Olympic Valley, Calif.— From January 18 to 20, 2025, skiers and snowboarders at Palisades Tahoe are making a difference while enjoying the slopes. During this special three-day event, $99 lift tickets will be available, with 100% of ticket sales going to support Southern California fire relief efforts in partnership with the California Fire Foundation.
Palisades Tahoe, together with Alterra Mountain Company, is amplifying the impact by matching donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000 each. This means that every $99 ticket sold will triple in value, directly helping families and communities rebuild after devastating wildfires.
Ticket Options:
Ikon Base Pass & Session Pass Holders: Purchase $99 all-day lift tickets on January 18 and 19—a great way to ski during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday blackout dates.
Afternoon Tickets: $99 tickets for all ages, valid from 1 PM to 4 PM, available January 18 through 20.
Tickets can be purchased in person at Palisades Tahoe ticket counters.
“This initiative embodies our commitment to giving back,” said Patrick Lacey, PR Manager of Palisades Tahoe. “By partnering with the California Fire Foundation and offering this opportunity to our guests, we’re proud to support relief efforts that will help rebuild lives and strengthen communities impacted by wildfires.”
The California Fire Foundation provides critical support to fire victims, firefighters, and their families. Proceeds from this fundraiser will aid in providing emergency assistance, funding community rebuilding projects, and offering long-term support to those in need.
Make Your Ski Day Count: Grab your gear, hit the slopes, and give back to those affected by wildfires in Southern California. Every turn you take on the mountain will help families and communities recover and thrive.
For more information, visit www.palisadestahoe.com/relief.
Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, marking decades of innovation, history, and legendary mountain experiences, Palisades Tahoe® has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal as the best ski resort in the United States. As Lake Tahoe’s largest premier resort destination, it spans 6,000 skiable acres across eight peaks, connected by the iconic Base to Base Gondola. Renowned for hosting the 1960 Winter Games and being home to Olympic and World Cup athletes, Palisades Tahoe averages 400 inches of annual snowfall, offering Lake Tahoe’s longest ski season. Dubbed the Spring Skiing Capital®, the resort keeps its slopes open through Memorial Day. The Village at Palisades Tahoe is a vibrant year-round hub for events, dining, and shopping. Skiers and riders can explore Palisades Tahoe and beyond with the Ikon Pass, which provides access to over 50+ top ski destinations.
Visit Palisades Tahoe’s website or call 800.403-0206.
Celebrate the New Year at New York State parks, historic sites, natural areas, environmental education centers, canal trails, and public lands across the Empire State on January 1, 2025. The 14th annual First Day Hikes program is offering varied hike options for people at nearly 100 locations across the state. Parking fees at all State Parks are being waived to increase access to these events on New Year’s Day (admission to State Park grounds is always free).
“There’s no better way to kick off the New Year than with family and friends at a First Day Hike to experience and enjoy the winter beauty of New York’s amazing scenic landscapes,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “This year, I’m waiving parking fees at every State Park and Historic Site to encourage all New Yorkers to join in on this fantastic tradition.”
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Canal Corporation are partnering to host the many walks and hikes taking place throughout the state as part of the 14th Annual First Day Hikes program.
Most walks and hikes are family-friendly, and typically range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions. More than 120 individual hikes are being offered at state parks, historic sites, canal trails, and DEC natural areas and environmental education centers.
Noteworthy for 2025 is a historic landscape and winter wildlife hike along Lake Champlain at Crown Point State Historic Site; a scenic hike up the Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain State Park; a hike along the old tow paths of the Erie Canal at Schoharie Crossing; and a hike along the Lake Erie shoreline at Evangola State Park. The Catskill Mountain Club will be leading a hike up the Tremper Mountain Fire Tower qualifying for DEC’s annual Catskills Fire Tower Challenge. There will also be a hike up Mt. Van Hoevenberg from the Olympic Complex along one of the newer trails in the High Peaks region.
A list of New York State First Day Hikes, location details, format, pre-registration requirements and additional information can be found online for Parks, DEC, and Canals. Interested participants are encouraged to check the details of their preferred host site and register where required.
Starting in Massachusetts in 1992, First Day Hikes are now a national event taking place in all 50 states. While the following locations are offering organized activities, most of New York’s public lands are accessible on this day and throughout the winter season.
