Tag Archive for vacation

The Best Place for Novices to “Hang Ten”

March 1, 2013 / / Comments Off

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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.

Category: Great Outdoors / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Favorite Pizza Cookbooks!

February 12, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Here in New England we’re blessed with a fantastic chain of pizza restaurants called Flatbread Company. Guests at the Eastern Slope Inn in North Conway can enjoy Flatbread’s rustic wood-fired creations throughout their visit–the restaurant is attached to the hotel. But what if you want the taste of authentic wood-fired pizza at home? You know, with that perfectly charred crust, bubbling cheese, and soul-warming smoky flavor?

(Well, you could build a wood oven in your backyard–no, really, you could!)

PIZZA

A Flatbread Company pie, photo courtesy of foodspotting.com

For starters, you’re going to want a good cookbook. Your home oven can’t achieve that wood-fired flavor and appearance, but with the right recipe you can easily crank out crispy handmade pies that will wow your friends and acquaintances.

Flour Water Salt Yeast, by Ken Forkish. If you can stop drooling over the photography, this book offers detailed and creative takes on both pizza dough and bread.

My Pizza: The Easy No-Knead Way to Make Spectacular Pizza at Home, by Jim Lahey. The pioneer of no-knead bread brings you no-knead pizza dough. The book offers simple and fantastic recipes for both pizza and accompaniments like soups and salads.

The Mozza Cookbook, by Nancy Silverton. In addition to a great dough recipe, this book includes recipes for authentic sauce, information on cheeses and toppings, and recipes for antipasti and mains.

Category: Novel Ideas, Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

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

February 5, 2013 / / Comments Off

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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.

Category: Around Town / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

When You Wish Upon a Starchitect

January 31, 2013 / / Comments Off

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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

Category: Around Town / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yoga on the Go

January 29, 2013 / / Comments Off

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What’s a vacation without exercise? Ok, that might seem like a trick question. And most of the time you would be right. There are, however, those moments when a workout might be just the ticket (think: an extra croissant at breakfast) to find balance while away. Topaz, a Kimpton Hotel, in Washington, D.C., recognizes this, and provides complimentary yoga equipment to its guests. For those who aren’t staying someplace with the same perks, you can still find your travel zen with your own yoga gear.

Photos clockwise from top courtesy of Gaiam, Yoga-Paws and Lululemon Athletica

Photos clockwise from top courtesy of Gaiam, Yoga-Paws and Lululemon Athletica

Yoga Paws: Fitting easily in a carry-on, purse or even a pocket, these lightweight gloves for your hands and feet make it easy to practice yoga or Pilates anywhere in the world. No mat required.

Strength and Flexibility DVD with Rodney Yee: With two 20-minute workouts, this DVD is designed to boost your peace of mind (perfect for a relaxing getaway).

Lululemon Athletica Groove Pant: These ultra-comfortable and breathable pants make exercise fashionable and fun. Plus, there’s a hidden waistband pocket for keys or cards, in case you decide to grab another croissant in the middle of your workout (it’ll be our little secret).

 

Category: Fit & Fabulous / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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