A for Away

B for Beach

C for California here we come

After a busy summer and the teasing of Autumn in the air, take a break while the kids are back to school; rejuvenate yourself and hold onto Summer a little bit longer.

Talk about taking a break ~ break for the Shorebreak Hotel at 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, California, 92648, United States. Shorebreak Hotel is your hip and contemporary hotel with 157 rooms and 39 suites that feature ocean views.

Located just north of Newport and Laguna Beach in the original Surf City USA, where the Pacific Coast Highway meets the Huntington Beach Pier. Here you will be on the famous strand of Huntington Beach where upscale luxury meets beach casual.

Begin your visit with secure underground valet parking, limousine and car rental services, complimentary wine hour, concierge services, room service, and if you chose to bring your dog, they are pet friendly with no fee.

Settle into your room complete with a 37“ or 42“ flat-screen TV, an electronic safe and plug your iPod into their iPod docking station. Turn on some tunes and enjoy a drink from your honor bar with refrigerator on your balcony with a view. Enjoy your complimentary newspaper, send out your laundry and dry cleaning (iron and ironing board provided in your room), relax in the amazing bath with luxury bath products and robes in preparation to head out to the hotels restaurant and bar, Zimzala before falling into a heavenly sleep on your Serta mattress with 300-thread count Frette linens.

Zimzala restaurant is located on the second level adjacent to the Shorebreak Hotel and “is a casual vibe with some serious food located on the Strand. Zimzala features a bar, "living room" lounge, semi-exhibition kitchen, dining room, private dining room and outdoor patio spaces. The cool and comfortable space was created by noted design firm De Lisle, Philpotts & Staub Interiors.

The lounge is the perfect place to relax with friends and enjoy handcrafted cocktails and lighter fare over tales of the day's beach and surfing adventures. The main dining room enjoys a glimpse of the semi-exhibition kitchen which produces California comfort food. Communal sharing is strongly encouraged by our enthusiastic servers!”

After dinner be sure to take a stroll out to the private courtyard with multiple fire pits and enjoy a beautiful evening on the ocean or visit or get “stranded” at the Strand; an outdoor plaza with upscale shopping and more dining pleasures.

After you’re revived and maybe it’s time to do your daily workout in their onsite fitness center, or get your workout at Surf City USA’s greatest beachside attraction - an 8.5 mile stretch of paved boardwalk know as the Ocean Strand. The boardwalk runs parallel to the Pacific Coast Highway and the beach and stretches from Sunset Beach to Newport Beach totaling 12.5 miles. Should you decide to head inland, you can continue on the Santa Ana Trail.

After all this work, take some down time at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach that sits pier-side and ocean front. The Plaza is a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre that host beachside concerts, events and is a hub for art and culture. The design is reminiscent of roman architecture with an artistic and colorful mural depicting historical events of Huntington Beach. Stone steps cut into the hillside between the Pacific Coast Highway and the sand, and here you will find yourself with a comfortable place to sit and relax or shop amongst the goods at the weekly farmer’s market and art-a-faire.

Hungry? Take a walk along the Huntington Beach Pier. Here you will be at the iconic heart of the city. At 1,800 ft, Huntington Beach Pier is one of the longest municipal piers in California, and it stands as the city’s front porch to the wide open Pacific. You can fish, shop, experience the sights and sounds and eat at Ruby’s where this red roofed 1940’s style diner will make you feel like you’re sitting in the middle of the ocean. Serving breakfast, lunch and diner with their motto of: “Only the best for our guest!”

With so many choices of restaurants at Huntington Beach, from Dukes that is located next to the pier serving Hawaiian, seafood and steak fare, 25 Degrees with an American fare, Cucina Alessa for some fine Italian, the Sugar Shack (known for its great breakfast), to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery known for some great deep dish pizza, you surely won’t go hungry or thirsty in this paradise.

End you perfect getaway by relaxing with a romantic evening at Huntington Harbour at 16370 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 with a sunset gondola through Sunset Gondola 562- 592-3295.

With prices from $30 for two @ 30 minutes to $140 for two for two hours, how could one resist? Enhance your ride with add-on packages of chocolates, roses and more. Bring your own beverage, snacks and ice, cups, opener and blankets are provided for you along with your gondolier singing you a song.

