Cocktail Hour Travel Anticipation
 

It's Friday night cocktail hour. What's your poison and where are you traveling to next? What are you most excited about seeing or doing there?

I am having Pinot Grigio and not going anywhere special. Just flying to St. Martin for two days next week in order to do our usual errand running marathon and shopping, but do plan to fit in a haircut and pedicure, a little R&R and a nice dinner somewhere. The freezer is getting bare, so it's about time to go again. We have also decided to buy a scooter while we're there, so that is something to actually look forward to in the trip.

Anyone else?

Pinot Grigio here too! DH will be having a hot buttered rum soon though as its getting cold here.

We are off to central OR next week for some skiing, snowshoeing and just relaxing by the fire. Cannot wait!!!

Well, it's not cocktail hour here yet unfortunately, but I'm looking forward to my first trip to Mexico in February. DH and I will spend a week in Sayulita, just north of Puerto Vallarta.

pdxgirl---who says we can't start early here? :)

Well it's partly business, partly pleasure but I'm leaving for Las Vegas on Sunday morning. I had been hoping it would be warmer there than here in PA but I'm not sure that will be the case. It was almost 70 here yesterday. We are staying at the Venetian and planning to enjoy the wild Vegas atmosphere for a few days before renting a car and heading away from the city for a while. I'd like to drive to Ring of Fire (Valley of Fire?) one day and Lake Mead on another.

Funny you should mention, as a fairly recent diabetic, I've been drinking very little. But after a horrendous week, I've stayed home the last two nights and fixed myself two giant Dewar's Dry Robroys (like a Scotch martini for the uninitiated). And guess what? My sugar the two mornings after has been the lowest readings in weeks! I may have discovered the cure.

Where am I going? Well with the illnesses I'm faced (see rants and raves if you want the details), it's kind of hard to make plans. But we're still hoping for a month in NYC for June, and have our tickets for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival the end of July -- going with friends for two weeks in Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, and the festival.

mms - I think my boss would object (I work for a judge!).

Not quite cocktail hour here yet either BUT, I would like to pick up a nice bottle of white wine tonight. My friend and I are booking our hotel room for our mid March get away to San Francisco. Neither of us have been there and we are quite excited! Can't wait to see the Redwoods at Muir Woods and the sea lions at F. Wharf.

Also going to Jasper National Park, Canada in July for a long weekend, and if things go my way, I will be returning to New York city for a week in September.

Nice question Statia, always interesting to find out what people have planned.

ginger ale for me tonight (recovering from a bad cold), but Pinot Grigio is my beverage of choice when i'm feeling like myself. glad to see there's a group of us here on Fodors who are fond of the stuff!
next trips: Florida Keys in February and Big Island in August. i am looking forward to just plain relaxing and getting some spa treatments in Florida.
on the Big Island: just being on a Hawaiian will be so great! we will be at the Fairmont Orchid, which looks dreamy.. i hope to do some snorkeling, see some turtles, take a horseback ride, and just enjoy being on vacation with my family.

ok pdxgirl---guess you have me on that one, lol! It is pretty cold out right now and I may make dh a HBR and take it outside to him(he is working on the yard or something).

Sauvignon Blanc and our next trip (to Key West) won't be until April :(
What the hell I'm going to do in the meantime is anyone's guess.

I'm drinking a chardonnay from Penfold's which I picked up at Target. Thats pronounced Tar-zhay for the uninformed wine connisseur...LOL!

I'm off to LA on Wednesday to attend a yoga conference and to catch up with old h.s. and college friends. I cheered at OSU with three of them, one is a former Miss Universe for aerobics and still appears in muscle magazines and one is a former professional body builder. I haven't seen them for seven years but I'm sure they still look amazing so you know I'm pulling out all the stops- haircut & color, mani/pedicure, a little spray on tan, teeth bleaching, an hour a day on the stairmaster... I'm a fitness addict so I love this kind of trip to keep me motivated. Checking the ten day forecast for LA religiously and it is looking good!

amwosu Oregon State U? Ohio State U? Oklahoma State U?

Hi Statia!

I saw you post earlier today about the scooter. I wondered if we'd have a Friday night cocktail hour. :-)

I'm a VO Manhattan kinda guy but I've really fallen down in the last few weeks on stocking. I'm out of red vermouth.

It's a dirty vodka martini with extra olives for me tonight.

I'm also doing the pre-install work to get high-speed DSL internet into my home. I've waited 5 years to get high-speed. I'd better get my wiring done before my 2nd martini if I want to have any chance of it working Tuesday when it's activated!

