Long before the massage therapist at The Well Spa greets you with a welcoming “Bongiorno,” it’s clear that you’ve entered a whole new world at Indian Wells’ Miramonte Resort. Designed to evoke an Italian/Mediterranean-esque experience, the calming and tranquil Miramonte feels light years away from the hustle and bustle of LA (rather than a crisp two-hour drive). And I’m determined to enjoy every single minute of my stay, livin’ la dolce vita-style.

Going horseback riding at Sunset Ranch has always been on my LA Bucket List. So when my friend Lisa and I found out our mutual friend Hesper volunteers as a trail guide on weekends, we figured it was high time we got on our high horses to try it out. And what better time to check it out than for Sunset Ranch’s newly introduced “Barbecue Rides?”

Whether heading out for a night on the town or hopping in the convertible for a day trip, a girl’s gotta have time to primp—which doesn’t gel so well with the traffic hell that is Los Angeles. Luckily for this local, I’ve become a pro with the quickie ways to get to and fro. A few helpful hints for girls who’ve got the need for speed…

What do you get when you blend devilishly delectable milkshake concoctions, thumping club music, and all the celeb gossip fit to print? Millions of Milkshakes, natch. I’d been hearing tons of buzz about this WeHo joint for months now—and it did not disappoint!

Affordable and New York City are typically considered to be an oxymoron. So when a getaway girl comes across a pleasantly priced diamond in the rough, it’s practically her responsibility to share the find with other savvy travelers. Enter the Blakely Hotel, a Midtown gem I’m happy to have discovered.

It’s almost the weekend—time to get the girls together and take a delish detour down the rabbit hole! With Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” in theatres this weekend, many LA establishments are tipping their proverbial Mad Hatter hats to this beloved classic.

As 2010 looms near, the visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads start to make way for that yearly ritual known as New Year’s resolutions. As for myself, I’ve got plenty: learn Italian, master my digital SLR, pay off that pesky credit card debt…the list goes on and on!

Who says you need to travel for a glorious girl getaway? After all, sometimes the best girl getaways can be found right in your own backyard (if your backyard just happens to be a happenin’ hotel on the Pacific Ocean, that is). In this case, that proverbial backyard is the Viceroy, one of Santa Monica’s long-time scenester staples.

It may sound like an Austin Powers sequel, but my nifty little headline actually refers to one of Chicago’s best-kept secrets: Mojo Spa, located in Wicker Park.

As a former Chicagoan-turned-Angeleno, I was more than excited to return to my city of origin for the ultimate girls’ getaway—a bachelorette party! Yep, my sister Amanda is tying the knot, so we rounded up the rest of the bridal party for a two-day tryst in Chi-town. And just why is it “my kind of town?” Let’s count the ways…..