Russian River Valley, CA - Stunning

If you haven't been to Russian River Valley, CA - you are missing a little slice of heaven. This town of Healdsburg, CA surrounded by Dry Creek, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley is the little gem in the wine country. The wines coming out of CA these days compete at a whole new level. And their price points are climbing - so make a trip soon to get in on the action. 

We visited J Vineyards, Williams-Seylem, Dutton-Goldfield, Hawke, Merry Edwards and Lynmar (all pictured below). Each vineyard different from the next with their own beautiful settings and fabulous wines. You will drink a lot of Pinots here but more and more complex wines are also being introduced. Now - I love a good Pinot - so I am NOT complaining at all. 

When you visit Healdsburg be sure to take one entire day walking around the charming town center. There are so many little family owned vineyards represented here with fabulous wines!! We visited 7-8 in one day and spent time getting to know the winemakers at each. What a treat! Please stop by: Gustafson, Williamson, Hawley, and Windsor in the town square - you won't be disappointed. 

Amazing restaurants and VRBO rentals are everywhere. You can't go wrong with a trip to the heart of Sonoma County! Enjoy and drink up!

Thailand - Might be our favorite so far....

We recently returned from a 18 day trip to Thailand. We explored more of the country than we ever thought possible in such a short time frame. And, we were rushed. And, we spent time on planes, trains, automobiles, ferry's, long-tail boats and tuk tuks! But it ended up being one of our most favorite places in the world!

The food....the culture....the people....the architecture....the Wats (temples).....the beaches....and the privilege of being a tourist in such an accommodating country - simply amazing!

I will write more later to share. For now, please enjoy some of my favorite photos from our exploration.

 

Raising Travelers

If you’re a traveler and a parent, there is no doubt you struggle to manage your love for both. Balancing that trip to Europe against the rising costs of day care seems a daunting task. Not to mention the plain day-to-day monotony of life…soccer games, piano practice, school work, etc. I know how you feel. I did it for 23 years and have just recently come out the other side with my youngest now in college.

Bottom line, you should make every effort to remain true to your passions (travel and your children) and make it happen! You will want this for your kids; they will thank you for it later. Personally, we raised our kids traveling their entire lives. Exotic destinations and visiting new places was how our family spent our time. Whether it was local or international, my kids were traveling. As an individual, I have traveled to over 14 countries and many, many of those were with kids in tow (and sometimes in lead!).

Indulge me for a few minutes while I share the fabulousness that comes out of raising travelers. My kids are the most socially adjusted kids you will ever meet; they don’t know a stranger and adjust to all levels of conversation. It’s beautiful to hear them order food in Spanish and then watch them plan trips with their friends. Our daughter, now 23, is taking a year off to live abroad before moving to New York after college. I might add that she knows absolutely no one in New York. She has targeted Paris for that year in between. Knowing how expensive Paris can be and how dirt poor she is, she still has no hesitations, “I will just make it work, Mom.”

Our son, upon graduating from high school, decided to travel through Europe for 2 months (on his own dime I might add) prior to beginning college. He is not traveling with companions; he is comfortable that he will meet people abroad traveling through local hostels. And, of course he will. I came home from work one day to find had planned his entire trip, day by day.  He is starting in Portugal, on through Spain, then up to France and finishing with a stint in Germany. All planned out down to the Euro rail stop in each city.  He put together a budget of the costs (breaking it down to the daily meal level and Euro pass costs) and determined a monthly savings plan for himself between now and his departure

Another example of the beauty of raising travelers is an Italian exploration story. I am divorced (now remarried for 11 years) and the kids traveled with their father to Italy last year. They were 22 and 17. I will never forget receiving that call, “Mom, we are in Venice!” As the conversation progressed I realized the group they were traveling with had decided to stay in for the day. My kids, realizing they only had one chance to experience Venice, took off on a train to conquer it alone. Hearing this, I literally must have fallen out of my chair and immediately went into “mommy” mode. Do you have a jacket? Do you have a map? Where are you going? Do you need me to google anything? They laughed at me and said, “Mom, we got this!” And, so they did. They called later to talk about all of the places they visited and the bar they drank in…uh-hum! They had discovered Venice together, like a sister and brother should. I remember hanging up the phone and thinking that I have never been more proud of them!

