch a glimpse of The Edgewater’s wedding spaces and a few photos by visiting http://www.edgewaterhotel.com/ (click on Weddings at the top of the page).

taking time to ‘be’ before your big day – breathe!

Polka Dot Bride — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:33:22 +0000

Nick Brown and Sophie Kirkpatrick at Craigieburn, Bowral, Southern Highlands. Garden wedding.

The planning for your wedding has been at times, overwhelming. The build-up and nerves are threatening to over take you. Your usually sensible, organised and calm demeanour seems to have disappeared.

But today is your wedding day and it is now time to ‘let go’, to know that ‘what will be, will be’! It is time to put aside the worries about the table decorations or whether the day will run smoothly, and just breathe.

This day that has been months in the planning and has at times, seemed so far away, passes in a flash, welcoming guests from far and wide, being the centre of attention and the see-sawing of emotions from tears to joy.

So how do you and your partner ensure that you get to fit in a few personal moments that you will remember as ‘touchstones’ on your day?

The night before your wedding, escape the clutches of family and friends, and meet at a pre-arranged spot to take in the quiet. It could be sitting overlooking the sea, on a mountain top overlooking the lights of the city, at a favourite eatery or bar. Whichever you choose, take the time to make it special by drinking your favourite wine, or simply affirming in private your commitment to each other and your hopes and dreams for the future.

Or, get up an hour earlier on the day, and meet somewhere for breakfast, or a picnic you have prepared the night before. It need only be simple, but will give you some breathing space together before facing the jumble of activity of the day ahead. Perhaps giving each other a small heartfelt gift such as a poem, a heart shaped rock collected from that favourite spot, or drawing a message in the sand will be something that you can tuck away to be remembered in a quiet moment.

Slip away, even for five minutes after the ceremony, to just ‘be’. Perhaps you have something special to say, or just want to hold each other and savour your own particular feelings, that saying ‘I do’ has meant to you both.

Take time to stand at the perimeter of the wedding celebration for a moment with your husband and take in the scene of all the laughter, music and your loved ones together in the one room. Take a ‘photo’ in your mind’s eye – for this is the essence of happiness!

After all, your wedding day closes a chapter in your life, and opens a whole new book upon which to start writing about your new life.

About Polka Dot Bride

Polka Dot Bride is Australia’s premier wedding blog and is read by thousands of brides worldwide. Polka Dot Bride is ranked within the top 20 Australian Women Bloggers and #53 out of the Top 100 Australian Bloggers as of June 2009. Polka Dot Bride has a passion to provide information on the latest trends in weddings, and inspirational and creative ideas for the Australian bride.
Ms Polka Dot’s aim is to create a fun, informative, and stylish blog that is engaged with, and inclusive of, its readers. She writes a daily feature on the blog that includes new ideas, real weddings, fabulous finds and the beautiful and the inspirational. Polka Dot Bride readers are stylish and savvy; they want to make their wedding stand out from the crowd. Ms. Polka Dot’s aim is to inspire brides and grooms to create the wedding of their dreams.

Photos: http://www.davidhenryphotography.com.au

it’s a nice day for…a wine wedding

Autumn — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:10:55 +0000

Hit the road for rustic wine country

Wine country weddings encompass essential details beyond taking your vows in a vineyard setting. It is a wine country state-of-mind. This serves often as the inspiration for the wedding. Whether in wine country or not, attention to these essentials will undoubtedly create a wine country ambiance for any wedding. And hopefully a happily-ever-after.

VINO: Wine is the soul of a wine country wedding. Dictating the general vibe for the evening choosing the wrong wine for the couple could be a major upset. Work with a local sommelier to perfectly pair your wine with your food, and don’t forget to consider the right bubbles for your wedding cake. Make sure to have a few different wines on hand, one for novice wine drinkers and one for more experienced wine connoisseur, and one for the everyday wine drinker. That way there will not be an unhappy faces in the reception. Work with a local winery on blending your own wine for this momentous occasion and consider purchasing from them directly to save some extra cash.

