High Altitude Luxury at Deer Valley

December 27, 2011

 

If you’re looking for splendor in the snow this season, the Montage Residences inDeer Valley, Utah—one of North America’s top ski resorts–could satisfy your every need to be housed in a winter wonderland.

 

Part of the acclaimed Montage hotel chain known for its luxurious properties in Beverly Hills and Laguna Beach, the Deer Valley locale has been open just a year.

 

The private residences are new. Prospective buyers got a preview at a recent event at Montage B.H., a virtual tour of prime mountain real estate, courtesy of noted New York designer Philip Gorrivan and Alison Pincus, co-founder of One Kings Lane, an online home furnishings store, who collaborated on the innovative design of the residence being showcased during a feative cocktail event. Among the attendees mixing, mingling, oohing and ah-ing: Maria Shriver.

 

Some of the unique features of the two-story home—one of about 80 on the property– include custom artwork and furnishings, including a 10-foot dining room banquette, a bright orange four-bed bunk in the kids room, bronze “tree branch” chandeliers in the master bedroom, and gracing the area above the living room fireplace, a specially commissioned oil painting by San Francisco artist Ann Rea perfect for the environs, called “Dreamy Aspens.”  

“Their inventive interiors show how a gracious mountain home can easily accommodate the most active and informal of lifestyles in harmony with striking design elements in art, furnishings and more,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, CEO and founder, Montage Hotels & Resorts. “All of our 81 private residences offer access to every luxury hotel service and amenity. But this one-of-a-kind home, with two floors of great design and dramatic views of pristine terrain, is custom-made for memorable retreats with friends and family for years to come. ”

 

If you can’t purchase the 3,471-square-foot home, you can scoop up some of its furnishings from One Kings Lane (www.onekingslane.com ), which will be selling items that are part of or inspired by the exclusive Montage Deer Valley residence online in January 2012.

 

“We were given a stunning shell in a gorgeous destination and it’s a unique exercise to reinvent how a contemporary resort home in the mountains can look and function,” said Pincus. “Through this design, we hope to embody the beauty of Montage DeerValleyand to bring the essence of this special location to all One Kings Lane shoppers. Only one lucky family will live in the home, but many on One Kings Lane will have the chance to reinterpret the design schematic in their own home.”

 

The New York-based Gorrivan, who has been visiting Park Cityfor more than 25 years, is known for interpreting classic spaces with unexpected style.

 

The luxurious home includes a great room, a dining room, den, gourmet kitchen, three bedrooms, three five-fixture stone bathrooms and three private balconies on two floors. Special features include rustic cherry millwork, hand-scraped walnut plank flooring, coffered ceilings and fireplaces with limestone surrounds in the living room and master bedroom. South and west exposures offer beautiful natural light and of course, stunning views of  the nearby ski runs.

 

The new residents of the property won’t have to look far for anything else they might need. They’ll be provided full access to the Montage DeerValley’s resort services and amenities, including residential concierge services, spa services, private ski instruction and DeerValleyski ticketing on site.

 

There’s also a residential concierge team that can arrange grocery shopping and housekeeping, assist with travel plans or entertaining, and make all activity bookings. The family will also enjoy signing privileges in all of the resort’s restaurants and the beautiful Spa Montage and can participate in a series of year-round activities.

 

The kids will also have plenty to do, as children can join in custom adventures designed just for them at the resort’s exclusive children’s club, Paintbox.

 

For more information: www.montageresidencesdeervalley.com

Filed Under: Domestic, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Blowing a Hole in the Southwest Airlines Ethos of Jet Travel

April 11, 2011

Southwest Airlines: a no fly zone

Let me count the ways in which I hate Southwest Airlines, especially in light of the fact that they don’t maintain their old, beat to hell, over-used jets very well, apparently outsourcing that to a company in Brazil. The passengers and crew on board the flight from Phoenix to Sacramento that blew a hole in the roof were very lucky to have survived the ordeal as well as they did.

Credit the pilot –a junior Sully Sullenberger– with successfully landing the old Boeing 737 at an Air Force base in Yuma, Arizona.  But knowing Southwest, aside from getting the passengers on another plane to their destination, probably did nothing else for them, except possibly hand out some bags of peanuts and pretzels– or maybe mini Ritz crackers–if they were really lucky.

Because Southwest is and has always been extremely lax in customer service and any amenities whatsoever.  People who have been flying for a long time say that in the olden days, while all of the other airlines offered hot meals even on short flights, Southwest had no food on any of its flights–but yet free liquor– resulting in an atmosphere on board like a honky-tonk bar with a lot of drunks livening up the proceedings.  They wouldn’t even brew pots of coffee, instead handing out packets of Sanka—if anyone remembers that stuff–and a cup of hot water to passengers.

