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General Travel News
A Nantucket Escape
Nantucket, MA—Discover the charm and serenity of an island where fully 40 percent of the land is under conservation protection. Picture wild moors, sandy beaches, cobblestone streets, and a historic harbor, and you’re in the former sea-whaling capital of Nantucket. The seventh-century Veranda House, newly expanded and renovated, welcomes guests for its 127th summer season here. A new breakfast room, new lounge and new patio are just some of the improvements at this unique 18-room historic hotel. Guests will also enjoy the wraparound porches with views to enjoy wine and cheese, afternoon tea and evening champagne. Nightly rates during high season (two and four night minimum) range from $289 to $589, which includes accommodations, afternoon tea and breakfast. Nantucket’s scenic beaches and historic town center are all within easy reach. Visit www.theverandahouse.com or call (877)228-0695 and www.nantucketchamber.org for touring ideas.
Cable Car Package
Available now through Labor Day weekend, the newly renovated Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf is offering a special Cable Car package starting at $250 and including guestroom accommodations and two unlimited use all-day cable car passes per stay. Located across the street from the Mason/Powell Cable Car line, the hotel features 313 guestrooms and a newly renovated 24-hour StayFit@Hyatt Fitness center, plus an outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi. The Knuckles Historic Sports Bar & Grill offers a game room for pool. For reservations and information call (800)233-1234 or visit www.fishermanswharf.hyatt.com. Check out the Hyatt Retreat Packages online as well for year-long savings.
Booking a Cruise Deal
Kayak.com is a reliable travel website that now has expanded its online possibilities to include cruises. You’ll be linked to various cruise companies, but for discounts you need to go to last minute cruise deals or affordable cruises. The last minute cruises, especially in the Caribbean, can be discounted for as much as 75 percent. Another website worth a look is www.affordabletours.com.
Star Gazing
How do you escape light pollution? You have to travel to one of the best places in the country for amateur astronomers—Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado. On June 28, the largest public telescope in the state will open to the public in its new home at the Gunnison Valley Observatory, where near-perfect conditions at 7,703 feet allow for viewing the night sky. The observatory will be open at sunset every Friday from July through September. Details at www.coloradoskies.org and www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com or call (800)814-8893.
Summer Jazz
Montreal, Quebec—The world-famous Montreal International Jazz Festival, now in its 29th year, takes place from June 26 to July 6, 2008. With more than 650 performances, this celebration is one of the best music festivals around. Visitors will discover that a generous 370 of the shows are free of charge and there’s plenty to see and do in Montreal during the summer. Some of the big names appearing on stage this year include Aretha Franklin, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Ravi Coltrane, and Dee Dee Bridgewater as well as Chick Corea, The Glenn Miller Orchestra and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Montreal offers a wide range of outdoor dining choices as well as hotel accommodations in every price range. Visit www.tourism-montreal.org for hotel and festival details.
Hot Deals
Orlando can be a bargain if you chose your accommodations with care. The “Summer Sizzle” package on offer from Rosen Hotels & Resorts will tempt travelers with a price as low as $49.45 per night. Now through August 15, 2008, four Rosen properties in Orlando, including Quality Inn International, Rodeway Inn International and Quality Inn Plaza, all located along International Drive, as well as Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista near Walt Disney World, are participating in this package. The hotels range in size from 315 rooms to 1,020 rooms. Kids eat free with an adult at each hotel, and swimming pools are on property for much needed downtime. This is an online offer only. Visit www.orlandohotels4less.com/cvbsummer. For more information call (877)224-5377.
Villa Deals
Wimco, a leading marketer of private villas and hotels in the Caribbean and Europe, has added a new feature on its website, which helps travelers make the most of their dollar. The website, www.wimco.com, shows the cost per bedroom, per night to provide a direct comparison with nightly hotel rates in the same destination. The “Value Villas” section compares rates in the Caribbean to demonstrate how economical it can be to stay in a villa rather than a hotel, especially for a family or a group of travelers.
Southern Comfort
Celebrating the food, drink and culture of the South, SoFAB (Southern Food & Beverage Museum) opens at New Orleans’ Riverwalk Marketplace on June 7, 2008. The first of its kind, this quirky museum focuses on menus throughout the United States that serve Southern food. The opening exhibits include the cuisine of New Orleans and Louisiana, “Eating at the White House - America’s Food” and “Wish You Were Here - Postcards from the South,” a never-before-seen collection of postcards depicting African-Americans and food. SoFAB is located at Riverwalk’s Julia Street entrance (www.southernfood.org).
