GLF asked local parents for their favorite vacation getaways sans kids.
Here’s what we heard:
Turks and Caicos Islands
“There are miles of pristine white sands, sparkling turquoise water, fine restaurants, quaint boutiques, and luxury hotels,” says Heather Cosmano. She said the trip was a non-stop adventure including a snorkeling charter, stand up paddle boarding and jet skiing. “We snorkeled the third largest barrier reef in the world, and our captain caught fresh conch from which salads were made for us. We were lucky enough to enjoy a surprise visit from a school of dolphins that followed us half way on our tour. If you are looking for the ultimate romantic dining experience, Coco Bistro should be first on your list,” says Heather, but advises advance reservations. Other favorite restaurants included Infinity Bar at Grace Bay, Mango Reef, Parallel 23 and Da Conch Shack.
One of our favorite daily activities was our bike ride to the Salt Mills shopping area. The hotel provided the bikes, and since we didn’t rent a car, it was a great way to soak up the sun and do a little bit of sightseeing.” – Heather Cosmano and George Prokos recommend Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
New York, NY
Kay and Robert Tait recommend a weekend in Manhattan. “The hard part is choosing what to do out of all the options during such a short visit,” says Kay, who said some of their favorite things to do include window shopping on 5th Avenue, visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and taking the Staton Island Ferry for close up views of the Statue of Liberty.
“We stayed on Central Park South – our favorite location so far,” says Kay. “It’s not as noisy as Times Square and offers a lot more activities than Soho. We grabbed sandwiches and salads at a nearby deli and ate lunch on a park bench by a waterfall in Central Park.”
Europe
“We loved sailing on Windstar Cruises from Istanbul to Athens through Turkey and Greece.
What we loved most was that we were on a small, luxury ship and were able to go into special ports that the big ships cannot go in. My favorite port was Santorini, and I can’t wait to go back!”
– Wendy and John Sandridge on a recent trip to Europe.
San francisco, CA
“In San Francisco, we started in China Town where there are all kinds of jewels and trinkets to find. Then we moved on down to Fisherman’s Wharf for fish and chips and endless views. Then we headed to the Golden Gate Bridge with unbelievable views from all sides,” says Lauri. “Then off to Napa Valley for a four-day tour of wineries.”
– Lauri and Darren Braschler enjoyed their time in San Francisco and Napa under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Napa Valley
“We like to travel to Napa without our kids. The weather is awesome, and there are amazing places to visit. You could go again and again and never see it all! We stayed in Yountville. It has a great small town feel with plenty to do within walking distance. Our favorite hotels are Hotel Yountville and Block Street Hotel. Our favorite vineyards are Pride, Scribe, Peju, Quintessa, Trefethen and Kelham. Our favorite restaurants are Mustards, Brix and Bottega. Favorite tasting rooms are Elizabeth Spencer and Beau Wine.
Smart advice: Always hire a driver. We like Napa Bee Driven. Ask for Donna.”
– Jennifer and Louis Shaff at Kehlam Vineyard.
