San Antonio

Our latest trip was to San Antonio, Texas! From what I was told, it was unusually cold during our stay, but it was still a fun trip! Last time we visited San Antonio, I only toured the River Walk. This time I expanded my route and visited the historic Alamo.

From the outside the Alamo didn't look like much, but once I entered the walls I was pleasantly surprised. There was a 20 minute video in a small theater which was available to watch, presenting a wealth of information about the Alamo. Throughout the halls were old artifacts, uniforms, and signs which offered more educational information.

San Antonio's River Walk is a beautiful place to walk by and along the way are many places to eat!

Stay tuned, because in March we head to Las Vegas!

Washington, D.C.

During our stay in D.C. we caught the tail end of fall. The foliage exuded brilliant autumn colors. Since I am from Southern California where our seasons all blend into one, I was very taken aback by the beauty of the season.

Even though the National Mall was the only site I had time to tour, it offered an amazing experience. To make the visit even more patriotic, It was Veterans' Day! I started my walk from the Capital...

 Then walked along a beautiful path that ran through the middle of the mall.

The path led to the Washington Monument (which was under construction during my visit)

When I came upon the World War II Memorial, it was filled with people, some were honoring veterans, some were sharing stories, and others came just to look. Regardless of their reason for being there, you could feel the pride and unity in the air. 

Just beyond the WWII Memorial lay the Reflecting Pool which was beautiful and calming. 

Finally, I came to the Lincoln Memorial! My favorite fact about the Lincoln Memorial is that Abe's hands are sculpted into his initials in American Sign Language. "A" with his left hand and "L" with his right hand.

I only had time for one last memorial before heading back to California, the Korean War Veterans Memorial!

Overall, this was an amazing destination and I cannot wait to go back!

Seattle

Seattle, one of my favorite cities, was a beautiful place to visit in September. Although the air was crisp, we were fortunate to have a rain-free weekend which allowed me to roam around city and take in all that it has to offer. 

A few blocks from the ferris wheel was a fabulous restaurant where devoured a mound of sea food. This lunch required a bib and a mallet. Two kinds of crab legs, corn, shrimp, oysters, muscles, and sausage.

Before: 

After: 

Apparently, I have a “thing” for ferris wheels because it seems that anytime there is a ferris wheel at an HPC destination... I’m on it. 

This ferris wheel is the largest observational wheel on the west coast and it looks over Elliott Bay. It measures up to 175 feet tall and can hold over 300 passengers at a time!

The 175 foot ferris wheel seems very small compared to Seattle’s number one attraction, the Space Needle. The Space Needle stands 605 feet tall. Want to get a 360 degree view of Seattle? From the Space Needle’s observation deck you can do so from 520 feet up in the air! 

If you want to be more grounded during your stay in Seattle, then I highly recommend checking out Pike Place Market. Its so lively and there is a lot of fresh produce, fresh seafood, and miscellaneous trinkets to buy.

Last, but most certainly not least, I visited the original Starbucks!!! Being an avid Starbucks goer, this was a must see. Technically, the original Starbucks burnt down in a fire, so this store is the one they built after the fire. However, its still exciting to see! The line was out the door, the coffee tasted the same as it does at any other Starbucks, but the experience was worth it!

The windy city!

Chicago

Chicago is known as the windy city, however, during our stay there it wasn't windy at all! The weather was near perfect. Our hotel was located on the Magnificent Mile, a long stretch of shopping and restaurants.

The hotel was also within walking distance of the Navy Pier.

The pier was filled with eateries and souvenir shops. There was also a large ferris wheel that I rode and the view was breathtaking, the city skyline on one side and Lake Michigan on the other.

This was my first trip to Chicago and thankfully it will not be my last! July of next year (2014) HPC is heading back to the windy city.

San Diego Conference

What better place to travel in the start of summer than beautiful and sunny San Diego? The beginning of the trip was shadowed by a bit of notorious Southern California June gloom, but by the afternoon the sun was shining and the weather was perfect. 

As always, Hospital Procedures Consultants picked the best hotel in the best location. The Hilton San Diego Bayfront was right on the water and my room overlooked the bay and downtown San Diego.  To my fellow baseball lovers, Petco Park, home of the Padres, is located directly across the street! Also, about a five minute walk from the hotel was the Gas Lamp District.

The Gas Lamp District is a great place to find amazing restaurants, shops, and nightlife. The streets are filled with live music and entertainment.

Before returning home from my sunny getaway, I stopped by Sea World to quench my thirst for the aquatic life. If sea creatures aren’t your cup of tea, worry not, because San Diego has a zoo and a wild animal park as well!

Overall, the weekend with Hospital Procedures Consultants was a huge success. I’m excited to continue to our next location... Chicago!!!

Spring in Boston

If the crisp air alone doesn’t take your breath away, then the visual stimulation of the city sites sure will. Boston is a beautiful city with a wide range of attractions. I would be remiss if I didn’t start by describing the most beautiful site of all, the Public Garden. In the heart of the city you will find an amazing garden. If you follow along the path you will come across beds of tulips, a wide variety of towering trees, and fresh green lawns.

Our hotel, The Courtyard Marriott, was located in the Theater District of Boston. The Wang Theater, directly across the street, was in plain sight from the view of my window. Within a few blocks was Chinatown, which was full of culture and amazing places to eat.

My favorite and most exciting adventure on this trip was taking “The T”, Boston’s underground train, to Fenway Park. Whether you’re a baseball fan or not, Fenway Park is a really exciting attraction to see. It opened in 1912, is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium still in use, and is the home of the Boston Red Sox.

During the weekend I never had to worry about going hungry because Hospital Procedures Consultants always choose hotels who cater to everyones pallets, simple or eclectic. Breakfast, snacks, beverages, and lunch were delicious and plentiful.

Boston is an amazing city and I cannot wait to visit again soon. Leaving Boston was bittersweet. It was difficult to leave but I am eager to travel to the future destinations Hospital Procedures Consultants has chosen.