October 11, 2024 • 53 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean discusses this week's travel news and hot deals!
In this exciting episode of A Life Less Ordinary, we explore the best pickleball destinations for enthusiasts and travelers alike. From the luxurious courts at JW Marriott Phx Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Arizona to the scenic beauty of Montage Healdsburg in California, we cover it all. Dive into the unique experiences offered by AMA Waterways and Celebrity Cruises, where you can enjoy pickleball while sailing the high seas. Finally, we highlight the iconic Boca Raton in Florida, a haven for pickleball lovers.
In this exciting episode of A Life Less Ordinary, we explore the best pickleball destinations for enthusiasts and travelers alike. From the luxurious courts at JW Marriott Phx Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Arizona to the scenic beauty of Montage Healdsburg in California, we cover it all. Dive into the unique experiences offered by AMA Waterways and Celebrity Cruises, where you can enjoy pickleball while sailing the high seas. Finally, we highlight the iconic Boca Raton in Florida, a haven for pickleball lovers.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary, the travel show and podcasts
from your friends at the wishing Well two forty three
f Avenue in harrismerg and online at the wishing Well
dot This. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury concierge,
travel agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is a travel show
and podcast hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over forty
years of experience in the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be
around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Say hello, Chris, how are you my friend?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I'm well, thank you. We survived Dayton Days last week, hallelujah.
My mother and her sister came into town.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That's always good and.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It was nice to see both of them. But it was, well,
you've been to Dayton Days, you know what parking is like.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Dude, it's really nuts.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And we're right there on College Street. So trying to
explain to someone who's only been to my house wants
how to work the maze to get to the backyard
to park. Oh yeah, that was fun, aw Ben, But yeah,
it was good to see him's and the weather is
picture perfect.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Actually for something like that.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It was amazing, Yes, amazing again today, you can't really
complain about this time of year.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No, we really cannot.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I it's hard on you as a travel agent when
people want to stay home instead of travel because the weather's.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So good it is. You know, it's kind of sad
to see people just sort of hunker down at home.
But I have to admit, because my life is rather
hectic on many levels, it's kind of a joy for
me too sometimes to be able to take part in
things I really enjoy and some of my personal hobbies
that include travel, but then sometimes don't. So I enjoy
(01:39):
also the home space sometimes.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And if your goal is to travel during the autumnal weather,
listen to last week's podcast, because you talked about something.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You really not have a ball with that show. I
enjoyed it wholeheartedly. I know there were some listeners who
really enjoyed it very much. I hear from you guys,
so thank you so much when you call into tell
me just how much this show impacts decisions that you're
making for travel and for future travel plans. I love that.
(02:08):
I like it when I'm able to hit on some
topics that you're interested in We've got a hum dinger today, Yeah,
we really do.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Can't wait to get to that, but we've got to
get caught up on this week's travel news first.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
We do, and I don't think that we could even
talk about the news and travel without addressing the most
recent hurricanes that we've had. Certainly, you know, we continue
to see the impacts of Hurricane Helene in the southernmost
areas of our United States. Those folks really are going
to be reeling for quite some time, I think with
(02:41):
the rehabilitation of their areas. Thank God for the people
in the Virginia areas I know that have gone down
and have lended a hand, but our hearts and hands
go out to those people. Hurricane Milton most recently made
an impact and actually have some news to share that
maybe wasn't so clearly imparted in the mainstream media that
(03:06):
whatever you listen to, and that is that they made
Hurricane Milton Chris made an impact in the sports world
as well, with winds topping one hundred miles per hour
and torrential rainfall. The massive storm ripped the roof off
of the Tropicana Field, which was home of the Tampa
(03:28):
Bay Rays. Don't know if you saw that or not.
The pieces of the shredded roof panels made of translucent
teflon coated fiberglass, actually fell into the stadium, allowing debris
to be blown all around in the ballpark.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
And they were housing a lot of the first responders
there that was supposed to be sort of their hub. Yuckly,
no one got injured during that roof collapse.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Which is a miracle because I've seen pictures of that
stadium now and it really is just a skeleton. It's
really unbelievable. What water and wind can do as a
weapon is unbelievable. I mean, it really really is. The Rays.
This is the Tampa Bay Rays. They are not scheduled
(04:19):
to play in the ballpark again until March twenty seventh,
when they're supposed to host the Colorado Rockies to open
the twenty twenty five season. The roof at the park
was designed to withstand winds up to one hundred and
fifteen miles an hour oops, according to the Rays. Anyway,
the stadium opened in nineteen ninety at an additional initial
(04:43):
cost of one hundred and thirty eight million dollars and
is due to be replaced in time for the twenty
twenty eight season with a one point three billion dollar
ballpark figure.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I think at this point I would just clean it
up and make it an open air stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Boy, no kid, I mean you'd be tempted to anyway.
But a pair of college football games in cities that
felt Milton's wrath are still also scheduled to take place.
In Orlando, the University of Central Florida is preparing to
host to Cincinnati at three point thirty pm at UFC
on Campus stadium that was last week. Orlando also would
(05:26):
be hosting a second college football game at that same
time today after the American Athletic Conference has announced that
Saturday's football game between South Florida and Memphis has been
moved to Camping World Stadium.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The decision to move the game from Raymond James Stadium
was made in consultation with local law enforcement, in the
interest of public safety and with respect for the response
and recovery efforts underway in the Tampa Bay area following
Hurricane Milton. The Tampa Bay Lightning have postponed their first
home game of the NHL season, scheduled for Saturday today
(06:08):
against the Carolina hurricanes, and no make update was immediately announced,
so we know that that was definitely impacted in Tampa.
I mean, and those wins were crazy hurricane winds clocked
at one hundred miles an hour that was supposed to
withstand one hundred and fifteen and it did not. Now
(06:31):
a couple of other pieces of news related to travel
and the hurricane effects. Airports that are still closed following
Milton in the Florida area are Daytona Beach they still
have yet to reopen. Saint Pete Clearwater is also closed
as of Friday. Orlando and Tampa just reopened, and Walt
(06:54):
Disney World also just reopened on Friday as well, following
the hurricane. Closed immediately pending what was going to happen
with Hurricane Milton. And you don't see Walt Disney World
closed too often, but they did this time, and I
think it was wisdom on their part. But then they
are they were scheduled to reopen then on Friday yesterday, and.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
I bet they have that place cleaned up spotless.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, I wouldn't doubt it. I mean, if anybody knows
how to handle anything like that as far as catastrophes,
or I mean crowd control. I've said this a lot
of times. Disney just has a magic about them that
they know how to organize. I mean, I think we
could all learn a lot from that at a city level,
you know.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
And I'll tell you I have family both down in
the Fort myern Naples area and in Tampa, and I'm
not sure. I have a friend who lives down floor.
I'm not sure where exactly she lives, but they're using
the Facebook check in so you can they check in safe? Yes,
talk about a great tool to be able to take
one less thing to worry about. Yeah, knowing that your
(08:01):
family and friends are safe. I just wanted to say
that we were concerned and praying for everybody. As you know,
both of those hurricanes have come through, and it's at
least the people that I know everyone made it through safe.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, I know. I was relieved to get those check
ins from people as well, Chris that I watch very closely,
my friends who are in Florida that checked in on Facebook.
I breathed a sigh of relief. So you know, what
wasn't the impact that it was predicted to be. Altogether,
still very devastating, but so thankful I mean, we have
(08:34):
a lot that we can be thankful and blessed about
that were related to that hurricane. Also, I've had a
lot of people call me with regard to how much
damage was sustained in Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula as
a result of Milton, and after actually a very close
encounter with a hurricane, the state of Yucatan has emerged
(08:56):
relatively unscathed. According to the latest reports that I've gotten
that have floated in from the Mexican government, they were
closely monitoring the Category four storm when they got it,
and it was moving actually away from Yukatan's coast. So
as the hurricane Milton continued to move away from Yukatan,
(09:19):
state authorities say that the worst appeared to be over
for the region and they were very very happy to
see that. Now, if we can step away from the
news about the hurricanes, I don't think that would be
too hard to do. I think that would be kind
of a welcome relief. But news regarding electronic travel authorizations
(09:40):
that are going to be required in the UK starting
January eighth, they have expanded they being the UK has
expanded their electronic travel authorization program to inbound travelers the
US and elsewhere in twenty twenty five. The ETA, as
they call it, was actually launched in twenty twenty three,
(10:01):
initially applied to inbound travelers from several Middle Eastern countries,
but the British government confirmed last week that non Europeans
will need an ETA for entering the UK beginning January
the eighth of twenty twenty five. Non Europeans can begin
the application process on November the twenty seventh of this year,
(10:26):
and the ETA is required for anybody who plans to
visit the United Kingdom except British and Irish citizens. Travelers
are going to need to apply and be approved for
an ETA prior to their trip, and the document is
going to be linked to their passport and ensure that
more robust security checks are done at the borders. An
(10:48):
ETA will cost about thirteen dollars and ten cent US
and you will have multiple trip permits to the UK
for stays up to six months at a time or
over a two year period, or until the holder's passport expires,
which ever comes sooner now. The aim of this program
is to digitalize the UK border and migration immigration system,
(11:13):
so I think it's interesting to note that if you
are someone who plans to travel into England, Ireland, Scotland,
Wales anywhere in the UK next year, this is something
that you should be aware of. Those are going to
be part of your requirements. Now they're not expensive, but
it doesn't mean that just because you apply, you're going
(11:35):
to gain entry either. You do have that there is
the opportunity for them to deny your entry. Now, there
would have to be a lot of relatively serious circumstances
for them to do that. The UK is one of
our allies, and I think that you know, they welcome
visitors from the United States, but stands to remains up
(11:56):
to their decision as to whether or not that happens.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You've got to keep that in mind. Yep.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Last piece of news I wanted to cover is actually
really fun news, Chris. We can use some fun news, right, yep.
And this is regarding the stars studded season that's ahead
in Las Vegas and on their many stages there, of
which we know there are no shortage and music fans
certainly have no shortage of choices for performers on Las
(12:22):
Vegas stages the rest of this year and really into
twenty twenty five. They've got cutting edge, top of the
chart stars that appear almost every week, and beloved acts
that are going to evoke some fond memories. I think
also frequently find their way to the strip. The Killers,
who formed in Vegas and feature Henderson native and lead
(12:44):
singer Brendan Flowers, recently returned home to Las Vegas to
perform a sold out ten night engagement at the Coliseum
at Caesar's Palace. And here's just a sampling of other
big name performers who's going to be appearing on those
billboards and on Vegas stages in the coming months. Adele
(13:04):
is concluding her residency at the Coliseum at Caesar's with
over ten sold out shows through the end of next month. Now,
Garth Brooks, sadly, who's made his way into the news
here recently hope that's going well for him, is actually
wrapping up his residency at the venue that shows this
month and in December, February, and March. Blake Shelton February
(13:29):
five to fifteenth. Rod Stewart with twelve dates from March
through June, are also expected to be popular draws and
rumors endure of Celine Dion coming to Resort World now.
