June 28, 2024 • 53 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean and Harry Reif discuss this week's travel news and Hot Deals!
Join us in this exciting episode as we explore the best luxury travel spots to celebrate Independence Day. From the stunning landscapes of Jackson Hole, WY, to the exquisite wineries of Sonoma, and the serene beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, these destinations offer the perfect blend of luxury and celebration to make your 4th of July getaway unforgettable!
Join us in this exciting episode as we explore the best luxury travel spots to celebrate Independence Day. From the stunning landscapes of Jackson Hole, WY, to the exquisite wineries of Sonoma, and the serene beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, these destinations offer the perfect blend of luxury and celebration to make your 4th of July getaway unforgettable!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It'sa travel show and podcasts from your friends
at the wishing Well two forty threef Avenue in Harrisburg and online at the
wishing Well dot this. The wishingWell is your ultimate luxury concierge, travel
agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is atravel show and podcast hosted by Terry Dean,
bringing her over forty years of experiencein the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be around the block,
around the country, or around theworld. Let's bring in Terry Dean and
say hello, Chris, how areyou? Are you feeling free? Are
you feeling independent? Are you feelingsparkly? Oh? I'm feeling something.
I'm feeling like the weather this weekendis gorgeous and I'm I don't have anything
(00:44):
to complain about when it comes tothat. Nope, We're not going to
listen to any complaints, no onewhatsoever. And I'm on vacation for the
week. What as soon as we'redone with this, i am out of
here. Well how about that?Good for you, Good for you,
thank you. And the good newsis when you say vacation, the word
travel always comes into place. SoI know you will. I know you're
(01:06):
gonna have a great time, andI'm happy for you. Thank you.
We're going to do just a youknow, a quick road trip up to
the Northern Panhandle or West Virginia.Nice, see some family. That's always
good when family is a part ofvacation. Mom said, they're going to
throw some steaks on the grill.I said, we will be there.
You know it, you know it. It's worth a five hour drawing up.
Somebody else cook a real for me, Yes, it is. It's
(01:30):
always good when that happens. Allright, So how's your week? What's
going on? You know, it'sbeen a busy week, Always busy in
the summertime. At the Wishing Wheel, there's always something going on, and
usually it's, you know, greathappy things. We're we're always so grateful
for all the smiling faces that comein and tell us hello and work with
(01:51):
us on planning their next vacations.I'd like to say hello to my cohort
Harry Wright, who is joining ushere in the studio as well today.
Well, Hello, hello, Chris, Hello Terry. Hello. I didn't
do my job well, I forgotto introduce you, Harry. Do your
job very well, Chris, andI told you to turn his mic off
anyway, So one of those shows, well, should we start with some
(02:19):
news? Do you think that wouldbe important? I think people are here
listening to us today on a lifelessordinary. Thank you for being with us.
We appreciate that. But I wantto talk to you a little bit
about what's in the news lately andhow technology is continuing to transform and impact
the air travel experience. And whenit comes to technology's impact on the end
(02:40):
to end air travel experience, consumersare not exactly it's thrilled with the digital
booking process, which has transformed ticketbuying. Matter of fact, in flight
entertainment, meanwhile, has become aconsistently evolving mosaic of offerings over the recess
and in the future may even growto include the use of virtual reality and
(03:06):
metaverse headsets that could be interesting.Those are just some of the high level
takeaways from the newly released report entitledthe Future of the Airline Passenger Experience that
was actually published by OAG, whichis the official airline god. So if
(03:27):
you have any interest in reading thatcomplete report, you could look it up.
It's called the Future of Airline passengerexperience. But in particular, this
report analyzes how consumers feel about theonline planning and booking process when purchasing tickets
and how technology has reshaped that experience. I could have told them that,
but the report also delves into theevolution of the entertainment system aboard the aircraft's
(03:53):
Now, whether you're purchasing through theysay, an online travel agency or airlines
directly, their airline ticket booking experiencehas become a highly digital experience. There
is no doubt technology has fully saturatedthat process, and the process of planning
and booking those adventures often fails toinspire joy among travelers. And that's always
(04:17):
been Chris. One of my petpeeves with people who book online or book
themselves is because I think, professionallyand personally speaking, and I've often said
this to my clients, if youdon't feel joy and excitement when you sit
down at the wishing well and startbooking with us, then I've done it
(04:38):
wrong. I've done that part ofthe job wrong, because the planning part
should be filled with joy and anticipationand excitement. And I fully get why
consumers are saying they're missing that valuablepiece because there's no one to help strike
that for them. Well, everytime I've tried to do it on my
(04:59):
own, it's panic and stress.That's not filling in joy. Chris,
Yep, you're doing it wrong too, And that sentiment appears to be the
strongest in the United States. Fornearly half, actually, forty three percent
of US travelers are finding no joy, no pleasure in booking their own travel.
I'm so happy to hear that.Come and see me, won't you.
(05:23):
The complexity of booking airline tickets onlineis cited as one of the major
issues for air travelers. In fact, nine out of ten airline ticket shopping
carts listen to this are entirely abandonedmost times. Meanwhile, more advanced travel
booking options are among the most mentionedrequest among travelers now. If we flip
(05:46):
this coin to our in flight entertainmenttechnology has also profoundly reshaped the inflight entertainment
experience for travelers. Gone are theearly days of those overhead projectors and a
single in aisle monitor which we socalled the communal screen. If you remember
(06:08):
that, today, in flight entertainmentexperiences dominated by personal seatback touch screens and
Wi Fi connectivity all of which illustrateshow technology has evolved into a critical arena
for airlines to distinguish their offerings andenhance passenger satisfaction. Now, it's a
little wonder to me that the airlinesare so focused on this but miss that
(06:32):
pivotal moment when the client makes thedecision, first of all, to be
on their plane. Don't you findthat some irony in that? I do,
and increasing number of airlines are providingpassengers with the capability to stream content
directly to their own personal device.Because of that development, some carriers have
actually begun to phase out their inseat screens altogether. As a matter of
(06:56):
fact, that shift hasn I dida heated debate within the industry, particularly
between American and Delta, who haveembarked on a very different strategy when it
comes to the future of their inflightentertainment offerings. American, the world's largest
airline by fleet size, has madeit clear that it will remove seatback entertainment
(07:17):
screens from its new fleet of Boeingaircraft as part of its interior refresh project
known as Oasis. It might bemore like a desert if they do that.
But Delta Airlines, on the otherhand has indicated that it will not
only maintain but expand their seatback entertainmentover the coming years. I want to
(07:40):
be clear that Delta is also oneof Disney's number one carriers that supply individuals
and travelers to Walt Disney World.So good on you, Delta. But
further in the future, virtual realityand metaverse headsets, which could include Apple's
Vision Pro with its promise of animmersive of personal four K movie theater experience,
(08:03):
may redefine the in flight entertainment.I'm not making this up. This
is news. The use of virtualreality for inflight entertainment in the future not
only underscores the potential for unparalleled privacyand entertainment freedom, but also signals a
shift toward they say, a morepersonalized boundary pushing on board journey. That's
(08:28):
all we need that, don't wea boundary pushing experience. Terry. I've
mentioned this, I think on ourshow before, but the coolest thing I've
ever had happened to me on aplane was I was watching the movie The
Martian Oh right, and at themoment the plane took off, the rocket
ship was taking off, and itwas like I was in the rocket ship
because the plane was doing the littlevibration and you felt the g force.
(08:52):
And I think if the airlines weresmart, they would put movies on the
timer so as they take off,you feel like you're in the movie,
so people would run for fear thatthey know it was. I thought it
was the most amazing experience I've everhad on a plane. That is pretty
exciting. I bet it was.I mean because you get the whole virtual
reality of what you're seeing on thescreen. Yes, and that is what
(09:16):
the airlines are talking about bringing toa reality. Well, I've been on
an airline seat where there's a kidbehind me, and remember when the park
in the seat rocks. I've experiencedthat too many times, far too many
times. I'm not anxious for that. Well, I thought that would be
a kind of an amusing kickoff toour news story. Regardless of what side
(09:39):
of the aisle you sit on,there, whether you want more or less,
you're going to get it. Sothe next news story I want to
focus on is US airfares are athistoric lows while the volumes are sky rocketing.
And I got to tell you,Harry and I were actually up at
Washington Dulles airport last weekend seeing offone of our groups that was traveling to
(10:01):
Bermuda. And I will tell you, Harry, I don't know if you'd
agree with me. I have neverseen so many human beings in an airport
in all my life as were thereon last Sunday at Washington Dulles Airport.
It really did remind me of beingin a sardine camp market. It really
does. And when you think aboutwhat's going on inside of the airports,
(10:22):
with technology, terry airlines are movingmore and more into not having any human
beings exactly at the counters, anda lot of the lines were because all
they were were kiosks. And sadly, the kiosks function well for certain things
if they're simple, if there areno complications, but if there's anything unusual,
(10:45):
or if the travelers are not experiencedtravelers, those kiosks hold people back,
much like you know a dam anda lake calls the water back.
It's just a big barrier and peoplehave a lot of trouble, and that's
where a lot of the lines arecoming from. Airlines are going to figure
that out, but at least they'rekeeping us entertained. One more in the
(11:07):
seats. Yeah, and you know, I don't want to focus on the
negativity of the airports that are veryfull right now. They'll figure it out,
you know, they always do.People always somehow seem to get on
these flights and they make it totheir destinations. So that's great. But
some analysis are predicting a record breakingsummer travel season. We're seeing that.
I mean, that's exactly why webrought that up. But travelers have reason
(11:30):
to celebrate as airfares for the UnitedStates have continued to fall now really to
historic lows. Government data shows Christhat airfares in May dropped by nearly nine
percent from last year. No,that's hard to believe for a lot of
people who bought tickets, but thoseare the facts. Additionally, fares have
(11:52):
fallen by more than nineteen percent comparedto before the pandemic if we were looking
at May twenty nineteen, So that'ssignificant. And as American consumers have been
affected by inflationary pressures post pandemic,this is certainly a welcome respite from the
airline industry and one positive thing aboutthe airports and the airport experiences. The
(12:18):
jokes about the TSA lines, Ithink You're not hearing as many of those,
and that's because what I've noticed passingthrough the airports this summer, and
I've been through several times, thetechnology and the organization in the TSA lines,
for the most part, has gottena lot better. The scanning is
better, the tools are better,the agents seem to be in better moods,
(12:41):
and passengers are moving through those linesfaster and faster. Along with some
of the programs Terry that you andI have talked about for reentry into the
country, moving through the customs proceduresalso much much faster. So while we
complain about things, there are alsosome very positive things happening at the airports
today. Yep. And actually,as we're talking about things increasing, I
(13:05):
wonder, Chris, have you beenwatching any of the pre Olympic qualifying meets
with some of the pre Olympics thatare going on right now. I have
not. I actually have. I'vebeen enjoying that very very much. And
I think all of that has beenleading up to talk about increase of travel.