The planes still have that dingy, dated, down on their luck feel to them.  But what’s most objectionable is the fact that Southwest has never and apparently never will offer seat assignments.  What is the charm of standing up at the airport gate waiting to get on a short hop Southwest flight to get a “good” seat?  It’s an annoying pain in the ass, especially for business travelers.

We have never understood this concept.  Is it that expensive to add software to their reservations system that would give customers the seat assignment when they buy a ticket? There’s absolutely no point to the cattle call nature of their boarding process, even “improved” now with A, B and C boarding lines.

Here’s what happened on board the last Southwest flight I took, which was from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, a route Southwest has a near monopoly on with its many nonstops daily.  (Thankfully, other airlines–United and American–have entered the market, but have very limited flights.) Somehow I managed to get a front row aisle seat– the better to get out of there as quickly as possible upon landing.  Ordering a Coca-Cola, and looking forward to reading a new hardcover book I had bought for the journey, I couldn’t find a tray table, which normally would be in the armrest. Hmmm. So I called the flight attendant over and asked her where the tray table was for my seat.  She told me there was none, and then added in a very condescending tone.  “Ma’am, this is a no-frills airline.”  I shot right back: “Ma’am, $378 between LA and Albuquerque is not a no-frills fare.”

Because that’s another thing I hate about Southwest.  The fares are NOT cheap.  Sure, they may offer a couple teasers, but you have to jump through hoops to get any sort of what could be considered “cheap” fares to anywhere they fly in the West and Southwest. And what you might save in money, you’ll waste in time, waiting for a seat at the gate.

But back to my story.  I was not about to take this lying down, or as it were, sitting up, without a tray table.  So I wrote a letter to the president of Southwest Airlines and enclosed my flight receipt which showed the amount of fare that I paid, which was more than a coast-to-coast ticket on a legacy carrier.  I got back a page-and-a-half long letter making excuses about why there was no tray table at the seat– and the capper was a $25 gift certificate was enclosed.  Gee, thanks Southwest Airlines, that really will go a long way to win my loyalty to your airline.  Are you kidding?

As a matter of fact, I plan on never flying it again, because I’ve always hated nearly every single element of the experience.  And now with the safety hazards of overusing old jets exposed, I will do anything possible to stay away from Southwest, including paying more to fly another carrier–where presumably I will have a seat assignment, a tray table and a professional environment on board.

Filed Under: Domestic, Travel Tagged With:

What Happens to Your Stuff in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

March 26, 2011
The Vegas Box allows you to leave stuff there for your next trip

Most people go to Las Vegas for just a short time, so there is not normally a need to bring check-in luggage.  That is, unless you want to bring your favorite bottle of shampoo, a big can of shaving cream or a spare bottle of tequila.

Now there’s a way of doing that and sparing the hassle and expense of carting your liquids back and forth.  It’s the newly launched Vegas Box, and it allows you to leave all your toiletries, and anything else you might not want to pack again, in a container that can be left with the bell captain at your hotel.

Then, when you come back to Sin City, you simply have it delivered and voila, there is all your stuff — suntan lotion, bubble bath — whatever your heart desires, without you having to buy it again when you have ample supplies of the stuff at home.

The containers are kept in a secure, climate-controlled warehouse in the Las Vegas area and are insured up to $100—so don’t leave anything really valuable in there. The Vegas Box costs $99 per year and comes with dividers, security locks and two deliveries.  Additional deliveries cost $20.

“As a Las Vegas visitor, you are likely to have leftover items such as aerosols, body lotion, face wash, contact solution, hair products, nail polish remover or alcoholic beverages that you will throw away or be forced to pay to check your back on your return home,” said Gena Marler, co-founder of The Vegas Box. “If you visit Vegas just twice a year, the Vegas Box pays for itself and makes traveling so much more convenient and easy without the cost of a checked bag and hassle of transporting these items back and forth.”

For trade show visitors, it’s also a great idea, and the container can store up to 70 pounds of material.

Motto is, go to town—bring it—and then leave it.

More info at www.thevegasbox.com
Filed Under: Domestic, Travel Tagged With: ,

It Isn’t Just the Luck of the Irish, It’s the Beauty, the History and the Hospitality

March 22, 2011

A bucolic view in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

They say that Irish eyes are smiling, and so are those of people from other cultures who have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Emerald Isle.

The St. Patrick’s Day season is the perfect time to take a look at planning a visit.  And for us, well, we’re excited about a return trip after an incredible week-long journey through Northern Ireland.

