San Francisco and its surrounding coastal areas accommodate a spectrum of moods. By Nancy Oakley
An improvised swing through San Francisco and south along the sunny California coast to Monterey delivers variations on a theme of scenic terrain and a parade of watchable people.
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Book now and stay Sunday-Thursday (through November 18th at participating hotels), and goldpoints plus members can earn 15,000 bonus Gold Points.
Additional terms and conditions apply. Visit www.countryinns.com/business for details and to book today!
Not a goldpoints plus member? Not a problem — you can join online right before you book!
Your home office away from home awaits.
~Emily
Seattle’s natural beauty and delicious cuisine create a wonderful family vacation destination. By Jennifer Haupt
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At long last, I’m thrilled to announce the winners of the “I love this Country” Working Mother photo contest – the theme of this summer was “Disconnect to Reconnect,” and hotel guests and WM readers who submitted pictures of their family “disconnecting and reconnecting” at a Country Inns & Suites By Carlson property were eligible to win some fantastic prizes.
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The Dallas-Fort Worth area offers a vacation playground for all ages. By Leah Shafer
With more than 6 million people, the Dallas–Fort Worth area is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. But there’s still some folksy charm in an area that’s perfectly at home with the chic and fashionable, as well.
Day One
Start your day at upscale grocery store eat Zi’s, in the Oak Lawn neighborhood, minutes from downtown Dallas. Hit the grill and get breakfast sandwiches and fresh juice for everybody. Don’t forget an extra loaf of bread to feed the ducks.
Head two blocks east to Turtle Creek Boulevard; this is one of Dallas’ most tony neighborhoods, and the creek has plenty of shady spots to people-watch. Stop at Lee Park and see the classical architecture of historic Arlington Hall, built in 1939 and fully restored in 2002. The park itself dates back to 1903 and is one of the urban area’s treasured oases.
One of Dallas’ major airports is Love Field, which houses the Frontiers of Flight Museum in the terminal building. Take a flight through time with exhibits that range from the pioneering aviators of the 1920s to the rocket age that launched us into space. Kids love the old airplanes, hands-on models and interactive exhibits.
Head to the Knox-Henderson area and get ready for squeals of delight in Wild About Harry’s when your children try one of Dallas’ best frozen custard creations, such as “Mort’s Favorite” sundae with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry. Sit outside beside the giant hot dog and watch the world go by.
Afterward you might head next door to Knox Street Market, a grown-up toy store with posh knickknacks and gourmet treats. A little farther down the street, visit Iota, a fine arts and crafts store showcasing sculptors, painters, jewelry makers and designers.
Dinner is upscale at Abacus, just steps away. The contemporary global cuisine of chef Kent Rathbun has kept this restaurant flush with accolades. Our favorite? Wood-roasted beef tenderloin with red wine butter, truffle-whipped potatoes and baby vegetables ($39).
Day Two
Start your day in Uptown at the most popular brunch spot in the area, Bread Winner’s Bakery Bistro. Kids love the breakfast tacos, and grown-ups can opt for the French ham Benedict.
Head west on Interstate 30 to Cowtown—Fort Worth got this name because it was a stop along the Chisholm Trail . Start the adventure at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Head upstairs and have a video made of everyone “riding” the mechanical bucking bronc; it superimposes your image on an old-timey video of a rodeo that you can download from the Internet later.
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History offers an IMAX theatre, as well as special exhibits.
Don your cowboy hat and step into cowboy lore when you walk across the street to the Fort Worth Stockyards, at the center of the Stockyards National Historic District. There are more than 50 shops and stalls inside, but be sure not to miss the herd of longhorns that will walk outside at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wild West Weekends mean gunfights, cattle roundups, the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show at Cowtown Coliseum and the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze.
If you have extra time, you might mosey on over to the Log Cabin Village, with all the sights of 19th-century Texas on 2.5 acres in Forest Park.
Author Bio: Leah Shafer was dancing to “Cotton-Eyed Joe” before she could ride a bicycle.
Book now and stay Sunday-Thursday (through November 18th at participating hotels), and goldpoints plus members can earn 15,000 bonus Gold Points.
Additional terms and conditions apply. Visit www.countryinns.com/business for details and to book today!
Not a goldpoints plus member? Not a problem — you can join online right before you book!
Your home office away from home awaits.
~Emily
Toronto is the place to see and shop for Inuit art. By Stephen Smith
A thousand years ago, Inuit nomads carved stone and bone and wood into figures of the animals they hunted across the eastern Canadian Arctic. Today, the descendants of those hunters continue to captivate collectors from around the world with the grace and spare beauty of their work. It comes in a variety of forms, from tapestries depicting northern scenes and stone-cut wildlife prints to what many consider a signature of the spirit of Canada’s far north: sculpture.