RUSTIC ELEGANCE: After discussing with many wedding planners what the key ingredient is in terms of décor the most important element seems to be bringing the outside landscape inside. Meaning the flowers are simple yet gorgeous. The wedding colors are mute but extremely elegant. And the wedding favors and detailed touches represent sustainability, chic style and are pleasing to the eye. Local honey wrapped in recycled ribbon, organic olive oil used as decorative touch in the main course or pour from a magnum of wine autographed by a local winemaker which all set the tone for the idyllic wine country wedding and make fabulous wedding favors. Even consider using a saber to open your bubbly for your wedding cake toast. This will be an exciting display for guests and cement the wine country ambiance.

ARTISANAL MENU: A large part of what makes a wine country wedding unique and so appealing beyond the rustic location is the wine and food. Inspired by a simple approach to food by using local, organic and seasonal products wine country cuisine is a beautiful mix of Mediterranean fare typically with California meats, fruits and vegetables. Check out what some of the best wine country chefs, such as Michael Chiarello, Thomas Keller and Bob Hurley, are creating in the kitchens and use that as inspiration for your own menu. Work with your cater to plan a special menu and properly pair each wine for each course and the menu will be talked about for years to come.

About Autumn

Autumn Millhouse is an award-winning travel writer who specializes in wine, food and romantic getaways. She is also an international trekker who has wined and dined across the globe from Barcelona to Beijing . A self-proclaimed “hopeless-romantic” and author of Romantic Napa Valley: An Insider’s Guide for Couples, Autumn also has a bi-monthly column called “Love Vines” published in Napa Valley Life Magazine. She resides in Napa Valley where she cultivates her wine and food relationships with top chefs, winemakers and a slew of other foodies. Besides, sniffing, swirling and sipping wine daily, Autumn is currently working on her next travel book Romantic Sonoma Valley: An Insider’s Guide for Couples.

how to gauge a honeymoon injury in the jungle: serious or safe?

Dr. Mark Savant — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:15:13 +0000

Hey Anti-Brides, I have to fess up, this bride Dr. Savant mentions below, is me, and although it’s been a few years since I’ve been on our honeymoon, the advice still stands. I have never been to Popoyo, Nicaragua to surf in May when the waves are jacked up and barreled – rather, January and March when the waves are easy rollers. Although my hubs was surfing like Slater all day in spots like Playgrounds, Panga Drops, Popoyo, and Colorado, (and a secret spot that I promised a certain young surfer named Auggie I will never reveal), there were only a few places where this long board girl could go. Popoyo is a pro surf mecca, hosting the likes of C.J. Hobgood, Slater, and our friends Justin Cote of TransWorld SURF and Strider Wasilewski of Quiksilver.

That said, it bears mentioning that any time a couple with mismatched surfing skills honeymoons or travels together, thought should be given to safety and potential injury. If there is a reef involved (and the requisite wipe out), you risk cuts, bruises and possibly broken bones. In my case, it was very windy, and schlepping a long board to the spots was like wrestling an alligator, which caused a lot of back and forth movement across the rib cage (and then up to 3 hours of paddling once in the water). Luckily for me, after my dear virtual Doctor Savant nailed the condition over email, it was no surfing for me for 3 days (Advil and Flor de Cana helped), poolside at the fabulous hill top Two Brothers Surf Resort. So before you think you are having a heart attack (the waves can do that to you anyway) – let Dr. Savant help you gauge what to really be scared about and when to just take it easy.

Also, note to self: if you are in a very remote jungle hut and you do have something life threatening, make sure you have a local phone ($20 at the airport) and travel insurance. Medivac helicopters can wipe out your bank account if you aren’t covered – $50-70 worth of travel insurance can go a long way. Read on!

