May 3, 2024 • 53 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean discusses this week's travel news and Hot Deals!
Explore the ultimate Mother’s Day getaways in the United States! Treat Mom to relaxation and rejuvenation. Plus, indulge in a delectable spread of brunch favorites. For a luxurious stay, consider the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, where you can pamper yourself with spa treatments and explore America’s largest home, the Biltmore Estate. Whether it’s a relaxing spa day or a delightful brunch, these Mother’s Day destinations are sure to create lasting memories!
Explore the ultimate Mother’s Day getaways in the United States! Treat Mom to relaxation and rejuvenation. Plus, indulge in a delectable spread of brunch favorites. For a luxurious stay, consider the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, where you can pamper yourself with spa treatments and explore America’s largest home, the Biltmore Estate. Whether it’s a relaxing spa day or a delightful brunch, these Mother’s Day destinations are sure to create lasting memories!
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(00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It'sa travel show and podcasts from your friends
at the wishing Well two forty threef Avenue in harsemerg and online It's a
wishing Well dot This. The wishingWell is your ultimate luxury concierge, travel
agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is atravel show and podcast hosted by Terry Dean,
bringing her over forty years of experiencein the travel industry to help guide
(00:20):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be around the block,
around the country, or around theworld. Let's bring in Terry Dean and
say hello, Chris, how areyou this beautiful Saturday. You've got a
different definition of beautiful. The weatherhas definitely changed time. I don't care
any day it's a Saturday. It'sbeautiful for me. I'll take that.
Yes, you know, so ifit's Saturday and it's on my calendar,
(00:42):
it's a beautiful one. Think youknow what, it's a beautiful It's a
beautiful Saturday, and I'm glad tobe here with you. It is and
I'm glad to be here with you. I'm so looking forward to the week
ahead because it's got good things instore. But this week has been a
massive blur. I'll tell you it. On most seems like we were just
here two minutes ago. That's whatI was just thinking too, exactly.
(01:04):
Yeah, we had a busy weekhere at at work and then you know,
with a new puppy at home,everything has been the puppy, puppy,
puppy. See. That's that's whenyou know you're living life in the
fast link. That's what I thinkI need to call Terrrian arranging a vacation,
resort, vacation somewhere go And we'regoing to be talking a lot about
places to go today, but weare going to focus on a very very
(01:26):
exclusive club. I look forward tothat. We always start a show off
there with some news from the weekwe do, and I want to start
off with an interesting story that involvesTSA pre check. Right now, you
can enroll in TSA pre Check Chrisat some Clear Airport locations. Now.
(01:47):
The Transportation Security Administration is participating withClear to add pre check enrollment to three
Clear airport locations, and the firsttwo of those airports are Or and Newark.
Sacramento is also part of them,but all three airports are going to
offer daily enrollment in this TSA preCheck. Each of the Clear locations that
(02:14):
those airports are going to have dedicatedpre Check enrollment pods that will not only
allow for enrollment, but they'll alsoallow the current pre Check members to renew
their membership at these locations. Now, the goal, according to TSA is
to make it easier to enroll inpre Check, which is one of the
(02:34):
TSA's Trusted Traveler programs. If youdon't know about that, it allows members
to wear their shoes and belts andlight jackets and still go through screening and
keep their laptops and the three oneone liquids in their carry on bags.
You don't have to dump all thatout. The program launched in twenty thirteen
and now it includes about nineteen millionmembers and according to TSA, wait times
(03:01):
are typically under ten minutes at thepre check lanes. So all good reasons
why if you haven't already to signup for the TSA pre Check and three
airports now that are working in conjunctionwith Clear to make that happen a lot
easier. You're sending in conjunction withClear. What is clear YEP. Clear
(03:23):
is also the Expediting Service security servicethat you can get through the airport.
So bran to the TSA, Yesit is okay. Yeah. Now next
story is Hawaii. This was interesting. They are going to ban airbnbs and
(03:43):
short term rentals statewide. I foundthis shocking, but a new bill would
become effective immediately, and Airbnbs andother short term rentals in Hawaii they're about
to be signed out of out accordingto law there. This bill was passed
by the state's Senate and House thisweek and now it's going to head to
(04:05):
Governor Josh Green's desk. It givesHawaiians and individual counties the ability to change
zoning laws that would effectively phase outshort term rentals, requiring them to be
converted into long term housing. Nowwhy in the world did all this happen?
(04:25):
Well, the bill was not onlysupported by Green, but also Hawaii's
hoteliers and hotel labor unions and LeahinaStrong. That's a group that supported the
rebuilding of Lahaina. Remember after thedevastating fires went through Maui. That group
and others have cited short term rentalsas one of the reasons that a lot
(04:46):
of the displaced residents have been unableto find permanent housing. So they're really
serious about this. They want theairbnbs and short term rentals to go.
Hawaii's percentage is also more than sseven times higher than that of New York
City, which also moved to banshort term rentals over the past few years.
(05:08):
The last September, New York startedenforcing a twenty twenty two law that
banned people from renting homes for fewerthan thirty days unless the host was actually
staying on site with them. Thatban, according to air DNA, caused
listings for New York short term rentalsto drop more than eighty three percent since
(05:31):
August, and according to a reportin the Guardian last week, a black
market short term rental community has sproutedup on social media and Craigslist in New
York. So this is not entirelya friendly type of news story to hit
Hawaii, and especially for those whoown property and want to rent it in
(05:56):
Hawaii for vacationers. But makes mehappy because that says that business is going
to go rightfully to the hotels andhousing is going to go to those that
have been displaced, and I thinkthat's probably a better angle. And we
want to also just take a momentto remember everybody who was displaced, and
we continue to keep them in ourpress. Absolutely, and I think this
is a supportive measure to get thosepeople rehoused, and I think that's a
(06:20):
good move. At the top ofthe news, that's all we think about,
and then we forget that they're stilldealing with their emergency months later.
Absolutely. I mean, you know, a lot of tourism has returned to
Maui, there's no doubt about it. But has everyone been made whole there?
No, they certainly have not,and I think that's going to take
a very long time now. TheUS State Department also sent me an update
(06:45):
across my desk warning about two Europeandestinations. This week. They issued travel
advisory updates for the first of whichis Poland, which remains at a Level
one, which exercise precautions. TheState Department simply reissued the Level one label
(07:05):
for Poland after a review without changes. They said, exercise normal precautions in
Poland is what they have said.And the second is Germany, which was
reissued at a Level two, whichis exercise increased caution. While the State
Department is not telling travelers to avoidtravel to Germany, the advisory generally warns
(07:31):
travelers to be aware of terrorism.Terrorist groups keep planning attacks. In Germany,
terrorists may attack with little or nowarning. They target tourist locations and
transportation hubs. They also target markets, shopping malls, and local government facilities.
They target hotels, clubs, andrestaurants. And that is precisely how
(07:56):
this advisory reads. That's a directquote for both Germany and Poland and almost
every destination covered. The State Departmentrecommends travelers be aware of where their surroundings
are, where they are and monitorlocal media for breaking events. Travelers should
also be ready to adjust their plansbased on new information, and I think
(08:18):
this is always something very good toalert and talk to folks about, especially
here on a lifeless ordinary. TheState Department also always recommends that travelers enroll
in STEP. That's step, theSmart Traveler Enrollment Program. It's a free
(08:39):
service. It allows Americans anywhere abroadto enroll their trip with the nearest US
embassy or consulate. That program alertstravelers with any kind of safety information while
they are at their destination, ifthey know where to find you, and
it gives the US embassy the chanceto contact you in case of any type
of te emergency. So you know, it's a new world we're living in.
(09:03):
It's always an evolving world. Wenever know what's going to happen from
one time to the next. Butwe know we're not in Kansas anymore,
Dorothy, So a lot of thingsdo change, can change, and will
change, and the best we cando is be prepared. It seems to
me this has always been the case. We just now have so much news
in our face. We hear aboutit more. I mean, there was
(09:24):
when I was a kid, therewere horrible things going on around the world.
Yeah, And you know, it'sso funny you should mention that because
I was just kind of perusing throughsome old old newspapers from many years ago,
back in the fifties, really fiftiesand sixties, and there were riots
and there we were involved in conflictsand different things. Then you're right,
(09:45):
Chris, we hear about it more. But you know what I'm thankful for
is that the industry, my industryhas evolved to the point where knowing what
to do and having the tools andthe means to be able to protect yourself
read now than they ever were before. There was no program called step way
back then where we could make surethat the embassies in the State Department could
(10:07):
find us when we travel abroad.Now we can. That's a great new
uptick in the way that we're ableto do things. So don't let it
scare you off from travel. Absolutelynot, be an informed travel Yeah,
absolutely not, And that it wasnot at all. The purpose of that
story was to send people up inalert mode. I do like like it
(10:30):
when people know as much as Ido. I mean, that's my job
is to make sure people are informedabout this industry and also about the world.
It is, as I said before, an ever changing, ever evolving
world, and the more we cando to help people prepare for it and
be knowledgeable about it, the saferthey'll be when they go. And if
we're thinking, hey, I dowant to go, but I don't want
(10:52):
to spend a lot of money,can you help me out with some hot
deals? I do have a coupletoday before we launch into our story,
which I can't I can hardly waitto talk about what we're going to talk
about today. But if you areinterested in Disney World, I thought this
was amazing. You know how wetalk about the price of everything is going
up, Well, that's not alwaysthe case, you can actually score some
(11:13):
Disney World area hotels for as littleas ninety eight dollars a night. Now
Disney Spring Resort Area hotels, whichare actually located just steps from Disney World's
dining, entertainment and shopping district,they're offering these discounted hotels, as I
said, starting at only ninety eightdollars from now until July thirty. First.
