travel – In Good Taste

Chicago Cubs Spring Training: Where to Stay in Arizona

Maris Callahan — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 06:47:14 +0000

Our recent getaway to Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa was inspired by two things: my desire to sit by the pool in warm weather and Brad’s desire to watch the Chicago Cubs play Spring Training baseball. When we talked about taking a winter trip, I wanted a destination where we could spend some quality time by the pool, and Brad wanted to make sure there was plenty to do besides sit by the pool (his idea of sitting in the sun is sitting in the shade with a towel covering his head). There is definitely a lot to do in Arizona, and I’ll start off by admitting that we could have packed more activity into our schedule, but since one of our main goals was to relax, we also did a lot of sleeping in and making last minute important decisions about, say, ordering room service vs. driving three minutes to the gastropub down the street. Where to Stay We wanted to see as much of the Valley as we could, so we decided to split our time at a few different resorts and hotels, which also helped us get better deals. We picked one just outside of Phoenix, one in the Old Town area […]

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Phoenix: The Wigwam Resort

Maris Callahan — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 09:03:26 +0000

Visiting Phoenix for the first time? There’s so much to do in the desert but no matter what is on your agenda, you’ll want to consider a hotel that’s just a short drive away from the hubbub of downtown that offers peaceful ambiance, golf, spa, great dining and four, yes, four pools. The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park (no relation to Orange is the New Black), just west of Phoenix, is a historic hotel with 331 “casitas” and suites across more than 400 acres of land. I’ve stayed here twice now and it’s seriously everything you could want in a resort — beautiful property, luxurious rooms, great dining options and plenty to do “on campus” so that you could conceivably enjoy your entire vacation without leaving the property. Before I get into the details, I’ll share a little bit of history. I’m far from a History Channel buff, but I do like learning about old buildings and properties — who inhabited them, their stories, etc. It’s part of why I love the South so much — lots of charm and history, but I digress. The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & […]

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Must Eats: 9 Casual Restaurants in New York City

Maris Callahan — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 07:23:48 +0000

It’s easy to go to New York City and find 7,000 options perfect for when you want to go out for a really special dinner. It’s not easy to go to New York City and identify which bakery has the best cookies, which pizzeria has the best pizza, or which café has the best soups and sandwiches. I lived in New York and the surrounding area for a few years and I visit frequently, so I’ve racked up quite a few favorite places to eat, drink and hang out. Some of these restaurants would also befit a special night out, but are best known for their pizzas, sandwiches, brunches and other goodness that doesn’t require a dress code to enjoy. Here are a few of my favorite places to eat in New York when you’re looking for lunch, something quick and easy or a laid back meal that you know you’ll enjoy no matter what. Levain Bakery Everything you’ve heard is absolutely true. The cookies from Levain Bakery really are the best in Manhattan. I mean…the best that I’ve tried, and I’m a reliable source when it comes to cookies. Otto Pizzeria I know I said that New York City […]

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NYC: Eventi Hotel in Chelsea

Maris Callahan — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 04:02:01 +0000

Eventi Hotel, a NYC Chelsea hotel surrounds guests with artful atmosphere, luxury accommodations and easy access to Manhattan. I’ve said it here before, but it deserves another mention: I love hotels. There is something delicious and luxurious about sleeping in a big fluffy bed that you don’t have to make in the morning, using tiny, travel-sized toiletries and the ability to have a meal delivered to your door that you can (and should) eat in bed. Eventi Hotel, a Kimpton hotel in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, delivers on all counts. I’m lucky that when I travel for business, my company lets us choose a comfortable, business-class hotel within a certain price range, and we’re never forced to stay someplace that doesn’t feel right. For my first business trip at my job about a year ago, I picked a boutique hotel in New York City that looked darling on the website but upon check in, felt like a really good place to be serially murdered. I argued my way out of the 24-hour cancellation policy and with fingers crossed, opened up Hotel Tonight and sure enough, a solid looking Kimpton appeared at a reasonable rate. When I got to this […]

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Galena, IL: Goldmoor Inn

Maris Callahan — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 05:00:28 +0000

Goldmoor Inn is perfect for a quick weekend getaway overlooking the Mississippi River, an easy three hour drive from Chicago and less than 10 miles from downtown Galena. This past weekend brought the first signs of spring after two weeks of pretty dismal April weather. On Saturday, my boyfriend Brad and I spent the afternoon wine tasting and tooling around Galena, a super quaint downtown strip of Illinois with lots of antique shops and restaurants (every man’s dream, right?). We stayed at Goldmoor Inn, a charming a bed and breakfast overlooking the Mississippi River, owned by husband-and-wife team Slobo and Birgit Radin who purchased it just one year ago. Formerly a large country home originally built for one of the heirs to the Firestone fortune, the inn is an elegant country manor style building that resembles a castle. Over the year, it’s been renovated, enlarged and improved, but I love buildings steeped in history like this one. Goldmoor Inn offers 18 rooms between the elegant country manor style building, including two log cabins and three English cottages along the perimeter of the 21-acre picturesque property. It’s simple, comfortable and homey, but with all the amenities of a sprawling hotel. Each guest room features […]

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