I got an email from a friend who was on vacation about some chest pain she was having and I thought there were some interesting points about her situation and chest pain in general that could be helpful to think about. Now, our bride and groom are fit but work too hard, like most successful people tend to do. They like to swim and surf so they took a long overdue vacation to a remote beach in Nicaragua for two weeks of surfing. The weather was great but a little windy and on some days the waves were pretty choppy. After a few days our bride started having pain in her chest that got progressively worse, so she stopped surfing. It hurt when she was paddling her board out and then ached all night, especially when she took deep breaths or pressed on her sternum. Of course, having chest pain freaked her out and being in such a remote place made her even more anxious about it. As it turned out her chest pain came from inflammation in the joint where the rib attaches to the sternum (breastbone) and was likely caused by strain and excessive use. Paddling in rough water, holding up her board on a windy beach, and even surfing more than usual are what caused the inflammation. The treatment for it is ice and using an anti-inflammatory medication like aspirin or ibuprofen.

So the question is what kind of chest pain should you be worried about? For the most part, everybody thinks about their heart when they have chest pain but there are lots of causes so here’s a quick way to think about it. The chest pain caused by a heart attack is more commonly not even a pain at all but rather more like a crushing chest pressure. It’s as if an elephant were sitting on your chest and you just couldn’t get a breath in. Heart attack type chest pressure will not last for more than 30-60 minutes. It will either get better suddenly or get much worse but won’t last all night. Sometimes it can come on with exertion and stop with rest. Many times chest pain; especially in young, healthy, active people; is caused by an injury to the chest wall. Remember, your heart is protected in a cage that is layered with bone, muscle, cartilage, and other soft tissue so if you can reproduce the pain by pressing on your chest it’s not your heart. Of course, it’s always important to know your health history, which includes your family’s history of heart disease, especially if it happened in someone at a young age. The best way to do this is to check in with your doctor every year or two for a physical. This way you can feel confident when you engage in strenuous activities, and that includes sex (a vacation must).

About

Dr. Savant heads up the Savant Medical Group in San Francisco. Dr. Savant attended the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California in 1997 where he was given the “Grace Under Fire” Award by the Emergency Department. He then went to New York City to be on the Faculty of the Division of General Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital where he also served as a clinical instructor to the third year medical students at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was identified by the medical students as an excellent clinical teacher and role model for the 1998-99 academic year.

sip, soar and surf on your spring fling

Autumn — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:56:50 +0000

Sip, surf and soar in Santa Cruz at the Pleasure Point Inn

Sip, Soar or Surf! Kick off your own Spring Fling by whisking your beloved away for a romantic getaway. Each getaway evokes romance, sunshine essentials and a sense of adventure – perfect for any couple hoping to switch relationship gears.

San Ynez Valley: Wine Tasting

Take a long weekend and drive the five hours to Santa Barbara’s Wine Country. Rolling green hills, large oak trees and vineyard landscapes are reminiscent of Napa Valley but with an urban cowboy feel. Ranching and wine drinking make this valley unique. Los Olivos is a picturesque three-block town filled with wine tasting rooms, upscale dining establishments and a local general store where you can drink beer out front (if the urge occurred). Stay at the Fess Parker, Wine Country Inn & Spa in the center of town and choose from a variety of wine tasting packages, including my ideal getaway; Ride, Wine & Dine. However, three of my favorite wineries are Foley Wines, Bridelewood Estate Winery and Kaylara Winery. Dine at Petros, the excellent Greek restaurant inside Fess Parker or enjoy a western meal at A.J Spurs, where the best steak and chili beans are served along with live country music. www.fessparker.com

San Diego: Hot-Air Ballooning

Instead of booking a flight to Spain, save the money and feel as if you are in Spain at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. Colorful tiles, majestic fountains and bright bougainvillea add to the hotel’s distinction. It’s a place where many visit and want to return as a newlywed. The romantic atmosphere, ocean views and close proximity to La Jolla Cove makes La Valencia the ideal winter retreat. Forget Southern California traffic, everything you need is within walking distance. Even the hot-air balloon company, Sky Surfer, will pick you up at the hotel for an Ocean View Sunset ride. Afterwards, pick up to-die-for fish tacos from Georges and hang out at their open-air upstairs bar sipping margaritas. Shop, take long walks along the beach and don’t forget to pack your flip-flops. www.lavalencia.com