(11:37):
You know why I like this deal, Chris, because that's right in
peak vacation season. That's absolutely phenomenal. The Vacation Kingdom is rolling out some
major discounts on resort stays at sevenhotels this spring and summer. Now,
these rates vary by property, sothey're not all the same at all the
other at the same properties, butthe count applies to stays at Wyndham Garden
(12:03):
Lake Buna Vista. I can tellyou I've stayed here before. It's a
lovely property. It's very conveniently locatedjust a short drive to some of the
major attractions they're including Disney World,The Holiday Inn Orlando, Disney Springs,
the Hilton Orlando, Lake Bunavista,which I've also stayed at. The Hilton
Orlando Bunivista Palace, Drury Plaza,Hotel Orlando, Double Tree Suites by Hilton
(12:30):
Orlando. I've gone to a conventionthere and b as in Baby resort and
spa. The most affordable option isthe Wyndham Garden Lake Buna Vista. It's
offering those discounted nightly rates at ninetyeight dollars now. In addition to close
proximity to Disney Springs accessible by walkingpaths, guests of these hotels can take
(12:52):
advantage of many of the same perksas those that are staying at Disney operated
resorts. That's again in another reasonwhy I like this deal. This includes
exclusive thirty minute early entry into thetheme parks. You usually only get that
if you're at an on site propertyDisney World, transportation to all four theme
(13:13):
parks, and advance booking access toDisney's four golf courses. It does not
include the daily resort fees or parking, so if you're renting a car,
you do have to pay extra forthe parking fees. Now, a short
walk to Disney Springs offers an enticingassortment of retail, dining, and entertainment
(13:35):
venues. Diners can enjoy bytes fromlongtime favorites like wine Bar George, or
exciting new options like Summerhouse on theLake complete with a cookie bar. I
think that sounds like fun for visitsbetween now. In May, the twenty
fourth, Disney Springs is debuting abrand new, state of the art drone
(13:56):
show called Disney Dreams that Soar.It's going to take you through the night
sky preparing choreographed drones with musical scores. That would be so much fun.
Have you seen these these drone showshave and they are sick. I mean
I watched a video of how theydo this in Dubai and I was blown
away. It's unbelievable. It's betterthan fireworks. Oh yeah, better than
(14:20):
fireworks. So I loved it.And that's not all. Theme park goers
are going to have plenty to lookforward to as well, like the highly
anticipated summer opening of Tiana by YouAdventure. This is a complete reimagining of
the former Splash Mountain. Over atEpcot, guests can enjoy the completion of
the park's largest transformation in its history, including a new limited time show celebrating
(14:46):
the music of Walt Disney Animation Studiosin Canto and that begins June tenth.
So these discounts are just in timefor you to do both like it.
I like it too, and Disneyis always just such a hot, hot
feature. Now another one of mygreat sales that came across my desk,
and the only reason I really pointedto this and even had to look into
(15:09):
this one was because, oddly enough, I had about three inquiries on these
particular destinations this week, which isvery odd when you hear what I'm going
to talk about. This is anine day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
and New Brunswick tour. This particularvacation includes your airfare round trip per person,
(15:31):
all of your taxes and fuel charges. Of course, You've got eight
nights accommodations, two of which arein Halifax, two in Badeck, two
nights in Charlottetown, two nights inSaint John, New Brunswick. You've got
thirteen meals in total, eight breakfast, two lunches, three dinners, all
of your sight seeing. This isfully escorted, your entrance fees to everything
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that's included, and the price onlytwenty eight to twenty nine, including your
airfare. Nine wonderful days in NovaScotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
And this is a great time ifyou don't like the summer heat and
it's ratcheting up there quickly, thiswould be a great place to get away
(16:15):
too, in perhaps July and August. I'm looking for anywhere where I don't
have to deal with the summer isI'm with you there. I mean I
am not a hot weather person.I really very much do prefer the cool
temperatures. So Nova Scotia, PrinceEdward Island and New Brunswick sound awesome to
me. So our show this weekhas an interesting title, Oh sweet mother,
(16:40):
Yes it does, and in thenicest way that is not in any
way to be considered a slang forwhat we're going to talk about, because
we, as I said, aregoing to talk Chris about a very exclusive
club and that is our dear sweetmothers. Excellent. Let's get into that
next year on The Lifeless. Protectyour vacation investment with guidance from a travel
(17:03):
professional. The wishing Well knows traveland help you avoid pitfalls. They can
spoil your hirer earned vacation. We'llplan your trip and have your back as
you travel. All of this withoutsupport or so called convenience fees. We're
on the web at tho Wishingwell dotbiz or call us at five four zero
nine zero eight two three three three. That's five four zero nine zero eight
(17:23):
two three three three. The wishingWell really does make dreams come true and
welcome back to a life less ordinary. It's the travel show and podcast from
your friends at the wishing Well.You can find them at two forty three
and a half Avenue and Beautiful Harrisonburg, Virginia. Also online at the wishing
Well dot biz, or give thema call at five four oh nine twenty
(17:45):
three thirty three. Terry, wegot a holiday a week from tomorrow.
It's Mother's Day. It is.Don't forget about lame. No, we're
not going to let you do that. And I love that. Our show
this week is entitled Oh sweet Mother. I know, and you know that
you've got to be real careful withhow we've named this show because it's all
about the inflection. And Joe,you go, oh sweet mother, No,
(18:08):
actually, you know this is thisshould be said with some warmth in
your heart when you say it,because it is mine. How about sweet
mom? There you go, yeah, and I really want to devote our
entire show, Chris Today to ourvaliant and our resourceful moms, because we
all know Sunday May twelfth is oneof the most important and special days that
(18:30):
we celebrate. I think, Imean Mother's Day. If you're still fortunate
enough to have your mom with youand you're able to celebrate with her in
person, you are certainly most blessedif you're able to do that. Mother's
Day founded in the great state ofWest Virginia. No kidding, that's right.
I love that you know that history. I know we talked about that
(18:51):
some on the show last year,but I'm so glad you brought that up.
And West Virginia's near and dear toyour heart and mind. Well,
I mean that's where I'm from,absolutely, And my mother was born and
raised in West Virginia. Martinsburg,West Virginia was her birthplace. My mother
is from Middlebourn, West Virginia.I grew up in Sistersville before moving to
Wheeling. All good reasons to loveare good neighbors in West Virginia. You
(19:12):
ask anybody in the state of WestVirginia before my mom is from is West
Virginia and say no, that's thenorthern Panhandle, that is not West Virginia,
right, But I still I amone of those blessed ones. I
still enjoy having my mom with me. My gratitude actually is even deeper,
Chris, because some thirty five yearsago, a very special, little young
(19:36):
lady named Morgan made me a memberof the world's most exclusive club. I
love when you talk about Morgan,I do to your face lights up.
Yeah, she's pretty special. Andthat was a special day for me.
And it's by far my favorite jobin the world, next to travel.
And so of course today I getto combine both things that I love,
(19:56):
travel and this fabulous holiday that weMother's Day. What a great day to
celebrate. Now every year my mominsists that she does not want any big
fuss or production made for Mother's Day. But we all know better. We
all know better, and we knowwe should not forget this holiday. It
(20:17):
just comes right out and says,I expect to be treated like a queen.
There you go, So really,today, on a life less ordinary,
I want to propose some excursions abig surprise, right that I'm going
to talk about traveling conjunction with thisholiday that you might want to put on
your travel list to enjoy with yourmom. Some of these are I will
say, and I will tell youin advance my very favorites. So if
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anybody is listening to me that isgoing to help me enjoy my mother's day,
one of these would be just fine, just fine. And I want
to begin with a very special groupof newbies to the Exclusive Mom Club.
And these are, of course allthe new mommies out there. It's especially
(21:03):
exciting and sometimes it's a little overwhelmingto be a brand new mom. I
can tell you that from experience.So for those of you who love the
new mom in your home, dosomething special and wonderful for won't you.
It will pay you back in hugedividends. So for the new moms out
there, I don't know of anew mom that would not appreciate the gift
(21:26):
of pampering. After all, itwas a long nine months and counting,
so I want in search. Iwent in search of the top best spa
in the United States. Yes Idid, Chris, and my good friends
at Conde Nast did not let medown. As a matter of fact,
(21:47):
Chris, I think we should devotemaybe a lifeless ordinary to the pursuit of
the world's top spas. I thinkthat ought to be one of our shows.
You do it next week, right, But there's been a resurgence and
a return of interest by travelers toa higher level and awareness of wellness and
self care, and I think thatwould make for a very interesting episode because
(22:08):
I've got a lot of clients thatare very focused on that. As a
matter of fact, just this week, I have some clients who are off
to a grand yoga retreat in Irelandbecause for them, vacation is all about
wellness and they're doing it with theyoga spin on it. So listen,
(22:30):
this is a big deal, andI want you to For those of you
who are listening to me right now, I want you to let me know
if that topic would actually interest you. We would love to be able to
bring you here on a life lessordinary all of these topics that are embedded
in the travel industry and the hospitalityindustry, but I want it to be
something you want to listen to,something that you find interesting and would make
(22:53):
your life more enriched, give youthat lifeless ordinary. Every time that you
bring up spot, I have thisimage in my head of the tables being
set out and the incense burning oryou know, maybe there's some of that
airsize arrow. How do you saythat aromatic? Well, yeah, I
(23:14):
was trying when they put the aroma. Yeah, aroma therapy, aroma therapy
inside of a cave. Really,it's always, you know, and there
are some that I have actually beento one of the grandest spas I've ever
seen in the world, at aproperty called Grand Vilas. I may have
mentioned this last week when we weretalking about Sinko DeMaio. Actually, but
(23:37):
we are talking about spas right now. There is one that emerged as the
world's top spa, well actually America'stop spa, but in Mexico. The
Grand Vilas is like a fifty thousandsquare foot spa and it is carved into
a cave. I'm absolutely remarkable.Yeah, But what I think of when
(23:59):
I think of spas immediately is verytranquil music. Yeah, I think of
water, sort of like a soundof a fountain exactly. And one smell
always emerges at the top of thatlist for me. Vanilla no rosemary.
And you know why, my grandmotherloved the smell of rosemary. And she
(24:23):
wasn't a wealthy woman by any stretchof the imagination and really couldn't afford the
priceless perfumes that were, you know, out and still are. I mean,
let's face it, perfumes can bea great gift from others because they
are very pricey. But my grandmotheralways, she always looked like a million
dollars, and many days she didn'thave two nickels to rub together. But
(24:48):
she would take she grew rosemary outsideof her house and she would take rosemary
and she would bruise it between herwrists, and she would always say to
me, that's my perfume. AndI can remember always thinking my grandmother smelled
so good. And when I gotolder and made my trip to my first
spa, I walked in the door, Chris, and I went, oh,
(25:12):
my goodness, that smells like mygrandmother. It was the scent of
rosemary and all those other great sensethat they use in spas. But that's
reminded me of her, and tothis day it does. What a great
feeling, you know how sense cando that. I don't want to take
us too far off our path here. What's the one smell that would relax
(25:33):
you the most? Oh, rosemary, rosemary is it absolutely does. It
has such great memories for me,and that instantly takes me to a time
in my childhood when my life wassimple and when I was being taken care
of. And you know, welove that. We love a scent or
whatever. It is a sound thattakes us back to a time in our
(25:56):
life when we felt the safest.And that's what it does for me.
I don't know why mine is,but I love Alman extract. No kidding
that, Oh my gosh, yeahI could. That's a great cent.