But travel bookings to France actually areup right now fifty two percent compared
(13:31):
to the same period last year.That's significant and I think we can definitely
point to the Olympics in Paris,France as the reason for that. International
air travel as a matter of fact, is up fifty six percent for the
Olympic period and that's from July thetwenty fourth to August the thirteenth, And
in Paris, most travelers are goingto be from the United States, Japan,
(13:56):
and Canada. Marseille is going tosee a lot of Americans, Bordeaux
is going to have a strong presenceof British and American travelers. Nissan Leone
will see more Americans and Germans.And hotel occupancy rates in France for the
week of July twenty eighth are upeighty six percent compared to last year and
(14:18):
up eighty eight percent the first weekof August. Paris hotels are nearly full
with eighty one percent occupancy for theweek of July. The twenty eight alternative
accommodations in Paris show about a sixtyfour percent increase in nights sold for the
Olympics and seventy four percent yay forthe Paralympics. So I think all things
(14:43):
considered, the Olympics looks like theyare having a very positive effect on Paris
and also on France. I thoughtit would be fun, Chris, before
we get into what I like tocall the meat and potatoes of our show
and our couple sale faars that we'vewas give some folks some guidance as they're
traveling into the Caribbean. This summerseems to be a really as usual a
(15:09):
vacation destination, whether you are goingby cruise or if you're flying to these
destinations we're hearing because people are saturatingthe Caribbean right now. We're hearing more
about it in the news when somethinghappens. So I wanted to give people
a heads up the latest travel guidancefor a lot of these Caribbean island destinations.
(15:31):
We're in full swing with summer,and I said, a lot of
travelers are flocking to the Caribbean.The islands offer not only warm weather and
that sunshine that everybody's looking for,but one of a kind experiences. They've
got world class hotels resorts. Sobefore they go, travelers might want to
visit the US State Department's guidance onall of these destinations. But real quick,
(15:56):
I want to run through a fewof these. Aruba and the ABC
Islands typically ABC islands stand for Aruba, Barbados and Currousel. Those are the
ones, and so for Barbados,Aruba and the ABC Islands. Right now,
(16:17):
it's just exercised normal precautions. There'sno real heavy warnings about that.
The same goes for their neighboring islandsof bonn Air and Currosel. The Bahamas.
Now that one's been in the newslately, the State Department has issued
a level two which is reconsider travel. Uh That made headlines back in January
(16:41):
when there was an uptick in violencethere in the Bahamas. The other ones
that I wanted to focus on isthe Dominican Republic. That's one that we
see a great deal of travelers goingto at the wishing Well, and visitors
to the Dominican Republic are just askedto increase exercise increased caution, sorry,
(17:03):
due to crime. Jamaica, however, there's one for you. The State
Department is advising Americans I've rarely everseen this to reconsider travel to Jamaica entirely
due to crime and subpar medical servicesthis June. The other one that I
had left on my list is PuertoRico. While the State Department doesn't issue
(17:26):
any particular travelers advisories for US territories, they're just saying exercise normal security precautions.
Saint Lucia, I found this onevery interesting, continues to be among
the safest, the very safest destinationsin the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos.
Travelers are encouraged to exercise increased cautiondue to crime and again the US Virgin
(17:48):
Islands normal security precautions. So Iwanted to just give everybody a heads up
if you are one of the onestraveling to any one of those destinations,
just good information to know, goodinformation to have. I would say,
continue to keep your eyes and earson focused on Jamaica. Things aren't getting
particularly good there, so it's notreally a good time to go. And
(18:11):
of course, if you're planning anytravel and any more information called Terry or
Harry at the Wishingwell, absolutely we'dbe happy to help you. And of
course, before we lead into ourstory today, which is called Sparkling Luxury,
for the fourth of July, weare headed into a holiday, folks.
In case you're not looking at yourcalendar or you're under a rock.
(18:33):
I'm excited. I love the fourthof July. I like everything about it.
First of all, it's my birthdaymonth, so I love that.
I love that. They usually alwaysput off fireworks somewhere around me, so
I get to see those, andit's nice. It's summer, it's picnic,
it's barbecues, it's all of that. It's vacations. We love it.
(18:53):
You and I have different ways oflooking at things. Well that's okay.
I look at the fourth July andI'm like, we get to blow
stuff up. We're celebrating Indie subjectguys, celebrating independence. You are such
a guy and a thick RIBI onthe grill. Well, I want to
talk about some great places to travelto because it is exciting that you have
(19:17):
maybe some vacation time left through August. The fourth Sandals Resorts vendor that we
don't talk about a whole lot here, but they always seem to have something
going on. They have their annualRhythm and Blues sale going on. They're
offering guests one hundred and seventy fivedollars resort credit on stays of five nights
or longer, as well as athousand dollars air credit on stays of seven
(19:41):
nights or longer. That's significant.When we're talking about airfare. Uh.
The package is good for travel throughJuly the thirty first of next year and
valid at four different properties, onein Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Curisol
and the Safe Island. I wastalking about Saint Lucia and also Sandal's in
(20:02):
Antigua. The Sandals, Saint Vincentand the Grenadine's property is actually a brand
new addition to the Sandals family.Visitors who go to that island can experience
the flavors of the annual bread fruitfestival. Have you ever had bread fruit?
I'm interested in trying it now thatwe're talking about it. Yeah,
exactly was it? You know?I'm not exactly sure myself. All I
(20:23):
know is that I did experience itwhen I was in Saint Lucia. It
doesn't remind you so much of bread, but it is quite tasty. But
anyway, they make dishes from breadfruit, cheese, pie to kish all in
a nod to the national crop therein the Sandals, Saint Vincent and the
(20:47):
Grenadines. For families, however,Beaches is the family version of the Sandals
properties. The Rhythm and Blues saleoffer is good for one hundred and seventy
five dollars resort credit there is wellfor four nights are longer, and seven
hundred and fifty dollars air credit.That's also good through July the thirty first,
(21:07):
twenty twenty five at several of theirproperties, including Turks and Caicos.
Now another big, big destination atthe Wishing Well. We have been getting
tons of inquiries, so I'm justgoing to get this one off the table
right now. I've got an Irishescape offered by one of my favorite tour
operators. Does a great job there, Globus Tour Operators. They have a
(21:33):
fabulous vacation seven days. Dublin toDublin makes pretty much a circle around Ireland
with Dublin, Galway, Cliffs ofMore Killarney, Ring of Carrie, Blarney
of course Waterford Kilkenny, all foroff season rates starting at only twelve hundred
and fifty nine dollars per person.Now airfare would be an addition on that
(21:56):
one, but that one's on salewith our good folks there from Globus Gateway.
The last sale fair I have isauto train fares. This is real
popular in the summertime, especially peoplewho want to go down to Florida.
You can skip the stress of Ininety five and travel in comfort with discounted
fares through September the second. You'llenjoy free breakfast, free Wi Fi,
(22:19):
no middle seats, plus kids aregoing to ride free all summer in coach
and first class if you book byJuly the thirty first auto train fares starting
at only seventy five dollars. Chris, So that's a deal. That's a
real deal. Float up. Thecar. Going on the auto train is
really a breeze, you know,it's there's not much you have to do
(22:42):
to get onto the train. Wherecan we actually get on the train?
Lofton Virginia is where you get on, Okay, yep. And it goes
down to Florida, so very closeto the Disney area. That's where.
So if you want to go farthersouth, you're you gonna have to get
off and drive. That's right,Okay, that's right for seventy five bucks.
Yes, not a bad deal atall. Please, And you don't
(23:03):
have to take a car on theauto train now you don't. You can
just ride. It's gonna be along walk to Miami. No, they've
got a train down there too.Now that runs up and down Florida,
a new train that's doing great,great, great from everything we've heard,
so our show today is called SparklingLuxury for the fourth yep for the fourth.
(23:25):
How about we light up some sparklersnext here on a lifeless ordinary,
let's do it. Protect your vacationinvestment with guidance from a travel professional.
The wishing Well knows travel and helpyou avoid pitfalls they can spoil your hard
earned vacation. We'll plan your tripand have your back as you travel.
All of this without support or socalled convenience fees. We're on the web
at though Wishingwell dot biz or callus at five four zero nine zero eight
(23:48):
two three three three. That's fivefour zero nine zero eight two three three
three. The washing Well really doesmake dreams come true. And welcome back
to a lifeless ordinary travel show andpodcast from your friends at the wishing Well.
You can find them on net Avenuein Harrisonburg, online at the wishing
Well dot biz, or give thema call at five four nine oh eight
(24:10):
twenty three thirty three. What areyour holiday hours this week? We are
in the office Monday through Wednesday ofthis upcoming week. From nine until four
and on the fourth of July weare going to be closed, and the
fifth and the sixth we're going tocelebrate. We're going to sell a break.
It's going to be independent independent.Will you be celebrating sparkling luxury for
(24:33):
the war? Are we are?Indeed? Yes, it's going to be
loads of fun, excellent. Wellthat's the name of our show today,
So let's discuss sparkling luxury. Ithink we should. It's official. Chris
Summer's here. It's hot, it'slazy, and for a lot of families,
it's time to go traveling, right. That's what we're here for.
(24:55):
That's what a lifeless Ordinary is allabout. It's about sharing those the best
of the places to go with ourlistening audience and our friends and doing that
with friends and family. And thefourth of July is really the best time
to celebrate. Watch fireworks, cookout, have picnics and steaks on the
(25:15):
grill, and gather the family oreven just a lot of friends and party
like there is no tomorrow. Youknow, we get permission to do that
on the fourth of July. It'sgreat and I must admit, however,
that I am absolutely not a hotweather person. I love the idea of
coolcations and just about any celebration.I will do anything to kick back and
(25:41):
enjoy some time away in a coolplace. I will do that. But
I know, and I realized thatone size doesn't fit all, and not
everybody feels that way. And that'swhy I wanted to bring some more diverse
destinations to you today here on alife less ordinay, so you too could
contemplate where your Fourth of July orupcoming summertime away might take you. And
(26:03):
I'm going to approach this from avery luxurious perspective today, and I'll tell
you why I'm going to do this. I actually had a client who nudged
me in this direction. She andher husband are planning their fiftieth wedding anniversary
celebration and she had a destination allpicked out that she wanted to go to
(26:29):
and a time of year that shewanted to go. And I set out
on finding out what I could offerto them to take a look at,
to just get some idea of whatwas really out there to choose from.
