Leave a ‘good morning’ note on the counter with directions to your favorite restaurant or a coffee place with great people watching. Your friends most likely will not know their way around, so it’s nice to keep destinations local. It always feels like vacation when you can walk rather than get in the car.

If you have girlfriends coming to town who always enjoy a good spa treatment, it’s a great idea to schedule pedicures for them to have at the same time at a fun spa or salon nearby. Look for salons that serve customers martinis or margaritas while they polish. Or you could always have a bottle of champagne, fresh squeezed OJ and plastic glasses for them to take with them. (Call the salon first. Let them know it's a special occasion and ask if this is okay. Most salons are fine with this—it’s done all the time for bridal parties.) Just make sure to let your girlfriends know about the pedicures, so they don’t schedule one before coming.

If these ideas don’t suit your guests, imagine you visiting you. How would you want to spend the day? Make a list of what you enjoy most about your new town, then consider which things would be feasible for your friends to do while you’re at work.

Your friends are lucky to have a thoughtful, hospitable friend like you. The time you put into making them comfortable while you’re at work will be felt and appreciated.

With over 30 years of experience in the food industry, Luce's infectious love for cooking and teaching inspires home cooks to reach for new creative heights in their kitchen while keeping food simple and delicious. Luce studied regional cuisine in Tuscany, Italy and has been instructing for the last several years at Williams-Sonoma in Santa Barbara, CA and privately throughout California.