Spring/Summer Call for Content
Beach Gear, Wellness Travel, Sustainability
Spring is here – my favorite time of year! Beautiful flowers, amazing hikes, warmer weather, cleaning closets! Winter was wonderful – skiing at Whistler, visiting my daughter in London (my first time!), attending TravMedia’s IMM conference in NYC, speaking about “Women in Travel” at the Travel Goods Show in Las Vegas, snuggling my dog Charlie. I also got to check off a bucket list item…meeting Drew Barrymore in person (at her show in NYC). I was a guest on her show more than once during her first year on the air, but it was via Zoom, so it was a thrill to meet her face to face. She’s even sweeter than she seems. I hope the new year has been good to you so far.
Where I’ve Been:
London
I had such a fun time visiting London! I can’t believe I hadn’t been and can’t wait to go back. My daughter is studying abroad there for a semester, so it was great for my husband and I to be able to explore the city with her. I worked with a few different PR agencies, including London and Partners, on an individual press trip, to be able to experience what’s new and old in this amazing city.
Some of the highlights included:
Staying at The Londoner hotel – absolutely beautiful, great location, amazing spa.
Strolling around neighborhood such as Covent Square, Seven Dials, Chelsea, Shoreditch, Cagoden Gardens.
Having Afternoon Tea at Sketch and Fortnum & Mason.
Doing a guided walking tour that included seeing the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Spencer House, Trafalgar Square and more.
Shopping on Bond Street, King’s Road, Sloan Square, Duke of Yorkshire Square, and Oxford Street.
Used a GoCity pass to see Westminster Abby and do a City Cruise on the Thames River.
Staying at The Chelsea Townhouse – cute, charming, wonderful neighborhood, and the best breakfast.
Having dinner at the ultra elegant and historic Booking Office 1869 - the best service, amazing mocktails and delicious dishes. Make sure to see the Grand Staircase.
San Diego
Doing research for an assignment, I spent a few days exploring the hip North Park neighborhood of San Diego, filled with cool vintage shops, cute cafes serving instagramable lattes, many craft breweries, swanky bars, creative street art, and lots of new deletable restaurants. I stayed at The Lafayette Hotel and Club, which is newly renovated, very impressive, eclectic and chic. Every nook and cranny has vibrant decor that tells and story. The food is amazing, from breakfast to dinner. My favorite thing was bowling in the two-lane alley, with cocktail service.
Hotel Review: Hilton Head Health, South Carolina
I did an individual press trip to experience the many wellness benefits of Hilton Head Health, one of the nation’s leading health resorts. I was there to learn about their newest program, ReNew. Retreat. Not only did I enjoy the multiple fitness classes daily, such as yoga, TRX, water aerobics, meditation and pickleball, but it was also such a perk to have all of the calories listed for everything we ate – from the menu to the “snack bar.” It was easy to stay within a daily calorie intake with the healthy meal choices, that were much smaller serving sizes than we are all used to eating. Portion control is a big part of the plan. And, the crazy thing was that I did not get hungry.
The other element that they integrate is educational classes and workshops that focus on things like nutrition, meal planning, and overcoming obstacles that prevent you from sticking to a wellness plan. If you’re looking to explore Hilton Head Island, the resort offers excursions, such as an e-bike or kayaking tour. There are two types of accommodation available, one-bedroom suites at The Sweetgrass Inn or two-bedroom, two-bath townhouses a short walk from the main resort. Plus, they also have a pool, jacuzzi and spa, with a variety of relaxing treatments. Programs typically range from one to four weeks.
Call for Content
Best Beach Chairs: Deadline: Wed., April 17
Best Spas in Austria: Deadline: Fri., April 19
Best Eco-Hotels in Europe: Deadline: Mon., April 22
Best Beach Blankets: Deadline: Thur., April 25
Best Cooler Bags: Deadline: Mon., April 29
Things to Do in Orange County, CA: Deadline: Wed., May 1
Places to Go for the 4th of July: Deadline: Fri., May 3
All-Inclusive Adults-Only Resorts in Cabo: Deadline: Mon., May 6
Recently Published Articles
U.S. News & World Report:
The Best Checked Luggage (contribution)
The 13 Best Walking Shoes for Travel in 2024 (contribution)
The 13 Best Travel Accessories, Chosen by Our Editors (contribution)
The 12 Best Travel Purses of 2024 (contribution)
Matador Network:
72 Hours, 4 Spas, 135 Miles: the Ultimate Phoenix Spa Road Trip
TravelAge West:
A Travel Guide to Vancouver Island in British Columbia
NUVO Magazine:
Arizona’s Enriching Watsu Experience
Laguna Beach Magazine:
Newport Beach Magazine:
Bowled Over (cover story)
Spa and Beauty Today:
Where I’m Off to Next:
IPW: May 3-7, Los Angeles
TravelCon: May 15-17, Portland, OR
SATW, Western Chapter Meeting: Cody, WY, May 30-June 3
Bighorn Mountains, WY: On assignment for Matador Network, June 3-5
Princess Cruise to Alaska: Press Trip, June 7-15
Share This Newsletter
If you find this media newsletter helpful and interesting, feel free to share it with colleagues, clients or partners.
Yay! So glad you finally got to visit London. Can't wait to hear about it!