List of First Day Hikes by region:
Western New York Allegany State Park – Red House Area, Salamanca; 716.379.6941 Brockport Welcome Center, Brockport; Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area (DEC), North Collins; 716.379.6389 DeVeaux Woods State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154 register here Evangola State Park, Irving; 716.282.5154 register here Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; 716.282.5154 register here (2 hikes) Genesee Valley Greenway, Avon; 585.493.3614 Genesee Valley Greenway, Cuba; 716.378.1923 Genesee Valley Greenway, Fillmore; [email protected] Genesee Valley Greenway, Hinsdale; 585.493.3614 Genesee Valley Greenway, Mt. Morris; 585.493.3614 Genesee Valley Greenway, Nunda; 585.493.3614 Genesee Valley Greenway, Rochester; register here Genesee Valley Greenway, Scottsville; 585.493.3614 Genesee Valley Greenway, York; 585.493.3614 Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin; 716.638.7179 (2 hikes) Knox Farm State Park, East Aurora; 716.282.5154 register here Lakeside Beach State Park, Waterport; 716.638.7179 Letchworth State Park Humphrey Nature Center, Castile; 585.493.3688 (3 hikes) Letchworth State Park Highbanks Picnic Shelter, Mt. Morris; 585.493.3688 (2 hikes) Macedon Canal Park, Macedon; Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154 register here (2 hikes) Phillips Creek State Forest (DEC), West Almond; 607.382.9770 (4 hikes) Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (DEC), Depew; 716.683.5959 Whirlpool State Park, Niagara Falls; 716.282.5154 register here Wilson Tuscarora State Park, Wilson; 716.282.5154 register here Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area (DEC) – Ross Pond, Gowanda; 440.983.0023
Finger Lakes and Central New York Bowman Lake State Park / DEC’s McDonough State Forest, Oxford; 607.334.2718 Catharine Valley Trail, Watkins Glen; 607.329.2982 Cayuga-Seneca Trail / Lock CS-4, Waterloo Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks; 607.648.5251 (2 hikes) Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville; 315.559.7341 Delta Lake State Park, Rome; 315.337.4670 Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego; 315.832.8285 Gilbert Lake State Park, Laurens; 607.432.2114 Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown; 607.547.8662 Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville; 315.637.6111 Hemlock-Canadice State Forest (DEC), Canadice; 585.374.8366 (2 hikes) Herkimer Home State Historic Site, Herkimer; 315.823.0398 Lorenzo State Historic Site, Cazenovia; 315.655.3200 Montezuma Audubon Center, Savannah; 315.539.5089; register here Newtown Battlefield State Park, Elmira; 607.379.7645 Rogers Environmental Education Center, DEC’s Friends Support Group, Sherburne; 607.674.4733 (3 hikes) Selkirk Shores State Park, Pulaski; 315.298.5737 Seneca Lake State Park, Geneva; 315.789.2331 Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg; 607.795.6631 Two Rivers State Park, Waverly; 607.379.7645
North Country/Adirondacks Cat Mountain, DEC’s Lake George Wild Forest, Bolton Landing; 518.338.8173 Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point; 518.597.4666 Jabe Pond Trail (DEC), Hague; 518.897.1242 John Brown Farm State Historic Site, Lake Placid; 518.527.0191 Lost Pond (DEC), Ticonderoga; 518.681.2232 Mt. Van Hoevenberg via the MVHE Trail, Lake Placid; 518.897.1283 Northwest Bay Trail, DEC’s Lake George Wild Forest, Bolton Landing; [email protected] Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), Paul Smiths; 315.832.2695 Point Au Roche State Park, Plattsburgh; 518.563.0369 Robert G. Wehle State Park, Henderson; 315.938.5302 Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, Sackets Harbor; 315.646.2321 Silver Lake Mountain (DEC), Black Brook; [email protected] SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Adirondack Interpretive Center, Goodnow Mountain, Newcomb; 518.582.2000; register here Wellesley Island State Park/ Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, Fineview; 315.482.2479 (2 hikes) Winona State Forest (DEC), Lorraine; 315.376.3521 (taking place on 12/31/2024)
Greater Capital District Adirondack Ultra Cycling, 160 Broad St., Schuylerville; 518.583.3708 Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (DEC), Delmar; 518.475.0291 (3 hikes) Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton; 518.279.1155 (3 hikes) Moreau Lake State Park, Gansevoort; 518.793.0511 Mine Kill State Park, North Blenheim; 518.593.4393 Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes; register here (2 hikes) Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs; 518.810.6906 Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, Fort Hunter; [email protected] Thacher State Park, Voorheesville; 518.872.0800 (4 hikes)
Hudson Valley/Catskills Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain; [email protected] Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Yorktown; 914.245.4434 Huckleberry Point Trail (DEC), Elka Park; 845.688.3369 Little Stony Point/Hudson Highlands State Park, Cold Spring; 917.658.4526 Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Peter’s Kill, Kerhonkson; 845.255.0752 Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Sam’s Point, Cragsmoor; 845.647.7989
North-South Lake, DEC’s Kaaterskill Wild Forest, Haines Falls; 518.303.6050
Nyack Beach State Park, Upper Nyack; register here Croton Gorge Park, Cortlandt; 646.303.1448; register here Rockwood Hall, Sleepy Hollow; 914.370.9352; register here Staatsburgh State Historic Site/Mills Norrie State Park, Staatsburg; register here Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center, DEC’s Friends Support Group, Wappingers Falls; 845.831.3800; register here Taconic State Park – Copake Falls, Copake Falls; 518.912.7387 Tremper Mountain Fire Tower from Willow Trailhead (DEC), Phoenicia; [email protected] Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, Poughkeepsie; 845.392.7800
New York City and Long Island Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale; 631.962.0217 Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, W. Babylon; 631.481.3514 Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, Staten Island; 631.601.4127, register here Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Oakdale; 516.563.2769, register here Gantry Plaza State Park, Long Island City; register here Hallock State Park Preserve, Jamesport; 631.315.5475
