Wynwood Walls and Doors in Miami celebrates the incredible art form of street graffiti. It creates the perfect “museum” for street graffiti art: a gorgeous park in an industrial neighborhood of Miami. Traditional museums offer an astounding wide variety of artist, styles, and genres. But most don’t feature the fun works of street graffiti artists. Street art is meant to be seen outside and surrounded by people. Wynwood Walls provides this amazing experience showcasing some of the leading street artists in the world! The Wynwood Art district is a must visit for any art lover or visitor to Miami. My daughter, who is a non-art lover, was wowed by the spot. It’s super hip, very cool and just simply awesome.
There are so many different hotel choices when visiting New York City. Each hotel, just like each neighborhood, offers visitors a different experience and flavor of New York. This past week I was so lucky to stay at the Andaz 5th Avenue, a concept by Hyatt. Andaz hotels look to create a more intimate, sophisticated experience using local cuisine and the social scene of the local area. Andaz actually means “personal style” in Hindi. This hotel has major style of its own but also pays attention to each individual guest with incredible service.
For any art lover, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is a must visit. Throughout the year, MoMA presents many incredible exhibits showcasing different kinds of mediums including painting, sculpture, film, even performance art. But MoMA’s permanent collection is perhaps the most impressive collection of modern art in the world. Located on the 4th and 5th floor, the collection will appeal to all visitors. I have so many favorites but I’ve picked 10 to highlight for you. But first a little history of the MoMA.
The Carlyle Hotel in New York City exudes luxury, glamour and elegance with a modern twist. Upon entering the hotel, a classy, refined ambiance greets any discerning traveler and provides a charming, graceful yet discrete experience. Located on the tony Upper East Side of Manhattan steps away from the shops of Madison Avenue, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The MET Breuer Building The Carlyle (a Rosewood hotel) offers countless sophisticated experiences whether you decide to explore this fashionable area or never leave the hotel! Art and music abound throughout the hotel creating a beautiful atmosphere to the eye and ear. While the Carlyle is noted for its luxury and elegance, it also has a fascinating, storied history allowing guests to walk and stay in the rooms of many famous and influential people.
Sedona is a fabulous place to visit for its own natural beauty and outdoor activities. It’s also a great place to use as a base for a day trip to the Grand Canyon. Sedona is located about a 2 ½ hour drive from either the West Rim or the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Each of the Rim areas has a very different feel from each other- the West Rim is a desert like landscape while the South Rim emerges from woods. Neither destination disappoints visitors. There is nothing as awe inspiring and mesmerizing as seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time or the umpteenth time!
One of my favorite places to visit in the fall is Arizona. The weather in September is gorgeous - warm, sunny days and crisp cool night. My kids have also fallen in love with this state. When we asked them where we should visit this September they instantly said, “We want to go back to Arizona.” Last year we explored the southern Arizona area of Tucson. This year we decided to head north to the beautiful red rock town of Sedona. We couldn’t have been happier with our choice.
Every August we head north to Saratoga Springs, NY for one of my most favorite weekends of the summer, The Travers Stakes. Horseracing is a fun sport to watch especially at Saratoga Racetrack, one of the oldest and most charming sporting venues in the United States. The horses are stunning, elegant athletes who streak down the dirt and grass tracks. And oh, the hats at the track! Ladies embrace this fashion trend some wearing beautiful, elegant hats while others opt for whimsical and crazy one. The Adirondack Park located a short drive from Saratoga Springs, offers visitors the outdoor experiences of this beautiful region. Saratoga Springs and neighboring Lake George (at the edge of the Adirondack Park) are wonderful places to visit during the summer but Travers weekend is even more special.
There are a handful of hotels that I repeatedly visit that feel like home. Acqualina Resort and Spa is one of them. My kids would live here if they could! Southern Florida has so many gorgeous luxury resorts. Miami, South Beach, and Bal Harbour offer any discerning traveler a plethora of choices. Acqualina Resort and Spa, located on the beach in Sunny Isles, Florida 5 miles north of Bal Harbor, is unequivocally one of my absolute favorites. Acqualina provides five-star luxury, world class service and spacious, serene accommodations. I have stayed many times, celebrated many special events and never been disappointed. It is clear why Acqualina has been voted the #1 beachfront Hotel by TripAdvisor, #1 family resort in the world in Andrew Harper’s 2016 Reader’s Choice Award and has received the prestigious Forbes Five Star Award and the AAA Five Diamond Award several times.
There are certain things that are just synonymous with luxury and beauty. Chanel is perhaps one of the most famous. Then pair Chanel with the luxury hotel, The Mark, on the Upper East Side of New York City and you have pure luxury heaven! My dear friend Dana, and I were invited by a fabulous personal shopper from Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC to attend a celebration of Chanel’s new collection, Paris-Cosmopolite. The event was held in one of The Mark’s penthouse. We were so excited to be invited- lovers of fashion and luxury hotels- what could be better! We were not disappointed.
Everyone knows that I love museums. I work in a museum. I write tours about museums. But there is no museum that I have been to that is anything like the Museum of Ice Cream Miami. My daughter, her friend (both who are not museum lover) and I visited Miami in early January. We planned to just relax by the pool and beach. The weather, however, didn’t cooperate with that plan. So, we looked for alternative ideas. Miami offers a wide variety of cultural activities including this whimsical, pop up museum. It was a dream come true for the girls with hip rooms and displays, pink everywhere, candy treats and of course, ice cream! They was in heaven; it was an Instagram dream come true for them.