As a traveler and parent, this is absolutely what you want foryour kids. And, you already know they learn through our guidance. Therefore, it is almost your job to introduce them to the world so that they learn the skills and get comfortable in a travel setting.

So, what next, money? Yes, the big thing is the cost. I am not going to say it’s easy, because it isn’t. It takes a bit of planning, prioritizing, budgeting and watching the specials. You will have to budget at home during the year to make travel happen. And, you may have to cut things out. Don’t think of it as “cutting,” think of it as trading.  Trade a little shopping, a few nice dinners stateside for dinner in Belize….it’s worth it!

Yes, there is more airfare involved when the whole family travels together, but hotels are the same cost for one king versus two doubles. Meals can be somewhat reasonable by finding bargains. Eat from street vendors; it’s typically cheaper and tasty. Consider getting a VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) or house swap, instead of a hotel. If you buy groceries, after you land, you can eat breakfast before leaving each day and occasionally, after a long day of exploring, make a dinner or two. 

Other ideas of how to not break the bank are to have picnic lunches on the mountainside and hike around town instead of going to the theatre. Lay on the beach with crackers, cheese and wine (for the parents). Also, enjoying some of the little local amusement parks in Europe always brought us tons of joy at a reasonable price. We ended up meeting really great people and explored funky rides like a flying Panda bear ride in Germany or large water filled orbs that bounce down the side of the mountain in New Zealand.   

At the end of the day, you may not be able to attend all the plays, eat at every restaurant and take in all of the guided excursions. However, you are doing something so much bigger. You are introducing future travelers to the world.

When your kids are married and have children of their own, just think of the amazing experiences you can have together raising another generation of travelers!

Enjoy and relax – you and your kids deserve it!

Traveling Through Life: Purchasing Property in a Foreign Country - Know th...

Traveling Through Life: Purchasing Property in a Foreign Country - Know th...: Investing in a second home or investment property in a foreign country for the first time can be a thrilling and exciting time. Just imagi...

Relax...It's Just Travel...Right?

(NOTE: I wrote this article as a ghost writer for a new brand of hotels.) 

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Are you tired of the travelers who refuse to wear easy lace up shoes in the airport security lines? Or, the people who don’t know that airlines now charge for baggage and then make a fuss at the ticket counter airline personnel as if they can change the rules?

Traveling is just plain difficult and these experiences make it that much more unbearable. Short flights can be just as painful as international flights. It’s even more frustrating to wait in a 30minute security line after you have arrived one hour early, only to board a flight that takes 40 minutes. Good grief….you could have driven to your destination city by this time! 

And, why is it that the coffee lady doesn’t seem to understand that you are about to miss your flight as she takes her sweet time to get your latte? It should be a rule that everyone who is employed at an airport would work under the assumption that each person there is about to miss a flight. The process would just go a lot smoother that way.

Don’t even get us started on international flying! If you can’t afford first class (which most of us can’t) then be prepared…..coach isn’t a pretty sight on a 10 hour flight my friends!

The only way to survive such chaos is to keep a sense of humor about it all. Arrive early and watch the other’s (who are running late) struggle with that belt that they don’t seem to realize has metal on it for the third go round of metal detection. And, the guy who is getting, what appears to be, a full body cavity search, get frustrated at security. Just laugh it off and enjoy the fact that you, for once, have arrived early and are reaping the rewards!

Another way to make your travel that much more rewarding…. Stay at ______– where it’s all about you being “Free To Be You!” Our suites are tech savvy, well-appointed, comfortable, beautifully decorated and have an emphasis on being your home away from home! We want you to walk into your suite for the night and forget all about the lady who brought a bag too big for overhead storage and now needs to get back to the front of the plane to check it. This too shall pass!

Don’t forget to bring Rufus and your IPOD because we have a place for them both!  

Your Dad Can't Even Handle This Hotel

(NOTE: I wrote this article as a ghost writer for a new brand of hotels.) 

