My Review of Marco Island, Florida

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

As a travel professional and enthusiast, one of the unexpected but welcomed outcomes of the global lockdown has been the opportunity to explore new domestic travel options. With Florida boasting some of the best beaches in the United States by far, I’ve made it my go-to vacation spot during the pandemic. 

I’d heard great things about the southwest coast of the Sunshine State so I decided to make it the destination for my birthday trip in February. I’m so glad that I did. Depending on what type of traveler you are, Marco Island, which is a beautiful barrier island 20 miles south of Naples, you may have one of two completely different reactions to it. Let me first share with you some potential drawbacks before I discuss everything I loved.

Real Talk

Marco Island, and really the entire southwest region, is not particularly racially diverse as far as residents or travelers. Think the opposite of the Miami region, which is about a 2.5-hour drive away. For an indication of what I mean, I looked at the last census numbers and the racial makeup of the city was 95.9% white.

This beautiful year-round beach and boating resort island is also extremely laid back. That means if you’re a beach bum like me, a nature lover, or a golf fanatic, you’ll really enjoy yourself. Those are the primary attractions this resort town has to offer. If you are an adventure freak or someone who needs a mix of turnup with their beach vacay, you’ll be extremely disappointed. But, if you are a couple who’s looking for a romantic, quiet getaway or a family with young children, this vacay spot is for you. And if you are a bachelor/bachelorette group or a family looking to entertain your teenage children, it’s best to look at some other options.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let me share with you everything I loved about Marco Island and the beautiful boutique resort I patronized, The Marco Beach Ocean Resort.

The accommodations

My favorite part about this quaint, oceanfront resort is that it offered spacious suites with breathtaking sunset views for a reasonable price. Contrasting the Cheeca Lodge Resort in the Keys I blogged about last month with gorgeous sunrise views, this resort gave a front-row seat to the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen. 

The one-bedroom suite also offered a full kitchenette complete with a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and oven. This is perfect for reheating leftovers or cooking your own budget-friendly meals. 

I also loved that this boutique resort was serious about its covid safety procedures. All staff wore masks and properly socially distanced. The resort also had signage requesting that all guests wore masks in public areas and numerous hand sanitizing stations.

The beach

This barrier island on the Gulf Coast side of Florida offers six miles of blue-ish, green waters and powdery, white sand that is filled with beautiful seashells close to the shoreline. This is a great thing if you like to collect seashells. The drawback of this beautiful scenery is that this shoreline can do serious damage to your feet! I recommend sea shoes. Be careful! 

Most of the resorts, like the Marco Beach Ocean Resort, offer beach-side service and plenty of comfy beach chairs and umbrellas. However, when the hotel is at capacity, you will want to get down to the beach as early as possible, if you’d like to reserve prime seating. 

The water was a bit chilly in February, but during the late spring, summer, and fall months, the water is ideal for water wading. I should also mention that the weather in February was perfect – sunny and warm with low humidity. 

The food

If you’ve been reading my blog for some time, you know I couldn’t talk about a destination without reviewing the culinary delights. If this is your first time reading Golden Life Musings, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Leslie, and I’m a foodie.

Whenever I visit a new place, I try to visit as many of the restaurants at that destination as possible. Let me first say that I did not have a bad meal in Marco Island. At least three of my meals were at the resort, and they were all spectacular. The highlight of my experience, however, was at the Italian restaurant Sale e Pepe, which offered a special pre-fixe 5-course meal for my birthday dinner. (FYI, this also happened to be Valentine’s Day). It was a whole FIVE STARS!

Here are some of my other personal recommendations:

  • The yellowtail snapper with a lemon, garlic butter sauce and szechuan green beans at Marco Prime Steak & Seafood Restaurant
  • Crab legs (or blue crabs if they have them), Pinchers claws and crab rangoon at Pinchers
  • Kale salad and parmesan truffle french fries at The Beachfront Bar & Grill at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Marco Island. Candidly, I was looking for a quiet vacay where the goal was to relax at the beach all day, enjoy delicious culinary treats and spend quality time with my mom and significant other while taking in the beautiful, serene environment around me. If that’s your jam, Marco Island’s got you covered.

Review: KYU Miami

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Leslie at KYU Miami

A few years ago, I blogged about the restaurant scene in the Miami Beach area and I entitled the post “Foodie Heaven.” No doubt, the Miami area is one of the best places to visit if you want to have your taste buds tantalized, and as is the case for many large cities, there are always new restaurants popping up to keep you on your toes. Ironically, it was around the time that I wrote Foodie Heaven that KYU emerged onto the Miami restaurant scene but I failed to discover it until last year. And boy what a discovery it was!

KYU (pronounced /kyo͞o/) is an Asian-inspired restaurant located in the artsy and hip Wynwood district in Miami. I want to point out that while the food definitely uses a lot of Asian spices and techniques, I promise you it is in a class all its own. Each dish is artfully crafted, mirroring the artistic, eclectic feel of the neighborhood in which the restaurant resides. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed with a modern, chic type of vibe and the staff is pleasant, friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes.

I most recently visited for the third time, allowing me to sample a good portion of the diverse menu, which has a little something for everybody no matter what type of eater you are. I’m not really sure how this is possible, but each time I’ve visited I’ve fallen more in love with the food. That’s why, hands down, this has become my favorite restaurant to visit in the Miami area.