And budget didn't enter this conversation yet, Okay, So I aired on the
side of looking for something that was, you know, in my mind,
(26:52):
an affordable, middle of the roadtype of vacation experience, only to have
her back and say, hey,listen, I love these ideas. However,
cost is not an issue on thisparticular trip. We're looking to spend
about three times what these trips arethat you gave us. So here's what
(27:15):
that tells me, Chris. Noteverybody is looking to save pennies on every
single vacation. In today's world,in today's market that we live in,
in today's travel experiences, that's whatpeople want. And she said that very
thing to me. She said,what we want is not to worry about
the dollars. We want a fabuloustravel experience. We want a fabulous memory.
(27:41):
And when you approach things like that, I want everybody who's listening today
to know that's exactly what drove meinto these fourths of July, sparkling luxurious
places that I chose for our adventuretoday. And some of these might surprise
you. It wouldn't surprise me ifit did, because they some of them
(28:03):
will sound like ordinary destinations. Butit's the luxurious part of it that I
wanted to focus on. So you'reready to get started let's go all right.
So the very first one that Iwanted to take a look at is
a place called we all know it, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And you
might be wondering exactly why I pickedthat, but hear me out. Let
(28:27):
me just tell you that this isa great place just to peel off and
get kind of off the grid.July Weather's great kind of upper eighties.
Really just perfect for white water raftingor some of the other water sports that
you can enjoy in the state ofWyoming. But equally great if you're into
horseback riding on the open plains.I mean, it's perfect for that as
(28:51):
well. What's not to love aboutthat. And then sitting at the heart
of this immense natural territory and justreally showing off with the most majestic mountain
views is a property called the ahmanGani Amungani. It's an idyllic retreat that
(29:11):
just embodies the spirit of the AmericanWest. And I often encourage you guys
out there that listen to us,if you're sitting in front of a computer
while we're talking, look these placesup so you can really know exactly what
I saw what I was seeing whenI was trying to paint this picture for
you as we talk about these destinations. It's actually found at the heart of
(29:33):
an immense natural territory in Wyoming,the Pacific Redwoods. That's a huge drawl
right now. For a lot ofmy clients these days, they want to
see the redwoods and the lofty decorpsin this place is a true reflection of
Jackson's rugged Titan mountains that are justactually opposite the property. So you're here
(29:53):
at the property, the Jackson MountainRange, the Tetons are just literally across
from them. Think when you thinkabout this property, and if you're not
looking at it, I want youto think oak paneling, roaring fireplaces,
candlelit balconies. This luxury property reallypromises you an unforgettable experience. And with
(30:15):
a name meaning peaceful home, that'swhat AMUNGANI means, peaceful home. It
really does what it says. Thelocation. Now in the winter, I
can address that it's actually surrounded thereand it's very popular in the wintertime.
It's surrounded by these snow capped peaksduring hosting ski season and snowboarding activities for
(30:40):
all ages. But not only isthe resort close to the slope. It's
also only a ten minute drive fromthe town of Jackson Hole, and that's
really not a big city, that'sa quaint little town. But you look
out across the raw valley of theWhole, which is what the locals call
it, where a lot of wildanimals leave their train when they wander up
(31:00):
through the snow. So you doget a lot of wildlife in that area
too. And what about the accommodations. Well, all of the thirty odd
suites that are here in four homesthat you can rent out, have phenomenal
views over the mountains. But thecorner suites have these excellent wrap around balconies,
(31:21):
so if you're getting ready for evensummer activities, it's an easy feat.
Each suite has an additional living roomarea space to spread out in,
so if you had a family largefamily that you wanted to take, like
we're talking about for the Fourth ofJuly celebrations, this would be a perfect
family retreat. The suites also havetheir own decks, but if you want
to stay within the comfort of yourown four walls, all you have to
(31:45):
do is enjoy the view from thedeep soaking tub that's also there. Now,
why I like this. It's becauseJackson serves as a great base for
short excursions or all day adventures toGrand Teeton National Park. There you can
also visit Jenny Lake and Jackson Lakefor some amazing views and great hiking.
(32:06):
At least one full day should bespent in Yellowstone, which is really close
by. That's the world's first nationalpark. Did you know that. Yes,
And you might not know this,but Yellowstone contains more than two million
acres of crystalline lakes, hundreds ofwaterfalls, panoramic scenic areas, and these
(32:28):
steaming geysers, including our favorite OldFaithful, So it's a great place to
go. They've got guided wildlife safarisfrom there. You can do that in
an suv from the property. Actuallythe property Amangani, has their own luxury
SUVs that you can take out personally. They loan them to you, very
(32:52):
much like what we experienced with anotherproperty in Park City called the Montage.
They do that as well. Butsightings of moose, bear, coyotes,
elk deer, even wolves and mountainlions are possible to see from this particular
area. Then, Jackson Hole isalso home to some of the world's best
trout fishing. So if that's somethingthat you enjoy as a family or a
(33:15):
couple, or you know you wantto just do a guys getaway, that
this would be a perfect place forsomething like that. Now, did I
prepare you that my choices this weekwe're going to be luxurious and that the
Amaghani certainly lives up to that,with nightly rates beginning from twelve hundred and
seventy five dollars per night. Fulldisclosure, this is one of our Virtuoso
(33:38):
preferred properties, So that means Chriseven extra amenities when you stay at this
beautiful resort. And I mean totell you, it is truly an over
the top experience. There's nothing likeit. It is gorgeous. So there
you go. All of my bestreasons to put Jackson Hole, Wyoming on
my list of best places to goover the Force of July. And the
(34:00):
great thing about this is many ofthese destinations that I'm picking, they're not
going to be the best places onthe Force of July to witness fireworks or
celebrations or anything like that. Thisis maybe about not going so much to
the ce and be seen places.This is really about taking some time out
(34:22):
on the force of July maybe todo exactly what I said. I think
we all need a break. Youknow. There are so many people that
I talk to on a daily basis, our clients, Harry, thank you
to agree. They talk about thestress of work and the anxiety that they're
feeling about the pressures of being overworkedand not enough time to get things done.
(34:44):
Yeah. And people all often talkto me about wanting to get together
with family. They've got family andthey're just distributed all around the country and
need they need an excuse or somekind of reason to get to together.
Going to a resort like this whereeveryone will be able to just enjoy time
(35:04):
together, maybe sit at night andmake some puzzles, get out in the
day, do a little hiking.This is a resort that is a year
round resort that you're talking about,Terry. People pay big money to go
out there and ski in the wintertimeand in the summertime the traffic's a little
lighter. So this is a greatopportunity to take advantage of a fantastic resource
(35:27):
and the beauty that only mother naturecan provide. Yet do it with your
family right beside you. What agreat way to bond. Yeah, and
what a great way to appreciate ournation as we celebrate the fourth going out
and seeing the beautiful landscape and thevery first national part. Yeah you know
it's wonderful. Yeah, sign meup. Yeah. Now, this next
(35:47):
one might surprise you a little bit. It's not quite as sexy as Jackson
Hole, Wyoming might be. Andit's really probably something that you know,
some folks who are listening to ushave even been a time or three.
But I'm talking about the Smoky Mountainsin Tennessee and it made my list because
it is special. It really isspecial. It's called the Smoky Mountains,
(36:13):
Chris, because they have this everpresent morning fog in the mountains. A
lot of people don't know that,but this mountain range is also world renowned
for the diversity of its plant andits animal life, the beauty of its
ancient mountains, and its history ofthe Southern Appalachian people. Now another perfect
destination to kick back, relax,just soak in the area and all it's
(36:37):
got to offer you. And I'lltell you once you get there, one
of the most luxurious places to layyour head for a week would have to
be a place I'll bet you nota lot of people have heard about.
It is beautiful, it is luxurious. It's a surprise to find a place
(36:57):
like this in the smoky mountains ofTennessee. It's called the BlackBerry Farm.
Now, whether you're looking for farmfresh, award winning cuisine, washed down
with a handcraft whiskey, rural beauty, or just goodbye to the world remoteness,
BlackBerry Farm is really one of thoseplaces that I found is unparalleled.
(37:22):
It's set to a stunning backdrop withabout forty two hundred acres of private,
dense forest and creeks. It's justbeautiful. It's as close to perfection as
it gets. And it's that kindof special place where you can swap city
lights for just wide open skies.And you're going to soon see why this
(37:43):
place is just mesmerizing. It's afamily run farm, and they've even got
their own special Fourth of July fireworksto light up the night sky, and
they offer a culinary treat to boot. This one got my attention because I
love it so much. They havea barbecue battle with some of the most
talented names in the culinary world.Now, since you're here in Tennessee anyway,
(38:07):
you might want to be sure toswing by the George Dickle Whiskey Distillery
in Tullahoma. That's a little spiritedstopover for the inside scoop on how they
achieve that smooth, legendary flavor.Back on BlackBerry Farm on the fourth,
you can actually indulge in their organiccuisine, some artisan cheeses, all sourced
(38:29):
and produced on this property. Sothose forty two hundred private acres they really
make good use of. They growtheir own products, they grow their own
produce, They even have their ownfarm of cattle and that kind of thing.
So everything that you get is reallyfreshly prepared there. And when they
(38:50):
can have a barbecue battle and invitesome of the best chefs in the world
to that, I think they're doingprobably something right now. Again, I
would remind you that the BlackBerry Farmis aury property. Remember that's what we're
doing today, albeit a very unpretentiousproperty. I like that about it.
But you could expect to pay somewherearound eighteen hundred dollars for a night's stay
(39:12):
here, but worth every penny.Gorgeous. This is a drivable location too
that you're talking about Terry, whichis especially good. And I'm wondering if
that barbecue might maybe you can mixthe stuff you were talking about. Do
you think that barbecue might have someof that whiskey and whisky? It could
be you never know, nice awhiskey glaze that's really nice tasting of that.
(39:37):
Now a destination that's probably not drivable, Harry, But Sonoma, California
comes up next on my list.Now you're in luck with this one because
there is a five month stretch fromJune to October that is considered peak season
in Sonoma, with harvest time comingin September and October, seeing the most
(39:59):
tourists by far during that time.Not to say July fourth is not a
popular time to go, but harvestseason is also probably the next best time
if you want to be there,and who wouldn't want to go. Here's
something else I can share with youabout Sonoma. It is the glorious,
laid back sister of glamorous Napa Valley, known for its down to earth,
(40:23):
rustic vibes and celebrated farm to tablecuisine. It's a place really where you
can slow down, really connect tothe land, unwined, with a glass
of wine in hand, and theredwoods again as a backdrop. Here naturally.
