A Visit to Sunnylands

I have had a long fascination with a rather magical place, about which I could only read and see glamorous photos.  I recently got to visit that place in person. It is called Sunnylands ...

Entrance on Bob Hope Drive

Grand entrance to the home

QE2 and Mrs. A in the 70's

For those (most) of you unfamiliar with the name, Sunnylands was, for more than 40 years, the winter home of the late Walter Annenberg and his wife Leonore in Rancho Mirage.  Ambassador Annenberg (he was appointed to the Court of St. James by President Nixon) inherited a small publishing business and, unlike other members of the LSC (Lucky Sperm Club), he grew the business exponentially to include TV Guide, The Daily Racing Form, The Philadelphia Enquirer and Seventeen Magazine.

Seating area adjacent to main foyer

Rear terrace looking at pool and pond

Corner of a seating area off master

Sculpture of welcoming birds on grounds

He and his wife (former White House Chief of Protocol under President Reagan) entertained in GRAND style in this incredible home of 25,000 square feet on 200+ acres -- which includes a 9-hole golf course, 11 lakes and a mausoleum where the couple now permanently reside.  Their well-documented New Year's Eve gala for years welcomed a long list of notables, including seven U.S. Presidents, Queen Elizabeth and Frank Sinatra (his last marriage took place there).  The Annenbergs accumulated one of the largest private collections of Impressionist art -- priceless works by great masters such as Cezanne, Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet.  The collection (valued at $1 Billion) was donated to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.  But thankfully for us voyeurs who wanted to see the home as it was, all of the art has been digitally replicated and hung in the same placement as the originals.  Ain't technology grand?  At least they didn't take the real Rodins out, tho ..

 

Glimpse of guest room wing on right

Having fulfilled their long promise to endow and leave the property as a cultural center and tour  opportunity (since March of this year), docents are leading the way in small groups of seven for an up-close visit to the entire home and grounds.  Tour reservations may be made on their website.   

Loved every minute!

As a longtime real estate looky-loo, I was in absolute hog heaven.  The estate was run by a staff of 50 (of course that included the massive grounds ..!) with military-like precision.  Guests were said to be pampered beyond comprehension, down to the selection of reading in the guest suites and choice of breakfast delivered to their rooms, but were also expected to be impeccably dressed and extremely punctual.  A schedule of the guests' weekend itineraries was laid out beginning to end.  

Saw the rose garden but not the 3 greenhouses!

Mrs. A was not shy when it came to her expectations.  There is a sign in the ladies locker room that says:  "If you would like to enjoy a swim after playing golf, we believe a shower beforehand would be very refreshing."  Get the drift?

The kitchen would be considered quaint by today's mega-mansion standards.  But I don't know of any shelves labeled with the number of place settings of exquisite china and crystal in inventory.  Seriously, who needs 50 demitasse cups and saucers?? 

Even I, a proud stealth photographer who surreptiously got a shot of Kate's wedding dress, was unable to sneak any shots inside the house as that is strictly prohibited.   Alas, all groups are closely watched by both the guide and security detail.  Suffice it to say, the things on display in the aptly named Memorabilia Room are incredible -- the framed invitation and menus from the wedding of Charles and Diana, holiday cards and photos from royalty worldwide, photos of all presidents going back to Eisenhower and so much more... So enjoyed my time there and cannot wait to go back.

Not a bad place to spend eternity ...

Looking up towards the master area

Aerial of the home and some(!) of the grounds

Of course, my car simply does not know how to bypass the Cabazon Outlets driving on Highway 10.  It automatically makes a stop.   Having shopped these types of stores in probably too many locations, I'm still impressed by the collection of retailers here -- from the very high-end designers not found elsewhere to the litany of other shops.  Only thing missing is ample parking!!  If you're really jonesin' for a gambling fix, the Morongo Casino is right next store, after passing by Hadleys -- which was selling nuts and dried fruits when Trader Joe's was simply someone's future dream (Hadley's was established in 1931; TJ's in the early '50's) ... 

True confession ... I am obsessed with fall foliage!  There.  I've said it.  Wherever we travel and there is an abundance of trees, I pretty much always say how gorgeous it must be when the leaves change.  The hubby says he'd give me just one season where I actually had to rake the leaves and my attitude would change (same with loving snow/having real winter conditions). Alas, this lifelong So Cal resident can see only a smidgen of colors on a clear day driving along Mulholland.