We arrived in Belfast on an overnight Continental Airlines flight from Newark international Airport.  Continental is the only airline offering nonstop service to Belfast from the East Coast.

Warm, Irish-style hospitality was the first thing to greet us as we checked into The Europa Hotel on Great Victoria Street. Although our rooms weren’t ready, we were comfortably ensconced in an upstairs piano bar and plied with coffee, orange juice and scones as we waited—tended to by courteous service from the staff. 

Lunch at Belfast's Mourne Seafood Bar

Who had time to sleep when there was so much to see and do, starting, naturally, with lunch, because we had to get on the local schedule right away.  We were directed to the nearby Mourne Seafood Bar, which reminded us of a restaurant you might find in New York’s East Village or Soho, and dove into a delicious bouillabaisse-style seafood soup brimming with plump mussels, oysters and new potatoes. 

Scrumptious dessert at the Fitzwilliam Hotel

After a brisk walk back to the hotel, we caved in to jet lag from the redeye flight and decided to take a brief respite before getting ready for dinner at the acclaimed Fitzwilliam Hotel, just several blocks away from the Europa.

No story about Northern Ireland would be complete without mentioning “the troubles,” which have long since died down, but are very fresh in people’s memories and still a topic of conversation.  We were told that the Europa was the most bombed hotel in Belfast.  But rest assured there is absolutely no evidence of that these days.

Dinner at the second floor restaurant of the Fitzwilliam was lovely, with the main course being a beautiful piece of grilled salmon.  The hotel is ultra-modern and sleek and downstairs is a lively, upscale bar, where we couldn’t resist having a nightcap.

The grave of Ireland's revered St. Patrick

The next morning we hit the road to County Downpatrick and toured the St. Patrick’s Centre, with its magnificent history, telling the story of Ireland’s patron saint and exploring his ancient and modern legacy.  State of the art multimedia displays are used to recall the saint’s story in his own words.  It’s quite the educational experience, with tours of local schoolchildren passing through the beautiful cathedral and its grounds, where St. Patrick’s grave is enshrined.

The picturesque, seaside Slieve Donard

Our next stop was checking in at the historic Slieve Donard, a magnificent Victorian seaside hotel in a quaint town at the foot of the Mourne Mountains that boasts a unique spa nearby, called Soak Seaweed. And that’s exactly what you do there, soak in a bath of seaweed, rich with minerals and warm sea water that detoxifies your body and enriches your skin, leaving you feeling like a million bucks—or pounds, as is the currency in Northern Ireland. The treatment is completed with an invigorating freshwater jet spa shower.  After that you’re ready for anything.

It made us hungry, and so it was on to dinner at the Slieve’s splendid dining room.  You soon learn that the cuisine of Northern Ireland is based on the bounty of products farmed locally. The beef, lamb, chicken and fish that we tried were outstanding.  If you’re a vegetarian, you’ll be quite pleased with the quality of the options available from locally-grown produce.

The Slieve is also known as a premier golf hotel, sitting right next to the acclaimed links of the Royal County Down course, and other golf courses are within easy driving distance.

On the road again for Newcastle, we stopped at the Priory Cottages, where craftspeople ply their trades and sell their handiwork to visitors.  We saw potters spinning pieces on their wheels and basket weavers using local reeds at this unique arts center.

Golf country at Lough Erne

Scotland may be better known as a golfer’s paradise, but Northern Ireland is a close runner-up—exemplified by the magnificent championship courses at Lough Erne resort in Fermanagh outside Enniskillen. The grounds offer some of the best scenery you’ll find, from verdant hills to craggy coastline. Brush up on your game at the Nick Faldo Golf Academy here before hitting the beautiful greens.

The resort, set on its very own 600 acre peninsula, between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne, boasts five-star accommodations, with 120 rooms and suites, and gourmet dining at its Catalina restaurant. There are four other casual dining options on the property. When you’re not golfing, you can swim, soak, relax and get massaged at the Thai spa.

The outdoor museum at the Ulster American Folk Park

From the luxurious present to the hardships of the past, the next day brings a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park, an incredible indoor/outdoor living museum that tells the story of Irish emigration to America during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

You’ll travel back to those times in a replica of a town, complete with a bank, printing press and a general store with goods sold during the period. The foliage-filled grounds feature thatched roof homes adorned with period furniture and china with informative park stewards dressed in period costumes.

One such building on the museum grounds is the Fulton Stone House. It was the home of Samuel Fulton, who emigrated from County Donegal in Ireland in the early 1700s to settle in the township of Donegal Springs in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Acquired in 1997, the house was dismantled stone by stone and shipped to the museum, where it was rebuilt and furnished with artifacts from the era.