Another major draw to Sonoma is itsabundance of excellent wine. I mean
that kind of goes without saying,and exploring the wineries is a must if
(40:46):
you're picking what to do in Sonoma. It's actually home to about sixty thousand
acres of vineyards and more than fourhundred wineries spread over eighteen distinct one regions,
all catering to different tastes, allin Sonoma. Can you see me
(41:07):
crazy? It's an international destination.Yes, people come from around the world
to go to Sonoma. And whenyou think about California, the stereotype that
a lot of people have about Californiaterry, crazy, crowded cities, what
you've just described is the other oppositetalking you're talking about a culture, you're
(41:27):
talking about a landscape. You're talkingabout a way of life that is so
different from the stereotypes that we haveabout the big cities in California and the
lifestyle in California. When you're talkingabout cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco,
San Diego, this is far,far different. It's God's country out
there, and it is equally beautiful, but contrasting to what you find in
(41:54):
places like you just talked about hereon the East coast, up on you
know, up in the mountains ofthe East Coast, versus the wine fields
of the West Coast. Yeah.Now, I'm no sau miner far be
it. I do appreciate good wine. But Chardonnay is the most popular grape
(42:15):
in Sonoma wineries, followed by Cabernet, sauvignon, and pino noir. But
there are well over fifty great varietiesgrown in the county. They're some of
the best winers in Sonoma come fromactually small, family run producers where you
can get kind of behind the sceneslook at the world of wine making and
(42:37):
even sample the wine at its source. So that's why a lot of people
will go out for some experiences there. Short weekends, you know, get
away from big city life in Californiaand go out to Sonoma. You can
spend a pretty nice Fourth of Julyin Sonoma as well. I already mentioned
that it's a bit quieter, Harry, talk to you about that then the
(42:59):
neighboring Pappa. But Sonoma is theperfect choice for what I would call a
civilized and sophisticated weekend away. They'vegot every culinary option you can imagine they've
got these great taco trucks that comeout and Michelin starred restaurants to small B
and B's. Sonoma is just alow key paradise that exudes off the beaten
(43:22):
path five star luxury. I mean, it's as simple as that, and
that's what we're talking about today.So for a taste of laid back California
charm, there's nowhere that can competewith one of my favorite ends. I
would say in the United States.I know a good bit about this particular
place. I've had a lot ofclients there. It's called the Farmhouse Inn,
(43:45):
which is again one of our veryspecial virtuoso properties, a real romantic
setting right in the heart of theserolling hills and valleys of vineyards. The
stunning property perfectly blends rustic and chic. That's real trending now, making it
the best place to retreat for atranquil long weekend or even longer. Now.
(44:08):
We were talking a little bit earlierabout how Jackson Hole, Wyoming was
a great retreat for the guys.This one, this one would be a
great retreat for the ladies. Agirl's weekend, maybe some special getaway moms
and daughters. But when you're notsipping Charnay, hiking in the Redwoods,
(44:28):
or you can even fuil watch offthe Pacific coast. Here, you can
just indulge in world class spas becausethey've got them in Sonoma, and there's
something there to suit everybody's fancy.Now you'll like this. Prices per night
at the Farmhouse Inn begin from onlyfive hundred and fifty six dollars. This
(44:49):
is one of my more affordable luxuryproperties on today's show. But remember that
would also include some very appreciated virtuosoamenities a well. So this is one
of my favorites. And again Ithink it answers the call to a lot
of people who would be looking fora great getaway for a Fourth of July
quiet time out in California, oreven like I said, a girl's weekend
(45:14):
would be nice. You mentioned earlier. I think Chris, she's hinting.
She mentioned that July was her birthdaymonth. Oh, also, we're sending
her to one of these destinations.I think she's asking us to send her
here. Okay, I can Ican get down with that. That's that's
quite all right, as long aswe all get to go sure, Sarah.
What's the number that they should callwith their donations. Chris, call
(45:37):
later, right, I've got thephone number if you want to book some
of these destinations. That's five fournine to eight twenty three thirty three.
Thank you, Chris Well, shamelessplug. We appreciate that anytime we can
get it. So our show todayis Sparkling Luxury for the fourth and we
have definitely visited some sparkling luxurious locationsand there are still more to come.
(45:57):
There are here on a life lessOrdinary. Protect your vacation investment with guidance
from a travel professional. The wishingWell 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 ofthis without support or so called convenience fees.
We're on the web at tho Wishingwelldot biz or call us at five
four zero nine zero eight two threethree three. That's five four zero nine
(46:22):
zero eight two three three three.The washing Well really does make dreams come
true. And welcome back to aLifeless Ordinary, the travel show and podcast
from your friends at the wishing Well. I love today's show, Terry.
It's called Sparkling Luxury. For thefourth We've been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
We've been to Sonoma, We've beento the Smoky Mountain, Smoky Mountains,
(46:44):
and now where are we headed.We are headed to a place that
you're gonna love, Watch Hill,Rhode Island. And there aren't too many
places, Chris, that I selectsimply for the food. But there's a
first time for everything, and rightnow, first things first, No visit
to watch Hill is complete without astop at the Saint Clair Annex. This
(47:07):
is a family owned ice cream andsandwich shop operated by the Nicholas family for
more than one hundred and thirty fiveyears now. In addition to the delicious
small batch ice cream they make amean grinder. Favorite is their Italian The
(47:27):
Olympia tea room, which dates backto nineteen sixteen. Doesn't accept reservations,
but dishes like linguini with roasted clamsand Portuguese baked hattock make the weight for
one of the antique mahogany booths atthis particular restaurant in watch Hill, Rhode
Island. Totally totally worthwhile. Soundedpretty tasty, don't you say. Now
(47:52):
for fine dining, you might wantto head over to the nearby we coul
pug In. That's a relay inchateau, sibling of Ocean House, which
we're going to be talking more abouthere in just a minute, for dinner
at a place called the Restaurant.Don't miss the Stonington Scollops and Crescent Farm
(48:13):
Duck Duo, and I have totell you, July fourth doesn't get much
more iconic than at the exclusive andrestored Ocean House we were talking about that.
It's set in the charming enclave ofWatch Hill, Rhode Island, and
it's perched way up above on abluff overlooking the block Island sound, making
(48:36):
this ocean front gym point blank oneof the best of the best, with
a stunning private beach reserved for theproperties guests only, and the perfect place
for a stroll along the water,a gourmet meal, quick game of croquet
on lush lawns overlooking the property.Stay at this beautiful relay in chateau.
Property is as exclusive as it gets, and it reminds me kind of of
(49:00):
a wonderful scene from The Great Gadsby. Did you ever watch that movie?
It was fabulous and all of thethings that I see when I looked and
researched, the Ocean House did remindme of that movie A private escape from
crowds. But it's near enough tothe buzz of watch Hill and Newport,
(49:21):
and you're definitely going to want toventure out enjoy tasty local flavors at any
number of the places that I mentioned, And I totally forgot to tell you
to try the delicious and briny watchHill Oysters. I love oysters. I
don't like them raw, but Ido like oysters. I love oyster stew
I love fried oysters. But thetown of watch Hill shines as a preppy,
(49:45):
patriotic enclave, and the Ocean Househas its very own Fourth of July
fireworks that are for sure the brightestlights in the sky. Now while you're
there, you can take part intheir annual Independence Day beach ball. That's
a must. It's a spirited wayto bring in the holiday. And this
year the property has even unveiled thesecret Champagne Garden that is all trust,
(50:07):
charming and private with stunning views.What would a night at the Ocean House
cost you? You under a cooleleven and fifty two dollars per night.
So we have covered some really greatproperties from east coast to west coast to
the south. I love everything aboutthese properties. Planning, of course,
(50:30):
in advance is very important. Idid look actually as we were preparing for
today's show, and some of theseproperties, interestingly enough, are still available
for the fourth of July this year. But I wouldn't count on that.
I wouldn't ever think that you couldbook these types of properties this close to
your arrival and get what you wanted. But they really are worth seeking out,
(50:52):
whether you do it this Fourth ofJuly or next, find someplace wonderful
and relaxing to go and celebrate ourindependence the people who got us there.
You know, I look toward ourveterans and our military men and women who
were responsible for our freedoms and saythank you to them on this fourth of
(51:14):
July. It's worth every firework thatwe set off to say thanks to all
those people who lived and died forour freedom. I love it. Well.
We also have not just the fourthof July, terry you're talking about
booking these properties. There's a lotof vacation time left for summer. We've
just begun summer. So if somethingyou're talking about is interesting, I think
(51:37):
there's still plenty of time. Talkto your family, talk to your spouse,
your special persons, and talk abouttaking advantage of one of these properties.
These are the properties, as wetalk about in this show, that
make those lifetime memories that you justcan't ever get rid of. You don't
want to ever get rid of them. Yeah, they do. And I'm
(51:58):
thinking about cris'sation that's upcoming. He'sgoing to be going to Wheeling, And
I got to tell you, eventhat area of our country, beautiful state
of West Virginia, find some wonderfulspots and just enjoy your time there,
Chris, because I actually have,Yeah, I actually have. I think
Feeling is very charming, it reallyis. And they have some great music
(52:20):
venues, well they do. Yeah. Yeah, the beautiful parts of West
Virginia are a little further south thanWheeling. Yeah, but you know,
there's there's all kinds of interesting spotsall over our area, and our community
is full of that. We canshare with one another and find out whatever
we want to know about these lovelyplaces. We live in a wonderful country.
It's a wonderful time of the year, it's a wonderful holiday. What
(52:43):
a great way to walk into itwith all these ideas that you've shared with
us today. Yeah, and wegot a lot of places right here in
our backyard, don't we Skyline drive, the Blue Rich Parkway and all these
beautiful ways to celebrate our country.Absolutely. I love today's show, Terry,
thank you so much. Yeah,I did too. It's fun.
If you'd like more information about bookinga sparkling luxury vacation for the fourth you
(53:05):
need to contact our friends at thewishing Well. We're so easy to find.
We're located at two forty three nephAvenue. That's our physical location in
Harrisonburg, Virginia in the Valley Center. You can call us at five four
h nine oh eight two three threethree or look us up on the web.