Heckscher State Park, North Babylon; 631.481.3513, register here Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead; 516.766.1029 Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, Wantagh; 516.548.7809 Mt. Loretto Unique Area (DEC), Staten Island; 718.877.1513 Ridge Conservation Area (DEC), Ridge; 631.444.0350 Robert Moses State Park, Babylon; 631.481.3516, register here Shirley Chisholm State Park, Brooklyn, register here St. Francis Woodlands (DEC), Staten Island; [email protected] Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park; 516.330.4438, register here
New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, “First Day Hikes are a family-friendly tradition that offer a great way to embrace the outdoors this winter season and allow us to take a break and understand the importance of the connection nature and outdoor recreation has to our physical and mental wellness. On New Year’s Day, I encourage you to connect with your community and visit a familiar or new destination to create new memories, treat your wellness and experience our state’s natural treasures year-round.”
“First Day Hikes are a favorite New Year’s Day tradition, and we look forward to starting 2025 with an extra burst of energy as we begin the Erie Canal’s bicentennial year. I’d like to encourage you to check out our On the Canals Programming for New Year’s Day for all of the ways you can experience the beauty of our 420 plus miles of the Canalway Trail network this winter season,” New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton said.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the OPRHP Blog.
DEC manages more than five million acres of public lands, including three million acres in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves, 55 campgrounds and day-use areas, more than 5,000 miles of formal trails, and hundreds of trailheads, boat launches, and fishing piers. Many sites and trails are accessible to people with disabilities. Find recreation options by visiting Love Our NY Lands – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation or visit DECinfo Locator – NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. The State’s Love Our New York Lands campaign encourages visitors to be respectful of other visitors in these shared spaces. Visitors are asked to share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as they found for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations.
Historic Hotels Worldwide® announced the distinguished winners of the 2024 Historic Hotels Worldwide Annual Awards of Excellence.
Award recipients were honored on the evening of Thursday, November 21, at the 2024 Historic Hotels Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia (United States of America), 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.
During the ceremony, 11 distinct awards of the Historic Hotels Worldwide Annual Awards of Excellence were presented to hoteliers and hotels, recognizing them as the best of the best among their peers. Winners were chosen from nominations by historic hotels, preservation supporters, prior award recipients, community leaders, and leadership from Historic Hotels Worldwide. Member hotels from the program are among the finest historic hotels around the world. 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 Worldwide Awards of Excellence winners:
Historic Hotels Worldwide New Member of the Year This award is presented to a new member hotel that best demonstrates immediate engagement, activation, and passionate support of Historic Hotels Worldwide. Winner: Half Moon (1954) Montego Bay, Jamaica
Historic Hotels Worldwide Best Social Media of a Historic Hotel This award is given to a hotel that actively engages consumers by sharing the best of their history through social media, including Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram with interesting historical facts and stories. Winner: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (1780) Bagac, Philippines
Historic Hotels Worldwide 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: The K Club (1832) Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland
Historic Hotels Worldwide Legendary Family Historic Hoteliers of the Year This award is presented to a multi-generational family ownership entity or management company which has served as an exemplary role model in the operation of the historic hotel entrusted to its stewardship, has demonstrated a long-term legacy of commitment to historic preservation, and has been an active champion of Historic Hotels Worldwide. Winner: The Baverez Family, owners and managers of Les Hôtels Baverez since 1900
Historic Hotels Worldwide Best City Center Historic Hotel This 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: Mystery Hotel Budapest (1896) Budapest, Hungary
Historic Hotels Worldwide Best Historic Resort This award is presented to the historic resort that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Winner: Kviknes Hotel (1752) Balestrand, Norway
Best Historic Hotels Worldwide Hotel in Europe This award is presented to a historic hotel in Europe that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Winner: The Grand York (1906) York, England, United Kingdom
Best Historic Hotels Worldwide Hotel in Asia/Pacific This award is presented to a historic hotel in Asia/Pacific that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Winner: The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (1924) Singapore
Best Historic Hotels Worldwide Hotel in the Americas This award is presented to a historic hotel in the Americas that best celebrates its history in the guest experience and provides exceptional customer hospitality and service. Winner: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (1939) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Historic Hotels Worldwide Historic Hotelier of the Year This 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: Franck X. Arnold at The Savoy London (1889) London, England, United Kingdom
