Dateline: Orlando, FL

Arriving back in Florida for the second time in only two weeks, I was prepared for the weather, the people, and the hair show I was about to work. Well, at least I thought I was...

When I arrived in Orlando on May 30th, I was ready to hit the warm, humid air that waited for me as I stepped off the plane. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared for the record heat that we had during my stay. Each day got progressively hotter, until it neared the 100 mark on my last full day in town. Couple that with the humidity and I was one miserable Californian. I was definitely missing my own climate back home.

The hotel I stayed at more then made up for the miserable weather. The JW Marriott, Grande Lakes, is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed at in a long time. I was impressed with some of the other places I've stayed for both business and personal reasons, but the JW Marriott is definitely up there in status. Having earned 4 Diamonds on the AAA meter, I could see why with their level of service and standards. The official definition of a 4 Diamond hotel is "(The) properties reflect an exceptional degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail, while offering upscale facilities and a variety of amenities." It certainly did just that.

Of course, no trip to any city can be done without work, so I headed over to the Orange County Convention Center for the Premiere Orlando Beauty Show. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, as my only other exposure to a hair show was NYC (and that wasn't very good), but this one blew me away. The different booths, the outrageous hairstyles, the loud dance music. Everything was turned up to an 11 for this one, folks. Our booth did very well at this show, and I'm certain we'll be back for it next June.

On the tourist front, due to the courtesy of my mom, I found a little place called Steve & Barry's. It reminds me of an Old Navy, but with a better selection of clothes. They carry exclusive lines for Sarah Jessica Parker (CARRIE!!!), Venus Williams & Amanda Bynes, along with an extensive selection of mens clothing. Perhaps the best part of the store? Everything was $8.98! No kidding. Everything. I found that there's one here in the LA area, so I'm making another trip next time I need a wardrobe change.

A new favorite food stop of mine is Buffalo Wild Wings on International Drive. The servers are very friendly and extremely helpful, the atmosphere is laid back, and the prices are quite reasonable. The boneless wings are worth checking out, and the hotter you can handle them, the better. I attempted the Mango Habanero, but could only get through 4 of them. A bit too hot for my taste buds.

If you're looking to take a trip back in time, head on over to the Festival Bay mall a little further up I-Drive. As Taryn (a good friend) and I stepped inside, we instantly felt like we were back in the early 90s. An odd feeling, but one confirmed as we noticed the types of stores inside...well, at least the stores that were actually open. Out of the entire mall (nearly 200 spaces), only 25-30 of them were being used. Their website says 80 stores, but I'm guessing that's a typo. Most of the stores were closed, and nearly all of them had no shoppers inside. The only reason Taryn and I were there was for Steve & Barry's, and I have a feeling that's what's keeping that mall alive at this point. Is it an old mall on the way out? Is it a new mall that's struggling to get stores in? The world may never know...

The visit with my mom was great to enjoy again. The fact that my job affords me to visit with my mom twice in two weeks is a great perk. I hadn't seen her in the 3 years prior, so it was great to catch up face-to-face again. I'll be back in Orlando in early October, so another visit will be waiting for me. At least now, I know the best places to visit and eat, and I know the best places to avoid.

My photos of Orlando are in the photo album over on Google. Stop by to check them out, and now that I have a few weeks rest, I'll be gearing up for Las Vegas at the end of the month. I'm told the Vegas show is the biggest one of the year, and I'm excited about it!

Jarrod gets to join me for the first time on a work trip, and I'm so happy to not have to travel without him for the next few shows. He'll be joining me in Vegas (June), Long Beach (August), and New York (September). Having traveled alone so often, I'll be glad to have him next to me each time. It won't make me miss home so much!

Until next time, I'm resting up and planning out my strategy for the bright lights (and desert heat) of Las Vegas. Come back again soon!

Dateline: Miami Beach, FL

The International Congress of Esthetics and Spa drew me into the beautiful shores of Miami Beach, FL, last weekend. The weather was a little muggy, but when you live in Southern California, everything feels unbearable.

When I arrived in Miami on May 15th, I remembered that I hadn't traveled to Florida in over 10 years. I was anxious to see what had changed, and what hadn't, since my last visit. One thing that I learned quickly: the weather changes very little in 10 years. It's as unpredictable as ever. It could be clear and sunny one minute, and not 5 minutes later, the clouds and rain move in. Then, just as quickly as they arrive, they're gone, leaving you scratching your head and wondering if it was all a dream.

