The Woof cottages at Nantucket Boat Basin are designated for guests traveling with pets.
Here are some of the best luxury accommodations to bring your pet or see animals around the world:
To bring your pet…
NORTH AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
· The Woof Cottages at Nantucket Boat Basin are
designated for guests traveling with pets. Pups are welcomed with Draper Canine
beds, a basket of treats and toys, food and water bowls, dog-walking services,
and personalized pet tags. For tips on the best dog-friendly activities on
Nantucket, guests can email Bailey, the WOOF Cottages’
resident Black Lab/Britney Spaniel mix and pet concierge at [email protected].
· For
fashionistas and theater buffs alike, Chatwal’s
‘Pet Wardrobe Supervisor’ can curate a personalized pet closetfor
its ViPets with a Chatwal-red faux fur pet jacket, booties, bowtie,
and a neck bandana. In-room amenities include a NYC yellow cab plush toy, a
doggie treats menu printed as a Playbill, Chatwal-red food and water bowls and
pet bed, plus a VIPet Tag.
· After a
Mayan blessing by resident Shaman rids Fido of his anxiety, Viceroy Riviera Maya gives each pet
his own handmade, portable pet palapa – complete with a
personalized menu of made-to-order meals.
· Cab-Bone-Nay or Char-Dog-Nay
dog biscuits (made with real wine) and a special blanket greet pets
at Napa River Inn. At
the spa, they receive a dog walk, dog cookie, and mini massage.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
· In
Lima, Belmond Miraflores Park welcomes
its four-legged guests with a special letter from the hotel’s resident
pup, Sariri.
EUROPE
· In
Portofino, Belmond Hotel Splendido offers
curated wellbeing sessions where trained pet therapists will
practice Swedish massage in an open-air space overlooking Portofino Bay.
· Home to
the city’s largest spa, La Reserve Geneva caters
to guests and their pups. Dogs at La Reserve receive bowls personalized with
their name and monogrammed blankets.
· Set in
the Oxford countryside, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’
Saisons has plenty of land for curious pets to explore before
retiring back to the room with all-day doggy room service.
To see animals in their natural habitat…
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
· With the
opening of Nayara Tented Camp in December 2019,
the Sloth Sanctuary at the Nayara sister properties – that is
currently a haven to more than 15 of Costa Rica’s native sloths – will
expand as part of Nayara’s reforestation project. This undertaking will bring
in 40,000 indigenous trees, including Cecropia trees, which are the main food
source of sloths. Nayara’s expert nature guides are beginning to see more baby
sloths, a sure sign that the animals are reproducing at Nayara and are
likely to stick around.
· Often seen roaming freely across the front lawn, Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado invites guests to care for and bottle feed the baby alpacas. Prized for their hair which is woven into blankets, hats, and sweaters, the resort cares for the youngsters until early adulthood when they are returned to local communities in exchange for the next generation of crias.
EUROPE
· Families
traveling to Cork can book the ‘Family Fun at The River Lee’
package and receive a turndown of milk and cookies, activity pack, and a trip
to Rumleys Open Farm – kids can get up close to all kinds of
baby animals including tiny chicks, lambs, bunnies, puppies, piglets, llamas,
and more.
AFRICA
· At andBeyond Mnemba Island off
the coast of Zanzibar, Green Turtle nesting season is year-round, peaking in
February and March. The turtles lay their eggs on the beach and in September
and October, baby turtles emerge into the world. With only 10
thatched roof bandas on the island, guests can watch the tiny hatchlings make
their descent into to the water without a crowd.
· Travelers
on andBeyond’s Gorilla Tracking Safari in
Rwanda can get up close to families of mountain gorillas and golden
monkeys. Hiking the forested slopes of the Virungas Volcanoes, guests set
out in search of the world’s largest population of wild mountain gorillas –
including the littlest members of the family and their childlike antics.
Families staying at the White Elephant on Nantucket harbor can ride through town on the hotel’s complimentary Priority Bicycles before retiring for the night with an in-room camp-out, complete with teepees and faux, indoor campfires.
From a safari in Kenya to a sailing camp in Geneva, here are top lodging picks for the next family getaway.
NORTH AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
Long-immersed in the
glamour of New York’s world-renowned theater productions, The Chatwal invites its littlest guests
to reenact their favorite theater moments thanks to the new in-room
‘Dressing Room’ trunk. The steamer trunk is filled with accessories
to transform little ones into character, including Elsa’s tiara,
the Aladdin-inspired magic carpet and genie lamp, and Harry Potter’s signature
glasses and wand.
Recommended Room: The one-bedroom suite collection puts families’ needs first: the renovated bedrooms include a spacious living area with a custom-designed queen-size murphy bed and an in-room kitchenette opening out to a spacious terrace.
With more than 10
beaches, some with little to no waves, 30 miles of flat biking trails, and a
charming, walkable downtown with cobblestone streets and kid appropriate
museums, Nantucket makes for an unforgettable family getaway. Families staying
at the White Elephant on
Nantucket harbor can ride through town on the hotel’s complimentary Priority
Bicycles before retiring for the night with an in-room
camp-out, complete with teepees and faux, indoor
campfires.
Recommended Room: Guests who book either of the White Elephant’s in-town three-bedroom lofts, Easy Street or Loft at 32 Main, receive the keys to a BMW hybrid for the duration of their stay, making it easy to get around the island with the family.
