Food & Wine Part 1

One of my bucket list destinations has always been Paws Up in Montana and I finally made it there! I was fortunate enough to travel during one of their many special themed weekends. This particular weekend was a Masterchef weekend featuring the extremely talented Jamie Malone, Mindy Segal, Ashley Christensen and Ben Jones who is the executive chef at Paws Up.

Each night a masterchef prepared a fabulous five course tasting menu paired with amazing wineries to include Merry Edwards Winery, Rombauer Vineyards and Grgich Hills Estate. Favorite bites of the weekend was hands down the Smoked Duck Pot Pie by Ashley Christensen and the Milk Stout Flourless Chocolate Cake from Mindy Segal. I think I need to have a dinner party! I must also give a shout out to Paws Up for one of the best Bloody Mary's of my life – Beef Jerky, Olives, Montgomery Distilleries' Sunday Morning Bloody Mary Mix. Now that's how you start your day!

My experience at Paws Up went above and beyond my exceptions. You have amazing homes to choose from to a glamping experience with fully furnished tents. You can even combine your stay with a tent to experience both types of accommodations.

The activities are unlimited – horseback riding, cattle hearing, fly fishing, ATV and even repelling. The scenery... well what can I say? Nothing beats the big Montana sky.

Will I be back – yes! When – not soon enough! If you are a “beach” only type of traveler please contact me and give the mountains a chance.

Wonderful Wailea

Our final days on the beautiful island of Maui were spent in the Wailea area. This further south on the island tends to be a little less rainy. There are great little towns to explore, like Kea, and more upscale shopping at the Shops at Wailea. Be sure to stop by this little dive called the Kea Cafe and bring your appetite!

Here we enjoyed the beautiful beaches and grounds of some top notch resorts. The highlight for us was a private surfing lesson. Our instructor was outstanding and immediately got us in the mood to “hang loose”. By the end of our lesson, Joey was a pro. This time together was definitely the highlight of our trip. It was so much fun to spend this time together as a family learning a new sport just the three of us.

Maui is a perfect destination for everyone because it offers such 
a variety of activities: everything from beaches and pools to mountains and recreational sports. There are also many great resorts to choose from, at different price points. One of my greatest professional joys is getting to know my clients to match them with the right fit resort.

We were sad to leave the wonderful island of Maui. Hawaii will always remain one of my favorite destinations. The Hawaiian Islands are excellent for rest and relaxation but also the adventure seekers. We were sad to leave but will have memories forever on this special destination.

Maui - Kaanapali & Lahaina

After spending two nights in the Kapalua area we have traveled just a bit south (15 minutes or so) to the Kaanapali and Lahania area. You have many resort choices in this area.  This is a more active area with shops and activities.  Many of the snorkel and sail trips leave out of Kaanapali and Lahanai.

Joey and our amazing guide.

 If you are looking for walkable dining options, long walks on the beach, great pools and more of a value resort the Kaanapali/ Lahania area is a great choice. 

We took a full day adventure to the island of Molokia.  You will need to either fly there or take a two hour ferry there and back.  Warning - if you prone to sea sickness come prepared.  On the island's northern Kalaupapa Peninsula is a steep path leading to Kalaupapa National Historical Park, an isolated former leper colony below towering cliffs. The island is deep in history and I encourage you to read more about it.  Our local guide was outstanding and interesting stops along the way included a sustainable Macadamia Nut farm and sipping the local coffee.  

Maui - Exploring the North

Hawaii has always been a special destination to me and my family. You can't beat the combination of beach, culture, mountains, activities and cuisine. The list goes on and on why it's a perfect destination for both couples and families. As we embark on our 6^th trip to Hawaii (Joey's 5^th) we decided to spend our entire stay on the island of Maui dividing it up in three parts - Kapalua, Lahaina and Wailea.

Kapalua is located along the northwest coast of Maui along Route 30, known as the Honoapiʻilani Highway. I have driven the road to Hana several times but this was a first for me on the Honoapiʻilani Highway. One of the stops along the way is the Nakalele Blowhole. When the waves reach the shore the water is forced into a hole in the lava levels that causes an eruption that looks a geyser. For the hikers where tennis shoes to get a better grip. If you want don't want to hike down you will still see the dramatic views. For the best viewing go at high tide.

 Another great stop is Honoua Bay. Definitely off the beaten path and they say some of the best snorkeling in Maui. It is one of the few sheltered bays to snorkel on Maui. It's a beautiful short hike through a forest and you end up to a very rocky beach called Honolua-Mokule’ia Bay. I would strongly suggest you wear water shoes as it is very difficult to get in and out of the water. But if you are a snorkeling this would be a special place to be.

