Getaways for the Awestruck Child in Me

Welcome! I'd say pull up a chair by the fire to warm up, but I live in the Bay Area in California, and we're in the throes of temperatures in the mid-60s, so I'll just say, come on out to the patio, pick out a lounger, and enjoy some January sunshine with me.

I'm sorry, that's mean, isn't it?

If it makes you feel better, I've had more than my fair share of cold weather in my lifetime. I grew up in mid-Michigan. In the country. On a dirt road. Whenever it snowed, we just plain got stuck, because we lived too far out of town for them to do much about it. We relied on one of our neighbors to come around and plow us out. Frankly, I loved it as a kid. Snow drifts six feet high that stretched over thirty yards on both sides of the driveway. We used to tunnel through them, creating catacombs to crawl through. For a kid who lived in her imagination, it was like having my very own Narnia.

These days, though, I have to find that kind of magic in other ways. With my schedule so crazy between raising a family and writing my stories, I find myself making imaginary travel plans to places around the world that appeal to the awestruck child in me.

Like the Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus:

Located in the Troodos Mountains, it's ornately decorated on the inside, with beautiful murals that have recently been restored. Take a look at this gentleman's video for a closer peek at how stunning it all is.

For something more urban, there's the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore:

I think it's an engineering marvel. On the top there are infinity pools where you can go all the way up to the edge and gaze out over the bay and the city:

That takes magic to a whole 'nother level.

Not that I don't love San Francisco. I do. A lot. I love it so much, more and more of my stories are set here, like my upcoming Bay Wolves series at Amber Allure. But that doesn't mean I don't want to escape when the time is right. Like if the weather isn't exactly pleasant.

Where would you go for that magical escape? Tell me in the comments. Everyone who comments will be eligible to win the Kindle Fire grand prize, but on top of that, I'm giving away a prize to one random commenter on this post, a 3-piece Kenneth Cole black cosmetics travel kit for your next getaway: