MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Best in Travel, Historic Hotels, Historic Places, Historic Preservation, Uncategorized

2024 Historic Hotels of America® Annual Awards of Excellence Winners Announced

December 12, 2024 MoralCompass

Gina Petrone at the Hotel del Coronado (1888), the famous hotel in San Diego, California immortalized in the film, “Some Like it Hot,” was named Hotel Historian of the Year © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

WASHINGTON, DC — Historic Hotels of America® announced the winners of the 2024 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence. Historic Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States.

Award recipients were announced and honored on the evening of November 21, at the 2024 Historic Hotels Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, in front of an audience of more than 200 industry leaders, owners, general managers, senior management, and representatives of the world’s finest historic hotels.

The Omni Homestead Resort, founded in the scenic Allegheny Mountains in 1766, is the most historic resort in the United States. It is famous for its iconic Warm Springs Pools and championship fairways. TIME Magazine recently included The Omni Homestead Resort on its list of the “World’s Greatest Places 2024.” The awards ceremony was the final event of the 2024 Historic Hotels Annual Conference held there the week of November 18.

During the ceremony, 19 distinct awards of the Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence were presented to hoteliers and hotels, recognizing them as the best of the best among their peers. Winners were selected from nominations by historic hotels, preservation supporters, prior award recipients, community leaders, and leadership from Historic Hotels of America. As an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Hotels of America provides the recognition to travelers, civic leaders, and the global cultural, heritage, and historic travel market that member hotels are among the finest historic hotels from across the United States of America. The Historic Hotels Annual Awards of Excellence Program recognizes the pinnacle of this distinct group.

From more than 500 nominations received, the awards committee evaluated and, after careful consideration, selected the following 2024 Historic Hotels of America Awards of Excellence winners:

Historic Hotels of America New Member of the YearThis award is presented to a new member hotel that best demonstrates immediate engagement, activation, and passionate support of Historic Hotels of America.
Winner: Hotel Iroquois (1902) Mackinac Island, Michigan

Historic Hotels of America Best Social Media of a Historic Hotel
This award is presented to a hotel that actively engages consumers by sharing the best of its history through social media, including Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram with interesting historical facts and stories.
Winner: Historic Hotel Bethlehem (1922) Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Historic Hotels of America Sustainability Champion
This award is presented to a hotel that best implements and practices innovative green initiatives and programs, demonstrating historic preservation is the ultimate green.
Winner: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (1964) Kohala Coast, Hawaii

Historic Hotels of America Best Small Historic Inn/Hotel (Under 75 Guestrooms)
This award is presented to a hotel under 75 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.
Winner: The Inn at Leola Village, Est. 1867 (1867) Leola, Pennsylvania

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel (76-200 Guestrooms)This award is presented to a hotel with 76-200 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.
Winner: The Jefferson Hotel (1895) Richmond, Virginia

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel (201-400 Guestrooms)This award is presented to a hotel with 201-400 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.
Winner: Fairmont Century Plaza (1961) Los Angeles, California

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Hotel (Over 400 Guestrooms)
This award is presented to a hotel over 400 guestrooms that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.
Winner: JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District (1912) Savannah, Georgia

Historic Hotels of America Best City Center Historic HotelThis award is presented to a hotel located in a city center that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.
Winner: The Willard InterContinental Washington, DC (1818) Washington, District of Columbia

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Resort
This award is presented to a historic resort that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service.
Winner: Colonial Williamsburg Resorts: Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection, and Colonial Houses (1750) and Williamsburg Inn (1937) Williamsburg, Virginia

Historic Hotels of America Best Historic Restaurant
This award is presented to a restaurant that is part of a historic hotel that offers the finest cuisine, historic atmosphere, and exceptional customer service.
Winner: Garden Court at Palace Hotel (1875) San Francisco, California

Historic Hotels of America Ambassador of the Year (25+ Years of Service)This award is presented to an individual who has dedicated their career to a historic hotel for at least 25 years, has been an exemplary ambassador and steward of the history and stories of a historic hotel, and has shown exemplary hospitality and service to the hotel and its guests.
Winner: Cindy White at The Omni Homestead Resort (1766) Hot Springs, Virginia

Historic Hotels of America Hotel Historian of the Year:This award is presented to a hotel historian who best demonstrates a passion for preserving, displaying, and interpreting the history of their hotel, a true ambassador of the past.
Winner: Gina Petrone at Hotel del Coronado (1888) San Diego, California

Historic Hotels of America Legendary Family Historic Hoteliers of the Year: This award is presented to a multi-generational family ownership entity or management company that has served as an exemplary role model in the operation of the historic hotels entrusted to its stewardship, demonstrated a long-term legacy of commitment to historic preservation, and been an active champion for Historic Hotels of America.
Winner: The Monteleone Family at Hotel Monteleone (1886) New Orleans, Louisiana

Historic Hotels of America Historic Hotelier of the YearThis award is presented to the recipient demonstrating the highest contribution to furthering the celebration of history at historic hotels as well as leadership and innovation.
Winner: John Murtha at Omni Parker House (1855) Boston, Massachusetts

Historic Hotels of America Lifetime Achievement AwardThis award is presented to individuals whose lifelong passion has resulted in the preservation and celebration of the history and stories of a legendary historic hotel.
Winner: Molly and Robert D. Hardie at The Hermitage Hotel (1910) Nashville, Tennessee; and Keswick Hall (1912) Charlottesville, Virginia