Summer in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park, CA—The opening of Tioga Road on May 21 signaled the start of the season at Yosemite National Park, one of this country’s most beautiful recreational parks offering a wide variety of outdoor activities. Ansel Adams fans should include a visit to the Ansel Adams Gallery (209-372-4413; www.anseladams.com) to see his photography of Yosemite, one of his favorite subjects. In the park, rafting along the Merced River is a popular activity, especially during June and July, and you can either bring your own raft or rent one. Kayaking is allowed in the calm waters of Tenya Lake and swimming is permitted in all bodies of water except for Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. You need a valid California fishing license to fish in the park through November 15, and supplies and licenses are available at the Yosemite Village Sport Shop, Curry Mountain Shop, and at general stores in Wawona, Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows. Best advice? Take the shuttle buses to tour this vast expanse and sign up for a ranger-led tour for an inside look at the wonders of Yosemite. Details at www.nps.gov/yose.
Affordable Packages in Philly
Three hotels packages geared for busy summer travel are on offer in Philadelphia, and they include something for every age group. Philly’s More Summer Fun Hotel Package, running from May 23 through to September 7, 2008, encompasses 30 hotels. Each two-night stay includes a $50 American Express gift card. Go to www.gophila.com for booking information. The Animal Discoveries Hotel Package, geared for families, includes four tickets to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Adventure Aquarium and Ride the Ducks, plus free parking and a free shuttle ride from the Independence Visitor Center to the zoo. It’s good through November 30, 2008. The Philly Overnight Hotel Package, for two nights of the week, includes 30 plus hotels and includes free parking. Both packages are available on www.gophila.com.
Bette Midler's Stay & Play Package
The show must go on! If Bette Midler has anything to say about it, you’ll be joining her at Caesars Palace with a special Stay & Play Package available now. The centerpiece of the deal? Two VIP tickets to “The Showgirl Must Go On,” Midler’s new show in Vegas. Included in the package are a one-night stay at Caesars Palace and two complimentary drinks at the performance in preferred seating. Bette says it’s good to be a diva—and she flaunts it with style. Book on www.caesarspalace.com and for more information on the show check out http://bette.aeglive.com.
Simpsons Now in Orlando
A brand-new ride based on the irreverent Simpsons
television show opened May 15 at Universal Studios Florida. It’s
based on Krusty the Clown, the show’s cash hungry clown who sets
up a theme park called “Krustyland.” This new mega-attraction is
state-of-the art with the original stars of the show performing
the voices. The show’s producers collaborated with 20th Century
Fox television and Gracie Films as well as Universal Theme Parks
to create what is being billed as “the Ultimate Simpson experience.” Admission
to Universal Studios Florida is $71 for adults and $60 for children.
Check out www.universalstudios.com and www.simpsonsride.com for
details.
Appalachian Driving Tours
The National Geographic Society and the Appalachian Regional Commission have joined forces to release 28 unique driving tours of the Appalachian region that highlight a broad array of historical, cultural, archaeological, and scenic sites. The rich heritage of this region, which encompasses 14 states from southern New York to northern Mississippi, offers rich ground to explore this summer. Plan your trip to include a quaint inn, art tours, local music, historic sights, natural wonders, hiking, and more. A newly developed companion piece at www.visitappalachia.com includes an interactive version of the driving tours, a downloadable PDF of the map, directions for driving vacations, and links to the Appalachian State Tourism offices for additional information on lodging, dining and sight-seeing.
Campton Place Packages
Food and Wine, Shopping and Movie programs are among the packages offered in 2008 by the Taj Hotel, Campton Place, a luxury hotel near Union Square with 110 guestrooms and suites. The “What’s Up Doc?” package highlights San Francisco’s movie heritage with a private tour, a personal collection of 25 DVDs to take home, a four-course en suite dinner for eight, and two nights in a luxury suite. The “Weekend Dinner Package” includes guaranteed admission to the Vessel Lounge and an eight-course tasting menu, available through December 31, 2008 at $625 for a deluxe room and $749 for a suite. The “Shopper Stop Package” is available through June 30, 2008 and includes shipping credit and a $150 Gump’s gift card. Visit www.camptonplace.com for package details and reservations.
Sex and the City
The Mandarin Oriental announced the launch of the new “Sex and the City Celebration Package” to honor the movie’s release on May 30, 2008. The five-star hotel’s package includes a $200 gift card to Henri Bendel and a limousine tour for up to five people of the Sex and the City Hotspots by On Location Tours. The hotel’s Lobby Lounge has created irresistible drinks—the Mr. Big Martini, Miranda’s Manhattan and, of course, the Carrie Cosmo. A complimentary Sex and the City Trivia game is included in this luxury one-night package meant for die-hard fans. Check out details and availability for April 15 through December 31, 2008 at www.mandarinoriental.com or call toll-free at (866)801-8880.