The Folk Park also allows visitors to experience the cramped conditions on an emigrant sailing ship and the log cabins on the American Frontier. Be sure to leave ample time to visit this, one of Northern Ireland’s national museums.

The memorial to the victims of Bloody Sunday

We experienced more history in the city of Derry, or Londonderry, taking a guided tour of the 17th century city walls, built between 1614 and 1619, which are almost perfectly preserved, and provide a 360-degree view of the city and surrounding countryside.

Derry was the site of the infamous 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, commemorated by U2 in its song “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” It’s a must to visit the memorial to the 14 unarmed civilians who were killed in the shootings when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights rally in the Bogside area of the city.

Massive murals on nearby buildings also commemorate key players of the troubles between Protestants and Catholics, which began in the late 1960s and still reverberate to this day.

A small portion of the stunning ruins of Dunluce Castle

But politics are pushed to the backseat as one travels the Causeway Coastal Route, a breathtaking scenic journey through picturesque hills, waterfalls and cliffs. You’re back in the 16th century again at the medieval Dunluce Castle, a series of awe-inspiring roofless ruins perched 100 feet above the sea atop a basalt rock cliff on the north Antrim coast. When it was built, the castle was an impressive stronghold fit for a king. Local legend has it that part of the castle fell into the sea one night in 1639, taking with it the kitchen and some guests gathered for a wedding.

A natural wonder not to be missed: The Giant's Causeway

Onward to another spectacular site: The Giant’s Causeway, declared a World Heritage Site in 1986 because of its outstanding geology. As a result of volcanic activity 60 million years ago, 38,000 columns remain its legacy today. Most of them are hexagonal, and the tallest stand about 36 feet high. Many of the formations have been named due to their shapes and their part in the legend of Giant Finn MacCool, who, as the story goes, created the causeway as a challenge to his Scottish rival, Benandonner.

You’ll want to walk across some of the stones, but be careful because they’re uneven and waves break on them, creating slippery conditions. There’s also the possibility of falling rocks from the cliffs.  The entire area, named the fourth greatest natural wonder in the UK,  is a protected habitat for local wildlife and birds and is the most-visited attraction in Northern Ireland.

Sip the fine Irish whiskey at its source

Speaking of attractions, it’s amazing we’ve gotten this far without mentioning famous Irish whiskey, and that’s what you’ll enjoy in the nearby town of Bushmills, home of a renowned distillery—the oldest licensed one in Ireland, going back to 1608. But whiskey was made in this region for at least a century before that, and the art of distillation has been passed down through the generations, reflecting the commitment and passion for whiskey-making in this region.

Whiskeys produced at Old Bushmills are made from the finest natural ingredients—barley, malt, yeast and pure, clear water. Unlike Scotch, there is no smoky peaty taste in these brews. The ingredients are fermented, distilled three times and then matured in oak casks, stored for years in dark, aromatic warehouses where the master distiller regularly assesses the taste. When he’s happy, he assembles precise quantities from different casks in large vats, which are then allowed to marry for awhile before the final process, bottling.

Although the entire process is quite visual, no photography is allowed inside the distillery.

An exclusive blend is available only to visitors of the distillery, the Reserve 12 Year Old Single Irish Malt Whiskey, which can be personalized with a special label. Tasting flights are also available to visitors, so one can compare Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey of various ages.

We recommend lunch at Tartine at the Distillers Arms nearby. Choose from entrees including roast cod with tempura langoustines, juniper marinated venison and saltimbocca of chicken with fusilli pasta. If you have room for dessert, go for the yummy Baileys crème brulee with shortbread and mixed berry compote or the sticky toffee pudding with honeycomb ice cream.

Country charm at Bushmills Inn

In keeping with the distillery theme, there’s no more charming place to stay in town than Bushmills Inn on Main Street, a lovely country inn that features a top-notch restaurant and cozy bar.

Visit the birthplace of the ocean liner that sailed into history

It’s time to leave the country for the city and our much-anticipated stay at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast. But first, a don’t-miss excursion to the Titanic Dock and Pump House. Yes, this is the place where the infamous White Star Liner was built, and where you will see the only intact piece of the great ship’s legacy. Inside the century-old pump house is a visitor center with a full audio-visual experience that takes you through the history of shipbuilding in Belfast from the 1600s to the launch of the Titanic.

Unchanged since 1911, you’ll experience the sheer physical size of the Titanic. As they like to say in these parts, “She was alright when she left here.” Two sister ships were designed, built and launched from right here as well. Charter boat tours of the docks are also available.

