travel area: Maret 2015

Senin, 23 Maret 2015

6 Amazing Day Trips Just in Time for Spring Break | Amy West on The Chat

It's getaway season! What's left of winter is on the run and that's got me thinking of suntans, resort wear, and rejuvenation somewhere warm. On behalf of Spring Break, I've compiled a list of my favorite getaways less than a days drive away from my home base in North FL. This list includes my favorite places to stay, where to eat, and what to do, as well as where to discover experiences that deliver iconic local charm.

1. The Golden Isles

(St. Simons, Little St. Simons, Jekyll Island, Sea Island)

Women at tea at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Distance: 1 1/2 hours

Where to stay: Jekyll Island Club Hotel

What to eat: High Tea at the hotel

What to do: Check out the Lighthouse in St. Simons, still in operation today and yu can walk up it.

Local Charm: Find the Driftwood beach. Similar to our Talbot Island beach, but more trees.

Nightlife: Ziggy Mahoney's is the place to party. A place full of character where you'll have fun no matter your age. Wedding parties, bachelorette parties, and great girls night attraction.

2. Anna Maria Island

Amy West and family on the pier at Anna Maria Island, FL

Distance: 4 1/2 hours

Where to stay: Mainsail Beach Inn

What to eat: Brunch at the Sandbar. The tables are right in the sand.

What to do: Take a tour of the island and surrounding area by water with Seaduced Watercraft Adventures

Local Charm: Find AMI Donuts for their famous donuts. Look for the bacon/maple combo.

3. Palm Coast

Distance: 1 hour

Where to stay: Hammock Beach Resort

What to eat: Scallops at Delfinos

What to do: Golf the Ocean Course

Created by Jack Nicklaus

Local Charm: Head to the spa for a relaxing day.

4. Ft. Lauderdale

Distance: 5 1/2 hours

Where to Stay: Sonesta Resort

What to eat: The filet at the Bistro

What to do: If you can peel yourself away from the surf and sand. Head to nearby Las Olas Blvd or Galleria Mall for shopping!

Local Charm: Yoga on the beach or overlooking the infinity pool

5. Tampa

Distance: 4 hours

Where to Stay: The Epicurean Hotel

What to eat: The Salmon at Elevage restaurant. Or head across the st to Bern's Steakhouse for that aged steak.

What to do: Reserve tickets to the Epicurean Theatre to see your favorite chefs prepare their signature dishes which you get to eat paired with amazing drinks.

Local Charm: Go to Chocolate Pi bakery located on site. Owned by the pastry chef at Bern's Steakhouse. Eat her amazing macarons and hand crafted marshmallows.

6. Amelia Island

Distance: 45 minutes

Where to stay: The Ritz-Carlton

What to eat: Reserve the "In the Kitchen Seat" at Salt and enjoy the chef's menu

What to do: Horseback riding on the beach

Local Charm: Head to the Spa for relaxation and enjoy the private spa pool for adults only.

What are your favorite getaways? Give me the scoop in the comments below!

Until then...

Enjoy the Journey!

xo- Amy West

www.amywesttravel.com

Watch me discuss these getaways with the ladies of The Chat here.

Travel Beauty Tips | Amy on The Chat

We all been there. You plan for your special trip. You buy clothes, makeup, make reservations, and count down the days. But when you arrive at your destination you feel off. And what's worse, instead of looking like Malibu Barbie... you feel like Sasquatch. How can you maintain that fresh feeling you have at home, while away from your usual routine? Here are some trusted travel beauty secrets I've collected over the years.

Skin Care - It's all about Hydration

Image Skincare Vital C skincare comes in travel size and is extremely moisturizing.

Look and see if your fav skin care has travel boxes (moisturize like crazy).

A spray water mist like Evian will help you feel refreshed, especially on long flights.

Drink lots of water. It's easy to put this off especially if you are trying to avoid the lavatory, but it's a must if you are wanting to stay looking fresh.

Saline eye drops are also a must have for me. I live in a humid climate and my eyes tend to be dry. If I travel to someplace remotely dry I have sandpaper for eyelids.

