Fodor’s Choice 2006

by Kelly Amabile on

Several 2006 lists came out on Fodor’s Travel Wire  “Choice” category during the last
week of October. Here is a quick roundup:

Fodor’s Choice 2006: Hotels

Ten hotels from diverse locations such as Costa Rica, South Africa and Greer, Arizona. Be sure to click through the 38
photos showing interior and exterior shots of their top picks. Esperanza
in Los Cabos is my personal fav out of this group.

Fodor’s Choice 2006: Restaurants

The picks here include per se (which became a
Mobil Five-Star Winner this week) and George’s at the
Cove in La Jolla.

Fodor’s Choice 2006: Unforgettable Experiences

Skiing, diving and stargazing are just some of the must-do experiences picked by the Fodor’s folks. They’ve got Mardi
Gras on there too, as talk of the post-Katrina festival gains steam. I think just experiencing New Orleans and Bourbon
Street is enough — go anytime, it doesn’t have to be on Mardi Gras, although this year they might appreciate any extra
visitors.

Road Read: Arizona Watering Holes

by Kelly Amabile on


Over the past two years, lifelong friends June Stahl and Gordon Beale traveled around the state of Arizona, visiting
historic bars, saloons and taverns. They compiled what they learned into a book that came out this month,

Arizona Watering Holes, Unique Saloons and Taverns. This
USA Today article tells
more about the pair’s story — they were originally going to tour taverns across the US, but then cut it to one state,
because of Beale’s “fascination with Arizona”. I wonder if this could be the first in a future series?

Hawaii Dispatch: 3 Tasty Tourist Traps

by Adrienne Wilson on

If you can head straight to the North Shore without stopping at the huge
Dole Plantation pineapple fields you’re probably a serious surfer interested in nothing, but
the enormous waves. In any case you are a person of strength, will-power, and the complete opposite of myself. I have
never had a problem pointing out my faults. On the other hand is there anything wrong with dragging your feet,
lagging, through fields and fields of pineapple simply letting the day go by? Not really.

Though it wasn’t my intentions to stop at the Dole Plantation, I felt it deserved a couple minutes of my time.
And a couple minutes was all it received. I would have spent 45 minutes trying to find myself out of one of the
largest pineapple maze’s in the world if I wasn’t so anxious to make way to
the beach, so I had to pass. If you’ve got the time I suggest the tour, as well as a ride on
the Pineapple Express and a stroll through the plantation garden. That will pretty much give you the
full Pineapple experience with one exception. Tasting the ice cream… Even if you weren’t quite in the mood for ice
cream seeing everyone else parade around with the delicious dessert will probably send messages to your brain that
you must and will not live without it. The light, fruity, Pineapple, soft serve, ice cream wouldn’t be my first
choice but it makes for a lovely afternoon treat.

More ramblings to come on the North Shore, dining, and all the other places I’m trying to rediscover as I conquer
Oahu. Again.   

La Jolla

by Kelly Amabile on

I just spent a few minutes reading this short
Seattle Times piece on
La Jolla, and found myself daydreaming of the warm sun and blue sea I saw there just a few months ago.

My mom and I visited
La
Jolla on a Sunday morning this past August, while vacationing in San Diego. Driving into town, passing all the
shops and restaurants, La Jolla had an upper crust luxe feel to it. But we found the quaint beach town to be quite
charming as well. Attending services at the tiny mission-style chapel Our Lady of the Sea was a welcoming way to begin
our Sunday stroll. After mass, we stopped at the
My Place Bistro on Girard for an early lunch.
For $25 we enjoyed French-onion soup, sandwiches and goat cheese salad at an outdoor cafe table. Ready to walk off our
meal, we headed down the steep hill towards the water, where I snapped this shot of Children’s Beach, home to seals,
swimmers and divers who struggle
to cohabitate in the cove. There was a band setting up in the park along the waterfront, and a crowd gathering to enjoy
the free afternoon concert.

Unfortunately, that was all we got to see, but as the article mentions, there is lots more to this quirky California
town, home to Dr. Suess, the Salk Institute, nude beaches and a state park. This website says it all:
La Jolla: Shelter from the Norm.

Shanghai: M on the Bund

by Kelly Amabile on

Twice this past week I read that the view at
M on the Bund is the reason to visit this Shanghai restaurant.
First, in an email from a friend who recently returned from a ten day trip to China. The gist of her review:

Food: The Chinese chardonnay was nice but the salt encrusted leg of lamb was much too salty and
came with a spinach puree that left something to be desired.

Atmosphere: Diners pay for the view, which was especially spectacular at night. We marveled at The
Aurora building, which transforms into a fantastic bright billboard.

A few days later Gridskipper
mentioned that indeed, the
view of the Bund and Huanpu River makes the M a must see, day or night. Although the evening views look extra special,
it might be worth trying weekend brunch or Sunday afternoon tea, to save a few RMB.