We are at the Wishingwell dot biz. This has been a life less
(53:27):
ordinary the travel show from your friendsat the wishing Well at two forty three
nep Avenue and Harrisonburg. If youhave any questions on topics discussed today,
please reach out to the wishing Wellonline at the Wishingwell dot biz or five
four oh nine oh eight twenty threethirty three. Past episodes are available on
the iHeartRadio app and We'll see againnext Saturday morning at ten for a life
less ordinary. From the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It'sa travel show and podcasts from your friends
at the wishing Well two forty threef Avenue in Harrisburg and online at the
wishing Well dot this. The wishingWell is your ultimate luxury concierge, travel
agency and a Lifeless Ordinary is atravel show and podcast hosted by Terry Dean,
bringing her over forty years of experiencein the travel industry to help guide
(00:21):
you to great experiences in your travel, whether it be around the block,
around the country, or around theworld. Let's bring in Terry Dean and
say hello, Chris, how areyou? Are you feeling free? Are
you feeling independent? Are you feelingsparkly? Oh? I'm feeling something.
I'm feeling like the weather this weekendis gorgeous and I'm I don't have anything
(00:44):
to complain about when it comes tothat. Nope, We're not going to
listen to any complaints, no onewhatsoever. And I'm on vacation for the
week. What as soon as we'redone with this, i am out of
here. Well how about that?Good for you, Good for you,
thank you. And the good newsis when you say vacation, the word
travel always comes into place. SoI know you will. I know you're
(01:06):
gonna have a great time, andI'm happy for you. Thank you.
We're going to do just a youknow, a quick road trip up to
the Northern Panhandle or West Virginia.Nice, see some family. That's always
good when family is a part ofvacation. Mom said, they're going to
throw some steaks on the grill.I said, we will be there.
You know it, you know it. It's worth a five hour drawing up.
Somebody else cook a real for me, Yes, it is. It's
(01:30):
always good when that happens. Allright, So how's your week? What's
going on? You know, it'sbeen a busy week, Always busy in
the summertime. At the Wishing Wheel, there's always something going on, and
usually it's, you know, greathappy things. We're we're always so grateful
for all the smiling faces that comein and tell us hello and work with
(01:51):
us on planning their next vacations.I'd like to say hello to my cohort
Harry Wright, who is joining ushere in the studio as well today.
Well, Hello, hello, Chris, Hello Terry. Hello. I didn't
do my job well, I forgotto introduce you, Harry. Do your
job very well, Chris, andI told you to turn his mic off
anyway, So one of those shows, well, should we start with some
(02:19):
news? Do you think that wouldbe important? I think people are here
listening to us today on a lifelessordinary. Thank you for being with us.
We appreciate that. But I wantto talk to you a little bit
about what's in the news lately andhow technology is continuing to transform and impact
the air travel experience. And whenit comes to technology's impact on the end
(02:40):
to end air travel experience, consumersare not exactly it's thrilled with the digital
booking process, which has transformed ticketbuying. Matter of fact, in flight
entertainment, meanwhile, has become aconsistently evolving mosaic of offerings over the recess
and in the future may even growto include the use of virtual reality and
(03:06):
metaverse headsets that could be interesting.Those are just some of the high level
takeaways from the newly released report entitledthe Future of the Airline Passenger Experience that
was actually published by OAG, whichis the official airline god. So if
(03:27):
you have any interest in reading thatcomplete report, you could look it up.
It's called the Future of Airline passengerexperience. But in particular, this
report analyzes how consumers feel about theonline planning and booking process when purchasing tickets
and how technology has reshaped that experience. I could have told them that,
but the report also delves into theevolution of the entertainment system aboard the aircraft's
(03:53):
Now, whether you're purchasing through theysay, an online travel agency or airlines
directly, their airline ticket booking experiencehas become a highly digital experience. There
is no doubt technology has fully saturatedthat process, and the process of planning
and booking those adventures often fails toinspire joy among travelers. And that's always
(04:17):
been Chris. One of my petpeeves with people who book online or book
themselves is because I think, professionallyand personally speaking, and I've often said
this to my clients, if youdon't feel joy and excitement when you sit
down at the wishing well and startbooking with us, then I've done it
(04:38):
wrong. I've done that part ofthe job wrong, because the planning part
should be filled with joy and anticipationand excitement. And I fully get why
consumers are saying they're missing that valuablepiece because there's no one to help strike
that for them. Well, everytime I've tried to do it on my
(04:59):
own, it's panic and stress.That's not filling in joy. Chris,
Yep, you're doing it wrong too, And that sentiment appears to be the
strongest in the United States. Fornearly half, actually, forty three percent
of US travelers are finding no joy, no pleasure in booking their own travel.
I'm so happy to hear that.Come and see me, won't you.
(05:23):
The complexity of booking airline tickets onlineis cited as one of the major
issues for air travelers. In fact, nine out of ten airline ticket shopping
carts listen to this are entirely abandonedmost times. Meanwhile, more advanced travel
booking options are among the most mentionedrequest among travelers now. If we flip
(05:46):
this coin to our in flight entertainmenttechnology has also profoundly reshaped the inflight entertainment
experience for travelers. Gone are theearly days of those overhead projectors and a
single in aisle monitor which we socalled the communal screen. If you remember
(06:08):
that, today, in flight entertainmentexperiences dominated by personal seatback touch screens and
Wi Fi connectivity all of which illustrateshow technology has evolved into a critical arena
for airlines to distinguish their offerings andenhance passenger satisfaction. Now, it's a
little wonder to me that the airlinesare so focused on this but miss that
(06:32):
pivotal moment when the client makes thedecision, first of all, to be
on their plane. Don't you findthat some irony in that? I do,
and increasing number of airlines are providingpassengers with the capability to stream content
directly to their own personal device.Because of that development, some carriers have
actually begun to phase out their inseat screens altogether. As a matter of
(06:56):
fact, that shift hasn I dida heated debate within the industry, particularly
between American and Delta, who haveembarked on a very different strategy when it
comes to the future of their inflightentertainment offerings. American, the world's largest
airline by fleet size, has madeit clear that it will remove seatback entertainment
(07:17):
screens from its new fleet of Boeingaircraft as part of its interior refresh project
known as Oasis. It might bemore like a desert if they do that.
But Delta Airlines, on the otherhand has indicated that it will not
only maintain but expand their seatback entertainmentover the coming years. I want to
(07:40):
be clear that Delta is also oneof Disney's number one carriers that supply individuals
and travelers to Walt Disney World.So good on you, Delta. But
further in the future, virtual realityand metaverse headsets, which could include Apple's
Vision Pro with its promise of animmersive of personal four K movie theater experience,
(08:03):
may redefine the in flight entertainment.I'm not making this up. This
is news. The use of virtualreality for inflight entertainment in the future not
only underscores the potential for unparalleled privacyand entertainment freedom, but also signals a
shift toward they say, a morepersonalized boundary pushing on board journey. That's
(08:28):
all we need that, don't wea boundary pushing experience. Terry. I've
mentioned this, I think on ourshow before, but the coolest thing I've
ever had happened to me on aplane was I was watching the movie The
Martian Oh right, and at themoment the plane took off, the rocket
ship was taking off, and itwas like I was in the rocket ship
because the plane was doing the littlevibration and you felt the g force.
(08:52):
And I think if the airlines weresmart, they would put movies on the
timer so as they take off,you feel like you're in the movie,
so people would run for fear thatthey know it was. I thought it
was the most amazing experience I've everhad on a plane. That is pretty
exciting. I bet it was.I mean because you get the whole virtual
reality of what you're seeing on thescreen. Yes, and that is what
(09:16):
the airlines are talking about bringing toa reality. Well, I've been on
an airline seat where there's a kidbehind me, and remember when the park
in the seat rocks. I've experiencedthat too many times, far too many
times. I'm not anxious for that. Well, I thought that would be
a kind of an amusing kickoff toour news story. Regardless of what side
(09:39):
of the aisle you sit on,there, whether you want more or less,
you're going to get it. Sothe next news story I want to
focus on is US airfares are athistoric lows while the volumes are sky rocketing.
And I got to tell you,Harry and I were actually up at
Washington Dulles airport last weekend seeing offone of our groups that was traveling to
(10:01):
Bermuda. And I will tell you, Harry, I don't know if you'd
agree with me. I have neverseen so many human beings in an airport
in all my life as were thereon last Sunday at Washington Dulles Airport.
It really did remind me of beingin a sardine camp market. It really
does. And when you think aboutwhat's going on inside of the airports,
(10:22):
with technology, terry airlines are movingmore and more into not having any human
beings exactly at the counters, anda lot of the lines were because all
they were were kiosks. And sadly, the kiosks function well for certain things
if they're simple, if there areno complications, but if there's anything unusual,
(10:45):
or if the travelers are not experiencedtravelers, those kiosks hold people back,
much like you know a dam anda lake calls the water back.
It's just a big barrier and peoplehave a lot of trouble, and that's
where a lot of the lines arecoming from. Airlines are going to figure
that out, but at least they'rekeeping us entertained. One more in the
(11:07):
seats. Yeah, and you know, I don't want to focus on the
negativity of the airports that are veryfull right now. They'll figure it out,
you know, they always do.People always somehow seem to get on
these flights and they make it totheir destinations. So that's great. But
some analysis are predicting a record breakingsummer travel season. We're seeing that.
I mean, that's exactly why webrought that up. But travelers have reason
(11:30):
to celebrate as airfares for the UnitedStates have continued to fall now really to
historic lows. Government data shows Christhat airfares in May dropped by nearly nine
percent from last year. No,that's hard to believe for a lot of
people who bought tickets, but thoseare the facts. Additionally, fares have
(11:52):
fallen by more than nineteen percent comparedto before the pandemic if we were looking
at May twenty nineteen, So that'ssignificant. And as American consumers have been
affected by inflationary pressures post pandemic,this is certainly a welcome respite from the
airline industry and one positive thing aboutthe airports and the airport experiences. The
(12:18):
jokes about the TSA lines, Ithink You're not hearing as many of those,
and that's because what I've noticed passingthrough the airports this summer, and
I've been through several times, thetechnology and the organization in the TSA lines,
for the most part, has gottena lot better. The scanning is
better, the tools are better,the agents seem to be in better moods,
(12:41):
and passengers are moving through those linesfaster and faster. Along with some
of the programs Terry that you andI have talked about for reentry into the
country, moving through the customs proceduresalso much much faster. So while we
complain about things, there are alsosome very positive things happening at the airports
today. Yep. And actually,as we're talking about things increasing, I
(13:05):
wonder, Chris, have you beenwatching any of the pre Olympic qualifying meets
with some of the pre Olympics thatare going on right now. I have
not. I actually have. I'vebeen enjoying that very very much. And
I think all of that has beenleading up to talk about increase of travel.