I most recently saw Carrie Underwood there. She performed there
and I went to see her when I was in Vegas.
Celen Dion is maybe rumored to take her place, fueled
(13:52):
by a TMZ report that her performance during the Summer
Olympic opening ceremony. In the meantime, Janet Jackson is going
to perform December thirtieth and thirty first, as well as
several dates in January and February at that venue. So
will eight time Grammy A winner Carrie Underwood. She's going
to still stay there for a while. In addition to
(14:14):
performances between October sixteenth and twenty six, She's going to
take the stage on March twenty six, twenty eight, twenty ninth,
and again in April for three dates, the second, fourth,
and fifth now over at Dolby Live at Park MGM,
fans can see Bruno Mars in six performances there. Mariah
Carey recently announced additional twenty twenty five dates for her
(14:38):
exclusive engagement at the venue from January thirtieth to March fifteenth,
and Maroon five is going to return to Dolby Live
at Park MGM for eight performances starting in March, and
three time Grammy Award winning multi platinum band has already
performed forty shows with more than one hundred and thirty
thousand tickets sold. Wow in Las Vegas. That's Maroon five,
(15:03):
and you know, I love those guys. I think they're great.
That's a lot of tickets. It's a lot of money, yep,
and anticipation for new kids. Fans can start planning now
to see new kids on the block. They're going to
also be at Doby Live at Park MGM for their
first Las Vegas residency. Shows for what they're calling The
Right Stuff are going to be in June, and dates
(15:25):
are also set up for July, November, and then again
in February of twenty twenty six. They're planning really far
in advance. This is one that I know is going
to get a lot of my friends attention, especially in
my age bracket. The Eagles have kicked off a residency
at the Sphere with twenty performances over ten weekends. There
are remaining dates from actually now until February twenty second,
(15:50):
and tickets are starting at one hundred and seventy five
dollars a person, including taxes and fees. Then we've got Billy,
Joel and Sting to perform at the Allegiance State on
November ninth. That's going to be a huge grosser together.
Oh wow. Usher is going to perform at the T
Mobile Arena on November the fifteenth and sixteenth. And Andrea Bocelli,
(16:11):
who I actually saw live in Washington, d C. He's
going to be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on
December seventh, now during National Final Rodeo week. George Strait
is going to be at the Allegiance Stadium on December seventh,
and Wyona Judd is going to perform at the Venetian
December eleventh, thirteenth, and fourteenth. Barry Manilow, Shania Twain, New Edition,
(16:35):
Jen Blossom's Lionel, Ritchie and Santana are among the other
stars who also have performances scheduled sprinkled throughout the end
of the year. So some great lineups for shows in
Las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Kerry, I'm going to tell you when you started way
back at the beginning of that list, I went, yes,
I would love to. I think maybe it was Adele
and Carrie under what we're at the beginning, and then
you got to the MGM Grand in the Adobe Theater
and you were listing off and I'm like, no, I
want to see them. Then you got to Allegiance Stay,
we got Billy Joelt Come on, right, I'm supposed to choose,
(17:09):
I know. And you know, this is a good thing
about Las Vegas. I mean it's a fun, fun place
to go, even if you're not a gambler. I say,
you can have as much fun in Las Vegas as
you want to and never enter the casino. Actually, I
think you might have more fun if you don't gamble.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Yeah, it's true. And one thing that draws me always
are the shows. I really do love the shows. I
always have been a big fan. I love the circ
to Solet shows. But more importantly, I love these live entertainers.
I've now seen Carrie Underwood there, I saw Kelly Clarkson.
(17:44):
You know, I've seen a lot of the live entertainers
that have been there over the years, and I enjoy them.
I enjoy them very much.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I want to see Rod Stewart, oh yes, and I
want to see Billy Joel.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Those two are the ones that because those were when
I was a kid.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, exactly what I say.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
When I was just a kid, my mom listened to.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Those and I was lucky to be able to see
Billy Joel when he was at the John Paul Jones
Arena in Charlottesvield the one and any time he performed there.
I also saw Elton John in Richmond many years ago.
I was amazed at how short his little fingers are
to do such a bang up job on that piano.
I mean, the guy can play like nobody's business. It
sounds like he's got six arms and he's only got
(18:24):
these really tiny little hands. It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I saw him performed at the Berglan Center down in Salem.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
And then I saw Paul McCartney over at JPJ.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Yeah, that had to be great.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I took my mom to that show. She squealed like
it was the sixties.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
A guy like a little girl. She was in love.
That's awesome, That's absolutely awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Do we have any hot deals?
Speaker 2 (18:44):
We are actually going to roll all of that into
the meat of our show today.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Oh and our show is a fun one too. It's
called Paddles and Passports Game On. But what does that mean?
We'll find out next here on a life less ordinary.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Protect or investment with guidance from a travel professional. The
wishing Well knows travel and help you avoid pitfalls. They
can spoil your hard earned vacation. We'll plan your trip
and have your back as you travel. All of this
without support or so called convenience fees. We're on the
web at the Wishingwell dot biz or call us at
five four zero nine zero eight two three three three
(19:22):
has five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
The wishing Well really does make dreams come.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
True and welcome back to a life less ordinary. The
travel Showing podcast from your friends at the wishing Well.
You can find them on that f avenue in Harrisonburg
online at the Wishingwell dot biz, or give them a call.
They love to talk to you. Five four zho nine
oh eight twenty three thirty three. So our show today
is entitled Paddles and Passports came on. First thing I
(19:49):
thought of I heard this title is I remember the
principal in grade school with that paddle on the wall. Terry.
What does this mean?
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Oh, be scared, be very afraid, Chris. Now this is
going to be fun because I have never seen a
sport like this that has been so infectious make its
way into the travel world. Now. I know we've always
had big football fans. They're always there. People will travel
(20:16):
to go where they are. Super Bowl, that's all you
have to say. They'll go to basketball games. All I
have to say is NCAA Final four, you know, and
that's going to draw a lot of crowds, a lot
of travelers. You know, the big golf game of the year,
the Masters tournament, that also draws travelers from everywhere. But
I'll bet you never figured the sport we're going to
(20:39):
talk about today. Pickleball is something that people will actually
travel and go out of their way to have engaged
in terry.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I feel like pickleball is like all the new social
media that the kids use an I Goo, how does it?
I don't know what pickleball is.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Yeah, well we're going to learn a little bit about
that today because I think maybe some people like us
here in the studio today are equally curious about this game.
And that's what I want to talk about first, is
about what pickleball is. It's actually really popular, Chris, because
of a couple of factors, and those include the accessibility.
Number one, pickleball is easy to learn, it's got a
(21:21):
low barrier to entry, and it's suitable really for a
wide range of ages and fitness levels. Now, I will
tell you that pickleball really grew in popularity during COVID,
So that's where we are because it was a game
that families could play together. They figured this out, you know,
what kind of game can we play? Can we be
(21:43):
together as a family but still distanced that we're going
to have fun. Pickleball was the answer to that. Really
at many levels, it's got the social aspect, and I
will tell you people who play it avidly will tell
me it's fun, it's inclusive. It's open place sport that
encourages players to interact and meet new people, and it's
(22:08):
a low pressure environment. Pickleball is where players can actually
have fun and connect with each other because you have
a much shorter range of distance between you and your competitor,
so it gives you an opportunity to sort of interact
and talk between serves. You know, it's a fun atmosphere.
(22:29):
People kind of settle in with their food and their
drinks and their music and have fun with that. It's
kind of an easy going pace. As I said, it's
a smaller court, so you're not running yourself to death
like you do with tennis. So it's a much smaller court,
slower pace makes it more approachable than the game of
tennis for a lot of people. And you can be chatty.
I mean, like I said, you're closer to the net,
(22:51):
so you can easily chat over the net with the
people who are playing with Is it like pingpone? Is
it like Bad's That's kind of of a great analogy.
I think it's sort of an amalgamation of tennis and
ping pong and paddle board all together, kind of rolled
(23:12):
all into one. Yeah, And it's not too serious, you
know they this is what people tell me. It's really
hard to take yourself too seriously when the most savage
shot is called a dink. You know. So, and all
of you all who are pickleball fans out there, you're
laughing right now. Thank you very much. I'm happy that
I was able to bring that joy to you this morning.
(23:34):
But pickleball's popularity, as I said, it exploded during the pandemic,
and it has continued to grow. As a matter of fact,
in twenty twenty three, there were forty seven major professional
pickleball tournaments held in the United States, and the sport
is also growing internationally. Highly addictive, and a very diverse game.
(23:57):
It kind of blends the elements as we were talking about,
of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. So there you go,
there's all three in one. It's managed to capture the
hearts of players everywhere and travelers who play pickleball. And
I will make this even more personal, Chris, and say
my clients, they are joining this craze. They are having
(24:18):
me seek out new experiences for them and destinations that
actually support their passion for this game. And pickleball courts
are popping up in neighborhoods, in parks, even luxury resorts
and cruise ships, which is what we're going to be
talking about a little bit today, and they're catering to
this growing demand for this exciting new sport.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
When you were talking about, like this would be perfect
on a cruise ship.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Right exactly If the ball doesn't go sailing over the ship,
that'd be pretty hard.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Yeah, well, maybe don't put it on the upper deck.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
And this is really Chris. When the world becomes your court,
when you love a game so much like this really
you can make the whole world your court as long
as you've got a place to play, right. So, today,
on a life less ordinary, I'm going to explore the
opportunities that there are in the luxury world of travel today,
so you can take your passion for this game to
(25:13):
really new heights. We're gonna explore some incredible destinations and
I'm gonna point you toward the most amazing travel experiences
that's going to allow you to really indulge in an
unforgettable pickleball experience. And this is great because by doing
something that you already love, you can really immerse yourself
in the pickleball community. You can connect with some fellow
(25:35):
enthusiasts and even challenge yourself on some of the most
beautiful pickleball courts around the globe. Now, whether you're a
seasoned player or you're really just starting your pickleball journey,
the addictiveness of this sport knows no bounds, and it's amazing.
I mean, it really is amazing how cliquish this sport
(25:59):
has become. Because because if you're a pickleball player, you're in.