Makeup - Less is More

Beauty sticks can be a blush, eyeshadow, or lipstick

My favorite foundation Iconceal by Image Skincare

Choose foundation with spf or tinted moisturizer so your skin is protected while maintaining great coverage.

It's helpful to choose makeup that has multi use such as beauty sticks.

Choose neutral colors that will go with everything to simplify what you bring and eliminate bulk.

Fit Your Healthy Lifestyle into your Travel

Amy West on a pier looking at the ocean.

If you feel beautiful you look beautiful, get moving and go for a walk or hit up the gym.

Get your Vitamin D, embrace a kiss from the sun even if it’s just 10 min.

Be mindful of what you eat. Don’t use traveling as an excuse to fall off the wagon.

Do you have any beauty secrets or travel hacks? Share them with me and you may see them on my next travel segment on TV!

Until then...

Enjoy the Journey!

xo- Amy West

www.amywesttravel.com

Watch me discuss travel beauty secrets on The Chat here.

Minggu, 15 Maret 2015

10 Tips for Flying with Kids

Before my husband and I had kids we traveled everywhere. Honeymooned in New Zealand, went on a few tropical Cruises, traveled to Europe and did a few adventures with our friends domestically and abroad. When we got pregnant with our first child we were naively optimistic. "This kid will be one great traveller" we said. "They won't change our lifestyle" we proclaimed. "They will adapt to our life". Well... that's not exactly how things worked out. In reality yes, we have travelled quite a bit with our daughter but things don't always go as smoothly as planned, and ultimately you do what works and care about the lifestyle "adapting" after the fact. Here are some tips we've learned along our journey of traveling with children.

10 Tips for Flying with Kids

1. Consider the Bag

After a few trips of carrying my daughter and the diaper bag through security lines and multiple airports, I got smart. One day in the airport I spotted a savvy little roller bag that looked like the perfect swap for my diaper bag. That was it, rolling that diaper bag around was a lifesaver.

Consider exchanging your usual Diaper Bag for a Roller Bag and save yourself some extra work. Also, pack light and use the quality vs quantity method, you'll be glad you did!

2 . Mobility

Consider Exchanging a Stroller for a Sling or other lightweight carrying device. The stroller does have the benefit of being able to carry items below, but for me this does not outweigh the hassle of trying to get through security and having to check it in before you get on the plane and wait for it after. I want to be able to get up and go, so for me, pulling that roller bag and having baby attached to me is more convenient, especially if you are rushing to catch another flight. It could mean the difference between having time to run to the bathroom or not.

3. Early Boarding

Blonde female child looking out airport window at airplane

Make sure to arrive in time for early boarding so you can get situated before the crowd. Each airline has their own restrictions on what ages qualify for early boarding so check with them first. There is nothing worse than trying to get situated in a plane full of people and crawling over them to get in your seat with baby in tow.

4. Look for Family Bathrooms Vs The Large Public Bathroom

Photo by Rich Bernstein

Not sure what a family bathroom is? It's a singular bathroom meant just for families. Don't battle the mad rush waiting in line with baby, luggage, and any other kids you have with you. Instead, find the closest family bathroom and feel safe knowing you have all your kiddos and luggage in sight. Usually there is a changing table provided as well which is much more convenient than changing them in front of the crowd in the public bathroom.

5. Plan for Little Ears

Pacifier/ Lollipop/Starburst or Gummies...
Whatever is age appropriate and suitable for your child, plan on having on hand. The pressure on their little ears is no joke and even as an adult has had me near to tears. Keep them sucking on these and make sure you have them for going up and coming down as decending can be more painful than ascending.

6. The iPad is your Friend

One of the best investments we have made is in personal entertainment for the kiddos. No we are not all about electronic babysitters, however when you are traveling, it can be one magical distraction that will cover a multitude of hardships. Download some apps, or a movie and use this device or another tablet to bring you a few moments of peace.

7. Not Sure What to Pack?

Get Free Like Birdie, a new line of travel bags designed to help make traveling with kids easier. I love this weekend bag that gives you a diagram of what to pack, and also has separate compartments for clean and dirty clothes. Brilliant!

8. Hit Up the Dollar Store for Cheap Toys

Or, raid another families fast food toys. We all have them, and too many of them at that. They will be new to your child and carry novelty long enough to get you through, and at that price you won't mind if you lose them. Divide and hide so you always have a trick up your sleeve. Traveling prepared will save you money from buying in the airport gift shops.