Historic Hotels of America Steward of History and Historic Preservation AwardThis award is presented to hospitality leaders whose passion and dedication to the historic preservation of a legendary hotel will ensure that future generations of travelers can experience its history.
Winner: Kelly and Duane Roberts at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa (1876) in Riverside, California

Historic Hotels of America Legacy of Innovation & Inspiration Award
This award recognizes the extensive accomplishments of individuals in pioneering innovative concepts and programs, achieving uncommon success, being a thought leader on exceptional service, and being a force of inspiration in the hospitality industry, and whose commitment to historic preservation and exemplary record of long-term stewardship has resulted in the preservation of historic hotels and resorts.
Winner: Philip F. Anschutz at The Broadmoor (1918) Colorado Springs, Colorado

Historic Hotels of America Historian of the YearThis award is presented to an individual who is making a unique contribution to the research and preservation of history and whose work has encouraged a wide discussion, greater understanding, and increased enthusiasm for American History.
Winner: Anthea M. Hartig, Ph.D., serving as the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

“It is an honor to congratulate all of the 2024 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence winners,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “The winners are the finest historic hotels and hoteliers from across the United States. The historic hotels nominated include small historic inns, boutique hotels, lifestyle hotels, and resorts. They represent small towns to large cities to UNESCO World Heritage destinations. We applaud the dedication and passion of the thousands of individuals working at these iconic and legendary hotels that keep the stories alive from the past and make staying or celebrating special occasions at these historic hotels memorable experiences. The hotels on this list represent the very best spirit of perseverance and preservation of historic hotels. Through the many chapters these buildings have seen, it is the care of their staff, owners, and operators and the support of travelers that allow these stories to continue.”

To be nominated for the Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence, the hotel must be a member of Historic Hotels of America, demonstrate how the hotel increased the recognition and celebration of the hotel’s history, heritage, historic preservation, and its membership, as well as how the hotel (through its ownership, leadership, and employees) contributes significantly as an industry leader in the designated award category.

Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels across the United States of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading the movement to save places where our history happened. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity.

For more information or to find and book a member hotel, visit HistoricHotels.org.

Center for Responsible Tourism Holiday Travel Auction: Bid until Dec. 6

November 23, 2024 MoralCompass

cruises, Gift of Travel, Uncategorized

Holland America Line Offers 25% Off Cruise Fares; Elevates Global Fresh Fish Program

November 22, 2024 MoralCompass

*Holland America Line’s Volendam makes a rare visit to New York City © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Holland America Line, a premium cruise line with an over-150-year legacy, is offering up to 25% off cruise fares on select itineraries booked between Nov. 21-Dec. 1. Select sailings also include free prepaid crew appreciation, a 50% reduced deposit, and free fares for 3rd and 4th guests when booked in the same room. The offer applies to select cruises sailing between December 2024 and September 2026, excluding full-length Grand Voyages and 2026 Alaska Cruisetours.

Hundreds of worldwide cruises are included in the Black Friday offer. Here are a sampling of departures:

14-day New Zealand Holiday on Westerdam departing Dec. 22, 2024.

12-day Panama Canal Sunfarer on Rotterdam departing Feb. 23, 2025.

42-day Arctic Circle Crossing: Scotland, Greenland & Iceland on Nieuw Statendam departing June 15, 2025.

7-day Alaska Explorer on Eurodam, departing Aug. 23, 2025.

56-day Tales of the South Pacific on Zaandam departing Sept. 24, 2025.

11-day Mexico and Sea of Cortez on Zaandam departing April 7, 2026.

7-day Norwegian Fjords on Rotterdam departing May 3, 2026.

7-day Western Mediterranean on Oosterdam departing June 14, 2026.

Award-winning cuisine is at the heart of the Holland America Line experience, and the essence of its cuisine is a mission to provide unrivaled experiences for the cruisegoer and sustainability for the planet.

A sampling of Holland America’s Global Fresh Fish Program aboard the Volendam: a pioneering initiative that engages a global network of 60 ports to responsibly source and serve 80 types of fresh fish— from port to plate in less than 48 hours. The Program has changed the way seafood is sourced/consumed for a major cruise line © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

In 2023, Holland America Line elevated its award-winning culinary program with a first-of-its-kind Global Fresh Fish Program. Based on research conducted, Holland America Line knows that fresh fish is already a part of its guests’ daily lifestyles (both at home and when they dine out), so it was only a natural fit to offer a robust fresh fish program when they come aboard the ships.

The Global Fresh Fish Program is a pioneering initiative that engages a global network of 60 ports to responsibly source and serve 80 types of fresh fish— from port to plate in less than 48 hours. The Program has changed the way seafood is sourced/consumed for a major cruise line.

With more fresh fish and ingredients native to the places the cruise line visits, the dining experiences tell the story of each region through its unique flavors. Holland America Line’s unrivaled ability to source and prepare many types of fish globally—from yellowtail snapper in the Caribbean to barramundi in Australia—has been well received.

Holland America Line added credibility to its dining program in 2023 by teaming up with world-renowned Chef Masaharu Morimoto as its “Fresh Fish Ambassador.” Chef Morimoto brings his signature style Asian-inspired food/beverage to curated dishes in Holland America Line’s Dining Rooms, a new restaurant (Morimoto by Sea)—his first and only at-sea restaurant on Nieuw Amsterdam—and in fleetwide Morimoto by Sea pop-up restaurant (in either Tamarind or Pinnacle Grill) once per cruise. It is a $55 surcharge + 18% SVC plus a la carte beverage orders apply.

