Exploring with a Local Expert

I went to brunch today to Butler and The Chef and was excited to be greeting by one of the Google Maps “Favorite Places” icons. Favorite Places is a new Google Maps project that launched last month to help users explore local expert's favorite places in cities around the world. Google Maps asked local experts to identify on their own Google Map places where they like to go, and why. There is also a “live” Google Map icon at each place in the city. Butler and The Chef is one of Alice Water’s favorite places in San Francisco. Unfortunately, it is a lot of peoples favorite place which is why we had to wait over 30 minutes for a table. The owner made the wait more sweet by sharing one of his scrumptious waffles with the crowd. The food was worth the wait. My La Parisienne Crepe was delicious filled with eggs, ham, off course cheese and the knowledge that Alice Waters loves it too.

Staycation Is The New Vacation

This summer the hot place to visit is your backyard. That is anywhere close to where you call home. As unemployment, costs and other bad things are on the rise, so are ‘staycations.’ According to Google Insights for Search, over the past 12 months, searches for "staycation ideas" in the U.S has increased 300% compared to last year. This trend has become such a household word that it was official defined by Merriam-Webster as "a vacation spent at home or nearby." John Morse, president and publisher of Merriam-Webster Inc noted that the term “earliest record of use is from 2005, but it seems to have exploded into popular use in 2007." So if the summer travel bug is biting but you are also feeling the pinch of your wallet, try a ‘staycation.’ Here's a list of things you can do.

I am officially a Club Med Fan

I hate to admit it but before my recent trip to Club Med-Cancun, I think I was a bit of a travel snob towards Club Med type vacations. I thought Club Med was for travelers who didn’t have a sense of adventure and wanted everything nicely packaged for them. I did go last year to Club Med Turkoise because it was sort of a family vacation. I really didn’t think I would be going again after using my travel credit from last years trip. However, I am a now an official Club Med fan. Well, at least on Facebook. There really is something for every type of traveler. Whether you want to just chill out at the beach or want do some of the excursions. There was plenty of adventure on my trip. I went water skiing in the lagoon home to a crocodile that the staff has affectionately named Albert. Swam in the ocean where the day before a barracuda joined the water aerobics class just for some fun. The best part was that I really did not have to worry about anything. The only decision I made during my week trip was what I wanted to eat, drink or do. And sometimes that was already done for me. For example, before I even knew I was thirsty the “Beach Boy”, would show up next to my little piece of heaven on the playa with a cold lemonade. Sometimes its just nice to check out and not have to do anything. Here are my top five favorite things at Club Med Cancun:

1. Lunch at the restaurant by the water
2. Showers at the beach
3. Yoga at the beach
4. Sailing
5. The colorful sky

After this experience, I definitely want to go back soon to Club Med soon- like right now.

Mi Nuevo Amigos

During my trip to Cancun, I realized that Iguanas are the squirrels of Mexico. I became accustomed to seeing these little dinosaurs wandering the beaches, cafes, historic Mayan ruins, restaurants, etc. This morning back in San Francisco having coffee, I felt a little out of sorts without having my chico Iguana amigo hanging out by my table.