If you're not a pickleball player, you're out. Well, I
am temporarily, but you know, I'm very curious. I will
say that I'm very very curious. I won't lie. You know,
this is all new territory for me. I play and
I love tennis, so there's that, and I love ping pong,
(26:22):
but I have not yet tried pickleball. But today I
want you to go with me. So I want you
to pack that paddle because we're going to go on
a pickleball adventure like no other. The world is yours
to explore, one thrilling match at a time, any way
you want to do it, and I'm planning on sharing
with you five incredible destinations that offer exceptional pickleball experiences.
(26:47):
We're going to be begin with a very popular one
in California, the Land of Endless Sun. Where else and
the first destination that I've chosen is going to allow
you to really enjoy this game. You're round and at
one of my favorite hotel companies. How about Healdsburg, California.
(27:09):
Have you ever heard of it?
Speaker 1 (27:10):
I have done.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Okay, so I want to talk to you a little
bit about Healdsburg. So before I actually launch into the
pickleball opportunity there, I want to share with you just
a little quickly about how and why Healdsburg is just
a great little town. To start with, people travel there
primarily to experience it's renowned Sonoma County wine country, and
(27:34):
it's just got that charming small town atmosphere. You've got
access there to a lot of wineries and tasting rooms,
a lot of amazing food. We love that, you know,
with those Michelin Star restaurants, Chris and beautiful natural surroundings,
all kind of conveniently located around Sonoma County. So that's
really makes it an ideal getaway destination for wine lovers
(27:58):
and foodies alike. And now also pickleball, So it's kind
of situated in the heart of the area of sort
of Napa Sonoma Valley area. But the property where you
can find the best pickleball in this area is a
(28:18):
place called Montage. Now, you might remember from many many
Lifeless Ordinary episodes past I talked about an adventure that
I went on to Park City, Utah. We went out
there actually for a meeting, and we stayed in a
fabulous place called the Montage at Park City. And I
was never and haven't since been so impressed with a
(28:41):
property in all my life. First of all, it made
me fall in love with Park City itself and the
Salt Lake City area. Beautiful, beautiful. But when you attach
the Montage properties to anywhere you go, it's a win,
it's a home run. And this is where in Harold
Healdsburg at the Montage has some positively world class pickleball facilities.
(29:08):
Guarantee to exceed your expectations here, Chris, the resort offers
two state of the art outdoor pickleball courts that are
equipped with high quality nets and playing surfaces. Now, I
can't say I know exactly why that is so important,
but it must be because the hotel has actually written
it into their literature about their pickleball experience. So there
(29:30):
you go. But then you also have these beautiful surroundings
of the resort itself which make it an ideal setting
to enjoy the game of pickleball. And one of the
great things about this property is that you can play
pickleball year round. That's why I picked it as my
number one spot for pickleball because it's that year round experience.
(29:50):
You can even go in the wintertime. You've got that
mild climate of California's wine country, which is going to
allow you to have pleasant weather really throughout the year,
making it possible to play even in what we think
of is the colder months. I mean, it's really rare
to see days below even thirty four degrees out there.
That would be rare. So you can see how that's
(30:12):
really conducive to a good play, you know, for people
who like this outdoor sport. Now, if you're new to pickleball,
fear not, because equipment and recommendations to just your basic
strategies and techniques for the game. The experience staff at
the Montage is dedicated there to making sure that your
(30:33):
pickleball experience begins on the right foot or should I
say the right paddle. Maybe probably they're going to tell
you if you just embrace the learning experience, if you
practice some before you get to know it, there's really
no reason why you can't master the game of pickleball.
And I think that's great. You know, if it's that easy,
even somebody like me can do it. You know, I'm
(30:56):
good at travel, I'm not necessary. That's why I'm not
an athlete. That's why I didn't pursue that. It wasn't
so athletically inclined. I was a track star. You know,
I loved to run, so I played track but I
never really you know, my hand eye coordination is pretty
good for tennis paddle ball. Maybe I'd be okay at pickleball.
I don't know. I just I need to give it
(31:16):
a try. But in addition to the exceptional courts, the
Montage Healsburg provides a wide range of amenities here and services.
So the hotel itself is really tailored specifically not to
just pickleball players, but to great service and luxury. So
whether you need a quick refreshment at the court side cafe,
(31:37):
or access to professional coaching, or kind of just a
well deserved post game relaxation at the spa. Yes, they
have an amazing spa there at the Montage. This property
really has you covered on all facets, so you can
check all of those boxes. If you would love to
have a coast to coast travel experience enjoying the game
(31:58):
you love, I picked this one. This might just be
the right place for you to check out. It's called
the Montage at Healsburg, California, and my experience at the Montage,
as I said, was second to none. Love it, absolutely
love it. Have you been anywhere in California before.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
The first west west of men As, Vegas.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Yeah, so California has a completely different vibe. First of all,
I mean it's an amazing place. You either love it
or you hate it, you know. But California is interesting.
It's chopped up into many different little areas. I mean
you've got San Francisco, which is very urban eclectic. You've
got Las Vegas, Los Angeles, which is very you know,
(32:44):
upper brow, I would say, because you've got you know,
the Rodeo drive in and around Los Angeles and Los
Angeles itself. I mean it's home to stars, so you
kind of expect that high brow experience there. But then
you've got Santa Barbara, which is really more of a
kind of a rural area, more small town meets big
(33:09):
town experience. I think where it's comfortable. I think Santa
Barbara's what I would call a comfortable area. And then
you've got, of course Sonoma Valley and also you know,
the areas of the wine country of Napa. So all together,
I think California is a great area for you to experience.
But certainly if you're a pickle ball fan, now you've
(33:29):
got even one more reason to go love it. Yeah,
I want to head next. We're still not going to
go too far from the Western area. We're going to
go to Phoenix and actually head to the JW. Marriott
Phoenix Desert Resort and Spot. They are actually located about
(33:49):
twenty five miles north of downtown Chris and about a
thirty minute drive from Sky Harbor Airport. This is actually
phoenix Quintessential Deluxe Convention Resort and one of the largest
resorts in the state of Arizona. I didn't know that
until I started doing research for today's show, but that
(34:10):
kind of struck me because it's also the reason why
I chose it for this pickleball adventure. It was actually
built from the ground up in two thousand and three,
so she's really still a relatively new property. It's one
of Marriott's top offerings in Phoenix, but really of their
brands in particular, and one of the best golf and
(34:31):
conference hotels in the Southwest to date. But the sensational
spa there is frequently overlooked because of the sports aspects
that it offers. This is how big it is. Okay,
so the JW. Marriott is so big that it's got
color coded hallways to keep their guests from getting lost.
(34:51):
That's how big this property is. But despite its size,
the hotel is really kept in beautiful shape. Nobody complained
at all about the limitless facilities and how big it
is because of the outstanding and dependable service that you
get when you're there. Who would, I mean? Isn't that
why we all travel anyway, is to experience and have
(35:11):
those great experiences of great customer service. I know I do,
so I can't imagine that people go, no, I really
want bad service. That's why I'm traveling. I really want
mediocre service to meet them. Yeah, well I would too.
There's no less than three hundred and twelve acres at
this property, and there's enough space to keep crowds really
to a minimum. So even if the property is packed
(35:33):
with that much land mass around you, you're not going
to be shoulder to shoulder. Recreation is a highlight there.
No surprise that management keeps the big moneymakers, which is
their spa, the five pools that they've got there, and
the golf course in just tip top shape. Still, the
gym is kind of a standout there. They've got peloton
(35:55):
equipment peppered throughout the gym, and you know that's that
was big. That guy to be really big during COVID,
but they've kept it there at the JW. Mariot. In
addition to these usual pool areas ringed with there's beautiful
lounge chairs in bright yellow. They have that there's three
new water slides that are there that are actually so
(36:18):
high Chris, that they're up as high as the accommodation's buildings.
That's how tall they are, so really a thrill for
kids of any ages. There are twin eighteen hole championship
golf courses that were designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo,
and if you don't like golf, you might choose to
play on one of the eight tennis courts or work
(36:41):
out on the large twenty four hour gym there. And
then there's mountain bikes available for exploring the desert, and
they've even got kind of a nature trail that winds
its way around the property, so you can see this
is a property that takes clients enjoyment to the extreme level,
especially if you are athletic in nature. So that's why
(37:04):
I again chose this because they have just most recently
shined a spotlight right on the pickleball enthusiasts. And now
you've got your own court at the JW Marriott in Phoenix.
It's the experience is not to be missed. They offer
hourly court time on seventeen newly added lighted court course.
(37:29):
Can you believe that? I mean, they know how serious
people are about this sport. And if you're staying at
the resort, you can choose their pickleball package. Yes, they've
got packages and that includes a fifty dollars daily resort credit,
unlimited pickleball with complementary paddle rental, and a lot more.
So you don't even have to pack a paddle if
(37:50):
you don't want to. But I'll tell you some of
my pickleball clients that I have say they will not
travel without their own paddle. I don't know what's magic
about that, but apparently it is. And when you're ready
to relax here at the JW Marriott, there's a spectacular
escape they're awaiting you with, as I said, five pools.
There's a lazy river for that ultimate relaxation, and luxurious
(38:13):
cabana cottages and pool suites. So all in all, if
you are interested in a beautiful resort area and again,
I think this is someplace that you could play pickleball
year round. Phoenix tends to not be very cold in
the winter either. I have a lot of people who
will choose Phoenix over Florida. We know the devastation that
(38:34):
Florida has been impacted with with the past two hurricanes.
So really, I'm kind of bringing you to an area
of two properties that you could choose, The Montage in Haroldsburg,
California or the JW. Marriott in Phoenix for an alternative
(38:54):
to win Florida gets back on its feet again and
can accept more tourism. These would be two great choices
for winter time travel.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
Let's take a quick break and we'll come back and
we'll continue our journey with paddles and passports. Game on
here on a lifeless.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
Ordinary Who would think of driving off to a new
destination without guidance from Google or Siria? Not the Wishing
World Guide your next travel experience. Travel the world as
you enjoy the very best destinations and all they offer
at the best prices. Our mobile travel app keeps your
vacation on track and keeps you connected with our team
of experts. For help, if you need it, call us
(39:30):
at five four zero nine zero eight two thirty three three,
stop buy two forty three nef Avenue, or visit us
at the Wishingwell dot bizz.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
Every Saturday morning we get together and we talk travel
here on a lifeless ordinary end. We're here with Terry
Dean as we are every Saturday, and if you'd like
to get in touch with Terry, you can give her
a call at the office at five four h nine
oh eight twenty three thirty three. You could stop by
look at on neph Avenue in Harrisonburg, or find them
online at the wishing Well dot biz. Our show today
(40:02):
is Paddles and Passports Game On and we've been to California,
We've been to Phoenix, and I bet we have some
more exciting destinations ahead.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
We absolutely do, Chris, and we're all talking here this
morning about pickleball. That's what we're talking about. You you
brought up a really good question and you said, I
want to know what it's called pickleball. And you know what,
I don't have the answer to that. I do not know.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
All I can think of every time we say pickleball
is like Hinds Pickles in Pittsburgh, And I'm thinking do
they sponsor this.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Or do they bat a pickle actually cross?