Let’s start with the roasted cauliflower. I know what you’re thinking. Cauliflower, really? Yes, really. It’s just that good! The sauce, made with goat cheese and shishito-herb vinaigrette, is really what makes this dish, and if you’re not convinced you just have to take my word for it. My mom, who historically has not been a fan of cauliflower or broccoli, devours it every time we visit.

roasted cauliflower

KYU is known especially for its wood fire items, which in my opinion have the most dynamic flavors out of all of the other menu items. And they want you to know that for every tree they burn, they replant five.

At the top of my wood-fire item list: the Thai fried rice stone pot. This is not like any other fried rice you’ve had before. The rice is actually not fried at all, rather it simmers in a stone pot that is filled with all the yummy goodness that you can imagine including a bunch of Thai herbs and spices like lemongrass and Thai basil. Don’t be alarmed by the partially cooked egg that comes on top as it is delivered to the table. The waiter carefully mixes everything together for you at the table as the rice and all its ingredients continue to cook. It’s actually an experience!

 

For you fried chicken lovers, you’ve got to try the Korean fried chicken. It’s not smothered in grease like the others in my top five best fried chicken recipes, but I assure you it made it to the list. I especially love the red chili butter (think hot sauce) accompanying it that makes it good for sopping, if you can stand the heat.

korean fried chicken

Also on the wood fire list is the Florida red snapper, which most recently became my favorite dish on the menu. It literally melted in my mouth and I wanted to cry. I’m really not exaggerating. I felt a tear well up in the corner of my eye and I had to laugh at myself. The brown butter-white miso that was delicately drizzled on top just made the dish for me. It was so good I ate little bites just so I could savor it for a little while longer. I did not want it to end! Don’t judge me.

red snapper

Some additional menu items that I would recommend are the baby back ribs, the beef short ribs, and the soft-shell crab (served in traditional steamed Chinese buns). They are all delightful in their own right. Admittedly, I have not tried everything on the menu but based on everything I’ve had so far, you can’t go wrong.

 

Baby back ribs
Beef short ribs
Soft shell crab bun
Grilled broccoli

Some other things to note if you plan to visit KYU. Perhaps try family style on your first visit, which many of the menu items can accommodate. Because there are so many good dishes to try, you may want to order several of them so each person in your party can partake in the deliciousness. Also, this restaurant is moderately priced compared to many of the restaurants in the Miami area, with happy hour offering half off many of the popular dishes.

Last word of caution. If you’re planning to go, be sure to make a reservation. I’m not the only one who thinks KYU is pretty amazing. You’re welcome!

From Thailand With Love Part Two

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Last month I began to tell you about my amazing trip to Thailand and yes, it was that epic I had to break it up into two parts. One of the beautiful things about Thailand is in fact, the diversity of the places to see while you’re there. The experience in Bangkok is very different from the experience in Phuket, but I very much appreciated them both. But before I get into sharing my love affair with Phuket, let me interrupt this program to share with you my experience getting to the other side of the world.

My travel mates and I knew we wanted to make a stop in Dubai, so we decided to do it big and have the Emirates experience. If you’ve never heard about or actually had the Emirates experience let me enlighten you. It is beyond first class – even if you are flying economy class. Since this was also birthday trip, my saint of a mother upgraded our tickets to business class as a birthday gift. BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER!

Business Class

Literally from the moment we stepped out of my house to find our Suburban waiting to escort us to the airport, Emirates made us feel like superstars. Every meal, from breakfast in the lounge to the lunch and dinner and snacks on each flight, was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The service was impeccable. The rest that I got in my seat that converted into a lay flat bed was the best sleep by far I’ve ever gotten on a plane. Emirates even took care of a complimentary hotel room where we could go and freshen up during our 10-hour layover in Dubai. The only bad part about it all is that they’ve completely ruined me from wanting to experience another airline, and certainly not economy. [Insert chuckle and fake eye roll here.] I will be flying Southwest in a few weeks and I will be just fine.

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I have to admit though, after the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, which is not unlike most highly populated major cities around the world, I was ready for the calm and serenity of Phuket. And it did not disappoint. Phuket is by far one of the most beautifully charming cities I’ve visited. From the moment we stepped out of our transfer onto the beach, my heart skipped a beat. I felt like I was in heaven on Earth. The almost white sand and blue green water glistening from the brilliance of the sun immediately relaxed all the leftover tension I was holding in my body from back home.

Baan Amandeha

We walked onto the property at the villa and I had another reaction – complete awe. This villa was incredible and none of the photos or videos quite do it justice…but I tried! At the last minute, the vendor that I used to book the villa upgraded us from what was already a phenomenal property to this 10-bedroom beachfront dreamhouse. There was nothing about this place I didn’t love, but my favorite part was the infinity pool and the direct view of the sunrise from my bedroom every morning. The day of my birthday I decided to take a bath while I watched the sunrise. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Sunrise

While I have to admit that it was quite hard leaving that place, all of the activities we experienced off the property were just as incredible. If you know me you can probably guess my favorite, which was the Thai cooking class. It was awesome! Our concierge connected us with Pat’s Home Thai Cooking Class – a must visit! We cooked several traditional Thai dishes – Tom Yum Goong soup, spring rolls, chicken green curry, papaya salad and a banana in coconut milk dessert. Yum! It was one of my favorite meals on the entire trip.

Thai Cooking Class

Next on our agenda was to visit the Big Buddha Temple of Phuket and the Elephant Sanctuary. The temple was one of the most gorgeous structures I’ve ever seen. The Big Buddha statue sits on a hill directly overlooking a 360-degree panoramic view of the island and Chalong Bay. It was absolutely breathtaking. The temple, which sits adjacent to the statue, has a number of Buddha statues made of gold and marble that are equally incredible.