But travel bookings to France actually areup right now fifty two percent compared
(13:31):
to the same period last year.That's significant and I think we can definitely
point to the Olympics in Paris,France as the reason for that. International
air travel as a matter of fact, is up fifty six percent for the
Olympic period and that's from July thetwenty fourth to August the thirteenth, And
in Paris, most travelers are goingto be from the United States, Japan,
(13:56):
and Canada. Marseille is going tosee a lot of Americans, Bordeaux
is going to have a strong presenceof British and American travelers. Nissan Leone
will see more Americans and Germans.And hotel occupancy rates in France for the
week of July twenty eighth are upeighty six percent compared to last year and
(14:18):
up eighty eight percent the first weekof August. Paris hotels are nearly full
with eighty one percent occupancy for theweek of July. The twenty eight alternative
accommodations in Paris show about a sixtyfour percent increase in nights sold for the
Olympics and seventy four percent yay forthe Paralympics. So I think all things
(14:43):
considered, the Olympics looks like theyare having a very positive effect on Paris
and also on France. I thoughtit would be fun, Chris, before
we get into what I like tocall the meat and potatoes of our show
and our couple sale faars that we'vewas give some folks some guidance as they're
traveling into the Caribbean. This summerseems to be a really as usual a
(15:09):
vacation destination, whether you are goingby cruise or if you're flying to these
destinations we're hearing because people are saturatingthe Caribbean right now. We're hearing more
about it in the news when somethinghappens. So I wanted to give people
a heads up the latest travel guidancefor a lot of these Caribbean island destinations.
(15:31):
We're in full swing with summer,and I said, a lot of
travelers are flocking to the Caribbean.The islands offer not only warm weather and
that sunshine that everybody's looking for,but one of a kind experiences. They've
got world class hotels resorts. Sobefore they go, travelers might want to
visit the US State Department's guidance onall of these destinations. But real quick,
(15:56):
I want to run through a fewof these. Aruba and the ABC
Islands typically ABC islands stand for Aruba, Barbados and Currousel. Those are the
ones, and so for Barbados,Aruba and the ABC Islands. Right now,
(16:17):
it's just exercised normal precautions. There'sno real heavy warnings about that.
The same goes for their neighboring islandsof bonn Air and Currosel. The Bahamas.
Now that one's been in the newslately, the State Department has issued
a level two which is reconsider travel. Uh That made headlines back in January
(16:41):
when there was an uptick in violencethere in the Bahamas. The other ones
that I wanted to focus on isthe Dominican Republic. That's one that we
see a great deal of travelers goingto at the wishing Well, and visitors
to the Dominican Republic are just askedto increase exercise increased caution, sorry,
(17:03):
due to crime. Jamaica, however, there's one for you. The State
Department is advising Americans I've rarely everseen this to reconsider travel to Jamaica entirely
due to crime and subpar medical servicesthis June. The other one that I
had left on my list is PuertoRico. While the State Department doesn't issue
(17:26):
any particular travelers advisories for US territories, they're just saying exercise normal security precautions.
Saint Lucia, I found this onevery interesting, continues to be among
the safest, the very safest destinationsin the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos.
Travelers are encouraged to exercise increased cautiondue to crime and again the US Virgin
(17:48):
Islands normal security precautions. So Iwanted to just give everybody a heads up
if you are one of the onestraveling to any one of those destinations,
just good information to know, goodinformation to have. I would say,
continue to keep your eyes and earson focused on Jamaica. Things aren't getting
particularly good there, so it's notreally a good time to go. And
(18:11):
of course, if you're planning anytravel and any more information called Terry or
Harry at the Wishingwell, absolutely we'dbe happy to help you. And of
course, before we lead into ourstory today, which is called Sparkling Luxury,
for the fourth of July, weare headed into a holiday, folks.
In case you're not looking at yourcalendar or you're under a rock.
(18:33):
I'm excited. I love the fourthof July. I like everything about it.
First of all, it's my birthdaymonth, so I love that.
I love that. They usually alwaysput off fireworks somewhere around me, so
I get to see those, andit's nice. It's summer, it's picnic,
it's barbecues, it's all of that. It's vacations. We love it.
(18:53):
You and I have different ways oflooking at things. Well that's okay.
I look at the fourth July andI'm like, we get to blow
stuff up. We're celebrating Indie subjectguys, celebrating independence. You are such
a guy and a thick RIBI onthe grill. Well, I want to
talk about some great places to travelto because it is exciting that you have
(19:17):
maybe some vacation time left through August. The fourth Sandals Resorts vendor that we
don't talk about a whole lot here, but they always seem to have something
going on. They have their annualRhythm and Blues sale going on. They're
offering guests one hundred and seventy fivedollars resort credit on stays of five nights
or longer, as well as athousand dollars air credit on stays of seven
(19:41):
nights or longer. That's significant.When we're talking about airfare. Uh.
The package is good for travel throughJuly the thirty first of next year and
valid at four different properties, onein Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Curisol
and the Safe Island. I wastalking about Saint Lucia and also Sandal's in
(20:02):
Antigua. The Sandals, Saint Vincentand the Grenadine's property is actually a brand
new addition to the Sandals family.Visitors who go to that island can experience
the flavors of the annual bread fruitfestival. Have you ever had bread fruit?
I'm interested in trying it now thatwe're talking about it. Yeah,
exactly was it? You know?I'm not exactly sure myself. All I
(20:23):
know is that I did experience itwhen I was in Saint Lucia. It
doesn't remind you so much of bread, but it is quite tasty. But
anyway, they make dishes from breadfruit, cheese, pie to kish all in
a nod to the national crop therein the Sandals, Saint Vincent and the
(20:47):
Grenadines. For families, however,Beaches is the family version of the Sandals
properties. The Rhythm and Blues saleoffer is good for one hundred and seventy
five dollars resort credit there is wellfor four nights are longer, and seven
hundred and fifty dollars air credit.That's also good through July the thirty first,
(21:07):
twenty twenty five at several of theirproperties, including Turks and Caicos.
Now another big, big destination atthe Wishing Well. We have been getting
tons of inquiries, so I'm justgoing to get this one off the table
right now. I've got an Irishescape offered by one of my favorite tour
operators. Does a great job there, Globus Tour Operators. They have a
(21:33):
fabulous vacation seven days. Dublin toDublin makes pretty much a circle around Ireland
with Dublin, Galway, Cliffs ofMore Killarney, Ring of Carrie, Blarney
of course Waterford Kilkenny, all foroff season rates starting at only twelve hundred
and fifty nine dollars per person.Now airfare would be an addition on that
(21:56):
one, but that one's on salewith our good folks there from Globus Gateway.
The last sale fair I have isauto train fares. This is real
popular in the summertime, especially peoplewho want to go down to Florida.
You can skip the stress of Ininety five and travel in comfort with discounted
fares through September the second. You'llenjoy free breakfast, free Wi Fi,
(22:19):
no middle seats, plus kids aregoing to ride free all summer in coach
and first class if you book byJuly the thirty first auto train fares starting
at only seventy five dollars. Chris, So that's a deal. That's a
real deal. Float up. Thecar. Going on the auto train is
really a breeze, you know,it's there's not much you have to do
(22:42):
to get onto the train. Wherecan we actually get on the train?
Lofton Virginia is where you get on, Okay, yep. And it goes
down to Florida, so very closeto the Disney area. That's where.
So if you want to go farthersouth, you're you gonna have to get
off and drive. That's right,Okay, that's right for seventy five bucks.
Yes, not a bad deal atall. Please, And you don't
(23:03):
have to take a car on theauto train now you don't. You can
just ride. It's gonna be along walk to Miami. No, they've
got a train down there too.Now that runs up and down Florida,
a new train that's doing great,great, great from everything we've heard,
so our show today is called SparklingLuxury for the fourth yep for the fourth.
(23:25):
How about we light up some sparklersnext here on a lifeless ordinary,
let's do it. Protect your vacationinvestment with guidance from a travel professional.
The wishing Well knows travel and helpyou avoid pitfalls they can spoil your hard
earned vacation. We'll plan your tripand have your back as you travel.
All of this without support or socalled convenience fees. We're on the web
at though Wishingwell dot biz or callus at five four zero nine zero eight
(23:48):
two three three three. That's fivefour zero nine zero eight two three three
three. The washing Well really doesmake dreams come true. And welcome back
to a lifeless ordinary travel show andpodcast from your friends at the wishing Well.
You can find them on net Avenuein Harrisonburg, online at the wishing
Well dot biz, or give thema call at five four nine oh eight
(24:10):
twenty three thirty three. What areyour holiday hours this week? We are
in the office Monday through Wednesday ofthis upcoming week. From nine until four
and on the fourth of July weare going to be closed, and the
fifth and the sixth we're going tocelebrate. We're going to sell a break.
It's going to be independent independent.Will you be celebrating sparkling luxury for
(24:33):
the war? Are we are?Indeed? Yes, it's going to be
loads of fun, excellent. Wellthat's the name of our show today,
So let's discuss sparkling luxury. Ithink we should. It's official. Chris
Summer's here. It's hot, it'slazy, and for a lot of families,
it's time to go traveling, right. That's what we're here for.
(24:55):
That's what a lifeless Ordinary is allabout. It's about sharing those the best
of the places to go with ourlistening audience and our friends and doing that
with friends and family. And thefourth of July is really the best time
to celebrate. Watch fireworks, cookout, have picnics and steaks on the
(25:15):
grill, and gather the family oreven just a lot of friends and party
like there is no tomorrow. Youknow, we get permission to do that
on the fourth of July. It'sgreat and I must admit, however,
that I am absolutely not a hotweather person. I love the idea of
coolcations and just about any celebration.I will do anything to kick back and
(25:41):
enjoy some time away in a coolplace. I will do that. But
I know, and I realized thatone size doesn't fit all, and not
everybody feels that way. And that'swhy I wanted to bring some more diverse
destinations to you today here on alife less ordinay, so you too could
contemplate where your Fourth of July orupcoming summertime away might take you. And
(26:03):
I'm going to approach this from avery luxurious perspective today, and I'll tell
you why I'm going to do this. I actually had a client who nudged
me in this direction. She andher husband are planning their fiftieth wedding anniversary
celebration and she had a destination allpicked out that she wanted to go to
(26:29):
and a time of year that shewanted to go. And I set out
on finding out what I could offerto them to take a look at,
to just get some idea of whatwas really out there to choose from.