If you are a golfer Kapalua is the place for you. You have several award winning courses up here. Not to mention to fantastic Virtuoso resorts - the Montage Kapalua Bay and the Ritz Carlton Kapalua.  Both resorts offer excellent rooming options including residence suites where you have full kitchens, living area and separate bedrooms.  

Amazing pools at the Montage

Peru - My Final Days

Day 6

Today we explored historic Cusco It's a really neat town with a great local market. You could find everything here to include fruits, vegetables, meats and some of my travel companions found local serums for success and love! I am excited to check back with them to see if it worked.

At night we went to the Cusco Planetarium to look at the night sky from a different view. We had a presentation on the southern sky, contemporary astronomy, and the ancient Inca relationship with the cosmos. Afterwards we used there telescopes to admire the stars. We were fortunate enough to see three planets – Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. My favorite was seeing the SouthernCross for the first time which you can only see in the Southern Hemisphere.

Day 7

It's time to wrap up my journey. I flew from Cusco to Lima. Then after heading back into Lima for a final Peruvian dinner back to the airport for an overnight flight to Miami. You have a choice of overnight in Lima and taking a flight the next day or the red eye.

This was amazing adventure and Peru is a truly magical destination.  I traveled with a wonderful company that offers lower cost group trips and can make Peru accessible to all budgets.  I would love to tell you about it! 

Here are my travel tips when traveling to Peru:

-Drink plenty of water! You are at a very high elevation. Dink only bottled water.

-Take it easy... when you first arrive Cusco walk at a slow pace. Allow your body to get acclimated with the altitude.

-In case of altitude sickness, rest well during the first days avoiding physical strain; drink tea with coca leaves or take coca pills.

-Purchase your food at restaurants, avoiding street food.

-Regardless of the season and the area of Peru you are visiting, it is advisable to carry warm clothes, loose pants, cotton tops, hiking footwear, good sunblock and a hat (to protect you from the sun and the cold). Dress in layers.

-Nearly every place accepts either soles or U.S. dollars. So don’t panic if you only have American currency. Your bills must not have any cuts or tears in them – they won't accept it even with this smallest tear.

- You must bring your passport to get in to Machu Picchu. You can also get a novelty passport stamp to remember your amazing experience.

-Of course – contact your travel advisor! I can't wait to tell you about my amazing journey and book you to Peru.

Peru - The Adventure Continues

Day 3

Today I had a full day of touring the amazing Sacred Valley. The three major highlights included the pre-Inca salt pans of LasSalineras, Ollantaytambo and Moray Ruins. In this area there are two fabulous Virtuoso hotels to consider – Sol Y Luna and the Belmond Rio Sagrado.

Day 4

We were up and ready to go very early to the Ollantaytambo station to board the train to Aguas Calientes or “Machu Picchu” town.  This town is the closest access point to the historical site of Machu Picchu.  The only way to get to here is by train. There are a few options including the Peru Express or for a more upscale and interactive experience the Vista Dome and the famous Hiram Bingham. 

The rest of the day we spent wandering the town, took a lovely walk to a butterfly farm and tasted the local cuisine which of course including sipping on Pisco Sours!  Here you have two amazing hotels to consider – the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge  and Inkaterra. Just ask... I will tell you all about them.

Day 5

Today was the day I was waiting for – Machu Picchu. We were ready to go for an early morning start – 6:00AM. Here you get in the que for the 25 minute bus ride to the entrance. Having a guide was well worth learning all about this spectacular destination. I would definitely recommend a hike up to the Moon Temple and Sun Gate.   

I have been very fortunate to travel the globe and this will always stand out as one of the most breathtaking, spiritual and "awe" moments of my travels.  If you considering a trip to this spectacular destination I recommend you start thinking about traveling to Peru sooner than later.  There is talk in the next couple of years that parts of Machu Picchu will be closed and you will not be able to explore it in it's entirety. 

Fun Facts: 

-Machu Picchu is built on 2 fault lines. However, the construction protects it whenever Peru suffers an earthquake. The stones of Machu Picchu are reputed to “dance” or bounce during an earthquake and then fall back into their rightful place.

-Most visitors race to arrive before dawn to be one of the first 400 people eligible to climb the famed Huayna Picchu peak. But lesser known is Machu Picchu Mountain, which lies at the opposite end of the site and is twice as tall at 1,640 feet.