Also, yeah, I could wastea lot of money buy an Omina extract
and just letting it evaporate in thehouse. Yeah. Well, you know
what we did just now with allthis conversation, we left everybody on the
(26:18):
edge of their season. Where isthis best spa in America? I want
to know. So the mecca thatyou are wanting to know, it's clear
and it's a It's the clear winnerin the pursuit. It is when Vann
farms And of all places, LichfieldHills, Connecticut. Okay, yeah,
(26:40):
and imagine that, not New York, not Los Angeles home which is home
to a lot of stars. Nope, It's located in the unassuming town of
Lichfield Hills, Connecticut. So what'sso great about it? Well, Winfield
Farm Spa is a realm of tranquilityand pampering. It's truly transformative experience the
(27:02):
moment you step inside their five thousandsquare foot relaxation home. This luxury spot
in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut isa quiet sanctuary of light and open space
for individuals, couples, or groups. You can schedule an hour or a
whole afternoon of pure bliss with arange of restorative treatments and therapies. They've
(27:27):
got private yoga and fitness massages,hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, you were talking about,
Chris and skincare and practice with abalance of ancient wisdom and modern expertise
in this beautiful, state of theart facility. Now, what's also fabulous
about Litchfield Farm is that they growa good number of the ingredients that are
(27:56):
woven into their skin care products there. They grow them and they make them
right there. So Winfield, I'msorry, win v in Farms, beg
you pardon. Is the spa withinthe property there at Litchfield Hills, and
guests are invited to actually bask inthe sun on their lit lounges, you
(28:17):
can relax in the sauna sip someof their organic tea. Now here's the
best part. You don't need tobe a win v and overnight guest to
enjoy the wind Van spa experience.Everybody, including the Litchfield Hills neighbors.
If you need pampering, this isthe spa that really delivers. And you
(28:38):
can see their spa menu including pricing, on their Spa services page on their
website, which I really took avery hard look at and picked out some
fabulous treatments. I thought I wouldlove. Spa treatments here at win v
and start at roughly one hundred andtwenty five dollars and they go up from
(28:59):
there. They're not inexpensive, butthey are amazing. They may not be
something that you'd ordinarily think you mighttry, but they sound very interesting to
me. And they've been voted numberone and best by Conde Nast magazine for
a reason. They are really good. So now that we've talked about one
(29:22):
of America's one of the United Statesbest, and I would say they've probably
got to have the best products andeverything else. I'm not sure what Conde
Nasts put into their vote on this. But the very fact that a small
place in Connecticut ran away with this, and I mean it was by a
huge margin. They were at ninetyeight percent when many of the other spas
(29:47):
that were their closest competitors were inthe eighty percent of So people really love
when Van farms in Litchfield Hills,Connecticut. I would imagine customer services at
the top of the list. Iwould imagine that too, And I think
the product probably has a lot todo with it. The offerings that they
can let you partake in. Ithink all of that has something to do
(30:07):
with it, not the least ofwhich is it's Connecticut, you know,
and Connecticut always has some you know, extra exclusive type things. I mean,
we've talked about that here on aLife Less Ordinary before, where some
of the nicer retreats and ends tostay in our country are located in none
(30:27):
other than Connecticut. So this didn'tsurprise me that much. I was expecting
it, however, to be probablyNew York or Los Angeles, but no,
it's in Connecticut. Interesting. Now, another thing that we know moms
really love I can tell you Ido, is they love a good brunch.
Yeah, you know, I mean, anytime I can sit down with
(30:49):
my family really relax. And youknow what, Chris, if it's a
meal I didn't have to cook,that always makes it really special for me.
If it's one I didn't have tocook, That's how I won my
wife over, did you really?Seriously? I would always have dinner ready
when she came home, and shewas like, I love this not having
(31:11):
to cook. Right, I'm sure. And you know, the old saying
usually goes the other way. Theway to a man's heart is through his
stomach, But you did it theother way. I think I might have
actually done both of those in thesame because I was able to make stuff
I liked and serve myself the portionsI liked. Right, So you made
your way to your own good heartand she didn't have to cook. Yeah,
(31:32):
there you go. She still doesn't. That's what I call a win
win. Yeah, but I confessI definitely fall into the mom that loves
a good brunch. I love itbecause it's not too soon after I get
up, which is when I reallydon't want to eat. You know,
I can't eat right after I climbright out of the bed, so but
it's early enough that everything you eatstill has a lot more hours to burn
(31:53):
off, So I like that brunch. Brunch always high in calories, so
I love brunch. So this isa real serious one for me. I
sought out evaluations from both the TravelChannel and the Washington Post. That's where
I went to try and discover who'sgot the best, and without a doubt,
the number one best fancy Mother's Daybrunch goes to Ready Art and Soul.
(32:21):
It is actually located within the Hotelon Capitol Hill. Really it is.
It says something about a restaurant whenit's still going strong after fifteen years.
You know, some kind of havethis ebb and flow, and you
know, the chefs kind of comein and out, and they have staff
turnovers, and it's real tough fora restaurant to hold on to a number
(32:45):
one place for fifteen years, andthis one does it. In the case
of Art and Soul. It's locatedon the ground level of hotel in Washington,
d C. Actually it's at fourto fifteen New Jersey Avenue if you
want to saunter on up there.But just north of the US Capital,
this downtown DC establishment offers an excellentbreakfast. Actually lunch and dinner that elevates
(33:13):
dishes to an unexpected level. Themenu comes from executive chef Danny Chavez,
who started at Art and Soul intwenty eleven as a line cook. Wow,
isn't that cool? I love itthat that success has grown him now
to the top spot. He leftin twenty twenty one to work at Plume
(33:34):
and The Michelin starred Gravitas, andthen he came back to serve in the
kitchen's top spot. Love love lovethat story. The Maryland Crab deviled eggs
aren't to be skipped. I wouldlove those because I love deviled eggs.
I can't imagine Maryland crab deviled eggsnow. That sounds yummy to me.
(33:57):
And the same goes for the cheddarcorn bread muffins with whipped maple butter and
pepper jelly. Yes, I'm sothere. If you prefer a sandwich,
you're going to want to try theirsalmon burger with lettuce, pickled red onions
and deal aoli inside of a perfectlysoft brioche roll. I can get into
(34:20):
that now. While the ambiance ofArt and Soul probably wouldn't make you think
it's as good as it really is. It is hands down the best brunch
located in the United States, accordingto Travel Channel and The Washington Post.
Indoor outdoor dining and takeout from sevenam to three pm Mondays and Tuesdays seven
(34:44):
am to nine pm, Wednesdays toFridays nine am to nine pm, and
prices Dinner appetizers generally run about eightdollars to eighteen dollars and main courses from
about twenty seven to forty six.That's pretty average, you know, for
a Michelin starred chef to be thecook. Art and Soul is the name.
(35:06):
It's in the hotel in downtown DC. It's a short drive from around
here, so it really sounds likesomething that could be utterly fantastic and really
kind of an over the top brunchexperience for mom. And she's worth it.
You know that, you know yourmom is worth it now. Another
one that I want to get toa category is moms that love to shop.
(35:30):
Sometimes I think the only shopping peopledo is on an Amazon, but
that's not really the case. I'vegot a lot of clients women especially that
will opt for a shopping excursion whenthey're traveling on a cruise. As opposed
to maybe a historical downtown tour oreven a beach type excursion if they're on
a cruise or something like that,they'll opt for a shopping trip. These
(35:53):
are some women that just love toshop and they're pros at it. They
hunt for the deal and that halfthe battle. Or it could just be
the search for that Uber branded purse. I know a lot of women,
a lot of my friends who justhave to have that brand new Michael COR's
purse or name it coach, whateveryou said, uber branded, and I'm
(36:14):
thinking people want the Uber logo onYeah. No, not exactly, that's
just you know anything, any name. It took me a second to catch
up with you got me? Yeah, doesn't matter. Shopping is their happy
place, and a gift of shoppingfor Mother's Day might be the perfect gift
for a lot of these scales.You know, so, Chris, you
(36:35):
know me. I went in searchfor what else America's best shopping mall experience,
and I found it. Found itnow. First of all, everything's
bigger in Texas, so that's aclue. Okay, okay. I headed
to the San Marcos Premium Outlet inSan Marcos, Texas, Texas. San
(36:55):
Marcos Premium Outlet is the largest lugxury outlet destination in Texas. It's conveniently
located just south of Austin, rightthere off of I ninety five. This
outdoor shopping mecca offers savings of twentyfive up to sixty five percent off every
(37:17):
day and an impressive collection of aboutone hundred and forty five designer stores,
including Nieman Marcus, Last Call.They have Pottery, barn Yay, Gucci,
Prada, Versace, mcm sin,Lareen, Jimmy Chu, Psycho Bunny.
(37:38):
What is Psycho Bunny? I needto know this all right, I'll
look it up on you. Ido you under stay? The other lu
Lumn, Tony Birch, Michael Core'sBath and body Works, Victorious Secrets,
and so many more. I said, there's one hundred and forty five stores
or then some. And guess what'sthe best part about this premium outlet being
(38:00):
in Austin, Chris, I'm soglad you ask. Well, that would
be the DRIs School Hotel. Ofcourse. This iconic hotel dates back to
eighteen sixty four, and by nineteenthirty four, an aspiring Texas politician named
Lyndon Baines Johnson met his future wife, Lady Bird for their first date in
(38:25):
the Driscool Dining Room Hotel for breakfast, and that started a lifelong love affair
for the drist School Hotel and forthe future President and first Lady of the
United States. I love that.I think that's a great little story.
And after many changes of ownership sincethe Johnson's romantic encounter at the drist School,
(38:45):
this beautiful five star property is nowowned by the Hyatt Corporation. It's
still one of the finest properties inAustin's great location and again actually perfect for
Mom. Almost every Saturday and Sundayof the year, the Drisco holds one
of the most impressive afternoon teas inall of Texas. Something else that we
(39:08):
as moms just love, also goodreasons to treat Mom to several days doing
exactly what she loves. She lovesto shop the Drisco Hotel. Beautiful place,
beautiful historic roots, right in thearea of walking at its best in
Austin, Texas, and afternoon teas. What could be better? So you're
(39:32):
going to tell me now what PsychoBunny is. Psycho Bunny is a men's
clothing line that was founded in NewYork, originally as a tie company,
and now they have a full lineof clothing and their logo is a bunny
with a cross like a skull andcrossbones, but instead of a skull,
it's got a psycho bunchy. Okay, well there you go. I learned
(39:52):
something too. Didn't look that upbefore the show today, But you know
more than enough reasons to go tothis premium outlet. I used to be
my mother and I used to goshopping in my younger years when she was
younger too, and we would jokeand laugh and still do today about how
we used to could close the shoppingmalls down. I mean we would literally
(40:14):
set out to go to Potomac Mills, which is in you know, northern
Virginia, yep. And we wouldget up early enough to be there when
they opened by about ten o'clock whenthe stor's opened, and we would literally
shut them down. And I'll betyou we couldn't do that today. There's
no way we could probably do that. We'd want to, but we couldn't.