Holland America Line is Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council Chain of Custody certified for its entire fleet of 11 ships. The full fleet certification marks a global first for a cruise line achieving both certifications.

Marine Stewardship Council’s focus is on sustainable wild-caught seafood, while Aquaculture Stewardship Council works with responsibly farmed seafood, with both organizations seeking to minimize environmental impacts. Aligning with both ecolabels signifies Holland America Line’s commitment to programs that recognize and reward sustainable fishing practices, protect the ocean environment, and transform the seafood market toward greater sustainability.

Holland America Line was awarded Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification in Alaska, which is the first cruise line to achieve this credential. The cruise line only serves only fresh, certified-sustainable and traceable wild Alaska seafood on its six ships that sail to Alaska.

Holland America Line partners with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) to highlight the line’s commitment to sustainably sourced local seafood. This is the first formal partnership of its kind between ASMI, the state of Alaska, Alaska’s fishing industry, and a major cruise line that underscores Holland America Line’s use of Alaska seafood exclusively on all ships serving Alaska.

“Holland America Line is dedicated to the food lover who wants unrivaled experiences in food, wine and spirits. On a Holland America Line voyage, food is an art form, guided by the world’s leading chefs and prepared with passion,” the line says.

Holland America Line’s five specialty restaurants (Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, Canaletto, Rudi’s Sel de Mer, and Morimoto By Sea) take guests on a journey in flavor from tantalizing Asian dishes to modern takes on classic French fare. its onboard dining venues feature exclusive dishes by world-famous chefs (including David Burke, Jacques Torres and Ethan Stowell) who heavily influence the menu curation process.

From regular menu refreshes to pop-ups to new restaurants, Holland America Line is always looking for ways to further elevate the guest’s dining experience.

Holland America Line has been exploring the world for 150 years with expertly crafted itineraries, extraordinary service and genuine connections to the destinations. Offering an ideal perfectly-sized ship experience, its fleet visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world and has shared the thrill of Alaska for more than 75 years — longer than any other cruise line. Holland America Line’s 11 vessels feature a diverse range of enriching activities and amenities focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests enjoy the best entertainment at sea, and dining venues featuring exclusive dishes by world-famous chefs. A new global fresh fish program brings more than 80 types of fresh fish on board, sourced and served locally in regions around the world.

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heritage travel, Historic Places, Historic Preservation, Museums & Exhibits, New York City travel, Uncategorized

Groundbreaking NYC Exhibition Set to Premier a Full-Scale Recreation of Anne Frank’s Annex for the First Time

October 19, 2024 MoralCompass

*De Boekenkast.* *Bookcase in front of Secret Annex (© Anne Frank House, photographer Cris Toala Olivares)*

New York and Amsterdam—The Anne Frank House, one of the most visited historical sites in Europe, just announced the upcoming opening of Anne Frank The Exhibition in New York City. For the first time in history, the Anne Frank House will present a pioneering experience outside of Amsterdam to immerse visitors in a full-scale re-creation of the rooms where Anne Frank, her parents and sister, and four other Jews spent two years hiding to evade Nazi capture.

As a nonprofit organization helping to shape global understanding of the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance, including lessons on modern day antisemitism, racism, and discrimination, the Anne Frank House is entrusted with the preservation of the Annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. This exhibition, presented in New York City in partnership with the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan, opens on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27, 2025, to mark the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Anne Frank The Exhibition is a first-of-its-kind, full-scale recreation of the complete Annex, furnished as it would have been when Anne and her family were forced into hiding. Moving through the exhibition, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the context that shaped Anne’s life—from her early years in Frankfurt, Germany through the rise of the Nazi regime and the family’s 1934 move to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where Anne lived for ten years until her 1944 arrest and deportation to Westerbork, a large transit camp in the Netherlands, then to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp and killing center in Nazi-occupied Poland, and eventually to her death at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany when she was 15 years old.

Designed for audiences who may not have the opportunity to visit the Netherlands, the new exhibition in New York City is anticipated to draw extraordinary attendance for what will be among the most important presentations of Jewish historical content on view in the United States. Through the recreated Annex; exhibition galleries immersing visitors in place and history through video, sound, photography, and animation; and more than 100 original collection items from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Anne Frank The Exhibition will provide an opportunity to learn about Anne Frank not as a victim but through the multifaceted lens of her life—as a girl, a writer, and a symbol of resilience and strength. This is a story inspired by one of the most translated books in the world.

The New York City exhibition will occupy over 7,500 square feet of gallery space in the heart of Union Square. This marks the first time dozens of artifacts will be seen in the United States—many have never been seen in public.

Artifacts in the exhibition include:

Anne Frank’s first photo album (1929-1942);
Anne Frank’s typed and handwritten invitation to her friend for a film screening in her home (by 1942, anti-Jewish measures prohibited Jews from attending the cinema); and
Handwritten verses by Anne Frank in her friends’ poetry albums.

