Traveler's
USA
Notebook
Your guide to travel news, discoveries, delights and pleasures
Welcome travelers! Welcome professional travel journalists! Welcome Mensa members! Welcome TATLER readers! Welcome human rights activists! Welcome vegetarians! Welcome hipsters, hustlers, high-rollers, hyphenated scenesters, and the whole EU! Wilkommen, bienvenue, baby! We invite you to eavesdrop on tips and tales that professional travel writers like to swap with each other. But shhh . . . don't tell a soul.
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Myrtle Beach:
On
the Grand Strand
Come
for the golf ... it's awesome. But Myrtle Beach has a far more powerful attraction...the priceless one: the Great Water. [more]
A fresh look at some welcoming destinations.
Bright lights! New York City! Curtain Up! The reviews are in. Spotlight on Gypsy, South Pacific, Sunday in the Park With George, Straight Up With a Twist, The 39 Steps and New Jerusalem.
The solar system on $10,000 a day. The astrology of travel.
There's travel fever . . .and then there's travel fever
Good taste in good taste and it's vegetarian.
Editor:
Traveler's USA Notebook |
The News
Cool hotels; hot restaurants; deals, sights, sites & more
U.S. Road warriors, wayfarers and other assorted wanderers, searching for that
healthy edge, will find some help at Hilton Garden Inn (HGI). Starting
on 1 September, the chain will offer its "Big Day Breakfast."
It seems that HGI enlisted Top Chef star/athlete (that's how they
describe him)
Chris Jacobsen to
come up with a healthy breakfast, high in protein and energy.
The centerpiece, “Hearty Hash,” is really a reimagined eggs benedict
minus the hollandaise sauce.
Grilled whole grain bread replaces the English muffin.
Instead of Canadian bacon, carnivores get brisket hash and
vegetarians get tofu (we hope they will change that to MorningStar Farms
bacon or patty).
And there
are greens (usually Kale).
Poached egg goes on top. Also on this menu are “CJ’s Signature Waffle”
– HGI’s“Many
Grain” Waffle with blueberry thyme compote — and
Great Granola & Flax
(granola and flaxseed parfait with plain yogurt, fresh strawberries and
honey).
You may think you're getting breakfast — and you are — but actually, you are really getting a goodly supply of iron, fiber, omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients. The idea is to give you plenty of energy and stamina to carry you through your big day. Prices obviously vary around the country. (The range is $7.99-14.99.) Other dishes will follow.
New York
Water Taxi, a New York ferry and tour operator, is offering an
“unofficial” tour of the
The New York City
Waterfalls. Said “waterfalls” is
a public art installation
created by
Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and
commissioned by the Public Art Fund and running through 23 October of
this year. (It opened this past 26 June), The art project is a set of four 90 to 120-foot-
manmade waterfalls, each located near a bridge that spans
the East River. It’s a wonderful excuse to go on a Water Taxi tour, and
that’s what Traveler did.[more]
New York
As Don Draper would say
-- why be like the rest when you
can stand out from the rest?
Which brings us to the
news that
Beverly Hills
Rent-A-Car has opened its first East Coast branch and is located smack
dab in New York City.
The
car rental agency believes that some people like a bit of and swagger as
a tool about town.
Their
customers don't just arrive on the scene.
They like to feel they make the scene.
Hence Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car Manhattan includes in its stock
such automotive wonders as a purple Rolls-Royce, a ‘59 Cadillac
convertible, an Aston Martin Vanquish Lexus RX 400 hybrid, Toyota Prius
and a yellow Lamborghini.
The West Coast-based firm already has branches in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix. For more information, click here
.
Gettysburg, What was life like for civilians during the Battle of Gettysburg?
Since 1996,
the answer has been provided by the Shriver House Museum, a restored
building whose Civil War era occupants were stuck in the middle of the
great conflict.
The museum has just released a
book — The Shrivers’ Story – Eyewitnesses
to the Battle of Gettysburg by Nancie W.
and Del Gudmestad. Ms. Gudmestad has been the museum director since its
opening.
The book chronicles the lives of the Shriver family and their house — particularly during the Battle of Gettysburg. It us a unique preparation for anyone who might be visiting the battle site, as well a memento for those who already have made the pilgrimage. For more information, click here.
Boston Speaking of lovers, the various Hilton hotels in Boston are offering a “Pop the Question” package. As its name suggests, the package helps interrogatively-challenged swains propose to their sweethearts. You provide the lovey and Hilton provides the setting, atmosphere, and blandishments. Participating hotels are the Hilton Boston Back Bay (mention code NR), Hilton Boston Logan Airport (code NR), Doubletree Club Hotel Boston-Bayside (code {POP), Doubletree Hotel Boston-Downtown (mention code MEE) and Doubletree Guest Suites Boston (code POP). The one magical night package’s enticements are accommodations for two in the Presidential Suite (or equivalent), total pampering, a bit of the bubbly and fine chocolates in-room, private limousine service, dinner for two at the spectacular Top of the Hub Restaurant in the scenic Back Bay, in-room flower-petal turndown service, hotel buffet or a la carte breakfast for two the following morning and late check out. Although one can’t really put a price on such a romantic madcap adventure, the package starts at $1,650.00 plus tax per couple, and will be available throughout the year.
Contact individual hotels to book. Hilton Boston Back Bay - 617.236.1100 ; Hilton Boston Logan Airport - 617.568.6700; Doubletree Hotel Boston-Downtown - 617.956.7900; and Doubletree Guest Suites Boston/Waltham - 781.890.6767
.
The
World
In 2009, Amadeus Waterways has a cruise schedule
that offers selection of 17 vacation programs in Europe, Russia,
Portugal and Egypt. Joining the Amadeus fleet in 2009 are the MS Amalyra
in March and MS Amadolce Among the travel opportunities are a Paris to
Prague journey
that takes you along the Mosel and Main
River from Trier to Nuremberg. Or you can cruise Provence and Spain and
Portugal’s Douro River Valley. Those who book by 30 September, 2008 will
receive a 5% Early Booking Discount. For details about the various
cruises, call 800.626.0126 or click
here.
USA
This may be the Year Of The Rat on the Chinese calendar; but to
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) members, this is the “Year
Of The Frog.” Jumping off point for the “Year Of The Frog.”
is 29 February, “Leap Day. Yes, it’s Leap Year. Celebrations and
events will take place at zoos and aquariums all across the country.
There’s a serious side to all this. The AZA wants to promote amphibian
conservation. The organization notes that extinction threatens about
one-third of the world’s amphibians. To learn more about amphibians and
frogs “Year Of The Frog” events, click
here.
Hemiphractus fasciatus
©Paul Crump
Washington, D.C. The storied St. Regis, Washington, D.C. reopened on 21 January after a 16-month renovation. Long known as a stately luxury hotel, the D.C. St. Regis is now a
modern stately luxury
hotel. New features include wireless Internet, 32" LCD
television, DVD player, Pratesi linens and Remède Spa products. Bathroom
devotees will get a special kick out of the 15-inch LCD television,
installed behind the bathroom mirror. permitting images to be projected
onto a screenless surface. Of course, the public spaces, as well as the
room interiors have been given a makeover. Sumptuous materials and
custom furnishings create an aura of luxury.
The renovation reduced the room
count from 193 to 175, while adding 11 sumptuous suites. As with all
properties under the St. Regis umbrella, the special, pampering,
attentive butler service is available here.
For more info, call 202.638-2626 or click here.
san Diego North
See San Diego North from the point of view of an insider. Okay. An
insider who also happens to be a civic booster. The San Diego North
region, which defines itself as the 2,000 square-mile resort region of
San Diego, has just released the 2008 San Diego North Travel Planning
and Conference Guide. Despite its official status as a tool for
conference planners, this 176-page resource will serve the casual
visitor quite well. The book is loaded with information about the area’s
coastal, valley, mountain and desert attractions. It offers tips, lists
events and describes the various ins and outs and special perks and pleasures of San Diego North.
"Insider tips and itinerary ideas such as the best places to stargaze, hike, or discover hidden beaches along the San Diego North coastline add a valuable, customized and memorable experience for the visitor," said Cami Mattson, President and CEO of the San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau.
To get your copy, call 800.848.3336 or click here.
Ocho Rios Couples Ocho Rios is getting a facelift and will be closed between 1 April and 15 December. The $15 million renovation to Jamaica's first couples only resort will spruce up virtually all areas of the haven. In addition to renewing lobby, spa, restaurant and pool, the management will add 20 ocean view accommodations— four suites and 16 rooms. Additions to the property include a new wedding gazebo, veggie and juice bar, pool grill, spa with 10 treatment rooms, swim-up pool bar and new dive pool, gym, aerobics room, photo shop, gift shop, games room, and a floating dock at Tower Isle, Couples Ocho Rios’ own private island. If you've already booked a stay at Couples Ocho Rios during the closed period, you will be offered a booking. At one of the resort's three sister properties (Couples Sans Souci, Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril) plus you will get a certificate entitling you to two complimentary nights at Couples Ocho Rios from April 1 – December 15, 2009. Those who decline this alternative will be offered a full refund. For more information, call 1-800-COUPLES or click here.
USA Maybe it's a coincidence. Now that travelers are renewing their interest in railroad travel, especially along the Northeast corridor, Amtrak and Chase have teamed up to present a new affinity credit card -- -- the Amtrak Guest Rewards World MasterCard. As you swipe your way to happiness with this card, you get two points for every dollar spent on Amtrak and one point for every dollar spent on any other card purchase. There's a 5000 point bonus upon the first use of the card. You also can exchange points for free Amtrak trips, hotel stays, car rentals and gift certificates. For more information call 888.58.AMTRAK.
