My State-side Travels

I just returned from another Dani Johnson seminar in Pittsburgh, PA. This was actually my fourth seminar. These are not travel-related seminars, but more for people who own traditional businesses as well as entrepreneurs. I didn’t think I would be doing this much traveling that really wasn’t for pleasure. My husband and I had made tentative travel plans for a trip to Costa Rica and a cruise at the end of the year but these seminars popped up and we felt like we could not pass them up.

Unfortunately because of the time allotted for the seminar I didn’t get a chance to check out the city of Pittsburgh. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh Int'l Airport, which was literally at the airport. I’m usually wary of staying in those kinds of hotels because of the noise from the airplanes but surprisingly it was not loud. The rooms were very well appointed: the décor was modern, in shades of black, brown, gray and tan. The room contained an L-shaped work desk and marble counters topped the bathroom sink and vanity. For the 2-night stay I was very comfortable in the king-sized bed full of soft, fluffy pillows.

So this being my fourth seminar, I guess I should tell you about the other states my travels have taken me. The first event was in Chicago back in April, which was held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Again, there was no time to see the city, as these seminars are only 2 or 3 days. There I stayed with my sister-in-law at the Sofitel Chicago O’Hare on the outskirts of the airport and across from the Hyatt. Gold and red furniture and linens made this hotel seem regal. My favorite amenity: plush robes in the closet. Free shuttle service took us from the airport and back.

The next seminar was in Portland, Oregon. That’s about as far west as I’ve ever gone in the States. Here my husband and I stayed at The Hilton Portland & Executive Tower. This hotel was located in downtown Portland with a majestic view of Mount Hood. This time we had time to check out the local area since we had a midnight flight back to New York. For lunch we headed to Typhoon! located at the Hotel Lucia. I dined on King’s Noodles, a non-spicy noodle dish with chicken and shrimp. For dinner we opted for American cuisine at Jake’s Grill. I noticed Portland is a very young and hip city that is also family friendly. I would definitely visit again one day in the future. One thing to note, this hotel does not offer shuttle service, but there is the MAX Lightrail System for access to the airport and other local attractions.

Dallas was the location for the third seminar. Here we stayed at the Hotel Intercontinental Dallas, in close proximity to corporate buildings on Dallas Parkway. Decorated in hues of gold and blue with rich mahogany furnishings, the room had a very relaxed atmosphere. Although shuttles were available to the local mall, we opted to stay close to the hotel. For lunch one day, we headed over to Freebirds World Burrito, about a block away from the hotel at the Old Town Shopping Center. The fun menu hosts an array of burritos with names such as The FreeBird, the ½ Bird and the Monster as well as “Not-Burritos” such as quesadillas, salads and “Bird Bowls.” It boasts all types of sauces from mild tomatillo sauce to habanero sauce, which consists of real habanero peppers and spices. Moderately priced, the food here was well worth it. A quirky plus: The walls are decorated with foil cars, flowers, animals and more, from its very artistic customers.

What’s our next stop? Currently it’s Atlanta, Georgia for a 3-day seminar in December. I’m hoping we can schedule some time to see what this Southern city has to offer.

By the way, Happy Birthday to my mom, whose birthday was on Sunday and I didn't get to spend it with her. Love you mom!