It’s that time of year again when the foliage on the trees begins to take on all manner of dramatic colours, and budding photographers the world over try to make the most of the myriad of different hues. Tripadvisor have come up with a ‘top 10 spots for stunning Autumn colours’ list (see below). What would be your choices and why?
1. White Mountains, New Hampshire, USA
2. Kyoto, Japan
3. Berkshires, Massachusetts, USA
4. Transylvania, Romania
5. Perugia, Italy
6. Stowe, Vermont, USA
7. Bamberg, Germany
8. Ticino, Switzerland
9. Bergen, Norway
10. Beijing, China
American Independence Day is one of the most universally celebrated events in America where the people get together and celebrate the 1776 Declaration of Independence from the British Empire. You can find yourself in many different places all over the country so here is a list of the top 5 places around the country to celebrate this event.
1. Washington D.C
Starting at 11:45 the Nations Capital offers a variety of excitement throughout the Glorious Fourth starting off with a parade on Constitution Avenue and continuing through with bands, drum corps, floats, military unity, giant balloons, VIP’s and celebrity participants with the organisers attempting to represent each of the 50 states in the constitution. You will be celebrating with hundreds of thousands of patriotic Americans. The celebrations continue into the evening with the National Symphony Orchestra and the countries largest firework display. An unforgettably light hearted and well spirited event.
2. Manhattan Island–New York
Whilst many residents of the bustling Manhattan Island tend to make their way to the beach to spend the usually hot beginning of July in the sun, but to do so you’d miss some of the most interesting events with the 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest hosted at Nathans on Coney Island followed by Macys Firework Display in the evening. There are a variety of dinner cruises available to get a great view of the fireworks from the Hudson River then you can finish the night off with the Battery 4th of July Concert and Family festival in Battery Park.
3. San Diego – California
A hot July 4th in California will insight thousands of people to spend their national holiday on one of the many San Diego County beaches. The San Diego beaches are the only ones in California where alcohol is allowed on the beach, so many like minded people flock to the shores to enjoy the beautiful weather, the day off work and the fireworks sent out over Pacific Beach visible from any one of the beaches. A great party atmosphere and is the place to be if that’s what you’re looking for.
4. New Orleans – Louisiana
If one place in the USA needs the support of a celebratory public, it’s New Orleans, but through the horrible luck they’ve had, they still see the brighter side that they have their health and do so by conducting one of the most heartfelt parades and fireworks displays in the country. Go 4th on the River is the primary celebration on the banks of the Mississippi river with plenty of food, music and fireworks.
5. Boston – Massachusetts
Hosting more than 200 events over 6 days surrounding the 4th of July starting on the first the celebrations in Boston are extremely patriotic, celebrating the city’s maritime and colonial heritage. The key place to be then is down on the waterfront, in and around the Harbour Islands and in Downtown where you can expect to see a whole host of celebrations commemorating the country’s independence in 1776. Live music, eating contests, barbeques, cruises and parades are what you can expect to participate in on these holidays.
Wherever you choose to celebrate the 4th of July you can be sure that you will have a great time in the friendly and patriotic atmosphere and a no less than spectacular event that everyone should experience once in their lifetime.
Peter Richards is a Digital Marketing Manager at Tropical Sky.
Looking for something a little bit different and not just another hotel? Perhaps Tripadvisor’s list of the top 10 unusual vacation rentals will tempt you…
If you are looking to spend some time away from your responsibilities and truly relax, there is no destination more therapeutic than the Cape Cod Islands, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island. While you are working up- a sweat on the back 9 of the Hyannis Golf Club, shopping for art at The Schrimshander Gallery, or just biking around the Nantucket, nothing rounds out a day on The Cape like a fine dining experience, and dining at The Cape is like dining nowhere else.
Cape Cod offers some of the finest restaurants and elegant dining g experiences you will find anywhere in the nation. If you are a green vacationer or a seasoned “Codder”, the question of “Where to Eat” is bound to ring out through your trip. Wherever you stand in the spectrum of the vacationing rainbow, a few recommendations about where to eat never hurt anyone. Upper Cape, Mid Cape, Lower Cape, Outer Cape, and The Islands all over superb cuisine opportunities, and 10 of those are listed here as a “Don’t Miss Out” recommendation.
• Brant Point Grill: Located within the White Elephant Inn, the Brant Point Grill (BPG) offers some of the best seafood and steak available on the Cape. From fresh caught Lobster to its famous Nantucket Crab Cakes, this location is a tastes buds dream.
• Ocean House Restaurant: A comprehensive wine list, Friday night live entertainment, and to die for plates like their Mac & Cheese make this restaurant an eating experience to remember. While there, be sure to try some of their signature cocktails like “The Corpse Reviver” and “French 75″.
