Girls Getaway to Hawks Cay - Day 1

With a chill in the air in Central Florida, I was more than happy to accept an invitation to Duck Key in the Florida Keys to find some warmer weather and some fun in the sun activities. Before I knew it, I was on a plane for Miami.

Upon arriving in Miami, Grace picked me up at the airport and we headed to Downtown Coral Gables for some shopping and lunch while we waited for more of the girls to arrive. Our first stop was Hip.e Boutique (www.hip-e-boutique.com), a cute and trendy boutique located along the city’s trendy Miracle Mile. We both tried on several dresses, and Grace purchased a new Diane Von Furstenberg bathing suit for our trip south. Next stop was Peterbrooke Chocolatier just a few blocks away. I told Grace I was familiar with Peterbrooke since there is one located on Park Avenue in Winter Park. “You must see this store and meet the owner, Sharon,” Grace said. And she was right. As soon as I walked in and shook hands with Sharon, I knew she was not only a gracious host, but a fun-loving girl just like us. We chatted about all things chocolate, sampled the delicious treats, and I hand-dipped my very own bottle of wine into creamy milk chocolate! It was so much fun (and I got to decorate it too). If you are ever near Coral Gables, be sure and stop by Peterbrooke to say hello to Sharon and sample her yummy store goods. Sharon was also nice enough to send us to the Keys with bags of her chocolate-covered popcorn, which we enjoyed fully!

We made one more shopping stop at Habit where you can find trendy pieces at very reasonable prices. The store owner posts all new deliveries on their Facebook page, and within a few hours, most of it is gone. After all of the clothes shopping, we couldn’t forget about the shoes! With several brands of unique designers, Dulce carries some of Miami’s sexiest stilettos suitable for anyone wanting their feet to be in fashion. Dulce also carries handbags, sunglasses, jewelry and other accessories.

We worked up an appetite and stopped at Charlotte Bistro (www.Charlotte-Bistro.com), the area’s newest French restaurant, for lunch. The owner, Venezuelan-born chef Elida Villarroel, has been trained by three-Michelin-star Chef Michel Bras. The food was delish and we were now fully prepared for our two-hour drive to Duck Key in the Florida Keys. The great thing about all of our Coral Gables visits is that each business is female owned and operated. So proud of these terrific entrepreneurs. I hope to support more businesses like these!!

After a few hours of singing in the car (where’s the karaoke bar?), we arrived at the 60-acre luxury resort, Hawk’s Cay (http://www.hawkscay.com/). One step into their exquisite lobby sets you in a relaxed mood as soon as you walk in. We checked in, relaxed in our rooms, and then met our lovely hosts in the Bar at Alma, which is located in the resort lobby, for appetizers and cocktails. My favorite drink of the trip was the Little Red Dress (be sure to try while you are there) and the Lobster Risotto seemed to be a group favorite for dinner.

PHOTO: Sharon & Casey decorate the chocolate-covered wine bottle at Peterbrooke Chocolatier.

The Getaway Girl® Named Official Travel Correspondent for Daytime TV Show

Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl®, has been named Daytime TV’s Travel Correspondent. The Daytime TV show, which is based in Tampa, airs in more than 100 markets across the U.S.

Wohl has been appearing on the show for more than one year, and covers travel topics such as Spooktacular Getaways, Winter Travel Deals, 2010 Travel Trends, Spring Break Travel Deals, Valentine’s Day Travel Ideas, Multi-Generational Getaways, Pet Getaways and more.

After a devastating divorce and getting fired from her job, Wohl started traveling with her girlfriends as a way to create new memories and experiences. She found a niche in the travel market as there were no city-specific travel guides for women. Wohl launched the first in her series, the Girls Getaway Guide to Orlando: Leave Your Baggage at Home®, in October 2008.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the official Daytime family,” Wohl said. “It is a fun and educational show that people love to watch.”

For more information about the show, visit www.DaytimeOnline.tv. For more information about Wohl’s new Travel Correspondent role, visit http://daytime.tbo.com/.

In addition to her role with Daytime, Wohl is the Travel Correspondent for the new, all-women radio network, Heartbeat Radio for Women. She has also been featured on radio and television programs CBS Radio, The Daily Buzz, Media Talk, Better TV, FirstWivesWorld, and numerous blogs. She has received print and online media coverage on nearly 80 national news sites and publications, such as Woman’s Day and Parenting. Wohl is a contributing writer for several online publications, was named a “Woman to Watch” by Orlando’s Orange Appeal magazine and was listed as one of “101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2009” by WE Magazine.
For more information about Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl®, or the Girls Getaway Guide series, visit www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net, www.Twitter.com/GetawayGirl or http://GirlsGetawayGuide.BlogSpot.com

2010 Travel Trends - Daytime TV

Where are the trendiest places to spend your vacation this year? Watch my Daytime TV interview for The Getaway Girl's best picks for 2010!

Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPvfqcKadE for a list of places to go!

Girls Getaway to the Florida Keys

Follow my adventures to the Florida Keys with my weekend stay at Hawk’s Cay Resort (www.HawksCay.com).

Located on the secluded island of Duck Key, midway down the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay Resort is a 60-acre luxury Florida Keys resort that offers some of the world's best fishing, exciting water sports, a chance to interact with dolphins, a saltwater lagoon, gorgeous swimming pools, luxurious accommodations and exquisite restaurants, all in the casual, relaxed pace of the Keys.

Barefoot luxury has arrived in style! Follow my on Twitter @GetawayGirl or on Facebook (Girls Getaway Guide).