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Remember pulling over for that night’s stay in some strange city on the way to the family vacation destination? There always seemed to be a conference room table beside the wall-inserted air conditioning unit. Those units read hot or cold with arrows pointing in either direction. You never knew what temperature that meant so you stayed under the covers only to awaken to sub-zero room temperatures. Over that conference room table was a huge floral chandelier with tassel trim and an antiqued gold chain draping from the wall socket.

When you checked into the room, you simply had one box TV, one blinking clock radio and fresh (but cardboard like) towels. Those rooms served their purpose; there is no doubt. They kept us warm (or really, really cold) and provided a taco type atmosphere in which to sleep at night. Without a doubt you would wake up snuggled entirely too close to your older brother who smelled funny and made strange snoring sounds.

Well, there is a new cowboy in town and they aim to please!

Finally, hotels have evolved and are making our lives comfortable, like home. The theme is…..“Free To Be You!” This means your parents wouldn’t know what to do with this brand of hotel! No conference room tables or cheesy chains…only high-tech, cool décor and pet friendly rooms to ensure Rufus doesn’t have to sleep in the car (and you don’t have to sneak him in through the back door late at night).

_____ has opened its first hotel in ____________ and launched us into what will surely be the next generation of expectations in the hotel business. These suites have thought of it all! They focus on convenience and are trendy and hip, insanely affordable and generally just a cool place to be seen!

They will catch your eye with the bright color schemes and sleek lines (but we can’t give you the name of our decorator…sorry). Nothing has been left out from the 42” HD Flat Panel TV to Serta Suite Dreams Bed and wireless access to well-appointed kitchens.

So, bring Rufus and your IPOD/MP3 player, because they enjoy both. These suites are so comfortable that you might just end up staying longer than planned!

Princesses Stay In Castles - A Hotel Review

Schoenburg Castle - Oberwesel, Germany

Nestled high above the town of Oberwesel, Germany towers the brilliant Schoenburg Castle. It reigns over the town, as if to say, “You are royalty in these gardens!” This castle draws you in as one of the most magnificent structures along the Rhine River. It’s no wonder that dukes and duchesses have called Schoenburg home for centuries. First mentioned between 911 and 1166, Schoenburg is unique in that it is one of the few that would “fall” (or be bequeathed) to each of its immediate heirs. Which means, when the duke of the castle died all of his sons became heirs instead of only the eldest. This cultural “right of passage” aligned in such a manner that in the 14^th century there are notations of over 250 people living in the castle from 24 different families. Therefore, as I arrived for my stay, I began to feel just like the princess that my grandmother always said I was meant to be.

Today, your nightly stay at Schoenburg transcends as though you are royalty retiring to one of the many estate rooms filled with rich history and seductive romanticism. From the smallest of single rooms to the large stately rooms, every detail of this experience will leave you breathless. 

As you drive across the small bridge into the castle courtyard, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe at the majestic view. Upon check in, you will gather your royal map describing the brief history of the property. The key to unlock your door is just as majestic as the castle itself. The 8” silver plated figurine is that of a soldier or knight that feels (in your hand) as though you are regally entering your room and now are actually holding a piece of this castle.

As you explore the castle take note of the details and intricacies. A small room hidden in a tower serves as a private dining area for six. The walls are darkish brown and grey stone showing their many years of wear and tear. Uncover the many balconies scattered around the grounds that offer you a different perspective of the various parts of the castle and heart-stopping views of the imposing Rhine River. 

The courtyard in the middle of the castle is the perfect resting place for a morning coffee. Undoubtedly, you will feel the morning dew and the dampness that surrounds the castle courtyard in the morning; the very same dampness that the lady of the castle may have felt in 1100. After a brief sit, enter the dining room for a daily breakfast buffet. It is included in the price of your stay. You will take pleasure in customary German cuisine such as cheese assortment, cold cut fresh meats, variety of rolls, pastries and cereals.    