Inside the Merchant Hotel, luxury abounds

We had one final night to spend in Belfast, and were thrilled that it was at the Merchant Hotel, probably the only place in the world that blends sleek Art Deco modernity and Victorian grandeur. There are two wings, housing guests in 5-star luxury in each of those two very distinct styles, depending on your taste, your mood—and how booked your first choice is. We had a Victorian suite outfitted with luxe period furniture and lighting, with beautiful bay windows overlooking the street.

The Merchant's main bar, a Belfast hotspot

Located in the heart of Belfast’s historic Cathedral District, the Merchant’s amenities include a rooftop spa—and there’s nothing like hanging out in a sauna with a view of the city—plus a fabulous jazz bar, Bert’s, that’s one of the city’s hotspots, along with a renowned restaurant, the Great Room, where you can dine under a magnificent, huge Irish crystal chandelier. This hotel has it all.

Contacts:

Europa Hotal

http://www.hastingshotels.com/europa-belfast

Saint Patrick Centre

53A Lower Market Street

Downpatrick

BT30 6LZ

T: +00 44 (0) 28 4461 9000

W: www.saintpatrickcentre.com

Down Cathedral & St Patrick’s Grave

English Street

Downpatrick

T: +00 44 (0) 28 4461 4922

W: www.downcathedral.org

Slieve Donard Resort & Spa

www.hastingshotels.com/slieve-donard-resort-and-spa

Lough Erne Resort

www.lougherneresort.com

Ulster American Folk Park

http://www.nmni.com/uafp

Guided Walking Tour of the 17th Century Derry City Walls & St Columb’s Cathedral

www.derryvisitor.com

Dunluce Castle

87 Dunluce Road
Bushmills
County Antrim
BT57 8UY

T: + 44 (0) 28 2073 1938
W: www.ehsni.gov.uk

Old Bushmills Distillery

The Distillery
2 Distillery Rd, Bushmills, County Antrim BT57 8XH, United Kingdom

www.bushmills.com

Bushmills Inn

9 Dunluce Rd
Bushmills, County Antrim BT57 8QG, United Kingdom

www.bushmillsinn.com

Titanic Quarter

www.titanicsdock.com

Merchant Hotel

16 Warning Street
Belfast, County Antrim BT1 2DY, United Kingdom

www.themerchanthotel.com

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

www.nitb.com

Filed Under: Featured Stories, International, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Spotted: Sweet Deals at NYC’s Hotel Giraffe

March 11, 2011
The suite view on Park Avenue

A great location and luxurious amenities are the hallmarks of one of Manhattan’s boutique hotels that may not be on your radar. Staying at the Hotel Giraffe puts you front and center for much less than you might expect to pay in the Park Avenue South neighborhood, just north of Gramercy Park between midtown and downtown.

The sophisticated setting fits in with the Eastside area’s Art Moderne style of architecture from the 1920s and 30s, and is very close to the 6-train and convenient to other subway lines. For business or leisure travelers, it’s an ideal situation.

Hotel Giraffe features lovely rooms and suites, many with balconies overlooking Park Avenue and you’ll find everything you need to make you feel right at home, including bathrooms with large marble countertops and stocked with all the necessities. Suites feature several closets, a bar, and even bestsellers on the bookshelves. And of course, Wi-Fi and high-speed DSL.

In the lobby, you’ll find a complimentary buffet breakfast every morning, and during happy hour from 5-8 p.m. wine and hors d’ouevres are served at no charge.

Every guest also receives passes to the nearby New York Sports Club, and bottled water and newspapers are included in the room fee.  There is not a restaurant on site, but room service is available from nearby restaurants, including Dos Caminos.

Hotel Giraffe is featuring several package deals, including the “Do Not Disturb,” perfect for a couples’ getaway. It includes a bottle of chilled Prosecco upon arrival, strawberries and whipped cream and in the morning, breakfast served in your room. You’ll also find the accoutrements for relaxation as part of the deal: massage oil, bubble bath, kissable body shimmer and a pink caviar body scrub.

After that, you’re ready for action, whether you decide to stay in or hit the town.

Rates for the pre-paid package start at $219 plus tax with a two-night minimum.

Hotel Giraffe is part of the HKHotel Group, which also runs three other boutique hotels in Manhattan: The Library Hotel, Hotel Elysee and the Casablanca Hotel Times Square. Check out www.hkhotels.com –and you will hardly be able to wait to check in.

Hotel Giraffe, 365 Park Avenue South at 26th St., New York City, (212) 685-7700, www.hotelgiraffe.com

Filed Under: Hotels, Travel Tagged With: ,

Yosemite + Mariposa County: One of California’s Best Ideas

April 1, 2010

The Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” is shining an ever-brighter spotlight on California’s magnificent and awe-inspiring Yosemite National Park. Nearly 1,200 square miles of majestic Sierra Nevada territory was actually first entrusted to the state of California in 1868, before the national park system existed, in order to protect the scenic wildlands that range from 2,000 feet above sea level to majestic peaks of more than 13,000 feet.  Encompassing groves of giant Sequoia trees, alpine meadows, granite cliffs, lakes, dramatic waterfalls, wildflowers and wild animals, Yosemite attracts up to 4 million visitors every year, offering a restful, awe-inspiring antidote to man-made civilization– a magnificent place were one can truly commune with the glories of nature’s beauty.

As one of the nation’s first national parks– it officially became one in October 1890 — and one of most popular, Yosemite offers a range of sensory experiences for visitors from all over the world, from rock climbing to camping, horseback riding, white water rafting, historic and cultural exploration and fine dining. And surrounding Mariposa County boasts its own unique charms with picturesque scenery, vineyards, annual festivals and a peak into the past when it was the heart of the California Gold Rush, and encompassed one-fifth of the territory of the entire state. The four entrances to the park all go through the county (although some of the entrances are closed seasonally—check www.yosemite.org for travel tips.)

There are a host of guided outdoor adventures at Yosemite, including twilight strolls departing from the back porch of the famed Ahwahnee Hotel—the place to stay within the park itself, a AAA, four-diamond national historic landmark—and nighttime tours to study the glorious skies and learn about astronomy.

The Ahwahnee, once the site of a village of the native Miwok tribe, was built in the mid-1920s and has played host to presidents and royalty. The hotel boasts stunning views of Yosemite’s iconic sites: Glacier Point, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. A meal in the Dining Room is a memorable occasion and a culinary treat, and although dress throughout the park is casual, there is a dress code at dinner, so think slacks or skirts–no T-shirts, shorts or tennis shoes. Executive Chef Percy Whatley presides over a well-tuned kitchen turning out imaginative California cuisine featuring organic and locally grown ingredients, with a splendid wine list.

The Victorian-style Wawona Hotel is also a national historic landmark, built in 1879 on a lush meadow just four miles inside the park’s south entrance. There are 104 rooms, but 54 of them have shared bathrooms, so privacy hounds need to keep that in mind when making reservations. In addition to the authentic charm of a bygone era, the property has views of the magnificent, ancient Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, of which tours are offered frequently throughout the day.

Don’t despair if you’re not able to get accommodations within the park.  And despite the economic downturn, that does require advanced planning, especially during the summer high season. We checked out a couple of places in the vicinity that were both unique — and fabulous.

Walk into the soaring lobby of Tenaya Lodge, located two miles from the park’s south gate, and it is reminiscent of the grand Western lodges built in the early 1900s, yet thoroughly modern. The four-diamond mountain resort property features multiple dining options—including a beautiful outdoor patio when weather permits, as well as a full range of spa services and recreational activities. The new Embers restaurant on site features sustainable California cuisine. Tenaya Lodge is also a unique location for corporate events, and weddings, with a professional, well-trained staff to handle all your needs.

Another outside-the-park lodging does not offer a grand façade or impressive architecture, but beautiful, first-class rooms (335 of them) in a stunning mountain setting. Not only that, Yosemite View Lodge sits right on the rushing Merced River—and if you ask for a river view (your other option is a mountain view), you could sit for hours on your patio hovering right above the currents. If you don’t like the sound of rushing water, especially when the river runs high in the summer, well, opt for the mountain view. But the rooms are soundproof, and feature luxury amenities, like a Jacuzzi in the room, to luxuriate in the surroundings. The property also features a casually upscale dining room and banquet and catering services.

Yosemite National Park, www.nps.gov/yose

Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, (209) 966-3685, www.homeofyosemite.com

Tenaya Lodge, 1122 Highway 4, Fish Camp, CA 93623, 888-514-216, www.tenayalodge.com

The Ahwahnee, 9005 Ahwahnee Drive, Yosemite, CA 95389, 559-253-5635, http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_TheAhwahnee.aspx

Wawona, Yosemite National Park, 209-375-6566, http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_WawonaHotel.aspxContact:

Yosemite View, 11156 Highway 140,     El Portal, CA 95318, 209-379-2681, http://www.yosemiteresorts.us/yosemiteviewlodge/index.htm

Hotel Jeffrey, 5001 Main Street, Coulterville, CA 95311, 209-878-3471, www.hoteljefferygold.com

River Rafting, 800-431-3636, www.zrafting.com

Lake McClure, 9090 Lake McClure Road, Snelling, CA 95369,
209-378-2521www.lakemcclure.com

Filed Under: Domestic, Travel Tagged With:

Nashville: Music City Tunes Up For Tourism

March 1, 2010

Though its tagline, “music city” conjures up what the city is famous for, Nashville is so much more. From the low brow — the city’s fabled honky-tonks — to the highbrow — an impressive array of historic mansions and art institutions, Nashville has something for everyone looking for something different, unique and memorable. And you will never go hungry, nor tire of the good old-fashioned Southern hospitality at local restaurants and hotels.

But let’s start with the music emanating from the heart of downtown Nashville.  Take a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an impressive structure featuring artifacts from the history of the genre, including semi private listening booths where you can hear some of the country’s most famous songs to the popular Hank Williams exhibit, “Family Tradition: The Hanks Williams Legacy which became such a crowd-pleaser, it will be on long-term display.

Just down the street is the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Opened in September 2006 it’s neoclassical revivalist architecture is one of the only major concert halls in North America to utilize natural light. And oh, the sound!

Across the street are some of the city’s world-famous honky-tonks.  Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Roberts Western Wear and Legends Corner are the local hangouts where many country music legends got their start–and sometimes pop in for an impromptu set.  (Nashville resident Keith Urban has been known to do so.) The scene is straight out of a Bud Light commercial — with local bands playing late into the evening and patrons grooving to the music. Another thing the honky-tonks are famous for: no cover charge.  And the drink prices are pretty reasonable compared to most places in big cities.

But the granddaddy of music establishments is of course The Grand Ole Opry, located a few miles outside of town at the acclaimed Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.  The Grand Ole Opry is the world’s longest running radio show and features a myriad of performers on stage and an impressive auditorium.

For history buffs, the Ryman Auditorium is an historic building which housed the precursor of the modern Opry. There are still special performances and concerts held at the well preserved brick structure.

Art and architecture buffs would deeply appreciate the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, a large, private museum (24,000 square feet) located inside a 1920s era Art Deco former United States Post Office building where all of the original design elements have been meticulously restored from the staircases to the window frames. The center also features the interactive ArtQuest gallery, great for kids– and educational programs.

You can delve much deeper into the rich history of this city at two of its premier plantation mansions, circa the mid-1800s. Belle Meade Plantation is an 1853 Greek revival mansion that was renowned as a thorough bred stud farm. The rooms are furnished with magnificent period furniture and artwork original to the home, and the dining room is set with fine crystal and china. There’s even a garage with carriage is an automobiles from the early part of the 19th century.

You can also visit Belmont Mansion for another taste of how the wealthy citizens of Nashville lived at the time. This home was built and owned by Adelicia Acklen, one of America’s wealthiest women and one of Tennessee’s most colorful characters.

The state’s most famous native son, of course, is President Andrew Jackson, and his huge plantation manor estate is The Hermitage, where visitors can get guided tours by knowledgeable docents on foot — or on horseback. This National Historical Landmark also includes the tombs of the president and his wife Rachel Jackson, as well as her garden.

Those hungry for more history including that of slavery and the struggle for civil rights, should stop in at the Nashville library’s Civil Rights Room, a research center (nothing can be checked out) that features hisstoric photographs from the 1950s and 1960s lining the walls — and the stories of what happened to the people pictured in them– along with the many volumes of historical import.

The Galleries at Fisk University boasts a unique cache of treasures in the art world; part of the collection of famed photographer Alfred Stieglitz donated to the University by his wife, Georgia O’Keefe after Mr. Stieglitz died in the late 1940s.  Included in the approximately 100 works of art are several Stieglitz photographs and a stunning O’Keefe painting, one of her “Radiator Building” series, whose brushstrokes practically radiate her love for him nearly a century later.

Going back further in time, the Parthenon is the world’s only full-sized reproduction of the Greek Parthenon that houses a sculpture of the Greek goddess Athena.  Nashville first undertook construction of the replica to house and art exhibition for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. The landmark was reconstructed in 1931 and underwent a major renovation about 20 years ago.  Inside the structure are four fine art galleries, one of which is a rotating gallery featuring a collection of American art.

One of Nashville’s most popular new places to stay is the acclaimed new Hutton Hotel, which provides a fresh alternative to traditional downtown hotels. The 248 rooms use eco–technology combined with first-class amenities to pamper guests.  And features the 1808 Grill with sophisticated, delicious selection of New American cuisine — with Southern flair.  That means if you don’t normally eat fried food, you will.

And speaking of fried food, one of the area’s most famous haunts is the ultra-popular Loveless Café, known for its heaping platters of chicken, ribs and its mouthwatering biscuits. Rest assured, you will have to wait for a table, but it will be worth it.