• Roadhouse Cafe: This restaurant is located in the center of Hyannis and is a genuine local favorite. It’s menu is broad featuring bold Italian flavors for everyone including thin crust pizza, veal medallions, and calamari.
• Maguro Sushi Bar: If you want great sushi, there is no alternative. You need to visit the Maguro Sushi Bar. The head chef, a master sushi artisan, describes the flavors of the menu as combining classic sushi elements with those that are genuinely Cape Cod.
• Soprano’s Restaurant: Like the Sopranos? Like Italian cuisine? Are in ‘The Mafia’? Than this is an experience not to be missed. Upscale Italian food, a superior wine list, and some of the best martinis in the area make this a Cape Cod gem.
• Bleu: Known as offering the best French cuisine in Cape Cod, Bleu consistently receives highest praises from restaurant critics and Zagat raters alike. From escargot to duck confit, when you enter here and experience the cuisine, you will truly be transported to the French countryside.
• ABBA: Mediterranean flavors and Thai spices fuse together to create an unforgettable fine dining experience. The atmosphere is truly extraordinary and their prices are very reasonable. Enjoy the Cape’s best Pad Thai and a menu filled with fresh caught sea fare like bay scallops and halibut.
• Naked Oyster: If you are looking for fine dining and organic meats and seafood, this is your place. The Naked Oyster offers some of the freshest seafood in the area and showcases it in their raw bar selections like littleneck clams, oysters, and jumbo shrimp.
• Cape Cod Central Railroad: The term dining experience really means something at the Central Railroad. Here, you’re eating experience, as amazing as it is, is rivaled by a 3 hour train trip around the area. Go back in time and dress appropriately. FYI – This is an adults only trip so leave the kids at home.
• Paddock Restaurant: No “Top 10″ list would be complete without a nod to the Paddock Restaurant. The Paddock is a Cape Cod landmark and offers an amazing variety of locally fueled fare. Enjoy crab cakes, beef Carpaccio, and clams casino. A real Cape Cod tradition.
Keep in mind, this list is by no means comprehensive. Every fine dining location in the Cape offers its own unique experience. However, if you do make it to the area, do yourself a favor and make your trip a trip to remember by visiting one of the above locations for a guaranteed unforgettable evening of dining, drinks, and ambiance.
Nicolas DAlleva is the owner of Specialty Answering Service, offering worldwide answering services to travel agencies and vacation planners.
If you’re looking for the ultimate vacation rental, look no further than these truly startling vacation homes. Taking luxury to the next level, these luxury vacation rentals each bring something new to the table that will fulfill even the most discerning tastes.
Summer dreams and water fun
Villa with Swim-Up Bar: The beachfront Villa Avalon in Turks and Caicos
is not only the ideal beach villa in the Caribbean, it’s fully outfitted for
relaxing beach living. Each of the 4 bedrooms opens out onto a private
terrace and the pool deck. You can walk out onto a Turtle Cove beach and
snorkel out into Smith’s Reef. The pool curves around the deck and has a
swim-up bar with bar stools just below the surface. Enjoy alfresco dining
and cocktail swilling under the Caribbean palapa bar.
Koh Samui Villa with Waterslide: Not content to be just a pool villa, Lulu
is has an amusement park waterslide cascading from the 3rd-floor balcony
78 meters down to the pool. The Koh Samui Villa Lulu also offers comfortable
living areas, a games room for family entertaining and a staff attending to
catering, cleaning and maintenance throughout your stay.
St. Martin Villa with 3 Pools: What’s the fun of just one pool? The luxury Villa d’Art has outdoor terraces with three pools, one for the main villa, a
private pool for the master bedroom and a pool in the outdoor bar area.
The St. Martin Villa has a tennis court and is just minutes from the sugary
Caribbean beaches.
Beach fun for family and friends
Nantucket Villa with Private Beach: This waterfront beach villa is perfect for family vacations in Nantucket, outfitted with private access to your own beach, a tennis court, gym, pool and pool house. It’s a dream house decorated with classic New England elegance that welcomes in the whole family.
Resort in a Villa in Bahamas: Hidden away on a secluded beach in Grand Bahama, the Nandana Private Resort brings a luxury resort to your own private home. Enjoy gourmet cuisine for each meal, an on-site masseuse, 120’ infinity pool, Jacuzzi, Jet Skis, ATVs, and 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course, beach volleyball course, full staff, courtesy private yacht Lioness for sport-fishing and snorkeling, a private airplane all just for you, your friends and family.
Villas that are luxe and then some
Castle with Heli Pad: The Trident Castle is one of the largest private vacation homes in Caribbean and is ideal for a destination wedding in Jamaica. The luxury castle built by Hotelier and Architect Earl Levy has a ballroom, banquet hall, two living rooms, romantic courtyard, full-time staff of eight, a pool, private chapel and personal helicopter pad.