Before you go, keep up with all the latest with your local Huntington Beach Local Blog.

So, there you have it, and unfortunately class if over, but I bet this trip will get you an A+!!!

Providing a nostalgic feel of Nantucket, I fell in love with The Cottages and Lofts at Boat Basin http://thecottagesnantucket.com/ (866-838-9253 or 508-325-1499) and with the 4th Of July, my first thought returned to these 24 cottages and their 5 new lofts that consist of one, two, and three bedrooms with some that are even pet friendly.

The pet friendly cottages require a non-refundable pet fee of $60 (1-3 nights); $75 (4+ nights) per stay and 10% of the pet fee is donated to the Nantucket MSPCA Adoption Center on Nantucket. Your pet will feel like it’s on a luxury vacation too with the special amenities of a welcome basket of pet treats and toys, a blissful bed (Draper Canine Therapy Dog Bed by http://drapercaninetherapy.com), food and water bowls, litter box, personalized pet tags, dog walking services and a directory of veterinary clinics and pet supply stores.

The cottages are located from the heart of Nantucket ranging from waterfront views and waterfront locations. The cottages at the Boat Basin are located directly on the docks at Swain Warf and Old South Warf (The Lofts are on Straight Warf). To get a better idea of the layout, see the map at http://thecottagesnantucket.com/reservations/map.html and click on the cottage or loft for additional information.

The cottages have a nautical ambiance with polished pine floors and stylishly casual furnishings with colors of marine blue, white and the classic Nantucket red. Many of the accommodations have private balconies or terraces and during your visit you are provided with complimentary use of bicycles (first come, first served), daily housekeeping, modern kitchens, fine bed linens, complimentary wireless internet access, flat-screen TV’s with cable television, DVD, Business Center, hair dryer, in-room safes, beach chairs and towels to name a few of your awaiting luxuries.

As an added bonus is the front desk will even do your grocery shopping prior to your arrival an have your kitchen pre-stocked. If you fly into Nantucket airport, you can be greeted by the “Beach Bus” with previous arrangements to take you to The Cottages. For additional travel accommodations to reach the island, visit http://www.islandofnantucket.info/howtogetthere.html for further options. Prior to your arrival, The Cottages Nantucket Vacation Planner will contact you to make arrangements for transportation, dining, island excursions, picnics, car and bicycle rentals. To contact the Nantucket Vacation Planner, please email [email protected] or call 866.838.9252.  The “Beach Bus” also will shuttle you to and from your favorite Nantucket beaches.

If you are a guest at The Cottages & Lofts you have access to the White Elephant Spa, the brand new spa located at their sister property and just a short walk away.

You'll find an extensive selection of treatments and massages to make your stay even more relaxing. Visit http://www.whiteelephanthotel.com/spa/ to learn more or call 508.228.2500 to make a reservation and mention that you are a guest at The Cottages.

Grab your bag from http://www.jessicacushman.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JKC&Product_Code=ROP-LOB-NAT&Category_Code=ROPTOTE that screams Nantucket, step back in time and wander over 800 historic buildings while walking along the cobblestone streets ~ a perfect way to relax while visiting an array of upscale boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, pubs and fine restaurants.

Make sure you visit the Whaling Museum http://www.nha.org/sites/index.html open daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. where you will find the history of Nantucket’s whaling industry and see artifacts that are exhibited at the museum.

For those of those that want to explore further, venture into the vineyards and brewery’s of: Nantucket Vineyard, Cisco Brewery, and Triple Distillery at http://sites.google.com/site/ciscobeers/ for a day of fun and relaxation.

Arrange for a private sail aboard the Endeavor http://endeavorsailing.com/ located at the Straight Wharf dock outside the cottages. Enjoy a sunset cruise for two or a pirate-themed adventure with the kids. Aboard the Nantucket Harbor Cruise at Straight Wharf (502-228-1444), pull lobster traps, enjoy an afternoon Ice Cream Cruise, or end your evening with their sunset cruise. For those that want to own their own yacht for a day or half the day excursions, visit Hinckley Cruise Your boat will be stocked with all the provisions you needs to make your day on the water memorable. Contact your accommodation concierge for more information and booking.

