Close to Home, Far from Ordinary Trip Inspiration
Wanderlust with Us Issue VII - May 15, 2020 | Close to Home Issue
As teased in our last newsletter, we are excited to be rolling out our special Domestic Travel themed issue! As states begin to reopen and travel considerations may have been in the back of your mind, we wanted share a few of our favorite destinations that are close to home. From coast to coast, we are taking you along sandy beach destinations, outdoor adventures in the mountains, and wellness retreats for your mind, body, and soul. As always we want you to feel safe and comfortable stepping out your front door so we invite you for a phone call or email, we love hearing from you!
What We're Watching....
California noir shot in the golden sunshine of LA’s beach cities. Escape to the coast with Michelle Pfeiffer and Mel Gibson in their heyday. An ex-coke dealer gone straight finds himself back on the scene and you question who is engaging in romance for purely business reasons and who is in business for romantic reasons. Celebrate the waves in Malibu at the Malibu Beach Inn.
The consummate road trip movie, if you haven’t seen it or haven’t seen it in years, the film still stands up today. The wacky Griswold family embodies everything you remember from your childhood road trips with some extra hijinks thanks to Chevy Chase’s typical humor. While you may not be able to visit Wally World, you can certainly consider your own family road trip this summer.
This Nicolas Cage-led adventure focuses on a third generation treasure hunter’s search for a rumored treasure thought to be hidden by the Founding Fathers during the Revolutionary War. Plot takes a twist when Ben's accomplice decides to steal 'Declaration of Independence' for the next clue which will lead to this treasure. Ben then decides to protect the document by stealing it before his rival and the work to decrypt the clues and keep the treasure out of his rival’s hands.. This story takes the viewer on a ride to many historic locations that played an important role in our nation’s birth such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Trinity Church in lower Manhattan, and the Old North Church in Boston. When you're ready for your own Freedom Trail adventure check out a client favorite, the XV Beacon in downtown Boston.
For those yearning for more treasure hunting antics the sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, leads Ben Gates and his team on an adventure to prove his great, great grandfather’s innocence after being implicated as the grand mastermind of the Lincoln assassination. While on this journey to uncover the truth, the team also uncovers details regarding the “President’s Secret Book” which leads our treasure hunters to find Cíbola, the lost city of gold. Again, this hunt takes these friends all over the US: from Mount Vernon, the Library of Congress and eventually to the Black Hills of South Dakota and Mount Rushmore.
Off the Shelf
Cape May by Chip Cheek
Escape to the coast of Maine on a late season beach honeymoon. Fireworks do not ensue and the young couple contemplates if ordinary is just what married life is supposed to be. Things reverse course when they meet glamorous socialites who invite them into their dazzling world of fun and games. Seductively told, revel in the festivities of youth and debauchery. If you're looking for your own Maine escape, Cliff House Maine is the perfect backdrop for that.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
The too strange for fiction memoir of Savannah, GA, and a murder that occurs when the author is in the city doing a profile. High society mixes with wrong side of the tracks drag queens in what is sometimes funny, often bizarre, and creates a spellbinding tale. We often recommend a Savannah day trip for our clients who visit Montage Palmetto Bluff. (you can also skip the book and watch the Clint Eastwood movie, but the film does not hold up to the book).
Born in the USA!
We've taken you from London to Paris, Ireland and St. Barths, but now it's time we travel home to the United States. Whether you're surfing in California with the Beach Boys or gambling in Vegas with Elvis, we have the Spotify playlist to celebrate what it's like to be Born in the USA!
Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z, Alicia Keys
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Detroit Rock City - KISS
Viva Las Vegas - Elvis Presley
Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
Miami - Will Smith
California Girls - The Beach Boys
Rocky Mountain High - John Denver
Brooklyn Roads - Neil Diamond
Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips
By The Time I Get To Phoenix - Glen Campbell
Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey - The Beatles
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
No Sleep Till Brooklyn - Beastie Boys
L.A. Woman - The Doors
Austin - Blake Shelton
Good Morning Baltimore (From Hairspray) - Nikki Blonsky
Shuffle off to Buffalo (From 42nd Street) - Christopher Howell, Emma Caffrey
Malibu - Miley Cyrus
Born in the U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen
Breakfast by the Sea
At the beginning of the year our mornings were consistently fast and on the go - with a Starbucks in hand of course. Now that we are finding ourselves with more time at home we’re excited to share this delicious Lemon Ricotta Pancake recipe. Our friends at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, California know how to whip up the perfect dish to start the day. While they pair their meal with breathtaking panoramas of the Pacific, we will imagine ourselves at this seaside haven one day soon.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes from Shutters on the Beach
Ingredients
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup of granulated sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract or lemon oil
1/4 cup cake or all-purpose flour
Pinch of kosher salt
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 large egg whites
Canola oil or nonstick spray for cooking
Confectioners’ sugar for serving
Maple syrup for serving
Mixed berries, optional
Directions
In a medium bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon extract; whisk until light in color and aerated, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and salt, then whisk in the ricotta cheese and melted butter until just incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold them into the batter, being careful not to overmix. The batter can be prepared the night before and refrigerated.
Heat a griddle or large sauté pan over medium heat and coat it lightly with oil. Pour 1/2-cup circles of batter and cook until it bubbles begin to form on the tops of the pancakes and the bottoms are golden, about 2 minutes. Then flip carefully and continue cooking until the pancakes are golden on the other side and dry in the middle.
Transfer the pancakes to serving plates and sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar, or keep them warm in a 200°F oven until ready to serve. Serve with syrup and berries on the side.
Steal a Sip!
Fresh mountain air, paired with a rustic cocktail in hand is what we are bringing to you this week. The Lodge at Blue Sky sits on 3,500 private acres in the Wasatch Mountain Range of Utah. Our friends at this luxurious wilderness resort have created the Horsethief Cocktail, named after Barbara Phillips who rescued (read: stole) mistreated horses from a neglectful ranch. She has since rescued dozens of horses and cows through the “Saving Gracie Equine Healing Foundation.”
Horsethief Cocktail Recipe from The Lodge at Blue Sky
Ingredients:
1.5 ounces Reposado Tequila
.5 ounces High West Campfire Whiskey
.5 ounces Green Chartreuse
.5 ounces Ginger Syrup
.5 ounces Lime Juice
3 to 5 Blackberries
Directions:
In a shaker, muddle blackberries with ginger and syrup. Add remaining ingredients and ice. Shake to chill. Half rim a rocks glass with Tajin spice (or similar spicy lime seasoning) and pour over a big ice cube.
Relax and Rejuvenate
You may already know our friends at Miraval, but we’d like to introduce you to their new first-
class health and wellness destination in Austin, Texas at Miraval Austin. We invite you to embark on a complimentary mindful journey that can begin in the comfort of your own home. Now is the time to prioritize self-care and rejuvenate that skin you’ve been sheltering for weeks.
DIY Facial Mask from Miraval Austin
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Plain Yogurt (regular or greek)
1 Tbsp Chilled Aloe Vera
1 Tbsp of Local Honey
2-3 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
Directions:
Always start with fresh ingredients. I like to use a chilled Aloe Vera, so if you are using fresh Aloe Vera make sure you prepare before and place in the fridge for 20 minutes. Measure ingredients and then place them all in a bowl and mix well. Make sure you apply on clean skin, you can spread a light layer using your hands or with a fan brush (like you’re at a spa) leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, rinse and apply eye cream, serum and moisturizer and always make sure you use sunscreen. Essential oils can make your skin a little sensitive to the sun. Use now or you can store in the fridge for about a week.
Behind the Scenes at The Lodge at Blue Sky with Stuart Campbell
We are excited to introduce a fresh take on our Behind the Scenes series featuring our favorite travel industry partners around the world. This week we are spotlighting Stuart Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at the recently opened Lodge at Blue Sky in Wanship, UT.
"I have been spending a lot of time at the organic farm we started last year to supply food for The Lodge. Even though we cannot serve this amazing produce to our guests right now it is very comforting for me to visit every day and see things growing. I’m hopeful that in the not too distant future we can share this with everyone who visits us."
