As this is a travel blog, yes, my March Madness is travel related – although there is a slight nod to the actual NCAA tournament.
As part of a project at work, I was on the road for most of the month of March. I love traveling, regardless of the reason. Business, leisure, conference, vacation – an airport is my happy place. But being on the road (or rather in the air) for 3 out of 4 weeks in a month is a lot for anyone. Running to and from airports and hotels, it felt like a fast break on the court.
It started with Vail and San Francisco. Vail is a more challenging destination to visit, especially as ski season was coming to an end. There are not many direct flights to this small mountain town. Landing was stunning, though, as the city is within the Rocky Mountains. While there wasn’t as much snow atop, it felt very reminiscent of my past life in Switzerland.
As you may have seen on other blogs, I am not a skier. However, I appreciate all the mountains and ski-vibes have to offer. Staying at the Grand Hyatt Vail, I was able to absorb the ski-life atmosphere even during work time. The hotel has a ski lift directly outside of it, making it super convenient for those visiting for this very reason.
After Vail, it was off to San Francisco. Thankfully, this was one of the few cities with direct flights from this tiny airport. Talk about a slam dunk.
Landing was smooth, as the weather was sunny and clear. Through the terminal, to the parking lot, and into the Uber I went. I stayed in Union Square, and as luck would have it, one of my closest friends from Paris was also in town. I was grateful for the opportunity for this time out and quick night cap during my March Madness.
Two days of productivity, and it was back to Chicago. I had a bit of a half-time – a week home with my family – before I was back at O’Hare.
Seattle was city number 3. This city has a huge basketball connection for me when I think of my youth watching the Bulls and their 3-peats. The 1996 NBA Finals involved a series vs. the Seattle Supersonics. Seeing the Space Needle on the drive to my hotel drummed up these sport memories (and feelings of victory).
This visit had me at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, a gorgeous property that boasts many subtle architectural nods to the Pacific Northwest. From the fossiles in the lobby tile, to the dark wood detailing..I didn’t really leave the hotel, yet still felt surrounded by the beauty of this part of the country.
For the small time I did get out, I ventured over to Taylor Shellfish for some oysters and champagne. It tasted as good as making both free throws.
The fourth quarter (or week of March) found me in Tampa Bay and San Antonio. Totally different side of the country with totally different weather.
It was nice to experience a couple days of sun and sand in Tampa. It was crazy to me how different the sea water felt and smelled on this coast vs. what I experienced on the west coast.
With only a few minutes left in the quarter, I wrapped up my travels in San Antonio. The Grand Hyatt San Antonio had perfect views of the Alamodome which hosted the Final 4 NCAA tournament. I told you there was an actual connection to my travels and March Madness! While I was a few days early for the tournament, it was still pretty cool to see the lights and signage going up outside the dome.
With the little free time I had, I also stopped by the San Antonio River Walk and the Alamo.
Although, in all honesty, the Alamo was a “hey can I stop for quick photo”? to my Uber driver on the way to the airport. Yes, it is as small as they say, but still quite remarkable to see in person.
I think my driver called a foul on me, though, because I noticed my rating dropped 0.1 pts after that trip…
And with that, my March Madness came to a close. I didn’t win the championship, but I still made it to the final four. 🙂 Until next time…
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