Speaker 1 (40:35):
Maybe that's how it starts.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Maybe that's how it started. But I'll tell you my
next one to talk about. For you pickleball fans out there,
is going to be a true game changer, especially if
you are a die hard Viking Cruise fan and you
love pickleball. This is a game changer because this is
not on Viking Cruise, but it's still a river cruise.
(40:58):
River Cruising's first full sized pickleball court with Alma Waterways.
You can actually experience this exhilaration of pickleball as it
sweeps across North America and be part of the action
on your own dan you river cruise aboard the extraordinary
(41:18):
Alma Magna from Alma Waterways, and this is the latest
wellness innovation. You're going to enjoy the thrill of pickleball
on the sun deck that's where it's located. Kind of
immerse yourself in the fresh air and do a little
baton over the net and connect with your fellow cruisers.
This incredible sport is really a fantastic way to kind
(41:39):
of enhance your well being and embrace your best self.
That's really why Alma Waterways even implemented the pickleball courts
because they thought and heard how what the wellness benefits
are of this particular game. So it's just a great
way to take advantage of the unique opportunity take your
(42:01):
pickleball game to the next height on Alma Magna. Now,
I had some clients just recently, and I have to
apologize to Viking in advance if they're listening to the
show today, Sorry, Viking, but get with it. Get a
pickleball court on board and people won't switch. But I
did have some folks who went on Viking and they said,
you know, I want to book this cruise, this river
(42:23):
cruise on Viking, but I'm sad because they don't have pickleball.
And it wasn't until after they booked and had paid
in full for their Viking cruise that Alma actually began
the pickleball courts on board their vessels. So really good
on you Ama for thinking of this. And right now
they've got some fabulous deals. For a limited time, you
(42:45):
can actually receive a complimentary two, three or four night
land package before or after some of your select twenty
twenty four and twenty twenty five Alma Europe River Cruises,
more than twenty different land packages available with that offer,
and you've got a variety of ways to extend your vacation. Plus,
this offer is combinable with Alma Waterways, Special air plus
(43:07):
fixed rates on airfare. Great value for your entire journey.
Now this is really, as I said, this is a
game changer. If you a cruise traveler who loves staying
active and trying new sports, you do not have to
look any further than also another one of our preferred
vendors who is starting this craze as well, and that's
(43:29):
with Celebrity Cruise Line.
Speaker 1 (43:31):
Okay, yep.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
You can enjoy pickleballs sailing the open seas there, whether
you're in an experience, whether you are an experienced pickleball
player or a beginner wanting just to give it a try.
Celebrity Cruise Line, which actually I'm going to be sailing
on in December, I might have to just try it
there offering a unique opportunity to play on board their
luxurious ocean liners. Now with Celebrity you can sail actually
(43:55):
through the Caribbean. They have cruises Chris through Alaska or
a lot of the or other destinations and still enjoy
the thrill of playing pickleball. I mean, at some point
you're going to probably want to get off the ship
or maybe not. You know, maybe the game is that
great it's very addictive. Did you hear me say that early?
Speaker 1 (44:13):
It sounds like people are adamant about finding ways to
play no matter where they are.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
They are they are, and these are giving them all
of that. You can maybe never want to get off.
But Celebrity gives me that their onboard staff is always
available to assist with equipment needs if you need those
reminders about the rules, just to make sure that everybody
is having the same great experience. And when I talked
(44:38):
to Celebrity and I said, tell me about this experience
with pickleball that people are going to have, and they go, well,
you know, we've got our staff there. They're going to
help people on board with any of their equipment needs.
Said that they explained to me of what the equipment was,
how these paddles are state of the art and blah
blah blah, and then they go and the other thing
(44:59):
we have is staff there to remind our players exactly
what the rules are. And I said, because you don't
want people to cheat, and they go, no, terry, because
we want everybody to have the same great experience, and
I go, that's the same thing. That's really the same thing.
Nobody would cheat. And I do want to remind our
(45:22):
listeners today that we do have a group on Celebrity
Cruise Line for next June of twenty twenty five. It's
going to go to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. And yes,
you can play pickleball on board that. If you have
any interest in joining us on that, we'd love to
have you. It's a great price. We're going to be
flying over the Pond in a premium economy class, so
(45:45):
not in economy. That's great, people love that. And this
is we're going to fly over and what used to
be the old business class if you remember that planes
now have gone to really just kind of two cabins.
It's economy and first class. So we're going to be
flying in premium economy. Now we're going to flip back
over to one of our on land hotel properties, but
(46:07):
this time we are headed to Florida. And I'd say,
you know, I wanted to do this because at some
point tourism is going to come back to Florida. They're
going to need the business, and you're going to want
to know where to play because Florida is a great
place to go. And this is going to take us
to Boca Raton and actually, nestled in the heart of
Booka Riton is a hidden gym for pickleball enthusiasts called
(46:31):
the Boca Raton Hotel, and it's actually renowned for its
luxurious accommodations. They're Chris, They've got world class amenities, great
stunning ocean views. But what sets it apart really is
it's dedication to providing guests with that top notch pickleball
facility experience. Yes, I bet you didn't know. And again,
(46:52):
whether you are a season player or a beginner looking
to try something new, their sport offerings at this hotel
are really something over the top. While pickleball might be
the highlight of your visit there, the Boca Ritton Hotel
really offers a plethora of other amenities and activities to
enjoy during your stay. You can indulge in world class
(47:14):
dining there, relaxed by the pool, rejuvenate at the spa.
They also have one take advantage of the hotel's proximity
to beautiful beaches there and the outdoor attractions. And this
is new. It's called glow in the dark pickleball. That
sounds fun, right, taking the game to another whole new level.
The latest trend that's lighting up the pickleball community, taking
(47:37):
the game to new heights of excitement and fun. Of course,
experience the ultimate transformation of traditional pickleball with what they
call exclosive. Exclosive, you get back. This innovative concept takes
the game to a whole new level. They create fun.
This is a social experience, of course for players of
(47:59):
all ages, and prepare to be amazed. Really, your court
comes alive with all these vibrant black lights. Do you
remember that in school? Did you go through that phase
in school? I did where everything was like black light posters,
everything was glow in the dark.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
That was a little before me. But they did have
glow in the dark dances at school. Oh yeah, And
it was when the glow chords, you know, like you were.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
Like exactly, we had them around. We did glow in
the dark headbands. Yeah, you know that you were cool
if you had that really cool.
Speaker 1 (48:31):
I don't think we were probably cool, but we thought
we were.
Speaker 2 (48:33):
Well, you know what's interesting about pickleball and what I'm
finding about it is that people in my age category,
they are the ones gravitating to this game. So of
course we're going to have glow in the dark pickleball.
Why not. You can also play pickleball Chris in the
Caribbean and newly rebranded reimaging of Racket Center of Casa
(48:56):
de Campo. This is one of my favorite places in
the Dominican Republic, in an area of Puntakana of La Ramana.
It actually boasts the largest racket center in the Caribbean.
In the past, the facility was exclusively focused on tennis,
but now it's got thirteen premium hard true clay courts,
(49:18):
night play and even their famous philanthropic ball Boy program. Now,
if you're new to pickleball there, you can consider joining
maybe a pickleball league, but anyway. You can play on
cruise ships, you can play on river cruises, you can
play in California, you can play in Phoenix, you can
play in Boca Ratan, So it really doesn't matter. But
(49:41):
if you're new to this game, you can join some leagues.
You can join pickleball communities, you can join friendly matches.
Experienced players don't ever mind teaching new beests to the game.
I'm looking for one of those to help maybe bring
me along. You can participate in tournaments, even events, because
all of this stuff now is going crazy. It provides
(50:02):
an opportunity to play against different skill sets and gain
some valuable experience and learning meet new people. Additionally, attending
pickleball clinics and workshops hosted by experienced players and coaches
can kind of help you refine your skills and learn
new techniques. So lastly, connect with the pickleball community. Join
(50:26):
online forums because there's a bunch of those out there.
In social media, you can engage in discussions with fellow enthusiasts,
and really, if you're interested in learning more about how
you can incorporate this into your own personal travel experience.
I sort of scratched the surface here today on our
show for a Life Less Ordinary, but really, Chris playing
(50:47):
pickleball and bringing that game along to your own personal
travels is something that's not just isolated to the places
we mentioned today. It's really growing. And when I say
it's growing, I mean it's booming. So this is a
game whose time has come and I think it's reached
into a lot of different social experiences and certainly age categories,
(51:10):
so it's a game of all ages. And really it
is game on now.
Speaker 1 (51:15):
I've got to find a pickleball court.
Speaker 2 (51:17):
I know. And you know, I think because it is
so addictive, people are finding out just how much fun
it is. It's a healthy way to experience some fun,
you know, And that's what happened during COVID. We all
sort of found that that was a focus that we
needed and wanted to have, was on our well being,
and activity is something that helps bring that along, you know,
(51:39):
of whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
I'm just sort of in awe that something has caught
on this quickly and no key to the point that
all these resorts and cruises are adding pickleball courts, yeah,
to keep their client tealent the.
Speaker 2 (51:55):
Next great thing. And I'm seeing come across my desk
really every day, properties all over the world, not just
in North America, not just in places that you would
expect like the Caribbean, but really places worldwide that are
catering to this new revolution in sporting. And I don't
(52:17):
think pickleball is going to be the end of this.
I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think there are going to be other new sports
that emerge as people learn to tap into the things
that are fun and they want to enjoy life more.
We learned how very quickly that all can be taken away.
So as we look at what we're doing for our
(52:37):
future goals for travel, for luxury travel in particular, and
how you might want to have a lifeless ordinary, we
encourage you every week this same time tune in and
listen to what we've got going on, because it's always
something we hope to educate you and bring you along
to what the world's doing today and how you can
have the most fun when you travel.
Speaker 1 (53:00):
About pickleball and you want to go to one of
these amazing destinations, whether it be California or Phoenix or
our river cruise. How do we get in touch with you.
Speaker 2 (53:09):
We're easy to find. The Wishing Well is located at
two forty three nef Avenue in the Valley Center in Harsonburg, Virginia.