While famous for
wine, Napa Valley has
plenty to offer families. Favorite activities include: a stop at one of
the largest “playgrounds” at Bothe Napa Valley State Park,
home to swimming holes and hiking trails; a tour of the Castello di Amorosa, a
13th-century Tuscan castle, reached via a Gondola ride (grape juice
included); and di Rosa art museum where children
can participate in activities including portrait paintingand
sculpture classes.
Recommended Room: Set among 250-acres of rolling hills in St. Helena, Meadowood’s Hillside Lodges can be arranged anywhere from one to four bedrooms, accommodating families of all sizes. The lodge is complete with a spacious living room including a stone fireplace, kitchen, and French doors leading out to a private balcony and views of the resort’s wooded hillsides.
Families staying at
Jamaica’s GoldenEye can
opt for an active day of paddle boarding and kayaking on
the property’s calm lagoon or a guided snorkeling excursion through
the turquoise Oracabessa Bay, home to 2,000 pieces of coral in shades of red,
pink, yellow, and orange. Kids can join Ramsey Dacosta, Ian Fleming’s former
gardener who still works on the property, for coconut carving and nature walks.
Daily complimentary kid’s yoga is also available.
Recommended Room: The five-bedroom Fleming Villa is the site where all 14 James Bond novels were penned. Families will enjoy dinner in his sunken garden where Fleming used to entertain the likes of Katharine Hepburn and Noel Coward.The grounds are home to a private beach, pool, and movie screening room.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
At Nayara Gardens,
after a day out ziplining or playing in a waterfall, kids can spend time in
the sloth sanctuary and get a close look at the sedentary
Costa Rican native.
Recommended Room: The 1,135-square-foot Rainforest Villa features a wraparound terrace with a jacuzzi, colorful hammock, and both indoor and outdoor showers. Coming soon: sister resort Nayara Tented Camp will open on December 19, 2019 offering interconnecting luxury tents overlooking the Arenal Volcano for multi-generational travelers.
At UXUA Casa
Hotel & Spa in Trancoso, Brazil, kids can learn the
ancient art of capoeira, a traditional Bahian sport that blends martial
arts, acrobatics, and dance at the local school sponsored by UXUA. Guests are invited to either train
privately in the hotel’s studio, or side by side with over 65 local children
and young adults at the Casa da Cultura (Cultural Center).
Recommended Room: The restored three-bedroom Zé e Zilda is named for its former inhabitants – local Bahians and parents who raised their family in this very casa. Ideal for families traveling with teenagers, the main house is separated from the third garden suite by a private patio and flowering pergola.
EUROPE
For families staying in
a Studio Suite and above, The
Kensingtonconcierge teamwill set up a
teepeein the room so little ones can take to adventure no matter
the weather. At turndown, kids receive their own lantern, milk, and homemade
chocolate chip cookies.
Recommended Room: Families seeking a truly ‘royal’ experience can stay in the three-bedroom Knightsbridge Suite where an in-room afternoon tea can be served in-suite or out on the balcony. Families can enjoy two decorative fireplaces, gaze out over London with floor-to-ceiling windows, and have the run of the Jacuzzi in the marble bathroom.
It’s no parents allowed
at La Petite
Réserve at La Réserve Geneva, where a trained staff
oversees children ages six-months to 13-years. The kid’s club occupies a treehouse
complete with game tables, an obstacle course, a suspension bridge,
and a fireman’s pole. During the summer season children can
participate in tennis and sailing camps.
Recommended Room: The Junior Suite Terrace with its king bedroom and separate living room can accommodate two adults and two little ones and can be connected to another Junior Suite for those looking for even more space. Plus, guests have their own front yard in the form of a private terrace looking out onto the park and lake.
AFRICA
andBeyond’s newBateleur
Camp, just reopened in March 2018 on Kenya’s Masai Mara, is offering their
fun and educational WILDchild program for the smallest
safari-goers. Kids can learn to identify animal tracks and droppings, learn to
build a fire the Maasai way, and play some fun games and activities while
learning about conservation and the role they can play in protecting the
world’s fauna.
Recommended Room: The camp’s Family Tent consisting of two interconnected tents with ensuite bathrooms and private verandas accommodate two adults and up to three children. The old explorer maps wallpapering the interior of the tents are sure to inspire an adventurous spirit in all.
Royal Mansour turns little ones into global citizens
with itsKid’s
Club, complete with Moroccan art activities, Arabic lessons, and a
complimentary children’s book following Lila, a young girl exploring the
hotel’s winding passageways and gardens. The hotel also offers a hands-on
chocolate making experience for children in their on-site Chocolate
Laboratory, allowing kids to taste-test their creations.
Recommended Room: Modeled after traditional Moroccan homes, each of the three-story riads are complete with a lounge, living room, dining room, and private rooftop terrace with plunge pool. The two-bedroom Privilege riads are ideal for families sitting across 4,300 square feet with dedicated butler service.
ASIA
Budding botanist? Future
Michelin-starred chef? Belmond Napasai in Koh Samui lets young
travelers indulge their career aspirations with the “My First
Job” program. Guests can join the hotel’s head chef in
the kitchen to create chocolate roses, or blend local papaya and coconut juices
with the bartender for a delicious mocktail. Kids can also learn the art of
Thai dance from a local expert.