During the day or just before dinner, have a quiet read in the brilliantly decorated blue and red library. The wait staff is happy to bring you beverage of choice while you enjoy the roaring fireplace and choose from a plethora of books ranging in dates and interests. 

For dinner, you will have difficult decisions to make amongst exquisite dining options such as smoked breast of duck with green apples and goat’s cream cheese or roasted saddle of venison in spiced goat cheese with cherry sabayon and au-gratin potatoes. You might be greeted with a complimentary chef special appetizer, such as cool cucumber soup or blue cheese on crostini with a dash of pepper. The dinner prices are on the high end, but it is more than worth the price to indulge your palate. I would not suggest you skip this part of the experience.

For a little adventure, take a hike along a narrow path beside the parking lot. Along this trail, the enduring gate to the gardens still stands and each column is topped with ancient castle cannon balls. Shortly after, along the path, wonder at the large black and red door; it seems to lead to a retired entrance directly under the castle. You might envision it to be a secret passage for the queen or knight of the castle. It’s hidden in the overgrown shrubbery, so look carefully. By utilizing the path in the front of the castle, you can descend down 200 yards to a beautiful oriental style garden and pond in a tranquil courtyard.

Honeymooners, you will want to experience the private honeymoon quarters. It’s a picture perfect place to begin your journey of life together with a lovely four poster bed, extensive courtyard views and a large bathing tub (perfect for two). It is separated from the main stay of the castle and therefore offers the perfect amount of seclusion.

The small house structure is the seperate honeymoon quarters.

Enjoy your time in this special place; you will not soon forget your royal stature! I think you will be happy staying at Schoenberg Castle with or without children. Be sure to take time to explore and spend time walking the grounds. This is a place of beauty and intrigue that will leave you feeling as if you just walked in the footsteps of kings and queens and the history of the walls will draw you in for sure. I hope that you will have thoughts similiar to mine as I left this place...."Princesses do stay in castles."

My assessment: 5 Star Rating

3 Ways to Keep Your Facebook Fans Engaged

You want to keep your Facebook active and your fans engaged, right? Here are three simple ways to do just that: 

• Entice your fans to tag themselves
• Give away something useful
• Provide content they can't get anywhere else

#1 Entice your fans to tag themselves
Each time a fan is tagged in a photo, it's instantly shared with their friends. This can create a powerful viral effect. You can do something as simple as offering something each time you're tagged in a photo or keep a running tally (competition always works). Use this strategy wisely and have fun, but also be careful, because you will annoy fans if you tag them without permission.

#2 Give away something useful

You can use white papers, DVD's, tutorials and various forms of research to give to your fans and get them talking on Facebook. As you have probably already heard, Guy Kawasaki is doing this very well. When a fan likes his page, Guy offers them a free download of his first book. It's fabulous because it give fans something cool and encourages them to pass it along, plus Guy now has permission to contacts these fans again.

#3 Provide content they can't get anywhere else

If you want to get people excited and sharing, you've got to provide something they can't get anywhere else thus starting the chatter tree. Livestrong does a great job of this by sharing various information for research on cancer and expert advice for those affected by cancer. They also connect other organizations to those that follow them, therefore making their Facebook page the "go to" page for people needing more resources or data.

These are all very simple ways to enhance your Facebook page and further engage your fans. Get creative and show some love.....you will reap the rewards!

Best Value Destinations for 2011

What a fabulous list of reasonably priced (yet exotic) destinations! Thank you Lonely Planet and Wallet Pop!

Check it out: http://www.walletpop.com/2010/12/22/lonely-planets-best-value-destinations-of-2011/

Social Media in the Travel/Tourism Industry

This is a good video on the uses of Social Media in the Travel and Tourism industry. It displays some good points, at a grass roots level. If you are getting started in Social Media.....it will be helpful.

It's Called SocialNomics - It's Not a Fad!

