As the raft reared up onto one end, dangling me 10 feet above a massive pool of raging water that seemed anxious to devour me whole, I had the momentary thought that every Smart Meetings editor who heads out to Reno must be destined for a memorable exit from a white-water raft.

After all, just days ago Carolyn Koenig (Smart Meetings editor) had filled my imagination with a vivid account of her drenching last year, when she and two others took an involuntary swim in the Truckee river during the 2007 Reno-Tahoe Summer Adventure FAM. But it was the third day of this year’s trip, and I had already had so much fun with the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority staff and the 20 or so meeting planners that I didn’t really care if I got a good ribbing for continuing the Smart Meetings tradition.

After tipping on end for what seemed like minutes, however, the raft miraculously flopped back down and made it through the remainder of the rapids, and we only dropped one of our passengers into the river.

This experience was made all the more surreal by the contrast that came a few hours later, as the entire group danced the night away at a great Austin Powers-themed party put on by John Ascuaga’s Nugget. And this is really the contrast that sells Reno to planners—the excitement of the resorts, casinos, nightlife and shows that go with a major gaming destination, yet coupled with the top-notch outdoor recreation of neighboring Tahoe.

Reno has come a long way in recent, years, with several brand-new resorts, like the Grand Sierra and Peppermill. But its cowboy character had remained authentic, as has the natural beauty of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

It’s hard not to leave Vegas with a smile these days. Fifteen years ago, if you didn’t make out like a bandit at either the craps table or the all-you-can-eat prime rib buffet, there wasn’t a whole lot to celebrate. Last month, however, during an ideal three-day press trip at the all-new Palazzo, I saw every indicator that Las Vegas has perfected the art of pleasing JUST ABOUT EVERYONE.

Touring the Palazzo and adjacent Venetian’s meeting space and guest suites, and observing several large events in progress, it made me want to toss off my editor hat and put on an attendee name badge. For one, the meeting space (including the massive attached Sands Expo Center) is as close as you can get to the rooms, the restaurants and the casino, unlike many major meetings resorts. Secondly, the staff sets the bar for professionalism and friendliness—in Vegas, everything is turned up a notch energy-wise, and it’s reassuring to planners to know they’re working with people who can still shine under pressure.

Once the meeting is over, however, the sheer number of things to do and places to eat at these two properties is enough that you never need to go outside (which is good, because I’m coming back twice in August).

We had breakfast at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon, in an elegantly appointed private dining room. Later, dinner in a private section of the Palazzo’s pool deck showed us that floral arrangements in Vegas have to be as cutting edge and mind-blowing as everything else. The food was excellent, too. And lunch the next day at The Venetian’s David Burke was a tantalizing exhibit of both culinary exploration and plating design. My favorite was the cheesecake lollipop tree—don’t ask, you need to see it for yourself. In fact, with the number of celebrity chef restaurants here, it’s like a microcosmic dining tour of San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, without any of the traffic.

As far as entertainment goes, The Venetian and Palazzo are going at it from two extremes. We saw an excellent performance of the weird and hilarious Blue Man Group, which is a refreshing reminder of the human potential. And, though I missed it, I hear the group loved the Jersey Boys, a fun-lovin’ musical about Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.

I have to admit, it was pretty tough to board my plane, knowing everyone I spent the last few days with was getting ready for an incredible night out at the Venetian’s TAO Nightclub, arguably one of the best nightclubs in the world. I’ve been there several times before, and you always feel like you are at the best party in the desert. It’s also one of the favorites for planners, as the nightclub can be rented out for private functions Sunday–Wednesday.

Wow, it’s only been a few days, but I can’t wait to get back to Vegas.

Wow, just returned from an exhilarating press trip through the OC and Anaheim. Started off by checking in at the Disney Grand California, a cool property with a dramatic open lobby modeled after the famous Ahwahnee in Yosemite. That was quickly followed by a ‘hard-hat’ trip through the nearby, soon-to-launch Anaheim GardenWalk, a massive compound of shopping, dining, entertainment and (eventual) lodging. Next was meeting with some Disneyland executives at the Grand California’s Napa Rose restaurant, in an inviting, high-ceilinged setting with some great murals of wine country embellishing the walls. Started with an incredible salad of endive, blue cheese and pear, followed by a filet mignon topped with melted brie in a red wine reduction with candied walnuts. Can you tell I like food?

The next day took our group through Huntington Beach, where a breakfast stop at the Hyatt Regency was followed by a signature massage at the property’s incredible Pacific Waters spa. That put me in the perfect relaxed state for a stroll through Laguna Beach, one of my favorite Southern California stops with its hopping downtown and lively beaches; took a look at Wyland’s gallery of marine seascapes and saw some other hip galleries as well. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, we headed to Crystal Cove and saw some charming beach cottages before lunching at the Beachcomber Café in Newport Coast. Hard to find much to complain about dining alfresco on seared scallops in a corn chowder sauce (and ahi tacos!) while watching dolphins splash about in the ocean 50 yards away.