“Anne Frank’s words resonate and inspire today, a voice we carry to all corners of the world, nearly eight decades later,” said Ronald Leopold, Executive Director of the Anne Frank House. “As a custodian of Anne’s legacy, we have an obligation to help world audiences understand the historical roots and evolution of antisemitism, including how it fueled Nazi ideology that led to the Holocaust. Anne’s legacy is remarkable, as represented in the diary she left us, and as one of the 1.5 million Jewish children who were murdered at the hands of Nazi officials and their collaborators. Through this exhibition, the Anne Frank House offers insights into how this could have happened and what it means for us today. The exhibition provides perspectives, geared toward younger generations, that are certain to deepen our collective understanding of Anne Frank and hopefully provide a better understanding of ourselves. By bringing this exhibition to New York—a place with many ties to Anne’s story— the Anne Frank House is expanding the reach of our work to encourage more people to remember Anne Frank, reflect on her life story, and respond by standing against antisemitism and hatred in their own communities.”

Dr. Gavriel Rosenfeld, President of the Center for Jewish History, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with the Anne Frank House on this landmark exhibition. As we approach the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in January, Anne Frank’s story becomes more urgent than ever. In a time of rising antisemitism, her diary serves as both a warning and a call to action, reminding us of the devastating impact of hatred. This exhibition challenges us to confront these dangers head-on and honor the memory of those lost in the Holocaust.”

The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam was established in 1957 in cooperation with Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, as an independent nonprofit organization entrusted with the preservation of the Annex where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in 1942 during the Second World War. The Annex is where Anne wrote her diary, and where she and her family hid from the Nazis during the occupation of the Netherlands until being discovered and arrested by police officers in 1944. Following her transport to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp, Anne and her sister Margot were sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died in 1945. For nearly seven decades, the Anne Frank House has served as a place of memory and a place of learning. Committed to bringing Anne’s life story to world audiences, the Anne Frank House has emerged as a primary resource for teaching and learning about the Holocaust. Through Anne’s legacy the Anne Frank House empowers people of all ages—and especially young people—to reflect on the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination and the importance of freedom, equal rights, and democracy.

Anne Frank The Exhibition is a limited engagement, scheduled to close on April 30, 2025. Public programming and educational initiatives tied to the exhibition will be announced when the exhibition opens to the public.

Timed entry tickets are available at AnneFrankExhibit.org. The exhibition is designed for children (ages 10 and older) and adults. All general admission tickets include the exhibition audio guide. Visitors should plan to spend approximately one hour at the exhibition. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, N.Y. between 5th and 6th Avenues

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accessible travel, disabled travel

Tennessee is Making Adventure Accessible for Everyone

August 27, 2024 MoralCompass

Zoo Knoxville is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue, providing accessible facilities throughout the park along with KultureCity® Sensory Bags. These bags contain fidget tools, headphones, designed to help those with sensory issues feel comfortable as they visit the animals (photo: Tennessee Tourism)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is evolving into a destination where everyone, regardless of ability, can access adventures of all kinds. In recent years, an array of communities, outdoor spaces and attractions across the state have introduced a diverse range of programs and initiatives that seek to improve and enhance accessibility to the very best of Tennessee.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 61 million adults in the United States live with a disability. It’s a sizable market, with MMGY research reporting travelers with mobility disabilities spend $58.2 billion per year on travel — a figure that is only rising as the baby boomer generation ages. Yet, people with disabilities remain underserved in many destinations.

Discover just a handful of ways in which Tennessee is pioneering accessible travel:

Spectacular Scenery For All: Colorblind Viewfinders

Installed at 15 scenic lookouts across Tennessee, the state was the first to outfit colorblind viewfinders with innovative EnChroma® lenses, making it easy for even more travelers and residents to enjoy the state’s scenic beauty. These first-of-their-kind devices alleviate red-green colorblindness, enabling people with colorblindness to see a broader range of clear, vibrant colors. The viewfinders are especially useful during fall, when the changing colors of Tennessee’s foliage-filled landscapes are spectacular.

All Terrain Experiences: Tennessee’s State Parks

Exploring Tennessee’s amazing state parks just got easier for wheelchair users, who can request an all-terrain wheelchair prior to their visit to select state parks. Participating parks include Booker T. Washington State Park in Chattanooga, Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville and Chickasaw State Park in Henderson. Each park with an all-terrain wheelchair offers specific trail experiences that can accommodate these specialized wheelchairs, which are free to the public and available for both children and adults.

After Hours: The Northeast Tennessee Night Sky Trail

Accessibility in Tennessee doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Nearly every location on the Northeast Tennessee Night Sky Trail offers some level of ADA accessibility, connecting people with the magic of the Milky Way. From panoramic vistas atop majestic mountains, serene lakesides, observation decks, and historic downtowns these locations offer optimal conditions. While some trails recommend all-terrain wheelchairs, others are generally wheelchair friendly, including those on the Appalachian Trail.

Waterways: Tennessee Riverpark

“Chattanooga is a wonderful, wheelchair accessible destination,” writes accessibility travel expert Cory Lee — and one of the best places to enjoy the city is Tennessee Riverpark. With 13 miles of paved trails, soothing river views and several picnic stops, this city park offers fresh air, beautiful sights and easy access to such attractions as the Tennessee Aquarium, Bluff View Art District and the Battery Place neighborhood. Good to know — there are seven wheelchair accessible restrooms available at RiverFront Park.

