Summer Jet Set: Local Notables Share Summer Travel Plans

June 2023—So what is everyone doing for summer vacation? Staying close to home? Traveling far and wide? Near or far, let’s see where they are!

Dolly Jacobs and Pedro Reis of the Circus Arts Conservatory plan to take a cruise with family to see the amazing terrains of Alaska. 

And what’s a summer without a circus?  In July, they hope to visit Montreal, Quebec and enjoy the annual Montréal Complètement Cirque Festival, an 11-day extravaganza with digital productions and indoor and outdoor shows.

Christine Johnson, President of Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, shares her mountainous summer plans. 

“My husband and I plan to drive west to Colorado where we will stay with his brother and family who live in Boulder. I’m excited to see them and our son who just finished his second year at CU Boulder studying chemical engineering and has a summer internship in Boulder. We will be there for three weeks while my husband acclimatizes before cycling in the Mt. Evans Hill Climb, a 26-mile bike race to the top at 14,130 ft.! While he is training, I’ll be hiking my favorite trails in the fabulous Rocky Mountains!”

Artist Debbie Dannheisser kicked off her summer travel with a fabulous trip to Paris. 

“We stayed in Paris for five glorious nights. We had dinner at the Eiffel Tower and went to the Burgundy Region and stopped at a few villages. One village was where my sister has an artist retreat every year. There were fields and fields of rapeseed, which is what they use to make canola oil and petroleum. It was absolutely stunning—the brightest yellow you can imagine.  We stayed in an Airbnb in a tiny village called Saint-Romain. It was on a hill overlooking the rapeseed fields and vineyards. The weather was crisp and sunny. It was an artist’s dream come true! I was so inspired when I returned home, I painted almost daily!”

This August, Michael and Terri Klauber will lead a group of Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club members on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana and the Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. 

“Mashatu is located within a private 76,000-acre wildlife reserve, and it is host to some of the finest wildlife viewing on the continent,” says Michael Klauber. “Our second stop to Londolozi Game Reserve in Sabi Sands, South Africa holds a very special place in our hearts, and we’re anxious to return to this amazing land of incredible safari adventures, enormously diverse people, and exceptional food and wine experiences.”

 The Klauber’s deep connection with this magical country began in 2005 on their first trip to Cape Town and the Cape Winelands in South Africa with their travel partner Ryan Hilton of Admiral Travel International. They will be returning to Africa again in 2025!

Nate Jacobs of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is planning a vacation to New York City with his daughter, Naärai. Naärai is an accomplished singer who recently performed on an Elton John and Stevie Wonder song, and currently resides in Los Angeles. Because of the distance, Nate finds this quality time with his daughter incredibly important. Both of them being performing artists, they plan to see a few shows on Broadway, including MJ The Musical, as well as visiting one of WBTT’s donors who has a house on Long Island. 

Graci McGillicuddy, co-founder and board chair of All Star Children’s Foundation, has traveled the world for many years.  This year, she and husband Dennis will jet around the country to spend time with family and their newly graduated grandchildren! 

One grandchild graduated from University of Florida (Suma Cum Laude) and another graduated from University of Georgia (Magna Cum Laude). They will also visit Washington DC to see their first grandchild graduate from George Washington Law School.

“3 Graduations…3 Weekends…3 States!”

Who could ask for a better reason to travel?

Caryn Hodge of Mattison’s Grille took to a trip up to the “Big Apple” as an early birthday to herself. 

“I always wanted to experience New York City since I’ve never really been there for more than a quick one-day trade show.” Caryn and her mom took in all the must-sees in NYC, including the Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium. She met up with three of her best friends in the city to spend three days seeing the sites, eating great food, and enjoying being a tourist. 

“It was a blast! Some of the highlights included Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Harbor Lights Cruise at sunset, and Serendipity, plus just walking around and feeling all the energy of the city. I highly recommend it if it’s on your bucket list. I can now check it off mine!”

Phillip Tavill, CEO of Children First, has several things on his summer docket. 

Summer travel for Tavill includes a whirlwind of short trips, combining seeing family and friends with vacation time. He tells us, “All fall under the category of pleasure!”

It began with a trip to Phoenix, Arizona where Tavill recently received the Sargent Shriver Excellence in Community Service Award from the National Head Start Association at their annual conference. 

Next, he will head back out west to visit family in Leadville, CO, the highest incorporated town in the United States, with beautiful views of several “fourteeners”— mountains whose summits are over 14,000 feet. 

After that, he will make his first visit to visit family in Richmond, VA and looks forward to taking in some of its historical sights. 

His summer plans end with a long weekend in NYC to soak in the arts and cultural institutions and enjoy the many delicacies.

Jennifer Rominiecki, President & CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, is headed for a close-to-home destination that can still feel a world away. 

“When the pandemic hit in 2020, my family and I tried out a ‘staycation’ by renting a beachfront condo on Longboat Key in July. We loved it so much that we’ve done it every July since! What could be better than enjoying the spectacular beach, swimming in the Gulf, seeing gorgeous sunsets, and enjoying wonderful restaurants like Dry Dock Waterfront Grill? I can’t wait for this July!”