Then it was on to nearby Pelican Hill, a grand resort opening late this year that is impressive in both its luxury and scope. One of the many fantastic facets we took in was a “Coliseum’ swimming pool facility modeled after the famous Roman landmark; the pool will be lined with one million glass tiles—cut and laid by hand, a great example of the detail and craftsmanship being put into the property.

Next, back to the Disney Grand for a quick freshen-up before our “progressive dinner” and site inspections at The Hilton Anaheim, Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Marriott. The Hilton is undergoing extensive changes, including a major lobby makeover, and the Marriott just completed some large upgrades as well. At the Convention Center, we met with Aramark’s “Director of Sustainability” for some healthy food and drink, and had the chance to see some plastic eating utensils actually made from potatoes. Not only environmentally sound, but potentially edible in a crisis? You never know until you try.

The next day featured a presentation by the good folks at Disney on their global projects—including Disney Hong Kong—and an overview of their customer-service strategies. One interesting tidbit: upon conducting research that most people will hold their trash for up to 17 paces before littering, they placed trash cans throughout the park every 20 feet. (I predict Disney growing into a large and successful company in the future if they keep up these kinds of innovative efforts.) Next it was on to the park and an excellent lunch at the Blue Bayou restaurant before touring the Dream Suite, an exclusive enclave of rooms inside the park only used for special occasions, such as visiting families randomly treated to one of the “million dreams” Disney is giving away this year.

We wrapped things up with a gala event back at the GardenWalk, taking a limo over from the Grand Hyatt in style and enjoying a wonderful dinner before seeing ’70s and ’80s band Chicago take to the stage and light up the night with some of their awesome classic hits. Rising at 5 a.m. the next morning to take my shuttle back to Long Beach Airport, the whole adventure seemed to have gone by in the blink of an eye.

Spend more than a day at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa and you will begin to think you are in Sevilla, not downtown Riverside in California’s Inland Empire. It wasn’t at all difficult for me, anyway, to forget about the election for a few days and settle into the seductively relaxed pace of the mazelike hotel. 

Frank Miller opened the first wing in 1903, with the Mission-Revival style architecture in mind. He added three more wings to the hotel by 1931, with an eclectic assortment of Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Mediterranean influences.

Today it’s a hotspot for vacationers and meeting-goers alike, with 239 guest rooms—almost all completely unique—and 24,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor meeting space. With such a romantic setting, it’s also no surprise that the hotel hosts about 400 weddings a year, with two chapels and several other beautiful venues. It was certainly good enough for Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart and Richard Nixon, who were all married here.

Had the on-site Kelly’s Spa been around, no doubt it would have well-pampered the 10 presidents who’ve been to the Mission Inn. It’s easy to feel like royalty at the new 12-room facility, which incorporates custom treatments by Kelly Roberts, wife of owner Duane Roberts. Kelly definitely knows relaxation, just as her husband knows steaks—Duane’s Steakhouse is the only Four-Diamond restaurant in Riverside.

Had I seen any ghosts, it could very well have been the perfect two-day getaway.

If you want to keep up with what’s happening in Palm Springs, you’ll need a calculator. There’s a major renaissance under way, and a buzz that just keeps growing. So does the price tag—$1 billion and counting—in new and renovated properties.

I recently visited the desert resort area for a first-hand look at what is behind the buzz—and came away energized by the excitement. Touring in balmy 75 degree weather, with a light breeze, didn’t hurt either!

Throughout the Coachella Valley, there are myriad renovations both under way and recently completed, plus new builds, that are making the area an even more fabulous meetings destination. In fact, says Rob Enriquez, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Palm Springs Desert Resorts CVA, if you haven’t visited Palm Springs in the past two years, you won’t believe the dramatic changes.

First, there’s the newly renovated Palm Springs Convention Center, which has a fresh contemporary look that gives it a sense of place, with desert hues and details that echo the mountain geology just outside its windows.

Hospitality upgrades run the gamut—from spa, villa, golf course, meeting space or public area renovations at locations such as Rancho Las Palmas, Riviera Resort and Renaissance Esmeralda to brand new properties such as Embassy Suites La Quinta and a breathtaking Ritz-Carlton in progress. And numerous other properties, like Hard Rock and Mondrian, are in the planning stage.

On top of these are some largely undiscovered event spaces, like the Empire Polo Club, which offers a surprising number of interior and exterior venues—plus polo fields where you can even arrange a demonstration polo match for your attendees, complete with champagne.

My home-away-from-home was Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort and Spa, with a newly redesigned atrium Lobby Bar area that was a hugely happening place on Friday night and a place to relax during the day. Gondolas are moored nearby for a tour around the lake.

The Palm Springs Desert Resorts CVA—which represents the eight desert cities of Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage—is the point of contact if you’re considering a Palm Springs meeting. They’ve got their finger on the rapidly expanding pulse.