Recommended Room: Situated among 17 acres of tropical gardens, Belmond Napasai offers a secluded retreat for the whole family with a collection of standalone residences overlooking Baan Tai beach. These oceanfront, multi-level private homes range from one- to four-bedrooms and feature their own pool, massage sala, and direct beach access.
Travel experts Off the Map Travel and the team behind the famous Treehotel in Sweden are accepting reservations for travel to the floating hotel and spa, Arctic Bath, between February 2020 and February 2021
(Lulea, SWEDEN) After an extensive planning and construction period, the long-awaited Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa is now receiving bookings. Travel experts Off the Map Travel and the team behind the famous Treehotel in Sweden are accepting reservations for travel to the floating hotel and spa, Arctic Bath, between February 2020 and February 2021. The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, designed by architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kaupp, freezes into the Lule River in the winter and floats on top of the water in the summer. The Arctic Bath and Spa offers wellness, mindfulness and cleansing treatments through spa partners Kerstin Florian. The new hotel and spa is located in Lulea in Swedish Lapland.
The Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa offers a
distinctive experience with a stay in the Hotel, comprised of
six detached floating “cabins” and six additional cabins on land, plus
the Arctic Bath inspired by the timber floating era which
recalls how felled trees were transported downriver for processing. Both the
spa and the rooms float on or are frozen into the water, depending on the
season. The spa complex and cabins float on waters ranging from 6.5 to 14 feet
deep and are connected by floating walkways. With an eye to sustainability, the
Arctic Bath leaves a minimal environmental footprint.
The Arctic Bath’s approach to wellness is based on four elements: proper nutrition, regular
exercise, peace of mind, and the care of face and body. These are reflected
through menus, snacks and smoothies focusing on clean, local ingredients; the
encouragement of exercise through a variety of activities; working with
affirmation cards, mindfulness and meditation; and the Arctic Bath’s
proprietary spa treatments. Guests at the floating hotel and spa will
experience the wellness benefits of alternating cold-water and hot-water dips
and sauna, yoga, meditation, and cleansing sessions such as crystal healing.
Each moment is designed to bring relaxation, refreshment and clarity. There are
no ambient distractions or light pollution. Colors are chosen for their color
therapy benefits, and surrounding materials are organic and local. Both summer
and winter spa experiences will be offered.
The circular-shaped Arctic Bath houses one spa
treatment room, four saunas, an outside cold bath, a hot bath, outdoor and
indoor showers, and two dressing rooms. The open center of the bath invites
guests to sunbathe, ice bathe or sit back to view the Northern Lights or
star-filled skies. A dip in the bath itself is consistent with the Arctic
tradition of a cold-water plunge with the water maintained at 39 degrees
Fahrenheit and combines well with the warmth of a sauna and spa. A special
technique has been developed to keep the center of the bath open during
wintertime, adding to the drama of the setting and the guest experience.
“The opening of the Arctic Bath has been eagerly
anticipated over the last year ever since plans were first announced,”
commented Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel. “The serenity of the
location combined with this distinctive wellness experience makes this a first
in the travel world,” he continued.
While all Off the Map Travel itineraries are
customizable to meet travelers’ interests and needs, a sample 3-day Off the Map
Travel/Arctic Bath itinerary including the Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa features
accommodations in a floating cabin, breakfast daily, nightly five-course
dinner, a guided Northern Lights hunt, transfers and spa access is priced
starting at £3995 (or $5040 USD at the time of this writing) per person, based
on double occupancy. Flights are additional. Families are welcome, and
childcare will be available. Summer and winter itineraries are available. To
book an adventure to experience the Arctic Bath, contact Off the Map Travel via
email [email protected] or
by phone in the US on 1-646-701-0041, or in the UK on +44 203 504 6446. https://www.offthemap.travel/arctic-bath/
“The Arctic Bath really is a first – it’s a
special spa experience,” adds AnnKathrin Lundqvist from the Arctic Bath team. “So
much thought, engineering and ingenuity have come together to provide visitors
with an experience they can’t find anywhere else. We’re excited to welcome our
first guests and to work with Off the Map Travel in the creation of this
newest, luxurious Arctic holiday.”
The Arctic Bath project was developed by Kent
Lindvall, Per Anders Eriksson, Robert Lundqvist, Patrik Jonsson and AnnKathrin
Lundqvist. The project grew out of the opening days of the Treehotel in Harads,
Sweden when developers envisioned taking the wood concept from the air to the
water as well. Specialist design architects Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi,
both of Sweden, translated the concept into design, utilizing their background
of minimalist furniture and building design. The design of the spa and hotel is
not only striking in its look but also in its creation with the highest
environmental standards in mind, using local materials and leaving a minimal to
zero-impact on the environment.
Off the Map Travel is a team of travel experts who work with experiences and
destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world.
Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map
Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based
on first-hand experience. Off the Map Travel vacations anticipate travelers’
needs with pre-planning and customization. Each bespoke itinerary is tailored
to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples
and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels
appropriate for all participants. www.offthemap.travel
What could be more romantic than a winter overnight glamping exclusively for two underneath the Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland
(Luleå, SWEDEN) A tempting combination of romance and adventure is offered this winter in Off the Map Travel’s new “Sleep beneath the Stars” program in Swedish Lapland. With this new itinerary, two guests stay all alone at a NEW remote glamping site to experience the Lapland wilderness, perfect for spotting the Northern Lights.