Big Buddha

Our visit to the Elephant Sanctuary was just as we all wanted it to be – short and sweet. We liked the fact that the sanctuary we went to gave us the option to ride or feed the elephants and we all opted to feed them. I had researched prior to the trip about how elephants’ backs are actually not built to hold the weight of humans. Our interaction with them was just long enough to get our photo ops and get some baby elephant kisses along the way.

Elephant Sanctuary

One of my other most memorable parts of the trip was our trip to the Phi Phi Islands (pronounced pee pee if you were wondering). Ever since I put Thailand on my vision board and bucket list, I had dreamed of going to the Phi Phi Islands. And I must say, I was not quite prepared for what I actually experienced. Let me explain. First, no one told us about the speedboat ride there. It was rough, to put it mildly. So rough, ten minutes into our trip we had to turn around and go back because two of the ladies could not take the ride – for stomach and fear issues. To say it was bumpy would be an understatement! But the rest of the girls and I battled it through for the more than an hour-long ride. Once we got there, we could all say that it was absolutely worth it. There really are no words to really describe the majestic beauty of this place.

Panoramic Phi Phi Islands

We stopped a few times, once to see Monkey island (where you can imagine what goes on there) and another time to hop off and do some snorkeling. I don’t know if it was the crazy ride or the heat of the afternoon sun, but that was the most refreshing water I’ve ever experienced. The final stop was a shopping area where we scored on some great souvenirs and a delicious lunch.

Phi Phi Islands

After that day trip, we were happy to get back to our villa where our massage therapists were awaiting our return. We had no idea how much we were going to need them that day! One quick note here, massages are amazingly cheap in Thailand (as low as $20 for an hour), so make plans to load up on massages while you are there!

Massage Therapists
We had our own massage room in the villa!

I would be remiss if I ended the recap of my Thailand trip without sharing my birthday experience with you. We hired a chef to come in and cook three meals for us that day (which was also very cheap by American standards) and it was absolutely amazing! Imagine this: you wake up when you’ve finished sleeping (which happened to be at sunrise), soak in a nice warm bath, eat breakfast that’s waiting for you, have a photo shoot with your friends, wade in the water, have another amazing meal, get a massage, take a nap, and have another amazing meal. Heaven!

Birthday Meals

That’s pretty much the word I would use to describe this trip. Absolute heaven. That’s why I will be returning to this charming destination and I recommend you add it to your bucket list as well.

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From Thailand With Love

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

In case you haven’t noticed, I love to travel. With each new destination I visit, I get a renewed thirst and joy for visiting a new place. And just like that, it becomes one of my favorite trips to date. My most recent journey to Thailand proved to be no different.

This beautiful country located in Southeast Asia has everything I love about a travel destination – beautiful beaches, a fascinating culture, kind people, amazing food, and lots of hidden and not so hidden treasures to explore.

Our trek began with a day-long layover in Dubai, which I was eager to get back to after spending some time there a few years ago. I had the opportunity to show my traveling buddies some of my favorite sites – Miracle Garden and Global Village. We split our time between the two, but you could easily spend a whole day exploring and still not see everything these destinations have to offer. (For more insights on Dubai, why you should go and what you should do while you’re there, visit my “Why Dubai?” blog post.)

Dubai 2019

Our first stop in Thailand was Bangkok. We stayed in the beautiful Okura Prestige. Since by American standards Bangkok hotels are pretty cheap, I figured we could afford to splurge on luxury accommodations here…and luxury it was! Between the breathtaking views from the rooftop infinity pool, the first-class customer service and stylish, spacious rooms offering panoramic views of the city, we took no time to fully immerse ourselves into luxury Thai living with a bit of Japanese flare. 

The foodie in me could not resist the urge to indulge in pad thai as my first meal in Thailand. And it did not disappoint!
Jet lag took me down! 😦
This rooftop infinity pool was everything.
I loved my personal welcome message. 🙂

Our first adventure was testing out the street food at the infamous night markets in Bangkok. Well honestly, getting there was the first adventure. We decided to try our hand at Bangkok public transportation, which was not bad, once we got the hang of it. It’s definitely one of the cleanest, civilized public transit systems I’ve experienced. I definitely recommend it because it was the quickest, cheapest option to get around considering the horrendous traffic!

We were all smiles because we finally figured out where we were going after 15 minutes of wandering lol.
Yes, they had a nail shop in the station. US we gotta step our game up!

Our concierge at Okura Prestige recommended The New Rot Fai Market Ratchada right next to the Esplanade shopping mall, which was conveniently just a few steps from the Thai Cultural Center transit stop. I was definitely overwhelmed with all of the food options at the market – but in a good way. I spent a great deal of time surveying the rows and rows of vendors until I finally landed on what essentially were dumplings filled with yummy goodness. There was a lot of chicken, seafood, fish, and yes, they even had a wide array of insects (yuck). Vegetables seemed to be a bit scarce. I tried everything from Thai fried chicken to pork belly to marinated prawns and grilled squid, and honestly, I did not try one thing I didn’t like. I did have one regret though. I did not try the whole fish filled with herbs roasting on a spit that some of my travel mates went back and tried the next day. You know what that means…I have to go back!

Thai street food

Our journey the next day took us to the Floating Market. A word of caution – it’s best to leave super early in the morning (6:30 or 7 am) because it is an actual journey getting there. The distance and traffic from downtown can easily make it a two hour ride each way! I can’t say that I was wowed by anything in the markets, as you could find what they were selling at most of the vendors in the markets closer into the city. But, the experience of floating down the waterway to visit the different vendors was pretty cool. I don’t have to do it again though (smile).