Modern Villa with Private Chef and Wine Cellar: A fully-staffed Johannesburg villa which comes with a Cordon Bleu private chef, chauffeured Mercedes Benz Vito, maid and butler service, on-call physician and a masseuse. In addition to the five-star service, the Johannesburg villa includes a home gym with sauna, a grand home cinema, infinity pool and a deluxe wine cellar stocked with South African wines and cigar humidor with Havanas and Cohibas.
Verbier Chalet with Spa: The ski chalet Spa Blanche comes with its own private Spa for the perfect way to unwind after a long day of the Swiss ski slopes. The chalet Spa Blanche has a luxurysSpa with Jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and therapy treatment room as well as a Swimspa H2X with a therapy pool and poolside bar.
The Langham Hotel Boston blends the legendary hospitality of the original Langham grand hotel with the classic architectural elegance of Boston’s former Federal Reserve Bank building. A tranquil haven of luxury in the center of Massachusetts’ economic and cultural heartland, The Langham is assuredly among Boston’s finest hotels. Explore the city’s cultural scene and indulge in Boston’s renowned seafood. The hotel is steps from Boston’s major shops, restaurants and other attractions. Close to Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the Freedom Trail, the North End, the Financial District, the New England Aquarium and the Boston Harbor waterfront.
Blantyre is a beautiful country house, recognized as one of the finest hotels in the world, where guests can stay and experience the life and service of a bygone era. Blantyre was voted #1 Small Hotel in the U.S. and #66 in the World in the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2010. There are many activities you can enjoy without ever having to leave the property, as well as fine wine and dining, and The Potting Shed Spa.
There’s a new hotel rewards program that has been designed specifically for luxury travelers. It’s called Stash Hotel Rewards – a first-of-its kind points program for independent hotels. That is, one rewards currency shared by many different upscale, independent properties. 65 hotel properties launched with them late last week, making it already the largest independent loyalty program in the United States.
The properties include amazing hotels across the USA, many of which have been named T+L or Condé Nast “Best Hotels” and collectively, they have an average Trip Advisor “recommend” rating of 83%. They include iconic hotels like The Lenox in Boston, Sunset Marquis in LA and Bardessono in Napa — and other historic inns, top resorts, and boutique gems.
Not quite ready to get back into the daily grind? Rue La La makes planning the perfect retreat at the nation’s most coveted escape possible with affordable stays at Canyon Ranch spa resort, located in Lenox, Massachusetts. For readers who would like to get their fitness fix outdoors, the hotel’s exhilarating ski packages will be on sale only on Rue La La from tomorrow.
This Halloween, guests at Omni Hotels will be sipping on spooky signature cocktails, such as the Red Widow, Trick ‘R’ Treat, Bond’s Eye and Red Eye, while potentially sleeping in an ominously spirited suite from the luxury hotel brand’s “ghost-folio” of properties. Read on if you dare…
The historic, and some say haunted, Omni Parker House in Boston prides itself on customer service. However, some guests may get more than they bargained for when the ghost of Harvey Parker, the hotel’s founder, materializes in certain guest rooms to inquire about their stay. In addition, elevators at the Omni Parker House have been known to travel to the third floor — where novelist Charles Dickens once lived — without a single button being pushed. Spooky!
Guests can sleep at their own risk in the Omni Shoreham Hotel’s “Ghost Suite” in Washington, D.C. Those who have dared to do so have reported televisions and lights turning on by themselves in the middle of the night, while guests in adjacent rooms have heard loud noises coming from the suite — all while it was unoccupied.
Book a night at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH, and you might awake to find the widow of the hotel’s first owner, a socialite named Princess Carolyn, at the foot of the bed, lost in thought as she brushes her hair. Princess Carolyn’s spirit is believed to watch over the hotel which was built for her, knocking politely on doors, and visiting the ornate maple four-poster bed in room 314, which traveled around the world with her.
To celebrate Halloween, Omni partnered with a master mixologist to create four new signature Halloween cocktails for guests to enjoy across the brand, including:
Red Widow – a mysterious mixture of Skyy Infusions Citrus, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and pomegranate juice, garnished with Twizzler ropes, a lemon wheel and candy corn
Trick ‘R’ Treat – a creepy cocktail made with white rum, lime juice, simple syrup and Midori, topped with a lime dimple and featuring assorted Halloween candy
Bond’s Eye – made for the martini lover, this drink fuses Plymouth Gin, Ketel One Vodka and Lillet finished with a Lychee “Eyeball” stuffed with a blueberry
Red Eye – a mixture of Absolut Vanilla Vodka, Grand Marnier, orange juice and strawberry puree; also garnished with a Lychee “Eyeball” with blueberry and strawberry puree
Drink recipes and more ghoulish tales can be found at trickandtweet.com
Young travellers and their parents can now experience the new Freedom Trail Suite at America’s longest continuously operating hotel. Along with the brand’s irresistible Omni Sensational Kids program, the Omni Parker House now provides another great ways for children and their families to travel in a unique kid-friendly style while also learning about Boston’s vital role in American history.