At a vineyard in Queenstown, NZ

What did I love most about our trip to New Zealand and Australia in the spring of 2010?  The foliage (among lots of other things)!  I knew it would be fall there, but it absolutely never occurred to me I would have the added bonus of seeing the gorgeous foliage.

Taupo, north island of NZ

How gorgeous is this?  Not exactly fall, but who cares? (Huka Lodge)

 

The first places that come to mind for experiencing nature's gift would be in the northeast U.S. -- and I know there are cruises (NY to Canada) to take advantage of that time.  My goal here is to get you thinking about the less obvious places both at home and abroad.  Herewith, a list of places. And, if it's too late for this year, a few places you could go in the spring to experience the fall (south of the equator, of course!)  

Denali National Park

1.  National Parks such as Denali in Alaska; Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina; Grand Teton in Wyoming; and in the northeast, Acadia in Maine.  

2.  Ottawa, Canada -- the country's capital is probably considered more of a "flyover" between Toronto and Montreal but is well worth visiting.

Lac Leslie, 60 miles NW of Ottawa

Black Forest

3.  In Europe, certainly Germany's Black Forest (so named because tree density makes it difficult for light to pass through) is a premiere spot.  Having just been there in early May, I can only imagine the vibrant colors on so many trees! 



 

Patagonia

Lastly, if you're traveling when it is springtime in the U.S. but want to see foliage during those months, then head south!  Two suggestions:


 4.  Patagonia, Argentina -- particularly the Lake District.  And of course, one cannot miss Buenos Aires, a world-class city on so many levels.

Queenstown

5. And, back to the beginning, Queenstown, NZ, on the south island.  One of the truly picturesque places on earth....

                                                                                                                     

In a perfect world, traveling would have no glitches or downsides ... whether overpaying for tickets or being the victim of theft.  Alas, there are strategies and methods that you can take to make traveling less expensive and safer.

I love 2 recent articles on how to mitigate the "glitch" scenario so that your journeys may focus on the pleasurable aspects.  Following are relevant portions which could guide you to a more "glitch-free" experience:

1.  The website Budget Travel recommends the following things to AVOID buying airline tickets:

Shopping at Night

Airlines generally release a limited number of inexpensive coach-class seats in the morning or early afternoon. From a consumer standpoint, that means the early bird gets the worm. If you're booking late at night, you stand a greater chance of finding only the leftover (read: more expensive) seats. Search early in the day for the best prices.

Delaying

It's such a hassle searching for cheap flights, right? It's fine to keep putting it off until the last minute-assuming you don't mind paying through the nose when you do finally get around to it. Sure, sometimes people find a good deal at the last minute, but that's the exception rather than the rule. In most cases, the longer you wait, the more you pay. Start searching a few months before you fly. The sweet spot for finding a good fare is about six weeks ahead of departure.  

Departing in the Afternoon

Want to cost yourself some extra money? Book a flight that departs in the afternoon. That's the travel industry's version of rush hour, and for the privilege of flying when the skies are most congested (and delays are most common), you'll pay more than if you selected an early or late departure. Higher fares and more delays? Talk about adding insult to injury.

2.  The WSJ's Scott McCarthy writes in his recent column (The Middle Seat) all about The Return of the Pickpocket.  Many things can befell us travelers, but falling prey to an innocent-looking(?) stranger would definitely be at the top of my list.  I have a couple of ironclad rules, one of which is to ditch my larger, heavy wallet for a small one which carries a few essentials: 1 or 2 credit cards/photo i.d./small amount of cash/health insurance card/AAA card.  

From 2007!  Still wearing the same bag ...

My travel purse is a sturdy, nylon messenger (cross-body) bag with a strap you'd literally have to cut off of me.  There are inside zippered pockets plus an outside buckle. The only downside to the purse is that for years I'm wearing the same damn strap in every photo!  I'll take a small bag for the evening that carries even less ...

Also, hotels in lots of price ranges have in-room safes.  Use them.  Take only as much cash as you might need that day; lock up the rest.  I might be overboard, but I lock up everything I can't or don't want to try living without -- even medications!  Other things that go in the safe:  Small electronics -- music devices & tablet; obviously Passports but also any tickets for shows; jewelry but I travel with a minimal amount anyway; camera but that's usually always with me; cell phone if I don't have an international calling plan but need it once back in the U.S.  Why take the chance when you have a safety net?

These rules can always have exceptions, but so far - so good!  