You can call us at five four h nine oh
eight two three three three, or Chris. You can look
us up on the web at Thewishingwell dot viz.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
This has been a Life Less Ordinary the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three nef Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to the wishing
Well online at the wishing Well topiz or five four
Oho nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. Past episodes
are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll see you
again next Saturday morning at ten for a Life Less
(53:47):
Ordinary from the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary, the travel show and podcasts
from your friends at the wishing Well two forty three
f Avenue in harrismerg and online at the wishing Well
dot This. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury concierge,
travel agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is a travel show
and podcast hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over forty
years of experience in the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be
around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Say hello, Chris, how are you my friend?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
I'm well, thank you. We survived Dayton Days last week, hallelujah.
My mother and her sister came into town.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
That's always good and.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
It was nice to see both of them. But it was, well,
you've been to Dayton Days, you know what parking is like.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Dude, it's really nuts.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
And we're right there on College Street. So trying to
explain to someone who's only been to my house wants
how to work the maze to get to the backyard
to park. Oh yeah, that was fun, aw Ben, But yeah,
it was good to see him's and the weather is
picture perfect.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Actually for something like that.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It was amazing, Yes, amazing again today, you can't really
complain about this time of year.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
No, we really cannot.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
I it's hard on you as a travel agent when
people want to stay home instead of travel because the weather's.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So good it is. You know, it's kind of sad
to see people just sort of hunker down at home.
But I have to admit, because my life is rather
hectic on many levels, it's kind of a joy for
me too sometimes to be able to take part in
things I really enjoy and some of my personal hobbies
that include travel, but then sometimes don't. So I enjoy
(01:39):
also the home space sometimes.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
And if your goal is to travel during the autumnal weather,
listen to last week's podcast, because you talked about something.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You really not have a ball with that show. I
enjoyed it wholeheartedly. I know there were some listeners who
really enjoyed it very much. I hear from you guys,
so thank you so much when you call into tell
me just how much this show impacts decisions that you're
making for travel and for future travel plans. I love that.
(02:08):
I like it when I'm able to hit on some
topics that you're interested in We've got a hum dinger today, Yeah,
we really do.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Can't wait to get to that, but we've got to
get caught up on this week's travel news first.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
We do, and I don't think that we could even
talk about the news and travel without addressing the most
recent hurricanes that we've had. Certainly, you know, we continue
to see the impacts of Hurricane Helene in the southernmost
areas of our United States. Those folks really are going
to be reeling for quite some time, I think with
(02:41):
the rehabilitation of their areas. Thank God for the people
in the Virginia areas I know that have gone down
and have lended a hand, but our hearts and hands
go out to those people. Hurricane Milton most recently made
an impact and actually have some news to share that
maybe wasn't so clearly imparted in the mainstream media that
(03:06):
whatever you listen to, and that is that they made
Hurricane Milton Chris made an impact in the sports world
as well, with winds topping one hundred miles per hour
and torrential rainfall. The massive storm ripped the roof off
of the Tropicana Field, which was home of the Tampa
(03:28):
Bay Rays. Don't know if you saw that or not.
The pieces of the shredded roof panels made of translucent
teflon coated fiberglass, actually fell into the stadium, allowing debris
to be blown all around in the ballpark.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
And they were housing a lot of the first responders
there that was supposed to be sort of their hub. Yuckly,
no one got injured during that roof collapse.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Which is a miracle because I've seen pictures of that
stadium now and it really is just a skeleton. It's
really unbelievable. What water and wind can do as a
weapon is unbelievable. I mean, it really really is. The Rays.
This is the Tampa Bay Rays. They are not scheduled
(04:19):
to play in the ballpark again until March twenty seventh,
when they're supposed to host the Colorado Rockies to open
the twenty twenty five season. The roof at the park
was designed to withstand winds up to one hundred and
fifteen miles an hour oops, according to the Rays. Anyway,
the stadium opened in nineteen ninety at an additional initial
(04:43):
cost of one hundred and thirty eight million dollars and
is due to be replaced in time for the twenty
twenty eight season with a one point three billion dollar
ballpark figure.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I think at this point I would just clean it
up and make it an open air stadium.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Boy, no kid, I mean you'd be tempted to anyway.
But a pair of college football games in cities that
felt Milton's wrath are still also scheduled to take place.
In Orlando, the University of Central Florida is preparing to
host to Cincinnati at three point thirty pm at UFC
on Campus stadium that was last week. Orlando also would
(05:26):
be hosting a second college football game at that same
time today after the American Athletic Conference has announced that
Saturday's football game between South Florida and Memphis has been
moved to Camping World Stadium.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
The decision to move the game from Raymond James Stadium
was made in consultation with local law enforcement, in the
interest of public safety and with respect for the response
and recovery efforts underway in the Tampa Bay area following
Hurricane Milton. The Tampa Bay Lightning have postponed their first
home game of the NHL season, scheduled for Saturday today
(06:08):
against the Carolina hurricanes, and no make update was immediately announced,
so we know that that was definitely impacted in Tampa.
I mean, and those wins were crazy hurricane winds clocked
at one hundred miles an hour that was supposed to
withstand one hundred and fifteen and it did not. Now
(06:31):
a couple of other pieces of news related to travel
and the hurricane effects. Airports that are still closed following
Milton in the Florida area are Daytona Beach they still
have yet to reopen. Saint Pete Clearwater is also closed
as of Friday. Orlando and Tampa just reopened, and Walt
(06:54):
Disney World also just reopened on Friday as well, following
the hurricane. Closed immediately pending what was going to happen
with Hurricane Milton. And you don't see Walt Disney World
closed too often, but they did this time, and I
think it was wisdom on their part. But then they
are they were scheduled to reopen then on Friday yesterday, and.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
I bet they have that place cleaned up spotless.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, I wouldn't doubt it. I mean, if anybody knows
how to handle anything like that as far as catastrophes,
or I mean crowd control. I've said this a lot
of times. Disney just has a magic about them that
they know how to organize. I mean, I think we
could all learn a lot from that at a city level,
you know.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
And I'll tell you I have family both down in
the Fort myern Naples area and in Tampa, and I'm
not sure. I have a friend who lives down floor.
I'm not sure where exactly she lives, but they're using
the Facebook check in so you can they check in safe? Yes,
talk about a great tool to be able to take
one less thing to worry about. Yeah, knowing that your
(08:01):
family and friends are safe. I just wanted to say
that we were concerned and praying for everybody. As you know,
both of those hurricanes have come through, and it's at
least the people that I know everyone made it through safe.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yeah, I know. I was relieved to get those check
ins from people as well, Chris that I watch very closely,
my friends who are in Florida that checked in on Facebook.
I breathed a sigh of relief. So you know, what
wasn't the impact that it was predicted to be. Altogether,
still very devastating, but so thankful I mean, we have
(08:34):
a lot that we can be thankful and blessed about
that were related to that hurricane. Also, I've had a
lot of people call me with regard to how much
damage was sustained in Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula as
a result of Milton, and after actually a very close
encounter with a hurricane, the state of Yucatan has emerged
(08:56):
relatively unscathed. According to the latest reports that I've gotten
that have floated in from the Mexican government, they were
closely monitoring the Category four storm when they got it,
and it was moving actually away from Yukatan's coast. So
as the hurricane Milton continued to move away from Yukatan,
(09:19):
state authorities say that the worst appeared to be over
for the region and they were very very happy to
see that. Now, if we can step away from the
news about the hurricanes, I don't think that would be
too hard to do. I think that would be kind
of a welcome relief. But news regarding electronic travel authorizations
(09:40):
that are going to be required in the UK starting
January eighth, they have expanded they being the UK has
expanded their electronic travel authorization program to inbound travelers the
US and elsewhere in twenty twenty five. The ETA, as
they call it, was actually launched in twenty twenty three,
(10:01):
initially applied to inbound travelers from several Middle Eastern countries,
but the British government confirmed last week that non Europeans
will need an ETA for entering the UK beginning January
the eighth of twenty twenty five. Non Europeans can begin
the application process on November the twenty seventh of this year,
(10:26):
and the ETA is required for anybody who plans to
visit the United Kingdom except British and Irish citizens. Travelers
are going to need to apply and be approved for
an ETA prior to their trip, and the document is
going to be linked to their passport and ensure that
more robust security checks are done at the borders. An
(10:48):
ETA will cost about thirteen dollars and ten cent US
and you will have multiple trip permits to the UK
for stays up to six months at a time or
over a two year period, or until the holder's passport expires,
which ever comes sooner now. The aim of this program
is to digitalize the UK border and migration immigration system,
(11:13):
so I think it's interesting to note that if you
are someone who plans to travel into England, Ireland, Scotland,
Wales anywhere in the UK next year, this is something
that you should be aware of. Those are going to
be part of your requirements. Now they're not expensive, but
it doesn't mean that just because you apply, you're going
(11:35):
to gain entry either. You do have that there is
the opportunity for them to deny your entry. Now, there
would have to be a lot of relatively serious circumstances
for them to do that. The UK is one of
our allies, and I think that you know, they welcome
visitors from the United States, but stands to remains up
(11:56):
to their decision as to whether or not that happens.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
You've got to keep that in mind. Yep.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Last piece of news I wanted to cover is actually
really fun news, Chris. We can use some fun news, right, yep.
And this is regarding the stars studded season that's ahead
in Las Vegas and on their many stages there, of
which we know there are no shortage and music fans
certainly have no shortage of choices for performers on Las
(12:22):
Vegas stages the rest of this year and really into
twenty twenty five. They've got cutting edge, top of the
chart stars that appear almost every week, and beloved acts
that are going to evoke some fond memories. I think
also frequently find their way to the strip. The Killers,
who formed in Vegas and feature Henderson native and lead
(12:44):
singer Brendan Flowers, recently returned home to Las Vegas to
perform a sold out ten night engagement at the Coliseum
at Caesar's Palace. And here's just a sampling of other
big name performers who's going to be appearing on those
billboards and on Vegas stages in the coming months. Adele
(13:04):
is concluding her residency at the Coliseum at Caesar's with
over ten sold out shows through the end of next month. Now,
Garth Brooks, sadly, who's made his way into the news
here recently hope that's going well for him, is actually
wrapping up his residency at the venue that shows this
month and in December, February, and March. Blake Shelton February
(13:29):
five to fifteenth. Rod Stewart with twelve dates from March
through June, are also expected to be popular draws and
rumors endure of Celine Dion coming to Resort World now.
I most recently saw Carrie Underwood there. She performed there
and I went to see her when I was in Vegas.
