Archive for Around Town

Embark on a Hotel-Led Animal Adventure!

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While writing about the Tree of Life Resort and Spa in Jaipur, India, we became smitten with the hotel. Private outdoor spas adorn each villa’s lawn, while the dazzling open-air patio offers valley views and live music. Best of all, the hotel offers a once-in-a-lifetime elephant excursion.  Picture this: You’ll be guided through the lush Aravalli range atop a beautifully-decorated elephant before enjoying a relaxing hillside meal in the company of, well, your elephant! If you can’t make it to India, here are a few other hotels around the world that offer quality time with our animal friends.

Photos courtesy of The Peabody Memphis, NBCNews.com and PAW

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The Peabody Memphis in Memphis, TN

For 70 years, this southern escape has been home to in-house ducks … along with an official Duckmaster. Along with feeding and training the mallards, the Duckmaster leads them on a morning parade down an adoring-fan-lined red carpet to the lobby’s fountain—where they remain until 5:00PM, when they’re led back to their rooftop Royal Duck Palace.

Ashford Castle in Cong, Ireland

This site of this historic, five-star luxury hotel has played host to the Anglo-Norman House of Burke, the Browne Family and … an aerie of Harris Hawks. At the on-site School of Falconry, guests can embark on a hour-long private Hawk Walk, where they’ll get the chance to fly their hawk around the castle’s gardens and woodlands.

XV Beacon Hotel in Boston, MA and Craddock Terry Hotel in Lynchburg, VA

If you can’t bring your four-legged friend(s) with you on vacation, why not visit a hotel that brings the pups to you? At XV Beacon, guests are greeted by Heidi, a Bernese Mountain Dog who’s head-over-paws for playtime on the roof deck. And if you find yourself in central Virginia, be sure to say hello to Buster Brown. Craddock Terry Hotel’s Wire Fox Terrier concierge will happily accompany guests on walks around the neighborhood.

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).

My Summer Cottage was a Mansion, and Other Stories of the Super-Rich

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Guests staying at the Mill Street Inn in tony Newport, Rhode Island will almost certainly include a visit to one of the town’s famous mansions during their stay.

But you don’t need to travel to Newport to catch a glimpse of extravagance from a bygone era. Here are four famous homes worth visiting around the country.

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Clockwise from top: Falling Water, courtesy of www.wright-house.com, Pabst Mansion, Vizcaya, and Hearst Castle, courtesy of shutterstock.com

Vizcaya, Miami, FL – The summer home to industrialist James Deering, this elaborate mansion is set on 10 acres overlooking Miami’s Biscayne Bay.

Falling Water, Bear Run, PA – Not a mansion per se, but this elegant Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece is perhaps the best-known home in the U.S. It is the only public, major Wright-designed house with all of its original details still intact.

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA – This sprawling complex famously started out as a “bungalow” before ballooning into one of the most opulent and eccentric homes in the country. The Neptune Pool is adorned by an actual roman temple facade!

Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee, WI – One doesn’t necessarily equate PBR with high society, but Captain Frederick Pabst built himself quite a house–to the tune of $32.7 million in 2011 dollars.

European Vibes this Side of the Pond

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Writing about Hotel Metro in London (Ontario, not England) got us thinking. How many cities in North America bear the same name as major counterparts in Europe, and what are they like? So read below for the fruits of our research labor and learn a little bit about why you should visit these famous cities on this side of the Atlantic.

European Cities

Photos courtesy of London.ca, BerlinNH.gov, ParisTexas.gov and StPete.org

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London, ON:

While it’s no UK capital, this central Canadian staple offers plenty in the way of hip nightlife and upscale dining. Head over to Victoria Park for 15 acres of public art and festival space and Grab French-bistro-style seafood at David’s Bistro for a vibrant evening that’s decidedly “European.”

Berlin, NH:

Nestled just north of the White Mountains, New Hampshire’s Berlin presents its own alpine vibes for vacationers. Restaurant-goers enjoy home-cooked specialties from local farmers and adventurers can take advantage of the renowned Granite State outdoors (with tour companies to match).

Paris, TX:

In Northeastern Texas lies a real homage to France with landmark replicas and its own bustling downtown. Of course, there’s nothing like some historical southern architecture and range-sourced rustic food to remind visitors they’re in the in the Wild West.

St. Petersburg, FL:

Sitting on Florida’s western coast sits this European-named city with all the flavor one would expect of the Gulf Coast. With culinary influence the world over, this place all but begs diners to sample daily caught seafood at restaurants owned by transplants from Italy, France, Spain and more.

When You Wish Upon a Starchitect

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If you think Las Vegas’ CityCenter looks good, there’s good reason: The complex, home to several hotels, a casino, and a shopping plaza, was designed by a who’s-who of contemporary architects.

Fortunately, you don’t have to travel all the way to Sin City to see these masters’ creations in person. Here are some other notable buildings designed by CityCenter’s roster of starchitects:

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Clockwise from top left: Petronas Towers, courtesy of archcitecture.about.com; JetBlue Terminal 5, courtesy of David Rockwell Group; Denver Art Museum, courtesy of Studio David Libeskind; Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, courtesy of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center

Pelli Clark Pelli (CityCenter building: Aria Resort & Casino): Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; World Financial Center, New York City, NY

Rafael Viñoly (City Center Building: Vdara Hotel & Spa): The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH; Boston Convention and Expo Center, Boston, MA

Studio Daniel Libeskind (City Center Building: Crystals shopping district): New World Trade Center Master Plan, New York City, NY; Denver Museum Expansion, Denver, CO

David Rockwell Group (City Center Building: Crystals interiors): Ames Hotel, Boston, MA; Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco, CA