by Zach on January 17, 2012
Preparing for the birth of a child is one of the most exciting things that can happen to a couple. Even if it’s just testing paint swatches in the nursery, lots of time and energy is spent getting everything ready for the big day. And while the preparations themselves may seem hectic, they pale in comparison to the duties that come along with caring for a newborn infant.
This is why the trend of “babymooning” began to catch on in the mid-2000s. A quick, romantic trip is a great way for couples spend an intimate weekend together before the arrival of their child. Mothers and fathers-to-be treat themselves to pampering spa treatments, cozy rooms, and relaxation in a last hurrah before parenthood begins. Being the hotel experts, we rounded up some of our favorite hotels for the perfect babymoons. Because take it from us when we say that happy, relaxed parents make the entire process easier.
Mount View Hotel & Spa (Calistoga, CA)
Winery Artist Cottage at the Mount View Hotel & Spa; Calistoga, CA
Heading to a small B&B is a win/win for expectant couples: the vibe is more relaxed, the atmosphere more romantic and the service personalized. The Mount View Hotel & Spa takes it a step further with the “Oh Baby!” welcome package: for $270, each parent is treated to a 50 minute massage (including a pre-natal option), a box of chocolate truffles, sparkling cider, two souvenir champagne flutes and a special shirt that helps expectant mothers massage their baby. Need more? The package also includes a $10 “craving card,” where hotel staff will fetch mothers-to-be anything from olives to Oreos from local stores. While we can’t suggest that couples partake in the wine tasting tours that dominate the area, we’re fairly confident that you’ll appreciate the calm surroundings of northern Napa Valley.
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by Jane on January 4, 2012
Some people are so focused during their workout that they hardly notice where they are, let alone which famous faces may be passing by them. And we applaud those people who dedicate the utmost concentration to their fitness regimen. But some of us may have a wandering eye while working on our fitness (hey, it doesn’t hurt to see the toned bods of fellow exercisers). For that extra bit of motivation, we’ve come up with a list of the best workout spots for star sightings – and which hotels to stay in to be close to the fitness hotspots. Check ‘em out below or head over to Shape.com.
Credit: Mark Savage/startraksphoto.com
Runyon Canyon Park
It seems like tabloids feature photos of celebs running, hiking or walking their dogs in Runyon Canyon Park every week. At 160 acres, this park offers hiking trails of various difficulties, so it’s no surprise that stars of every age and fitness level are spotted here (and the no-leash policy means it’s also a popular spot for bringing pooches on a stroll). The three main trails are Runyon Canyon Road, Star Trail, and Hero Trail. Named for the celebrities who grace it, Star Trail is a moderate hike while Hero Trail is the most challenging thanks to its super steep inclines. Josh Duhamel and his wife, Fergie, are often spotted jogging together, and Khloe Kardashian Odom was recently spotted alongside her hubby Lamar Odom and her brother, Rob. When Scarlett Johansson was getting hot and heavy with Sean Penn (remember those five minutes?), she and her then-boyfriend got hot and sweaty on a jog with pal Owen Wilson.
WHERE TO STAY: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, L.A., Calif.
The 300-room Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, an L.A. landmark, is a luxe, hip hotel that’s just a 10-minute walk from one of the park’s entrances. The hotel combines the shimmer of silver-screen history with a cutting-edge party scene, centered around a massive pool (perfect for a post-workout dip) and a bar, plus a casual restaurant open 24 hours. Service is surprisingly good (lacking the snobbery of some upscale L.A. hotels) but the rooms, though well designed, are smaller than average.
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- Michael Mina Restaurant, San Francisco
When San Francisco top toque, Michael Mina, opened his flagship, eponymous restaurant in 2004 in the Westin St. Francis on Union Square, it was in a hushed, luxe space all done up in elegant white and pale blue, with crisp tablecloths, elaborate china and one-of-a-kind serving pieces.
Then, when Michael Mina Restaurant moved late last year to the California Street location once home to Aqua restaurant, where Mina first made a name for himself, along with it came a new incarnation of the restaurant. Out went the tablecloths; in went unadorned dark walnut tables. The gleaming china was replaced by rough-hewn, handmade Japanese plateware. And the tempo of the restaurant went up decidedly with the now-lively bar with pop music audible throughout the dining room.
Just don’t call the ambiance “casual,” jokes Ryan Cole, general manager of the restaurant. Chef Mina, he notes, prefers the term, “relaxed,” to reflect the less fussy attitude that today’s diners want in a fine-dining restaurant.
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Paddle Boating in the Tidal Basin
Although the cherry blossom excitement has already kicked off in Washington, D.C., the forecast for this year’s peak bloom is April 1 through 4, which means it’s not too late to head to the capital for a glimpse of the stunning pink ladies. If you’re planning a trip, both the Mandarin Oriental and L’Enfant Plaza Hotel are within walking distance of the trees.
Because Spring Break for many schools overlaps with the blooming of the cherry blossoms, Oyster Locals blogger Amy Querido (The Q Family Adventures; Atlanta With Kid) provided us with some family-friendly activities happening at the National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 27-April 11) — perfect for parents traveling to D.C. with kids in tow. Here’s Amy’s list:
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The Spa in the Mandarin Oriental, New York
They say that New York is the city that never sleeps. While that might be true, locals do enjoy some downtime at the numerous luxurious spas that our Big Apple boasts. From day spas to hotel spas, we got you covered with three destinations that you need to check out when attempting to recharge your batteries after a long day of wandering around NYC:
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental: When it comes to luxury, the Mandarin Oriental’s 35th floor spa has it down to a science. The views alone are outstanding – the rooms provide spectacular bird’s eye views of Central Park and the Hudson River. Services include Ayurvedic skin and body treatments, various massages and acupressure. Guests are asked to book 90-minute services when making their appointment. This 14,500 square foot space comes with a price, however, so you might need an extra massage or two after realizing how much you dropped here. But hey it’s all worth it, right? 80 Columbus Circle. Complete the splurge with a stay at the Mandarin Oriental.
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Bouchon Bakery
[Flickr / Gandu & Sarah]
Already starting to crave those Thanksgiving flavors? There’s no need to wait until turkey day because three of New York’s best sweets shops have dreamed up inventive Thanksgiving-themed desserts to tide you over until the holidays.
Bouchon Bakery: Thomas Keller’s Columbus Circle patisserie is taking those normally discarded pumpkin seeds and turning them into a sweet pumpkin seed brittle, one of a slew of gourd-infused items currently on offer there, from pumpkin cookies to pumpkin brioche. 10 Columbus Circle, 3rd Floor. Stay just upstairs at the Mandarin Oriental. Read More »
Thomas Keller's Per Se
[Flickr/ulterior epicure]
New York City has thousands of restaurants, but for one of the highest concentrations of high-end dining, Columbus Circle is hard to beat. Home to the massive Time Warner Center, the Midtown West destination houses Thomas Keller’s Per Se, the ostentatious sushi den Masa, the second location of the refined Italian restaurant A Voce, and the oft-forgotten Porter House New York, whose “rich, buttery” steak so impressed the former New York Times dining critic Frank Bruni. These hotels are close enough to all the restaurants that you could leave at 7:45 a.m. and still make your 8 p.m. reservation. Read More »
