A Perfect Day in NYC

After a particularly rainy and chilly start to summer, the weather in New York has been absolutely gorgeous the last couple of days. My husband and I decided to take advantage of the sunshine; we spent some time hanging out at the new Highline Park (read all about the park in my article over at examiner.com), took a stroll along the Hudson and topped it all off with some mojitos and dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, Sea. (You can't beat $10 for a Thai curry in the middle of the Meatpacking district -- and it's right across from an entrance to the Highline!). A few snaps from the day...

I love that the Highline design incorporates lots of lounge chairs for taking in the sun. It's a beautiful place to spend a lazy summer afternoon.

You can still see the old tracks in many areas of the park.

And, since the park is elevated, you usually get a nice breeze...and a great view over Tenth Ave. (yep, that's me!).

I need a sailboat...This one looks so beautiful, gliding across the Hudson. You get this kind of view all the time from Hudson River Park.

The mojitos at SEA are amazing...and large. This one lasted me well into my meal, and, believe me, I can usually make quick work of a mojito!

The outdoor seating at SEA, with the Highline in the background -- a perfect location!

Above photos by James Lloyd :)

Scentsational Dreams

Photo by ***j9***/flickr

If you have trouble falling asleep in unfamiliar hotel rooms, Sleep Scentsations have you – or, ahem, your pillow – covered. The adhesive-backed pillow liners contain essential oils to induce a restful mood. Just place them right on the pillow, underneath the case, take a deep breath and drift off to sleep. Choose from a range of scents with charming names like Day at the Beach, Relaxing, and My Boyfriend’s Shirt. Each one comes individually wrapped, so it packs away easily in your suitcase.

Endless Vacation

It's always hard to leave a great holiday weekend behind. No matter how you chose to spend the Fourth of July (Our crew opted to watch the NYC fireworks from the rooftop at Soho House and take in a late-night swim. Who needs a swimsuit when you have a perfectly good dress?), drudging back to work can be a real drag.

If you're still finding it hard to say goodbye to your vacation time, check out earthtv.com. Not only do they have interesting footage of Fourth of July events from all across the U.S., they show live streaming video of beautiful places all over the globe. So, even though you may be stuck at your desk, the vacation's never really over.

screenshot from "The World Live" on earthtv.com

Above photos taken by James Lloyd.

Getting Color in Florida

When I was recently on assignment in Florida, I had the pleasure of staying at the WaterColor Inn and Resort. This lovely complex features 499 acres of planned neighborhoods, parks and bike trails, along with a particularly charming inn located right on the beach. Nestled between Grayton Beach State Park and Seaside on the Northwest Florida coast, the beach at WaterColor is arguably one of the most beautiful in the U.S., with sugar white sand as far as the eye can see...

Not much of a beach person? The pool areas are equally impressive, with an "adults only" pool (this is a family resort, so adults only areas come in handy if you're not up for sharing swim space with toddlers) located just outside the inn...

And when you're ready to head back to your room, there's plenty of space to relax. Particularly impressive: a walk-in shower with an ocean view. (What can I say? I take long showers. I like to have a nice view while I'm cleansing.)

Travelers' Tales

On the hunt for an appropriate father's day gift (obviously, this was a few weeks ago, but, of course, I couldn't post this till after the big day), I came across A Sense of Place: Great Travel Writers Talk About Their Craft, Lives, and Inspiration (Travelers' Tales).

In A Sense of Place, author Michael Shapiro sits down with some of the best travel writers in the business -- Bill Bryson, Peter Matthiessen and Arthur Frommer, to name a few -- and finds out what makes them tick. The result, according to reviews, is a highly enjoyable and uplifting read for anyone who appreciates the life-changing power of travel. I can't wait till Dad's done with it so I can borrow and read it myself!

The Naked Truth About Flight Safety

Air New Zealand - screen grab from safety video

Air New Zealand is taking in-flight entertainment to a whole new level. The crew is stripping down to nearly nothing (just a little body paint...and perhaps a captain's hat) for their new safety video. Guess that's one way to make passengers pay attention! You can view the hot little piece of instructional cinema here. I've gotta go book my ANZ ticket...

On the Road...

After nearly a month on hiatus, I'm back to the blog -- with lots of travel info to share. The last few weeks have taken me to Florida (as below noted), Niagara Falls and Toronto, with a few days down time in NY to work on an amazing new project I'll be launching soon. In the meantime, a few pics from the road...

I adore the sweet smell of fresh gardenias. This was one of many perched on a bush in an old southern garden. I was delighted!

One of my favorite things about northwest Florida (besides the beautiful beaches) are the majestic moss-draped oaks -- so beautifully southern.

Niagara Falls: every bit as impressive as its reputation. I'm not sure you can appreciate the sheer magnitude without standing right in front of it.

The obligatory Niagara Falls pose!

Blue skies in Toronto. Lovely weather in a lovely city.

Off to Florida...

Destin, Florida sunrise [Photo by bcmom/flickr]

I'm off to the northwest Florida coast on assignment, covering "off beat and off-road" attractions in the panhandle.  I'm not too excited about my 6am flight, but if I get to see a sunrise like this while I'm there, it'll be well worth it :)  I hope to be posting from the road.  Stay tuned...

Chic and Shady

Several people have commented (privately and publicly) on the parasol in my last post.  As the lovely Miss Eve from Absolutely Ladylike pointed out, parasols are all the rage among Asian women overseas.  But what if you want to rock a little chic portable shade in the U.S.?    

The creator of Carasol Parasols, a young NYC resident by the name of Carol, developed her company after getting multiple compliments stateside when she trotted around Manhattan carrying a parasol her aunt brought back from Japan.  A few years later, Carol is providing elegant, sturdy parasols to the masses, each with a protective UV coating that blocks 85-99% of UV rays.  They come in a variety of styles and colors (I have the Grace in taupe), and they're lightweight, so they're super easy to throw in a suitcase.

Also check out Carol's blog, I'd Rather Carry a Parasol, for more great health and skin-related tips.

Sun Savior

[Photo by Malias/ flickr]

Being caught off guard by the weather can ruin your day fast. Stuck in the rain without an umbrella? Get ready for "drowned rat" hair. Stuck in the blaring sun without sunscreen (or a parasol)? Hello lobster face. Good thing they make purse-sized umbrellas, and now, they're doing the same with sunscreen. Bare Minerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen is the perfect thing to throw in your bag and dust on whenever you're in need of a little extra sun protection.

It's a powder, so no more of that greasy residue, and its' totally compact (the brush is attached), so it's great for travel. Bring on the sun!