Archive for Great Outdoors

Water Views That Make You Say, “Whatta View!”

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Working on SniqueAway hotels lately, we’ve come across some real doozies when it comes to water views. And we aren’t just talking about your average panoramic Caribbean horizon (not that there’s anything wrong with that). So, on this fine Monday we thought we’d share the wealth and call out some of the coolest water-focused views around the world. Feast your eyes on:

Water views

Photos courtesy of La Maltese Hotel, Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel, Tikehau Pearl Resort and Poseidon Undersea Resort

Clockwise from top left:

La Maltese Hotel: While it’s the most traditional of ocean views we’re featuring, there’s nothing boring about this cliffside, turquoise seascape. Ahhh, Santorini.

Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview: Inland North America doesn’t offer seaviews, but guests of the Marriott Fallsview find themselves perched on the edge of a natural wonder. This hotel sits closer to the falls than any other accommodations in the area.

Tikehau Pearl Resort: This place boasts panoramic overwater bungalows with glass-bottom viewing floors—no further explanation needed.

Poseidon Undersea Resort: Sure you’ve seen sunset ocean horizons, sprawling waterfall views and even 360-degree panoramas. But for the truly adventurous, check out the Poseidon for a fully underwater experience, aquarium-style viewing walls and all (taking reservations soon).

Segway Your Way around the Country!

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Segways are kind of like Pinterest. You see people using it, think “what’s the big deal?” and then—once you try it for yourself—develop a somewhat unhealthy obsession with it. Or at least that’s what we’ve heard; we’re totally not obsessed with Pinterest or anything. If you’ve never been on a Segway tour, it’s time you try it out! They’re a great way to cover miles of ground within just a few hours (which means more vacation time devoted to sipping cocktails by the pool). Plus, Segways are easy to maneuver (it took us about 2.5 minutes to get the hang of them the first time) and tons of fun! Here are a few country-wide Segway tours worth looking silly for:

Hotel Palomar Washington DC, a Kimpton Hotel

Photos courtesy of City Segway Tours and Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours

Located within walking distance of Hotel Palomar Washington DC, a Kimpton Hotel, City Segway Tours offers 3-hour National Mall tours covering miles of patriotic ground—from the White House to Smithsonian buildings to the Lincoln Memorial.

Embark on a tour of New Orleans with City Segway Tours and explore the Mississippi waterfront, the historic Treme neighborhood and, of course, the French Quarter (if you’re daring, ask to stop at the reportedly-haunted LaLaurie Mansion).

Take a Beverly Hills Segway tour with Another Side of Los Angeles Tours and cruise 90210 in style; you’ll see famous Beverly Hills homes, Rodeo Drive and other L.A. spots (all while getting more attention than a celebrity).

It’s OK to Look Down from these High-Altitude Hotels

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Vertigo sufferers beware: These hotels are not for you.

This post was inspired by La Maltese, which sits high above Santorini’s ancient caldera. Santorini is famous for its cliff-hugging buildings, many of which are hotels or guest houses. The views are unparalleled, breathtaking … the list of superlatives goes on and on.

Santorini’s caldera, viewed from the infinity pool at La Maltese; photo courtesy of La Maltese

Of course, Santorini doesn’t have a monopoly on top-of-the-world views. Here are a few more hotels that offer thrilling views.

3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat; Zermatt Switzerland – When the Matterhorn looks small, you know you’re up there. This hotel offers birds-eye views of the surrounding Alps, with rooms named and numbered after nearby peaks and their corresponding height in meters.

Park Hyatt, Shanghai, China – Occupying floors 79 to 93 of the 1,600-foot tall Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC), the Park Hyatt is one of the highest hotels in the world. It only takes 51 seconds to get from the ground-floor courtyard to the 87th floor lobby.

Hotel de Larache, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile – Overlooking the highest desert in the world–the Atacama–this luxurious, adventurers’ paradise sits at a respectable 8,200 feet above sea level. Guests enjoy views of the nearby 19,000-foot Licancabur volcano.

Mandarin Oriental, New York City, New York – Towering Central Park views abound from this super-luxe property located in the top 20 floors of the Time Warner Center. Though not the tallest in the city, its location offers fantastic views along with an otherworldy price tag.

 

 

The Best Place for Novices to “Hang Ten”

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Santa Cruz is widely known as a surfer’s heaven. With several reliable surfing spots ranging from gentle curls to dangerous cliff side breaks, surfers from all over the world flock to Santa Cruz’s chilly Pacific waters to test their skills.

Guests at the Dream Inn have a front-row seat to the action at Cowell’s Beach, one of the better places for beginners to get their feet wet. The long, slow breaks aren’t too challenging, and are popular with long boarders as well.

Watching the action at Santa Cruz’ famous Steamer Lane, photo courtesy of Surfer magazine.

Where else can you learn to surf? Glad you asked! Here are a few great beginners’ spots around the U.S.

Huntington Beach, California – No surprise that California would show up again. Huntington Beach, nicknamed Surf City U.S.A (a title also claimed by Santa Cruz), has great entry-level waves, as well as breakers expert surfers love.

Waikiki, Hawaii – Perhaps the best place to learn, Waikiki’s waves are reliable and easy to catch. An abundance of nearby surf schools makes it easy for beginners to get out on the water.

Sea Isle City, New Jersey – Perfect for beginners, waves here are low, gentle waves over a sandy beach. Plus, unlike most California beaches, the water actually gets warm in the summer!

Nantucket, Massachusetts – New England is generally thought of as having cold water, but the seas around Nantucket actually warm up nicely during summertime. Add in miles of south-facing beaches and it’s a beginner’s paradise.

Five Quick Island Getaways! (Yes, Island)

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It may be true that no man (or woman) is an island, but that doesn’t mean you can’t escape to one. The Avalon Hotel on Saint Catalina Island has us dreaming of an island getaway (even if it’s only for a day … or two). Luckily, there are plenty of places all over the country that are only a boat ride away. Here are just a few of our favorite places for a quick change of scenery without the high cost of flying.

Photos (clockwise from top) courtesy of Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce; Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce; Amelia Island Tourist Development Council; Mackinac Island; and Robert Hurst on Nantucket.net

Saint Catalina Island, California: Beach. Ocean views. Island time. And zip lining (?). Only a short ferry ride from Long Beach, this island combines a romantic escape with outdoor adventure.

Nantucket, Massachusetts: Originally a whaling port, this small island (14 miles by 3.5 miles) features 17th-century style with plenty of modern-day perks, such as art galleries, fine dining and boutique shops.

Bainbridge Island, Washington: Just a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle, this island is home to a flourishing artist community, a picturesque town perfect for an afternoon stroll and awe-inspiring natural scenery.

Amelia Island, Florida: This barrier island off the coast of northeastern Florida offers a little bit of everything, including 13 miles of beaches, historic sites (pirate legend and lore), golf, delightful eateries and shopping.

Mackinac Island, Michigan: Boasting horse-drawn taxis and a plethora of fudge shops, this island allows visitors to step back in time without the headache of time travel.