Where to Lose the Blues
Life happens.
She left. He cheated. The boss doesn’t understand. Your vacation was too short. You’re stressed. Bored. Or, maybe you just need a change of scenery. It’s time to stop wallowing and do something about it.
BY DIANE BAIR & PAMELA WRIGHT
Laughter is the best
medicine:
Research may be inconclusive about the health benefits of laughter, but there’s no arguing that a hearty belly laugh feels good. For a big dose of gut-busting giggles in New York City, head to Caroline’s on Broadway (www.carolines.com; 212-757-4100) in Times Square, one of the top stand-up comedy venues in the country. While the long-standing, high-energy club is huge (it seats 300), the food is nothing special and the waitstaff can be indifferent, the comedy—seven nights a week, 365 days a year—is top notch. Big names, like Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Rosie O’Donnell and Jay Leno have performed here. New talent gets a chance, and standouts like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Lewis Black and Ray Romano also show up to do their funny stuff.
Pamper yourself:
Combine an idyllic seaside setting and ultra luxurious spa treatments for the cure to whatever ails you. The Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort (www.kiawahresort.com; 843-768-6340), 30 minutes from downtown Charleston, oozes Southern charm and oh-so-gracious hospitality. Listen to the waves lapping the nearby shoreline or the garden chimes softly ringing during your mint julep facial or hot stone massage. A visit is guaranteed to smooth the psyche’s ragged edges and leave you thoroughly relaxed. For additional pampering (you deserve it!), book a room at the lush hotel.
Drown your miseries in chocolate:
When the going gets tough, the tough eat chocolate. Chocolate’s reputation as a blues-buster is unrivaled, so lose the blues in a cocoa-induced stupor at Chocolate Bar at the Langham Hotel Boston (http://boston.langhamhotels.com; 617-451-1900). Offered Saturdays from noon to 3pm, a $35, all-you-can-handle orgy of more than 125 chocolate desserts includes chocolate soup, gourmet s’mores, made-to-order crêpes, chocolate spring rolls, a chocolate fountain and delicate truffles created by executive pastry chef Alejandro Luna.
Get shopping therapy:
Peace of mind can come in small packages, and snagging a bargain can feel really good. Head to the LA Fashion District (www.fashiondistrict.org), the nation’s largest fashion district with 90 square blocks of retail-wholesale shops. While many of the stores are wholesale, more than 1,000 stores sell to the average Jill and Joe at 30% to 70% off retail prices. Also, on Saturdays, many of the wholesale-only shops are open to the public—but expect crowds.
Consider a guided tour with Urban Shopping Adventures (www.urbanshoppingadventures.com) or download the free Downtown LA Walks Podcast Shopping Tour from the fashion district’s website (www.fashiondistrict.org). Bring cash, and don’t be afraid to bargain.
Dance the night away:
Good times and high energy mix at Miami’s legendary dance clubs. Put your sexy on at the sizzling and trendy Nikki Beach (www.nikkibeach.com; 305-538-1111) or Opium Garden (www.theopiumgroup.com; 305-531-5535), where DJs spin underground dance hits ’til the wee hours, and hot jocks, supermodels, rock stars and fashionistas carouse. Order a Mojito, overindulge in the eye candy and hit the dancefloor. Can’t get through the velvet ropes? Don’t despair; South Beach is jam-packed with other party-till-dawn dance clubs.
Work it out:
Hike, bike, paddle, climb, raft, ride, ski, snowboard, snowshoe… whew! You won’t have the energy or inclination to worry about a thing after a day sweating it out in Denver’s outdoor playgrounds (www..denver.org). Nestled in the Colorado Rocky Mountain foothills, the city has 200 parks (it’s the largest park system in the US) and more than 14,000 acres in the surrounding mountains to explore. It’s a biker’s nirvana: Denver boasts 850 miles of urban biking paths. Prefer paddling? Head to the South Platte River to float the stills or battle the whitewater chutes. Nearby ski resorts, like Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Loveland and Arapahoe Basin, also offer a host of year-round activities, including skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, nature walks and more.
Cruise the blues away:
Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery—or four! Hopping on a cruise ship is an easy way to get in a happy vacay mood. There’s something magical about waking up in an exciting new port, especially when someone else is doing the driving. Princess Cruises (www.princess.com) sails from New York City, Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale and New Orleans to you-name-it. At www.lastminutecruises.com, discounted cruises are available depending on itinerary and season; trips range from three days to 31. Choose an itinerary that tickles your fancy, track down a deal and grab a buddy—or not. It’s easy to meet people on a cruise ship, given the round-the-clock roster of activities and action.
Realize how good you’ve
got it:
Think you’ve got it bad? It ain’t nothin’ compared to the hard-luck stories sung by Blues artists at Buddy Guy’s Legends (www.buddyguys.com; 312-427-0333) in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. (It is planning to relocate soon, so check before you go.) It’s appropriately intimate, dark and a little dive-y, and the folks who have played here read like a list of the who’s who of the blues, including Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Lou Rawls, ZZ Top, Van Morrison and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Order a basket of crawfish tails and enjoy the fact that your misery has company. There’s no dress code and live entertainment seven nights a week.
Be a kid again:
Recapture that carefree, childlike glee at the delightfully old-fashioned Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (www.beachboardwalk.com), about 60 miles from San Francisco.
Fried food, suntan lotion and salty air mix at the 100-year-old, family-operated seaside amusement park. Hit the arcade, play a round of mini-golf, take a twirl on the historic carousel, get spooked at the Haunted Castle and ride the classic wooden roller coaster. Whee! Surfing, swimming and free concerts on the beach add to the fun. Pick up a tacky souvenir to remind yourself how fun it is to be a kid again.