What it's like to stay in one of the Hotel Palomar DC's Motion Spa Rooms

Kimpton Hotels is one of my favorite hotel brands. I love the boutique-feel of their properties. Plus, the hotels' public spaces are uniquely decorated with each property having a different look, and the rooms are hip and functional.



On a recent trip to Washington, DC, I stayed at the Hotel Palomar in Dupont Circle. Upon check-in, I was upgraded to one of the hotel's Motion Spa Rooms.

5 Things to Do on Roatan

The first thing that comes to mind when considering a trip to Roatan is sun. Then beach. Then sand. It turns out there are quite a bit of other things to do on the island, besides lounging around. Of course, hanging out by the beach is also much recommended especially when you are coming from and returning to somewhere cold!

Visit a Private Beach

We visited several private beaches during our stay, but my favorite was Little French Key. Our hotel provided free transportation and access to the private island of Little French Key. We took the hotel shuttle and then a 5 minute ferry ride to the island.  

Staying at the Clarion Suites Roatan at Pineapple Villas

A while back my sister won a weeklong stay at the Clarion Suites Roatan at Pineapple Villas when she entered a contest at a local travel show. She invited me to spend the week of Thanksgiving with her and her husband, and figuring I would likely never have another reason to visit Roatan, I took her up on the offer.

Roatan is an island belonging to the nation of Honduras and is located in the Caribbean. It was nice to go somewhere nice and warm and hang out at the beach before the impending New Mexican winter arrived.

View from our balcony

5 Things to Do in Scottsdale, Arizona

I have always thought of Scottsdale as merely an extension of the Phoenix metro area. Despite having visited Phoenix many times, I never spent much time in Scottsdale until recently.

Scottsdale has much to offer, including plenty of eating and drinking options, opportunities to explore the great outdoors and even take in some culture.

Taliesin West

This is a must do for those who appreciate architecture. Taliesin West was the winter home and architecture school of Frank Lloyd Wright. It still serves as the campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

The property is accessible to the public by guided tours, which provide great insight into, not only the design of the buildings, but also into the man who was Frank Lloyd Wright.

Visiting Holiday Displays in Washington, DC

Christmastime is definitely one of my favorite times of the year to visit Washington, DC. The city knows how to deck itself out in the holiday spirit. This year, I only had a very small window of time in which to see some of the holiday lights around the city.

At the top of my list of things to see was The National Christmas Tree, which is located near the White House. This year's tree was decorated in gold and silvery white LED lights to commemorate the National Park Service's Centennial.

Freekeh Foods - Product Review and Giveaway

Fit Approach and Freekeh Foods recently teamed up to share a new-to-me food with me and my readers.

Source: Freekeh Foods

Before this project, I did not know what freekeh (pronounced: free-kuh) was. I learned that it is a roasted green wheat and is a staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.

According to their website, "Freekeh has up to three times the fiber and protein found in brown rice, and fewer calories than quinoa and white rice." Note that since freekeh is made of wheat, it is not gluten-free.

Running with Westin's Gear Lending Program and RunBoston

This marks the final post recapping my trip to Boston earlier this month. I did not get much exercise in during the conference because the conference organizers were a bit disorganized and did not tell us that we had access to a gym until after we had already arrived.

Since I only packed a carry-on bag for my trip, I did not have room to pack my running shoes. But I knew that I would be able to get some workouts in after I switched to the Westin Copley Place because of their partnership with New Balance. Westin and New Balance recently created a Gear Lending Program, where for a fee of $5 you can borrow a pair of running shoes during your stay. Along with shoes, you can also borrow shorts, tops, sports bras and socks.

After I checked into my room, I called the Service line and requested my shoes. I also asked for a top and shorts. After a short wait, this drawstring bag was delivered to my room. You need to be there to sign for the items.

How I (Accidentally) Walked 14 Miles in Boston - Part 2

Meanwhile, back on the Freedom Trail....

I dragged myself out of the comfy hotel room and back onto the sidewalks of Boston. I meandered my way past Boston Public Garden and Boston Common, towards Beacon Hill and spotted the beautiful gilded dome of the Massachusetts State House. It is hard to make out but the dome is topped with a gilded pine cone.

How I (Accidentally) Walked 14 Miles in Boston - Part 1

My conference ended on Saturday, so that gave me half the day to see some of the sights of Boston. I decided to walk the Freedom Trail, and somehow wound up walking 14.5 miles throughout the day, according to my FitBit...and my tired and sore feet and legs.

View of Charlestown

Pretty Views and More Boston Eats

On Thursday night of the conference, we had a lovely dinner on the campus of Northeastern University. I think we were on the 17th floor and had amazing views of Boston.