enroute to vernon via merritt - July 12, 2022

Vernon Airbnb – Vita Resort at 2555 Lakeshore Drive, Vernon

Whether you’re looking to relax or go explore, Rachel’s brand-new Airbnb in the Vita Resort is in the perfect location. If you’re looking to play a round of golf at Predator Ridge, go for hikes around Okanagan Lake, hang out at the beach, or visit the wineries, this cozy, cute, charming Airbnb is a just a short drive to essential shops and entertainment. Situated at the Northeast side of Okanagan Lake, it’s under 9-minute drive from downtown Vernon. 

Rachel’s unit was clean, well equipped and had air conditioning. We loved the full-sized shampoo, conditioner and body wash, so convenient we didn’t have to pack additional bulk from home. As a frequent traveler, these little gestures make a difference. During our stay, we did a small grocery shop at Save-on-Foods, about 10 minutes away and cooked breakfast during our stay. 

This low-rise building is equipped with a small gym with treadmills, a stationary bike, and some free weights. The property also has 4 EV chargers, this was extremely convenient for us since we drove from Coquitlam, roughly a 5-hour drive from Vernon.

The pool was closed at the time we were there but was scheduled for inspection the day of our departure. Floating in the pool would be the perfect way to cool off in the heat after a match of pickleball. The fenced court is next to the pool onsite.

We had a great stay in Vernon thanks for our Super Host Rachel. I will be checking in again in the future. If you're thinking of visiting Vernon, check out this Airbnb at 2555 Lakeshore Road.

Thank you for dropping into A Path Well Written, A Blog about Life, Travel and Lizisms. Be well. Avec amour - Liz

This short trip to Vernon was so much fun. I'm sure we could have done more but the purpose was to relax and not overbook our schedule. We met new friends, played tennis, ate well, slept well in our airbnb, and stayed active, it was truly a well balanced get away. We both agreed that we could imagine retiring in the community of Predator Ridge and play tennis and golf; something to look forward to in the future.

Because we drove the Tesla, it took roughly 6 hours in all from Coquitlam with a breakfast stop and 45-50 minute supercharge in Merritt. We left Coquitlam at 7am; the drive was smooth with some congestion from construction along the highway. Aside from that we were on schedule. 

Don't forget to  download music you can easily access since there is a stretch of highway that has no service.

We listened to music and chatted. "Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter." - Isaac Walton

If you have any questions about our trip, feel free to send me a message.  Happy travels.

Thank you for dropping into A Path Well Written, A Blog about Life, Travel and Lizisms. Be well. Avec amour - Liz

Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Ranchos Mirage

When we arrived at the Omni Ranchos Las Palmas Resort, we were ecstatic! We were greeted warmly by Adriana at the Front Desk. She was friendly, informative, eager and willing to answer all my questions, and I had a lot of questions for her. I love information, and traveling with friends, I wanted to make sure we had all the necessary information right at our fingertips. 

These are the things we loved right away about the hotel: 

1)  Shuttle service to our rooms from the lobby – thank you James for making our ride so much fun.

2)  Complimentary spa style water in the lobby – our favourite was strawberry, lemon, and kiwi. I   was so happy there was no honeydew or cantaloupe since I’m allergic. 

3)  Complimentary bottled water from the Front desk.

4)  Complimentary shuttle bus to and from Indian Wells Tennis Gardens – such a money saver!

5)  We received 4 complimentary drink vouchers – we really appreciated this gesture. Making a good first impression is crucial. 

6)  Beautifully scented lobby, just the right amount and not overpowering.

The resort has 32 guest houses, low rise unit buildings with 2 levels. I travelled with 3 of my “Friends with Bloggerfits”: DJ, Rizzie and Shirls. We shared 1 Vista View Room with 2 queen beds with a furnished balcony. The room was 450 Square Feet and had views of the golf fairways. 

The grounds were lush and green, lined with palm trees, and beautiful landscaping. It was nice to see Canadian Geese on the property too. Our room was in building 15, which was the perfect location for us; it was close to the Tennis Club and Clubhouse and central to the rest of the resort. 