Wine Lovers Alert
A five-hour drive from all major eastern American and Canadian cities, the Finger Lakes region is not just known for boating, camping and outdoor activities. It is, in fact, an impressive wine-growing area, with more than 100 award-winning wineries, unique history and natural beauty. Add to that attractions such as The Corning Museum of Glass and fine restaurants and you’ve got the recipe for a great weekend getaway. Finger Lakes Wine Country makes it easy with a new 2008 downloadable Travel Guide at www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com.
Brandywine Tour and Antique Show
Chadds Ford, PA—It’s the perfect time of year to visit the Brandywine River area, home of the famous Wyeth family of artists and site of their studio and home. The Brandywine River Museum recently reopened the Kuerner Farm here, where N.C. Wyeth painted many of his works. The N.C. Wyeth House and Studio Tour, Tuesday through Sunday, reveals the man, his art and his famous children. In the Andrew Wyeth Gallery, more than 40 works by this artist chronicle the various stages of his career, including his most recent work. Look at the Bayard and Mary Sharp Gallery to see paintings by Jamie Wyeth, Carolyn Wyeth and Henriette Wyeth. Memorial Day weekend brings the 37th Annual Brandywine Museum Antiques Show to the museum, with a wide variety of American and English furniture, folk art, quilts, glass, rugs and fine collectibles on offer. The show runs May 24 through May 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is $10. For directions and details go to www.brandywinemuseum.org.
Summer Savings
Check out the serious summer savings at the hip, urban resort and spa hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, where modern architecture and Hollywood glamour combine to provide an urban retreat. The 194-room Hotel Valley Ho Tower offers great city and mountain views. For bookings made before May 1, the summer rates are as low as $109 weekdays and $129 on weekends. There is also a “So Summer” package for $149 that includes a free drink, ten percent off a Spa visit, twenty percent off a Trader Vic’s restaurant visit as well as coupons for shopping in the area call (866)882-4484 or visit www.hotelvalleyho.com. Summer rates are good through August 31, 2008, subject to availability.
Celebrate a Hotel's 50th Anniversary
These are some special rates. How does $50 a night sound to you? That’s the 1958 room rate the 50-year-old St. Francis Hotel Inn in St. Augustine will honor on the second night of your stay with a special anniversary package (the first night runs $129 to $189, depending on the accommodation). The inn is St. Augustine’s oldest bed-and-breakfast, dating to circa 1791, and is located at the corner of St. George and St. Francis streets. It has served as a hotel for 50 years and under the present owners has revived the restaurant that once graced the inn. How about $1.75 for a T-bone steak served with French fries and a salad? All accommodations include Southern breakfast, wine and hors d’oeuvres, tickets to the St. Augustine lighthouse and Museum, and bicycles to tour the town. The rates are good August 2008 through January 2009. Go to www.stfrancisinn.com for more information.
An American Giverny
Old Lyme in Connecticut is the site of one of America’s early art colonies, which mirrored the life at Giverny in France. Now, a special exhibit, “Impressionist Giverny: American Painters in France, 1885-1915” comes to the 11-acre Florence Griswold Museum with created by American expatriate artists who worked in this small French village, inspired by the master Claude Monet. On display from May 3 through July 7, 2008, the setting could not be more perfect. The Florence Griswold House, recently reopened, was the home of artists who lived and worked together. For details on special events go to www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org.
Getting Away from it All
Gunnison-Crested Butte, CO—Summer is a great time to go fishing, and there are more than 3 million fish and hundreds of miles of scenic waterways in Colorado to enjoy the sport and the great outdoors. Gunnison-Crested Butte in southwest Colorado has more than two million acres of wilderness for hiking, biking, boating, and especially fishing along the Gunnison, East and Taylor rivers. The Three Rivers Resort in Almont (visit www.3riversresort.com) offers fly-fishing packages starting at $395 per person with two nights’ lodging in a riverfront cabin, one full day of fly-fishing instruction and fishing equipment. Gunnison County holds state records for the largest brown trout, rainbow trout and kokanee salmon, so you know the fishing is good here. The season goes from June to November. For lodging, outfitters and recreational choices visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com.
