Zzzzzzzz...A lazzzy Friday and a bit under the weather. Enjoy a clip show.
I have been fighting the flu all week. But today it just has hit me so hard and I have been bedridden most of the day. So I felt the need to break out the old clip show idea for today’s update. According to one definition online, “A clip show is an episode of a television series that consists primarily of excerpts from previous episodes.”
In this case, instead of giving you original content, I am simply going to slap together my top 10 most visited articles for you to click and enjoy. Of course if you want to check out all my previous work, you can click on the “Archives” link at the top of the page.
Check back in over the weekend for Saturday and Sunday Travel Shots from Seattle and Montreal. Plus this Monday is the debut of my new weekly “Guest Nomads” feature. Each week a fellow travel junkie will share their love of wanderlust with you. Have a great weekend.
Overhead view of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. This November both Virgin America and JetBlue will debut here within a 24-hour span.
Some people get all worked up over the new fall season of television shows premiering, certain individuals get excited about a new motion picture hitting the silver screen, while others might get overstimulated by the combination of baseball playoffs and the return of the NFL football. But yours truly could care less about all of those distractions. Why? Because the announcement of new airline routes tops them all. While my wife (and a few of you) may think I am a loon for caring so much about the debut of new itineraries at airports, I just can not help myself.
Living in such a busy area like New York, with major airports like JFK, Newark, and La Guardia, I guess you can say that I have pretty much every city in the world available at my fingertips. But what I look for is an airline adding service to my area. My reaction to the news of Southwest debuting at La Guardia a few months ago was easily comparable to a sports fanatic finding out that his beloved team just acquired the number one draft pick or received a great new pitcher as a result of a multi-team trade. Yeah pretty pathetic, but I admit to being a 100% “Grade A” travel nerd.
But that doesn’t make me a bad person does it? Well I do get some rather odd looks from the wife when all I can talk about over dinner is how JetBlue is now jetting to the Caribbean and Virgin America is possibly thinking of flying in and out of Chicago soon. In any event, here are some new airline routes debuting within the next few months. Enjoy.
The historic and spectacular Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington
Opened in September of 1914 and standing proud today, The Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington is without a doubt one of the true hotel gems of the west. I mean a walk around the lobby alone is worth a visit to this marvelous property. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days here over the summer and have to admit that I was blown away at the grandeur that this hotel exudes.
I rolled into The Davenport Hotel with my rental car and pulled into their wrap around driveway. The valet service was $24 per night (plus tips to the valets), which I felt was a little high for a hotel in a small town. But no matter what city you visit, when you stay in a 4-star property, expect to pay 4-star prices. In any event, the valets were always super friendly and always quick to retrieve my car.
Upon entering the aforementioned lobby, you instantly get why Conde Nast Traveler named The Davenport Hotel both a “Gold List” property and one of the “Most Excellent Hotels” in 2008. Just a remarkable sight to see upon checking in.
Ooh-la-la! Talk about a great place to hang out when you do not want to sit in your room. The lobby at The Davenport Hotel is truly one of a kind.
After gawking at all of the marble, comfy couches & chairs, and the collection of art work, it was time to head upstairs and check out my suite. Upon walking into the elevator, I realized that The Davenport Hotel was one of those lodges that required your key card in order for it to work. It will surely keep away those pesky non key card holding people. But seriously it is a nice security feature.
Living room area of my suite at The Davenport Hotel
I was placed on the 4th floor and just a short walk from the elevator. One of the best and worst moments any person has when staying at a hotel is that few seconds you have between sliding in your key card and opening that hotel door. What will be on the other side? Will I love it? Will I hate it?
Okay I loved it this time. Wow! Nice size space that was honestly way too much for just yours truly. The living room area provided me with a coffee table, two couches, a comfy chair or two, a flat screen television (unfortunately not an LCD or Plasma), mini-bar, work desk, a few mirrors, and even a sink. That is a lot to take in right away.
Two couches which offers plenty of room if you invite over some Spokane friends or if you travel with family.