The exclusive holiday is for two
people only and includes a private sky-searching experience, a private
dinner at the two-person Aurora Hideaway restaurant on skis, private
snowmobiling and snowshoeing, and sleeping in a yurt on the edge of the frozen
Bothnian Sea at your own private glamping site.
Guests are encouraged to rekindle both their
romance and their sense of adventure as they experience the winter in Swedish
Lapland as a couple. The program begins with check-in at the Pine Bay Lodge, a
homey red cottage-style lodge on the Luleå archipelago in
Northern Sweden. A guided astronomy experience for two sets
the tone combining a search for the Northern Lights with an exploration of the
myriad constellations in the area’s strikingly dark skies.
The following day, a snowmobiling tour
for two travels through snowy forests surrounding the archipelago
followed by an al fresco lunch with Swedish and Lappish
specialties like reindeer and arctic char.
The program moves to a private
glamping camp for two where you’ll stay in a luxurious Arctic yurt,
kitted out with a wood-burning stove and comfy bed coverings perfect for
cozying up to the sounds of complete silence and the smells of fresh air, all
while awaiting the Northern Lights.
The evening’s meal is a true highlight.
Following a short snowmobile ride into the wilderness you’ll dine in the Aurora
Hideawayrestaurant on skis, a haven for two people on the
frozen sea, where candles and tea lights indoors complement starlight from
outside. The restaurant is mobile, allowing relocation for optimal sky viewing
and environmental placement.
Your guide will prepare a three-course Lappish
meal, cooked outdoors over birch wood. While you’re waiting, you can
strap on a pair of snowshoes for a quick walk to look at the stars. After a
post-dinner sauna in the sauna cabin at your glamping campsite, relaxation is
ensured as you return to your warm yurt and snuggle into the comfortable bed
covered with high-quality linens and reindeer skins.
Daylight arrives slowly with the hushed sounds
of the frozen sea to wake you. After breakfast, you’ll transfer back to Pine
Bay where you can spend the balance of the day absorbing the beauty of the
wilderness setting and trying out some other outdoor activities.
Because the program is arranged for two people
only, advance booking is required.
“We’ve created this program for the lovers out
there, who are indeed looking for an exclusive program that they can call their
own. There’s no light pollution, no noise distractions, and no other
participants – it’s, in effect, your own private holiday,” noted Jonny Cooper,
founder of Off the Map Travel.
Off the Map Travel’s “Sleep beneath
the Stars program is offered from December 15, 2019 through April 15,
2020. While the itinerary can be tailored to each guest, an example
five-night, four-day itinerary with Off the Map Travel (www.offthemap.travel) is priced from $2496 USD per person (at the
time of this writing). Included are all meals including one dinner in the
restaurant on skis, transfers, accommodations at the
Pine Bay Lodge and glamping Yurt, snowmobiling, and a stargazing exploration.
Flights are additional. https://www.offthemap.travel/sleep-beneath-the-stars/
Off
the Map Travel is a team of travel experts who work with experiences and
destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of the world.
Specializing in soft adventure and viewing of the Northern Lights, Off the Map
Travel creates tailor-made itineraries that offer a distinctive vacation based
on first-hand experience. Off the Map Travel vacations anticipate travelers’
needs with pre-planning and customization. Each bespoke itinerary is tailored
to the ages of participants, creating experiences for families, groups, couples
and singles that are comfortable and luxurious, with activity levels
appropriate for all participants. www.offthemap.travel
Jeep rentals, private Hummer tours are among the activities that can be booked through Moab Adventure Center.
MOAB, UT– The population of America’s red rock playground, Moab Utah, in winter hovers at just over 5,000 residents. Spring through fall, however, is a different story.
There are some 2.4 million guests visiting the region when temperatures are most inviting. They come to witness the spectacles of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and to immerse themselves in the air, land and water adventures that have put Moab squarely on the tourist map.
The go-to hub for many visitors is the Moab Adventure Center that in 2019 is experiencing a nearly 25 percent uptick in advance reservations for day or half-day adventures. Moab Adventure Center can make arrangements for everything there is to do here, from hot air ballooning and overland Hummer safaris to flightseeing, canyoneering and river rafting.
“We’ve been experiencing growth ever since we opened our doors nearly two decades ago,” said Brandon Lake, CMO. One strategy that has paid off is an ongoing collaboration with RESMARK Systems that services local and far-flung vendors in the recreation industry with tour booking software that provide state-of-art reservation and sales technology. As a result, Moab Adventure Center today may well be one of the most tech-astute companies in the country.
Recently, Moab Adventure Center adapted Resmark Systems’ TrueConnect platform, resulting in a nearly 120 percent surge in reservations from third-party, off-site bookings. These are other subcontractors and companies using the RESMARK platform and who, through TrueConnect, can now access real-time inventory for all of Moab Adventure Center’s offerings.
“TrueConnect is helping many local businesses in the tourist sector provide, through Moab Adventure Center, products that represent the best possible adventure experience for guests to the Moab area,” Lake said.