Ride Accessibility Center: Dollywood

Dollywood wants everyone in the family to enjoy the park, designing experiences for people with differing abilities. Whether you recently broke your ankle, have a family member with sensory processing disorder, have a prosthetic or are pregnant, the Ride Accessibility Center is a frontline resource for guests to ask questions in a private setting about what they can enjoy. Additionally, Dollywood’s Splash Country offers Accessibility Tubes and Aquatic Transfer Wheelchairs, enabling guests with limited mobility the opportunity to enjoy water attractions.

Dollywood also created a Calming Room for guests to center the self and recharge. This private space comes equipped with sensory items designed for relaxation. The theme park also offers sensory-sensitive hours and events, which can be found listed on the seasonal calendar.

Wild Fun: Zoo Knoxville

Another one of Knoxville’s most beloved attractions — Zoo Knoxville — works to ensure that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy some wildly fun experiences. A KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue, the Zoo provides accessible facilities throughout the park, along with KultureCity® Sensory Bags. These bags contain fidget tools, headphones and more, all designed to help those with sensory issues feel comfortable as they visit the animals who call Zoo Knoxville home.

All Access: Sharp’s Ridge Veterans’ Memorial Park

Boasting 111 acres of beautiful forest, Sharp’s Ridge Veterans’ Memorial Park is one of Knoxville’s natural gems — and is home to the Independence and North Ridge adaptive multi-use trails. Unveiled in 2020, the trails accommodate adaptive mountain bikes and adaptive wheelchairs, which can be rented via local outfitter Catalyst Sports. The mountain bikes are suited for experienced athletes and the wheelchairs can be self-powered or can be pushed like a traditional wheelchair to take a friend or family member who has limited mobility on a walk in the woods.

Breaking Down Barriers: Adventure Science Center

Offering innovative, dynamic learning experiences that open minds to the wonders of science and technology, Nashville’s Adventure Science Center is serious about providing inclusive experiences throughout its 44,000 square feet. Guests with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other sensory concerns will find an array of resources here, including a sensory map that highlights auditory, tactile and visual experiences in the attraction, including the immersive soundBox music exhibit and the famed Sudekum Planetarium. Free sensory kits with fidget toys, sunglasses, stress balls, and noise-minimizing headphones can be checked out from guest services and the EY Sensory Room provides a relaxing space with calming textiles, subdued lighting and other sensory-friendly elements.

Smooth Views: The Great Stone Door

Located in South Cumberland State Park, the Great Stone Door is one of Tennessee’s most interesting geological attractions. This 10-foot-wide by 100-foot-deep crack looks like a giant door left ajar, opening dramatically into the gorge below. From the Stone Door Ranger Station there is a wheelchair accessible paved path that leads to the Laurel Gulf Overlook with a wonderful view of part of Savage Gulf. Additionally, a wheelchair accessible 125-yard-long walkway passes through heavy timber, across a small creek and a meadow, ending with a spectacular view of Foster Falls.

Everyone’s Park: Shelby Farms Park Conservatory

With 4,500 acres of green space and 10.65 miles of urban trail, Shelby Farms Park Conservatory offers visitors a natural escape in Memphis. The attraction features several ADA trails, including the beautiful Shelby Farms Greenline, a 10-mile rails-to-trail experience that winds from Midtown Memphis through Shelby Farms Park to Cordova. Named one of the “16 Coolest Playgrounds in the World” by Mental Floss Magazine, the Woodland Discovery Playground was designed for kids of all abilities, ages 12 and under, with slides and swings that meet the needs of children who may require assistance while they play. The park also features concrete pathways at Weems Fishing Pier and at Beaver Lake Pavilion, and upgraded port-a-potties to accommodate wheelchairs.

West Tennessee Serenity: Drummonds Park

Located less than 40 minutes north of Memphis, Drummonds Park delivers serenity and handicap accessibility throughout its 30 pristine acres. The ADA accessible, lighted and paved nature trails take visitors through natural woodlands that are filled with chances to catch a glimpse of local wildlife. The park’s ADA accessible amphitheater, meanwhile, hosts regular educational sessions that bring this slice of Tennessee wilderness to life.

Visit TNvacation.com and follow @TNvacation on social media for travel inspiration.

Active Travel, bike trips

Backroads Launches Private Reserve Trips in Europe Exclusively for Private Groups

August 27, 2024 MoralCompass

*A Backroads private Canadian bike tour (photo: Backroads)*

Berkeley, CA – Backroads, a leader in active travel, introduced Private Reserve, a collection of trips and dates available exclusively for private bookings for a limited time, through December 31. These hand-picked Biking, Walking & Hiking and Multi-Adventure trips offer departures for the company’s most sought-after European locations during the highly requested travel months in the fall. Destinations include Portugal’s Algarve & Alentejo, Spanish Pyrenees to Costa Brava, German & Austrian Alps, Scottish Highlands, the Dolomites and Basque Country.

Backroads Private Reserve caters to the unique needs of private groups, giving them first access to some of the company’s most popular European trips before opening the dates to the public. With competition for travel dates—especially in September—at an all-time high, Backroads decided to offer a block of departures solely for private bookings.

The company has been running trips for private groups for over four decades and recognizes the logistics involved in coordinating and booking a trip for multiple people with different schedules. Private Reserve gives private groups more options for active travel and more time to get members onboard, and offers a remarkable experience for groups, including smaller parties.

While Backroads has over 6,000 dates available for booking, more people than ever are choosing to go private and these new dates are expected to fill fast.