Santa Cruz: Surfing

Santa Cruz and Capitola, a two hour drive from Napa, is also a bumbling eccentric community. For the more adventuresome couple, take advantage of Pleasure Point Inn’s Room & Board Surf Package. Wetsuits, semi-private surf lessons and surfboards are provided by Club Ed Surf School. Plus, two nights away at the inn are included. After your surfing lessons grab brunch at 515 Kitchen & Cocktails by the fireplace on the upstairs patio. For dinner, rather after dinner at Chocolate, located in the heart of Santa Cruz share the ‘chocolate orgy’ dessert (they have a variety of mind-blowing desserts). If surfing is not in the cards for you, then consider giving kayaking a try. Rent a kayak at Capitola Boat and Bait shop located on the Capitola wharf. www.pleasurepointinn.com

introducing: ‘med-wed’ with dr. mark savant – hot and cold destination wedding health advice

Dr. Mark Savant — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:02:38 +0000

Hi, I’m Dr. Mark Savant, and I’ll be heading up the new Med-Wed section for Antibride.com. A destination wedding can bring a whole new sense of adventure and even intimacy to an already exciting day. It can also pose some health related challenges that you might not have to deal with otherwise. With just a little planning ahead and some common sense you should be able to enjoy your wedding day illness-free.

The types of health concerns you face are usually determined by where you go and can be divided, in general, by whether it will be hot or cold. The one thing that doesn’t matter is if you’re taking a plane. An airplane is a great place to catch a cold so don’t forget to wash your hands and don’t touch your face. If you can avoid touching your face alone you should be able to prevent most illnesses. Using a hand sanitizer regularly, especially before eating, is also helpful.

Hot climates usually mean lots of sun exposure so you’ll want to protect yourself. Wear loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Use a good sunscreen, spf 30 minimum, liberally and don’t forget to reapply every few hours and especially after going into the water. Also don’t forget to apply the sunscreen to those hard to reach and less obvious places like the back of your neck, arms and legs and the tops of your ears.

Hydration is another important health concern. You’ll need to drink at least 2 to 3 liters of clear liquids, mostly water, per day and more if you drink alcohol or exercise. For alcohol I usually recommend to my patients to drink at least 2 glasses of water for each alcoholic drink consumed. Also, don’t skip meals. Regular, healthy eating will keep your energy levels at their optimum.

Hot climates can sometimes mean more exotic locales that may require a visit to your doctor or local travel clinic before you go. Depending on your destination you may need to get immunizations (is your tetanus shot up to date? good for 10 years) and antibiotics to have on hand. A great place to start is the Center for Disease Control. You can find your destination and get a good idea of what vaccinations you’ll need to get before you go.

Those exotic tropical locations can also have an increased risk for contracting a food borne illness. Here are a few things to remember so you don’t get sick. Don’t drink any water unless you know it’s been bottled. That also means no ice in your drink. Don’t eat any salads, which could have been washed in the water, and only eat fruit that you can peel. Eat no fresh sauces, like the hot sauce sambal in Indonesia, and no street food.

Cold weather destinations will have fewer health concerns, typically but there are still a few things to which you should pay attention. Cold wind and sunshine reflected off of snow can be very hard on the skin so use a good sunscreen and lip balm and use a good moisturizer on your skin once or twice a day. Wear warm clothing with particular attention to layering: silk or wool undergarments and then layers of fleece or wool and a good jacket, hat, scarf, or gloves depending on how cold it’s going to be. And again, hydration is just as important in cold weather as it is in warm.
And, finally here are a few general reminders. If you take prescription medications (ie birth control pills) don’t forget to bring them along.

Always wear a seat belt and look both ways before you cross the street, especially in right hand drive countries. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Relax, have fun, and be well.