As I walked to the left of the living room area, I wound up in a small walkway with his and her sinks, or in my case mine and mine sinks. Off to the side was a huge closet, with a safe, bath robes, and an iron with an ironing board. I then popped my head into the small yet lovely bathroom, which offered me both a deep tub and a walk-in shower.
This is the walkway from the living room that leads to the bathroom area and closet space.
Not one...but two sinks! Great for impatient people that do not like to wait for others using the bathroom.
Although the tub looked inviting, I am more of the showering kind of nomad.
Great walk-in shower with strong water pressure and plenty of nice smelling soaps.
I will be the first to admit that I am a bit of a hotel nerd. I love staying at them and get equally thrilled upon finding a unique or quirky feature at each one. The Davenport Hotel provided me with an “OMG, that is pretty cool” moment that only a serious travel geek would enjoy.
Instead of using “Do Not Disturb” and “Clean Room” signs on their doorknobs, The Davenport Hotel instead has installed a light switch looking object next to the door that indicates whether you need a room cleaning or want to be left alone. Simply tap on it and it will light up both inside where you are tinkering with it and outside of your door. Yes it is not flying to the moon or solving world hunger, but I snapped a picture of it and thought it was pretty neat.
You mean I could tell the maid "Do Not Disturb" with the touch of a finger? What a world we live in!
I decided that before I get all squeaky clean, it would be wise if I checked out where I would be sleeping tonight. So I walked back into the living room and then off to the right to check out the my bedroom. It was a nice size room that was mostly taken over by this enormous king size bed. I mean this truly was a massive piece of furniture. The headboard was made up of quality hand carved mahogany and the mattress was covered by a healthy amount of pillows and an truly inviting comforter. Above the bed were two recessed lights that I assume were placed there in the event one of the two people wanted to read while the other slept.
That is one hell of a bed.
Another shot of the bedroom with the larger than life bed taking over the space and a television off to the right.
In addition to the “Davenport Bed” and large marble walk-in shower, here are some of the amenities included during your stay at The Davenport Hotel:
Smell good with Lady Primrose bath products.
High-speed wired and wireless internet (Every hotel should have free internet!).
Complimentary local phone calls.
The hotel offers 27″ flat-screen televisions (pictured above), but the tower offers 32″ LCD HD televisions.
24-hour business center.
Full service concierge.
Indoor pool and jacuzzi with complimentary towels.
24-hour fitness center with complimentary towels and fresh fruit.
Town car service within 2 miles of the hotel.
Historic walking tour available.
Pet walking.
Plus be sure to stop into the candy shoppe, which is located in the lobby by the entrance, to purchase some Bruttles soft peanut brittle. It is seriously great and very addictive (I had plenty!).
.
So the next time your plans find you in “The Lilac City,” be sure to check out or into easily one of the most popular addresses in town. Yup The Davenport Hotel is truly something special in Spokane.
Hotel information:
Name: The Davenport Hotel
Address: 10 South Post Street, Spokane, Washington 99201
Flying is something that I do pretty much every few weeks these days and I have to admit, it is pretty monotonous and dull. I mean from the tedious cab rides to the airport, the intensely annoying security screenings, and the usual delays, flying has become somewhat of a chore than an enjoyment when I travel.
Fortunately on a recent trip to Spokane, Washington I was able to take to the air in a much more enjoyable and care free manner. The company behind the alternative to airplanes is called Backcountry Aerosports Incorporated and they were cool enough to show me around their great facility, which is located in Cheney, Washington (about 15-minutes outside Spokane) and allow me to go up in the air (with a co-pilot of course) on one of their trikes.
Nicknamed “flying weedeaters”, trikes average a speed of about 40-60 mph and have cruised upwards of 12,000 feet! But at Backcountry Aerosports they prefer “low and slow,” so expect to be 50′-300′ above the great state of Washington when you fly with them.
A trike needs about only 300-400 feet of space to get off the ground and to land, but some riskier flyers have used as little as 80 feet for both going up and coming down!
When I got prepped by owner Denny Reed, you could tell that not only was flying trikes an enjoyable way to make a living, but he was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about it. He came off as someone well trained, extremely professional, and at times a bit snarky (which as a New Yorker is always a good trait).