Private Reserve trips for 2025 are available for booking now through December 31, 2024; on January 1, 2025, any unreserved dates will open to the general public.

Biking

Walking & Hiking

Multi-Adventure

“We know the effort it takes to corral your private group, choose a destination and settle on a workable date. We also know what it feels like when everything finally comes together, only to fall apart when you discover that trip has been booked by someone else in the meantime,” said Backroads Founder, President and CEO Tom Hale.

“We created Private Reserve to give private groups first crack at those hard-to-get locations and dates—especially those coveted September departures—giving organizers a little more breathing room and less competition for preferred dates. And with our online private trips search tool, reserving that ideal date for your group is a snap.”

For more information on Backroads’ Private Reserve trips, visit Backroads.com or call 800-GO-ACTIVE.

Backroads was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale and has been a leading innovator in active and adventure travel for over 45 years, offering expertly planned active adventures highlighting the unique character of each destination. The company offers multiple ways to go active: Biking, Walking & Hiking and Multi-Adventure tours; Private Trips, Women’s Adventures and Family Trips designed for three distinct age groups: Families with Kids & Teens (best for ages 7–17; all kids 4+ welcome); Families with Older Teens & 20s (for ages 17+; younger siblings 14+ welcome); and Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond (for ages 20+; younger siblings 17+ welcome), plus Active Ocean & River Cruises and Dolce Tempo trips for travel at a more relaxed pace but still decidedly active. Backroads also offers Safari, Culinary, Home Base and Snow Adventures. For more information, visit backroads.com or call 800-462-2848.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, camping-glamping-RVs-adVANturing, cycling trips, hiking, Millennial Travel, Multisport adventures, Outdoors Travel, Uncategorized

12 Guided Tours That Appeal to Active Travelers

August 17, 2024 MoralCompass

A recent survey showed that guided tours are making a comeback among younger travelers, who value local expertise as they explore and immerse themselves in destinations. From cycling in Spain and Utah to hiking in New Zealand and Italy, Western dude ranch adventures and traditional gulet cruises in Turkey, here are 12 guided tours to excite active travelers.

1. New Zealand Guided Hiking: Explore New Zealand’s North and South Islands on foot on a new 15-day small-group tour from Adventure Life. Watch for glow worms in Waitomo’s caves, experience Māori culture and geothermal wonders in Rotorua, trek the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, enjoy the golden beaches and native forest of the Abel Tasman Coast Track, take in the glacial landscape of the Southern Alps and spot marine wildlife in Milford Sound. https://www.adventure-life.com/new-zealand/tours/18055/new-zealand-uncut-north-south-islands

2. Girona Road and Gravel Riding: Join The Cycling House on a seven-day tour of world-class roads or less-traveled gravel paths surrounding the beautiful walled city of Girona, Spain. Girona has become a cycling mecca thanks to the many professionals who call it home between grand tours, and gravel riding there has grown tremendously in recent years, with miles of dirt roads ready to be explored. Enjoy cycling routes along the rugged Costa Brava, through farmlands and vineyards, and into the foothills of the Pyrenees, as well as accommodations in a large villa, chef-prepared meals with authentic Spanish ingredients and a few favorite local restaurants. https://thecyclinghouse.com/

3. Cruising Ancient Turkey: Travel along the coast of ancient Caria and Ionia aboard a traditional gulet and visit some of Turkey’s most important and more intimate archaeological sites on Peter Sommer Travels’ eight-day Cruising to Ephesus tour. Led by an expert guide, explore the remains of the port town of Iasos, the mountaintop sanctuary of Zeus at Labraunda, the vast ruins of Miletus, the huge Temple of Apollo at Didyma and the beautifully wooded Priene. The highlight of the tour is the magnificent Ephesus, with its monumental squares, marble roads, 25,000-seat theater, impressive Library of Celsus and remarkable Terrace Houses. https://www.petersommer.com/tours/ephesus-cruise-turkey

4. Historic Arizona Ranch Stay: Located north of Phoenix, the Kay El Bar Guest Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been hosting travelers for more than 100 years. Explore the cactus forests, slot canyons, sandy washes and rocky ridges of the Sonoran Desert and the Hassayampa River on a guided horseback ride or UTV tour, try cattle work, sport shooting or archery, or go for a hike, then unwind with a swim in the pool or a cold drink in the adobe lodge. https://www.kayelbar.com/

5. Guided Big Sky Wonders: In Big Sky, Montana, use The Wilson Hotel as a basecamp for a variety of adventures outside the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park. When they aren’t hiking, mountain biking or skiing, guests can arrange guided tours of Yellowstone National Park’s natural wonders and wildlife in summer and winter, go fly fishing or rafting on the clear waters of the Gallatin River, or experience the thrill of dog sledding or snowmobiling. https://thewilsonhotel.com/

*Rafting on the Gallatin River, Big Sky, Montana, just outside Yellowstone National Park © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

6. Alaska Northern Lights Adventure: On Gondwana Ecotours’ eight-day Alaska Northern Lights Adventure, guests will get a dose of local culture by day, then photograph the aurora borealis at night. Highlights of the tour include dogsledding through snowy forests, taking curling lessons from locals, enjoying a meal with homesteaders, soaking in a geothermal hot spring, learning how to photograph the aurora borealis, snowshoeing on private land, having tea with a family of reindeer herders and more. https://www.gondwanaecotours.com/adventure-tours/northern-lights-tour-fairbanks-alaska/