D.C. Mother's Day Special
With views of the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac Tidal Basin, who wouldn’t want to indulge in a spring package in one of Washington’s most luxurious hotels? The 400-room Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. is offering a Mother’s Day Indulgence overnight and spa package from May 1 through 31, 2008 starting at $480. You don’t have to be a mother to enjoy this package. Four hours in the Mobil Four-Star spa and you’ll be good to go to enjoy Washington’s attractions. Two Asian-inspired restaurants, Café MoZU and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen might just keep you at the Mandarin Oriental. Call (888)888-1778 or visit With views of the Jefferson Memorial and the Potomac Tidal Basin, who wouldn’t want to indulge in a spring package in one of Washington’s most luxurious hotels? The 400-room Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. is offering a Mother’s Day Indulgence overnight and spa package from May 1 through 31, 2008 starting at $480. You don’t have to be a mother to enjoy this package. Four hours in the Mobil Four-Star spa and you’ll be good to go to enjoy Washington’s attractions. Two Asian-inspired restaurants, Café MoZU and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen might just keep you at the Mandarin Oriental. Call (888)888-1778 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com for details.
Kids Club in Waikiki
Hula lessons and shoreline excursions plus a visit to the new Science Adventure Center at the Bishop Museum are just some of the fun things kids will do as part of a KeikiQuest Kids Club package on offer from June 15 to August 23, 2008 at any of the ResortQuest Hawaii’s properties in Waikiki. For $50, plus tax, per child, children (ages five through 12) can enjoy an adventure-filled day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and learn all about Hawaiian culture and the local environment under the watchful eyes of a fully trained staff. Call (866)774-2924 and visit www.ResortQuestHawaii.com for details.
Spring at Spoleto
Charleston, SC—Now is the time to purchase tickets for the 32nd season of the 17-day Spoleto Festival USA, which will be held May 23 to June 8 in Charleston, South Carolina. More than 140 dance, theater, jazz, and opera performances are scheduled in every available space, including churches, parks and theaters. Highlights this year are a ballet interpretation of Stravinky’s masterpiece "Le Sacre du Printemps," a new multimedia presentation with Laurie Anderson and "Monkey: Journey to the West," a 21st-century circus-opera based on an ancient Chinese legend and performed by 40 acrobats, vocalists and martial artists. Free events include the “Conversations” program, a series of dialogues with prominent festival artists. Ticket range from $10 to $150 and are available online at www.spoletousa.org or by calling (843)579-3100.
Thailand on a Shoestring
It’s not often you find a trip to Asia that includes airfare, so when you do it’s a good idea to follow up. Pacific Delight Tours is now offering an 11-day Bangkok, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai package to Thailand and the Golden Triangle with prices starting at $2,598, including airfare. Highlights are the bustling capital of Bangkok with visits to the King’s gilded Royal Palace complex and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Although shopping is intriguing in Bangkok, reach for your wallet when you are in the northern village of Chiang Saen near the Burmese border and in Chiang Mai’s famous night market. Details at www.pacificdelightours.com and (800)221-7179.
Alaska Cruise Package
The Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel has just introduced its 2008 Alaska Cruise Package, which offers an ideal location for cruise passengers to enjoy a layover or pre-cruise accommodation. The package includes one night of luxury accommodation, breakfast buffet for two in Cafe Pacifica, which overlooks the waterfront, and transfer to or from Ballantyne Pier or Canada Place Pier for CAD$379. For details visit www.panpacific.com.
Eco-Resort in Tucson
The largest resort in southern Arizona is also Tucson’s shining example of an eco-resort. The 575-room JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa offers only organic fresh fish in its Primo restaurant and uses natural desert plants in its Hashani Spa. Now the resort adds a water park-like amenity to its roster of guest services. A brand-new $1.5-million Lazy River oasis debuts at the end of March. With 360-degree views of downtown Tucson and the Tucson Mountain Park, it’s a unique 110-foot long, ten-minute ride down to the start of the Starr Canyon River. The resort offers an Arnold Palmer golf facility, a one-acre pool area and the new 177,000-gallon Lazy River (with heated water). Call (570)792-3500 to reach the resort directly or visit www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com.
Rare Maps and Images on View
Baltimore, MD—Space and map buffs will be excited about the double shows upcoming at the Walters Art Museum that focus on maps and space. “Maps: Finding Our Place in the World” debuts March 16, 2008 (through June 8, 2008) while “Mapping the Cosmos: Images from the Hubble Space Telescope” is scheduled through July 27, 2008. The Hubble exhibit includes beautiful images that are instrumental in tracking the cosmos and its evolutionary history. The maps exhibit is the most ambitious undertaking on this subject in America since a show was mounted 50 years ago, also in Baltimore. Expect to see rare and interesting maps, globes and artifacts. Check out details at www.thewalters.org.