Where to go after the Tampa trip?  Well, New York City of course.  When you live on the west coast and travel east, the bulk of the flying time is done.  So we left Tampa on Friday, August 31, which happened to be our 26th wedding anniversary.

Was dinner that night at Daniel? Maybe Per Se or Jean-Georges?? No, it was direct to Shake Shack for burger, fries and, of course a shake!  This is NYC-restaurateur-extraordinaire Danny Meyer's take on fast food.  FYI, he is the man behind some of the city's most popular spots -- Union Square Cafe, The Modern, Gramercy Tavern, etc.  But his idea for this type of food is a cut above the norm -- high quality beef, organic produce -- and the shakes are too die for.  Had previously enjoyed one a couple years ago at the-then new Mets stadium.  Yum, yum (mine was a "black-and-white," an homage to the famous cookie).

That evening we enjoyed a performance of "Once," winner of the Tony for best musical.  If you saw and liked the movie, you'll love this Broadway version about a Czech girl and Irish boy's collaboration.  Love the convenience of staying in the theater district, this time at The Time, a boutique hotel on West 49th. There is definitely an advantage to being so close to the shows and, remarkably, there's a wonderful absence of noise upstairs.

Delish chopped salad at Barneys

Saturday of this Labor Day weekend, my longtime friend Julie and I walked Madison Avenue (the hubbies went to see tennis) and gazed at all the gorgeous clothes we could mainly dream about buying.  Total fun and the stores are very welcoming.   On to the flagship Barneys New York for a late lunch and escape from the humid air. 

Tuna Tartare with Yellow Gazpacho

Saturday evening was a performance of Gore Vidal's "The Best Man" with a stellar cast and very timely subject matter as the setting is a political convention.   On to DB Bistro Moderne for a late supper. Can't go wrong with any outpost by famed chef Daniel Boulud; but, as a prime example of how different NYC is, I'm frequently not awake at 11pm let alone sitting down for a meal!

Blueberry Bread Pudding with B-berry Ribbon

Bruce, Me, Steve Davis & Julie Shuer

Sunday all four of us went to the U.S. Open, one of the main reasons for coming here.  Tix are a lot easier to procure and the number of matches obviously greater this weekend as opposed to the final weekend.  Seeing tennis up close is a fabulous experience -- love having the serve speed immediately displayed (which can reach 130+ mph). Wow.

 

Really good match

Yep, those 2 guys from the scoreboard above left.

Coincidentally, we and our friends both have daughters in NY colleges so that made for a lively dinner with a couple of our girls' friends at Trattoria Dell'Arte across from Carnegie Hall. Daughter Hannah is a senior at Long Island's Hofstra and friends Julie & Steve's daughter Sofia is a freshman at Barnard.  Lucky girls ...

Hannah's Limoncello Tower

Disappearing Pizza Margherita

 

Sofia, Steve, Ariella, Me, Julie, Hannah, Meaghan, Bruce

Hero then and now ...

Labor Day was the last of this travel so we ended with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial. Many of you know that not only were Bruce and I in D.C. on that horrible day, but we had just entered the Capitol when the planes were hitting the Towers and the Pentagon.  I've linked his worthy read of our personal experience and the 2-day drive from D.C. to L.A. with the wish that none of us ever experiences that kind of travel again...

Over 5,000 designs for the site were submitted ...

Team Red Mascot

 
Reporting live from St. Pete's Beach on the steamy/rainy Gulf Coast of Florida.  Would I normally choose this time of year to be here? Likely not .. but in the interest of reporting my travels, I am here attending a very large convention.  To keep this writing neutral, I am attending Team Red's big pre-"Super Bowl" gathering.

Team Blue Mascot

  

Just so you follow my drift, Team Blue's gathering is next week in Charlotte.  Of course the big game is November 6th....  And, of course, just getting here from L.A. was a wait-and-see-what-Hurricane-Isaac-may-or-may-not-do experience.  Loved getting that email from AA the day before departure that the flight was cancelled (LA-Miami-Tampa).  Rerouted LA-Dallas-Tampa.   Other than the JOLT during our descent (even the hubby was a bit alarmed) into Tampa, it was a pretty unremarkable journey!      