7. Luxury RV and Bicycle Tours: Escape Adventures is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Blacksford Luxury RV Rentals to offer multi-day guided cycling tours by luxury RV. Using Blacksford RVs on a new selection of road and mountain biking tours, Escape Adventures will be the only travel operator to offer this elevated experience that perfectly blends the comforts of home with the thrills of active travel. The first itineraries being offered are six-day multi-sport trips in Canyonlands and Arches national parks and Moab, Utah, by road or mountain bike. Thrill seekers lacking outdoor experience or family groups will find this tour a perfect mix of adventure and tempo. https://escapeadventures.com/lodging_type/luxury-rv/

8. Play Cowboy in Big Horn Mountains: Ranchlands is excited to formally open the 80,000-acre Paintrock Canyon Ranch in the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming. Guests will immerse themselves in ranch life, explore the surrounding areas on horseback, fly fish, hike and experience the natural world in this unique landscape. Accommodations are designed for guests to be as close to nature as possible, but with all the comforts of home. Large safari-style tents are stylishly furnished with full-size beds, bedside tables, dressers and chairs. And meals are prepared by a private chef and incorporate Ranchlands beef, local produce and dairy whenever possible. https://ranchlands.com/pages/explore-the-paintrock-canyon-ranch

9. Amazon and Galapagos Getaway: This adventurous 11-day journey combines two of Ecuador’s most iconic and wildlife-rich regions, the incredible Galapagos Islands and Amazon Rainforest. Scalesia Galapagos Lodge and Finch Bay Hotel will provide a comfortable base for the guided Galapagos Islands tour, with guests exploring Isabela and Santa Cruz islands and taking a yacht to other nearby islands. Guests will then visit Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest from the comfortable Sacha Lodge, going into the jungle on guided tours to discover colorful birds, fascinating reptiles, many species of monkeys and a variety of other wildlife. https://www.scalesialodge.com/programs/

10. Rafting Montana: Looking for exciting Yellowstone whitewater rafting, breathtaking Montana scenery and awesome river rafting guides? Choose from a half-day whitewater trip, full-day whitewater trip, scenic float or overnight Montana whitewater trip for thrilling and exhilarating rafting adventures. Flying Pig Adventures’ river experts ensure each trip is safe and enjoyable for all ages and experience levels. https://www.flyingpigrafting.com/white-water-rafting-yellowstone

11. Trekking Amalfi and Capri: Experience the pure magic of Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the enchanting nearby island of Capri on this seven-day hiking tour offered by Tourissimo. The fragrant lemon groves and vibrant flowers, the gentle breeze of the Mediterranean Sea, the verdant woods, and the picturesque towns perched on cliff slopes will captivate guests, much like the Sirens’ song that lured Ulysses’ sailors in Homer’s “Odyssey.” https://www.tourissimo.travel/amalfi-capri-positano-hiking

12. Jackson Hole Glamping: Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 pint-sized, luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus a short distance from Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, making it the perfect place to post up for a spring getaway. Snowshoe across Grand Teton National Park, enjoy a snowmobile tour with Scenic Safaris, or sit back and relax around a cozy fireplace. https://www.firesidejacksonhole.com/

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Adventure Travel, Cultural Travel, ecotourism, Indigenous Tourism, Uncategorized

wukalina Walk Named One of TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places

August 17, 2024 MoralCompass

wukalina Walk, a member of Discover Aboriginal Experiences, has been named one of TIME‘s 2024 World’s Greatest Places.

Vetted by TIME‘s editors and correspondents around the world, this exclusive list features 100 extraordinary destinations to explore, stay and visit. The award by TIME is highly coveted and reaches a global audience of 120 million (via TIME‘s print magazine, website and socials). Editors choose with an eye towards those offering new and exciting experiences.

wukalina Walk is a multi-award winning Indigenous/palawa-owned tourism experience. Led by Aboriginal guides, the walk offers a rare window into Tasmania/lutruwita’s Aboriginal culture. For the first two nights, hikers sleep at the architecturally designed standing camp, krakani lumi (resting place), in domed-ceiling huts designed to reflect the shape of the palawa shelters that once lined the east coast of Tasmania/lutruwita. The third night is spent in a beautifully repurposed and restored lightkeeper’s cottage at the most northern end of larapuna (Bay of Fires).

A group of up to 10 people are led on foot by Aboriginal guides to learn about land and sea Country. wukalina guides have lived experience and thousands of generations of Ancestral connections to the knowledge they share. They share their knowledge and perspectives as they lead travellers through bushland and along the coastline of wukalina (Mt William National Park) and larapuna (Bay of Fires). Hikers learn about the colonial history of Tasmania/lutruwita, and the brutal treatment of the palawa people. But the tour highlights their resilience, strength of culture, language and the ongoing connection that the palawa community has to Country.

wukalina Walk is a proudly Blak-owned business and different to anything else offered in Tasmania, and anywhere in the world. wukalina Walk was winner of the 2023 Australian National Tourism Awards for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Tourism Experience.

“Sharing our stories and our history on cultural homeland is an integral part of the experience,” said Clyde Mansell, Tasmanian palawa Aboriginal Elder and founder of wukalina Walk.

“It also allows us to increase employment, involve our young people and contribute to our self-determination, by creating more opportunities for the palawa community.”