On our return visit on the back end of our trip, we had a chance to visit what is affectionately called the “Weekend” market, which was even larger and filled with more shopping options than the night market. This market seemed to be one that more of the locals visit for retail shopping. They had literally every trinket, piece of clothing, and food option you can imagine. I just wish we had been able to spend more time there.

Speaking of shopping, one note about Thailand. In general, it’s extremely affordable once your feet hit the ground there. Most everything – food, souvenirs, even massages – is pretty cheap considering the exchange of the US dollar to Thai currency, which is called baht, is in our favor. One dollar is equivalent to 30 baht. A decent meal at the street market might run you 150 to 300 baht depending on how hungry you are (smile).

So that was just Bangkok. Stay tuned for Part 2 of From Thailand With Love where I’ll share more on my favorite part of the trip: Phuket! I’ll give you a sneak peek…this was our 10-bedroom home for five days!

Baan Amandeha

Seven Must Have Experiences in Cabo

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Anybody who knows me knows that Mexico is one of my favorite destinations. Somehow I end up there at least once a year and haven’t seemed to tire of it yet! I’ve traveled extensively throughout this beautiful country but I find Los Cabos, otherwise known as just simply “Cabo”, to hold a special place in my heart. Not only is the landscape distinct from more popular regions like the Riviera Maya region on the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula, but the more laid-back feel and charm of this destination make it worth visiting.

As it is on the southwestern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, the climate and “desert meets sea” scenery resembles the southern west coast of the United States. In addition, what makes Cabo really visit-worthy are the experiences I outline below. You definitely want to check out these must-have experiences that surely will land Cabo on your radar:

  1. Watch the sunset. It is true that the further you travel down south, the more glorious the sunsets are because clearly, you are closer to the sun. Well Cabo does not disappoint in this area. In fact, the distinct landscape of this beautiful location adds to its beauty. And the way the rays reflect off of the mountains and cloud formations, is uniquely beautiful each day. On our day of arrival, my friends and I had an opportunity to experience it just in time!

Cabo sunset

2. Watch the sunrise. Most destinations I’ve visited are either known for their glorious sunrises or sunsets but Cabo shines well in both categories. Pun intended. In February when I most recently visited, the sunrise was a little later than some of the sunrises I’ve seen around the world, at roundabout 7 am, so your wake-up time isn’t too crazy. If that sounds way too early for you, I promise it is worth it! The way the sky changed colors leading up to the sunrise, contrasted against the sea and the mountains…it was nothing short of magnificent.

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3. Visit The Arch. The Arch, or “El Arco”, is a natural stone arch over the ocean in Cabo San Lucas (one of the two towns in Los Cabos) where the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California meet. I don’t know if words can even express how glorious this was and the pictures and videos don’t do it justice either. You just have to experience this for yourself! Additional Tip: I recommend renting a private boat for a few hours so you can soak in the whole experience and enjoy some snorkeling as well.

The Arch
I was so proud of my panoramic shot of the Arch from our boat. 🙂

 

4. Go to The Office. No not your office, THE Office. The first time I visited Cabo, our concierge recommended this delightful local gem on Medano Beach (which is also where you can catch the best views of the sunrise). Not only is the food excellent and the margaritas on point, there’s tons of entertainment and people watching to do there as well. Just a word of caution, if you sit on the front row of tables facing the beach, be prepared to harassed by the beach vendors. Yes, they will try to sell you on holding and petting their iguanas while you have a fork up to your mouth.

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5. Get a massage on the beach. If you are a beach bum and a massage lover like I am, well this one is self-explanatory. For those who need some selling, I can’t tell you how amazing it is to hear the real sounds of the ocean in the background (versus recorded sounds) while the ocean breeze grazes your skin as your muscles relax from the rub down. And the best part, it won’t break your pockets. I got a 90-minute massage for $50 and there are some places where it is cheaper!

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6. Dance the night away at Mandala Club. I get it, partying may not be your thing but the laid-back mood of Cabo, combined with the charm and feel of this destination, makes it worth having on at least one night of your trip. They have a wide selection of music that will satisfy just about anybody’s music preferences and they go well into the wee hours to satisfy you party animals out there.

mandala

7. Eat street tacos. You know the foodie in me couldn’t resist saying something about the food, right? Yep, Cabo has some of the best tacos in the world, as you can imagine. When in Mexico, right? And you can find an excellent taco at just about anywhere, and particularly the street vendors.

Street tacos

A final word of advice. Don’t let the reports of Cabo and Mexico, in general, being dangerous and crime-ridden scare you off from visiting. The violence and crime that does take place in Cabo primarily involves locals, not tourists, and it takes place nearly 100% in the rural, hillside communities. As I’ve recommended before with anywhere you go, take part in recreational activities responsibly and be careful of your surroundings, especially when traveling off resort grounds. I still cherish Mexico as one of my favorite travel destinations and I will continue to recommend it to travelers looking for an amazing vacation experience.

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La Traviata

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

It was only my second time at the opera, and it was even more magical than the first time. La Traviata, an Italian love story. As a hopeful romantic (I rebuke the term hopeless) and a lover of all things Italian, I immediately accepted the invitation from my opera-buff friend for an afternoon at the Kennedy Center. When she shared that it was the opera featured in one of my favorite movies of all time, Pretty Woman, I immediately envisioned myself as Julia Roberts in her striking red gown adorned by six-figure jewels, and got even more excited.