(40:36):
I can't think of a worst wayto spend my text, I know.
But we used to have just thebest time doing it. And it
was great mother daughter time, youknow, to go to these malls hang
out, especially the outlets, becauseit's all about the deal, you know,
it's really all about the deal.And we could brag about those deals
when we got back to all ofour friends and family. It was great
(40:57):
fun. Now here's another one,Chris, one that I know another a
little bit about, and this wouldbe moms that love flowers? Who doesn't
love flowers? And if your momdoes love flowers, I want you to
consider taking her to the Builtmore Estate. That is probably one of the grandest
(41:19):
places of all to witness a greatmansion and also get a load of their
spring and summer flowers. And rightnow ChIL Glass Bower is actually just going
to say that major bonus. ThroughMay the twenty third, they're going to
be hosting Chihuli, one of thegreatest art glass blowers of our time.
And if you have ever seen anyof his work, you never forget it.
(41:44):
It is something to behold. Itreally is a revelation in the glass
blowing industry. It covers the entireceiling of the Bellagio Hotel entrance when you
come into the Belage Hotel in LasVegas, and it is gorgeous. It
is something to see now. Theflowers though, that bloom every spring at
(42:07):
the Grand Estate in Asheville, NorthCarolina is filled with spectacular blooms of every
size, shape and colors. Andthe flowers around this estate are breathtaking and
they are terraced into multi levels aroundthis. I only wish my backyard looked
(42:29):
half as good, if if itcould at all, Just a thimbleful of
what they've got there is what I'dtake at my house. Really takes hours
to soak it all in. Andthe more you see, the more you
are pulled into the magic of theirspell here at the Biltmore. And you
can even enjoy while you're there livemusic around the grounds and the gardens,
(42:49):
and even get some tips from someof the master gardeners that rove through at
the Biltmore from time to time,so maybe you can even spruce up your
own green space. The builtmore orwas our destination of choice a few years
ago at the Wishing Well when wetreated our floral designers to a weekend in
Asheville during these spectacular blooms. Andour designers know a thing or three about
(43:13):
flowers and this was one of themost beautiful estates that we all agreed we
had ever seen. You can topit off at the Builtmore with reservations at
the Builtmore Dining Room. We didthat where you can enjoy a brunch buffet
here too, like none other.So imagine taking mom to this beautiful built
Moore estate which is bigger than life. I mean, it's just overwhelming the
(43:37):
minute you roll up in front ofthis place and then to the buffet brunch
that goes on there, it's incredible. This is also another special treat that
the employees of the Wishing Well enjoyeda few years ago when we went.
And if you're looking for a greatplace to overnight, because it's really not
a day trip not from our area, you would want to make sure that
(43:58):
you have accommodations while you're visiting theBuiltmore, you want to look no further
than the Grove Park in one ofmy favorite places, has world class spa
there, exquisite dining options, luxuriousaccommodations, just a perfect retreat for mom
and daughters. All in all,the Builtmore to Hulley and the Grove Park
in perfect Mother's day gift combo andTerry. Last year on a Lifeless Ordinary,
(44:23):
our show was called Dedicated to theOne Who Deserves the Best, and
it was all about mother daughter getawaysfor Mother's Day. So I recommend after
listening to today's show that you goto the Wishingwell domp biz or iHeartRadio and
you can tell that a great ideabecause you'll get a double dose of what
Mom could expect. I think wetalked about traveling to Ireland and places like
(44:46):
that with Mom. All good ideas. Yeah, all right, Well we're
going to take a quick break hereon a Lifeless Ordinary and we can get
back. We'll talk about more waysthat we can make this a great Mother's
Day with Mom. Our show isOh Sweet Mother, Here on a Lifeless
Ordinary. Protect your vacation investment withguidance from a travel professional. The wishing
(45:06):
Well knows travel and help you avoidpitfalls they can spoil your hard earned vacation.
We'll plan your trip and have yourback as your travel all of this
without support or so called convenience fees. We're on the web at THO Wishingwell
dot biz or call us at fivefour zero nine zero eight two three three
three. That's five four zero ninezero eight two three three three. The
(45:29):
washing Well really does make dreams cometrue. Yeah, welcome back to a
life less ordinary. The travel showingpodcasts from your friends at the Wishing Well.
You can find them on Neph Avenuein Harrisonburg two forty three Neph Avenue
to be exact. Also, youcan find them on the wishing Well dot
biz website. And in addition toall kinds of great information about travel,
(45:50):
we've got a link in the upperright hand corner too this very podcast and
all the podcasts that we've done inthe past, so you can get caught
up for whatever event you're looking for. Just search the podcast. You can
also give Terry, Harry and therest of the staff a call at five
four nine eight twenty three thirty three. Our show today is Oh Sweet Mother.
Mother's Day is next weekend. Don'tforget about Mom. We've talked about
(46:14):
some really great ways that we cantreat mom. A spa day, a
brunch, going to the Biltmore,which my wife and I I think are
going to do this summer, possiblyfor our anniversary. That's such a great
idea. It's great for moms anddaughters or sons, but it's also such
a great place to go for ananniversary, a honeymoon, whatever. I
(46:37):
think any of these would be justgreat for anybody that you love. Absolutely,
I do too. I do too, And again I want to if
you missed it earlier in the show, I do want to thank all of
the listeners out there for continuing tolisten to us week after week. I
would covet some of your suggestions forhow we can add topics to a lifelike
(47:00):
ordinary. Happy to let you helpme spotlight some of the topics you want
to know more about, and wewould be happy to do it right here
for you on a lifeless ordinary.Absolutely, we'll bring you right into our
little tabletop discussion that Chris and Ido every Saturday morning and you can have
a good time with us. Ilike it. I do too. Now,
the last category that I want tocover Chris on this segment is moms
(47:24):
that live for a great weekend ofwine tasting. And you know who you
are and you do so. I'mgoing to start by telling you located in
Saint Helena, in the heart ofNapa Valley, the V. Sato Winery
is the perfect spot for a Mother'sDay picnic. You can sample some wines
(47:45):
there, then stroll through the Europeanstyle market pick out some tasty bread.
I can almost smell that right nowin this winery. Can you just imagine
a beautiful day, a beautiful Sundayafternoon, where the sun is kind of
just peeking through the trees, it'smorning, there's still maybe some dew on
the grapes, and you're walking throughand what do you smell? Fresh baked
(48:09):
bread. I'm there, I'm there, and a hunk of cheese, Mom's
favorite wine. And in honor ofthe special occasion, the winery there actually
hosts some free outdoor concerts on thegrounds during Mother's Day. So I want
to take a little closer look atthis Mother's Day option by unveiling a little
(48:30):
bit more about the Saint Helena areaof Napa Valley. Saint Helena, California,
is kind of an up valley townin Napa Valley. It's known for
their wineries, their boutiques, restaurants, and arts scene that sounds like moms,
doesn't it. Moms love that,and some say it offers a sophisticated
country lifestyle with a small town feel, and we all love that. An
(48:54):
area that's rich in culture all thosethings we love the most without those harsh
traffic jams, too many people andlots of space to spread out. And
add to that some rich Napa Valleywhere some of the most award winning wineries
are located in California, and you, my friends, have a recipe for
(49:15):
a great trip of memories with yourmama. One of the best places to
headquarter while you and your mom makeyour way around some of the best wineries
in the Napa area would have tobe Auberge du Solet. Here you're going
to have an exceptional outdoor dining experience, luxurious residential style accommodations Chris not like
(49:38):
your normal hotel chains where they offerjust the Queen and the King bedded rooms.
This Auberge property is actually inspired bythe South of France, and it
doesn't just advertise high touch service asa marketing gimmick. They are actually renowned
for their culinary roots, spectacular views, exception service. Auberge du Solet is
(50:02):
a dedicated property to ensuring every guestexperience is unique. They have this enduring
relationship with Vittnor's and restauranteurs throughout thevalley, which allow for some exclusive access
to some of the most sought afterand little known tours, tasting and dining
(50:23):
experiences in one country. So ifyou have a mom who is a wine
connoisseur enjoys the finer things in life, there's no better place than to take
her to California, enjoy these daysin Napa Valley and enjoy some time alone
(50:45):
with mom, just reconnecting. It'sa luxurious, kind of relaxing way to
spend Mother's Day. And you know, all of these places that I talked
about, Chris, you don't haveto buy them and go on these excursions
right now or even during Mother's Day. But just give mom the promise that
that's going to come, and you'llsee a smile on her face. I
(51:07):
know you will. Well, she'dsee a smile, but she'd also be
laughing because she knows every time Isay the gift's coming coming, Well,
Chris, you got to fix that. That's a broken part in you,
just one of many broken parts.But yes, but we love our moms,
you know we I especially love beinga mom. And I remember,
(51:28):
you know, thirty five years agowhen they laid my daughter in my arms,
she was all of three pounds elevenounces. She was premature, three
pounds eleven ounces, and the doctorwho handed her to me said, look,
ten fingers, ten toes, She'sperfect, Terry. And to this
day, I think every mother feelsthe same about their children. We're all
perfect in their eyes, and theydeserve nothing but the best from us.
(51:52):
When we can give them the best, we should. And if I can
help bring you and point you tothose things that are going to make her
the happiest, that makes me happyto you know. I didn't have a
lot of understanding what my mom wentthrough until I had step kids. That
was when my eyes were really open. But there was a moment where I
(52:12):
realized, as an adult how muchsacrifice my mom made that I didn't know
about they do, and my feelingstowards my mom. I always loved my
mom, but then I really lovedmy mom. It was like she made
so many choices that were for mygrowth and to her own detriment, Yeah,
just to make sure that I wasgoing to have a better life than
(52:34):
she. Yeah, And so forthat, I say, Mom, I
love you, and Happy Mother's Day. Absolutely. And there are some you
know, men out there who doa double role. Yeah, there are
some single dads out there that performedthe role of mom and dad and to
you, we celebrate you too onthis Mother's Day holiday. It's not gender
specific when you're doing the role oftwo people, so we thank you too
(52:57):
and make sure we recognize those peopletoo. Today's show, Terry, we're
out of time. How do weget in touch with you? I'm easy
to find. I'm located at twoforty three nef Avenue in the Valley Center
in the beautiful town of Harrisonburg.You can find us on the web.
We are at the Wishingwell dot biz, or please call us. We're at
five four oh none zero eight twothree three three and we'd love to help
(53:19):
you with whatever travel plan you mighthave in mind and with whomever you want
to spend it with. And Terry, Happy Mother's Day. Thank you.