And budget didn't enter this conversation yet, Okay, So I aired on the
side of looking for something that was, you know, in my mind,
(26:52):
an affordable, middle of the roadtype of vacation experience, only to have
her back and say, hey,listen, I love these ideas. However,
cost is not an issue on thisparticular trip. We're looking to spend
about three times what these trips arethat you gave us. So here's what
(27:15):
that tells me, Chris. Noteverybody is looking to save pennies on every
single vacation. In today's world,in today's market that we live in,
in today's travel experiences, that's whatpeople want. And she said that very
thing to me. She said,what we want is not to worry about
the dollars. We want a fabuloustravel experience. We want a fabulous memory.
(27:41):
And when you approach things like that, I want everybody who's listening today
to know that's exactly what drove meinto these fourths of July, sparkling luxurious
places that I chose for our adventuretoday. And some of these might surprise
you. It wouldn't surprise me ifit did, because they some of them
(28:03):
will sound like ordinary destinations. Butit's the luxurious part of it that I
wanted to focus on. So you'reready to get started let's go all right.
So the very first one that Iwanted to take a look at is
a place called we all know it, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And you
might be wondering exactly why I pickedthat, but hear me out. Let
(28:27):
me just tell you that this isa great place just to peel off and
get kind of off the grid.July Weather's great kind of upper eighties.
Really just perfect for white water raftingor some of the other water sports that
you can enjoy in the state ofWyoming. But equally great if you're into
horseback riding on the open plains.I mean, it's perfect for that as
(28:51):
well. What's not to love aboutthat. And then sitting at the heart
of this immense natural territory and justreally showing off with the most majestic mountain
views is a property called the ahmanGani Amungani. It's an idyllic retreat that
(29:11):
just embodies the spirit of the AmericanWest. And I often encourage you guys
out there that listen to us,if you're sitting in front of a computer
while we're talking, look these placesup so you can really know exactly what
I saw what I was seeing whenI was trying to paint this picture for
you as we talk about these destinations. It's actually found at the heart of
(29:33):
an immense natural territory in Wyoming,the Pacific Redwoods. That's a huge drawl
right now. For a lot ofmy clients these days, they want to
see the redwoods and the lofty decorpsin this place is a true reflection of
Jackson's rugged Titan mountains that are justactually opposite the property. So you're here
(29:53):
at the property, the Jackson MountainRange, the Tetons are just literally across
from them. Think when you thinkabout this property, and if you're not
looking at it, I want youto think oak paneling, roaring fireplaces,
candlelit balconies. This luxury property reallypromises you an unforgettable experience. And with
(30:15):
a name meaning peaceful home, that'swhat AMUNGANI means, peaceful home. It
really does what it says. Thelocation. Now in the winter, I
can address that it's actually surrounded thereand it's very popular in the wintertime.
It's surrounded by these snow capped peaksduring hosting ski season and snowboarding activities for
(30:40):
all ages. But not only isthe resort close to the slope. It's
also only a ten minute drive fromthe town of Jackson Hole, and that's
really not a big city, that'sa quaint little town. But you look
out across the raw valley of theWhole, which is what the locals call
it, where a lot of wildanimals leave their train when they wander up
(31:00):
through the snow. So you doget a lot of wildlife in that area
too. And what about the accommodations. Well, all of the thirty odd
suites that are here in four homesthat you can rent out, have phenomenal
views over the mountains. But thecorner suites have these excellent wrap around balconies,
(31:21):
so if you're getting ready for evensummer activities, it's an easy feat.
Each suite has an additional living roomarea space to spread out in,
so if you had a family largefamily that you wanted to take, like
we're talking about for the Fourth ofJuly celebrations, this would be a perfect
family retreat. The suites also havetheir own decks, but if you want
to stay within the comfort of yourown four walls, all you have to
(31:45):
do is enjoy the view from thedeep soaking tub that's also there. Now,
why I like this. It's becauseJackson serves as a great base for
short excursions or all day adventures toGrand Teeton National Park. There you can
also visit Jenny Lake and Jackson Lakefor some amazing views and great hiking.
(32:06):
At least one full day should bespent in Yellowstone, which is really close
by. That's the world's first nationalpark. Did you know that. Yes,
And you might not know this,but Yellowstone contains more than two million
acres of crystalline lakes, hundreds ofwaterfalls, panoramic scenic areas, and these
(32:28):
steaming geysers, including our favorite OldFaithful, So it's a great place to
go. They've got guided wildlife safarisfrom there. You can do that in
an suv from the property. Actuallythe property Amangani, has their own luxury
SUVs that you can take out personally. They loan them to you, very
(32:52):
much like what we experienced with anotherproperty in Park City called the Montage.
They do that as well. Butsightings of moose, bear, coyotes,
elk deer, even wolves and mountainlions are possible to see from this particular
area. Then, Jackson Hole isalso home to some of the world's best
trout fishing. So if that's somethingthat you enjoy as a family or a
(33:15):
couple, or you know you wantto just do a guys getaway, that
this would be a perfect place forsomething like that. Now, did I
prepare you that my choices this weekwe're going to be luxurious and that the
Amaghani certainly lives up to that,with nightly rates beginning from twelve hundred and
seventy five dollars per night. Fulldisclosure, this is one of our Virtuoso
(33:38):
preferred properties, So that means Chriseven extra amenities when you stay at this
beautiful resort. And I mean totell you, it is truly an over
the top experience. There's nothing likeit. It is gorgeous. So there
you go. All of my bestreasons to put Jackson Hole, Wyoming on
my list of best places to goover the Force of July. And the
(34:00):
great thing about this is many ofthese destinations that I'm picking, they're not
going to be the best places onthe Force of July to witness fireworks or
celebrations or anything like that. Thisis maybe about not going so much to
the ce and be seen places.This is really about taking some time out
(34:22):
on the force of July maybe todo exactly what I said. I think
we all need a break. Youknow. There are so many people that
I talk to on a daily basis, our clients, Harry, thank you
to agree. They talk about thestress of work and the anxiety that they're
feeling about the pressures of being overworkedand not enough time to get things done.
(34:44):
Yeah. And people all often talkto me about wanting to get together
with family. They've got family andthey're just distributed all around the country and
need they need an excuse or somekind of reason to get to together.
Going to a resort like this whereeveryone will be able to just enjoy time
(35:04):
together, maybe sit at night andmake some puzzles, get out in the
day, do a little hiking.This is a resort that is a year
round resort that you're talking about,Terry. People pay big money to go
out there and ski in the wintertimeand in the summertime the traffic's a little
lighter. So this is a greatopportunity to take advantage of a fantastic resource
(35:27):
and the beauty that only mother naturecan provide. Yet do it with your
family right beside you. What agreat way to bond. Yeah, and
what a great way to appreciate ournation as we celebrate the fourth going out
and seeing the beautiful landscape and thevery first national part. Yeah you know
it's wonderful. Yeah, sign meup. Yeah. Now, this next
(35:47):
one might surprise you a little bit. It's not quite as sexy as Jackson
Hole, Wyoming might be. Andit's really probably something that you know,
some folks who are listening to ushave even been a time or three.
But I'm talking about the Smoky Mountainsin Tennessee and it made my list because
it is special. It really isspecial. It's called the Smoky Mountains,
(36:13):
Chris, because they have this everpresent morning fog in the mountains. A
lot of people don't know that,but this mountain range is also world renowned
for the diversity of its plant andits animal life, the beauty of its
ancient mountains, and its history ofthe Southern Appalachian people. Now another perfect
destination to kick back, relax,just soak in the area and all it's
(36:37):
got to offer you. And I'lltell you once you get there, one
of the most luxurious places to layyour head for a week would have to
be a place I'll bet you nota lot of people have heard about.
It is beautiful, it is luxurious. It's a surprise to find a place
(36:57):
like this in the smoky mountains ofTennessee. It's called the BlackBerry Farm.
Now, whether you're looking for farmfresh, award winning cuisine, washed down
with a handcraft whiskey, rural beauty, or just goodbye to the world remoteness,
BlackBerry Farm is really one of thoseplaces that I found is unparalleled.
(37:22):
It's set to a stunning backdrop withabout forty two hundred acres of private,
dense forest and creeks. It's justbeautiful. It's as close to perfection as
it gets. And it's that kindof special place where you can swap city
lights for just wide open skies.And you're going to soon see why this
(37:43):
place is just mesmerizing. It's afamily run farm, and they've even got
their own special Fourth of July fireworksto light up the night sky, and
they offer a culinary treat to boot. This one got my attention because I
love it so much. They havea barbecue battle with some of the most
talented names in the culinary world.Now, since you're here in Tennessee anyway,
(38:07):
you might want to be sure toswing by the George Dickle Whiskey Distillery
in Tullahoma. That's a little spiritedstopover for the inside scoop on how they
achieve that smooth, legendary flavor.Back on BlackBerry Farm on the fourth,
you can actually indulge in their organiccuisine, some artisan cheeses, all sourced
(38:29):
and produced on this property. Sothose forty two hundred private acres they really
make good use of. They growtheir own products, they grow their own
produce, They even have their ownfarm of cattle and that kind of thing.
So everything that you get is reallyfreshly prepared there. And when they
(38:50):
can have a barbecue battle and invitesome of the best chefs in the world
to that, I think they're doingprobably something right now. Again, I
would remind you that the BlackBerry Farmis aury property. Remember that's what we're
doing today, albeit a very unpretentiousproperty. I like that about it.
But you could expect to pay somewherearound eighteen hundred dollars for a night's stay
(39:12):
here, but worth every penny.Gorgeous. This is a drivable location too
that you're talking about Terry, whichis especially good. And I'm wondering if
that barbecue might maybe you can mixthe stuff you were talking about. Do
you think that barbecue might have someof that whiskey and whisky? It could
be you never know, nice awhiskey glaze that's really nice tasting of that.
(39:37):
Now a destination that's probably not drivable, Harry, But Sonoma, California
comes up next on my list.Now you're in luck with this one because
there is a five month stretch fromJune to October that is considered peak season
in Sonoma, with harvest time comingin September and October, seeing the most
(39:59):
tourists by far during that time.Not to say July fourth is not a
popular time to go, but harvestseason is also probably the next best time
if you want to be there,and who wouldn't want to go. Here's
something else I can share with youabout Sonoma. It is the glorious,
laid back sister of glamorous Napa Valley, known for its down to earth,
(40:23):
rustic vibes and celebrated farm to tablecuisine. It's a place really where you
can slow down, really connect tothe land, unwined, with a glass
of wine in hand, and theredwoods again as a backdrop. Here naturally.