Historic Hotels Worldwide Historian of the Year This award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and presentation of history, encouraging a deeper discussion and broader understanding of the world’s most iconic and legendary hotels. Winner: Andreas and Carola Augustin, editors of FamousHotels.org, “The Library of Hospitality”
“It is an honor to congratulate all of the 2024 Historic Hotels Worldwide 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 around the world. 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 Worldwide Annual Awards of Excellence, the hotel must be a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide, 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 Worldwide® is a prestigious and distinctive hotel collection of historic treasures, including luxury historic hotels built in former castles, chateaus, palaces, academies, haciendas, villas, monasteries, and other historic lodging spanning ten centuries. Historic Hotels Worldwide represents the finest and most distinctive global collection of more than 320 historic hotels in forty-nine countries. Hotels inducted into Historic Hotels Worldwide are authentic historic treasures, demonstrate historic preservation, and celebrate historic significance. Eligibility for induction into Historic Hotels Worldwide is limited to those distinctive historic hotels that adhere to the following criteria: minimum age for the building is 75 years or older; historically relevant as a significant location within a historic district, historically significant landmark, place of a historic event, former home of a famous person, or historic city center; hotel celebrates its history by showcasing memorabilia, artwork, photography, and other examples of its historic significance; recognized by national preservation or heritage buildings organization or located within UNESCO World Heritage Site; and presently used as a historic hotel.
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 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.
See also:
Historic Hotels Worldwide® Announces Winners Annual Awards of Excellence Winners
Looking for the perfect getaway or a unique holiday gift? Now’s your chance to bid on exclusive travel experiences through the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) ’s Holiday Travel Auction, live on Charitybuzz until December 6.
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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:
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.
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.
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
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/
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/
wukalina Walk, a member of Discover Aboriginal Experiences, has been named one of TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places (photo: Jillian Mundy)
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.
Missoula, Montana – Adventure Cycling Association has announced major expansions to the United States Bicycle Route System, including three completely new routes, bringing the total to top a major benchmark of 20,000 miles.
The U.S. Bicycle Route System is a developing national network of officially designated, numbered, and signed routes that use existing roads, trails, and other facilities appropriate for bike travel. It will eventually encompass 50,000 miles of routes and open new opportunities for cross-country travel, regional touring, and commuting by bike. It also benefits communities by providing new bicycle routes, enhancing safety, and increasing tourism and economic activity.
The three new routes are USBR 51 in Arkansas, USBR 76 in Wyoming, and USBR 85 California. USBR 76 will be Wyoming’s first U.S. Bicycle Route. Additionally, Florida extended USBR 15 to go north-south through most of the state and California extended USBR 95 to finish the coastline.
“State departments of transportation are focused on delivering a safe, multimodal transportation system that offers mobility for all,” said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. He noted that AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing state DOTs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO and Adventure Cycling formalized their nearly two-decade partnership of designating new bike routes by signing a memorandum of understanding in February 2021.
“The recent additions to and expansion of the USBRS network by Arkansas, California, Florida, and Wyoming further highlight the active transportation benefits that flow from partnership between AASHTO, state DOTs, and the Adventure Cycling Association,” Tymon said.
Digital maps for all designated U.S. Bicycle Routes are available to the public for free on the Adventure Cycling Association website.
With the new designation and realignments, the U.S. Bicycle Route System now boasts over 22,000 miles of routes in 35 states and Washington, D.C. At least 25 states are currently developing additional U.S. Bicycle Routes.
“It’s satisfying to see the USBRS network grow and know that we are playing a part in making long distance bicycle travel more accessible to more people through these routes,” said Jenn Hamelman, Director of Routes. “None of this would be possible without new and long-standing partnerships with state departments of transportation and local advocates.”
The nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association promotes bike travel and is the only organization that coordinates national development of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. Adventure Cycling staff offer technical assistance, volunteer coordination, and outreach to help states achieve official designation of routes. You can see a map of the corridor plan or photos of USBR 15 in Florida here.
The U.S. Bicycle Route System and the Adventure Cycling Route Network are quite different from the Great American Rail-Trail being promoted by the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Both the USBRS and ACRN use existing infrastructure to route cyclists between destinations while the end goal of the Great American Rail-Trail is to establish a 3,700 mile route across the country, east to west, from Washington D.C. to Washington state, entirely using paths and trails separate from automobile traffic.
