ROMANTIC GETAWAY DANA POINT, CA

Recently I stayed at the Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa in Dana Point, CA and found it to be a romantic spot worthy of Jane Eyre with sweeping ocean views and a cozy fireplace in the lobby bar. The room was large with a comfortable bed and good sheets... very important to us girls! Let me also say the fish tacos are the best I've ever had! This location is isolated enough to feel like you're really out-of-town and can let your hair down & let go of the stress, but it's also just a short drive to Laguna Beach for art galleries, restaurants, and shopping. The staff was very nice. I was there with my travel club and we had a couple celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary... I think they are happily enjoying 32 years because they celebrate with travel and romantic getaways. They said "being friends" and "good communications" helped as well.

Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa is definitely a place I want to return to.

JAPAN - The Home of My Youth

As we approach April and cherry blossom season I always find myself a bit homesick, but this year finds me sad and concerned. Having grown up with earthquakes I'm pretty easy-going about them. Even tho' the school I attended in Japan had been devastated in the 1923 earthquake (before I was born) and many students died. This current earthquake shares the same fault line as California. I was expecting to be flooded as I'm not far enough inland from the beach front to escape a tsunami, but we were blessed and saw no effects of the tsunami. We will feel the economic challenges as Japan is our 4th highest source of travelers to the USA and pump $13 billion into our economy as a result; mostly Hawaii, California, New York and Nevada will feel the pinch. In turn, travel plans to Japan seem to be making record cancellations. If you enjoy travel that "helps" like going to a country and build homes or schools, or assist in delivering medicine then perhaps this is a good time for a humanitarian trip. If not, and you want the 5-star treatment it's a toss up... with so many cancelations those who do show will have undivided attention and resources. I went to Mexico when the swine flu caused most to cancel and it was wonderful. Actually, Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka are in pretty good shape. The Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea reported no damage. If your vacation plans were in these cities, and especially if you don't have trip insurance then you may want to keep them. The coast of Honshu is not a major tourist destination and that is where the devastation is. Cherry Blossom time in Japan is so beautiful, romantic, hopeful and inspiring.