Pre-Hurricane Isaac

Now back to the trip at hand.  Our hotel is right on a stretch of beach in St. Petersburg at the Tradewinds Island Grand.  We opted for larger accommodations (son Sam is here with us) instead of staying in Tampa proper (smaller accommodations offered) even though it means more daily commute time to the convention center -- some 30+ minutes into Tampa. Most anyone  who has been to a gathering of this size and scope knows hotel space is at an absolute premium.  It's not uncommon for folks to stay 40 miles away just to get a room with "proximity" to whatever is going on.   We did have the added bonus of celebrating son Sam's 23rd birthday the first day with a wonderful meal at Maritana Grill in St. Pete's. 

About to reveal what's inside!

Cheers!

This is my second time in Tampa.  The first was back in the '90s when we came to experience Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.  Yes, that is a family tradition; I have been to a total of 35 MLB parks and must say the one in Tampa is probably the worst (the old Kingdome in Seattle comes to mind as well).  Still remember the fan spitting chewing tobacco in front of me.  Love the team a lot but they need a new stadium! 

Love him or hate him, the big guy has presence ...

 A major part of the fun in attending these events is meeting people from literally every state in the country.  The outfits are quite extravagant and deliberate -- meaning folks work hard to be noticed.  The same is absolutely true whether at Team Red or Team Blue; enthusiasm, patriotism and spirit is abundant everywhere!



  One more comment about the weather -- I applaud anyone who isn't bothered by humidity.  Wish that were me but, as a lifelong resident of So. Cal, I am undeniably spoiled weather-wise.  When you have to stop and let the glasses de-fog when going from indoors to outdoors, that's just not right!

Veal with peppers and tomato sauce

Thankfully Isaac was a no-show and we're all safe and sound.  Dinner the second night was at Donatello, an old-style Italian restaurant where the entrance walls are covered with a who's who of visitors.  The place was packed, food was delicious and it was the day's second sighting of the NJ Gov who is obviously a foodie ...

Included here are some photos from this quite amazing experience.  Hope you enjoy. 

Downtown Tampa

That is CNN's Campbell Brown on the ledge

Beautiful building; had a dinner event in the atrium

Those are all security boats in the water

About to go in for the first night's speeches

Not just yet ... waiting for Thursday.

Did you know that if you Google "Top Ten Travel Websites," the results are in excess of  15,000,000?!  Ay caramba!  So, the question is: How does one decide upon which to rely?

Besides the obvious choice of Travel with Teri B., I thought I would decipher some of the myriad results (really good, fair and awful) because time is always of the essence.  Of course, no single site can be totally comprehensive and may not appeal to certain travelers.  I personally have never been a fan of Priceline, but know others who swear by it.  I like Frommer's a lot, and almost always invest in their guides to countries I'm visiting.  At the same time, I have stayed at some very great hotels that are not even listed on their site for a particular city. The Mandarin Oriental in Geneva is a recent example. 

The upshot is:  it takes a village -- and a variety of sources -- to plan a trip!   At the risk of being declared brain dead from research, following are some of the sites I found and would love to know your thoughts and preferences as well.

1.  Budget Travel:   Right away I'm liking this one alot -- they also list Bing Travel for their Price Predictor tool where you can search flights and buy or wait according to the information provided.

2. Hipmunk:   I don't think I'm hip enough for this site.  But I do like that you can scroll over dots on a map for a preview of a hotel.  For instance, I'm still vetting prices for an upcoming NYC stay over Labor Day weekend, and the site offers a ton of choices.  But, unless you are a fan of Trip Advisor, on which they seem to base their rankings, you probably won't like this site too much.

3.  Smarter Travel: This site was ranked #1 by TechMediaNetwork, as a provider of "unbiased" travel information.  Sounds good to me. I put in my NYC criteria and it directed me to a choice of about a dozen different bookings sites where I could compare.  Good for bargain hunters and lovers of options.

4.  AirGorilla:  This is a well-established site offering discount airfare; i.e., they are a consolidator (buying blocks of seats from airlines that would otherwise go unsold).  Since they have been around for a long time (in the annals of online travel-planning, that is), they have access to lots of discounts; more than some other well-known sites.  Part of their profits go to saving gorillas; hence, the name!

5.  Kayak:   I've mentioned this site before but it is well worth including again.  This is a no-frills website and very easy to navigate.  It has been very helpful in my learning about internal flights in China/So. Korea while planning next year's vacation.

So I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted from all this research!  Time to take a vacation.  Look forward to the next blog, where I'll be sharing the sights and sounds of Tampa-St. Pete's in Florida. ..