La Traviata3
Even though my friends and I attended the closing matinee show at the Kennedy Center in our hometown of Washington, D.C., we decided to play dress up and pretend like we were at the MET. We stood out like a sore thumb lol, but we got compliments literally all afternoon and we felt like royalty.

As a lover of music and the arts in general, I live for moments like these at the opera. This particular piece, La Traviata, was the full entertainment experience. Everything from the wistful, dramatic and at times spiritual tones of the music, to the captivating staging and scenery, and the superb acting and singing all left me co-signing my audience-mate’s sentiments “Brava!” in my head at the end of every scene, particularly the lead character Violetta’s arias.

In a nutshell, La Traviata tells the story of a young woman, Violetta, who is suffering from a serious illness, yet catches the attention and ultimately heart of a man named Alfredo. After initially rejecting him, Violetta falls deeply in love with him and they get to live happily for a short period of time until outside forces, over which neither have any control, threaten their relationship. Ultimately though, love prevails and they are reunited shortly before her [SPOILER ALERT] untimely death.

Yes, La Traviata means “the fallen woman” and she does die at the end. However, the entirety of the production leaves you feeling more joyful and peaceful than the title, or even synopsis suggests. Violetta’s arias alone left me absolutely mesmerized. And I don’t know if it was the fact that my friends and I attended the closing show at the Kennedy Center or if I was just caught up in my Julia Roberts moment, but I found myself with the rest of the audience jumping to my feet for a standing ovation, wildly applauding the cast with tears in my eyes at conclusion of the performance.

Opera may not be your thing, but if you ever decide to step outside your comfort zone and give it a try, I recommend La Traviata. There is a reason it is the most frequently performed opera of all time. Even if you aren’t a hopeful romantic like I am, I believe this love will win you over.

La Traviata5

Review: Brass-A-Holics

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Brass-A-Holics

They had me at World-Famous Go-Go Brass Funk band. Being a D.C. native, I feel a sense of pride when musicians respect and appreciate the DC-bred music art form enough to adopt it into their sound. But, I assure you the New Orleans-based Brass-A-Holics has a sound all their own that transcends any type of categorization or boundary you try to place on them. That’s why after hearing them for the first time a few nights ago, it was no question what I was going to write about next. If you are a lover of live music like myself, or just music period, trust me you will want to have the Brassaholics experience.

And it was just that…an experience. Aside from the 15- or 20-minute intermission, from 8 pm to 10:30 pm, it was nothing but a straight party. Playing every genre of music imaginable from funk and R&B to a little bit of jazz, hip-hop and pop, the Brass-A-Holics had the dance floor completely packed and everyone in the room young & old and every ethnicity imaginable in a groove. There was no one excluded from getting caught up in the experience.

Their versatility, I think, is a huge part of what makes them so dynamic and special. We found the band in any given moment flow from Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together to Lil Duval’s Smile (Living my Best Life) to Katy Perry’s Dark Horse to Chuck Brown’s Bustin’ Loose and of course the traditional New Orleans-style brass band music, keeping us on our toes wondering what would come next. Not only that, the band’s three horn players doubled as vocalists and rappers, effortlessly switching back and forth between talents even mid-song throughout the night. We might have even seen some choreographed dance moves here and there as well.

The other thing that makes them so special, is simply their energy. With each song they played you could feel them give a piece of themselves to the audience. It is evident that these talented musicians genuinely love what they do and that is delivered through their unique sound and energy. Hence, by the end of the evening you had even the most chill and laid back of audience members playing along shouting back to the band their iconic chant, “Feeling that band, what they call it? Word on the street, it’s the… Brass-A-Holics!”

Needless to say, the Brass-A-Holics have made an official fan out of me. I would even go so far as to say this was certainly in my top 10 of live band experiences, which is saying a lot coming from a fellow artist and live music aficianado. If you are planning to head down to New Orleans or if they are heading to a city near you, I recommend making it a priority to have the Brass-A-Holics experience. You’ll be glad you did! You’re welcome.

Brass-A-Holics collage

Review: Barceló Maya Grand Resort

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

As part of my participation in a company retreat a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to stay at the sprawling Barcelo Maya Grand Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This resort is comprised of five all-inclusive resorts – Maya, Tropical, Colonial, Beach and Palace – and happens to be one of the largest properties I’ve visited to date. That can have its pros and cons, depending on the reason for your travel, so I’d love to give you a little taste of what I experienced so you can decide for yourself if this is the right property for you.

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First, one of the great things about this resort is there is a little something for everyone from the little humans to seniors so it works well for large groups like weddings, family reunions, retreats and any other group function that comes to mind. Each resort has its own unique feel to it with its own lobby, pools and specialty restaurants. I opted for the Palace considering all of its rooms are suites and offered the highest level of accommodations and adults-only options.

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The lounge area of my Junior Suite at the Barcelo Maya Palace

One of the least appealing things about this resort is that it is massive and everything is pretty far away from each other. We found ourselves walking a lot, which wasn’t always a bad thing because it gave us a chance to work off all the food we ate! But, if you have some type of disability or ailment, this resort will prove to be challenging. They do have shuttles that can take you back and forth between resorts, but they take time to get around the property and unfortunately, they are not air-conditioned, which proves to be difficult in 90-degree heat and when the shuttle is packed with guests.

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If you’re a Golden Life Musings follower you can probably guess what my favorite part of the resort was. If you guessed the spa, you are absolutely right! You know me so well (smile). One area where the Barcelo brand really shines is certainly the spa. It was quite a trek from the Palace (30-minute shuttle ride with multiple stops or 20 to 30-minute walk depending on your pace) but once I arrived, it was well worth the struggle to get there. The relaxation room certainly lives up to its name, with multiple comfy lounge chairs, soft music, assortment of teas and fruit flavored water, and a beautiful view of the lush landscaping surrounding the property, another thing Barcelo does right.