Toronto may be 1,200 miles from the tundra of Pangnirtung and Cape Dorset, where the works originate, but it’s also a must-visit center for anyone in the market for a musk ox or snow goose of serpentine. The best place to start the hunt? For a bit of background, browse the 200-odd pieces and interpretive displays in the Inuit collection at the Royal Ontario Museum also accessible for virtual browsing.
When it comes to buying, collectors know to head to established galleries such as the Mind Hat Gallery. You’ll find the city’s oldest dealer at The Guild Shop, where Inuit and Native art specialist Blandina Makkik (herself a native of Baffin Island) can help you navigate a collection of close to 300 pieces, priced $90 and up.
Walrus at rest or modern-day hunter riding a snowmobile? It’s up to you to choose between myth-based traditional work by carvers like Siutiapik Ragee and Ottokie Samayualie and more contemporary-themed pieces by artists like Ovilu Tunnillie. Polar bears hold an important place in Inuit spirituality, and it’s hard not to fall under the animal’s spell when you see the authority, grace and fluid power of Samayualie’s dancing bear in dappled black serpentine for approximately $1,600. Pick him up and you’ll have a hard time putting him down again.
Finished shopping? Time for lunch? Just down the street at Sassafraz, the menu has a perfect match with its creole spiced shrimp with double smoked bacon and corn risotto.
INSIDER’S TIP: The Guild Shop’s Makkik doesn’t mince words: “There’s a lot of bad imitation carving out there.” To be sure you’re getting the real thing, buy at reputable galleries and avoid tourist shops. Inuit carvings are unique, so there shouldn’t be duplicates on the shelf. Look for the distinctive igloo tag with which the Canadian government certifies original, museum-quality work.
Families are known for the caring and support they provide, but they also bind us together and instill a sense of self. No wonder more and more families are taking their love on the road and planning multigenerational reunions that both honor their past and celebrate their future. By Beth D’Addono
Book now and stay Sunday-Thursday (through November 18th at participating hotels), and goldpoints plus members can earn 15,000 bonus Gold Points.
Additional terms and conditions apply. Visit www.countryinns.com/business for details and to book today!
Not a goldpoints plus member? Not a problem — you can join online right before you book!
Your home office away from home awaits.
~Emily
With strategic planning and a fresh outlook, returning from vacation doesn’t have to be painful. Here’s how to ease back into the 9-to-5 routine. By Beth D’Addono
Kevin Beyer has seen the light. Beyer, a senior account director for Quaker City Mercantile, a Philadelphia-based advertising/branding firm, used to check e-mails, take calls and work on his laptop during vacation. “I never felt recharged,” he says.
No more. Beyer, who travels for business, now unplugs completely when he vacations. “It takes advance preparation,” he says, “but it’s so worth it.”
To cut down on stress, Los Angeles psychologist Robert Butterworth recommends setting reasonable deadlines as vacation nears. “Make arrangements for your work to be covered while you’re gone.” Another way to minimize backlog is to route phone calls to a colleague instead of letting them roll to voice mail. Just be prepared to return the favor.
A few weeks before he leaves, Beyer creates a status spreadsheet that lists everything that needs to be done while he’s away. He then delegates tasks to his 10-person team, giving clear, detailed direction. “All that’s left is the execution,” he says. He brings a copy with him on vacation—just in case.
A study on work and vacation habits by Robert Half International suggests making the return transition easier by strategically planning your daily schedule rather than immediately springing into action. Unless there is an urgent phone call to make or meeting to attend, spend the first few hours refreshing your memory about assignments, deadlines and deliverables. The longer you were out, the more time you may need to pick up where you left off. If you catch up slowly, you won’t feel overloaded.
“Come into work with the attitude of ‘Not everything has to be done now,’” recommends Mimi Donaldson, speaker and co-author (with C. Leslie Charles) of Bless Your Stress: It Means You’re Still Alive http://blessyourstress.com/. “Create three piles on your desk: now, soon and later,” she says. And give yourself permission not to get to the “soon” and “later” piles immediately. “Procrastinate means ‘to put off intentionally,’ meaning you meant to put it off—it’s no accident,” she adds. In other words, do what you can and don’t feel guilty.
When you do return, it’s best to focus on the job instead of dwelling on vacation memories. You’ll be most productive if you become fully engaged with the office routine. Beyer is actually energized by the volume of work awaiting him upon his return. “I love being away, but I also love coming back and feeling needed,” he says. “It gives me a sense of accomplishment.”
Author Bio: Beth D’Addono admits to checking her e-mail on her last vacation at Paws Up Resort in Montana.