I leave tomorrow for Chicago for 2 nights with family. xbt almost had me convinced to go to Dallas, but the rest of the Fodorites set me straight. :-)

I leave two weeks from today for the Boston GTG. I'm excited. It sounds like there will be a goodly sized crowd for lunch.

Atilla determine which way the wind is blowing and try to approach the sea lions from upwind. Trust me on this.

First impressions are everything and mine was less than perfect of the sea lions due to a certain je ne sais quoi.

The dang things spend 99% of the time in the water. Can't they go potty there too? :-)

Still sitting at the office Seattle time, but count me in for picking up a nice bottle of ABC/white wine (anything but chardonnay) on the way home.

Next month... Hawaii!

A big glass of Chalone Pinot Noir while making dinner, after painting the brick wall in our den. My arms hardly work now, but I am still able to leaf through my new Paris Zagats to figure out which restaurants to book for our March trip.
The thing I am most excited about seeing is my son, whom I have not seen in a year..and excited about doing- showing him Paris~

I'm sipping Black Opal cab. *Aus* and a big toast to Statia. So glad to hear you're on your way to a haircut :o) and I hope all your waves are good one. I've nowhere to go right now so I will be enduring home which is fortunately not a bad place to be. cheers! ((d))

*..when will fodors give us a wine glass!*

Ahh, Statia, thank you for asking :) I'm having a small cup of coffee, leaving work in 20 minutes. At home I'll have a choice of a Sutter Home Moscato or forgot which one Italian Merlot. And candles. And 3 days off work, who cares which holiday and who celebrates :)

pdxgirl- THE Ohio State University as they like to say in Columbus.

Patrick- Hang in there. So sorry 2005 has gotten off to such a rocky start with your family.

Scarlett- My son and I had a great 2 hr lunch at Marty's which has been around since the 20s I believe. It is the kind of place where you can people watch and have fabulous food in Paris. I found out about it because it got good reviews, maybe on fodors or tripadvisor. We loved watching several older women dining together and chatting and men in suits holding business lunches. I believe we were the only English speaking patrons at the time which I enjoyed as I'd rather watch the locals instead of other visitors to Paris.

Thanks amwso!

Hey Scarlett, I found the info on Marty's. It is actually in the Frommer's Paris guide-

"One of the few brasserie's not gobbled up by a chain...charming decor authentic to the 1913 era when established, attentive service, jazz era murals on the walls, appealingly unfussy food, bar on street level for tapas and shellfish with drinks, blah, blah, blah."

You might find more info on frommers website, I haven't checked. Address: 20 av des Gobelins, Phone 01-43-31-39-51 Metro: Gobelins

amswou,
...." Marty, Beautiful art deco decor, fair food"... not a rave from Zagat but I will listen to you instead :)
Thank you very much!

Posters, you are quite funny. Good, funny.

Tandoori Girl, I did laugh out loud, because I haven't had a glass since my last party (when someone gifted me this bottle) and I am drinking the very same thing you are. I was just reading the label (South Eastern Australia) and noted that I never had it before. It is quite good.

Have a good weekend all, and it really is a small world. Hope we all have a glass handy when we get those bad news days/weeks as Patrick has. Nothing to do but continue despite, and live in your very moments. Be it milk, gingerale or whatever, cheers!

Cheers, Statia! Already had a Kahlua and cream a couple of hours ago. DH just came home with a Riesling and a Chardonnay, so I have to make a decision!

Summer family vacation plans are still up in the air because we can't come to an agreement. Oh well, half the fun is the planning.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Dear Statia, you are drinking the wine, Pinot Grigio, which is from Veneto where I am suppose to go in June.

Have a fun time in St. Martin. It sounds like you have a wonderful life.

And a happy long weekend to everyone.

since i don't drink.. and it's almost three a.m., i was just trying to figure out how difficult it would be to organize a gtg in valencia spain to hopefully meet some of these entertaining fodorites finally!

.. will be going to berlin for conference, and sevilla for birthday celebration in the next few months..
but we were just mentioning tonight that we would love to go to the mayan peninsula and /or bahia brava/o in mexico. they look beautiful.

Well it's seltzer for me! I must keep my wits about me for this up-coming weekend.

Both kids decided they want to go back to school on the SAME day. So, up to Boston early Sunday morning, kicking out son #1 then driving back home, putting son #2's cr*p...eh stuff, into the car and driving him to the Bronx. THEN, I'll have a drink and dream about our upcoming March trip to Florida!