Art from the Amazon
New York, NY—An unprecedented and colorful show is opening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on February 26 (through September 1, 2008) focusing on the brilliant feathers of Amazonian rain forest birds. “Radiance from the Rain Forest: Featherwork in Ancient Peru” explores the more than 2,000-year-old tradition of featherworking. This exhibit is the first in an American art museum to showcase the ritual feathers from as early as the third millennium B.C. and include high-status ornaments, grand headdresses and miniatures in wood and silver decorated with feathers made between the seventh and sixteenth centuries. These luxury materials were used by the Nasca and Inca peoples to honor their dead. The show is located in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. Check www.metmuseum.org for details.
Ancient Biblical Art
San Francisco, CA—“Treasures from the Holy Land” at the Legion of Honor through August 10, 2008 includes rotating examples of the rare Dead Sea Scroll fragments that revolutionized the study of religious history. Artifacts dating from 5,000 years ago until the eleventh century A.D. will also be on display to elucidate these times. All on are loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority and most have never been on display outside the country before. This exhibit will be the first of a series of joint shows in collaboration with the IAA. The first Dead Sea Scroll on display is from the Book of Psalms, one of the best-preserved examples of biblical text that dates from the first century A.D. Check www.famsf.org for details.
Chesapeake Connections
Maryland—Spring weather brings warmer breezes to the Chesapeake Bay area, a rich estuary system that extends almost 200 miles within 12,000 miles of tidal shoreline. Covering six states and extending through the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., the area offers a wide array of seasonal activities spanning a host of locations. Check out www.baygateways.net for excursions, activities, tours and more or call (866)229-9297 for tourism information in the bay area.
In the Know in Snow Country
Orinda, CA—A global leader for snow reports and resort information has expanded its’ international scope by expanding its information to include six European languages. OnTheSnow.com, a popular snow sports Web site visited by travelers to research and plan their ski trips, is now offering services to both European and domestic winter sports enthusiasts eager to explore snow conditions and destinations around the world. With its expansion of European content, the Web site added information on more than 1,200 ski resorts throughout Western Europe, from Norway to Greece and 25 countries in between, published in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and Norwegian. As part of the Web site’s recent enhancements, people who visit www.OnTheSnow.com to help plan their winter vacation can scan the reviews section for independently generated reports on resorts and lodging options all submitted by other visitors. The site also includes a discussion forum to post blogs and photos and maintain a community-oriented aspect to better inform potential travelers.
History along the Heritage Trail
Southwest Virginia—The Virginia Coal Heritage Trail is an official Virginia Byway that encompasses more than 300 miles of scenic roadways that travel through the core of Virginia’s coalfield region. These picturesque roads offer glimpses of a century-old culture and travel through seven counties. A Virginia Byway is a special route that gives travelers access to areas of scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, natural, or archaeological significance. Along the way, travelers can view elaborate architecture in Pocahontas and experience Dante, an early 1900s coal company town. Today’s modern coal-mining operations are on display through Buchanan County and on railroad trestles that carry coal-filled trains through the mountainous territory of the region. For a more authentic experience, visitors can venture underground into the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine, visit Natural Tunnel State Park where coal is still transported by train through a tunnel formed naturally more than a million years ago and stay at the Red Caboose Inn in Haysi. The Virginia Coal Heritage Trail features many points of interest, including several museums. For more information, visit www.Virginia.org/CoalHeritageTrail.
Landscape in the Lone Star State
Fort Worth, TX—A major mid-career retrospective of the artist Frank Gohlke is on view at the Amon Carter Museum through January 6, 2008 in the special exhibition “Accommodating Nature: The Photographs of Frank Gohlke.” A leading figure in American landscape photography, Gohlke’s pictures explore everyday life surrounded by the instability of the natural world. The exhibit contains 85 black-and-white and color photographs ranging in size and spanning the photographer’s career beginning with works that were included in the seminal 1975 “New Topographics” exhibition at George Eastman House in Rochester, New York, and continuing through projects of today. In addition to the Amon Carter Museum, whose photography collection is considered one of the largest and most important in the country, Gohlke’s work is represented in many private and public collections in such institutions as The Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. For more details, visit www.cartermuseum.org or call (817) 738-1933.
Spacious in Seattle
Seattle, WA—The Seattle Art Museum has completed a major expansion that adds an additional 118,000 square feet of new space just in time for the museum’s 75th anniversary in 2008. The new space includes galleries, public spaces, a restaurant, expanded museum store, and a spacious entryway and lobby. Approximately 2,400 objects are now on display at the museum, nearly tripling the number of works previously displayed. For the upcoming anniversary, some of the area’s most prominent art collectors and museum patrons have given gifts from their collections, totaling nearly 1,000 pieces altogether. In the near term, visitors to the museum can enjoy a special exhibit, "Japan Envisions the West: 16th – 19th Century Japanese Art from Kobe City Museum" taking place from December 1, 2007 through January 6, 2008. For additional details, visit www.seattleartmuseum.org or call (206) 654-3100.
