Archive for November 21, 2012

Skip the Stress with Our Holiday Travel Tips!

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Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa, Cancun, Mexico

Photo courtesy of Holiday Group

We can all agree that traveling over the holidays can be stressful. Between visiting relatives and fleeing the frost for destinations like Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa in Cancun, it seems like everyone’s on the move. Avoid a Home Alone situation (a.k.a. a mad dash to the airport followed by the realization that you’ve left little Kevin at home) by following a few of these handy travel tips:

Prepare: Print out boarding passes ahead of time, get to the airport a half-hour to an hour earlier than you typically would and, by all means, take potential power outages that may cause your alarm clock to stop working into consideration (we’re looking at you, McCallisters).

Pack light: If you’re traveling sans-children for a week or less, skip the 5-piece luggage set and opt for a carry-on. That way, you’ll skip the dreaded wait at baggage claim and won’t risk a lost-luggage meltdown.

Play around: De-stress during a layover by reading an entertaining book like David Sedaris’ laugh-out-loud (and entirely fitting) novel Holidays on Ice. If you have an hour to spare, pop into a salon for a pedicure; Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle contains a butter London nail salon, where manicurists will find out what time your flight leaves before dolling up your digits.

In Boston, We’re Thankful For … Well, Pretty Much Everything

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It’s the time of year to be thankful. At SniqueAway, we’re based in Boston, one of this country’s most historic cities. It’s a fact we don’t take for granted. So we wanted to share all the ways we show our appreciation for our fair city. So if you’re staying somewhere like the Boston Harbor Hotel, don’t miss these Bostonian-approved spots.

History: To take advantage of historic Boston (the birthplace of Sam Adams, the beer and the person), head over to the Beantown Pub to enjoy a Boston Lager overlooking Sam Adams’ final resting place.

Music: In the Symphony area, make sure you stop in for a Boston Symphony Orchestra or Boston Pops concert. There are several shows each week and these are 2 of the best performing ensembles in the country.

Shopping: Nothing says “exlcusive” like a hidden boutique. Zip over to the Prudential area to Bodega; it’s located in the back of a seemingly run-down convenience store. Hint: walk directly at the Snapple machine.

Food:  There’s nothing better than traditional Belgian street-food for a midday pick-me-up, right? Well, we can’t stay away from Saus and its sinful selection of salted-caramel or house-made-Nutella waffles.

Boston Spots

Photos courtesy of the Freedom Trail, Bodega, the Boston Pops, and Saus

Clockwise from top left:

Beantown Pub

Bodega

The Boston Pops

Saus

Our Favorite Beaches around Mendocino

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Photo courtesy of Carl Unger

The Mendocino Coast has everything we love about Northern California: Eccentric art galleries, great food (and wine, of course), and proudly offbeat locals.

But what makes this area so memorable? The breathtaking coastal scenery. Imagine deep gorges emptying to the sea, windswept headlands without a soul in sight, and boulder-strewn stretches of sand.

Sound good? Well, if you’re staying at the Stevenswood Spa Resort, all you need to do is hop on Highway 1 and start exploring. So let’s go!

Mendocino Headlands State Park – Just a short walk from downtown Mendocino, this park feels like the edge of the world. Grassy fields lead to the sea and trails trace the coastline, offering views of the Pacific and, during winter, occasional peeks of migrating grey whales. 5-minute drive from Stevenswood.

Russian Gulch State Park – Popular with Abalone divers, this park just north of Mendocino features a small beach flanked by jagged cliffs and crowned with a graceful arching bridge. Hike out to the Devil’s Punchbowl, a collapsed sea cave, to see the ocean churning below. 10-minute drive from Stevenswood.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens – Drive by too quickly and you’ll miss it, but this seaside botanical garden boasts not only a dazzling array of flora, but awe-inspiring views of the crashing surf. There’s even a glass-walled shelter where visitors can watch the show protected from the area’s moody climate. 15-minute drive from Stevenswood.

MacKerricher State Park – If seals are your thing this is a good place to find them. They love to hang out on the rocks just off shore. Either way, this park features miles of trails leading through dunes, headlines, and beaches pockmarked by tide pools. 25-minute drive from Stevenswood.

Don’t Miss a Beat in Sin City

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We can’t help but hum, sing or drum Elvis’ song, Viva Las Vegas, while writing about places like the Platinum Hotel. And with the catchy tune still rattling around in our brains, we decided to find other songs that celebrate Sin City.

Photos courtesy of Amazon.com

As it turns out this desert town has inspired a great deal of music—ranging from pop to country—so we rounded up a few hits to make your visit to Las Vegas sing.

Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley

The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

Let’s Go to Vegas by Faith Hill

Luck Be a Lady Tonight by Frank Sinatra

Queen of Las Vegas by The B-52’s

Leaving Las Vegas by Sheryl Crow

Get a bit of Green in Lower Manhattan

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Photo courtesy of New York City Dept. of Parks and Recreation

Like just about everyone, we love New York. But to an out-of-towner, the constant hum of this never-sleeping city can be somewhat overwhelming. So we think any visitor to the Big Apple should arrive armed with a few quiet spaces mapped out, just in case a retreat is necessary.

The James New York puts guests at the crossroads of several well-known neighborhoods: Soho, Tirbeca, and the West Village. Here are some nearby  spots where you can grab a little green, plus walking directions from the James.

Washington Market ParkDirections

Washington Square ParkDirections

City Hall ParkDirections

Tribeca Greenmarket (Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round) – Directions