Casey Wohl Featured on Suntrust's Live Solid

In the fourth part of Suntrust's Live Solid's Solid Summer Travel series, travel blogger Casey Wohl talks about reliving her summer memories and how she stays solid while on the road. Read all about it at http://tinyurl.com/3yn4tek

Girls Getaway to San Francisco - Ame

We managed to squeeze in one last dinner in San Fran before we flew home. Ame Restaurant (www.AmeRestaurant.com) is located in the St Regis Hotel in downtown San Fran and features a menu of New American cuisine. It provides a fine-dining option with amazing foods, such as Kampachi Ceviche, Tai Snapper Crudo, Broiled Sake Marinated Alaskan Black Cod and Shrimp Dumplings in Shiso Broth, Grilled Wagyu Beef Steak with Bordelaise, Frozen Yogurt Souffle with Melon Soup and Nigori Sake Foam and Ame’s Chocolate “Energy Bar” with Strawberry Pave’ and Almond Ice Milk. Everything was delicious and something I had never tried before.

Although our time in San Fran was somewhat limited, we saw some of the best sights, got to do a little shopping (they have every store imaginable here) and got a firsthand look at just how serious this town is about their food. If you are a foodie, shopper or just want a great change of scenery, San Fran should be on your list!

Girls Getaway to San Francisco - Chinatown, Waterbar, Cable Car, Lombard Street & Golden Gate Bridge

The next day was our first (and only) full day in the city. We started with a walk to Chinatown where we shopped and took it all in. We then walked to the waterfront to the Ferry Building, then along the Embarcadero to Waterbar (www.WaterbarSF.com) where we had lunch. Our favorite was the Lobster BLT, which was one of the best BLTs I have ever eaten.

After lunch, we cabbed it to Powell Street where we jumped on a cable car. Many thanks to James for teaching me how to operate the car. This will be a great addition to my resume! We rode the car to the end, which was the perfect place to disembark and begin the hike up the steeper-than-we-thought Lombard Street. As we hiked up the road, we could see the famous area on the street that makes it the Crookedest Street and a must-see during your stay in San Fran. In addition to it being crooked, it also provides a great view from the top. After Lombard, we made our way to the Golden Gate Bridge only to find fog covering the top portion of the bridge. Fog in San Francisco...go figure!

Dinner that evening was at Straits Restaurant (www.StraitsRestaurants.com), which reflects the cuisine one would find in Singapore that features a Malaysian/Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and Nonya combination. Straits is located in the Westfield shopping center. Although the location puts this restaurant off-the-beaten path, it is the perfect place to re-fuel during your San Fran shopping spree. It provides a fun atmosphere, complete with a DJ and a great cocktail list. Although we sampled a lot of food, my favorite was the Chicken Curry (and I’m typically not a fan of curry).

Girls Getaway to San Francisco - Press Club & Clift Hotel

I’m always asked about San Francisco for a Girls Getaway destination. However, until now, I had never been there so couldn’t provide any feedback. After years of wanting to visit the city, I finally had my chance.

I arrived in San Fran in early September and was quite surprised at how cool it was. I always thought all of California is sunny and warm, but San Fran is the exception. I was told its unique location keeps it cool year round. I should have packed some warmer clothes.

We arrived at the legendary Clift Hotel (www.CliftHotel.com), a boutique property that has been a Downtown San Fran hot spot for more than 100 years. As you walk in, you will notice the oversized chair in the lobby and the fireplace that I darted directly towards upon escaping the cooler-than-expected weather outside.

While the mood in the hotel lobby is that of elegance and comfort set in an earth tone palate, the rooms are painted a calming lavender with a splash of modern decor and plenty of space to move around (not always available in older hotels).

We met my San Fran friend and fellow travel writer, Patty Burness, at the Press Club (www.PressClubSF.com) for my first California wine tasting experience. The Press Club is a convenient way to bring wine to the city as six Northern California-based wineries have a presence at the Press Club. Here you can taste your way around CA’s wine country without leaving San Fran. It was the perfect way to start the trip...as I did with the Pinot Flight.

Dinner that evening was at the Clift Hotel’s Velvet Room, which is a new farm-to-table concept for the hotel. We dined at the sharing table and were impressed by the food, from salad to beef. Next stop: drinks at the Clift’s Redwood Room, which is one of the more popular bars in the city. The walls are made from redwood trees (or the rumor has it one tree), and the backdrop of the bar is not to be missed as light radiants from behind a ceiling high row of shelves. Many thanks to Stacy taking such good care of us.