Traveling Among the Trees
Orick, CA—Redwood Parks Lodge Company has launched Redwood Adventures Tours, offering a range of tour packages to visitors of the Redwood National and State Parks. These tours range from a one-hour "Orientation Tour" designed to inform visitors about every facet of the parks to a six-hour comprehensive and flexible "Full Day Tour" designed to provide an intimate look at the unique sites found in the four separate parks within Redwood National and State Parks. Tour packages range in price from $18 per family or group for the Orientation Tour to $135 per person for the Full Day Tour. Each tour is hosted by a certified Adventure Guide and participants receive an orientation packet for each tour. To celebrate the launch of the new company, a two-for-one special for per-person pricing is on offer as well as special rates for larger groups. For more information, visit www.redwoodadventures.com or call (866) 733-9637.
Hollywood Goes High-Tech
Hollywood, CA—The West Hollywood Convention & Visitors Bureau has recently launched a completely re-designed, cutting-edge website to the public, www.visitwesthollywood.com, serving as the premier resource for the area’s latest news and information. The new site hosts technologies that include live streaming video information, a “Hot News” column delivering breaking news directly to users’ email boxes, expanded, in-depth content detailing the history of the city along with its neighborhoods. The website also continues to host ARES, a booking engine allowing visitors to book any of West Hollywood’s 14 hotels directly online at discounted prices, an interactive 3-D map of the area, as well as content in four different languages, and a Travel Club enticing visitors to sign up for discounts on local restaurants, shops and hotels.
Pikes Peak or Bust
Cripple Creek, CO—At the forefront of the great gold rush of the late 1800s, Pikes Peak has long been a landmark attraction, recognized as the most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan’s Mount Fuji. With an existing number of distinct attractions that cover everything from panning for gold to mountain biking to whitewater rafting, visitors to the area can now look forward to the new Pikes Peak Heritage Center at Cripple Creek. The 11,600-square-foot facility allows visitors to learn about the area’s early history through interactive displays and historic photography, along with educational, hands-on exhibits that showcase the unique mountain environment. The center’s location provides for stunning views of the nearby mountain range and also serves as a hub of information for dozens of other area attractions. The center is expected to be open seven days a week and admission is free. For more details, visit www.pikes-peak.com or call (800) 225-2250.
Virginia’s World-Class Wineries
Richmond, VA—According to the July 2007 issue of Travel & Leisure magazine, Virginia is one of the top five new wine travel destinations in the world. Virginia was the only American region to be featured in the "Wine-Lover’s Guide: 5 Wine Regions to Visit Now" article, highlighting some of the world’s hottest new wine destinations. In good company with renowned wine-producing countries as Italy, Spain, Chile, and New Zealand, Virginia was also acclaimed as a complete travel destination for its many new restaurants, B&Bs and inns, in addition to its successful wineries. Virginia is home to 130 wineries and is ranked near the top in the nation for number of wine producers. To capitalize on the popularity of wine tourism, the state designates October as Virginia Wine Month each year and celebrates with special events, tastings and tours. For more information on Virginia's wineries and special events, visit www.Virginia.org/wine or call (800) 932-5827.
A Grand View of Vegas
Las Vegas—Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours has expanded their service with the addition of three new VIP Grand Canyon Helicopter tours, plus a flight along the famous Vegas Strip. VIP Grand Canyon Helicopter tours are one-day tours that give visitors an adventurous alternative to the acclaimed gaming capital by offering a true sightseeing excursion. The three tours include the VIP Floor Landing tour, VIP Air Only Tour and VIP Sunset Tour. Each tour features private limousine transportation to the McCarran Executive terminal to board a state of the art Eco-Star Jet Helicopter, where informative guides narrate the history of Las Vegas and area landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Colorado River. Visit www.lasvegasgrandcanyontour.com for more information.
A Legacy of Heroes
North Charleston, SC—Enthusiasts of firefighting history will find plenty to marvel at with a visit to the North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center. With a view towards stimulating and educating visitors, the Fire Museum features several innovative displays that include films depicting the history of firefighting, an interactive exhibit dealing with home hazards, and the Great Escape exhibit, which allows young visitors to experience flying down a fire pole and learning proper methods of fire safety. The American LaFrance collection is housed within the museum and features eighteen antique fire trucks, a hand operated fire pump and two horse-drawn steam engines dating back to the early 20th century. The Fire Museum benefits from its location near to the North Charleston Visitors Center and area shopping, as well as the Charleston International Airport. For more details about the museum, visit www.legacyofheroes.org or call (843) 740-5550.