Another major draw to Sonoma is itsabundance of excellent wine. I mean
that kind of goes without saying,and exploring the wineries is a must if
(40:46):
you're picking what to do in Sonoma. It's actually home to about sixty thousand
acres of vineyards and more than fourhundred wineries spread over eighteen distinct one regions,
all catering to different tastes, allin Sonoma. Can you see me
(41:07):
crazy? It's an international destination.Yes, people come from around the world
to go to Sonoma. And whenyou think about California, the stereotype that
a lot of people have about Californiaterry, crazy, crowded cities, what
you've just described is the other oppositetalking you're talking about a culture, you're
(41:27):
talking about a landscape. You're talkingabout a way of life that is so
different from the stereotypes that we haveabout the big cities in California and the
lifestyle in California. When you're talkingabout cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco,
San Diego, this is far,far different. It's God's country out
there, and it is equally beautiful, but contrasting to what you find in
(41:54):
places like you just talked about hereon the East coast, up on you
know, up in the mountains ofthe East Coast, versus the wine fields
of the West Coast. Yeah.Now, I'm no sau miner far be
it. I do appreciate good wine. But Chardonnay is the most popular grape
(42:15):
in Sonoma wineries, followed by Cabernet, sauvignon, and pino noir. But
there are well over fifty great varietiesgrown in the county. They're some of
the best winers in Sonoma come fromactually small, family run producers where you
can get kind of behind the sceneslook at the world of wine making and
(42:37):
even sample the wine at its source. So that's why a lot of people
will go out for some experiences there. Short weekends, you know, get
away from big city life in Californiaand go out to Sonoma. You can
spend a pretty nice Fourth of Julyin Sonoma as well. I already mentioned
that it's a bit quieter, Harry, talk to you about that then the
(42:59):
neighboring Pappa. But Sonoma is theperfect choice for what I would call a
civilized and sophisticated weekend away. They'vegot every culinary option you can imagine they've
got these great taco trucks that comeout and Michelin starred restaurants to small B
and B's. Sonoma is just alow key paradise that exudes off the beaten
(43:22):
path five star luxury. I mean, it's as simple as that, and
that's what we're talking about today.So for a taste of laid back California
charm, there's nowhere that can competewith one of my favorite ends. I
would say in the United States.I know a good bit about this particular
place. I've had a lot ofclients there. It's called the Farmhouse Inn,
(43:45):
which is again one of our veryspecial virtuoso properties, a real romantic
setting right in the heart of theserolling hills and valleys of vineyards. The
stunning property perfectly blends rustic and chic. That's real trending now, making it
the best place to retreat for atranquil long weekend or even longer. Now.
(44:08):
We were talking a little bit earlierabout how Jackson Hole, Wyoming was
a great retreat for the guys.This one, this one would be a
great retreat for the ladies. Agirl's weekend, maybe some special getaway moms
and daughters. But when you're notsipping Charnay, hiking in the Redwoods,
(44:28):
or you can even fuil watch offthe Pacific coast. Here, you can
just indulge in world class spas becausethey've got them in Sonoma, and there's
something there to suit everybody's fancy.Now you'll like this. Prices per night
at the Farmhouse Inn begin from onlyfive hundred and fifty six dollars. This
(44:49):
is one of my more affordable luxuryproperties on today's show. But remember that
would also include some very appreciated virtuosoamenities a well. So this is one
of my favorites. And again Ithink it answers the call to a lot
of people who would be looking fora great getaway for a Fourth of July
quiet time out in California, oreven like I said, a girl's weekend
(45:14):
would be nice. You mentioned earlier. I think Chris, she's hinting.
She mentioned that July was her birthdaymonth. Oh, also, we're sending
her to one of these destinations.I think she's asking us to send her
here. Okay, I can Ican get down with that. That's that's
quite all right, as long aswe all get to go sure, Sarah.
What's the number that they should callwith their donations. Chris, call
(45:37):
later, right, I've got thephone number if you want to book some
of these destinations. That's five fournine to eight twenty three thirty three.
Thank you, Chris Well, shamelessplug. We appreciate that anytime we can
get it. So our show todayis Sparkling Luxury for the fourth and we
have definitely visited some sparkling luxurious locationsand there are still more to come.
(45:57):
There are here on a life lessOrdinary. Protect your vacation investment with guidance
from a travel professional. The wishingWell 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 ofthis without support or so called convenience fees.
We're on the web at tho Wishingwelldot biz or call us at five
four zero nine zero eight two threethree three. That's five four zero nine
(46:22):
zero eight two three three three.The washing Well really does make dreams come
true. And welcome back to aLifeless Ordinary, the travel show and podcast
from your friends at the wishing Well. I love today's show, Terry.
It's called Sparkling Luxury. For thefourth We've been to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
We've been to Sonoma, We've beento the Smoky Mountain, Smoky Mountains,
(46:44):
and now where are we headed.We are headed to a place that
you're gonna love, Watch Hill,Rhode Island. And there aren't too many
places, Chris, that I selectsimply for the food. But there's a
first time for everything, and rightnow, first things first, No visit
to watch Hill is complete without astop at the Saint Clair Annex. This
(47:07):
is a family owned ice cream andsandwich shop operated by the Nicholas family for
more than one hundred and thirty fiveyears now. In addition to the delicious
small batch ice cream they make amean grinder. Favorite is their Italian The
(47:27):
Olympia tea room, which dates backto nineteen sixteen. Doesn't accept reservations,
but dishes like linguini with roasted clamsand Portuguese baked hattock make the weight for
one of the antique mahogany booths atthis particular restaurant in watch Hill, Rhode
Island. Totally totally worthwhile. Soundedpretty tasty, don't you say. Now
(47:52):
for fine dining, you might wantto head over to the nearby we coul
pug In. That's a relay inchateau, sibling of Ocean House, which
we're going to be talking more abouthere in just a minute, for dinner
at a place called the Restaurant.Don't miss the Stonington Scollops and Crescent Farm
(48:13):
Duck Duo, and I have totell you, July fourth doesn't get much
more iconic than at the exclusive andrestored Ocean House we were talking about that.
It's set in the charming enclave ofWatch Hill, Rhode Island, and
it's perched way up above on abluff overlooking the block Island sound, making
(48:36):
this ocean front gym point blank oneof the best of the best, with
a stunning private beach reserved for theproperties guests only, and the perfect place
for a stroll along the water,a gourmet meal, quick game of croquet
on lush lawns overlooking the property.Stay at this beautiful relay in chateau.
Property is as exclusive as it gets, and it reminds me kind of of
(49:00):
a wonderful scene from The Great Gadsby. Did you ever watch that movie?
It was fabulous and all of thethings that I see when I looked and
researched, the Ocean House did remindme of that movie A private escape from
crowds. But it's near enough tothe buzz of watch Hill and Newport,
(49:21):
and you're definitely going to want toventure out enjoy tasty local flavors at any
number of the places that I mentioned, And I totally forgot to tell you
to try the delicious and briny watchHill Oysters. I love oysters. I
don't like them raw, but Ido like oysters. I love oyster stew
I love fried oysters. But thetown of watch Hill shines as a preppy,
(49:45):
patriotic enclave, and the Ocean Househas its very own Fourth of July
fireworks that are for sure the brightestlights in the sky. Now while you're
there, you can take part intheir annual Independence Day beach ball. That's
a must. It's a spirited wayto bring in the holiday. And this
year the property has even unveiled thesecret Champagne Garden that is all trust,
(50:07):
charming and private with stunning views.What would a night at the Ocean House
cost you? You under a cooleleven and fifty two dollars per night.
So we have covered some really greatproperties from east coast to west coast to
the south. I love everything aboutthese properties. Planning, of course,
(50:30):
in advance is very important. Idid look actually as we were preparing for
today's show, and some of theseproperties, interestingly enough, are still available
for the fourth of July this year. But I wouldn't count on that.
I wouldn't ever think that you couldbook these types of properties this close to
your arrival and get what you wanted. But they really are worth seeking out,
(50:52):
whether you do it this Fourth ofJuly or next, find someplace wonderful
and relaxing to go and celebrate ourindependence the people who got us there.
You know, I look toward ourveterans and our military men and women who
were responsible for our freedoms and saythank you to them on this fourth of
(51:14):
July. It's worth every firework thatwe set off to say thanks to all
those people who lived and died forour freedom. I love it. Well.
We also have not just the fourthof July, terry you're talking about
booking these properties. There's a lotof vacation time left for summer. We've
just begun summer. So if somethingyou're talking about is interesting, I think
(51:37):
there's still plenty of time. Talkto your family, talk to your spouse,
your special persons, and talk abouttaking advantage of one of these properties.
These are the properties, as wetalk about in this show, that
make those lifetime memories that you justcan't ever get rid of. You don't
want to ever get rid of them. Yeah, they do. And I'm
(51:58):
thinking about cris'sation that's upcoming. He'sgoing to be going to Wheeling, And
I got to tell you, eventhat area of our country, beautiful state
of West Virginia, find some wonderfulspots and just enjoy your time there,
Chris, because I actually have,Yeah, I actually have. I think
Feeling is very charming, it reallyis. And they have some great music
(52:20):
venues, well they do. Yeah. Yeah, the beautiful parts of West
Virginia are a little further south thanWheeling. Yeah, but you know,
there's there's all kinds of interesting spotsall over our area, and our community
is full of that. We canshare with one another and find out whatever
we want to know about these lovelyplaces. We live in a wonderful country.
It's a wonderful time of the year, it's a wonderful holiday. What
(52:43):
a great way to walk into itwith all these ideas that you've shared with
us today. Yeah, and wegot a lot of places right here in
our backyard, don't we Skyline drive, the Blue Rich Parkway and all these
beautiful ways to celebrate our country.Absolutely. I love today's show, Terry,
thank you so much. Yeah,I did too. It's fun.
If you'd like more information about bookinga sparkling luxury vacation for the fourth you
(53:05):
need to contact our friends at thewishing Well. We're so easy to find.
We're located at two forty three nephAvenue. That's our physical location in
Harrisonburg, Virginia in the Valley Center. You can call us at five four
h nine oh eight two three threethree or look us up on the web.
We are at the Wishingwell dot biz. This has been a life less
(53:27):
ordinary the travel show from your friendsat the wishing Well at two forty three
nep Avenue and Harrisonburg. If youhave any questions on topics discussed today,
please reach out to the wishing Wellonline at the Wishingwell dot biz or five
four oh nine oh eight twenty threethirty three. Past episodes are available on
the iHeartRadio app and We'll see againnext Saturday morning at ten for a life
less ordinary. From the wishing Well
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