Fall Travel Deals - Daytime TV Show

Looking for fantastic fall travel deals? Watch The Getaway Girl's latest Daytime TV Show segment on fall travel deals at http://tinyurl.com/3yhavo8

Girls Getaway to LA

From San Fran to Los Angeles, follow The Getaway Girl® as she travels to the City of Angels....via Twitter: @GetawayGirl or Facebook: Girls Getaway Guide.

Girls Getaway to Napa Valley

Napa Valley is one of the premier travel destinations in the world with picturesque rolling hills planted with vineyards year-round and wineries of every stature dotting the landscape. For wining, dining and a great Girls Getaway, follow our adventures to Napa Valley and the surrounding wine country while we stay at The Carneros Inn, Ehlers Estate and the vintner’s home at Hourglass Blueline Estate. Follow on Twitter: @GetawayGirl or on Facebook: Girls Getaway Guide.

Girls Getaway to San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Chinatown are on our must-see list for San Fran, so be sure and follow The Getaway Girl’s® adventures as we take on (via historic streetcars) this diverse city and reside at the Clift Hotel (www.CliftHotel.com). Follow me on Twitter: @GetawayGirl or on Facebook: Girls Getaway Guide.

Girls Getaway to St Lucia - Crazy Yvonne, ATVs and Beach Dinner

No trip to a resort would be complete without a spa appointment and “Crazy” Yvonne hooked me up with a much needed aromatherapy detox massage, which was at 9:00 AM the morning after an evening wedding reception at an all-inclusive resort. If it wasn’t for the massage, I’d probably still be asleep.

There’s nothing like a bumpy, hot ATV ride to get you over a long night of partying and that’s just what we did later that day as Bash took us for the most scenic ATV rides I have ever been on. From the wild horses grazing along the trail to Honeymoon Beach, this picturesque tour was one of the highlights of the entire trip and a must-do for anyone traveling to St. Lucia. For you adrenaline junkies, Coconut Bay also houses its own paintball course, which we tried out. I need to practice NOT shooting my own teammate....sorry Angele!

Our last day was complete with a beautiful, private dinner on the beach. It was the perfect way to end one fantastic Girls Getaway to St. Lucia. Many thanks to Mark, Davis and Natalia at Coconut Bay Resort & Spa for making sure our stay was incredible. Also, thank you to the Cheryl Andrews Marketing team for another wonderful experience.

Girls Getaway to St Lucia - Kitesurfing, Lazy River and a Lighthouse Wedding

Day #4 in St Lucia started with a kite surfing demonstration by Chris at 2Elements WaterSports Complex on the resort’s beach. Kite surfing has become a very popular adventure sport and St. Lucia is quickly becoming one of the best places to kite surf. While it takes about a week to become proficient on the board, one mandatory requirement is adequate wind, which we did not have that day. While I was disappointed my kite surfing career would not begin today, I found comfort in the lazy river which soothed my sorrows. Thanks Chris for taking the time to teach us a little about kite surfing. Hopefully I can return when there is wind and try it out.

After enjoying some girl time on the lazy river, it was time to return to our rooms and get ready for the wedding. No, I did not get married in St. Lucia (although it is on the list of possibilities if I ever do). Coconut Bay Resort hosts many weddings throughout the year on property that are absolutely beautiful; however, the resort found a new destination nearby to host the ceremony of lucky couples looking for the view of a lifetime. Just a 15-minute drive from the resort is the Cape Moule a Chique Lighthouse (please don’t ask me how to pronounce) which is the world’s second highest lighthouse. It is located on a cliff that is surround on three sides by water and some of the most breathtaking views you will ever see. Earlier this year, the resort offered an online contest for engaged couples. They had to tell their story and submit an application. The couples were reviewed and narrowed down to 10 finalists. Those 10 couples were then part of the online voting contest to win the first Cape Moule a Chique Lighthouse Wedding, courtesy of Coconut Bay Resort and Spa. The winners, Steve and Wanda, are the most deserving couple I have ever met and were meant to be together. You can read their story by visiting their blog: http://www.coconutbayresortandspa.com/lighthousewedding/. I felt somewhat like a wedding crasher at first; however, after spending some time with this gracious couple I couldn’t help but feel like family. Many thanks to Steve, Wanda, Hunter and Logan for allowing us to be part of this most special occasion.

Girls Getaway to St Lucia - Ziplines & Small J

The next morning in St Lucia started with a zipline tour at Treetop Adventures where everyone had a blast racing across the lush, green canopy. Even those in our group who are afraid of heights enjoyed the adventure. That afternoon we enjoyed some down time at the resort, which is fully equipped to help you do absolutely nothing. If you are looking for some pool time, you can find everything from an adults-only pool, to wading pool to a pool with swim up bar to a lazy river pool. The resort also has a mini water park complete with slides, which is a huge hit with the kids. Many thanks to Small J at the Adult Pool Bar for keeping those poolside, beach view cocktails coming to us as we soaked in some rays.

