Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #7--Reader's Choice

After sharing our top ideas, we want to know where you're heading this Memorial Day! Please share in the comments below. As for us, Annie's staying put in NYC because she's traveling the two weekends before and the weekend after and Hope will be at the beach (she just needs to choose one). To refresh you memory, here are JSG's Memorial Day Getaway picks:

1. Kennebunkport, Maine 
2. Portland, Oregon 
3. New York 
4. Las Vegas 
5. Sea Island, Georgia 
6. Iceland

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #6--Iceland

Photo courtesy of ThePunkGuy.com

When thinking about where to go for Memorial Day weekend, the idea of jetting off to an island probably crossed your mind, but we're betting it was not this one. But Iceland is closer than you think—five hours by plane from New York and seven from Seattle—and there's lots to do both indoors and out.

Iceland is famed for its Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa. The water is naturally 98 to 102 degrees and is lauded for its healing properties. In addition, you can horseback ride, hike, raft and even play a round of golf.

At night time, you can party in capital city Reykjavík, known for its clubs. Over Memorial Day, the sun will rise around 3:30 a.m. and set around 11:30, meaning there will only be four hours of darkness. You can literally say you partied until the sun rose and not have to make it an all nighter. The weekend also coincides with the Reykjavik Arts Festival, with concerts, plays, operas and more.

Iceland Express is offering a $399 deal from New York, including airfare and three nights hotel through the month of May, but you must book by Monday.

Memorial Day Getaways Idea #3 -- New York

Courtesy of FreeThingstoDoinNewYork.com

With all the sailors in town for Fleet Week, New York is a natural choice for a girls' getaway over Memorial Day Weekend. Seriously, who can resist a man in uniform? Plus with many locals out of town you can hit popular museum exhibits like the Metropolitan Museum of Art's upcoming tribute to designer Alexander McQueen without having to deal with the same mass of crowds.

If you're looking for a beach experience, you can head to Governor's Island on the free ferry (though it's more of a grass lawn than a true beach). Come night time, it's over taken by Water Taxi Beach for the 21+ crowd.

For an affordable place to stay--check out the Grace Hotel in Times Square. Formerly the Hotel QT, it features what we're pretty sure is the only swim up pool bar in the city!

We're sorry the Yankees will be on the road; but you can catch a Mets game. When you're there, hit the Shake Shack for a juicy burger or Blue Smoke BBQ for some tasty concessions.

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #2--Portland, Oregon

In the past three months, we've heard of more friends traveling to Portland than in the past decade. And why not? Though it has been a few years since we've been, we remember Portland as an accessible and friendly city. Add to it the burgeoning wine, dining and art scene and you've got a winner for Memorial Day.

Food carts reign supreme with options ranging from grilled cheese to Korean to empanadas.  That's the double decker bus that's home to the Grilled Cheese Grill below. Check out FoodCartsPortland.com for more options and a map.

We've begged all our friends who have visited us to bring us back a sweet treat from Voodoo Doughnuts. If you go, please try the bacon maple bar and let us know how it is!

Courtesy of Voodoo Doughnuts

To walk off some of those calories peruse the art galleries along Old Town, the Pearl District and Alberta Street. Or head to the International Rose Test Garden, which is home to more than 7,000 rose bushes. Weather-depending, you may hit it while they're all in bloom. This year, the annual Rose Festival takes place from May 27-June 19.

Portland has a large number of boutique hotels. Two to consider are hipster-fave Ace Hotel in downtown Portland (below) and the Hotel Lucia, which is home to Typhoon Restaurant that has won raves for its Thai cuisine. 

Memorial Day Getaways Idea #1: Kennebunkport, Maine

Anyone who loves lobster, bike rides and beaches should consider Preppie enclave Kennebunkport, Maine for a Memorial Day getaway. Though it will be too cold to swim (and pretty much always is unless you're Candian), the new Tides Beach Club and its sister property Hidden Pond are enough to entice. The Tides Beach Club, situated on Goose Rocks Beach, underwent a renovation this winter. The rooms are decorated in soft neutrals and are as relaxing as they are comfortable (below). While you're lounging beachside, beach tenders are there to bring towels, treats and more. At night, enjoy the on site restaurant and beach bonfires.

If you're traveling with a bigger group, you may want to consider the well-reviewed Hidden Pond. It offers cabins that sleep up to four people, plus fun activities like a watercolor painting class, morning yoga and free loans of beach cruiser bicycles. We're dying to go just to try out the new Tree Spa!

Beach Week Day 6: Hoda and Kathie Lee on the Today Show

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Not surprisingly, we aren't the only ones this week with warm weather and beaches on the mind. Hoda and Kathie Lee turned into beach babes for a day on the Today Show earlier this week, featuring sunny day playlists and a visit to best beaches in the country.

Beach Week Day 4: Fishing in the Abacos

Here's a trip worth planning ahead for: The Reel Sassy Girl's Weekend at the Abacos Beach Resort in the Bahamas, April 29-May 1. Fishing's not usually our thing (we still have flashbacks to the dull fishing trip we were forced to take with an ex), but we chatted with Reel Sassy co-owner Kim Ewing (that's her above) and she convinced us that it's worth giving the sport a second look.

Kim grew up in Florida and started fishing off of the causeway as a way to spend time with friends on the weekends in high school. She only got into deep sea fishing after meeting her now hubby a sport fishing boat captain. Kim promises there are no worms or bait fish involved with deep sea fishing—it's all about using lures.

As for the allure of fishing itself, Kim says:

"It's not the fishing, it’s the catching—hearing the line zing, knowing you have something on your line, but not knowing what’s on the other end."

