For two weeks in August, Western Europe, for the most part, takes a collective holiday. The streets are much quieter than usual and the atmosphere at night buzzes with the laissez-faire attitude that comes with not having to worry about reporting to work the next morning. So I fit right in. Many restaurants and boutiques take the holiday too – as they should – but that gives those that choose to holiday in Paris (me!) a limited set of choices. Luckily, Molly (This Yuppie Life) and I did our homework and can now pass along our wisdom on where to eat and drink … and chill out in between.      Fat Pants: Home base was Hotel Bachaumont — it’s always my go-to because the neighborhood is full of café’s, wine bars and locals. I always start and end a trip with a meal at either Bianco for pizza, Café Compas...

When my job sends me to Europe, there is only one thing on my mind … where else can I go while I’m there? In May, I was scheduled to work in Frankfurt - an international melting pot boasting beautiful parks that provide the perfect backdrop for a city run and some of the best sushi (yes, sushi) I’ve had away from California. Not to mention the modern German fare, such as what you’ll find at Meyer’s Restaurant. Frankfurt deserves a post of its own, but that’s for another time. Since I was traveling solo and only had a weekend, I wanted to stick close to Frankfurt. I’d like to think it was fate that I stumbled upon Baden Baden, which means “bath bath,” given I have an obsession with baths. Dating back to the Roman Empire and famed for its rejuvenating thermal waters, this quaint little town is a...

It’s become somewhat of a tradition the past couple of years to welcome the New Year in another country and then spend day one of January making resolutions for the year to come. Last year, this happened on a whim at Claridge’s in London. This year, it was in Deep Cove, just outside of Vancouver, in a little bistro called Arm’s Reach. The categories for our resolutions span travel, relationship, career, spiritual and of course, physical. Which brings me to the reason for this post – talking about my favorite workout at Body by Simone. The studio focuses on dance, mixed with weights and trampoline, depending on the class. The instructors are all professional dancers but luckily, you don’t have to be. The signature class and my favorite one – dance cardio – teaches you around 5 different dance routines that you put together at the end for a personal...

Since I don’t live in a state where the leaves change color, for me, fall is the season for wine. I’m spending next weekend in Napa Valley and before I get there, my wine shipment from Willamette Valley will have arrived. As a lover of good wine, I’ve been around the world tasting vino from Old World vintages in Bordeaux and Douro Valley to New World varietals in Sonoma, Napa and Santa Barbara. This past spring, I had to try my hand at the famous Willamette Valley Pinots and the incredible scenery I’ve heard so much about. Here is my recipe for a perfect fall getaway to Oregon wine country. PJ Pants: THE place to stay in Willamette Valley, The Allison Inn & Spa manages to achieve the luxuriousness of a resort and the coziness of a mountain cabin. The rooms are comfy enough for a post-wine tasting nap; the...

When I first heard about MissTravel.com, I was admittedly skeptical. It’s basically Tinder for travelers – a matching service for people who want a travel partner, but also wouldn’t mind if they found love in the process. First dates take place everywhere from the Maldives to Bolivia to Sweden … and come with no strings attached? Seems too good to be true. Approximately 600,000 members (who go through a strict approval process) are giving MissTravel a go and we caught up with one of them to discuss why she joined, what really happens on dates and how she’s loving her new life in London. Meet Chelsea.  How did you find out about MissTravel and what made you join? I saw an ad for it on a different dating website, with a question like “Young and want to travel?” I was instantly sucked in. Are you on the site to find...

by Monica Rohleder I am the child of a flight attendant and by the time I was 10, I had been to Hawaii a dozen times. My mother formed a love affair with the Hawaiian Islands through her travels there, so I followed suit and found my home away from home on the raw, magical and spiritual Big Island. The Earth begins and ends on this Island every day. At the North end of the Island, you see the lush green vegetation, flowers, waterfalls and life that came from the volcanoes, now quietly sleeping. But on the South side, experience a completely different landscape that resembles the surface of the moon. Black lava canvases the land, sporting varying colors and textures, all markings the dates when the flow began. As the sun shines down on the black rock, rainbows of colors sparkle and dance on the surface, as the crashing...

Napa is basically what happens when you blend a bit of Tuscany, with a dash of the scenery and overall loveliness from “The Sound of Music,” and mix in a healthy dose of every fairy tale land you’ve ever read about.  Except the castles in this fantastical kingdom are surrounded by vineyards, and the gold at the end of the rainbow is this magical thing called wine.  Now let’s get to it. PAJAMA PANTS …where to crash and get some R&R Andaz Napa I stayed here in its previous life as the Avia Napa Hotel and I have an inkling this iteration is even better. What’s best about this hotel is the location in the heart of downtown Napa, which means easy access to local tasting rooms and brunch spots when you just want to walk somewhere. Plus, there’s a huge bathtub in the middle of the room – perfect...

When the news was announced that Runyon Canyon was set to be closed from April to July almost every green-juice guzzling, Lululemon wearing Angeleno just about lost their mind.  Where would they go for sweaty celeb-spotting views of the city? Believe it or not, there are other parks in the city that provide amazing views, sweaty hikes and even some eye candy (if you look hard enough). Enter – Franklin Canyon Park. This sprawling area of green grassy goodness makes up acres and acres right in the heart of Beverly Hills. Its tucked away so well tourists wouldn’t dare to venture off Rodeo to find it. There’s a duck pond (where the opening scene of “The Andy Griffith Show” was set), a three-acre lake, loads of places to picnic and nearly five miles of hiking trails. The lake and pond also serve as permanent and seasonal home for birds in...

by: Tracey DeFrancesco Australia is synonymous with sun, adventure, and laid-back locals with sexy accents. I’ve long dreamed of traveling Down Under to cuddle koalas and box with kangaroos (let’s not get hung up on the fact that neither of those things is legal). So when TWS Tennis Tours invited me to join their trip to the 2016 Australian Open, I packed my summer clothes and tons of sunscreen and hopped on a plane for the fifteen-hour flight across the Pacific Ocean. Melbourne is a city known for experiencing four seasons in a day: a rainy morning turns into a scorching hot afternoon followed by a chilly evening. But it’s also a mysterious city whose best offerings can only be found by exploring alleyways and ducking into arcades to see what hidden gems lie just around the corner. If you’ve also been longing to see the other side of the...

If we had to pick our spirit animal, it would be the honeybadger, obviously.  If we had to pick a spirit destination, Hawaii takes the cake. Known for lush landscapes and tranquil blue waters, the islands of Hawaii each have their own unique way of bringing out the fitness fanatic and free spirit in us all. It is practically impossible not to feel inspired to get outside and get moving when you’re there – and it certainly helps that the official workout uniform in Hawaii is basically a bikini, board shorts, and sandy sea-salt hair (effortless + beachy = winning).  Check out our favorite ways to work off those pina coladas and tone up your tanned tushies while in the Aloha State.  Kaui: Hike the Napali Coast aka The Kalalau Trail I did this hike a month prior to my wedding not really knowing what I was getting myself into. My...