This has been a life less ordinary. The Travel Show from your friends at
the wishing Well at two forty threenep Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have
any questions on topics discussed today,please reach out to the wishing Well online
at the Wishingwell dot biz or fivefour oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty
(53:42):
three. Past episodes are available onthe iHeartRadio app and we'll see you again
next Saturday morning at ten for alife less ordinary. From the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It'sa travel show and podcasts from your friends
at the wishing Well two forty threef Avenue in harsemerg and online It's a
wishing Well dot This. The wishingWell is your ultimate luxury concierge, travel
agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is atravel show and podcast hosted by Terry Dean,
bringing her over forty years of experiencein the travel industry to help guide
(00:20):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be around the block,
around the country, or around theworld. Let's bring in Terry Dean and
say hello, Chris, how areyou this beautiful Saturday. You've got a
different definition of beautiful. The weatherhas definitely changed time. I don't care
any day it's a Saturday. It'sbeautiful for me. I'll take that.
Yes, you know, so ifit's Saturday and it's on my calendar,
(00:42):
it's a beautiful one. Think youknow what, it's a beautiful It's a
beautiful Saturday, and I'm glad tobe here with you. It is and
I'm glad to be here with you. I'm so looking forward to the week
ahead because it's got good things instore. But this week has been a
massive blur. I'll tell you it. On most seems like we were just
here two minutes ago. That's whatI was just thinking too, exactly.
(01:04):
Yeah, we had a busy weekhere at at work and then you know,
with a new puppy at home,everything has been the puppy, puppy,
puppy. See. That's that's whenyou know you're living life in the
fast link. That's what I thinkI need to call Terrrian arranging a vacation,
resort, vacation somewhere go And we'regoing to be talking a lot about
places to go today, but weare going to focus on a very very
(01:26):
exclusive club. I look forward tothat. We always start a show off
there with some news from the weekwe do, and I want to start
off with an interesting story that involvesTSA pre check. Right now, you
can enroll in TSA pre Check Chrisat some Clear Airport locations. Now.
(01:47):
The Transportation Security Administration is participating withClear to add pre check enrollment to three
Clear airport locations, and the firsttwo of those airports are Or and Newark.
Sacramento is also part of them,but all three airports are going to
offer daily enrollment in this TSA preCheck. Each of the Clear locations that
(02:14):
those airports are going to have dedicatedpre Check enrollment pods that will not only
allow for enrollment, but they'll alsoallow the current pre Check members to renew
their membership at these locations. Now, the goal, according to TSA is
to make it easier to enroll inpre Check, which is one of the
(02:34):
TSA's Trusted Traveler programs. If youdon't know about that, it allows members
to wear their shoes and belts andlight jackets and still go through screening and
keep their laptops and the three oneone liquids in their carry on bags.
You don't have to dump all thatout. The program launched in twenty thirteen
and now it includes about nineteen millionmembers and according to TSA, wait times
(03:01):
are typically under ten minutes at thepre check lanes. So all good reasons
why if you haven't already to signup for the TSA pre Check and three
airports now that are working in conjunctionwith Clear to make that happen a lot
easier. You're sending in conjunction withClear. What is clear YEP. Clear
(03:23):
is also the Expediting Service security servicethat you can get through the airport.
So bran to the TSA, Yesit is okay. Yeah. Now next
story is Hawaii. This was interesting. They are going to ban airbnbs and
(03:43):
short term rentals statewide. I foundthis shocking, but a new bill would
become effective immediately, and Airbnbs andother short term rentals in Hawaii they're about
to be signed out of out accordingto law there. This bill was passed
by the state's Senate and House thisweek and now it's going to head to
(04:05):
Governor Josh Green's desk. It givesHawaiians and individual counties the ability to change
zoning laws that would effectively phase outshort term rentals, requiring them to be
converted into long term housing. Nowwhy in the world did all this happen?
(04:25):
Well, the bill was not onlysupported by Green, but also Hawaii's
hoteliers and hotel labor unions and LeahinaStrong. That's a group that supported the
rebuilding of Lahaina. Remember after thedevastating fires went through Maui. That group
and others have cited short term rentalsas one of the reasons that a lot
(04:46):
of the displaced residents have been unableto find permanent housing. So they're really
serious about this. They want theairbnbs and short term rentals to go.
Hawaii's percentage is also more than sseven times higher than that of New York
City, which also moved to banshort term rentals over the past few years.
(05:08):
The last September, New York startedenforcing a twenty twenty two law that
banned people from renting homes for fewerthan thirty days unless the host was actually
staying on site with them. Thatban, according to air DNA, caused
listings for New York short term rentalsto drop more than eighty three percent since
(05:31):
August, and according to a reportin the Guardian last week, a black
market short term rental community has sproutedup on social media and Craigslist in New
York. So this is not entirelya friendly type of news story to hit
Hawaii, and especially for those whoown property and want to rent it in
(05:56):
Hawaii for vacationers. But makes mehappy because that says that business is going
to go rightfully to the hotels andhousing is going to go to those that
have been displaced, and I thinkthat's probably a better angle. And we
want to also just take a momentto remember everybody who was displaced, and
we continue to keep them in ourpress. Absolutely, and I think this
is a supportive measure to get thosepeople rehoused, and I think that's a
(06:20):
good move. At the top ofthe news, that's all we think about,
and then we forget that they're stilldealing with their emergency months later.
Absolutely. I mean, you know, a lot of tourism has returned to
Maui, there's no doubt about it. But has everyone been made whole there?
No, they certainly have not,and I think that's going to take
a very long time now. TheUS State Department also sent me an update
(06:45):
across my desk warning about two Europeandestinations. This week. They issued travel
advisory updates for the first of whichis Poland, which remains at a Level
one, which exercise precautions. TheState Department simply reissued the Level one label
(07:05):
for Poland after a review without changes. They said, exercise normal precautions in
Poland is what they have said.And the second is Germany, which was
reissued at a Level two, whichis exercise increased caution. While the State
Department is not telling travelers to avoidtravel to Germany, the advisory generally warns
(07:31):
travelers to be aware of terrorism.Terrorist groups keep planning attacks. In Germany,
terrorists may attack with little or nowarning. They target tourist locations and
transportation hubs. They also target markets, shopping malls, and local government facilities.
They target hotels, clubs, andrestaurants. And that is precisely how
(07:56):
this advisory reads. That's a directquote for both Germany and Poland and almost
every destination covered. The State Departmentrecommends travelers be aware of where their surroundings
are, where they are and monitorlocal media for breaking events. Travelers should
also be ready to adjust their plansbased on new information, and I think
(08:18):
this is always something very good toalert and talk to folks about, especially
here on a lifeless ordinary. TheState Department also always recommends that travelers enroll
in STEP. That's step, theSmart Traveler Enrollment Program. It's a free
(08:39):
service. It allows Americans anywhere abroadto enroll their trip with the nearest US
embassy or consulate. That program alertstravelers with any kind of safety information while
they are at their destination, ifthey know where to find you, and
it gives the US embassy the chanceto contact you in case of any type
of te emergency. So you know, it's a new world we're living in.
(09:03):
It's always an evolving world. Wenever know what's going to happen from
one time to the next. Butwe know we're not in Kansas anymore,
Dorothy, So a lot of thingsdo change, can change, and will
change, and the best we cando is be prepared. It seems to
me this has always been the case. We just now have so much news
in our face. We hear aboutit more. I mean, there was
(09:24):
when I was a kid, therewere horrible things going on around the world.
Yeah, And you know, it'sso funny you should mention that because
I was just kind of perusing throughsome old old newspapers from many years ago,
back in the fifties, really fiftiesand sixties, and there were riots
and there we were involved in conflictsand different things. Then you're right,
(09:45):
Chris, we hear about it more. But you know what I'm thankful for
is that the industry, my industryhas evolved to the point where knowing what
to do and having the tools andthe means to be able to protect yourself
read now than they ever were before. There was no program called step way
back then where we could make surethat the embassies in the State Department could
(10:07):
find us when we travel abroad.Now we can. That's a great new
uptick in the way that we're ableto do things. So don't let it
scare you off from travel. Absolutelynot, be an informed travel Yeah,
absolutely not, And that it wasnot at all. The purpose of that
story was to send people up inalert mode. I do like like it
(10:30):
when people know as much as Ido. I mean, that's my job
is to make sure people are informedabout this industry and also about the world.
It is, as I said before, an ever changing, ever evolving
world, and the more we cando to help people prepare for it and
be knowledgeable about it, the saferthey'll be when they go. And if
we're thinking, hey, I dowant to go, but I don't want
(10:52):
to spend a lot of money,can you help me out with some hot
deals? I do have a coupletoday before we launch into our story,
which I can't I can hardly waitto talk about what we're going to talk
about today. But if you areinterested in Disney World, I thought this
was amazing. You know how wetalk about the price of everything is going
up, Well, that's not alwaysthe case, you can actually score some
(11:13):
Disney World area hotels for as littleas ninety eight dollars a night. Now
Disney Spring Resort Area hotels, whichare actually located just steps from Disney World's
dining, entertainment and shopping district,they're offering these discounted hotels, as I
said, starting at only ninety eightdollars from now until July thirty. First.
(11:37):
You know why I like this deal, Chris, because that's right in
peak vacation season. That's absolutely phenomenal. The Vacation Kingdom is rolling out some
major discounts on resort stays at sevenhotels this spring and summer. Now,
these rates vary by property, sothey're not all the same at all the
other at the same properties, butthe count applies to stays at Wyndham Garden
(12:03):
Lake Buna Vista. I can tellyou I've stayed here before. It's a
lovely property. It's very conveniently locatedjust a short drive to some of the
major attractions they're including Disney World,The Holiday Inn Orlando, Disney Springs,
the Hilton Orlando, Lake Bunavista,which I've also stayed at. The Hilton
Orlando Bunivista Palace, Drury Plaza,Hotel Orlando, Double Tree Suites by Hilton
(12:30):
Orlando. I've gone to a conventionthere and b as in Baby resort and
spa. The most affordable option isthe Wyndham Garden Lake Buna Vista. It's
offering those discounted nightly rates at ninetyeight dollars now. In addition to close
proximity to Disney Springs accessible by walkingpaths, guests of these hotels can take
(12:52):
advantage of many of the same perksas those that are staying at Disney operated
resorts. That's again in another reasonwhy I like this deal. This includes
exclusive thirty minute early entry into thetheme parks. You usually only get that
if you're at an on site propertyDisney World, transportation to all four theme
(13:13):
parks, and advance booking access toDisney's four golf courses. It does not
include the daily resort fees or parking, so if you're renting a car,
you do have to pay extra forthe parking fees. Now, a short
walk to Disney Springs offers an enticingassortment of retail, dining, and entertainment
(13:35):
venues. Diners can enjoy bytes fromlongtime favorites like wine Bar George, or
exciting new options like Summerhouse on theLake complete with a cookie bar. I
think that sounds like fun for visitsbetween now. In May, the twenty
fourth, Disney Springs is debuting abrand new, state of the art drone
(13:56):
show called Disney Dreams that Soar.It's going to take you through the night
sky preparing choreographed drones with musical scores. That would be so much fun.