After dropping our luggage to the room, we went for lunch at Blue Ember, an onsite restaurant. We sat back and relaxed under the sun umbrella. Funny enough we ordered a different version of the same meal,  Lobster roll with salad, Lobster roll with fries, Lobster roll with fruit salad. Lunch was enjoyable. Our waiter José was entertaining, you could tell he enjoyed being in the service industry. 

With our tummies full and content, we headed back to our room, super pumped to hit the courts. We'd been patiently waiting to play under the California sun, and with 20 courts onsite, this was the icing on the cake. Before our arrival, we pre-booked two clinics through the Tennis Pro Shop. Most members and locals prefer to play in the mornings when it's cooler out. To our surprise, the courts in the afternoons were empty. Because we weren’t familiar with the hotel, we booked court time from 1-2pm the next afternoon. We were a bit disappointed to pay $40 for 1 hour of court time when the courts were empty. Overall, we were happy to play tennis under the big blue sky.

In my experience when traveling to the US, food portions tend to be more generous. I’ve been trying hard to portion my food intake. It worked out well that Shirls and I split and shared most of our food; even down to our morning omelette. Not only did that keep me on track with my food intake, it cut our food bill in half. Who doesn’t like to save a buck?

Day 1 Lunch: Blue Ember Restaurant  

Day 1 Dinner: Cheesecake Factory

Day 2 Breakfast: Palm's Café

Day 2 Lunch: Blue Ember Restaurant

Day 2 Dinner: Quantum Event Hosting Suite in The Indian Wells Tennis Gardens

Day 3 Breakfast: Palm's Café

Day 3 Lunch: Splash Grill (poolside)

Day 3 Dinner: Quantum Event Hosting Suite in The Indian Wells Tennis 

Day 4: Breakfast: Blue Ember Restaurant

Rizzie suggested we go to Cheesecake Factory the first night for dinner. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. We arrived for our 7pm reservation and the restaurant was packed. If you don't want to wait around, make a reservation! Our waitress Lyndsey was personable and fun. We had to have dessert. We had the Key Lime Cheesecake and the Raspberry White Chocolate. In our opinion, the key lime pie was the winner.

We were pleasantly surprised that the Cheesecake Factory was located in The River shopping complex. There are a variety of restaurants, shops, and a movie theatre. Bonus, it was an eleven minute walk from our hotel. 

The next morning, we had breakfast at the Palm's Cafe.  I have to say, I hadn't felt this relaxed in awhile, chilling under the morning sun with great company and good food. Rizzie left for the gym while  the 3 of us headed to the Pro Shop to sign in for our 3.5 tennis clinic. On our walk, we soaked in the views of the golf fairway, watching golfers, checking out all the supped up golf carts. One gentleman gave me permission to photograph his Bentley golf cart, which I thought was a pretty wicked ride.

Once we signed in at the Pro Shop, we headed down to the lesson courts where we met our Wednesday coach. His name was Santiago. Not only is he a tennis coach, he's in music production and mixed martial arts. We love meeting new people and learning about their backgrounds and interests

Santi worked our forehand, backhand and overhead shots. We ended with a friendly but competitive game of doubles. The hour flew by quickly, we couldn't wait for the next day.

We had a different coach for our Thursday morning clinic. Jay was from the Cliffdrysdale Tennis School. I liked that I got a new nickname (Spicy) and we made new friends from New York. We have already made plans to meet up next year. 

"You don't meet people by accident. There's always a reason. A lesson or a blessing." - unknown

Back to tennis, we played a game where Jay kept score (thank goodness) - where if you ended the point with a volley or overhead smash, you get the maximum 

points. To be honest, I don't remember the details but we had a blast as it allowed us to practice shots that we don't normally use. This brought everybody's competitive side out. 

After the clinic, we said our goodbyes and headed back to the room to get ready to head out to the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens for some live tennis action.

The 4 of us really enjoyed staying at the Omni Ranchos Las Palmas Resort & Spa. We will be returning next year and anticipate a longer stay. Our experience was positive and we've been talking to everyone, our friends, people in the tennis community about what a great time we've had. They're ready to join us in 2023. Thank you to the staff at the hotel for making our stay so fabulous. 

If you want to learn more or have any questions about the hotel or the tennis clinic, message me. I have tips to share with you. 

