Now that we're all watching our bank accounts and averting our eyes from the stock pages, many of us are planning to stay close to home this summer. But that doesn't mean we actually have to stay at home.
So why not plan a road trip through some of the most beautiful scenery in North America, ending up at one of the continent's most charming and surprising small cities?
One of the most surprising destinations in the Pacific Northwest is Spokane. This Eastern Washington city sometimes is imagined to be less sophisticated by "Coast" people who may lump a city like Spokane in with the tiny wheat-farming communities that dot the state's Columbia Plateau. But Spokane is so much more.
Pick apples or pumpkins… mountain bike or skateboard… snowshoe or snowboard. You can do all that and more in and around Spokane, WA. Check out www.visitspokane.com to see what kids like to do for fun here.
I met with Pam Scott and Jeanna Hofmeister from the Spokane CVB at LA Live for breakfast at The Farm. We discussed why Spokane is an great family destination this summer. From Kayaking down Little Spokane River to visiting Green Bluff at the base of Mt. Spokane to pick berries, apples and peaches at one of the 33 family-owned U-pick farms, Spokane offers many adventures for all ages.
The hotels on our Stay List 2009 don't just reflect their surroundings—they help define them. What they all have in common is a transcendent vision that goes beyond traditional hotel-keeping. This mindset is what gives these hotels their special sense of place. Make no mistake: You'll sense the vibe at once. Maybe it's the regional architecture that speaks to you. Or a guest room resonating with history. Or local food that not only tastes great but tells a story to boot. After your stay, you'll leave with the kind of insight only soulful places can provide.
There has been a public outcry over companies that have used portions of federal bailout funds for extravagant retreats by top executives. The problem is that if all meetings, conventions and trade shows are painted with the same "AIG-Effect" brush, the loss of jobs and the impact on the economy could be catastrophic. The meetings industry has unified to publicize the value of meetings, conventions and trade shows but no destination so far has gone to the lengths of Spokane, Washington, where members of all ranks in the hospitality industry turned out to publicly show support for the economic viability of meetings.
#40 Go East: The urban renewal fairy has turned Spokane's dreary old downtown buildings into condos and brewpubs like Steam Plant Grill, which has housemade beer and burgers that will haunt your taste buds for weeks.
There has been a public outcry over companies that have used portions of federal bailout funds for extravagant retreats by top executives. The problem is that if all meetings, conventions and trade shows are painted with the same "AIG-Effect" brush, the loss of jobs Washington State may have an expanded convention center. According to the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Spokane Public Facilities District—operators of the Spokane Convention Center—is laying the groundwork for the expansion of the Convention Center District.
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