Have you seen these these drone showshave and they are sick. I mean
I watched a video of how theydo this in Dubai and I was blown
away. It's unbelievable. It's betterthan fireworks. Oh yeah, better than
(14:20):
fireworks. So I loved it.And that's not all. Theme park goers
are going to have plenty to lookforward to as well, like the highly
anticipated summer opening of Tiana by YouAdventure. This is a complete reimagining of
the former Splash Mountain. Over atEpcot, guests can enjoy the completion of
the park's largest transformation in its history, including a new limited time show celebrating
(14:46):
the music of Walt Disney Animation Studiosin Canto and that begins June tenth.
So these discounts are just in timefor you to do both like it.
I like it too, and Disneyis always just such a hot, hot
feature. Now another one of mygreat sales that came across my desk,
and the only reason I really pointedto this and even had to look into
(15:09):
this one was because, oddly enough, I had about three inquiries on these
particular destinations this week, which isvery odd when you hear what I'm going
to talk about. This is anine day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
and New Brunswick tour. This particularvacation includes your airfare round trip per person,
(15:31):
all of your taxes and fuel charges. Of course, You've got eight
nights accommodations, two of which arein Halifax, two in Badeck, two
nights in Charlottetown, two nights inSaint John, New Brunswick. You've got
thirteen meals in total, eight breakfast, two lunches, three dinners, all
of your sight seeing. This isfully escorted, your entrance fees to everything
(15:54):
that's included, and the price onlytwenty eight to twenty nine, including your
airfare. Nine wonderful days in NovaScotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
And this is a great time ifyou don't like the summer heat and
it's ratcheting up there quickly, thiswould be a great place to get away
(16:15):
too, in perhaps July and August. I'm looking for anywhere where I don't
have to deal with the summer isI'm with you there. I mean I
am not a hot weather person.I really very much do prefer the cool
temperatures. So Nova Scotia, PrinceEdward Island and New Brunswick sound awesome to
me. So our show this weekhas an interesting title, Oh sweet mother,
(16:40):
Yes it does, and in thenicest way that is not in any
way to be considered a slang forwhat we're going to talk about, because
we, as I said, aregoing to talk Chris about a very exclusive
club and that is our dear sweetmothers. Excellent. Let's get into that
next year on The Lifeless. Protectyour vacation investment with guidance from a travel
(17:03):
professional. The wishing Well knows traveland help you avoid pitfalls. They can
spoil your hirer earned vacation. We'llplan your trip and have your back as
you travel. All of this withoutsupport or so called convenience fees. We're
on the web at tho Wishingwell dotbiz or call us at five four zero
nine zero eight two three three three. That's five four zero nine zero eight
(17:23):
two three three three. The wishingWell really does make dreams come true and
welcome back to a life less ordinary. It's the travel show and podcast from
your friends at the wishing Well.You can find them at two forty three
and a half Avenue and Beautiful Harrisonburg, Virginia. Also online at the wishing
Well dot biz, or give thema call at five four oh nine twenty
(17:45):
three thirty three. Terry, wegot a holiday a week from tomorrow.
It's Mother's Day. It is.Don't forget about lame. No, we're
not going to let you do that. And I love that. Our show
this week is entitled Oh sweet Mother. I know, and you know that
you've got to be real careful withhow we've named this show because it's all
about the inflection. And Joe,you go, oh sweet mother, No,
(18:08):
actually, you know this is thisshould be said with some warmth in
your heart when you say it,because it is mine. How about sweet
mom? There you go, yeah, and I really want to devote our
entire show, Chris Today to ourvaliant and our resourceful moms, because we
all know Sunday May twelfth is oneof the most important and special days that
(18:30):
we celebrate. I think, Imean Mother's Day. If you're still fortunate
enough to have your mom with youand you're able to celebrate with her in
person, you are certainly most blessedif you're able to do that. Mother's
Day founded in the great state ofWest Virginia. No kidding, that's right.
I love that you know that history. I know we talked about that
(18:51):
some on the show last year,but I'm so glad you brought that up.
And West Virginia's near and dear toyour heart and mind. Well,
I mean that's where I'm from,absolutely, And my mother was born and
raised in West Virginia. Martinsburg,West Virginia was her birthplace. My mother
is from Middlebourn, West Virginia.I grew up in Sistersville before moving to
Wheeling. All good reasons to loveare good neighbors in West Virginia. You
(19:12):
ask anybody in the state of WestVirginia before my mom is from is West
Virginia and say no, that's thenorthern Panhandle, that is not West Virginia,
right, But I still I amone of those blessed ones. I
still enjoy having my mom with me. My gratitude actually is even deeper,
Chris, because some thirty five yearsago, a very special, little young
(19:36):
lady named Morgan made me a memberof the world's most exclusive club. I
love when you talk about Morgan,I do to your face lights up.
Yeah, she's pretty special. Andthat was a special day for me.
And it's by far my favorite jobin the world, next to travel.
And so of course today I getto combine both things that I love,
(19:56):
travel and this fabulous holiday that weMother's Day. What a great day to
celebrate. Now every year my mominsists that she does not want any big
fuss or production made for Mother's Day. But we all know better. We
all know better, and we knowwe should not forget this holiday. It
(20:17):
just comes right out and says,I expect to be treated like a queen.
There you go, So really,today, on a life less ordinary,
I want to propose some excursions abig surprise, right that I'm going
to talk about traveling conjunction with thisholiday that you might want to put on
your travel list to enjoy with yourmom. Some of these are I will
say, and I will tell youin advance my very favorites. So if
(20:41):
anybody is listening to me that isgoing to help me enjoy my mother's day,
one of these would be just fine, just fine. And I want
to begin with a very special groupof newbies to the Exclusive Mom Club.
And these are, of course allthe new mommies out there. It's especially
(21:03):
exciting and sometimes it's a little overwhelmingto be a brand new mom. I
can tell you that from experience.So for those of you who love the
new mom in your home, dosomething special and wonderful for won't you.
It will pay you back in hugedividends. So for the new moms out
there, I don't know of anew mom that would not appreciate the gift
(21:26):
of pampering. After all, itwas a long nine months and counting,
so I want in search. Iwent in search of the top best spa
in the United States. Yes Idid, Chris, and my good friends
at Conde Nast did not let medown. As a matter of fact,
(21:47):
Chris, I think we should devotemaybe a lifeless ordinary to the pursuit of
the world's top spas. I thinkthat ought to be one of our shows.
You do it next week, right, But there's been a resurgence and
a return of interest by travelers toa higher level and awareness of wellness and
self care, and I think thatwould make for a very interesting episode because
(22:08):
I've got a lot of clients thatare very focused on that. As a
matter of fact, just this week, I have some clients who are off
to a grand yoga retreat in Irelandbecause for them, vacation is all about
wellness and they're doing it with theyoga spin on it. So listen,
(22:30):
this is a big deal, andI want you to For those of you
who are listening to me right now, I want you to let me know
if that topic would actually interest you. We would love to be able to
bring you here on a life lessordinary all of these topics that are embedded
in the travel industry and the hospitalityindustry, but I want it to be
something you want to listen to,something that you find interesting and would make
(22:53):
your life more enriched, give youthat lifeless ordinary. Every time that you
bring up spot, I have thisimage in my head of the tables being
set out and the incense burning oryou know, maybe there's some of that
airsize arrow. How do you saythat aromatic? Well, yeah, I
(23:14):
was trying when they put the aroma. Yeah, aroma therapy, aroma therapy
inside of a cave. Really,it's always, you know, and there
are some that I have actually beento one of the grandest spas I've ever
seen in the world, at aproperty called Grand Vilas. I may have
mentioned this last week when we weretalking about Sinko DeMaio. Actually, but
(23:37):
we are talking about spas right now. There is one that emerged as the
world's top spa, well actually America'stop spa, but in Mexico. The
Grand Vilas is like a fifty thousandsquare foot spa and it is carved into
a cave. I'm absolutely remarkable.Yeah, But what I think of when
(23:59):
I think of spas immediately is verytranquil music. Yeah, I think of
water, sort of like a soundof a fountain exactly. And one smell
always emerges at the top of thatlist for me. Vanilla no rosemary.
And you know why, my grandmotherloved the smell of rosemary. And she
(24:23):
wasn't a wealthy woman by any stretchof the imagination and really couldn't afford the
priceless perfumes that were, you know, out and still are. I mean,
let's face it, perfumes can bea great gift from others because they
are very pricey. But my grandmotheralways, she always looked like a million
dollars, and many days she didn'thave two nickels to rub together. But
(24:48):
she would take she grew rosemary outsideof her house and she would take rosemary
and she would bruise it between herwrists, and she would always say to
me, that's my perfume. AndI can remember always thinking my grandmother smelled
so good. And when I gotolder and made my trip to my first
spa, I walked in the door, Chris, and I went, oh,
(25:12):
my goodness, that smells like mygrandmother. It was the scent of
rosemary and all those other great sensethat they use in spas. But that's
reminded me of her, and tothis day it does. What a great
feeling, you know how sense cando that. I don't want to take
us too far off our path here. What's the one smell that would relax
(25:33):
you the most? Oh, rosemary, rosemary is it absolutely does. It
has such great memories for me,and that instantly takes me to a time
in my childhood when my life wassimple and when I was being taken care
of. And you know, welove that. We love a scent or
whatever. It is a sound thattakes us back to a time in our
(25:56):
life when we felt the safest.And that's what it does for me.
I don't know why mine is,but I love Alman extract. No kidding
that, Oh my gosh, yeahI could. That's a great cent.