Thank you for dropping into A Path Well Written, A Blog about Life, Travel and Lizisms. Be well. Avec amour - Liz

I LOVE everything and anything, shiny so when my friend Sheilz reminded me she was going to the Gem Faire in Orange County, I was in! This is the largest jewelry and bead faire in SoCal. I wanted to find some Amethyst, Citrine, and Quartz pillers. Mostly, I wanted to spend time with my friend Sheilz and her family in California. The next Gem Faire will be held in May and August. There were vendors from San Francsico, Arizona, El Monte, CA, Vacaville, CA and more. 

Vendors were selling raw and polished gems, crystals, jewelry, clothing, watches, antiques, amongst other items. 

Gems are usually mined from the ground. Now adays, gems are often used in jewelry, historically, they were used to decorate items such as plates, religious or ceremonial objects, even weapons.

Birthstones are gems and is categorized by months. What’s your birthstone?

January – Garnet

February – Amethyst 

March – Aquamarine

April – Diamond

May – Emerald

June – Alexandrite

July – Ruby

August – Peridot

September – Sapphire

October – Tourmaline

November – Topaz

December – Blue Topaz

Gems have natural healing properties. Here are some examples:

I bought a couple pieces of Black Tourmaline to put into our cars for its grounding a protection element. It also can help with ridding negative energy with turning anxiety giving it a positive spin. It is a powerful stone to add for an extra layer of protection.

I had my eyes open for a quartz pillar. I found a vender with a variety of Smoky Quartz, some light, some deeper shades – smoky quartz are usually brownish gray in colour. The healing powers of the smoky quartz is that it can lift depression and negativity. Also, it can calm emotions and promote positive thoughts. Smoky quartz is a strong manifestation gem and said to dispel nightmares.

My mom had gifted me an Opal before she passed away. It’s a piece I treasure and remove on certain occasions. Opals have a high level of healing power it is full of high vibrational energy. It provides positivity for creativity and brings renewed hope, good karma, regulation, and balance. I believe this piece allows me to be open and creative in whatever I do. I keep it close to my heart.

In my tabletop zen garden at home, I have a selenite bowl filled with Rose Quartz. Not only is the rose/pink colour beautiful, but its colour also represents gentleness, calmness, compassion, love, and femininity. It can help rekindle relationships, passion, and joy. Rose Quartz is the crystal of unconditional love, no wonder if the most valuable stone to healers, jewelers, and collectors.

Citrine 

I love the yellow shades of citrine. It’s known as “Golden Amethyst.” This gem is often used for manifestation, helping dreams come true. Yellow being a colour of happiness, it’s no surprise it’s the gem associated with positivity and optimism. Citrine doesn’t absorb negative energy, encourages balanced emotions and calm feelings.

Amethyst

A popular quartz crystal with powerful protection properties. Not only is amethyst stunning, but it can also stimulate the mind and emotions. It is the birthstone of Pisces and February birth month. The amethyst is said to help with insomnia and keeps nightmares at bay. When amethyst is around, it can relieve stress, mood swings, anger, and anxiety. It also has cleansing powers by opening intuition and psychic abilities. It is said to be helpful to people suffering from lung diseases, skin conditions, disorders in cells and diseases of the digestive system. 

Whether you’re looking to add to your gem collection for design, for health benefits, or looking for something different to do, the Gem Faire in Orange County has a wide selection of gems from various vendors; you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for. The facility was clean, and vendors were knowledgeable and friendly. I am happy with my finds that I have incorporated into my home to bring extra protection and healing energies to my family.

Thank you for dropping into A Path Well Written, A Blog about Life, Travel and Lizisms. Be well. Avec amour - Liz

Seeing those big red rocks has been on my bucket list for a long time. My family and I never made it there when growing up in California so it was always in my visions to go there. When I have an idea in my head, I go for it, FULL SPEED AHEAD! I have to say, I was unaware of one thing...that monsoon season officially starts on June 15th and ends September 30th. Most rain comes from mid July through mid August. Lucky, we didn't get caught in one.

René and I flew from Vancouver, Canada to Phoenix, Arizona, a short 2 hour and 28 minute flight on Air Canada. When we arrived, we were picked up by Silvercar by Audi, a car rental company that is brand specific. We got a wicked first timer discount too. When we rented, all their vehicles included wifi hotspot and unlimited mileage. We really loved this unique rental experience. There are now 29 Silvercar locations. I recommend this service if you want a different experience.

