It's been a Summer filled with family, friends and travel! There's a lot to catch up on and even more to look forward to as we set our sights on 2022! I'm not sure whether this is my last column of the Summer or the first one of the Fall. Either way the adventure continues!
By: Anne Heintz
Editor's Note: Wedding photos by the amazing Lisa Ziesing & Meg Lucks of Abby Jiu Photography.
Fall and Festive travel is still available.
I know it’s been a while since I’ve been in touch. Like many of you, I’ve been enjoying the summer. Yes, this girl LOVES to kick back in the summer!
I’ve also had a lot of work. I’ve been busy making and managing old and new bookings. More and more of you are traveling. It warms my heart!
For our family, the summer kicked off with a major event. After a year of COVID cancellations, our youngest daughter’s wedding took place on Memorial Day weekend. It was (you guessed it) a destination wedding.
Natalie and Scott Love were married on the Chesapeake Bay. The guest list was reduced significantly to meet state requirements. Amazingly, most of the restriction were lifted about a week before the wedding. Needless to say, it was a wonderful day… and a blessing to be able to gather with family.
I’ve also done a decent amount of travel myself.
I had the opportunity to go to San Diego for a family friend’s event. I couldn’t resist. Afterall, what is there not to like about Southern California and the slower pace of SD!
It had been a LONG time since I have been to that part of the country. It didn’t disappoint! Sure, I had to deal with flying across the country, with crowded airports in DC, Denver and San Diego, and I had to wear a mask for several hours of travel. But you know what? I was THRILLED to do all! It’s a small price to pay.
I stayed at the Pendry-San Diego in the Gas Lamp district. It was great and afforded me the opportunity of being near the water. I also spent some time in Coronado, which allowed me to get back to the Del Coronado. It is an iconic hotel. I stayed there many years ago with my young family.
The very next weekend I jumped the train to New York to spend time with my older daughter Stephanie and experience what the city is like, post the craziness of 2020. I am happy to report that its truly seems cleaner than ever and there are going to be a bunch of new and exciting hotels coming online this Fall such as the AMAN , Casa Cipriani, and Pendry Manhattan West, which will put other properties on “notice.”
My last travel adventure of the summer was an old fashioned driving trip through the Midwest. We spent quality time staying with family and friends… something we all missed in 2020. In my home state of Wisconsin, we had a decent amount of “lake time” and drank plenty of Spotted Cow, a beer only sold in the Badger state.
We did treat ourselves to two nights at the Journeyman in Milwaukee’s historic Third Ward. I know Milwaukee may not sound like a sexy destination, but in reality, it has a lot to offer… especially for a 2-3 day escape. Besides this is our old stomping grounds and we find it very comfortable.
On the way home, we ended up doing a two-night stopover in Detroit, which may be one of the most underrated cities in America. We spent our first night at the relatively new Shinola Hotel downtown, which was ok.
Our second night we transferred to the iconic Detroit Athletic Club, which was GREAT! The rooftop bar and restaurant overlooking Tigers Stadium are worth the price of admission. Plus, the food and service at the DAC are top shelf!
What to do next? Fall and festive trips are in order… plus planning for your next big adventure is always a good idea!
I have clients traveling to Europe this Fall. Others are planning to head south in search of an inviting beach and warm weather. I am pleasantly surprised… and frankly inspired… by the growing number of you who refuse to put life on hold.
Yes indeed. We are explorers in search of the next adventure!
As Always, Happy Trail & Keep Dreaming!
**Anne Heintz is an independent travel advisor based in Washington, D.C. who creates lifetime memories for her clients located all over the world. She loves the fact that the journey creates memories and connections for her clients. She is affiliated with World-Wide Travel Associates in DC and Tzell Travel in NYC. She is co-founder and namesake of TravelAnne.com. Anne can be reached at Anne@TravelAnne.com. Follow her on Instagram @TravelAnneBlog
Editor's Note:
Now is the time to start planning for future travel.