Also, yeah, I could wastea lot of money buy an Omina extract
and just letting it evaporate in thehouse. Yeah. Well, you know
what we did just now with allthis conversation, we left everybody on the
(26:18):
edge of their season. Where isthis best spa in America? I want
to know. So the mecca thatyou are wanting to know, it's clear
and it's a It's the clear winnerin the pursuit. It is when Vann
farms And of all places, LichfieldHills, Connecticut. Okay, yeah,
(26:40):
and imagine that, not New York, not Los Angeles home which is home
to a lot of stars. Nope, It's located in the unassuming town of
Lichfield Hills, Connecticut. So what'sso great about it? Well, Winfield
Farm Spa is a realm of tranquilityand pampering. It's truly transformative experience the
(27:02):
moment you step inside their five thousandsquare foot relaxation home. This luxury spot
in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut isa quiet sanctuary of light and open space
for individuals, couples, or groups. You can schedule an hour or a
whole afternoon of pure bliss with arange of restorative treatments and therapies. They've
(27:27):
got private yoga and fitness massages,hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, you were talking about,
Chris and skincare and practice with abalance of ancient wisdom and modern expertise
in this beautiful, state of theart facility. Now, what's also fabulous
about Litchfield Farm is that they growa good number of the ingredients that are
(27:56):
woven into their skin care products there. They grow them and they make them
right there. So Winfield, I'msorry, win v in Farms, beg
you pardon. Is the spa withinthe property there at Litchfield Hills, and
guests are invited to actually bask inthe sun on their lit lounges, you
(28:17):
can relax in the sauna sip someof their organic tea. Now here's the
best part. You don't need tobe a win v and overnight guest to
enjoy the wind Van spa experience.Everybody, including the Litchfield Hills neighbors.
If you need pampering, this isthe spa that really delivers. And you
(28:38):
can see their spa menu including pricing, on their Spa services page on their
website, which I really took avery hard look at and picked out some
fabulous treatments. I thought I wouldlove. Spa treatments here at win v
and start at roughly one hundred andtwenty five dollars and they go up from
(28:59):
there. They're not inexpensive, butthey are amazing. They may not be
something that you'd ordinarily think you mighttry, but they sound very interesting to
me. And they've been voted numberone and best by Conde Nast magazine for
a reason. They are really good. So now that we've talked about one
(29:22):
of America's one of the United Statesbest, and I would say they've probably
got to have the best products andeverything else. I'm not sure what Conde
Nasts put into their vote on this. But the very fact that a small
place in Connecticut ran away with this, and I mean it was by a
huge margin. They were at ninetyeight percent when many of the other spas
(29:47):
that were their closest competitors were inthe eighty percent of So people really love
when Van farms in Litchfield Hills,Connecticut. I would imagine customer services at
the top of the list. Iwould imagine that too, And I think
the product probably has a lot todo with it. The offerings that they
can let you partake in. Ithink all of that has something to do
(30:07):
with it, not the least ofwhich is it's Connecticut, you know,
and Connecticut always has some you know, extra exclusive type things. I mean,
we've talked about that here on aLife Less Ordinary before, where some
of the nicer retreats and ends tostay in our country are located in none
(30:27):
other than Connecticut. So this didn'tsurprise me that much. I was expecting
it, however, to be probablyNew York or Los Angeles, but no,
it's in Connecticut. Interesting. Now, another thing that we know moms
really love I can tell you Ido, is they love a good brunch.
Yeah, you know, I mean, anytime I can sit down with
(30:49):
my family really relax. And youknow what, Chris, if it's a
meal I didn't have to cook,that always makes it really special for me.
If it's one I didn't have tocook, That's how I won my
wife over, did you really?Seriously? I would always have dinner ready
when she came home, and shewas like, I love this not having
(31:11):
to cook. Right, I'm sure. And you know, the old saying
usually goes the other way. Theway to a man's heart is through his
stomach, But you did it theother way. I think I might have
actually done both of those in thesame because I was able to make stuff
I liked and serve myself the portionsI liked. Right, So you made
your way to your own good heartand she didn't have to cook. Yeah,
(31:32):
there you go. She still doesn't. That's what I call a win
win. Yeah, but I confessI definitely fall into the mom that loves
a good brunch. I love itbecause it's not too soon after I get
up, which is when I reallydon't want to eat. You know,
I can't eat right after I climbright out of the bed, so but
it's early enough that everything you eatstill has a lot more hours to burn
(31:53):
off, So I like that brunch. Brunch always high in calories, so
I love brunch. So this isa real serious one for me. I
sought out evaluations from both the TravelChannel and the Washington Post. That's where
I went to try and discover who'sgot the best, and without a doubt,
the number one best fancy Mother's Daybrunch goes to Ready Art and Soul.
(32:21):
It is actually located within the Hotelon Capitol Hill. Really it is.
It says something about a restaurant whenit's still going strong after fifteen years.
You know, some kind of havethis ebb and flow, and you
know, the chefs kind of comein and out, and they have staff
turnovers, and it's real tough fora restaurant to hold on to a number
(32:45):
one place for fifteen years, andthis one does it. In the case
of Art and Soul. It's locatedon the ground level of hotel in Washington,
d C. Actually it's at fourto fifteen New Jersey Avenue if you
want to saunter on up there.But just north of the US Capital,
this downtown DC establishment offers an excellentbreakfast. Actually lunch and dinner that elevates
(33:13):
dishes to an unexpected level. Themenu comes from executive chef Danny Chavez,
who started at Art and Soul intwenty eleven as a line cook. Wow,
isn't that cool? I love itthat that success has grown him now
to the top spot. He leftin twenty twenty one to work at Plume
(33:34):
and The Michelin starred Gravitas, andthen he came back to serve in the
kitchen's top spot. Love love lovethat story. The Maryland Crab deviled eggs
aren't to be skipped. I wouldlove those because I love deviled eggs.
I can't imagine Maryland crab deviled eggsnow. That sounds yummy to me.
(33:57):
And the same goes for the cheddarcorn bread muffins with whipped maple butter and
pepper jelly. Yes, I'm sothere. If you prefer a sandwich,
you're going to want to try theirsalmon burger with lettuce, pickled red onions
and deal aoli inside of a perfectlysoft brioche roll. I can get into
(34:20):
that now. While the ambiance ofArt and Soul probably wouldn't make you think
it's as good as it really is. It is hands down the best brunch
located in the United States, accordingto Travel Channel and The Washington Post.
Indoor outdoor dining and takeout from sevenam to three pm Mondays and Tuesdays seven
(34:44):
am to nine pm, Wednesdays toFridays nine am to nine pm, and
prices Dinner appetizers generally run about eightdollars to eighteen dollars and main courses from
about twenty seven to forty six.That's pretty average, you know, for
a Michelin starred chef to be thecook. Art and Soul is the name.
(35:06):
It's in the hotel in downtown DC. It's a short drive from around
here, so it really sounds likesomething that could be utterly fantastic and really
kind of an over the top brunchexperience for mom. And she's worth it.
You know that, you know yourmom is worth it now. Another
one that I want to get toa category is moms that love to shop.
(35:30):
Sometimes I think the only shopping peopledo is on an Amazon, but
that's not really the case. I'vegot a lot of clients women especially that
will opt for a shopping excursion whenthey're traveling on a cruise. As opposed
to maybe a historical downtown tour oreven a beach type excursion if they're on
a cruise or something like that,they'll opt for a shopping trip. These
(35:53):
are some women that just love toshop and they're pros at it. They
hunt for the deal and that halfthe battle. Or it could just be
the search for that Uber branded purse. I know a lot of women,
a lot of my friends who justhave to have that brand new Michael COR's
purse or name it coach, whateveryou said, uber branded, and I'm
(36:14):
thinking people want the Uber logo onYeah. No, not exactly, that's
just you know anything, any name. It took me a second to catch
up with you got me? Yeah, doesn't matter. Shopping is their happy
place, and a gift of shoppingfor Mother's Day might be the perfect gift
for a lot of these scales.You know, so, Chris, you
(36:35):
know me. I went in searchfor what else America's best shopping mall experience,
and I found it. Found itnow. First of all, everything's
bigger in Texas, so that's aclue. Okay, okay. I headed
to the San Marcos Premium Outlet inSan Marcos, Texas, Texas. San
(36:55):
Marcos Premium Outlet is the largest lugxury outlet destination in Texas. It's conveniently
located just south of Austin, rightthere off of I ninety five. This
outdoor shopping mecca offers savings of twentyfive up to sixty five percent off every
(37:17):
day and an impressive collection of aboutone hundred and forty five designer stores,
including Nieman Marcus, Last Call.They have Pottery, barn Yay, Gucci,
Prada, Versace, mcm sin,Lareen, Jimmy Chu, Psycho Bunny.
(37:38):
What is Psycho Bunny? I needto know this all right, I'll
look it up on you. Ido you under stay? The other lu
Lumn, Tony Birch, Michael Core'sBath and body Works, Victorious Secrets,
and so many more. I said, there's one hundred and forty five stores
or then some. And guess what'sthe best part about this premium outlet being
(38:00):
in Austin, Chris, I'm soglad you ask. Well, that would
be the DRIs School Hotel. Ofcourse. This iconic hotel dates back to
eighteen sixty four, and by nineteenthirty four, an aspiring Texas politician named
Lyndon Baines Johnson met his future wife, Lady Bird for their first date in
(38:25):
the Driscool Dining Room Hotel for breakfast, and that started a lifelong love affair
for the drist School Hotel and forthe future President and first Lady of the
United States. I love that.I think that's a great little story.
And after many changes of ownership sincethe Johnson's romantic encounter at the drist School,
(38:45):
this beautiful five star property is nowowned by the Hyatt Corporation. It's
still one of the finest properties inAustin's great location and again actually perfect for
Mom. Almost every Saturday and Sundayof the year, the Drisco holds one
of the most impressive afternoon teas inall of Texas. Something else that we
(39:08):
as moms just love, also goodreasons to treat Mom to several days doing
exactly what she loves. She lovesto shop the Drisco Hotel. Beautiful place,
beautiful historic roots, right in thearea of walking at its best in
Austin, Texas, and afternoon teas. What could be better? So you're
(39:32):
going to tell me now what PsychoBunny is. Psycho Bunny is a men's
clothing line that was founded in NewYork, originally as a tie company,
and now they have a full lineof clothing and their logo is a bunny
with a cross like a skull andcrossbones, but instead of a skull,
it's got a psycho bunchy. Okay, well there you go. I learned
(39:52):
something too. Didn't look that upbefore the show today, But you know
more than enough reasons to go tothis premium outlet. I used to be
my mother and I used to goshopping in my younger years when she was
younger too, and we would jokeand laugh and still do today about how
we used to could close the shoppingmalls down. I mean we would literally
(40:14):
set out to go to Potomac Mills, which is in you know, northern
Virginia, yep. And we wouldget up early enough to be there when
they opened by about ten o'clock whenthe stor's opened, and we would literally
shut them down. And I'll betyou we couldn't do that today. There's
no way we could probably do that. We'd want to, but we couldn't.
(40:36):
I can't think of a worst wayto spend my text, I know.