Pitons, Volcano & Aunt Debbie's

As seen on ABC’s The Bachelor, St Lucia is a tropical island paradise and the perfect place for an amazing getaway. I was fortunate enough to spend Labor Day weekend at St Lucia’s Coconut Bay Resort & Spa (www.coconutbayresortandspa.com) for some R&R, as well as some adventurous outings.

We arrived at Coconut Bay, which is a convenient five minute drive from the Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort located on the south side of the island. We were greeted with champagne and cool towels to help us freshen up after our nearly three-hour flight from Miami. A great feature about the resort are the two separate areas: 1) Harmony - for adults, couples and 2) Splash - for kids and families. This makes the resort the perfect choice for large groups, such as weddings, so that guests can stay at whichever area they prefer.

After cocktails at Peter John’s Lounge, we dined at the resort’s Italian restaurant, Bellagio, which requires reservations and has a dress code. Coconut Bay is an all-inclusive resort, so guests can eat and drink as much as they want. With free cocktails waiting, we returned to Peter John’s Lounge for after-dinner drinks. Fortunately (or unfortunately the next morning), I don’t remember how many I had.

The next day, we were ready for our island tour and a glimpse of the island’s famous Pitons (St Lucia’s most notable landmarks) and volcano. Upon arriving at the world’s only “drive through” volcano, we all inhaled the rotten-egg smell the volcano emits and learned a lot about this incredible formation. We then made our way to the Diamond Botanical Gardens, Mineral Baths and Waterfall where we took photos and made comments about the names of some flowers (i.e Sexy Pink and Flamboyant Red). Our next stop was snorkel and sail boat ride to the base of the Pitons to see St. Lucia’s underwater world. As I swam through a school of fish, I saw (for the first time ever) a sea snake right in front of me. I decided to return to the boat at that point.

We arrived back at the resort in time to freshen up for dinner at local hot spot, Aunt Debbie’s Restaurant, which serves Creole-style with only the freshest local ingredients. If you decide to eat at Aunt Debbie’s, make sure you are VERY hungry as food is served family style and is more than enough to feed a small army. The side dishes are plentiful and feature something for everyone, including eggplant parmesan, sweet potato pie, fried plantain, roasted potatoes, creamed spinach, breadfruit balls and fried okra. Main entrees include steak, fish, lobster, shrimp and lambi.

Are you hungry yet?

Win a Girls Getaway to Orlando

Ladies! Here’s a getaway just for you – grab your best gal pals and enjoy some "girl time," in Orlando. Join me...Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl® on the ultimate girlfriend getaway. As the author of Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando, I will be your hostess for a fabulous three-night getaway, October 7 – 10, 2010.

Just send us a photo of you and two girlfriends and tell us why traveling with them is a great way to strengthen your friendship and you could win!

The trip includes:
•Roundtrip flights for you and two girlfriends
•Full size rental car
•Deluxe accommodations at the new Waldorf Astoria Orlando
•Private poolside cabana
•Individual treatments and a group experience at The Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain®
•VIP tickets to La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, and a meet and greet with an artist
•Taste of CRAVE at the Chef's table for a memorable dining experience
•Personal luxury shopping experience at the Mall at Millenia
and more!

Enter no later than Sept. 14 to win. Register at http://www.orlandoinfo.com/promo/girlfriends.cfm

NPR's Florida Stories

On NPR's Florida Stories, travel writer Casey Wohl talks with lifelong friend Jennifer J Maxwell about using low points in life to inspire her travel book series & re-invent herself. To listen, visit http://tinyurl.com/3aeu8jq

Watch Daytime TV Sept 3

Tune in to the Daytime TV Show (www.DaytimeOnline.tv) on Friday, Sept. 3 as The Getaway Girl® talks Fabulous Fall Travel Deals with Daytime co-host Lindsay McDonald.

Love to Win Free Stuff?

Love to win free stuff? Looking for prizes to help you getaway and travel the world? Be sure to visit the updated "Win Free Stuff" section of the Girls Getaway Guide website at www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net where you will find fun, travel-related prizes that are up for grabs. Every few months we will post new and exciting prizes for Girls Getaway Guide fans, so be sure to check back regularly.

Current prizes include:
Okabashi Shoes - Value $30
Nuova Vita Modern Mary Lynn Convertible Maxi Dress - Value $175
Everlon Diamond Knot Pendant - Value $229
Girlfriend Getaway to Orlando with The Getaway Girl® - PRICELESS :)

Register today at www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net in the "Win Free Stuff" section.