I completely love this video on Social Media and all the stats that it shares with us. Great job guys! In case you or anyone you know has any doubts on where Social Media has taken us and where it is taking us.....please watch. Awesome video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

20 Interesting Things About Me.....

Most of you know that I am exploring careers in travel and social media. Something that combines the two would be amazing! In this quest to interview for Paradise Hunter, I decided to show a more about myself in an effort to help people know me a bit better and thus be inclined to vote. Part of the role of Paradise Hunter is to blog, take pics and help market their brand, so I would get the opportunity to pursue both of my passions in this role. However, it is a competitive job and there are no guarantees. So, I hope that these insights into me will help you feel inclined to vote and encourage friends to vote as well ;-) Thank you!

1. I was recently the Executive Director of a non-profit that celebrates and enhances the lives of people with Down Syndrome. Not because I personally have someone in my life with Down Syndrome, but because I believe no one should be told they can't succeed. We should all have equal opportunities to pursue our passions, regardless of ability or disability.

2. I LOVE to cook anything and everything!

3. I LOVE wine...but only red.

4. My family is the most important thing in my life, and sometimes I might even be a bit obsessive about them ;-)

5. My son was born in Germany. We lived there for three years and were dirt poor. However, we made the best of it by driving everywhere. We had a lot of picnics and walking tours to keep it economical.

6. I have traveled to 14 countries. I love experiencing the different cultures, exploring the housing markets/design, sampling the varieties of food and making new friends everywhere I go.

7.  Travel is the thing that I love second to my family. I can't get enough and WILL find a way to make travel my job very soon (hopefully Paradise Hunter). It truly is my passion and calling to be part of the world around me. Of all the jobs in the world; it's the only one that I want.

8. I listen to all kinds of music.....rock, country, heavy metal, classical, etc. My husband says my IPOD is eclectic - that's his way of saying I'm weird ;-)

9. I have been incredibly successful at every job I have ever had and have never left a company on bad terms. I don't say this to be egotistical, but just to show that I put my all into everything that I do.

10. I graduated from high school when I was 16. However, I discovered I was pregnant shortly after graduation.  I raised my daughter on my own (not by choice) until she was 3 years old.  We had a lot of hard times, but I don't think any of it was a mistake.....it made me the person I am today and she turned out to be a remarkable young girl.

11. My friendships mean the world to me; I cherish and hold them very dearly. I am that girl you can call at 2:00 a.m. in a jam and I will be in the car on my way before we even hang up.

12. I grayed prematurely and have been coloring for years - Thanks Mom and Dad!!

13. I am obsessed with understanding your story. If we meet and hit it off, I want to know about you and what makes you happy and sad. Then, I will do all that I can to make you happy. That is why I have such strong friendships. It truly does mean a lot to me to know and support my friends.

14. I drive way too fast and have higher insurance rates to prove it! UGGHHH

15. Being near water makes me happy.....I honestly cannot be unhappy if I am near any body of water.

16. My favorite vacation was a cruise that we took with our kids.  They went into a Haitian village to go shopping without telling us (they were 14 and 9), scared the crap out of me (because it was not a safe town at that time) but also made me laugh hysterically.....they got it honestly ;-) no fear of meeting new people.

17. I married my husband with two days notice in a tiny chapel (held 40 people) in Wisconsin. We were at a family reunion and all of the kids came together to pick wild flowers, the president of his University married us, the kitchen staff made us a cake and one of the family members had brought bagpipes, learned (and played) the wedding march. Serendipity!

18. I miss my grandfather a lot....he passed away 1 year ago and we were very close.

19. I love animals......and I talk in baby voices to my dog and my daughter's cats ;-)

20. I have never followed my true passion or pursued something for just me.....this is the first time!!! So, please vote for me and help my dream come true: www.paradisehunter.com/vote/jenniferparker3.html

Top 8 best hangover breakfast spots in Europe

Top 8 best hangover breakfast spots in Europe
It's a great list!

Check out Frugal Traveler Article on Buenos Aires

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/b-a-the-frugal-way/

Spain Real Estate - Property For Sale in Murcia

Check out this awesome house for sale in Murcia, Spain!

Spain Real Estate - Property For Sale in Murcia

I made it to the semi-finals! I was chosen as one of 40 out of 700 people!!!