Getting my extra large Irish potato head strapped in before take off.
After going through an instructional video and getting suited up for flying, it was time to take to the skies. The weather could not have been more perfect. It was 6am, not a cloud in the sky, winds were calm, and the sun was creeping up onto Prosser Butte.
After getting suited and onto the trike safely, Denny and I were ready to roll.
Before taking off, Denny checked to make sure everything was safe, secure, and ready for takeoff. He truly knows what he is doing and I felt extremely safe flying with him. So after informing him that I am not full insured, we took to the skies.
Once we took off, which was pretty damn quick, it was smooth sailing…er flying. From the time we left the ground until we came in for landing about 25 minutes later, I never felt like I was in danger. I was secured into the trike with a seat belt and the trike rarely felt too shaky or rocky as we darted through the air. At one point Denny even let me take control of the trike and move it left and right as well as up and down. I’m not going to lie when I tell you that it was a truly awesome experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat and highly suggest you thrill seekers check it out at least once.
In the air over Cheney and loving every minute of it.
Backcountry Aerosports provides training courses to assist you in getting the proper certification you will need in order to whiz around the air on your own. Classes will run you about $2,800 and take anywhere from 8-12 hours to become skilled in using a a single seat “Ultralight” and 15 hours of training plus 5 hours of supervised solo time in order to master the art of flying a two-seat “Light Sport Aircraft.”
Unsure if this is something you want to invest much time and cash into? Then don’t fret, as Backcountry Aerosports also provides introductory and recreational flights as well. For as little as $40 plus fuel, you can be an airborne beginner. But if your experience is anything like my experience, than I expect you will probably upgrade to more time in the sky and maybe just maybe wind up getting a trike of your own. If so, feel free to fly by Brooklyn and pick me up.
For more information about Backcountry Aerosports Incorporated and to get more information on how to get flying, check out their website www.trikeschool.com.
Overhead view of the great city of Spokane, Washington
There is more to Washington than just that popular rainy city that will remain nameless. All the way on the other side of “The Evergreen State” is a great yet overlooked town called Spokane. The city of Spokane’s nickname is the “Lilac City” due to the amount of that particular flower flourishing throughout. After experiencing a busy 48-hours in this city, I felt the need to pass along some of the more memorable places that I came across.
What is the cure to just about any ailment? Simple, lots and lots of chocolate. So when you are suffering from a lack of the sweet stuff, be sure to fill your prescription at the Chocolate Apothecary. Opened in 2005 by former pharmacist turn chocolate master Susan Davis, this local shop has some of the most interesting and original chocolates that I have personally ever tasted.
Mmmmm chocolate.
Some of the more eclectic chocolate ideas include “Spicy Maya” (which is a dark chocolate combination of cayenne & cinnamon) and my personal favorite chocolate with pop rocks. Truly a chocolate lover’s destination when in Spokane and if you are unable to make it out to this shop, they also take orders online at www.chocolateapothecary.com.
So many chocolates...so little time.
The city of Spokane offers visitors and locals just tons of parkland, biking trails, and outdoor adventure. I was lucky enough to be in town when the weather was picture perfect. Two of my favorite “green” parts of Spokane include Duncan Garden in Manito Park and the Japanese Garden.
Stunning Duncan Garden in Manito Park
The Spokane Japanese tea garden was tranquil and kid friendly.
Located right next to Duncan Garden in Manito Park is the Gaiser Conservatory which includes a plethora of plants. From numerous varieties of cactus to chili plants, this place had plenty to keep you green thumb travelers smiling.
One of many types of cactus on display at Gaiser Conservatory
Red hot chili pepper plants...pretty cool.
The Steam Plant Grill is an absolutely perfect place to check out in Spokane if you love amazing architecture, good food, and amazing micro-brew beer. Long before they were serving tasty treats and mouthwatering adult beverages, this structure was an actual Steam Plant that produced steam heat and electrical power for all of downtown Spokane.