Lake points to other factors that have led to the robust sales they have seen in the first half of 2019: the local and state tourism boards’ aggressive marketing; increased lodging capacity with additions of new accommodations including popular hotel brands such as Marriott, Hyatt and Hilton; and not to be overlooked, America’s continued love affair with its national parks. All have added incrementally to this surge.
Among the most dramatic booking increases over last year are:
Other popular day
activities include jeep rentals, visiting the new Dinosaur Park and standup
paddle boarding.
“Moab Adventure Center’s digital activities menu provides options for the most
active to slower-paced members of a family or group,” added Lake.
While some tour booking applications feature a marketplace that connects
suppliers and resellers, or even their own exclusive marketplace, RESMARK’s TrueConnect takes this to a whole new
level. Central to RESMARK’s core architecture, TrueConnect allows tour
resellers to create their own network, tailoring their tour mix perfectly to
their target customers within their unique region. It’s like becoming the
Amazon of travel for any given part of the world. You can even customize tour
marketing details and pricing via each distribution channel. This results in
more tour sales, both self-operated and subcontracted through partners.
Moab Adventure Center is at the
epicenter of nature-themed adventure, promising activities that include
rafting, jet boating, stand up paddle boarding, hiking, mountain biking and hot
air ballooning. Hummer safaris, rock climbing, canyoneering and horseback
riding are popular. Many of these activities are conducted with guides, an
arrangement that helps preclude the kind of damage to the land that can happen
when uneducated visitors venture into areas where they shouldn’t be. Guides
help people understand where they can move through back country with the least
impact possible.
Moab Adventure Center is a division of Western River Expeditions (http://www.westernriver.com/) an adventure travel company headquartered in
Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab and Fredonia, AZ. The
company is the largest single tour provider in Moab, Utah. The Moab Adventure
Center is located at 225 South Main St., Moab, UT 84532. For information and
reservations please call (435) 259-7019 or (866) 904-1163. The center also has
a 2,000-square-foot retail space selling adventure related gear, clothing, maps
and souvenirs.
Each year, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation puts out an emergency call to protect the most endangered historic
places. This year’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places sheds
light on important examples of our nation’s heritage that are at risk of
destruction or irreparable damage. Over 300 places have been listed in its
32-year history, and in that time, fewer than 5 percent of listed sites have
been lost.
The 2019 list includes a diverse mix of
historic places across America that face a range of challenges and threats,
from climate change to inappropriate development to neglect and disuse.
Find out what you can do to support these
irreplaceable sites:
Primarily settled by formerly enslaved
people after the Civil War, Dallas’ Tenth Street Historic District includes a
collection of buildings dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. A 2010
change to a local ordinance allowed the city to obtain demolition permits for
houses less than 3,000 square feet without Landmark Commission review, which is
substantially increasing the rate of demolition. To date, at least 70 of the
district’s 260 homes have been demolished.
Nashville’s Music Row is a world-class
musical mecca that harbors more than 200 music-related businesses, making it
unlike any other place in the world. Out of its modest homes and large
commercial buildings has emerged an unmatched canon of music recordings across
a wide variety of musical styles, which has delighted music fans for
generations.
Industrial Trust Company Building, Providence, Rhode Island
An iconic part of the Providence skyline,
the 1928 Industrial Trust Company Building is under threat due to deterioration
and deferred maintenance after six years of vacancy. While this site is located
within a qualified “Opportunity Zone” (an area eligible for capital gains tax
incentive benefits), there is no redevelopment plan for the so-called Superman
Building, and its future is in question. Read More.
Ancestral Places of Southeast Utah, Southeast Utah
Listed in the Green Book, the Excelsior
Club was a leading private African American social club in the Southeast,
hosting artists like Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong during its heyday. The
Art Moderne building needs significant investment. The property is currently
listed for sale for $1.5 million, but even if a buyer is found, a reuse plan
and significant investments are necessary to ensure a strong future. Read more.
Hacienda Los Torres—built in 1846 during
the height of Puerto Rico’s coffee industry by Jose Maria Torres—is one of the
last historic coffee plantation houses on the island and one of the oldest
remaining structures in Puerto Rico. It’s also associated with the “Grito de
Lares” revolt and the Spanish-American War.
Long-term deterioration and the effects of
multiple hurricanes, including Hurricane Maria in 2017, threaten this historic
site. Support saving Hacienda Los Torres.
This complex, a unique example of early
Modernism with bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life, was New York
State’s first housing project constructed specifically for African Americans.
Today, the site is vacant and many of its structures are open to the elements.
The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority has proposed demolishing the complex to
construct replacement housing.
The Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge connects
Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota. Constructed in 1883, it was the first rail
bridge built across the upper Missouri River. The iconic bridge has been
recognized as an International Site of Conscience for the role it played in
opening the western United States to white settlement—and the resulting
profound impacts to Native American communities—but it has been proposed for
demolition by railway company BNSF.
The Coast Guard is in consultation with
BNSF and other parties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act. The Coast Guard has proposed a conditional permit that would require BNSF
to retain the historic bridge until after an adjacent new bridge is
constructed, in order to allow time to identify a preservation solution for the
Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge. Tell the Coast Guard not to allow demolition of this
iconic bridge.
For more information, follow us on Twitter and join the conversation using the
hashtag #11Most.
How fitting that during May, National Biking Month, Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy (RTC) has just unveiled its preferred route for its visionary Great
American Rail-Trail™—or the “Great American”— a 3,700-mile biking trail that
would link Washington DC with Washington State.