Celen Dion is maybe rumored to take her place, fueled
(13:52):
by a TMZ report that her performance during the Summer
Olympic opening ceremony. In the meantime, Janet Jackson is going
to perform December thirtieth and thirty first, as well as
several dates in January and February at that venue. So
will eight time Grammy A winner Carrie Underwood. She's going
to still stay there for a while. In addition to
(14:14):
performances between October sixteenth and twenty six, She's going to
take the stage on March twenty six, twenty eight, twenty ninth,
and again in April for three dates, the second, fourth,
and fifth now over at Dolby Live at Park MGM,
fans can see Bruno Mars in six performances there. Mariah
Carey recently announced additional twenty twenty five dates for her
(14:38):
exclusive engagement at the venue from January thirtieth to March fifteenth,
and Maroon five is going to return to Dolby Live
at Park MGM for eight performances starting in March, and
three time Grammy Award winning multi platinum band has already
performed forty shows with more than one hundred and thirty
thousand tickets sold. Wow in Las Vegas. That's Maroon five,
(15:03):
and you know, I love those guys. I think they're great.
That's a lot of tickets. It's a lot of money, yep,
and anticipation for new kids. Fans can start planning now
to see new kids on the block. They're going to
also be at Doby Live at Park MGM for their
first Las Vegas residency. Shows for what they're calling The
Right Stuff are going to be in June, and dates
(15:25):
are also set up for July, November, and then again
in February of twenty twenty six. They're planning really far
in advance. This is one that I know is going
to get a lot of my friends attention, especially in
my age bracket. The Eagles have kicked off a residency
at the Sphere with twenty performances over ten weekends. There
are remaining dates from actually now until February twenty second,
(15:50):
and tickets are starting at one hundred and seventy five
dollars a person, including taxes and fees. Then we've got Billy,
Joel and Sting to perform at the Allegiance State on
November ninth. That's going to be a huge grosser together.
Oh wow. Usher is going to perform at the T
Mobile Arena on November the fifteenth and sixteenth. And Andrea Bocelli,
(16:11):
who I actually saw live in Washington, d C. He's
going to be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on
December seventh, now during National Final Rodeo week. George Strait
is going to be at the Allegiance Stadium on December seventh,
and Wyona Judd is going to perform at the Venetian
December eleventh, thirteenth, and fourteenth. Barry Manilow, Shania Twain, New Edition,
(16:35):
Jen Blossom's Lionel, Ritchie and Santana are among the other
stars who also have performances scheduled sprinkled throughout the end
of the year. So some great lineups for shows in
Las Vegas.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Kerry, I'm going to tell you when you started way
back at the beginning of that list, I went, yes,
I would love to. I think maybe it was Adele
and Carrie under what we're at the beginning, and then
you got to the MGM Grand in the Adobe Theater
and you were listing off and I'm like, no, I
want to see them. Then you got to Allegiance Stay,
we got Billy Joelt Come on, right, I'm supposed to choose,
(17:09):
I know. And you know, this is a good thing
about Las Vegas. I mean it's a fun, fun place
to go, even if you're not a gambler. I say,
you can have as much fun in Las Vegas as
you want to and never enter the casino. Actually, I
think you might have more fun if you don't gamble.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Yeah, it's true. And one thing that draws me always
are the shows. I really do love the shows. I
always have been a big fan. I love the circ
to Solet shows. But more importantly, I love these live entertainers.
I've now seen Carrie Underwood there, I saw Kelly Clarkson.
(17:44):
You know, I've seen a lot of the live entertainers
that have been there over the years, and I enjoy them.
I enjoy them very much.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
I want to see Rod Stewart, oh yes, and I
want to see Billy Joel.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Those two are the ones that because those were when
I was a kid.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, exactly what I say.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
When I was just a kid, my mom listened to.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Those and I was lucky to be able to see
Billy Joel when he was at the John Paul Jones
Arena in Charlottesvield the one and any time he performed there.
I also saw Elton John in Richmond many years ago.
I was amazed at how short his little fingers are
to do such a bang up job on that piano.
I mean, the guy can play like nobody's business. It
sounds like he's got six arms and he's only got
(18:24):
these really tiny little hands. It was amazing.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
I saw him performed at the Berglan Center down in Salem.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
And then I saw Paul McCartney over at JPJ.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Yeah, that had to be great.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I took my mom to that show. She squealed like
it was the sixties.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
A guy like a little girl. She was in love.
That's awesome, That's absolutely awesome.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Do we have any hot deals?
Speaker 2 (18:44):
We are actually going to roll all of that into
the meat of our show today.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Oh and our show is a fun one too. It's
called Paddles and Passports Game On. But what does that mean?
We'll find out next here on a life less ordinary.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Protect or investment with guidance from a travel professional. The
wishing Well knows travel and help you avoid pitfalls. They
can spoil your hard earned vacation. We'll plan your trip
and have your back as you travel. All of this
without support or so called convenience fees. We're on the
web at the Wishingwell dot biz or call us at
five four zero nine zero eight two three three three
(19:22):
has five four zero nine zero eight two three three three.
The wishing Well really does make dreams come.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
True and welcome back to a life less ordinary. The
travel Showing podcast from your friends at the wishing Well.
You can find them on that f avenue in Harrisonburg
online at the Wishingwell dot biz, or give them a call.
They love to talk to you. Five four zho nine
oh eight twenty three thirty three. So our show today
is entitled Paddles and Passports came on. First thing I
(19:49):
thought of I heard this title is I remember the
principal in grade school with that paddle on the wall. Terry.
What does this mean?
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Oh, be scared, be very afraid, Chris. Now this is
going to be fun because I have never seen a
sport like this that has been so infectious make its
way into the travel world. Now. I know we've always
had big football fans. They're always there. People will travel
(20:16):
to go where they are. Super Bowl, that's all you
have to say. They'll go to basketball games. All I
have to say is NCAA Final four, you know, and
that's going to draw a lot of crowds, a lot
of travelers. You know, the big golf game of the year,
the Masters tournament, that also draws travelers from everywhere. But
I'll bet you never figured the sport we're going to
(20:39):
talk about today. Pickleball is something that people will actually
travel and go out of their way to have engaged
in terry.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I feel like pickleball is like all the new social
media that the kids use an I Goo, how does it?
I don't know what pickleball is.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Yeah, well we're going to learn a little bit about
that today because I think maybe some people like us
here in the studio today are equally curious about this game.
And that's what I want to talk about first, is
about what pickleball is. It's actually really popular, Chris, because
of a couple of factors, and those include the accessibility.
Number one, pickleball is easy to learn, it's got a
(21:21):
low barrier to entry, and it's suitable really for a
wide range of ages and fitness levels. Now, I will
tell you that pickleball really grew in popularity during COVID,
So that's where we are because it was a game
that families could play together. They figured this out, you know,
what kind of game can we play? Can we be
(21:43):
together as a family but still distanced that we're going
to have fun. Pickleball was the answer to that. Really
at many levels, it's got the social aspect, and I
will tell you people who play it avidly will tell
me it's fun, it's inclusive. It's open place sport that
encourages players to interact and meet new people, and it's
(22:08):
a low pressure environment. Pickleball is where players can actually
have fun and connect with each other because you have
a much shorter range of distance between you and your competitor,
so it gives you an opportunity to sort of interact
and talk between serves. You know, it's a fun atmosphere.
(22:29):
People kind of settle in with their food and their
drinks and their music and have fun with that. It's
kind of an easy going pace. As I said, it's
a smaller court, so you're not running yourself to death
like you do with tennis. So it's a much smaller court,
slower pace makes it more approachable than the game of
tennis for a lot of people. And you can be chatty.
I mean, like I said, you're closer to the net,
(22:51):
so you can easily chat over the net with the
people who are playing with Is it like pingpone? Is
it like Bad's That's kind of of a great analogy.
I think it's sort of an amalgamation of tennis and
ping pong and paddle board all together, kind of rolled
(23:12):
all into one. Yeah, And it's not too serious, you
know they this is what people tell me. It's really
hard to take yourself too seriously when the most savage
shot is called a dink. You know. So, and all
of you all who are pickleball fans out there, you're
laughing right now. Thank you very much. I'm happy that
I was able to bring that joy to you this morning.
(23:34):
But pickleball's popularity, as I said, it exploded during the pandemic,
and it has continued to grow. As a matter of fact,
in twenty twenty three, there were forty seven major professional
pickleball tournaments held in the United States, and the sport
is also growing internationally. Highly addictive, and a very diverse game.
(23:57):
It kind of blends the elements as we were talking about,
of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. So there you go,
there's all three in one. It's managed to capture the
hearts of players everywhere and travelers who play pickleball. And
I will make this even more personal, Chris, and say
my clients, they are joining this craze. They are having
(24:18):
me seek out new experiences for them and destinations that
actually support their passion for this game. And pickleball courts
are popping up in neighborhoods, in parks, even luxury resorts
and cruise ships, which is what we're going to be
talking about a little bit today, and they're catering to
this growing demand for this exciting new sport.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
When you were talking about, like this would be perfect
on a cruise ship.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Right exactly If the ball doesn't go sailing over the ship,
that'd be pretty hard.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Yeah, well, maybe don't put it on the upper deck.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
And this is really Chris. When the world becomes your court,
when you love a game so much like this really
you can make the whole world your court as long
as you've got a place to play, right. So, today,
on a life less ordinary, I'm going to explore the
opportunities that there are in the luxury world of travel today,
so you can take your passion for this game to
(25:13):
really new heights. We're gonna explore some incredible destinations and
I'm gonna point you toward the most amazing travel experiences
that's going to allow you to really indulge in an
unforgettable pickleball experience. And this is great because by doing
something that you already love, you can really immerse yourself
in the pickleball community. You can connect with some fellow
(25:35):
enthusiasts and even challenge yourself on some of the most
beautiful pickleball courts around the globe. Now, whether you're a
seasoned player or you're really just starting your pickleball journey,
the addictiveness of this sport knows no bounds, and it's amazing.
I mean, it really is amazing how cliquish this sport
(25:59):
has become. Because because if you're a pickleball player, you're in.
If you're not a pickleball player, you're out. Well, I
am temporarily, but you know, I'm very curious. I will
say that I'm very very curious. I won't lie. You know,
this is all new territory for me. I play and
I love tennis, so there's that, and I love ping pong,
(26:22):
but I have not yet tried pickleball. But today I
want you to go with me. So I want you
to pack that paddle because we're going to go on
a pickleball adventure like no other. The world is yours
to explore, one thrilling match at a time, any way
you want to do it, and I'm planning on sharing
with you five incredible destinations that offer exceptional pickleball experiences.