9. Always bring extra clothes and a few more diapers

The moment my daughter had "that accident" at Disney, I worried not and patted myself on the back for being so prepared by bringing extra clothes (even though she was 5). Accidents happen. Come prepared so you don't get stressed and can resolve life's little hiccups more easily, this is especially so when flying.

10. Ziploc bags for accidents and dirty diapers

Aint nobody wanna smell a dirty diaper on a plane. It's a great idea and takes up very little space to bring along some ziploc bags for dirty diapers and any clothes you intend to rescue in case of an accident.

There you have it. I'd love to hear your great advice and any tips you might have on traveling with kids. These were mainly geared for preschoolers and younger but give me a shout out if you have tips for older kids too.

Until then...

Enjoy the Journey!

xo- Amy West

www.amywesttravel.com

Watch Part 1 Of my Segment on News4Jax Here

Watch Part 2 Of my Segment on News4Jax Here

Selasa, 10 Maret 2015

Passion and Purpose | It's All About the Journey

What drives you? What makes you tick? I was recently asked those very questions and as sure as I am of myself and my goals. Those questions gave me pause. How far back should one go to tell the story of where it began? Where the seed of inspiration took root and blossomed into a dream, a message, a passion, a purpose? Perhaps it's not one solid event but a culmination of experiences that leads us to the path we were chosen for. Perhaps, moments that seem coincidental were all apart of a greater plan. This blog post is a bit of a departure from my typical post. It's a moment of reflection. A moment to remember how it all began.

Life is about the Journey

When I was seven my mom and I moved from Kentucky to Florida. It was fortunate that my dad worked at the time for Delta. This made it convenient for me to travel back and forth many times a year to visit him and return to my roots in the country. I was an only child for the majority of my youth and I flew as a child on my own. The destination was always one home and family or the other, but the journey between was something entirely it's own. Something happened when I traveled on my own. I watched people, I talked to people, I day dreamed, and I grew up.

14 year old Amy takes off for Jamaica on her first big adventure.

As a teenager I took my first trip overseas when I was 14, without my parents. By this time I had been traveling solo half a dozen times a year or more. It was nothing for me to join a team of teenagers with a youth organization out of Texas to venture to Jamaica on a mission trip. Again, something happened to me when I was out of my element, in a foreign land, surrounded by strangers. Suddenly I could see the world from a larger perspective. My world view expanded, and so did my confidence. I traveled to a new country almost every year after. At 15 it was Costa Rica, 16 was Brazil, and at 18 was China.

Headed to Costa Rica

Sometime during this process I began to develop a whole new mindset. Life truly is about the Journey, not the destination. It's the moments between that make the biggest impact. And for me, travel isn't about a once in a while getaway, it's a lifestyle. To journey into the unknown is to discover a new corner of your soul.

Love People

Amy and husband David take off on a new adventure

When we embrace what is different in the world, we hold up a mirror to our own heart and learn what it's made of. Where does your motivation come from? For me, the foundation of my beginnings lay in my spiritual relationship with God. When all else in life had failed me, He was there. I've learned a lot about faith through the years. I was brought up in Christian school, studied at a Christian leadership internship, and was pretty much raised in church. You could call me knowledgeable. But for all that knowledge, what I've learned is that ultimately, I know very little in the grand scheme of creation's big picture. What I do know is that we were made by a loving creator to love Him, and if we are to love Him, we must love our neighbor. Love People. That simple. For me, I see Him in the world. In nature, in my travels, in the people I meet along the way. My travels are a reminder that there is something much much bigger at work in this world than the small micro culture I routinely live in. To travel is to expand my heart, mind, and soul. To travel is to get me out of my comfort zone, and remind me there is a world of joy out there, there is a world of hurt that needs healing, and there is a way I can make a small difference when I choose love.

Together We Are Stronger

On a family adventure

When was the last time you had a chance to take a moment of reflection and reevaluate what makes you tick? Join me on March 27th during the Generation W Women's leadership conference and invest in your future for a day while you hear some powerful leaders share about Passion and Purpose. The event was built to inspire women to connect and bring about powerful change in their communities and the world. I hope to see you there!

