St. Moritz-style Alpine Adventure (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
The Great British Getaway (Westchester County, N.Y.)
Tuscany on the California Coast (Casa Palmero, Pebble Beach Resorts).
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
"Travel" Abroad With These Passport-Free Alternatives
As the weather warms, wanderlust is on the rise. But even as the forecast is brightening for domestic travel, COVID-19 restrictions continue to put that dream European vacation out of reach for now. For those would-be international adventurers whose patience is wearing thin, here are three passport-free alternatives:
St. Moritz-style Alpine Adventure (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
Both are two-time hosts of the Winter Olympic Games. Both draw adventurers year-round to their rugged mountains, sparkling lakes and dense forests. But unlike the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz, Lake Placid is within driving distance of New York City, Boston and other points throughout the Northeast. The all-suite Whiteface Lodge, a AAA Four-Diamond luxury resort in this Adirondack village, is tucked into the woodlands of a 36,200-acre forest preserve, giving active travelers direct access to miles of scenic trails for hiking and biking. The resort’s private Canoe Club, slated to open Memorial Day Weekend, is stocked with complimentary kayaks, pedal boats, canoes and more, ready to launch from Paradox Bay. Also nearby are rock climbing, whitewater rafting, fishing and golf.
The Great British Getaway (Westchester County, N.Y.)
Afternoon tea, grand estates, charming towns and gardens galore—Anglophiles can enjoy an English country weekend just a short train ride or drive from New York City. Start in the affluent village of Bronxville, with its quaint downtown full of treasures like the 83-year-old Womrath Bookshop. Bronxville is also home to Sarah Lawrence College, modeled on the Oxford/Cambridge system, and its residential streets showcase a variety of English architectural styles, from grand Tudor and Georgian homes to Cotswold cottages. In nearby Tarrytown, landscape tours resume May 7 at the Gothic Revival mansion Lyndhurst. Untermyer Gardens (Yonkers) is another must, with its 43 acres of distinct, themed gardens ranging from a Walled Garden modeled after ancient Indo-Persian gardens to the naturalistic Rock and Stream Garden. Head north to Peekskill for a proper English tea at Kathleen’s Tea Room on Main Street, then check in for the night at The Abbey Inn, a stylish new hotel set in the beautifully restored, Gothic Revival remains of a former Episcopal convent and chapel.
Tuscany on the California Coast (Casa Palmero, Pebble Beach Resorts).
Its design evocative of a private Mediterranean estate, Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach offers all the trappings of a romantic retreat in Italy, with the rugged beauty of the California coast filling in for the Tuscan shoreline. This boutique “resort within a resort” just might be the legendary golf destination’s best-kept secret, its 24 expansive rooms and suites tucked into a secluded setting just steps from the links but a world apart. Casa Palmero guests enjoy romantic touches like gas fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, private patios with whirlpool spas, a sparkling swimming pool, lush courtyard garden, and an exceptional level of personalized service. Be sure to book a romantic dinner for two at Pebble Beach Resorts’ acclaimed Pèppoli, serving authentic Tuscan-style dishes paired with the widest selection of Antinori wines outside of Tuscany. And but a five-minute drive away is downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, where cobblestoned streets and fairytale-like cottage homes are reminiscent of a medieval Europe
St. Moritz-style Alpine Adventure (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
The Great British Getaway (Westchester County, N.Y.)
Tuscany on the California Coast (Casa Palmero, Pebble Beach Resorts).
Monday, April 12, 2021
Clementine Hunter Exhibit At The Cabildo In New Orleans Into Next Year
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Cabildo in New Orleans museum is showing more than 50 works by one of America’s most important self-taught artists, Clementine Hunter. The exhibit includes some rarely seen abstract paintings and a forgery by a man whose cats helped bring him down.
The exhibition at the Cabildo in New Orleans will continue into next year. It also includes a quilt cover by Hunter, found objects that she painted, and one of many forgeries by a Baton Rouge man who pleaded guilty in 2011 to faking works sold as Hunter’s.
“Although her work has received international acclaim, this exhibition helps us appreciate Clementine Hunter from a uniquely Louisiana perspective,” Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said in a news release.
On April 22, Tom Whitehead and FBI agent Randolph Deaton will give a free Zoom talk about how they identified William Toye of Baton Rouge as the forger. According to material provided by the museum, Toye and his wife, Beryl, owned more than a hundred cats between 1977 and 2009, and cat hair stuck in the oil paint on many of the fakes.
Whitehead and Art Shiver, co-authors of “Clementine Hunter: Her Life and Art,” will discuss Hunter’s life and career in the Cane River region sometime in the fall.
Hunter’s parents were field workers on a plantation near Cloutierville, and her grandparents included an enslaved woman. Hunter was about 13 when her family moved to nearby Melrose Plantation; she lived on or near there for the rest of her life, dying at age 101.
She was about 50 when she started painting.
The abstracts were painted in the early 1960s, according to the museum.
James Pipes Register, a friend, mentor and collector, reportedly gave her montages made from bits cut from newspapers and magazines, asking her to paint what she saw.
“Though Hunter usually rejected attempts to influence her style or subject, she went along with his request between 1962 and 1964,” according to the museum’s caption for one such work.
The exhibition at the Cabildo in New Orleans will continue into next year. It also includes a quilt cover by Hunter, found objects that she painted, and one of many forgeries by a Baton Rouge man who pleaded guilty in 2011 to faking works sold as Hunter’s.