The proposal underscores the organization’s long-time
commitment to creating an iconic piece of American infrastructure that connects
more than 125 existing trails and fills 90 trail gaps to create the
cross-continental recreational trail.
“Since the 1980s, RTC has understood the potential of a
trail like the Great American Rail-Trail that could connect the nation. That
vision has been a guidepost for the organization for 30 years. Now, we have the
chance to create from that vision a national treasure that unites millions of
people over thousands of miles of trail,” said Ryan Chao, president of RTC.
“This trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide—together—an enduring
gift to the nation that will bring joy for generations to come.”
The preferred route of the nation’s first cross-country
multiuse trail is detailed in a comprehensive report released by RTC today. The
Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment Report outlines RTC’s recommendation
for the route, developed in close partnership with states and local trail
planners and managers.
“When defining the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail, we sought a cross-country route that would provide the highest-quality experience while delivering significant economic and social benefits to the communities it connects,” said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC. “This route achieves those things and more, in large part thanks to the input, support and leadership of state agencies and local partners who have built the existing trails that will make the Great American Rail-Trail possible, and whose ongoing collaboration is vital to its completion.”
The route assessment was developed over 12 months with input
from RTC’s GIS analysis of more than 34,000 miles of multiuse trails; review of
state and local trail plans; and discussions with hundreds of local trail
partners and state agencies representing the trails along the route. The
preferred route aligns with RTC’s and its partners’ criteria that specify the
Great American be one contiguous route that is initially more than 80 percent,
and ultimately entirely, off street and separated from vehicle traffic;
comprises existing trails to the extent possible; is the most direct route
possible between Washington, D.C., and Washington State; is amenable to the state
and local jurisdictions that will host it; and will serve as a catalyst for
local economic development, including providing services for long-distance
trail travelers.
Traveling through 12 states and the District of Columbia,
RTC and its partners have defined the Great American Rail-Trail as more than
3,700 miles, comprising more than 1,900 miles of existing trails—those trails
already developed that will help carry the route across the country—and more
than 1,700 miles of “trail gaps,”—sections of trail in need of development to
fully connect the Great American into one contiguous route.
As the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, the
Great American will connect people of all ages and abilities with America’s
diverse landscapes and communities. Nearly 50 million people living within 50
miles of its route will be able to call this iconic American infrastructure
their own as the trail delivers new access to the outdoors and new
opportunities for physical activity and recreation. Hundreds of communities
along the route will experience new opportunities for business development and
tourism thanks to the Great American Rail-Trail, all while contributing to the
growth of the country’s burgeoning outdoor economy—one of the largest sectors
in the United States.
“We believe the Great American Rail-Trail will be a
transformative project for the nation, as it magnifies on a grand scale the
benefits that trails have delivered to communities for decades,” said Chao.
“Whether bridging gaps within and between communities, creating safe walking
and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping and green space; or serving as
recreation for cyclists, runners and casual daily explorers, this will be
America’s trail.”
While completion of the Great American Rail-Trail is a
significant undertaking and several decades away, 52% of the path is already
complete and available for public use, with plans for RTC to work in
partnership with states and local jurisdictions and organizations to bring new
segments online year after year.
RTC and its partners view the route assessment as a
blueprint for the trail’s development that is based in the reality of existing
plans and priorities. To spur trail completion, RTC has identified initial
catalyst initiatives—projects or challenges that would most benefit from RTC’s
national breadth of resources. Through these initiatives, RTC will directly
support local and state partners, investing time, expertise and organizational
resources in specific projects that are critical to catalyzing the completion
of the Great American Rail-Trail. RTC is also enlisting the support of trail
lovers across the country to demonstrate national enthusiasm for the Great
American’s development.
Setting a goal to reach 1 million pledges in support of the cross-country trail, RTC is asking the public to pledge at greatamericanrailtrail.org.
“We know that it will take a significant investment of time,
resources and energy to complete the Great American Rail-Trail—but it will be
worth it. It will take the help of trail lovers and leaders to bring this
vision to life,” said Kevin Mills, RTC’s vice president of policy. “Federal,
state, local and private investment will all be needed to complete this
project. To support the ongoing advocacy necessary to secure critical public
resources, we hope everyone will be inspired to proudly pledge to show the
widespread desire that exists for this trail.”
The Great American Rail-Trail is a signature project of RTC
and the most ambitious in its portfolio of TrailNation™ projects—the
organization’s initiative to encourage the rapid replication of regional trail
networks across the country. The Great American was first envisioned at RTC in
the late 1980s, and for decades has been an underpinning of the organization’s
strategy to create a nationwide network of public trails.
Separately, New York State, which already offers a 353-mile
long Erie Canalway from Buffalo to Albany, is in the process of filling the
gaps for a bikeway that will extend the entire north-south expanse, from New
York City to the Canadian border.
To learn more about the Great American Rail-Trail and RTC and to view the preferred route, visit greatamericanrailtrail.org and follow @greatamericanrailtrail on Facebook and Instagram.