The beautiful relaxation room
Where the 90 minutes of heaven went down.

I opted for the 90-minute Swedish massage, otherwise known as an hour and a half of heaven. From there I ventured off to the hydrotherapy section of the spa, where I spent the remainder of my morning and afternoon until I got hungry. For those who may not know, hydrotherapy is simply the use of water for therapeutic effects. Specifically, you use a combination or “circuit” of warm to cold to hot water, which serves to energize and rest the body, improving blood circulation and helping with detoxification. Just being completely honest, I absolutely hate cold water so the idea of intentionally submerging my body into cold water does not even remotely trigger relaxation. For that reason, I always opt out of that part of the treatment. (Don’t judge me.) But I will say the sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi are all amazing!

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My own personal oasis

My favorite part of the hydrotherapy section of the spa was the outdoor pool. The design and size of the pool paired with the outdoor landscaping just makes it feel like your own private oasis. And I just happened to be there when there weren’t many guests  so I was able to have the entire pool to myself for most of my visit. Winning!

Onto the food, which you know for me is one of the most highly anticipated parts of my travels. At large resorts like Barcelo, I always have to manage my expectations because the reality is, this resort has to feed thousands of people on a daily basis. I get it. With that in mind, I try to take it easy on the larger resorts but honestly, the buffet options are hit or miss for me. The breakfast every morning was amazing because they have omelets cooked to order, smoked salmon (which I would eat every day of the week if I could), and fresh squeezed orange juice. I don’t need much else but even those mornings when I ventured a little bit from my norm, I was pleasantly surprised with the options.

Lunch on the other hand was a different story. Any time I tried to venture away from anything else but chicken, I was disappointed. At that point, I was just eating to make the hunger pains go away. But I will say, the saving grace one day was the fresh fried fish they were serving as a feature item at one of the smaller buffet restaurants. It changed my entire life. It was so delicious I raved about it to my friends and recruited them to go back the next day for it but sadly, they were not offering it that day. If you have the opportunity to go to his resort and you see they are serving the fish on that day, jump on it! It can take up to 20-30 minutes to wait for it depending on how many people are in line waiting for it, but it’s well worth it! [Side note: Yes, it is a whole fish including the head, but it’s ok just deal with it, the meat behind the head is where most of the deliciousness is!]

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The fish that changed my life.

For dinner, I highly recommend the specialty restaurants and that’s where having Premium status will come in handy because it is imperative you have a reservation at these restaurants. Premium guests have first dibs on these restaurants and you don’t have to stand in line to make them like the regular guests. I found this out the hard way because I was not paying attention and made a mistake by not selecting Premium status this time around. Upon my arrival, I had to spend the first 45 minutes of my trip waiting in line to purchase wi-fi and make my reservations for the specialty restaurants. And after all of that waiting I was told there were no more reservations for that night. Fail.

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Four course meal at the French restaurant that included shrimp salad, escargot, sea bass and creme brulee…delicious!

If you venture into the specialty realm, my personal favorites were the French restaurant, Spanish restaurant and the Brazilian Steakhouse. Barcelo does a great job of making you feel like you’ve stepped into another country by not just nailing the cuisine, they create an entire experience for you with ambiance and décor as well.

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At the Brazilian steakhouse, my friend James opted for the authentic experience where the unlimited meat options were presented and carved at the table.

Other things to note:

  1. In general, the beach on which the Barcelo is located is on one of the best beaches of the world. However, we arrived just days after a storm so the beach was filled with seaweed. Fortunately, the pool areas of the resort are beautiful and more than made up for the seaweed-mired beach.
  2. Be sure to catch the sunset at least one of the days you are there. It is breathtaking.
  3. If you are a cruiser and have been spoiled by the great shows on cruise ships, you may just want to manage your expectations with the entertainment.

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Poolside fun!

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They did the best they could with Marilyn bless their hearts…

Overall, the Barcelo resorts are a solid choice. If you remember, I went to the sister property in Punta Cana about two years ago [see review HERE] and I recommended it particularly for group travel and even first-time travelers to Mexico. If you are looking for a more intimate 5-star luxury experience with your loved ones and you are a more experienced traveler, this would not be my first choice. One thing is for certain about the Barcelo brand though, they give you great value for the price and you will have a little something for everyone to love.

Review: Sedona, Arizona

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

As soon as I feasted my eyes on those mesmerizing red rocks my body immediately relaxed. It was my first time in Sedona, actually the whole state of Arizona, and the charm and beauty of the area had preceded my introduction. The purpose of my visit: relaxation and the exploration of an untapped and, in my opinion, underappreciated American gem. Even having done some research on this hidden treasure prior to my visit, I wasn’t quite prepared for all of the magnificence of what I experienced.

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Let me preface my review with a slight detour from the destination itself. This delightful weekend was a girl’s trip and much needed mental health weekend that could not have come at a better time for any of us. From demanding careers to newborns back home and everything in between, we were all worn out and I was happy to provide the perfect prescription for the woes of adulting. If you are reading this right now and you haven’t scheduled your own mental health break or some type of getaway to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit, stop right now and schedule it! Well, first finish reading the blog and then get to scheduling (smile).