Looking for Southern charm mixed with fine cuisine? The Acorn beckons with its mix of comfort and quality served in a sleek setting that still feels like someone’s home. The restaurant prides itself on using local farm grown ingredients for many of its specialty dishes.

If seafood is your thing, don’t miss Cascades Seafood Restaurant at Gaylord Opryland. Set in a garden atrium the menu features seasonal fish, fantastic seafood–try the scallops if they are in season– topped off by sumptuous desserts created by the pastry chef. An ultimately fulfilling dining destination.

For more information about Music City, call (800) 657-6910
www.visitmusiccity.com

The Convention and Visitors Bureau operates a walk-in center downtown.

Guidebook:

The Acorn 114 28th Avenue North (615) 320-4399 www.theacornrestaurant.com

Loveless Café 8400 Highway 100 Nashville, TN 37221(615) 646-9700 www.lovelesscafe.com

1808 Grill 1808 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 (615)-340-0012 www.1808grille.com

Cascades Seafood Restaurant at Opryland 2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 871-6848 www.gaylordhotels.com

The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson 4580 Rachel’s Lane Nashville, TN 37076 www.thehermitage.com

Belle Meade Plantation 5025 Harding Pike Nashville, TN 37205 (615) 356-0501 www.bellemeadeplantation.com

Belmont Mansion 1900 Belmont Boulevard Nashville, TN 37212 (615) 460-5459 www.belmontmansion.com

Opryland Resort and Convention Center 2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 871-6848 www.gaylordhotels.com

Schermerhorn Symphony Center One Symphony Place Nashville, TN 37201 (615).687.6500 www.nashvillesymphony.org

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum 222 Fifth Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203 (615).416-2001 www.countrymusichalloffame.com

Frist Center for the Visual Arts 919 Broadway Nashville, TN, 37203 (615).244.3340 www.fristcenter.org

Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library 615 Church Street Nashville, TN 37219 (615).862.5800 www.library.nashville.org/civilrights/home.

Galleries at Fisk University 1000 Seventeenth Ave. North Nashville, TN 37208 (615).329-8720 www.fisk.edu

Parthenon 2600 W End Ave Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 862-8431 www.nashville.gov/parthenonHutton Hotel 1808 West End Ave Nashville, TN 37203(615) 340-9333 www.huttonhotel.com

Ryman Auditorium 116 Fifth Avenue North Nashville, TN 37219  (615) 889-3060 www.ryman.com

Filed Under: Domestic, Travel Tagged With: , , ,

There Is Some Consideration for Guests Here

February 8, 2010

Patrons of the Writers Bar and Jaan restaurant at Raffles L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills get free valet parking and customers of the spa at the InterContinental in Century City also park gratis via valet, which TAR awards the best chill-while waiting-for-your-car spot at a hotel in LA, complete with couches, coffee tables, heat lamps and ashtrays. But don’t get too comfortable: they always seem to deliver the cars pronto. Jiminy!

Filed Under: Hotels, Travel Tagged With: ,

Martini Madness On Rodeo

February 4, 2010

With the price of a few rounds of “designer” martinis requiring a C-note these days, it’s hard to imagine five for less than $20. But that’s exactly the deal at the Luxe Hotel’s Bar 360 Monday-Friday, 5:30-7:30 pm: $3.60 drink specials include a fresh watermelon martini, or, shades of Sex and the City, a cool Cosmopolitan, both giving deeper meaning to “happy hour.” Small plates like fried green tomatoes and fresh burrata, lobster rolls and lamb lollipops add a little more joy to an after-work respite.
Luxe Hotel Bar 360, 360 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310.273-0300

Filed Under: Dining, Hotels, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,

The Continental Touch

January 25, 2010

So, you’re looking for some quiet luxury, a bit off the beaten path, but still close in and a tad undiscovered. It’s no further than a stone’s throw from the heart of Century City. Not many people realize that InterContinental has taken over what was formerly the Park Hyatt and for those with really long memories, the JW Marriott property on the edge of the Fox lot. Now that the St. Regis has gone condo, this is the hideaway hotel in the ‘hood, close to CAA, ICM and the best shopping mall in LA. New executive chef Vincent Cachot is wowing diners with his Cal-French seasonal organic menus. We carnivorously recommend the Wagyu ribeye and the Black Angus tenderloin. And unlike many places, you can actually enjoy a conversation along with the fabulous food. The spa features completely private cabana treatment rooms, each equipped with a shower, Jacuzzi, locker, bathroom and treatment table for massages and facials. Tight on time? Try the Little of Everything, an express facial, massage and manicure (90 minutes, $175.)
InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Century City 310.284-6500

Filed Under: Beauty, Dining, Hotels, Spas, Travel Tagged With: , ,
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