Hi Everyone,
Here is a new forum for the upcoming season. Let's hear some of your weekend hot spots.
mod_ben

For years in the San Francisco Bay Area, I loved to go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. There were good rides, including the Big Dipper, the longest continually running roller coaster in Calif., good reataurants, wine tasting, boating and of course, the beach. I have fond memories of going to Santa Cruz. So did Clint Eastwood in "SUDDEN IMPACT"

Well, a few days have passed since Mod Ben kindly opened things up here, and it appears we all are in need of some basic instructions as to what to do with our weekends. Fortunately that help is on the way in a month or so. In my anticipation, I'll be up in a few minutes enlightening some other people on their weekends, staying late this evening with an after hours affair and I'll be up there Saturday and Monday as well. Doesn't look like we made the cut for the series (doubt we were ever considered), but it appears that many of the locations are those seen in Sam's Great Hotels, or even Great Vacation Homes. It will be quite interesting to see how different her presentations will be for them several years later, and how her mind and eyes evaluate and enjoy them now. To me, following the evolution of Samantha Brown has been such a pleasure, and absolutely fascinating, and remember I was charmed by her from the very beginning. But look at her now (in a few weeks, that is). If she's finished shooting for her new series by this Memorial Day Weekend, I hope Samantha at last has a restful one, and that everyone here has a good one as well, even if we're not quite sure what to do with them as yet.

My family and I love going to Cape May, NJ. It's a Victorian seaside town at the southernmost tip of New Jersey. There are quaint B&Bs as well as luxurious hotels like Congress Hall . . . not to mention the beach, shopping, fabulous restaurants (I could go on . . . ) And it's close enough to The Wildwoods, Atlantic City and Lewes, DE for a day trip. (Cape May Chamber of Commerce ought to pay me for this one! LOL!)

Woohoo, a new forum! That must mean the premiere is soon!

We don't travel too far. When the boys were little, we'd sashay down to New Hampshire to Story Land; we've done local spots all over Maine, particularly Bar Harbor...I still think Sam should do Bar Harbor. Now, as I posted in cruiseluver's thread, we'd like to do a long weekend in London.

Say Sparkles, what fine wine are you thinking about for $75 my friendly connoisseur? (cute saying, though)

Actually, nunesy, I had champagne on the brain (a terrible afflication) again.

The best I could do is:
Veuve Clicquot Brut Vintage Réserve Gold Label 1999
for $70.00

OR if you're feeling spendy you can get:
Veuve Clicquot Rose Vintage Reserve for $90.00

Anyone seen that corkscrew?

I bet it would be hard to find that wine at that price in a restaurant. They double the store price. Most really fine wines in a restaurant run $150 and up. And you shouldn't need a corkscrew for champagne. Here's to Don Perignon. I'd love to meet you in a tasting room sometime to share notes on the fine art of oenology. Try Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir sometime. One of my favorites. Cheers !

I love spending my weekends exploring Boston! There is history to see first hand on The Freedom Trail, great shopping on Newbury Street, some of the best Italian food in the North End, cruises to take you whale-watching just outside the harbor, and the Fenway Ballpark where you can watch the World Series winners, the Red Sox! The "T" (subway) is cost effective, efficient and easy. I love living on Newbury St and being able to walk out my door to experience Boston everyday. Sam should come and visit!

Gatlingburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennesse
Charleston, South Carolina
Baltimore, Maryland
Atlanta and Savannah Georgia

There are so many great vacation spots to choose from!

Sam, you should do a Provincetown, MA episode. I have been a few times, and there is no other place like it...maybe Ibiza.

My partner and I have made two visits to Audrey's Farmouse in Wallkill NY -- about 8 miles south of New Paltz. Convenient to folks in NYC. It is a great old farmhouse B&B that is dog friendly.
It is like staying with old friends when you go --- they have a website as well -- I highly recommend them and as a pet friendly spot -- a lot of the viewers with pets might be interested to know where they can go and bring their dogs with them!

Rusty - Bedford Hills NY

Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan...

A surprisingly gorgeous and unspoiled area of Michigan ( the "pinky" part of the Mitten State-Michigan ). Who would expect to find enormous sand dunes in the Midwest? Sleeping Bear Dunes are perched on the edge of Lake Michigan, and they are stunning.

An authentic fishing wharf is situated in Leland Harbor. There are all sorts of shops tucked into old shanties. You can dine by the falls on whitefish fish and chips and drink a Chubby Mary.

Mario Batali lives in this area, so perhaps Sam could interview him and his family, maybe make a pizza at his outdoor oven.

Sam could participate in the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, or tour some of the many, gorgeous wineries ( such as Black Star Winery ). The raclette cheese at Black Star was voted Best Cheese of 2008.

Cherry Republic is a large store that sells all products made from Cherry...including wine!

Sunsets over Lake Michigan are often compared to those in Maui...albeit, the water is a lot colder!

There is so much beauty in this part of Michigan, and I think viewers as well as Sam would be very pleasantly surprised.

Crossing my fingers!

Rent a motorcycle in just about any town in America and you will have a great weekend. However in an effort to make it a really special show, may I recommend the following:
1)Take an adventure bike (dual sport) trip in Alaska up to the Arctic Circle or rent a street bike and ride up to Fairbanks or down to Seward from Anchorage. The weekend trip of a lifetime.
2)Ride the desert out of any city in Arizona
3)Rent a bike and ride it to a rally such as Daytona, Laconia, Sturgis, or one of the dozens of other major rallies.

If you choose Alaska, I can help.