Being the travelpreneur I am, I thoroughly researched the resorts in the area and landed on the Amara Resort, which is in the family of one of my favorite hotel brands, Kimpton. I love the boutique resort feel and the attention to detail in customer service and of course, the food. I also loved that a ginormous red rock formation served as the backdrop and focal point of the outdoor pool, communal lounge area and restaurant. Additionally, out of all the luxury hotels offered in the area, the Amara presented some of the most reasonable rates.

View from my courtyard room balcony
View as you step out on the patio of the hotel restaurant
I loved that the double rooms featured amazingly comfortable queen sized beds

I loved pretty much everything about this hotel, including the glorious infinity pool and decent sized hot tub adjacent to it. However, based on the capacity of the resort, the pool area is a bit small. On more than one occasion, particularly during peak hours of the day (noon – 3pm), there were more guests than lounge chairs and cabana beds. Aesthetically, it is a lovely, well-landscaped and designed area. But if you want to have a relaxing day at the pool, you better arrive before 9 am or you won’t have a place to lay your towel, much less your body.

What’s not to love about an infinity pool with a glorious backdrop like this?
My friend Marnel and I could not wait to get in this pool. The water was just right!
Cheers!

What I loved most about the resort was pretty much what I most look forward to on any trip: the spa and the food. Considering Sedona is spa country, meaning that it is most well-known for its spas, I was excited about venturing to a destination that specializes in my beloved past time. The Amara Spa itself is not a full-service, large-scale spa but it certainly delivered in service and quality. After a glorious 90- minute massage, a rejuvenating nap in the relaxation room and a refreshing visit to the sauna, I literally had to pry myself away from the place. If it wasn’t for my grumbling stomach, I might have stayed all day.

If you’re a foodie like me, you’ll appreciate that the Kimpton brand specializes in an award-winning collection of seasonally-inspired restaurants and bars. Considering that type of yummy goodness was just steps away from our living quarters, we spent a lot of time at Saltrock Southwest Kitchen, Amara’s signature restaurant. Literally everything from breakfast to lunch to dinner and everything in between was absolutely delicious. And since it was Cinco de Mayo weekend, we just HAD to indulge in the handcrafted margaritas as well. Delicious!

There was a lot of “cheersing” this weekend lol
This salmon was delectable
I thoroughly enjoyed this frittata
Definitely one of the top benedicts in my life!
Researching the handcrafted cocktails 🙂
My friend’s delightful, falling off the bone osso bucco
My friends raved about this huevos rancheros

We also had top-notch experiences at other well-known Sedona gems such as Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, which boasted ridiculously beautiful views of the mountainous Sedona landscape, and Etch Kitchen and Bar of the beautiful L’Aubuerge Resort and Spa, which is nestled along the banks of Oak Creek. Neither of these options were cheap but they were well worth the delicious fare and breathtaking views. We opted for the all you can eat gourmet brunch at Etch where we thoroughly stuffed ourselves with some of the most delicious brunch bites I’ve had to date.

The seafood platter…yummm…
The photo doesn’t even do the view from the Mariposa justice
Brunch!
One of the most delicious ribeye’s ever!
My friends clowned me for being “double-fisted” with the desserts…and yes I ate every single bite. 🙂
Pretty much sums up our weekend! The creek setting for brunch was amazing…
My friend’s surf and turf (lobster and filet mignon)

The most unexpected but memorable highlight of the trip came at nearly the tail end and in hindsight, it should have taken place at the beginning because I needed another massage afterwards. Anyone who knows me knows I have two fears: insects and heights. I can’t say that I was ever excited about the idea of hiking, but I did want to explore Sedona and see some of the magnificent views I’d heard and read about, so I looked at it as a necessary evil when two of my girlfriends suggested we go. Little did I know, a hiking trail called Devil’s Bridge would have me stare my fear straight in the face.

When presented with two options, I selected the trail because the reviews said it offered hands down, the best photo ops. Sign me up! Let me be clear. I had NO idea what that meant. I got to what I thought was the top and jumped for joy that I had made it through my first hike without passing out or having a heart attack.

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Then I was rudely awakened to the fact that I was not at the top and I had some serious climbing left. Yes, climbing. At one point we had to use our feet, legs, core, arms and hands to pull our bodies up to what was the real top. Then nothing prepared me for what I was going to see next. Devil’s Bridge. They don’t call it that for nothing. Granted, the natural sandstone arch is not as high or as narrow as it looks, but when you’re standing on it and look out and see that you are peering down on a forest and there’s nothing on either side stopping you from plunging hundreds of feet to your death – well it’s pretty scary. But, it was a magnificent view. I can say without a shadow of doubt, I was afraid (heart beating through my chest and legs trembling), but I did it anyway…with the help of my friends, holding my hand as I gingerly stepped towards the middle of the bridge.

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Now you can understand why I was regretting getting the massage before the hike. But, I was able to reward myself with the brunch I mentioned above and a nice long dip in the hot tub afterwards, which sufficed.

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Needless to say, Sedona was in fact, a trip of a lifetime. For you Americans reading my blog I want you to know you really don’t have to go outside of the United States to see some of the greatest wonders of the world. They literally are right here in our backyard. And believe it or not, I didn’t even get to experience all there is to experience so yes, I’ll be returning. Upon my next visit, I plan to check out the famous spiritual vortexes, take a pink jeep tour, and maybe just maybe indulge in a hot air balloon ride if I want to get my heart pumping again.