-In 1911, Hiram Bingham was a history professor intent on finding the last place where the Incas of Vilcabamba were. Guided by a young boy from Mandorpampa, Bingham arrived at the ruins and thought this is the place where the Incas were established after losing their territory. It wasn’t until after his death in the 1950s that the real Vilcabamba was discovered further west of Machu Picchu citadel.

Peru

Day 1

Off to Peru I go... how to get there? I took the overnight flight (2:00AM) from Miami to Lima arriving at approximately 6:40AM. I spent my morning at the Belmond Miraflores Park which is an outstanding hotel. Taking my own advice I arranged a spa appointment to relax and get over jet lag. After a wonderful lunch I had a private tour of Lima to learn as much about the city as I could in such a short amount of time. Money and time well spent. 

Day 2

After an early (and short)  flight from Lima we arrived Cusco. This is where the adventure begins. I have the pleasure to be traveling with our Virtuoso partners G Adventures and learn about their Planeterra initiative. This is a global movement to make tourism sustainable, to minimize impacts on the environment, local people and cultures and offer economic benefits to local businesses and communities. Click here to learn about this amazing project.

The second stop was for lunch at Parwa which is another Planaterra project. This is a community run restaurant to provide access to the tourism market for the first time to a small village. Lear more  here . Our farm to table lunch was delicious. Fun fact - did you know there are 3500 varieties of potatoes in Peru?

Our day ended with our first glimpse of the Sacred Valley – all I can say is WOW! Stay tuned for more of my adventure. 

A Sweet Getaway

As a Travel Advisor we really want to assist our clients with all of their travel plans, even the weekend getaways. I believe the Weekend Getaway is equally as important as the “big trip.” It's about taking time away from the daily grind, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying a change of scenery.

Joey's First Big Roller Coaster 

Rides for all ages 

Recently I met my sister from Boston in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Hershey is a fabulous getaway for a one or two night stay from numerous points along the East Coast. To stay busy you have Hershey Park, Hershey Museum, Gardens, Zoo America and Chocolate World. The Hotel Hersey is my favorite option in town. This grand hotel has both an indoor and outdoor pool, award winning spa (chocolate massage anyone?), live entertainment on Saturdays and excellent dining. After

Which one do you choose?

a busy day exploring this chocolate-lover’s paradise, I recommend unwinding with one of Hotel Hershey’s decadent martinis. My favorite is the Chocolate Martini, a sweet ending to a perfect stay! 

While I had been to Hershey many times before, this time I experienced the Historic Trolley Tour.  I learned about the history of Milton Hershey and have a huge admiration for this inventive man.  I encourage you to read more about the Hershey Story.  

As a guest of McCabe World Travel, a proud member of Virtuoso you will also receive the following amenities at the Hotel Hershey:

-Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

-Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guest

-$100 USD Equivalent Resort or Hotel credit, (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full,not applicable towards past stays. groups or conventions)

Let me help you plan your next Sweet Getaway. 
Jessica@mccabeworld.com
703-762-5056

Holiday Travel - Go Early!

Now that that the holidays are long past, I have been reflecting on my travel over the past few months. As a Travel Advisor, we always have a push for last minute holiday bookings. You would be surprised to know the amount of people who want to travel either over Christmas (more popular the day after) through New Years. It is a time when many businesses are slow and children have their winter breaks. It's wonderful to get away with your family this time of year; however, rates are at a huge premium and availability becomes limited very quickly. My suggest for you is to either book now, or consider traveling in early December.

Early December is a wonderful time to travel. It's before the holiday rush, outside of hurricane season in the Caribbean, and you often get great value. Also, many destinations are decorated for the holidays. This past year, I had two opportunities to travel that certainly got me into the holiday spirit.

Late November I traveled to Disneyland in California. The parks were beautifully decorated complete with trees, holiday music and “Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink.” Many attractions are upgraded with a holiday theme. For example The Haunted Mansion is transformed with inspiration from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and “It's a Small World” becomes a spectacular attraction with international holiday traditions.

Consider Disneyland for a first time Disney experience. Everything is walkable, no need for transportation, and with just two parks across from each other it can be a much more manageable experience for the first Disney experience. For those who have been to Disney World it's wonderful to experience Walt's original dream and how it transformed.

I also traveled to the Four Seasons Jackson Hole in early December. The resort was warm, cozy, and full of Christmas spirit. There are so many activities to choose from - snowmobiling, dog sledding, animal safari and skiing.

I consider myself an average skier and felt completely comfortable on the mountain. Jackson does not have a big local drive market like Vail, which makes the mountain much more manageable. Before the holiday rush you will experience a winter wonderland!