An Archway to Ecotourism
St. Louis, MO—Several St. Louis ecotourism attractions are helping to educate visitors on how to save endangered animal and plant species, as well as teaching how to more easily help preserve the earth’s environment. At the forefront is the Missouri Botanical Garden, a 79-acre garden eco-friendly site. Within the garden is the Climatron geodesic greenhouse, where visitors can experience a lively rainforest style setting and take a close-up view at exotic plants, birds and bubbling waterfalls. The Kemper Center for Home Gardening allows visitors to discover ways to utilize their home gardens more effectively and in environmentally friendly ways. Specialty gardens demonstrate how to attract butterflies, bees and birds and the center’s "plant doctor" helps diagnose gardening problems and propose eco-safe solutions. The Missouri Botanical Garden also operates three additional eco-friendly sites—the Butterfly House, the Shaw Nature Reserve and the EarthWays Home. For additional details, call (314) 577-9400 or visit www.mobot.org.
Discover Kentucky
Frankfort, KY—The Kentucky Department of Tourism has released a new travel guide highlighting the state’s multicultural history, heritage and travel attractions. The 40-page guide provides visitors information about sites, activities and destinations that include and interpret Kentucky’s rich multicultural legacy. In addition to the guide, a special Web site has been created at www.kentuckytourism.com, which also allows visitors to tell the story of their cultural heritage. The guide spotlights various cultural tourism destinations throughout the Commonwealth, including Mantle Rock, Cherokee State Resort Park, Kentucky’s involvement in the “Underground Railroad,” and profiles of famous Kentuckians such as Mary Britton, the first African American physician in Lexington and Isaac Burns Murphy, the first three-time winning jockey of the Kentucky Derby. To request a copy of the Multicultural Tourism Guide, visit www.KentuckyTourism.com.
Ready for Liftoff
Kennedy Space Center, FL—Thrill seekers and
would-be space travelers will find a true-to-life experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The "Shuttle Launch
Experience" was designed by NASA and a
team of astronauts to create an authentic simulation that takes
guests on a journey to experience an actual Space Shuttle launch
into orbit. Everything from the gantry-styled walkway, to step-by-step
launch sequence is faithfully recreated to bring the experience
to life. Images of the Shuttle on the launch pad, close-ups of the
main engines igniting and the view back down to Earth during ascent
are shown through a combination of screens that move up and down
via robotic arms enhanced with atmospheric, sound and lighting effects.
The $60-million, 44,000-square-foot Shuttle Launch Experience serves
as the centerpiece of a $160-million, 10-year redevelopment plan
to transform Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex into a place where
all of NASA's activities around the world can be experienced. To
learn more, visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com
or call (321) 449-4444.
From
Citrus Groves to Orange County
Orlando, FL—Visitors to Central Florida can
experience the region's emergence from a small town surrounded by
citrus groves and cattle ranches to the tourist Mecca it's become
today at the Orange County Regional History Center. Housed in a
restored historic five-story 1927 county courthouse, the museum
showcases collections of historical artifacts that allow viewers
to look back to the first Indian settlement through to the modern
inhabitants. Interactive presentations and hands-on exhibits are
used throughout the museum's four floors, highlighting such topics
as the location's natural environment, the first settlers, Central
Florida's first major economic enterprises, and the impact of Walt
Disney World. Located in the center of downtown Orlando, the museum
is open seven-days-a-week and offers guided tours on Saturdays.
For more information, visit www.thehistorycenter.org
or call (407) 836-8500.
"Caching" On To a Clever Tourism Strategy
Little Rock, AR—Embracing the fast-growing
hobby of geocaching, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
is inviting participants to its "Cache in with The Natural State"
program. Geocaching is a game in which people use Global Positioning
Systems to pinpoint spots on the earth where treasures are hidden.
Cache locations can range from deep wooded areas to city parks to
urban locales. Caches are stashed all over the world by individuals
or groups and the location of each one is marked with GPS coordinates,
which are shared via the Internet. Geocachers use a hand-held GPS
unit in their search. Launched in January 2007, the Arkansas geocaching
program finds new caches in locations throughout the state. Coordinates
for the caches will be released on www.Arkansas.com
and at www.arkgeocaching.org.
The treasures in the caches will reflect the offerings of Arkansas,
from lodging to restaurants to businesses and manufacturers. Each
will contain a different range of items, most of which will represent
the region in which the cache is located. For coordinates and geocaching
details, go to www.geocaching.com.