It will take public and private support to complete the
Great American Rail-Trail. To learn more about how you can support the project
and RTC’s national leadership to plan, organize and advocate for the trail,
contact Alisa Borland, vice president of development at RTC, at
[email protected] or 202.974.5126.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong— dedicated to connecting people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A new cycling tour being offered by Tourissimo and Ride & Seek as part of their PLUS Tours series highlights two UNESCO sites – Alberobello and Matera
(Turin, Italy) –
Situated between the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and the forests and
mountains of Basilicata, Puglia offers a landscape of beguiling views,
ancient olive groves, and UNESCO sites. This new cycling tour being offered by
Tourissimo and Ride & Seek as part of their PLUS Tours series
highlights two of these UNESCO sites – Alberobello and Matera. The former
is known for its trulli, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs, whilst the
latter for its cave dwellings built into the calcareous rock. Guests will cycle
the road-less-traveled with average daily rides of 40 km, and spend evenings
dining on gourmet cuisine and fine wines.
“From the Adriatic Sea to the stones of Matera, this Puglia tour explores
the most beautiful riding destinations in Southern Italy,” said Ride &
Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “We will cycle rolling landscapes carpeted
with olive groves, vineyards, whitewashed hill towns, fishing villages, and
thousands of trulli.”
The trip starts in Savelletri with fig trees, blooming cacti, and herb gardens
offering delightful fragrances. Guests will ride through one of the gems of
Puglia: the Valle D’Itria. Its wooded slopes, vineyards, and endless olive
groves are punctuated by the coned roofs of trulli.
“While many regions of Italy boast of having the best food in the world,
Puglia could claim this title due its simple preparations that allow the true
flavors of the food to stand out,” said Beppe Salerno, Co-Founder of
Tourissimo. “But the charm of Puglia is rooted in the people themselves.
Their hospitality is renowned throughout Italy.”
Tour Highlights:
Touring Matera where the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur was filmed
Discovering the white-washed town of Ostuni and the
beaches near the fishing village of Savelletri
Visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alberobello
& Matera
Riding among the orchards and trulli of Valle d’Itria
Attending a demonstration by a master cheese maker
Exploring the Greek Ruins of Egnazia
Lodging in the award-winning Sextantio Hotel
The trip is scheduled
for October 10-17, 2019 and starts at $4,195.
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 1, 2018 — A group of 28 leading U.S. tour operators and organizations specializing in educational travel and exchanges with Cuba is calling on the U.S. State Department to re-staff its Embassy in Havana and change Cuba’s travel advisory from a Level 3 (“reconsider travel”) to at least a less intimidating Level 2 (“exercise increased caution”). The request comes on the eve of the State Department’s decision about whether or not to return the U.S. diplomats to the Embassy, expected to be announced on March 4.
(The US State Department said it would not restore the diplomats.)
Beginning in late September 2017, after reports that 24 U.S. Embassy employees in Havana had suffered unexplained health ailments, the Trump Administration withdrew 60 percent of its Embassy staff from Havana, issued a Travel Warning urging Americans not travel to Cuba, and expelled 15 diplomats from Cuba’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. In January 2018, the State Department issued a new global travel advisory system, which ranks Cuba as Level 3.
“A Level 3 rating is not justified for Cuba since there are no confirmed causes of private citizens or travelers contracting symptoms similar to the diplomats,” says Andrea Holbrook, President and CEO of Holbrook Travel, one of the companies that signed the petition. (The list of signatories is provided below). “This inappropriate travel warning has caused fear and confusion and has sharply reduced the number of U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba,” Holbrook adds. “It has also affected travel businesses in the States and in Cuba, including those small businesses, like B&Bs and home restaurants, which depend so heavily on American tourists.”
A survey of 42 tour operators and educational travel organizations conducted in late January 2018 by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) found that not one of their travelers reported suffering from health issuessimilar to those of the Embassy employees. Collectively, those surveyed sent more than 42,000 U.S. travelers to Cuba in 2016 and 2017. In addition, there have been no confirmed cases of similar illness among the estimated 700,000 private U.S. citizens who visited the island nation in 2017.
A lengthy ProPublica article, published February 14, 2018, provides the first detailed chronology of the diplomats’ afflictions and the subsequent official — but, to date, inconclusive — investigations by the United States, Cuba, and Canada, and makes clear that the general public is not threatened. In fact, in January 2018, Cuba was voted the safest place to travel at the International Travel Fair in Madrid.
During a meeting on January 12 with State Department officials, a group of American tour operators, travel associations, and Cuba experts were told that a Level 3 rating is automatically triggered by a “drawdown” of U.S. Embassy personnel as a result of the “No Double Standard” policy articulated in the Foreign Affairs Manual.
According to the State Department, this policy originated after the terrorist bombing of a passenger airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, in the interest of sharing information publicly about potential threats against U.S. citizens. That policy, however, also states it is “not intended to prevent the limited distribution of information about threats to specific U.S. citizens/nationals or U.S. organizations.”
“The ‘No Double Standard’ policy leaves the option for the State Department to report threats only to those parties that might be affected by similar incidents,” says Kate Simpson, President of Academic Travel Abroad, Inc, a Washington, D.C.-based educational travel company. “So why was this more limited approach not employed in the case of Cuba, given that the affected group consists only of diplomats, many of whom are known to be intelligence officers and their families?”
Simpson adds, “The fallout from the State Department’s actions has negatively impacted not only U.S. companies and institutions sending travelers to Cuba for educational purposes, but the lack of Embassy staff in Havana has also made it extremely difficult for Cuban citizens to attain visas for visits to the United States.”