Ready to give it a try yourself? The Reel Sassy weekend includes two nights at the Abacos Beach Resort, airfare from Ft. Lauderdale, an opening reception, breakfast everyday and a day trip to Hope Town in the Bahamas. Prices start at $549 per person. Email info@reelsassy.com for more details.

Beach Week Day 3: Countdown to Cancun

Cancun gets a bad rap as a spring break destination that you should only go to if you want to compete in a wet T-shirt contest or break a record for tequila shots, but as Hope learned it depends on when you go and where you stay. Ready to test the waters? Enter VH1's Countdown to Cancun giveaway that celebrates Virgin America's inaugural flight to the Mexican beach resort.

Included in the prize is a 3-night stay at the new Live Acqua Cancun, a 371-room resort. The hotel is an all inclusive with restaurant choices ranging from Mediterranean to Asian to New American to Mexican. (Why you wouldn't indulge in guacamole and salsa everyday of your trip is beyond us.) It has a spa and a pool valet who hands out snacks, magazines and fully loaded iPods to borrow and is located in the main hotel zone.

The only bad news: Virgin America is currently only flying to Cancun from the west coast, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. Here's hoping flights from the midwest and east coast start soon! Enter to win on CountdowntoCancun.com.

Beach Week Day 1: St. Barth

We're in the middle of the snowiest winter in our lifetime (on the east coast, at least) so there's no better time to start our annual beach week. First up is the Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France.

This boutique hotel is one of the chicest options on what is arguably the chicest island in all of the Caribbean. Room options include a simple garden or beach rooms, suites and the new 3-bedroom Flamands villas.

There's an on-site restaurant and a Molton Brown spa.

Save a beach chair for us!

Jetsetter's Super Bowl Package

Congrats to the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers for making it to the Super Bowl! If you're a die hard fan and want to go to the game, there's still time to buy one of Jetsetter's Super Bowl package.

Included are tickets for two to the big game, 3-nights at the InterContinental Dallas, various parties and transportation to Cowboy's Stadium. Prices start at $7,900 for two. Better hurry--the sale closes Friday night. Available on Jetsetter.

Jennifer Aniston's Favorite Vacation Spot

While the rest of the world was focusing on Jennifer Aniston dissing "The Rachel" haircut and her clip in bangs from the Allure shoot and accompanying article, we were most interested in hearing about her favorite vacation spot:

"It's Anguilla in the Caribbean. It's just very far, not that easy to hop on a plane and go. I love the ability to really relax. Even if I'm just sitting in my house, I still have work, whether it's dealing with a production company or future project. What I love is the ocean. I hear it and go calm. It allows you to truly refuel."

We're betting Aniston rents a private villa when she goes, though the Viceory Anguilla is pretty spectacular.

Read the full interview with Jennifer Aniston in the February issue of Allure.

41 Places to Visit in 2011

Stumped for where to travel in 2011? The New York Times helpfully provided a list of 41 places to go this year. While some are really off the beaten path (Skiing in the Republic of Georgia, anyone?), others like Iceland, Milan and Park City (that's the Montage Park City above) are high on our own lists. What's on your must-go list this year?

The Opening of the JW Mariott Mraquis

Downtown Miami has another newly opened luxury option, the JW Marriot Marquis Miami. I'm Not Obsessed shares what celebs were there celebrating the christening of the brand new hotel earlier this week.

What's your pick? The new J.W. Marriott Marquis or the new Tempo Miami?

On Our Radar: Sheila Kelley's S Factor Retreat

Combining three of our favorite things: Pole dancing, San Diego and a girls' getaway, the Sheila Kelley's S Factor Retreat is on our travel wish list this fall. The weekend is Oct 21-24 at the aptly-named Paradise Point. The weekend's itinerary includes:


October 21 ~ Awaken My S Journey ~ Sheila Kelley chat entitled The Story of S, Elements of the S Factor Movement Path, Elements of the S Factor Erotic Creature Path and How to Use Your Feminine Eye
October 22 ~ Ignite My Feminine Fire ~ Meanderings and Good Mornin' Breakfast ~  Pole Dance Clinic ~ The Beauty Workshop ~ Erotic Creature Intensive ~ Sheila Kelley Chat entitled Igniting Your Feminine Fire and The Male vs. Female Campfire ~ Iemanja Ocean Cleansing Ceremony and Bonfire Celebration
October 23 ~ Understanding My Erotic Creature Journey ~ Sunrise on the Beach ~ Erotic Creature Intensive w/ Sheila Kelley ~ Lap Dance Intensive ~ Sheila Kelley Chat entitled Understanding Your Erotic Creature Journey ~ History and Politics of Female Sexuality ~ S Factor Flight Night
October 24 ~ S-ing My Way Through Life ~ Good Morning Breakfast: experiencing your food through your sensuality ~ S Factor Erotic Creature Discovery ~ Farewell Meditation w/ Sheila Kelley ~ body cleansing self-acceptance ritual

We can only imagine how fit and sexy attendees will feel by checkout time on Sunday! Register at SFactor.com.

JSG in Bridal Guide

Annie was thrilled to contribute her most romantic picks for Canada in Bridal Guide's September/October issue. Check it out on stands now!

Bachelorette Party Ideas #10: Montreal

Montreal is a top bachelorette party pick for many reasons:

• You feel like you're in Europe, even though it's only a short flight away from many American cities
• It's home to a number of festivals, including jazz, fireworks, and the weekly (in the summer) Piknic Electronik dance party.
• The food is amazing, the wine is cheap and the waiters are across the board some of the hottest we've ever seen. 

Last, but not least, Montreal is home to Le 281, the only all-male strip club in North America. 

Read more about what JSG's Annie has to say about Montreal Bachelorette parties on AOL's Aisle Dash.