“We’ve had comments over the years where guests have said it’s changed their lives and their whole thinking about how they should relate to Aboriginal people,” said Mansell.

Discover Aboriginal Experiences is a flagship suite of extraordinary Australian Aboriginal-guided experiences. Travelers learn about and connect with the diverse histories, cultures and languages of Aboriginal peoples, which date back more than 65,000 years.

Each member in this collective is considered a leader in Aboriginal tourism, with more than 200 experiences from over 48 businesses around Australia, all led by Aboriginal guides. Please see the following pages for further details on other experiences in the collective.

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health and wellness travel

Global Wellness Summit to Focus on ‘A Watershed Moment for Wellness’

August 17, 2024 MoralCompass

Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO, highlights research into trends in the $5.6 trillion global wellness industry. The upcoming 2024 Global Wellness Summit in St. Andrews, Scotland from Nov. 4-7 is themed, “A Watershed Moment for Wellness.” *© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Miami, FL –The theme for the 2024 Global Wellness Summit (GWS), a foremost gathering of international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy being held in St. Andrews, Scotland from November 4-7, is “A Watershed Moment for Wellness.”

The 18^th annual conference will explore how the wellness industry, worth $5.6 trillion in 2022 and forecast that it will rise to $8.5 trillion by 2027, is at a watershed moment for growth and evolution, gathering global experts to analyze the newest directions within each sector, including fitness, mental wellness, wellness tourism, healthy food and weight loss, wellness real estate, well-tech, beauty, and wellness policy.

A Dive into the ‘H2O Experience Economy’: The agenda will also specifically explore the surge in water-wellness experiences, a welcome democratic trend in an age of ever-wealthier wellness. If “sanus per aqua” (or “health by water,” the Latin acronym for “spa”) is the most ancient of wellness approaches, experts will discuss the powerful renaissance in water-based therapies underway, and how emerging hydrothermal approaches and technologies could revolutionize wellness in the future. The agenda will tackle topics where water and wellness intersect, from the global surge in new urban bathhouses, sauna centers, and vast water-wellness parks that are becoming the new social “hotspots” to the wave of new and restored hot springs destinations (from reimagined Japanese onsens to an investment rush in hot springs development in the US).

Climate Change, the Water Crisis, and the Wellness Industry: Climate change is severely threatening the world’s most precious resource, water. The wellness and spa industries are voracious consumers of water, while wellness tourism often creates other negative environmental impacts that threaten marine/water ecosystems and can hurt local coastal communities. The agenda will bring sustainability experts together to show how the industry needs to change, from boosting the wellness industry’s role in the “blue economy” (the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and preserving endangered ocean ecosystems) to embracing the ethics of water (how clean water is a basic human right, now denied to 2.2 billion people) to adopting new technologies and practices that could transform the industry’s water use efficiency.

The Perfect Location: Europe/the UK is the ancient birthplace of water-wellness and spa, and the ideal place to explore the theme. Scotland’s water is famed worldwide (crucial for some of its biggest exports, like scotch and whisky) and it’s one of the world’s most water-rich countries. It has more than 30,000 lochs, 10,000 miles of coastline, and enough rivers and streams to circle the Earth three times. In 2024, 98% of Scotland’s bathing waters will again meet or exceed the country’s strict environmental standards.

Host Sponsor, Kohler–Water Experience Innovator & Sustainability Activist: The 2024 host sponsor is Kohler Co., which for 150 years has been a storied brand in design and innovative water features/experiences. With the Summit being held at one of their seven global properties, the iconic Old Course Hotel with a reimagined Kohler Waters Spa, delegates will literally be immersed in the theme. The company is also a renowned leader in sustainability and protecting the world’s water resources and is working hard toward net zero environmental impact by 2035.

“There is powerful synergy between this year’s Summit theme on how water intersects with wellness and Kohler Co.’s mission, which not only includes pioneering water design, features and experiences for wellbeing but also working hard to fight climate change and protect the world’s water resources,” said Nina Kohler, strategy and design leader for the Hospitality Group at the Kohler Co.

A Watershed Industry Moment, for Growth, for Disruption: The wider agenda will explore the historic momentum for the industry. Global Wellness Institute researchers find that the wellness economy was worth $5.6 trillion in 2022 and forecast that it will rise to $8.5 trillion by 2027. They will unveil a complete update of the Global Wellness Economy Monitor in Scotland, with new data and insights on each wellness sector.

“This is a watershed moment for wellness. In our 2024 trends report, we note that we’ve seen more industry disruptions in the last year than in the last decade–whether the rapid rise of medical-wellness and longevity concepts or Big Pharma rewriting weight loss,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. “With fast-shifting consumer demands, fast-evolving technology, demographic shifts (including a profoundly aging population), accelerating climate change and demands that businesses take environmental action, this year’s agenda will investigate how our industry will continue to see further radical transformation.”

Registration is open. First-time delegates can apply to attend here.

The Global Wellness Summit is an organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $5.6 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference, held at a different location around the globe, GWS hosts regular in-person and virtual gatherings, including an annual Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, and a series of Wellness Master Classes. GWS also produces the Global Wellness Conversations podcast and “The Doctor is INclusive” webinar series. The organization’s annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness that are oft-quoted in the media. The 18^thannual Summit will be held in St. Andrews, Scotland, November 4-7, 2024.

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