The official website provides information on caches in Arkansas
and around the world.
Discover a Full Day of Family Fun
Orlando, FL—Discovery Cove, a tropical retreat
where visitors can swim with dolphins and spend the day with their
favorite sea life, has now been made an all-inclusive destination
where guests can take part in every attraction the park has to offer.
The all-inclusive admission packages allow participants to choose
from among the dolphin-swim package, non-dolphin package or Trainer
for a Day. Discovery Cove also features snorkeling activities among
tropical fish and rays, hand-feeding exotic birds and relaxing on
the beaches. The reservations-only adventure limits attendance and
includes a full day of interactive activities, parking, plus a seven-day
pass to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. For
more information, visit www.DiscoveryCove.com
or call (877) 4-DISCOVERY. Prices vary seasonally.
Taking Flight in Tennessee
Pigeon Forge, TN—The Helicopter
Headquarters is an interactive facility, which highlights the history
of flight by way of visual displays and historical elements that
include more than 10 different full-size helicopters. The 25,000-square-foot,
multi-million dollar facility allows visitors to trace the history
of helicopter aviation by exploring the aircraft's role in history,
from world conflicts to Hollywood scenes. For all-ages fun, Helicopter
Headquarters provides Cybercopter Sims, placing visitors right at
the controls, where they may choose from a variety of free flight
missions through a virtual landscape. The museum is also home to
Scenic Helicopter Tours, which offer guests an aerial tour over
the nearby Smoky Mountains. For more information call (865) 429-2929
or visit www.helihq.com.
Philadelphia in the Palm of your Hand
Philadelphia, PA—Travelers to the City of Brotherly
Love may find plenty to love about the latest tour options for the
independent-minded visitor. Made available by The Greater
Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) and The Pew Charitable
Trusts, are a series of free, completely mapped and customizable
audio tours to help travelers get a feel for the city. Specific
points of reference and recreational activities are also highlighted.
Anyone with an interest in the city can access the tours through
their home computer and download them onto their portable iPod or
MP3 player to listen to a number of interesting accounts, fun facts
and narrative music designed to convey the true Philadelphia experience.
To learn more, visit www.soundaboutphilly.com.
Cultural Immersion and Cost Savings
Santa Fe, NM—Visitors to New Mexico's numerous
and diverse family of state-run museums can benefit from the one-ticket
pass recently introduced by the New Mexico Department of Cultural
Affairs. The New Mexico CulturePass allows the purchaser one-time
visits to each of the eight museums and six monuments that are funded
and operated by the State of New Mexico. The $20 pass is valid for
one year from date of first use and is available to both New Mexico
residents and tourists. The price represents more than a 50 percent
savings if all 14 museums and monuments are visited. The CulturePass
is being sold at all state museums and monuments on the department's
website, www.newmexicoculture.org
as well as the Tourism Department's visitor centers.
Hollywood's First "Home"
Santa Barbara, CA—While most people recognize
Hollywood as the birthplace of the movie star, few may realize there
was another Southern California location that preceded it. Home
to California's first major movie studio, Flying "A" Studios, in
1910, Santa Barbara was the original "Hollywood." In the early days
of cinematic history, the city's ideal climate and background served
the up and coming industry well for more than 1,000 films between
1912 and 1921, and has since set the scenes for the likes of The
Ten Commandments (1923) and The Graduate (1967), as well
as hundreds of features all benefiting from the region's rich locale.
Aside from being a popular location for film production, Santa Barbara
is also home to a thriving film and creative community that hosts
many festivals, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Visit www.santabarbarafilmtour.com
for more information about the city's historic landmarks and the
many film tours available.
"Freedom" in the Front Row
Gettysburg, PA—One of America's most famous
sites is offering visitors the chance to relive history during a
pivotal period in our nation's history by way of the unique "Fields
of Freedom" attraction. A highlighted feature in the new Gateway
Gettysburg development, "Fields of Freedom" is a 30-minute movie
that retells the story of the climactic battle of July 3, 1863,
the third and decisive day of fighting in Gettysburg. The state-of-the-art
documentary was shot on location in Hagerstown, Maryland and was
created by an Emmy Award-winning production team to enhance the
true to life experience. The theaters at Gateway Gettysburg offer
a viewer-friendly experience that includes rocking chair seats and
plenty of walking and viewing space between and above rows. Gateway
Gettysburg is located adjacent to the historic site of the famous
Civil War battle and offers visitors choices in lodging, dining,
shopping, and entertainment. To learn more, visit www.gatewaygettysburg.com.
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