Celebrate National Wear Red Day

How will you “Go Red” this Friday? Go Red For Women is the American Heart Association’s initiative to raise awareness of heart disease in women and educate them about how to prevent this #1 killer.

Did you know that:
*Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 450,000 women each year, about one every minute.
*While 1 in 30 American women die of breast cancer, about 1 in 3 die from cardiovascular disease.
*More women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer.
*Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.
*Only 1 in 5 women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat.

*Heart disease is largely preventable. In fact, 80 percent of cardiac events in women may be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.

To show your support, please remember to wear red on Friday, Feb. 5 and share this information with friends and family. For more information about Go Red and how you can make heart-healthy choices, please visit GoRedForWomen.org.

Girls Getaway to Colorado - Last Day

Our Sunday brunch was well anticipated at the Cajun-style Lucile’s Creole Café (http://www.luciles.com/) located just a few steps away from our hotel. The small house was packed, and we patiently waited outside for a table. When they brought out the beignets, I felt like I was in NOLA all over again. When they brought out the enormous biscuits, I smothered them with sausage and gravy and probably gained 10 pounds! The food was great, and the atmosphere completely charming. After almost rolling out of Lucile’s we managed to fit in some time for the gym and spa, which was very much needed after last night’s dinner extravaganza.

Last stop: Denver. Soon it was time to pack up, say goodbye to Boulder and the Hotel Boulderado, and head to Denver for our last night in Colorado. We arrived at Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel & Spa (http://www.brownpalace.com/) located in the heart of downtown. This hotel is more than 117 years old and has hosted some of the nation’s most influential people, including all living past presidents, Bill Gates and The Beatles. Owned at one time by the Unsinkable Molly Brown (remember her from Titanic?), the hotel is absolutely exquisite. Anyone who visits Denver should at least stop at the Brown Palace for a visit and tour. Our last Girls Getaway to Colorado meal was at Rioja (www.RiojaDenver.com), located in Larimer Square. We settled in at the chef’s table where Mike’s knowledge and excitement for the food here was contagious! From the artichoke tortelonni to the warm brussel sprout salad to the coconut mango risotto “stack”, everything was absolutely amazing!!! Many thanks to co-owners Jennifer and Beth for the best last Colorado dinner we could ever imagine.

While walking back to the Brown Palace, we made one last shopping stop into Overland Sheepskin Co. (http://www.overland.com/) for some of the area’s best cold-weather jackets, hats, boots and gear. We tried on some great things (and Jeri napped on some faux animal hides), then we called it a night.

With goodbye so close, we were all chatting about our favorite moments from the trip and the fun times we will remember so fondly. We decided this is not goodbye, but “until next time” as we are already talking about a trip to Italy next year, or I-11 as we are calling it. Thanks for the terrific memories. I had a blast! See you girls again real soon….ciao!

PHOTO: At the Chef's Table at Rioja in Denver. Looks like the chefs were having as much fun as we were!

Girls Getaway to Colorado - Day 4

Our Saturday began with an early lunch at the St. Julien Hotel’s (http://www.stjulien.com/) Jill’s Restaurant. The Cuban Panini was perfect; one of the best I’ve ever had! After a quick tour of this gorgeous hotel, we strolled along Pearl Street for some more shopping.

That afternoon, we saddled up for a ride on Banjo Billy’s Bus Tour (www.BanjoBilly.com), which is decorated with old sofas, disco balls, saddles and a rubber chicken on the front to lead the way while we spent 90 minutes touring Boulder. We heard about the history of the city, as well as some of the spooky ghost stories the locals share.

The tour was followed by an afternoon tea of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse (http://www.boulderteahouse.com/), which is a gift from Boulder’s sister city, Dushanbe, Tajikistan and is the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Handcrafted by more than 40 Tajik artisans, the building is a feast for the eyes with its vibrant colors, patterns and furnishings. The Teahouse, which officially opened in May 1998, features an eclectic, international menu and teas from all over the world. We all loved the Tung Ting Oolong and the delicious snacks that accompanied our unique experience.

After the Teahouse, we went back to the Boulderado for a quick nap and then we were ready to go again. Our next adventure included a dining tour of some of Boulder’s best restaurants. We started with cocktails and appetizers at Happy (www.HappyNoodleHouse.com), and true to its name, we were more than happy with our time here. Having cocktails here is like nowhere else I have experienced. Mark’s expertise combined with Ben’s flair for the tasty and unusual made our time here unforgettable. Their Bitter Bar menu offers some amazing concoctions for any cocktail connoisseur, with options based on vodka, absinthe, brandy, gin and more! I had the Happy Pair and Katie loved her Kiss the Sky (a tribute to Hendrix). In addition, we tried the absinthe, which was served by gradually dripping water over a sugar cube into the glass. In addition, the food was delicious. My favorite was the Pork Belly….so good! Many thanks to Chef Sam for the great food!

With our own bellies full, we happily moved on to our next stop, which was Centro (www.CentroLatinKitchen.com). From the moment we arrived, Erin made sure we were fully satiated with an incredible avocado salsa, campechana shrimp cocktail and anaheim chile relleno. My strawberry mojito was perfect and we wondered how we could even think about eating one more bite! Roz loved the shrimp so much she drank it straight from a glass. To finish the night, we moved a few doors down to Jax Fish House (http://www.jaxfishhouseboulder.com/) for dessert. I arrived to our table a little late only to find the girls, with crayons in hand, sketching and coloring on our table. Many thanks to Jeri for the great Getaway Girl portrait! Dessert consisted of key lime pie, tiramisu and a crème brulee assortment. They all hit the spot and satisfied our sweet tooth for the night.

PHOTO: Jeri, Katie & Donna enjoy tea at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.