(26:47):
We're going to be begin with a very popular one
in California, the Land of Endless Sun. Where else and
the first destination that I've chosen is going to allow
you to really enjoy this game. You're round and at
one of my favorite hotel companies. How about Healdsburg, California.
(27:09):
Have you ever heard of it?
Speaker 1 (27:10):
I have done.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Okay, so I want to talk to you a little
bit about Healdsburg. So before I actually launch into the
pickleball opportunity there, I want to share with you just
a little quickly about how and why Healdsburg is just
a great little town. To start with, people travel there
primarily to experience it's renowned Sonoma County wine country, and
(27:34):
it's just got that charming small town atmosphere. You've got
access there to a lot of wineries and tasting rooms,
a lot of amazing food. We love that, you know,
with those Michelin Star restaurants, Chris and beautiful natural surroundings,
all kind of conveniently located around Sonoma County. So that's
really makes it an ideal getaway destination for wine lovers
(27:58):
and foodies alike. And now also pickleball, So it's kind
of situated in the heart of the area of sort
of Napa Sonoma Valley area. But the property where you
can find the best pickleball in this area is a
(28:18):
place called Montage. Now, you might remember from many many
Lifeless Ordinary episodes past I talked about an adventure that
I went on to Park City, Utah. We went out
there actually for a meeting, and we stayed in a
fabulous place called the Montage at Park City. And I
was never and haven't since been so impressed with a
(28:41):
property in all my life. First of all, it made
me fall in love with Park City itself and the
Salt Lake City area. Beautiful, beautiful. But when you attach
the Montage properties to anywhere you go, it's a win,
it's a home run. And this is where in Harold
Healdsburg at the Montage has some positively world class pickleball facilities.
(29:08):
Guarantee to exceed your expectations here, Chris, the resort offers
two state of the art outdoor pickleball courts that are
equipped with high quality nets and playing surfaces. Now, I
can't say I know exactly why that is so important,
but it must be because the hotel has actually written
it into their literature about their pickleball experience. So there
(29:30):
you go. But then you also have these beautiful surroundings
of the resort itself which make it an ideal setting
to enjoy the game of pickleball. And one of the
great things about this property is that you can play
pickleball year round. That's why I picked it as my
number one spot for pickleball because it's that year round experience.
(29:50):
You can even go in the wintertime. You've got that
mild climate of California's wine country, which is going to
allow you to have pleasant weather really throughout the year,
making it possible to play even in what we think
of is the colder months. I mean, it's really rare
to see days below even thirty four degrees out there.
That would be rare. So you can see how that's
(30:12):
really conducive to a good play, you know, for people
who like this outdoor sport. Now, if you're new to pickleball,
fear not, because equipment and recommendations to just your basic
strategies and techniques for the game. The experience staff at
the Montage is dedicated there to making sure that your
(30:33):
pickleball experience begins on the right foot or should I
say the right paddle. Maybe probably they're going to tell
you if you just embrace the learning experience, if you
practice some before you get to know it, there's really
no reason why you can't master the game of pickleball.
And I think that's great. You know, if it's that easy,
even somebody like me can do it. You know, I'm
(30:56):
good at travel, I'm not necessary. That's why I'm not
an athlete. That's why I didn't pursue that. It wasn't
so athletically inclined. I was a track star. You know,
I loved to run, so I played track but I
never really you know, my hand eye coordination is pretty
good for tennis paddle ball. Maybe I'd be okay at pickleball.
I don't know. I just I need to give it
(31:16):
a try. But in addition to the exceptional courts, the
Montage Healsburg provides a wide range of amenities here and services.
So the hotel itself is really tailored specifically not to
just pickleball players, but to great service and luxury. So
whether you need a quick refreshment at the court side cafe,
(31:37):
or access to professional coaching, or kind of just a
well deserved post game relaxation at the spa. Yes, they
have an amazing spa there at the Montage. This property
really has you covered on all facets, so you can
check all of those boxes. If you would love to
have a coast to coast travel experience enjoying the game
(31:58):
you love, I picked this one. This might just be
the right place for you to check out. It's called
the Montage at Healsburg, California, and my experience at the Montage,
as I said, was second to none. Love it, absolutely
love it. Have you been anywhere in California before.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
The first west west of men As, Vegas.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Yeah, so California has a completely different vibe. First of all,
I mean it's an amazing place. You either love it
or you hate it, you know. But California is interesting.
It's chopped up into many different little areas. I mean
you've got San Francisco, which is very urban eclectic. You've
got Las Vegas, Los Angeles, which is very you know,
(32:44):
upper brow, I would say, because you've got you know,
the Rodeo drive in and around Los Angeles and Los
Angeles itself. I mean it's home to stars, so you
kind of expect that high brow experience there. But then
you've got Santa Barbara, which is really more of a
kind of a rural area, more small town meets big
(33:09):
town experience. I think where it's comfortable. I think Santa
Barbara's what I would call a comfortable area. And then
you've got, of course Sonoma Valley and also you know,
the areas of the wine country of Napa. So all together,
I think California is a great area for you to experience.
But certainly if you're a pickle ball fan, now you've
(33:29):
got even one more reason to go love it. Yeah,
I want to head next. We're still not going to
go too far from the Western area. We're going to
go to Phoenix and actually head to the JW. Marriott
Phoenix Desert Resort and Spot. They are actually located about
(33:49):
twenty five miles north of downtown Chris and about a
thirty minute drive from Sky Harbor Airport. This is actually
phoenix Quintessential Deluxe Convention Resort and one of the largest
resorts in the state of Arizona. I didn't know that
until I started doing research for today's show, but that
(34:10):
kind of struck me because it's also the reason why
I chose it for this pickleball adventure. It was actually
built from the ground up in two thousand and three,
so she's really still a relatively new property. It's one
of Marriott's top offerings in Phoenix, but really of their
brands in particular, and one of the best golf and
(34:31):
conference hotels in the Southwest to date. But the sensational
spa there is frequently overlooked because of the sports aspects
that it offers. This is how big it is. Okay,
so the JW. Marriott is so big that it's got
color coded hallways to keep their guests from getting lost.
(34:51):
That's how big this property is. But despite its size,
the hotel is really kept in beautiful shape. Nobody complained
at all about the limitless facilities and how big it
is because of the outstanding and dependable service that you
get when you're there. Who would, I mean? Isn't that
why we all travel anyway, is to experience and have
(35:11):
those great experiences of great customer service. I know I do,
so I can't imagine that people go, no, I really
want bad service. That's why I'm traveling. I really want
mediocre service to meet them. Yeah, well I would too.
There's no less than three hundred and twelve acres at
this property, and there's enough space to keep crowds really
to a minimum. So even if the property is packed
(35:33):
with that much land mass around you, you're not going
to be shoulder to shoulder. Recreation is a highlight there.
No surprise that management keeps the big moneymakers, which is
their spa, the five pools that they've got there, and
the golf course in just tip top shape. Still, the
gym is kind of a standout there. They've got peloton
(35:55):
equipment peppered throughout the gym, and you know that's that
was big. That guy to be really big during COVID,
but they've kept it there at the JW. Mariot. In
addition to these usual pool areas ringed with there's beautiful
lounge chairs in bright yellow. They have that there's three
new water slides that are there that are actually so
(36:18):
high Chris, that they're up as high as the accommodation's buildings.
That's how tall they are, so really a thrill for
kids of any ages. There are twin eighteen hole championship
golf courses that were designed by Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo,
and if you don't like golf, you might choose to
play on one of the eight tennis courts or work
(36:41):
out on the large twenty four hour gym there. And
then there's mountain bikes available for exploring the desert, and
they've even got kind of a nature trail that winds
its way around the property, so you can see this
is a property that takes clients enjoyment to the extreme level,
especially if you are athletic in nature. So that's why
(37:04):
I again chose this because they have just most recently
shined a spotlight right on the pickleball enthusiasts. And now
you've got your own court at the JW Marriott in Phoenix.
It's the experience is not to be missed. They offer
hourly court time on seventeen newly added lighted court course.
(37:29):
Can you believe that? I mean, they know how serious
people are about this sport. And if you're staying at
the resort, you can choose their pickleball package. Yes, they've
got packages and that includes a fifty dollars daily resort credit,
unlimited pickleball with complementary paddle rental, and a lot more.
So you don't even have to pack a paddle if
(37:50):
you don't want to. But I'll tell you some of
my pickleball clients that I have say they will not
travel without their own paddle. I don't know what's magic
about that, but apparently it is. And when you're ready
to relax here at the JW Marriott, there's a spectacular
escape they're awaiting you with, as I said, five pools.
There's a lazy river for that ultimate relaxation, and luxurious
(38:13):
cabana cottages and pool suites. So all in all, if
you are interested in a beautiful resort area and again,
I think this is someplace that you could play pickleball
year round. Phoenix tends to not be very cold in
the winter either. I have a lot of people who
will choose Phoenix over Florida. We know the devastation that
(38:34):
Florida has been impacted with with the past two hurricanes.
So really, I'm kind of bringing you to an area
of two properties that you could choose, The Montage in Haroldsburg,
California or the JW. Marriott in Phoenix for an alternative
(38:54):
to win Florida gets back on its feet again and
can accept more tourism. These would be two great choices
for winter time travel.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
Let's take a quick break and we'll come back and
we'll continue our journey with paddles and passports. Game on
here on a lifeless.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
Ordinary Who would think of driving off to a new
destination without guidance from Google or Siria? Not the Wishing
World Guide your next travel experience. Travel the world as
you enjoy the very best destinations and all they offer
at the best prices. Our mobile travel app keeps your
vacation on track and keeps you connected with our team
of experts. For help, if you need it, call us
(39:30):
at five four zero nine zero eight two thirty three three,
stop buy two forty three nef Avenue, or visit us
at the Wishingwell dot bizz.
Speaker 1 (39:39):
Every Saturday morning we get together and we talk travel
here on a lifeless ordinary end. We're here with Terry
Dean as we are every Saturday, and if you'd like
to get in touch with Terry, you can give her
a call at the office at five four h nine
oh eight twenty three thirty three. You could stop by
look at on neph Avenue in Harrisonburg, or find them
online at the wishing Well dot biz. Our show today
(40:02):
is Paddles and Passports Game On and we've been to California,
We've been to Phoenix, and I bet we have some
more exciting destinations ahead.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
We absolutely do, Chris, and we're all talking here this
morning about pickleball. That's what we're talking about. You you
brought up a really good question and you said, I
want to know what it's called pickleball. And you know what,
I don't have the answer to that. I do not know.
Speaker 1 (40:27):
All I can think of every time we say pickleball
is like Hinds Pickles in Pittsburgh, And I'm thinking do
they sponsor this.