There are a few things to note if you plan to take my word for it and make Sedona one of your next travel destinations. Save up some money because the best places to dine and spa are not cheap. Fly into Phoenix, rent a car, and enjoy the amazingly scenic two-hour ride to Sedona. It is useful to have a car while there. Everything literally shuts down by 9 pm so you’ll want to make sure you grab some munchies and perhaps a bottle of wine or two from the Circle K to keep you entertained until your bed time. Lastly, stay off of social media and away from the rest of the world as much as you can while you’re there. Otherwise, you’ll miss all the magic this splendid little town offers.

 

Five Reasons to Stay at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I’ve been to Vegas a lot, too many times to count in fact. But for as long as I can remember (likely since it’s opening in 2010), I’ve wanted to stay at the Cosmopolitan. It’s always had this classy, sleek, elegant vibe to it and I knew I was just destined to stay there. For whatever reason, things never seemed to line up to make it happen. When I heard a business conference I wanted to attend was taking place in Vegas, the stars aligned – and Southwest Vacations was offering a great flight and hotel combo – so I jumped on the opportunity. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I can also see why it was named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the Top Hotels in the World.

There’s a lot to love about this hotel, but I thought I would offer a different type of review from the norm and give you the top five reasons I recommend staying here. By the way, they are in no particular order.

  1. The views. Nestled smack dab in the middle of “The Strip” and next door to the infamous Bellagio Hotel, The Cosmopolitan offers literally the best views in Vegas I’ve seen to date. Now all views are not created equal throughout the hotel, but if you are blessed to be given a view of the Bellagio fountain, I’m sure you will fall in love immediately just as I did. Particularly at night, these views are magical.

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View of the Bellagio Fountain and the Vegas strip from my 30th Floor room.

In addition, I learned that the Cosmopolitan is one of the very few hotels on the Las Vegas strip that offer balcony rooms and suites. My partners had the opportunity to stay in one of the wrap around balcony suites, which offered a glorious front and center view of the Bellagio Fountain that was to die for. If you have the coins and spectacular views are at the top of your must have list when traveling, I highly recommend the balcony suites.

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View from my friend’s 64th floor suite balcony…just amazing!

  1. The pools. Because we were traveling towards the end of pool season in Vegas there was only one pool open while we were there, but that’s all we needed. This was considered to be the “relaxing” pool in the Chelsea Tower right outside the spa, which I’ll get to in a minute. There are two more pools: The Boulevard, which is slightly more “turned up” and lively, and then there’s the Marquee Pool, an extension of the famous Marquee nightclub, that apparently is all the way “lit” and hosts day parties. The Cosmopolitan describes it this way: “a vibrant beach club experience for adults. By day it exudes a lounge-like feel, while at night it transforms into an extension of the nightclub.”

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Having a little fun with my partners at the Chelsea Pool.

We were quite comfortable with the Chelsea pool and some of us even indulged in the jacuzzi. Note, there is also a pool bar that is quite lovely but be prepared to spend some cash. I paid about $35 for chips and salsa and an adult beverage. I concluded that they were charging me for the scenery as well!

  1. The restaurants. Well you know they had me at food. I’m sad I didn’t get to try all of the restaurants the hotel offers but you know I could not leave without experiencing a restaurant with the name Eggslut. Just wow. While the egg sandwich I had was quite tasty, it was my least favorite experience out of the three restaurants I experienced. And really to call it a restaurant would be giving it too much credit. You ordered your food at the cash register, picked it up from a counter, and hunted down a seat in the crowded area of small tables and chairs they provided. While I do give them an A for originality and creativity with the variety of options and serving an all-day breakfast menu, I felt it was quite overpriced.

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But The Henry and The Wicked Spoon made up for it. I quite possibly had one of the top five cheeseburgers of my life at The Henry. So much so, I couldn’t eat the whole thing due to it’s massive size, so I asked a friend to store it in her refrigerator and made sure I found a way to heat it up so I could enjoy the rest of it before I left. That’s a lot of effort for a cheeseburger but I promise, it was worth it. It was everything a cheeseburger should be and more.

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My top 5 Cheeseburger cooked perfectly and topped with provolone cheese and grilled onions…yummy!

And then there was Wicked Spoon, their buffet dining option. Buffets are tricky. They are hit and miss for me but this one was right on target! This buffet had essentially everything you could want in terms of options from breakfast to dinner, from sushi to flatbread, and a variety of pastas, freshly carved meats and veggies. I quite possibly had some of the best fried chicken (definitely top 5) in my life. On a buffet! I was shocked. And considering how much they offered and how expensive other food options in the hotel were, it was only $35. Just about the same as my chips and salsa and adult beverage (sideye).

4. The shower heads. You may think I’m odd for this one but for me, it’s really the little things that make me happy—like rainforest, high pressure rainforest shower heads. I’ve stayed in many hotels and a lot of them do not invest in shower heads. I can think of another brand that does, and that is Westin. The heavenly showerheads Westin uses, and yes that is the name of their line “heavenly”, impressed my mom so much, she bought a handful of them online so each of my family members could have them in our homes. But, I digress. Other than my shower at home, my shower experiences at The Cosmopolitan were some of my all-time favorites!

 

5. The spa. Now there’s a caveat I hate to admit. Miss Spa Queen herself missed an opportunity to get spa services on this trip. [Insert tears here.] But I did get to take a mini tour and from the reviews of my partners on the services and the full-service spa facility, it is a must have experience. Therefore, I’m going ahead and calling my missed opportunity a strategic move. This just means that I will have to return to The Cosmopolitan so I can indulge in the Sahra Spa experience for a full site inspection (smile).

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This picture doesn’t do it justice but the entrance replicates a cave with a beautiful glowing waterfall at the end of the hallway.