In July and August, go on the whale-watch vessel Yankee Springs for the day (& hours) and visit the whale feeding grounds at the Great South Channel. It departs from Straight Wharf. http://nantucketwhalewatch.net/ 800-322-0013 or outside of MA call 800-942-5464

For the land lovers there are many inland tours to choose from be sure to check with your local accommodation concierge for more information. You may enjoy visiting Brat Point Lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in America, established in 1746. http://lighthouse.cc/brant/ or just take a leisurely bike ride or stroll on the many paths. Make sure you grab some ice-cream on your way!

Don’t be surprised to hear live piano music and sing-along while strolling through downtown. The Club Car is an iconic seafood and steak restaurant in an old train car.

Make sure you make reservations at 508-228-1101. One restaurant among many lining the streets of Nantucket for your enjoyment. http://www.nantucket.net/maps/diningmap.php

For the 4th of July, Jetties Beach (on Nantucket) http://www.nantucket.net/beaches/jetties.php at 9:00 p.m. is the perfect place to view the spectacular fireworks and in August Jetties Beach host a Sandcastle and Sculpture Day along with the Boston Pops http://www.bso.org/bso/mods/perf_detail.jsp?pid=prod4040071 on August 13, 2011 to benefit the Nantucket Cottage Hospital http://www.nantuckethospital.org/Events/Pops.html with special guest, Carly Simon. Make sure you visit the Raw Bar at The Jetties http://thejetties.com/ for a complete Nantucket Beach experience.

For more 4th of July fun, there are activities on Main Street starting at 10:00 a.m. which include the dunk tank, the watermelon eating contest, face painting, the pie eating contest, and the famous "water fight" between the town fire fighters and Flint Ranney's volunteers. For more information visit http://www.nantucket-ma.gov/Pages/NantucketMA_Visitor/46814_Nantucket_WEB_6.pdf

A relaxing and memorable trip to the east coast to enjoy the dog-days of Summer. What a wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day with having your vacation perfect in every way!

Photographs courtesy of The Cottages and Jessica Cushman

After being cooped up after our wicked winter storms, try traveling to Boston for St Patrick’s Day celebrations. As America’s most Irish city, Boston has many celebrations and several events throughout the month of March.

Little known fact: as with most things in America, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated differently than the traditional Irish way. As the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick is revered and the day used to be celebrated with a visit to church, hearty family dinner, and if you even thought of a visit to the local bar, you would be out of luck. Nowadays, Irish folks everywhere think of St. Patrick’s Day as a way to encourage Irish pride and celebration.




Things To Do ~ Well, drinking Irish beer would be big on that list, and Boston provides 100+ Irish pubs within the downtown area and an easy walk from many hotels, as well as convenient public transportation. Thumbs up for a car-free weekend.

While you are out walking, join the Irish Heritage Trail, 2.5 miles of landmarks of the Irish in Boston. Stop by the Visitor Information Center and pick up a free map.

Throughout the month of March, Boston hosts many live music, comedy and sporting events.

Restaurants ~ March brings the annual Restaurant Week Boston promotion with local dining establishments – dining deals abound. This can be a great way to save money while you travel, with 2-course lunches at $15.11, 3-course lunches at $20.11 and 3 course dinners at $33.11. Participating restaurants include Amelia’s Trattoria (Italian, dinner), B&G Oysters (Seafood, lunch/dinner), and Oishii Boston (Sushi, lunch). Keep in mind, the discounted menus are offered only during certain periods, and it is wise to check guidelines and restrictions before booking a reservation.

Fortunately, because Boston is a great college town, there are many inexpensive restaurants in the city. During St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Faneuil Hall invites local Irish Step Dancing groups to provide entertainment for visitors throughout the day.

If you are looking for a traditional American St. Patrick’s Day dinner, corned beef and cabbage, also known as the New England boiled dinner, visit Durgin Park, J.J. Foley’s Pub & Restaurant, and Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury.

Transportation ~ The best way to get around Boston is via the T, with subway, bus, commuter rail and boat service. Visit the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for details, including information on purchasing a CharlieCard before you depart. With the CharlieCard, subway rides are $1.70 and bus rides are $1.25, a 15% savings.

Source:  http://www.mint.com