Speaker 2 (40:33):
Or do they bat a pickle actually cross?
Speaker 1 (40:35):
Maybe that's how it starts.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Maybe that's how it started. But I'll tell you my
next one to talk about. For you pickleball fans out there,
is going to be a true game changer, especially if
you are a die hard Viking Cruise fan and you
love pickleball. This is a game changer because this is
not on Viking Cruise, but it's still a river cruise.
(40:58):
River Cruising's first full sized pickleball court with Alma Waterways.
You can actually experience this exhilaration of pickleball as it
sweeps across North America and be part of the action
on your own dan you river cruise aboard the extraordinary
(41:18):
Alma Magna from Alma Waterways, and this is the latest
wellness innovation. You're going to enjoy the thrill of pickleball
on the sun deck that's where it's located. Kind of
immerse yourself in the fresh air and do a little
baton over the net and connect with your fellow cruisers.
This incredible sport is really a fantastic way to kind
(41:39):
of enhance your well being and embrace your best self.
That's really why Alma Waterways even implemented the pickleball courts
because they thought and heard how what the wellness benefits
are of this particular game. So it's just a great
way to take advantage of the unique opportunity take your
(42:01):
pickleball game to the next height on Alma Magna. Now,
I had some clients just recently, and I have to
apologize to Viking in advance if they're listening to the
show today, Sorry, Viking, but get with it. Get a
pickleball court on board and people won't switch. But I
did have some folks who went on Viking and they said,
you know, I want to book this cruise, this river
(42:23):
cruise on Viking, but I'm sad because they don't have pickleball.
And it wasn't until after they booked and had paid
in full for their Viking cruise that Alma actually began
the pickleball courts on board their vessels. So really good
on you Ama for thinking of this. And right now
they've got some fabulous deals. For a limited time, you
(42:45):
can actually receive a complimentary two, three or four night
land package before or after some of your select twenty
twenty four and twenty twenty five Alma Europe River Cruises,
more than twenty different land packages available with that offer,
and you've got a variety of ways to extend your vacation. Plus,
this offer is combinable with Alma Waterways, Special air plus
(43:07):
fixed rates on airfare. Great value for your entire journey.
Now this is really, as I said, this is a
game changer. If you a cruise traveler who loves staying
active and trying new sports, you do not have to
look any further than also another one of our preferred
vendors who is starting this craze as well, and that's
(43:29):
with Celebrity Cruise Line.
Speaker 1 (43:31):
Okay, yep.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
You can enjoy pickleballs sailing the open seas there, whether
you're in an experience, whether you are an experienced pickleball
player or a beginner wanting just to give it a try.
Celebrity Cruise Line, which actually I'm going to be sailing
on in December, I might have to just try it
there offering a unique opportunity to play on board their
luxurious ocean liners. Now with Celebrity you can sail actually
(43:55):
through the Caribbean. They have cruises Chris through Alaska or
a lot of the or other destinations and still enjoy
the thrill of playing pickleball. I mean, at some point
you're going to probably want to get off the ship
or maybe not. You know, maybe the game is that
great it's very addictive. Did you hear me say that early?
Speaker 1 (44:13):
It sounds like people are adamant about finding ways to
play no matter where they are.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
They are they are, and these are giving them all
of that. You can maybe never want to get off.
But Celebrity gives me that their onboard staff is always
available to assist with equipment needs if you need those
reminders about the rules, just to make sure that everybody
is having the same great experience. And when I talked
(44:38):
to Celebrity and I said, tell me about this experience
with pickleball that people are going to have, and they go, well,
you know, we've got our staff there. They're going to
help people on board with any of their equipment needs.
Said that they explained to me of what the equipment was,
how these paddles are state of the art and blah
blah blah, and then they go and the other thing
(44:59):
we have is staff there to remind our players exactly
what the rules are. And I said, because you don't
want people to cheat, and they go, no, terry, because
we want everybody to have the same great experience, and
I go, that's the same thing. That's really the same thing.
Nobody would cheat. And I do want to remind our
(45:22):
listeners today that we do have a group on Celebrity
Cruise Line for next June of twenty twenty five. It's
going to go to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. And yes,
you can play pickleball on board that. If you have
any interest in joining us on that, we'd love to
have you. It's a great price. We're going to be
flying over the Pond in a premium economy class, so
(45:45):
not in economy. That's great, people love that. And this
is we're going to fly over and what used to
be the old business class if you remember that planes
now have gone to really just kind of two cabins.
It's economy and first class. So we're going to be
flying in premium economy. Now we're going to flip back
over to one of our on land hotel properties, but
(46:07):
this time we are headed to Florida. And I'd say,
you know, I wanted to do this because at some
point tourism is going to come back to Florida. They're
going to need the business, and you're going to want
to know where to play because Florida is a great
place to go. And this is going to take us
to Boca Raton and actually, nestled in the heart of
Booka Riton is a hidden gym for pickleball enthusiasts called
(46:31):
the Boca Raton Hotel, and it's actually renowned for its
luxurious accommodations. They're Chris, They've got world class amenities, great
stunning ocean views. But what sets it apart really is
it's dedication to providing guests with that top notch pickleball
facility experience. Yes, I bet you didn't know. And again,
(46:52):
whether you are a season player or a beginner looking
to try something new, their sport offerings at this hotel
are really something over the top. While pickleball might be
the highlight of your visit there, the Boca Ritton Hotel
really offers a plethora of other amenities and activities to
enjoy during your stay. You can indulge in world class
(47:14):
dining there, relaxed by the pool, rejuvenate at the spa.
They also have one take advantage of the hotel's proximity
to beautiful beaches there and the outdoor attractions. And this
is new. It's called glow in the dark pickleball. That
sounds fun, right, taking the game to another whole new level.
The latest trend that's lighting up the pickleball community, taking
(47:37):
the game to new heights of excitement and fun. Of course,
experience the ultimate transformation of traditional pickleball with what they
call exclosive. Exclosive, you get back. This innovative concept takes
the game to a whole new level. They create fun.
This is a social experience, of course for players of
(47:59):
all ages, and prepare to be amazed. Really, your court
comes alive with all these vibrant black lights. Do you
remember that in school? Did you go through that phase
in school? I did where everything was like black light posters,
everything was glow in the dark.
Speaker 1 (48:13):
That was a little before me. But they did have
glow in the dark dances at school. Oh yeah, And
it was when the glow chords, you know, like you were.
Speaker 2 (48:22):
Like exactly, we had them around. We did glow in
the dark headbands. Yeah, you know that you were cool
if you had that really cool.
Speaker 1 (48:31):
I don't think we were probably cool, but we thought
we were.
Speaker 2 (48:33):
Well, you know what's interesting about pickleball and what I'm
finding about it is that people in my age category,
they are the ones gravitating to this game. So of
course we're going to have glow in the dark pickleball.
Why not. You can also play pickleball Chris in the
Caribbean and newly rebranded reimaging of Racket Center of Casa
(48:56):
de Campo. This is one of my favorite places in
the Dominican Republic, in an area of Puntakana of La Ramana.
It actually boasts the largest racket center in the Caribbean.
In the past, the facility was exclusively focused on tennis,
but now it's got thirteen premium hard true clay courts,
(49:18):
night play and even their famous philanthropic ball Boy program. Now,
if you're new to pickleball there, you can consider joining
maybe a pickleball league, but anyway. You can play on
cruise ships, you can play on river cruises, you can
play in California, you can play in Phoenix, you can
play in Boca Ratan, So it really doesn't matter. But
(49:41):
if you're new to this game, you can join some leagues.
You can join pickleball communities, you can join friendly matches.
Experienced players don't ever mind teaching new beests to the game.
I'm looking for one of those to help maybe bring
me along. You can participate in tournaments, even events, because
all of this stuff now is going crazy. It provides
(50:02):
an opportunity to play against different skill sets and gain
some valuable experience and learning meet new people. Additionally, attending
pickleball clinics and workshops hosted by experienced players and coaches
can kind of help you refine your skills and learn
new techniques. So lastly, connect with the pickleball community. Join
(50:26):
online forums because there's a bunch of those out there.
In social media, you can engage in discussions with fellow enthusiasts,
and really, if you're interested in learning more about how
you can incorporate this into your own personal travel experience.
I sort of scratched the surface here today on our
show for a Life Less Ordinary, but really, Chris playing
(50:47):
pickleball and bringing that game along to your own personal
travels is something that's not just isolated to the places
we mentioned today. It's really growing. And when I say
it's growing, I mean it's booming. So this is a
game whose time has come and I think it's reached
into a lot of different social experiences and certainly age categories,
(51:10):
so it's a game of all ages. And really it
is game on now.
Speaker 1 (51:15):
I've got to find a pickleball court.
Speaker 2 (51:17):
I know. And you know, I think because it is
so addictive, people are finding out just how much fun
it is. It's a healthy way to experience some fun,
you know, And that's what happened during COVID. We all
sort of found that that was a focus that we
needed and wanted to have, was on our well being,
and activity is something that helps bring that along, you know,
(51:39):
of whatever it is.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
I'm just sort of in awe that something has caught
on this quickly and no key to the point that
all these resorts and cruises are adding pickleball courts, yeah,
to keep their client tealent the.
Speaker 2 (51:55):
Next great thing. And I'm seeing come across my desk
really every day, properties all over the world, not just
in North America, not just in places that you would
expect like the Caribbean, but really places worldwide that are
catering to this new revolution in sporting. And I don't
(52:17):
think pickleball is going to be the end of this.
I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think there are going to be other new sports
that emerge as people learn to tap into the things
that are fun and they want to enjoy life more.
We learned how very quickly that all can be taken away.
So as we look at what we're doing for our
(52:37):
future goals for travel, for luxury travel in particular, and
how you might want to have a lifeless ordinary, we
encourage you every week this same time tune in and
listen to what we've got going on, because it's always
something we hope to educate you and bring you along
to what the world's doing today and how you can
have the most fun when you travel.
Speaker 1 (53:00):
About pickleball and you want to go to one of
these amazing destinations, whether it be California or Phoenix or
our river cruise. How do we get in touch with you.
Speaker 2 (53:09):
We're easy to find. The Wishing Well is located at
two forty three nef Avenue in the Valley Center in Harsonburg, Virginia.
You can call us at five four h nine oh
eight two three three three, or Chris. You can look
us up on the web at Thewishingwell dot viz.
Speaker 1 (53:25):
This has been a Life Less Ordinary the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three nef Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to the wishing
Well online at the wishing Well topiz or five four
Oho nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. Past episodes
are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll see you
again next Saturday morning at ten for a Life Less
(53:47):
Ordinary from the wishing Well
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