But we used to have just thebest time doing it. And it
was great mother daughter time, youknow, to go to these malls hang
out, especially the outlets, becauseit's all about the deal, you know,
it's really all about the deal.And we could brag about those deals
when we got back to all ofour friends and family. It was great
(40:57):
fun. Now here's another one,Chris, one that I know another a
little bit about, and this wouldbe moms that love flowers? Who doesn't
love flowers? And if your momdoes love flowers, I want you to
consider taking her to the Builtmore Estate. That is probably one of the grandest
(41:19):
places of all to witness a greatmansion and also get a load of their
spring and summer flowers. And rightnow ChIL Glass Bower is actually just going
to say that major bonus. ThroughMay the twenty third, they're going to
be hosting Chihuli, one of thegreatest art glass blowers of our time.
And if you have ever seen anyof his work, you never forget it.
(41:44):
It is something to behold. Itreally is a revelation in the glass
blowing industry. It covers the entireceiling of the Bellagio Hotel entrance when you
come into the Belage Hotel in LasVegas, and it is gorgeous. It
is something to see now. Theflowers though, that bloom every spring at
(42:07):
the Grand Estate in Asheville, NorthCarolina is filled with spectacular blooms of every
size, shape and colors. Andthe flowers around this estate are breathtaking and
they are terraced into multi levels aroundthis. I only wish my backyard looked
(42:29):
half as good, if if itcould at all, Just a thimbleful of
what they've got there is what I'dtake at my house. Really takes hours
to soak it all in. Andthe more you see, the more you
are pulled into the magic of theirspell here at the Biltmore. And you
can even enjoy while you're there livemusic around the grounds and the gardens,
(42:49):
and even get some tips from someof the master gardeners that rove through at
the Biltmore from time to time,so maybe you can even spruce up your
own green space. The builtmore orwas our destination of choice a few years
ago at the Wishing Well when wetreated our floral designers to a weekend in
Asheville during these spectacular blooms. Andour designers know a thing or three about
(43:13):
flowers and this was one of themost beautiful estates that we all agreed we
had ever seen. You can topit off at the Builtmore with reservations at
the Builtmore Dining Room. We didthat where you can enjoy a brunch buffet
here too, like none other.So imagine taking mom to this beautiful built
Moore estate which is bigger than life. I mean, it's just overwhelming the
(43:37):
minute you roll up in front ofthis place and then to the buffet brunch
that goes on there, it's incredible. This is also another special treat that
the employees of the Wishing Well enjoyeda few years ago when we went.
And if you're looking for a greatplace to overnight, because it's really not
a day trip not from our area, you would want to make sure that
(43:58):
you have accommodations while you're visiting theBuiltmore, you want to look no further
than the Grove Park in one ofmy favorite places, has world class spa
there, exquisite dining options, luxuriousaccommodations, just a perfect retreat for mom
and daughters. All in all,the Builtmore to Hulley and the Grove Park
in perfect Mother's day gift combo andTerry. Last year on a Lifeless Ordinary,
(44:23):
our show was called Dedicated to theOne Who Deserves the Best, and
it was all about mother daughter getawaysfor Mother's Day. So I recommend after
listening to today's show that you goto the Wishingwell domp biz or iHeartRadio and
you can tell that a great ideabecause you'll get a double dose of what
Mom could expect. I think wetalked about traveling to Ireland and places like
(44:46):
that with Mom. All good ideas. Yeah, all right, Well we're
going to take a quick break hereon a Lifeless Ordinary and we can get
back. We'll talk about more waysthat we can make this a great Mother's
Day with Mom. Our show isOh Sweet Mother, Here on a Lifeless
Ordinary. Protect your vacation investment withguidance from a travel professional. The wishing
(45:06):
Well knows travel and help you avoidpitfalls they can spoil your hard earned vacation.
We'll plan your trip and have yourback as your travel all of this
without support or so called convenience fees. We're on the web at THO Wishingwell
dot biz or call us at fivefour zero nine zero eight two three three
three. That's five four zero ninezero eight two three three three. The
(45:29):
washing Well really does make dreams cometrue. Yeah, welcome back to a
life less ordinary. The travel showingpodcasts from your friends at the Wishing Well.
You can find them on Neph Avenuein Harrisonburg two forty three Neph Avenue
to be exact. Also, youcan find them on the wishing Well dot
biz website. And in addition toall kinds of great information about travel,
(45:50):
we've got a link in the upperright hand corner too this very podcast and
all the podcasts that we've done inthe past, so you can get caught
up for whatever event you're looking for. Just search the podcast. You can
also give Terry, Harry and therest of the staff a call at five
four nine eight twenty three thirty three. Our show today is Oh Sweet Mother.
Mother's Day is next weekend. Don'tforget about Mom. We've talked about
(46:14):
some really great ways that we cantreat mom. A spa day, a
brunch, going to the Biltmore,which my wife and I I think are
going to do this summer, possiblyfor our anniversary. That's such a great
idea. It's great for moms anddaughters or sons, but it's also such
a great place to go for ananniversary, a honeymoon, whatever. I
(46:37):
think any of these would be justgreat for anybody that you love. Absolutely,
I do too. I do too, And again I want to if
you missed it earlier in the show, I do want to thank all of
the listeners out there for continuing tolisten to us week after week. I
would covet some of your suggestions forhow we can add topics to a lifelike
(47:00):
ordinary. Happy to let you helpme spotlight some of the topics you want
to know more about, and wewould be happy to do it right here
for you on a lifeless ordinary.Absolutely, we'll bring you right into our
little tabletop discussion that Chris and Ido every Saturday morning and you can have
a good time with us. Ilike it. I do too. Now,
the last category that I want tocover Chris on this segment is moms
(47:24):
that live for a great weekend ofwine tasting. And you know who you
are and you do so. I'mgoing to start by telling you located in
Saint Helena, in the heart ofNapa Valley, the V. Sato Winery
is the perfect spot for a Mother'sDay picnic. You can sample some wines
(47:45):
there, then stroll through the Europeanstyle market pick out some tasty bread.
I can almost smell that right nowin this winery. Can you just imagine
a beautiful day, a beautiful Sundayafternoon, where the sun is kind of
just peeking through the trees, it'smorning, there's still maybe some dew on
the grapes, and you're walking throughand what do you smell? Fresh baked
(48:09):
bread. I'm there, I'm there, and a hunk of cheese, Mom's
favorite wine. And in honor ofthe special occasion, the winery there actually
hosts some free outdoor concerts on thegrounds during Mother's Day. So I want
to take a little closer look atthis Mother's Day option by unveiling a little
(48:30):
bit more about the Saint Helena areaof Napa Valley. Saint Helena, California,
is kind of an up valley townin Napa Valley. It's known for
their wineries, their boutiques, restaurants, and arts scene that sounds like moms,
doesn't it. Moms love that,and some say it offers a sophisticated
country lifestyle with a small town feel, and we all love that. An
(48:54):
area that's rich in culture all thosethings we love the most without those harsh
traffic jams, too many people andlots of space to spread out. And
add to that some rich Napa Valleywhere some of the most award winning wineries
are located in California, and you, my friends, have a recipe for
(49:15):
a great trip of memories with yourmama. One of the best places to
headquarter while you and your mom makeyour way around some of the best wineries
in the Napa area would have tobe Auberge du Solet. Here you're going
to have an exceptional outdoor dining experience, luxurious residential style accommodations Chris not like
(49:38):
your normal hotel chains where they offerjust the Queen and the King bedded rooms.
This Auberge property is actually inspired bythe South of France, and it
doesn't just advertise high touch service asa marketing gimmick. They are actually renowned
for their culinary roots, spectacular views, exception service. Auberge du Solet is
(50:02):
a dedicated property to ensuring every guestexperience is unique. They have this enduring
relationship with Vittnor's and restauranteurs throughout thevalley, which allow for some exclusive access
to some of the most sought afterand little known tours, tasting and dining
(50:23):
experiences in one country. So ifyou have a mom who is a wine
connoisseur enjoys the finer things in life, there's no better place than to take
her to California, enjoy these daysin Napa Valley and enjoy some time alone
(50:45):
with mom, just reconnecting. It'sa luxurious, kind of relaxing way to
spend Mother's Day. And you know, all of these places that I talked
about, Chris, you don't haveto buy them and go on these excursions
right now or even during Mother's Day. But just give mom the promise that
that's going to come, and you'llsee a smile on her face. I
(51:07):
know you will. Well, she'dsee a smile, but she'd also be
laughing because she knows every time Isay the gift's coming coming, Well,
Chris, you got to fix that. That's a broken part in you,
just one of many broken parts.But yes, but we love our moms,
you know we I especially love beinga mom. And I remember,
(51:28):
you know, thirty five years agowhen they laid my daughter in my arms,
she was all of three pounds elevenounces. She was premature, three
pounds eleven ounces, and the doctorwho handed her to me said, look,
ten fingers, ten toes, She'sperfect, Terry. And to this
day, I think every mother feelsthe same about their children. We're all
perfect in their eyes, and theydeserve nothing but the best from us.
(51:52):
When we can give them the best, we should. And if I can
help bring you and point you tothose things that are going to make her
the happiest, that makes me happyto you know. I didn't have a
lot of understanding what my mom wentthrough until I had step kids. That
was when my eyes were really open. But there was a moment where I
(52:12):
realized, as an adult how muchsacrifice my mom made that I didn't know
about they do, and my feelingstowards my mom. I always loved my
mom, but then I really lovedmy mom. It was like she made
so many choices that were for mygrowth and to her own detriment, Yeah,
just to make sure that I wasgoing to have a better life than
(52:34):
she. Yeah, And so forthat, I say, Mom, I
love you, and Happy Mother's Day. Absolutely. And there are some you
know, men out there who doa double role. Yeah, there are
some single dads out there that performedthe role of mom and dad and to
you, we celebrate you too onthis Mother's Day holiday. It's not gender
specific when you're doing the role oftwo people, so we thank you too
(52:57):
and make sure we recognize those peopletoo. Today's show, Terry, we're
out of time. How do weget in touch with you? I'm easy
to find. I'm located at twoforty three nef Avenue in the Valley Center
in the beautiful town of Harrisonburg.You can find us on the web.
We are at the Wishingwell dot biz, or please call us. We're at
five four oh none zero eight twothree three three and we'd love to help
(53:19):
you with whatever travel plan you mighthave in mind and with whomever you want
to spend it with. And Terry, Happy Mother's Day. Thank you.
This has been a life less ordinary. The Travel Show from your friends at
the wishing Well at two forty threenep Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have
any questions on topics discussed today,please reach out to the wishing Well online
at the Wishingwell dot biz or fivefour oh nine oh eight twenty three thirty
(53:42):
three. Past episodes are available onthe iHeartRadio app and we'll see you again
next Saturday morning at ten for alife less ordinary. From the wishing Well
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