On March 4, the State Department faces a mandatory deadline requiring that, six months after an Embassy drawdown, staff must either be reassigned or sent back to their original post. The draw down in Havana began in early September 2017 as Hurricane Irma hit the island and was increased to 60 percent of staff later in the month, in the wake of media revelations about afflictions to the two dozen U.S. diplomats and a handful of staff in the Canadian Embassy. Canada has launched an investigation but has not downsized its Embassy or issued any travel warning to its citizens.
The 28 tour operators and organizations specializing in educational travel to Cuba are calling for the State Department to return more consular officers to the U.S. Embassy in Havana. Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, President of the American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents U.S. foreign-service officers, and some diplomats who were interviewed for the ProPublica article indicated that this is also their wish — to return U.S. diplomats to Cuba. This would, the group hopes, eliminate the trigger that has categorized the country as a Level 3.
The group further questions how Cuba can be rated as a Level 3 while countries with known security risks — such as Israel, Egypt, Algeria, Mexico, and Ethiopia — are rated as Level 2. In addition, the State Department advisories for some countries include alerts pertaining to particularly dangerous parts of their countries. Mexico, for instance, while rated Level 2 overall, is given ratings of Levels 3 and 4 (“do not travel”) for certain states.
“While the new travel advisory system is a welcome improvement, in terms of clarity and organization,” says Ms. Simpson, “it is disappointing to have the Cuba rating starkly reveal political bias, undermining the credibility of the State Department’s consular services.”
A more acceptable alternative, Simpson and the other signers suggest, would be to rate Cuba at least Level 2 overall and designate the parts of Havana where the health incidents took place as Level 3. “Until it’s discovered what caused these ailments, a Level 2 rating, at least, would more accurately reflect the situation in Cuba,” explains Ms. Holbrook. “And it would help encourage those considering traveling to Cuba to do so.”
To read the full petition, click here. The list of tour operators and educational travel organizations who have signed the petition are:
Johann Besserer, Executive Director, Intercultural Outreach Initiative
Reid Callanan, Director, Santa Fe Photographic Workshops
Karin Eckhard, CEO & Co-founder, Espíritu Travel, LLC
Michael Eizenberg, President, Educational Travel Alliance
Malia Everette, CEO, AltruVistas
Michele Gran. Co-founder and Senior Vice President, Global Volunteers
Bob Guild, Co-coordinator, Responsible and Ethical Cuba Travel (RESPECT)
Kendra Guild, Director, Marazul Charters, Inc.
John Haffner, President, Cuba Trade and Travel
Marcel Hatch, President,Cuba Explorer Tours
Richard Hobbs, Esq., Executive Director, Human Agenda
Andrea Holbrook, President and CEO, Holbrook Travel, Inc.
Martha Honey, Ph.D., Cofounder & Executive Director, Center for Responsible Travel (CREST)
Tor D. Jensen, President, Jensen World Travel, Ltd.
Gabrielle Jorgensen, Director of Public Policy, Engage Cuba
Collin Laverty, President, Cuba Educational Travel
Lee Marona & Aja C. Napolis, President & Administrative Coordinator, Vaya Sojourns, Inc.
John McAuliff, Executive Director & Founder, The Fund for Reconciliation and Development
Janet Moore, President, Distant Horizons
Tom Popper, President, insightCuba
Bill Robison, Director of Expedition Development, Lindblad Expeditions
Melisa Riviere, Ph.D., President, Son Dos Alas: Cultural and Educational Travel
Peter Sanchez, CEO, Cuba Tours and Travel
Kate Simpson, President, Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.
Mark J. Spalding, President, The Ocean Foundation
Ned Sublette, Founder & President, Postmambo Studies
Kristen Tripp, Program Director – Cuba, Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures
The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is a policy-oriented research organization dedicated to increasing the positive global impact of responsible tourism. CREST assists governments, policy makers, tourism businesses, nonprofit organizations, and international agencies with finding solutions to critical issues confronting tourism, the world’s largest service industry.
Backyard Travel’s new tour is an odyssey of highlights across the Malaysian Peninsula.
Bangkok, Thailand– Backyard Travel, an online boutique tour operator specializing in insider tours throughout Asia, has introduced a new tour for 2018, The Best of Malaysia in 9 Days, an odyssey of highlights across the Malaysian peninsula: urban safaris, cave expeditions, foodie discoveries, cultural encounters and plenty of time to relax and soak up the sights.
The tour sets off from Singapore, where travelers get a chance to learn some local history and delve into the sophisticated city-state’s colonial past. Next, it’s off to the former trading port of Malacca, to explore its colorful streets and markets, before heading to the capital of Kuala Lumpur for a look at its architecture and hawker food scene. The tour also includes a jaunt to the Cameron Highlands for some locally grown tea, a visit to the famous Batu Caves, and time in Penang, where travelers embarking on a cycling tour through the countryside for a glimpse of local life.
“Peninsula Malaysia is often overlooked when it comes to travel in Southeast Asia, and we think it’s about time people got to know this diverse and dynamic country,” says Maeve Nolan, General Manager of Backyard Travel. “We’ve created this tour to meet demand for a Malaysian experience that showcases its rich culture, stunning natural scenery and world-famous foodie scene.”