However, by 1986 the plant was just not financially practical to operate. So it was shut down and left to waste away for nearly a decade. Finally some investors came in and turned this once dirty old factory into offices, retail space, and the Steam Plant Grill. I loved the look of this place and how a piece of history in Spokane was spared and now is bustling with activity.
Good times had at the Steam Plant Grill.
When you do visit this restaurant, you must try their nine beer sampler which included one of the best stouts I have ever tasted. It was like a smoother Guinness with a hint of vanilla. Check out this legendary locale at www.steamplantgrill.com
A damn good breakfast is served at Frank's Diner daily.
The most important meal of the day is breakfast. So when your belly is rumbling, make sure you head on over to Frank’s Diner. As a New Yorker, I have had my fair share of good and bad diner experiences over the years. Frank’s definitely gets my seal of approval. I mean just look at the exterior of this place, how can you not like Frank’s before even stepping through their front door. The diner is located inside of an actual rail car!
Definitely choo-choo choose Frank's for breakfast....mmmm biscuits and white gravy.
Speaking of which, feast your eyes on that artery clogging goodness.
Located in the downtown corridor, Frank’s Diner includes all of the usual diner goodies, but be sure to check out their insanely delectable biscuits and white gravy with a side of scrambled eggs. Something about loads of white gravy poured over soft biscuits at 7am that is just devilishly good.
Spokane is kid friendly, so you will definitely want to bring the little ones to Riverfront Park, which was home to the 1974 World’s Fair.When you are in the park, be sure to check out some of the attractions like the new gondola Skyride that carries you over the Spokane falls and the historic 1909 Looff Carrousel.
Gondola Skyride over the Spokane River Falls.
Beautiful Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane.
Tons of children were enjoying a day on the 100-year old Loof Carrousel.
Both were great to check out in person and had many smiling faces checking them both out on a picture perfect afternoon in Spokane. (As cool as the Loof Carrousel looked, I was alone on this trip and figured a 29-year old sitting by himself on this ride might scare off some people. So I just checked it out from the sidelines.)
Vodka…whiskey…gin. Oh yes, three drinks that I have enjoyed in my lifetime. So if you love your liquor, then I suggest you take your adult beverage loving self over to Dry Fly Distillery. This local distillery has been pumping out some of the tastiest and smoothest vodka, whiskey, and gin in the United States for over two years now. They are also the first legal grain distillery in the state of Washington since prohibition.
Screw Absolut...buy Dry Fly!
Their hard work has paid off with such honors bestowed upon them like “Best Vodka Award” in San Francisco at the World Spirits Competition. Dry Fly’s business has been booming, even with the lousy economy, and currently offer their product in 250 statewide bars, 26 states and two Canadian provinces.
Where the magic happens.
When I visited their distillery they told me that 99 percent of Dry Fly’s ingredients were Washington-grown. That might be why so many locals volunteer to help out on weekends at the distillery. Or it might be in hopes of tasting some of the goodness being created here. For more information on Dry Fly Distillery, check out www.dryflydistilling.com.
If you are staying in Spokane, then there really is only one place you should be resting your weary head. That place is the stunningly beautiful and historic Davenport Hotel. Opened in 1914, the Davenport just blows you away upon entering the gorgeous lobby. I could have spent the night sleeping in the lobby and I would have been fine. It was one of those rooms that you just sat back and took in with great joy.
Loved my stay at the Davenport Hotel. Such a luxurious locale in Spokane.
Some famous faces that have spent the night here include Amelia Earhart, Clark Gable, Bob Hope, Benny Goodman, and Mr. Spokane himself Bing Crosby. The room I stayed in was so beautiful and the service was top notch. Check back on September 1 for a full review of my stay at the Davenport Hotel, as it will be featured as one of my “hotels of the month.”
Overall my experience visiting “that other city” in Washington was great. I highly recommend checking out Spokane if you are an outdoorsy traveler and if you are looking for a place to visit with children. For more information on Spokane, Washington check out VisitSpokane.com.
(I would like to thank Pam Scott for being such a gracious host when I visited Spokane.)