Twitter’s Official Analytics Product Has Arrived

Twitter’s Official Analytics Product Has Arrived

Seriously, I haven't been this excited since I learned how to connect multiple accounts on HootSuite ;-)

Facebook E-Mail (Of Sorts) – One More Way FB is Engaging

The ultimate battle discussion amongst Social Media experts is “which audience is more engaged” and therefore (ultimately what we want to know) are more likely to buy? Twitter or Facebook?

Today, Facebook launched its e-mail product. As of right now, it is by invitation only, but within 2-3 months it will be free to all to use. It’s a blend of email, chat and SMS. It is not designed to replace your old email account, only to augment. Everyone on Facebook will get a @facebook.com address based on your user name. So, if you have not done so already, go register your user name today.

This new evolution of messaging will allow the user and end recipient to communicate by whatever medium is convenient for them and the conversation would take place in real time. This way you don’t have to remember who likes blackberry messenger over IM, you will just type their name and message. The program is modeled more closely to chat vs. email. For instance, there is no cc, bcc etc. It is meant to be quick and instant.

Mark Zuckerberg said that he feels “e-mail has past its prime in the age of texts and instant messages.” He further said, “the company doesn’t believe e-mail is going to be a modern messaging system.” (Per Yahoo! News)

The notion that people are moving towards favor of shorter, more immediate chats is relevant. Research shows that younger people rely on text messaging vs. face-to-face contact, e-mail and phone calls. (According to the 2009 survey conducted by Pew Internet and American Life Project) And, this trend will only increase over time.

So, as much as I wish we had more options, Facebook has the leading edge in the market. Don’t get me wrong, I do love Twitter. However, with 7 out of 10 messages not every being seen by your followers, it is time consuming to pursue marketing efforts via this medium. Not to say, it’s not worth it, because your followers are extremely invested and have chosen to be part of your world. However, Facebook is a captive audience that now, with this tool, will be directly messaged all at once and guaranteeing sight of your message immediately.

Stay tuned….this could be the beginning of Web 3.0.

Downloading Social Media Buttons?

I wanted to post this for all of you using blogger (which does not have good Social Media pluggins for sm buttons). I hope it helps you. It is incredibly easy....just follow closely or email me if problems occur.

Go to: http://www.ezuca.com/55-cool-free-social-media-network-icon-packs/ (You can also just do a google search on Social Media Buttons and find literally thousands. I just like this site) Find the Social Media Icon Pack that you like. You can see I am using 64x64 - I like them big and bold ;-)

Once you find the buttons that fit your needs, download them (to a place that you will remember - sometimes downloads go into a dark place never to be found again) onto your computer. Then, upload them into a site like Photobucket and snag the HTML code. I love Photobucket because it allows the code exchange super easily. Just be sure and explore with the sizes of your icons on your page before you download too many.

Next, change the code to insert the destination you want (twitter, facebook, etc.). Here is an example for your to follow. It will literally seem too easy and that is correct!

The HTML code you upload will look like this:

<a href="http://photobucket.com/

albums/ac279/MyPics/September%202010/?action=view&current=DSC_10205.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://photobucket.com/albums/ac279/MyPics/September%202010/DSC_10205.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Copy the code for the destination (your facebook page, twitter page, etc.) and insert it into the bold area. For example, if you want the button to link to Facebook, use your Facebook profile URL and insert in between the "".

<a href="fhttp://photobucket.com/albums/ac279/MyPics/September%202010/?action=view&current=DSC_10205.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i907.photobucket.com/albums/ac279/MyPics/September%202010/DSC_10205.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Add an HTML widget to your blog and insert the code there. That's it....see, how easy!! Best of luck friends!

Great Facebook Marketing Tips

Browse through this list of my recommended blog posts to help you master marketing on Facebook! I hope you find something useful for helping to grow your business; I know I have found some invaluable ideas.

10 Ways to Grow Your Facebook Following

21 Creative Ways To Increase Your Facebook Fanbase

13 Ways To Move Your Facebook Fans To Action

7 Scientific Ways To Promote Sharing on Facebook

4 Proven Steps To Facebook Page Success

8 Success Criteria For Facebook Page Marketing