On our drive from Phoenix to Sedona, I loved seeing all the cacti (cactuses to some). I felt like I was in the old west. A total shocker was when a motorcyclist zoomed passed us and wasn't wearing a helmet. I immediately hopped on my phone and looked it up. (Don't worry, I wasn't driving). Only motorcycle operators and riders under 18 must wear a helmet in Arizona. I thought that was very interesting. 

We checked into the Amara Resort and Spa, a 4.5 star hotel. It was within walking distance to shops and restaurants. It was a great location with amazing views and services. The resort has a pool, spa, fitness centre and bike rentals on site. The view from the hotel restaurant, SaltRock Southwest Kitchen was spectacular, that was a must for me. As soon as we were seated, I felt my soul lighten and my stress melt away. 

I wanted to go on a hike so I researched and found Trail Lovers. René was a little hesitant since he hadn't gone on a lengthy hike before. Jason from Trail Lovers was responsive and so knowledgeable and after our conversation, René felt at ease. We signed up for a 1/2 day private Red Rock excursion. Jason picked us up from our hotel at 7:30am and we felt an immediate connection with him. It's no wonder why his tours are such a success. He is personable, easy to talk to and literally knows everything about every plant, rock formation, animal life, rock climbing, history of the area; you name it. He is a natural storyteller. The 1/2 day passed so fast as we hiked the Courthouse Butte Loop together. We didn't want it to end. As we hiked, we learned so much, we stopped to take in the views and had snacks that Jason brought with him. He gave us lots of recommendations for dining and other trails in the area. When we go back next, there is no doubt we will see him again. 

René grew up racing ATV's and I'm a total tomboy so we rented a side by side RZR to explore the red rocks. Since we booked ahead, we brought our own gear (helmets, goggles, boots and gloves). We checked in to Sedona ATV Rentals, reviewed the rules and regulations, got a map and off we went. What's more fun than a little speed, and dust? We rode to the Coconino National Forest - Palatki Heritage Site. There, we explored by ATV and by foot. We found a lot of interesting pictographs carved into the rocks. It was quite a sight to take in. Renting the ATV was a great way to explore this area. 

After we dropped off the ATV, we were starving. We got a recommendation for Pisa Lisa, a brick oven Pizzeria. The pizza was top notch! Yum! If you love mushrooms, you HAVE to try the Funghi Decadente. I am pretty sure we overindulged that afternoon but we wouldn't change a thing.

We discovered a couple of other places to eat, not far from the hotel. Chocolatree, a beautiful eatery focused on healthy eating and giving back to the earth. Their food is made fresh and they even make their own chocolates! We enjoyed a wholesome lunch with nice teas to continue our relaxing stay in Sedona. We fell in love with the breakfast bowls at Indian Gardens, a small café and market. We discovered it on the August 21st and went back daily until we left on the 25th. After breakfast we drove around watching for the Eclipse, the hotel had given us glasses to keep our eyes safe.

One discovery I made traveling in Arizona is how much I loved Kombucha, specifically Wild Tonic. What a funny thing to discover. This is not unusual of me, I find something I love and I STOCK up! So off to the nearest Natural Grocers and bought all the flavours they had and brought it back to the hotel to chill. Mango Ginger, Blackberry Mint, Blueberry Basil, I wanted it all!! After 5 years, I am still craving it but alas, no retailers carry it just yet in Canada. 

The evening before we left, we had dinner at Che Ah Chi in the Enchantment Resort located in Boynton Canyon. The incredible view paired with decadent cuisine really closed out our trip nicely. The resort grounds itself is quite large so we enjoyed an after dinner walk before heading back to our hotel.

A trip ending is always bittersweet but overstaying can take the magical feeling away. If we can hold on to those feelings for that particular destination, you know you'll meet again. Sedona, it was our pleasure to get to know you a little. It's not a goodbye, it's a see ya later alligator!

There are so many more pictures I'd like to share and I will be adding some of our top picks to my Instagram page. Send me a message if you have questions about my trip or to just to say hi. I appreciate you. 

Thank you for dropping into A Path Well Written, A Blog about Life, Travel and Lizisms. Be well. Avec amour - Liz