Until then...

Enjoy the Journey!

xo- Amy West

www.amywesttravel.com

Selasa, 03 Maret 2015

5 Best Kept Dining Secrets in Jax | Amy on The Chat

Amy West Discussing 5 "Best Kept Secrets" in Jax.

Love sharing your favorite foodie spots that are publicly under marketed but locally followed to the point of having their own cult? I know me too! That's why this week I shared some of my favorite "Best Kept Secret" spots with the Ladies of The Chat. Find out who made the cut.

Watch my segment on The Chat here.

5 "Best Kept Secret" Dining Spots in Jacksonville

Olio

Downtown

Image Provided by Olio

Olio is my new favorite downtown breakfast and lunch spot. They are recently featured in my "10Best Lunch Spots in Jax" article on 10Best.com. Olio's cool loft style digs make it inviting and laid back for a sophisticated yet casual lunch. They are known for their ability to elevate comforting classics and surprise you with their delivery. For example their Duck Grilled Cheese has been highly praised and even featured on the Travel Channel. I had the Shrimp and Grits during my visit and it was decadent. Try the fresh Gingerale for a real treat and the Lemonade is Southern deliciousness.

Tea Haus

Jax Beach

Image Provided by Tea Haus

The Tea Haus is a One Spark success story. In 2014 they presented their plan to open an organic Tea and Juice destination that is all that and so much more and they retained an investor and opened in the same year. The Tea Haus is owned and operated by Sarah Paige Wilde who also owns Dancing Phoenix Acupuncture which also operates on site. The Tea Haus features organic tea, and cold pressed juices (the only site offering cold press juice in Jax), as well as a whole line of medicinal herbs. Tea Haus has also partnered with This Chick Can Cook who provides Organic, Vegan, and Gluten Free food for purchase onsite, making this a sweet little spot for a snack or lunch.

Image provided by Tea Haus

Dwights Bistro

Jax Beach

Image provided by Dwights Bistro

Dwights is one of those hidden little gems that has been impressing locals for over 15 years but still remains a secret to most of Jacksonville. Chef owned and operated, Dwight cooks up exquisite Mediterranean inspired dishes every evening in his exhibition kitchen including hand made pasta that is included with almost every item on the menu. Everything is amazing but if you have to choose one thing get the CRAB CAKES. They are epic! Dwights also made my "Most Romantic Dining" list on 10Best.com

Simply Sara's

Avondale

Image by Simply Sara's

Hi love Simply Sara's philosophy "Good food doesn't have to be complicated- and the best 'things' in life are those that are given from the heart, no matter what it is."

At this family owned and operated homestyle restaurant attention to quality ingredients is top priority. All their vegetables are attained at local farmers market and there are "No Food Deliveries". Everything is fresh and local. The menu changes daily based on availability and seasonal ingredients. Order the Chicken and Dumplings and made from scratch biscuits and get a taste of how Momma used to make 'em! I love that Sara got her start making homemade goodie baskets with yummy cookies and treats. Today you can satiate that sweet tooth by grabbing some of her treats to go when you visit Simply Sara's.

Royal Palms Village Wine and Tapas

Atlantic Beach

Image provided by Royal Palms

Royal Palms Village Wine and Tapas is also on my "Most Romantic Dining" list on 10Best.com. I'm always surprised at how many folks have not heard of Royal Palms. It's one of my favorite spots, in fact I had my 30th birthday party there. Royal Palms has a Wine Country feel to it and features melt in your mouth Mediterranean and European inspired tapas made with the freshest farm to table ingredients. Royal Palms is a social place that is rustic casual and it features an entire retail selection of beer and wine. You can grab a bottle from the shelf and crack it open at your table for no extra fee, or for that matter you are welcome to bring in your own bottle. Whether it's date night, or a gathering with friends in my opinion Royal Palms can do no wrong.

You know my secrets, now dish yours. I love hearing about these great local spots. Leave your input in the comments below and you may just get a cameo on my next appearance on The Chat.

Until then...

Enjoy to Journey!

xo- Amy West

www.amywesttravel.com

Image provided by Dwights Bistro