Inspiring Travel and Wellness. Join me for adventures above and below the ocean, exploring nature, luxury travel experiences, spa and wellness activities.
Cayo Icacos is a small, uninhabited island approximately 1 mile wide and over 1 mile long located 3 miles off the northeast coast of Puerto Rico. There are no restaurants, no shopping centers or vendors, no electricity, and no facilities of any kind. The little island is just lush green foliage and perfect white sand beaches.
Day Sail to the Pristine White Sand Beaches of Cayo Icacos
The best option to visit this tropical paradise is by boat. There is a water taxi service that departs just north of the El Conquistador resort in Las Croabas neighborhood of Fajardo, providing drop off and pick up service to Icacos as the least expensive option. A slightly more expensive option is the powered Catamaran sailboats that provide transportation, snorkel gear, shade, food & drinks, and (darn important) onboard bathrooms.
For us, the decision was easy – comfort and leisure on a Catamaran!
Recently, my friend Jack was travelling for work and asked for restaurant recommendations in San Francisco. Years ago, I spent considerable time there for work. Based on the location of his hotel and the style food that he likes, I recommended One Market for a short walk and delicious dinner. Here is Jack’s review of One Market. Enjoy!
I arrived at One Market in the Embarcadero District of downtown San Francisco at 6:45pm on a Thursday night and asked the hostess for a table for one. She looked me up and down — fat man dining alone. “I think we can squeeze you in, sir.”
I’d hoped for a half bottle of rose, but nobody ever sells rose in a half bottle. I compromised and ordered a full bottle of 2014 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Rose from the Williamette Valley. The color was almost ruby, with a full bodied (for a rose), dried fruit taste. There was nothing sweet about this rose, and at that moment, I resigned myself to drinking the whole bottle.
The food menu was somewhat limited, with starters capturing my attention far more than entrees. Of particular interest in the starters column were thinly sliced lamb tongue, a pan seared foie graas, grilled octopus, and ocean trout. My waiter recommended the ocean trout with an enthusiasm that indicated that the item was either fantastic, or on its last day in the walk-in. I decided to order the lamb tongue, grilled octopus, and ocean trout, foregoing the foie graas as I was unsure of the penalty for consuming it in the State of California. The last thing I need is to be part of some weird televised foodie sting.
Earlier this week we attended the Rush 40th anniversary concert at US Airways center arena in downtown Phoenix. Not wanting to miss a moment of the show, we called our Uber car and arrived almost 2 hours early. Our plan was to avoid traffic, and get a light snack & beverages at Cityscape before the show, since we had plenty of time. Great plan, except that every lounge and bar was packed! We could see the bar at the Blue Hound, but it was so crowded with people it was impossible to order a drink.
Bitter & Twisted bar and a few signature cocktails
Feeling frustrated and claustrophobic, we wandered toward Central Avenue and discovered the most delightful cocktail lounge. Bitter & Twisted is deceptively simple on the outside, and a wonder on the inside. Reclaimed red brick from Chicago and a massive bar, complete with old-tyme bar stools, greeted us on entry. There are luxurious golden upholstered booths along the outer wall and a stunning wall canvas. The atmosphere is glorious! There were only a few people, which we later learned is because B&T opened on their normal day off to serve the concert-goers (thank you, thank you!).
Fish & Chips
The drinks are exquisite. Each one is poured with skill and attention to detail. Average drink price was $12 and took a couple minutes to make – worth it. We ordered cocktails exclusively, but they do serve wine and other beverages. I shared the Fish & Chips with my friend, and it was the best that I have had in Phoenix! Next time I will not eat before going, so that I can try more menu items.
B&T are self-proclaimed “Purveyors of fine cocktails, spirits, and good times” and that is the honest truth. We had such a nice time before the concert that we all met back at B&T for a post-concert beverage before calling our car to take us home. Traffic and crowds were overwhelming after the concert, so it was a strategic withdrawal to B&T.
The bartenders are funny, charming and talented. Explaining each drink ingredient when we asked, and offering dead-on suggestions for the next delicious beverage to try. The staff is clearly having a good time, and they ensure that everyone around them has a pleasant evening, as well. The bartenders were telling us about the New Year’s Eve party, and a few other events that we need to attend. Turns out, B&T hosted a fabulous Villain’s Ball during Comicon – I missed out!
B&T is located at Central & Jefferson, close to US Airways arena, the Phoenix Symphony, Phoenix convention center, and many downtown events. Bitter & Twisted is my new top pick for Downtown refreshments!
I have a new favorite Casino showroom at Wild Horse Pass! This intimate little showroom is perfect for comedy shows and small crowd concerts.
Showroom Stage
The showroom is intimate and every seat has a fantastic view, similar to Celebrity theatre, but attached to a casino! The theatre is split between 2 tiers. The lower level starts stage side and radiates out for up close view of the performers. The top tier is angled so that every seat has a perfect view of the stage. Even the last row in the far corner has a perfect line of sight view of the stage. It is far superior to other local casino venues.
When visiting any of the cool spots in New York state, like Lyndhurst Castle, there are many great dining options. Half Moon located in Dobbs Ferry is my favorite mid-range ($20-30 plate dinner) restaurant with spectacular views of the Hudson river. Half Moon is much better than nearby Sunset Cove (great view, lousy parking, and last time a couple people in our group did not feel well after eating the “special”).
There is plenty of parking right out front, and it is walking distance from the train station.
Half Moon Prime Rib
In the low tourist season of autumn, Half Moon is offering daily Blue Plate specials. Fortunately for me, Monday night’s special was Prime Rib with mashed potatoes, asparagus and choice of soup or salad all for $19.95! Delicious, and prepared a perfect medium rare.
They even served dinner on actual blue plates.
The wine list starts at $10 glass or $35 for a bottle. Overall, they have a decent selection of wines from all over the world at pretty reasonable prices. This visit we enjoyed a $52 bottle from Spain, and it perfectly complemented the Prime Rib!
On previous visits, I have enjoyed eating seared tuna, lobster mac & cheese, delicious soups, and various salads. Half Moon serves consistently good food. Service is certainly better during low season, and on crowded nights it can take quite awhile for service.
Inside Dining
Reservations are recommended, especially during high season in summer. The outside patio is stunning and fills up fast! The patio was too cold for me during my mid-October visit, but we were able to get a table for four with a spectacular view, and without reservations.