The neon of South Beach drew me in like a moth to, well, a light. The beauty of South Beach cannot compare to Times Square in New York, but then again, you wouldn't want it to. The art deco style of the various hotels along Ocean Drive are as amazing to see during the day as the neon shines at night. Visiting not only Ocean Drive, but Collins and Washington Avenues, along with Lincoln Road, was a vacationers paradise!

Shops of all kinds can be found within the 15 block radius, leaving you both drained and shocked at the sticker price of clothes and knick-knacks you can carry back to parts unknown. Not to say that deals can't be found (or haggled), if you know where to look. My favorites were Wings (on Collins and Lincoln) and the little shop known as PayLess Shoes (sandals for $10!).

The beaches rival those found on the shores of Hawaii, if for nothing then their white sands and warm waters. I not only left a piece of the Traveler's heart behind in those warm, warm waters, but my expensive Polo glasses sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean on my first day in town. Perhaps we'll meet again some day, my dear friend. Thankfully, the Traveler comes prepared, and contact lenses were the eye wear of choice for the remainder of my 5 days in Florida.

Night life in South Beach is definitely not for the faint of heart. With clubs piled up around famous locations like Casa Casuarina (Versace's Mansion on Ocean Drive), the choices are endless for parties, parties, and more parties. A stop at Mango's is a must. Soak in the local flavor and cool down with the tropical theme, while shaking your way around the two-story dance floor.

When my trip ended on May 20th, the Traveler was headed back to the cool coastal weather of Ventura, California, but I know that I'll be back in just a few days for a go at Orlando. Just 200 miles to the North of South Beach, the (East Coast) city that Disney built is waiting to be explored. In the meantime, check out my photo album, and come back in a few weeks for an intimate look at Orlando, Florida.

Dateline: New York, NY

Whew...New York in Spring was a blast, but very tiring. As I spent April 25-30 in Manhattan, I was amazed by the sheer size. I've never felt so small, but so alive, as I did in New York City.

When I wasn't working at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (located along the Hudson River), I was up until the wee hours of the morning taking in the sights of the city. I visited Ground Zero, walked through Tribeca, Greenwich Village, SoHo, took in the views from the Empire State Building, and checked out Times Square at least a million times.

Getting to see the places I've only ever seen in photos and movies, I realized I wasn't prepared for the beauty of New York City. It was difficult not to fall in love and immediately set up shop. The only thing that stopped me from doing so was the cost of living. When a quick trip to the Deli for snacks cost me $17, I knew that I needed a better way to offset the expenses. Fortunately, my company reimburses me for any costs, as otherwise, I'd never be able to afford it.

You can check out my photo tour of New York City, and come back in a few weeks for my first trip to Miami, FL. I'll be back to New York in September, and I can't wait to see what's changed. For the city that never sleeps, New York has a lot to offer. Mostly it's a lack of boredom.

Dateline: Arlington, TX

Last weekend, April 11-15, I traveled to the Lone Star state, where I took in the sites of Arlington, Dallas & Fort Worth.

Check out the photos of my trip, along with a few select pics of my job (Events Coordinator for Athena Cosmetics).

It's been said that a photo is worth a thousand words, and I'll let mine speak for themselves...

Stop by again soon, and you'll get to see the details of my upcoming trip to New York City. The Big Apple isn't ready for me!!!

The Beginning

With my new job taking me around the country (and hopefully, around the world), I figured it was time to start up my travel blog.

Each month, I'll be traveling to one or two cities in search of the coolest places and taking the hottest photos.

We'll be kicking things off with my latest trip to Arlington, Texas (just outside of Dallas/Fort Worth), where I found downtown life to be laid back, and the people to be amazingly polite. The photos only show just a bit of Texas life, and I hope to get back there soon.

Over the next few months, I'll be sharing my stops in locations like New York, Orlando, Miami, Long Beach, Chicago and many, many more. Keep an eye out for the next post with photos from Arlingtons/Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

The Burbank airport will be my newest "Home Away From Home" soon. It's fun to get away from Southern California, but only for a while...