The new Freedom Trail Suite consists of a spacious living area adjoined to a fun children’s sleeping nook with bunk beds, bean bag chairs, an activity table, barrel-style nightstands, brightly coloured furniture and children’s colonial style costumes to enjoy while in the suite. One entire wall also features a chalkboard for drawing while another hosts a large, vibrant mural displaying the route and the landmarks of Boston’s Freedom Trail which passes along the front of the Omni Parker House.
Parents can relax in their own connecting room while children enjoy the suite along with their complimentary Omni Sensational Kids backpack filled with playful treasures and are treated to milk and cookies in the guest room the first night of their stay.
The Inn at St. Botolph is a new hotel opening in Boston’s historic Back Bay next month – a sister hotel to the already established XV Beacon in the same part of the city, a hotel that has been widely regarded as the best in Boston (it was by T+L Magazine, at least). The Inn at St. Botolph will have contemporary interiors and suites with Queen size 4-poster beds, bay windows and original works of art, all oozing traditional styling and comfort thanks to the input of designer Celeste Cooper. Grand Opening rates at the hotel start from $189 (or $199, depending on which part of your site you look at!).
The Mandarin Oriental, Boston was formally opened in a celebratory ribbon-cutting and feng shui ceremony that took place last week. Perfectly positioned in the prestigious Back Bay, the new hotel combines New England elegance with Oriental touches to create an unique hospitality experience. It has 136 guestrooms and 12 suites, offering some of the most spacious accommodation in Boston. There’s also a 16,000 sq. ft. Spa and Fitness Centre, and 10,000 sq. ft. of function space, a signature restaurant called Asana, and a chic bar and lounge.
This year’s Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic takes place next weekend. Festivities include a winemaker reception, a wine auction and dinner, and – of course – a Grand Tasting. Taste premium wines from over 100 wineries including wines from the leading producing regions of the world. Don’t forget also, at the end of the month, there’s the Tanglewood Jazz Festival (29th-31st August 2008).
Fair Wind Air Charter, Florida’s premier platinum rated jet charter management company announced today the addition of a Learjet 35A to be based in the Boston area (KLWM Lawrence Airport) and is scheduled to begin service July 8th, 2008. Currently the Fair Wind charter fleet consists of twelve privately owned jet aircraft based in West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Stuart, Maryland, Boston and San Diego. In addition to the Boston based Learjet Fair Wind also offers West Coast Learjet service in San Diego based in Carlsbad California (KCRQ McClellan-Palomar Airport). Also noteworthy is the addition of our King Air B200 aircraft now operating and servicing our clients in Boca Raton Florida.
If you’re on Nantucket Island and not sure what to do with the rest of the week, then check out the Nantucket Wine Festival, one of the island’s most celebrated events of the year. The focal point of the festival is the Grand Tasting (this year moved to the famous Nantucket Yacht Club) where wine from over 150 wineries can be sampled. The event runs from today until Sunday, and the “host hotel” is the White Elephant which re-opened for the season last month.
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It’s that time of year again when the foliage on the trees begins to take on all manner of dramatic colours, and budding photographers the world over try to make the most of the myriad of different hues. Tripadvisor have come up with a ‘top 10 spots for stunning Autumn colours’ list (see below). What would be your choices and why?
American Independence Day is one of the most universally celebrated events in America where the people get together and celebrate the 1776 Declaration of Independence from the British Empire. You can find yourself in many different places all over the country so here is a list of the top 5 places around the country to celebrate this event.
If you are looking to spend some time away from your responsibilities and truly relax, there is no destination more therapeutic than the Cape Cod Islands, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Island. While you are working up- a sweat on the back 9 of the Hyannis Golf Club, shopping for art at The Schrimshander Gallery, or just biking around the Nantucket, nothing rounds out a day on The Cape like a fine dining experience, and dining at The Cape is like dining nowhere else.
If you’re looking for the ultimate vacation rental, look no further than these truly startling vacation homes. Taking luxury to the next level, these luxury vacation rentals each bring something new to the table that will fulfill even the most discerning tastes.
There’s a new hotel rewards program that has been designed specifically for luxury travelers. It’s called 
This Halloween, guests at 
Young travellers and their parents can now experience the new Freedom Trail Suite at America’s longest continuously operating hotel. Along with the brand’s irresistible 
The 
This year’s 
Fair Wind Air Charter
If you’re on Nantucket Island and not sure what to do with the rest of the week, then check out the