About

destination i do press trip: western australia, rugged romance 11/09

Carolyn — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:46:12 +0000

Living like Jane Bond aboard the luxe Virgin Australia International Business Class - probably the only time I did not want to get off a plane in recent memory.

One afternoon, while running to studio at my university, I was stopped dead in my tracks by a poster: blazing orange sun, rugged, caramel-colored hills, and a headline demanding action: Australia Needs Designers!

In that moment, I became bitten and smitten by the idea of Australia. Fast forward, the Eurail Pass years: I consistently found myself falling in with Australians – witty and irreverent travel compatriots with an easy, breezy approach to life. A lifelong aficionado of its independent music and film scene, (Nick Cave, Radio Birdman, Mad Max), I was unprepared for the sheer size, scale, isolation, and vast untrammeled frontier that is Australia.

A few years, books, and magazine articles later, the press opportunity came: a romance travel experience from Perth to the Margaret River. Feeling like a modern-day Dorothy, I fairly skipped to SFO to embark on a 26-hour journey to a modern-day Eden: West Oz.

Journalists: Carolyn Gerin, Eric Rosen, Jamie Stringfellow and Ty Bentsen channel our inner hesher.

“Ms. Gerin, your boarding pass.”

Looking down, I realized there must be some mistake. It was issued to Britney Spears for her upcoming tour to Oz.

“No worries, Ms. Gerin! Here’s your pass for the VIP Lounge pre-flight, and your ticket for International Business Class, LA to Perth. Enjoy your stay in Oz, G’day!”

And enjoy it I did, road testing one of the best romantic adventures ever. This is the honeymoon you have been waiting for, mate, so get ready to have a good ‘un, because we’re going “down under.”

Must Wine Bar Private Lounge, champagne and witty repartee.

Airborne ambiance, 10,000 feet: Welcome to Virgin Australia International Business Class. Have a few glasses of Moet in the lounge, some foie gras, a lamb chop, a good film, a brandy, pima-cotton pajamas and don a pair of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones, snooze on your fully horizontal bed, and awake, fully rested, 1 hour from Brisbane. It’s like space travel for hipster astronauts with great food and wine. I didn’t want to get off the plane.

G’day Australia! Whatever you’ve heard about the brutality of travel to Oz, you can now banish. It’s a hike, but it’s your honeymoon, so spend intentionally and reap the rewards of no jet lag and an in-flight vacation.

Fly Virgin Blue Brisbane to Perth, crossing the vast, haunting, Outback, and head to the Richardson Hotel and Spa, a unique boutique: Asian influence, expansive views of the skyline, luxe rooms and an opulent coffee buffet. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the zen-garden pool. Head to Opus for some of the best farm to fork offerings, by Chef Todd Cheavin – the grilled lamb, with local wine pairings a stand out.

Later, it’s Freemantle, a bustling port city with goldrush-era architecture, ghosts of rock stars, and the industrial, edgy Little Creatures Brewery. A converted boat shed and working brewery, it’s hophead heaven, with kangaroo and fresh seafood served alongside of freshly pulled pints right from the conditioning tank. Thursday afternoon, may as well be a Saturday night, the place is as hopping as the brew tanks.

Feeling rebellious and randy we embark on the ACDC Highway to Hell tour, Freemantle Trams winds us through the haunts, history, and final resting place of everyone’s favorite head banger, Bon Scott. Channel your inner 16-year-old while belting out “TNT,” and “Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap” at the top of your lungs.

The rules are the tools: when it’s pints for lunch, it’s either a power nap or a coffee at Freo’s Cappuccino Strip. A little jolt will do you, before your romantic night at the hippest “regency meets retro” spot in Perth: Must Winebar and Champagne Lounge. Champagne bubble walls, flocked wallpaper, vintage mirrors, dark and gothy interiors make date night downright decadent. Sip a divine elixir and gaze into each other’s eyes before a bite….at the Must Bistro downstairs where Chef Blaikie serves up contemporary French cuisine – the short ribs and gnocchi being a stand out.

