Fave Five Friday - Getaways

This week I’m doing my favorite five places to get away. Getaways are places I use to go before I had kids. Now getaways are simply leaving the house by myself.

5. New York City

New York is one of those places people either love or hate. I’m a lover. When I lived on the east coast and the Big Apple was a mere 4-hour car ride, it was one of those places I went to recharge my battery. Alicia Keys sings it best in “Empire State of Mind” -- ‘these streets will make you feel brand new, these lights will inspire you.’ I love the hustle and bustle with taxis racing through the streets and pedestrians scurrying off to wherever it is pedestrians go. The thing I love most about NYC? The shopping! It can be a little overwhelming at times but there’s no better place on earth to shop than New York City.

4. Amsterdam

Although I haven’t been in over 10 years, Amsterdam is still at the top of my list of places for a getaway. When my aunt lived in Germany, we went over to Amsterdam a few times. That’s the beauty of Europe. The countries are small and close together. Amsterdam reminds me of NYC except it’s cleaner and freer. The countryside is breathtaking with countless tulips in the backdrop and romantic canals divide the streets. But I must admit, it is the coffee shops that make this historical city feel like a little piece of heaven.

3. Bloomfield, CT

I know you’re scratching your head like “Bloomfield, Connecticut”? No, this isn’t a place that I would recommend someone to spend his or her one-week vacation especially in the winter. There is absolutely nothing (that I can think of) for a tourist to do in Bloomfield. There isn’t much for a resident of Bloomfield to do either. It’s one of my favorite destinations because it is home. As a grown up going through grown folks stuff, it’s nice to be able to go to a place that makes you feel like a kid again. What do I love most about little old Bloomfield? Being pampered and doing absolutely nothing. Most days I don’t even bother to get dressed. Total R&R.

2. Any Caribbean island

This is the name of the getaway game. Jamaica, Aruba, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Dominican. It doesn’t matter just take your pick. The beaches are pristine, the residents are welcoming, and the attitude is whatever you like. What is better than laying out on a beach with a waiter bringing you nice fruity drinks all day? The thing I love most about the Caribbean….. the food! Oh my goodness. The fish tastes as if it were caught 5 minutes before your food was prepared, the fruit is freshly picked, and the alcohols are made locally. Ahhh, the beauty of the Caribbean.

1. Miami

I don’t know what it is about Miami that makes me feel alive. Could be the sunshine or the beaches. Could be the strip in South Beach, the beautiful people, or the palm trees. Miami has it all. I love the cute little hotels on Ocean Avenue. Being able to walk to a nice restaurant and or bar where things are jumping off makes your stay stress free. I went to hang out in Miami one year for the Superbowl and ended up staying almost 2 weeks with my girlfriend Jennifer. It was so nice to pretend I lived there. We sunbathed in the morning, rode beachcombers through the streets in the afternoon, and club hopped at night. Wet Willies is one of the best spots in town. Give me one of those tall drinks and a bar stool facing Ocean and I’m posted for hours. What do I love most about Miami? The way I feel after 24 hours of all the above. Not too many feelings are better than that.

What is your favorite getaway and why?