Read more about the article Disney Wonder – Rainforest Pass at Senses Spa
DisneyWonder

Disney Wonder – Rainforest Pass at Senses Spa

Because of a busy spring, I wasn’t geared up for our 7-day cruise to Alaska on the Disney Wonder. I desperately needed time alone and found myself constantly irritated by kids bumping into me or the overly-cheery staff asking me “How are you today?” The last place I wanted to be was on a cruise full of Disney characters, music and movies.

However, on our previous Disney Dream cruise, I discovered the Rainforest Room at the spa. Fortunately, the Disney Wonder had a similar, but much smaller, Rainforest Room inside Senses Spa on Deck 9 near the Quiet Cove Pool area.

I bought a joint pass for the week with my spouse because the pricing was better (just an additional $50) for two people. After taking a tour of the facilities and locker room, the attendant gave me a choice of 5 different scented body scrubs. I chose the lavender herbal salt scrub and began my journey to relaxation.

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Read more about the article An Overnight Stay at Callaway Gardens – Pine Mountain, GA

An Overnight Stay at Callaway Gardens – Pine Mountain, GA

One of my favorite getaways is Callaway Gardens. People sometimes laugh when they hear this as it’s only 90 minutes from Atlanta. However, in the mid-1970’s and early 80’s my parents took me there (over 600 miles from my hometown of Shreveport, LA) for a one-week vacation every summer for many years. I loved it because they offered a day-camp for kids led by Florida State University (FSU) students. The students also participated in the FSU Flying High Circus which performed during the summers. My parents joined planned activities for adults including water skiing, sailing, a trip to near-by Warm Springs, fishing, tennis and golf. We stayed in cottages, rode bikes everywhere, made new friends and ate delicious food. It was the southern (and mostly non-Jewish) version of the Catskills resorts in New York. Because it holds many fond memories, I often return for a respite from city life.

A few azaleas remain from the spring.

I needed such a respite last May so I booked a solo overnight trip. However, I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’d visited until I noticed half of the Mountain Creek Inn disappeared. (more…)

Read more about the article Fairfield Place B&B – Shreveport, LA
Fairfield Place Bed & Breakfast

Fairfield Place B&B – Shreveport, LA

We had a delightful experience staying at Fairfield Place Bed & Breakfast a few weeks ago in my hometown of Shreveport, LA.

First I have to tell you about Shreveport lodging – or lack thereof. The first night I spent in a Shreveport hotel was after I got married. Located downtown, we stayed at a hotel surrounded by 7 off-ramps from I-20 outside our window. At the time, that was one of Shreveport’s premier downtown hotels.

Most newer hotels sit near the Shreveport airport or along the interstate in Bossier City. Neither locations are convenient to my old stomping grounds. In recent years, a couple of hotels have cropped up near LSU-S, but they have gotten expensive due to proximity to the campus and one of the larger hospitals.

On this last trip, I decided to try one of the bed & breakfast places in the Fairfield Historic District. I’d always heard about Fairfield Place since it was one of the first historic houses that converted to a B&B in the early 1980s. Also, Chef John Carriere of Monjuni’s fame bought the place around 10 years ago.

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