Evening All!
Am just beginning to contemplate
my poison for this evening.
:)
Next trip is up the road an hour to
spa ourselves silly in Calistoga.
It will be a fine hedonistic celebration of Mr.R5's B'Day!
:-x
Massages, thermal pools, a little shopping,
many yummy dinners and lunches, accompanied by lovely wines of the region.
:-P
I have planned some surprise tastings at wineries in both Sonoma and Napa.
:$
(Well, I DO Have to keep my "resident expert" status in top form,don't I?)

An excellent weekend to All!
R5

Yes, I am enjoying a glass or two of Simi Merlot and anticipating a couple of upcoming trips in May, which happen to occur back-to-back: Lake Tahoe and Key West. Two very different environments but with their own unique appeal.

Merlot? For heaven's sakes, Loisde, didn't you see Sideways? I may never be able to order Merlot again!

Hi everyone,
I'm truly enjoying this thread as I sip my glass of Yellow Tail Chardonnay! I just went to Australia a month ago so anything "Aussie" is perfect to me. I also drink Pinot Grigio......
Next trip will be skiing at Jay Peak in Vermont in a couple of weeks, then to Florida in March, and Washington DC in April. This website is almost as much fun as traveling, don't you agree?
Cheers, Jayne

No, Patrick, NO!

What is Sideways and what should I check?

I love merlot -- what should I know that I do not?

I'm only sipping Earl Grey.. spent the day with my sick son, and managed to walk for an hour on the treadmill and congratulate myself for surviving sort of a rough week.. Murphy's law or something.
My friend keeps asking me to decide between Chicago and Hawaii for a spring getaway.. has anyone been to Galena(outside of Chicago)? We have the chance to stay in a Victorian place for free for a few days while there.
I'm also trying to decide which area of Mexico to go during the kids' spring break, Playa del Carmen with all the ruins, or Puerto Vallarta, where I was married 21 yrs. ago(dh not that excited about a return visit). I'd love any feedback on Mexico, my kids are 10 and 15 and good travelers. Cheers, J.

Can you believe it, I'm in a hot cocoa kind of mood? Normally, I'd be reaching for a pinio grigio (Santa Margarita is one I like right now) or maybe a vodka tonic but needed something sweet instead ;-)

wow, I feel so...hoi polloi...
I am drinking a beer...

I wish I had a glass of Pinot Grigio...

I'm sure that everyone has read my recent Vegas questions, I'm off in a few weeks!! I can't wait.

I am craving the Big Island, and really really want to go back in October, but we shall see!

Cheers to all Fodorites on their
Happy Hour Travels...near and far

Loisde, Sideways is the run-away movie hit of the year up for a bunch of Golden Globes. If you like wine it is a must see. I won't say anything more about Merlot. Just a funny bit in the movie. Sorry, if I destroyed your cocktail hour, and I hope you're not looking at your Merlot for little critters in it or something like that. Drink away and be happy.

Hey jetset1. Oddly enough I was just through Galena, IL the end of last November. A friend's son's friend was married in Stockton, IL with the reception in Dubuque, IA.

I'm not sure if you're aware but Galena is clear across the state from Chicago, about a 3 hour drive.

Hmmm, it looked like a quaint little town dedicated to the kitchy, tourist trade. It's certainly not the place for me. I don't care for shopping.

If you're a shopper you could browse the little shops, have a nice lunch and enjoy the down time. There were a few places to go for drinks and dinner too.

It reminded me a lot of Nashville, IN & Geneva, IL on the Fox River, kind of a small Gatlinburg, TN.

Wow, I have been working on a photo project all evening (not travel related unless you count people traveling to see me) and I have come back to a lot to read! Sounds like everyone has a lot of great trips planned, as well as some great cocktails! :D

Patrick, I am so sorry to hear about the health dilemmas with your partner and your mom, especially after what I know you went thru with your mom during the hurricane season. My best wishes go out to you.

Atilla, TandooriGirl, LoveItaly, Faina, Sunbabe, and everyone else...."cheers" back atchya.

Indy, so glad to see you here. I'm also working on getting DSL. It'll be offered on the island next month and I plan to be the first in line.

Scarlett, glad to hear your baby boy is safe and sound and I know you are looking forward to seeing him soon.

Jayneann, I have enjoyed my fair share of Yellow Tail in the US. Unfortunately, it's not available here, but it's a nice wine.

I'm now talking to my husband's teenage daughter on IM for the second night in a row. I guess I should be flattered that it's getting late, she has friends at her house, and still wants to chat with her "kewl step-mom" about typical teenage issues while listening to the latest alternative music together. Maybe I'm not as old as I think. :D

Have a wonderful night everyone and I'll keep checking in.

Oh fine. Tiny island in the Caribbean gets DSL at the same time as Nashville, IN. I'm so close to Indianapolis it's a local phone call. Where's the fairness in that? :-)