The next morning, hop on the Rottnest Express to Rottnest Island, 18 kms west of Perth, tool around on mountain bikes by Wadejemup lighthouse, coral reefs, tide pools and interact with the locals: Quokas, marsupials resembling miniature kangaroos. Stop into Aristo’s for a freshly caught seafood lunch and a glass of chilled Sauvignon while you gaze over the water and each other.

Rockingham Wild Encounters, Causeway Bay offers a life altering experience -interact with wild dolphins in their natural habitat. Snorkel, and observe in close proximity, these wild, majestic creatures in their idyllic underwater community. This relationship between RWE and the dolphins has been lovingly fostered for 17-years and the awestruck sense of wonderment will pervade your senses.

Lose the wetsuits and head for the Margaret River, pro surfer haunt, West Oz wine mecca, and a coastline perched on cliffs dotted with so many type of flowers, rocks and vegetation, it looks like a Van Gogh painting. The Injiup Spa Retreat, Yallingup, a glorious 10-villa seaside resort surrounded by a national park, is where modern meets magnificent minimalism. Whale watch from your private deck and enjoy local wine in your private dipping pool as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean across a deserted beach. Enjoy peaceful pampering with a couples spa treatment and handmade aromatherapy products. Slip into something more comfortable (a glass of bubbly at Bouzy The Champagne Bar?). Enjoy modern Australian cuisine at Bathers Restaurant – the oysters and seafood are standouts.

Live large with the devilishly stylin’ Nola Gaebler and her vintage Bentley, as you wind through sun dappled roads and forests on her Wine Lovers of Margaret River Tour guiding you through tastings at award winning Cape Grace Wines, bio-dynamic Cullen Wines, and culminating in the Margaret River’s first commercial vineyard Vasse Felix Winery for a Bacchus-worthy gourmet lunch overlooking pastoral vineyards.

Absolve your culinary sins with a vigorous private surf session at Josh Palmateers Surf Academy. A former pro, he’s an intuitive instructor who can get you riding down the face of a wave you might not believe you can handle. He’s funny, he’s good, and he’s rad. Kelly Slater and you have now surfed River Mouth, Margaret River…..

Get ready for the stunningly stylish Cape Lodge, a small, luxury, vineyard hotel located in the heart of Margaret River wine country on 40 acres of lush forest. Voted best boutique hotel in Oz, 2009, and Worlds Best 100 Hotels, 2010, it’s a visual and victual experience – a new generation in gourmet establishments. Attend cooking school with surfing chef Tony Howell, and later consume your handiwork with wine pairings. Luxuriate in your bucolic balcony overlooking a lazy creek. We almost expect Helena Bonham Carter to come bounding out of the woods in crinolines and corset on a stallion – it’s otherworld.

Head inland, to the Wine and Truffle Company in Manjimup between the Jarrah and Karri forest. The largest trufferie in the southern hemisphere, they also produce fabulous wine. Enjoy a tremendous truffle-inspired lunch with flight of wines overlooking the vineyards, and sigh…..

Reluctantly, your journey comes to a close. Relax in your spacious Executive Suite Club Rooms at the Sheraton, Perth and enjoy modern Australian cuisine at Origins.

More than a honeymoon, this is a lifetime adventure. Yes, it’s a hike to get here, but the rewards are magnificent: a little slice of paradise that hasn’t been overrun or over developed. Everything looks shiny, bright and fresh: blue skies, carpets of flowers, glorious landscapes, and unusually private coastline of staggering beauty, and sublime dining and wining experiences. The highlight? Western Australians– who seem to have perfected the fine art of living and are only too happy to share a libation, a joke, and a hug after meeting you once. Take a little page from their book back home – your new marriage is also an adventure, and living it Oz style will ensure it’s one that lasts for a lifetime (like the memory of your perfect honeymoon….).