Press: Destination Weddings & Honeymoons

Hot off the presses….I’m quoted in the current issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons. Maryann Hammers wrote an article called “Where to Marry in California” and she asked planners across the state for their favorite spots, from vineyards to forests to beaches (since California pretty much has it all). One of the things I love about planning events is discovering new venues. I think some people like working at the same spots over & over again. To be honest, it’s usually easier & planners and other vendors know what they’re getting into — but I have an explorer’s spirit. Send me off to a foreign island with tons of logistical quirks anytime…

I spoke with Maryann about my recommendations for the California desert…bet you didn’t see that coming since I’m based in the Bay area! I actually think the desert is an amazing space to get married. I don’t think it is associated with romance in the popular imagination as much as the coast or the forest, but it is actually one of the most dramatic and powerful landscapes I can think of.

I spoke specifically about Palm Springs, which is an oasis of beautiful design in the desert with a stunning backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains. I love the mid-century architecture and the clean, crisp design of everything. That said, the venue I recommended has a completely different feel than the rest of Palm Springs — it’s the Korakia Pensione, an eclectic B&B with a romantic Moroccan/Meditteranean vibe.

Take a look at the article here: Where to Marry in California.

www.amykaneko.com

Cruising Around Alaska

My parents have been talking for years about going on a cruise around Alaska.  But since my brothers & I each have our own schedules, the trip gets postponed every year.  This year, the trip finally happened.  We all flew into Seattle (me from San Francisco, my family from DC) to catch the cruise ship.  Cruises are kind of funny because everything is provided for you, and the experience onboard the ship is as much of an attraction as the places you stop.  It’s definitely not how I usually travel — I used to be  a travel writer, so I am accustomed to lugging my backpack around & exploring the nitty-gritty details of a place.  But I had a great time.  Besides docking in Seattle, our port cities were Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway.  We also made a quick stop in Victoria, British Columbia.  Here are some photos of the trip highlights.

Clockwise, from top left image: 1 – Pike Place Market in Seattle (good chowder!).  2 – The temperate rainforest in Ketchikan, where I made my poor family zipline among the trees in the rain.  3 – My mother doing just that.  4 – The bright blue Sawyer glacier at Tracy Arm Fjord.  5 – The Mendenhall Glacier, right near the capital of Juneau.  6 – An old iron railroad near Skagway.  7 – View of the Skagway train among the forests & waterfalls.  8 – The Legislature Building in Victoria, BC, all lit up at night.  Victoria seems like such a beautiful city & I would like to go back and spend more time there.

www.amykaneko.com