“Although her work has received international acclaim, this exhibition helps us appreciate Clementine Hunter from a uniquely Louisiana perspective,” Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said in a news release.
On April 22, Tom Whitehead and FBI agent Randolph Deaton will give a free Zoom talk about how they identified William Toye of Baton Rouge as the forger. According to material provided by the museum, Toye and his wife, Beryl, owned more than a hundred cats between 1977 and 2009, and cat hair stuck in the oil paint on many of the fakes.
Whitehead and Art Shiver, co-authors of “Clementine Hunter: Her Life and Art,” will discuss Hunter’s life and career in the Cane River region sometime in the fall.
Hunter’s parents were field workers on a plantation near Cloutierville, and her grandparents included an enslaved woman. Hunter was about 13 when her family moved to nearby Melrose Plantation; she lived on or near there for the rest of her life, dying at age 101.
She was about 50 when she started painting.
The abstracts were painted in the early 1960s, according to the museum.
James Pipes Register, a friend, mentor and collector, reportedly gave her montages made from bits cut from newspapers and magazines, asking her to paint what she saw.
“Though Hunter usually rejected attempts to influence her style or subject, she went along with his request between 1962 and 1964,” according to the museum’s caption for one such work.
Sunday, April 11, 2021
Yosemite National Park To Limit Summer Visitors Due To Virus
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Yosemite National Park will require advanced reservations for day visitors during the peak summer season to limit the number of visitors and allow social distancing amid the pandemic.
Under the new rules, advance reservations will be required for day use visitors who enter Yosemite from May 21 to Sept. 30, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
The park’s superintendent, Cicely Muldoon, said large crowds already have been coming to the park in recent weeks, and there are still cases of COVID-19 spreading in California, and other states and countries where visitors are coming from.
“The basic plan is to protect human health and safety and provide as much access as we can,” Muldoon said Thursday during a meeting with government and business leaders of the communities surrounding the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park are putting in place similar rules, which have been encouraged for decades by environmental groups but resisted by gateway communities whose economies depend heavily on tourism.
A similar day-use reservation system was in place last summer. It resulted in Yosemite’s visitation rates dropping by half. This summer the number of visitors allowed will range from 50% to 90%, depending on what levels of COVID-19 are found in Mariposa County on the park’s western edge. Currently, with Mariposa in California’s orange tier, Yosemite will allow 70% of normal summer visitation — or about 5,760 vehicles a day.
“We think these numbers will allow people to enjoy the park safely,” Muldoon said.
Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. on April 21. Each day-use reservation is valid for one vehicle for three days. Vehicles that arrive at park entrances after May 21 without reservations will not be admitted.
Due to pandemic concerns, park shuttle buses will not run this summer. Some, but not all campgrounds in the park will be open, with 585 sites available starting July 1, compared to 247 last year.
Under the new rules, advance reservations will be required for day use visitors who enter Yosemite from May 21 to Sept. 30, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
The park’s superintendent, Cicely Muldoon, said large crowds already have been coming to the park in recent weeks, and there are still cases of COVID-19 spreading in California, and other states and countries where visitors are coming from.
“The basic plan is to protect human health and safety and provide as much access as we can,” Muldoon said Thursday during a meeting with government and business leaders of the communities surrounding the park.
Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park are putting in place similar rules, which have been encouraged for decades by environmental groups but resisted by gateway communities whose economies depend heavily on tourism.
A similar day-use reservation system was in place last summer. It resulted in Yosemite’s visitation rates dropping by half. This summer the number of visitors allowed will range from 50% to 90%, depending on what levels of COVID-19 are found in Mariposa County on the park’s western edge. Currently, with Mariposa in California’s orange tier, Yosemite will allow 70% of normal summer visitation — or about 5,760 vehicles a day.
“We think these numbers will allow people to enjoy the park safely,” Muldoon said.
Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. on April 21. Each day-use reservation is valid for one vehicle for three days. Vehicles that arrive at park entrances after May 21 without reservations will not be admitted.
Due to pandemic concerns, park shuttle buses will not run this summer. Some, but not all campgrounds in the park will be open, with 585 sites available starting July 1, compared to 247 last year.
Saturday, April 10, 2021
New Website Spotlights Certified California Sustainable Wines, Vineyards And Wineries
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance) launched a new website, the start of Down to Earth month, dedicated to the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing program at californiasustainablewine.com.
Developed for trade, media, consumers and visitors who want to find sustainable wines, wineries and vineyards that are certified with a rigorous third-party audit, the website also illustrates how sustainable vineyards and wineries are making wine in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
“
The new certification website is a tool to convey key sustainability messages and to connect certified wines, wineries and vineyards with interested trade and consumers,” said Allison Jordan, CSWA’s Executive Director. “The California wine industry is a global leader in sustainability and well positioned to meet the growing interest we’ve seen in recent research.”
Feature pages of the new site are:
FIND – Users can search for certified wines, wineries and/or vineyards, and sort by varietal, region or appellation. With 2,247 Certified California Sustainable Vineyards that farm 204,000 acres (32% of California winegrape acres; another 22% are certified by other California sustainable winegrowing programs), 171 certified wineries producing 255 million cases (80% of California wine) and 9.4 million cases (113 million wine bottles) bearing the certification logo or claims, the search function is a valuable new tool to discover California wineries and vineyards that are committed to sustainability. VISIT – Visitors can browse an interactive map to plan a wine country trip to certified wineries with tasting rooms open to the public. The website allows users to identify certified wineries within a specific wine region, or see the broad embrace of sustainability across California.
LEARN – An overview of certification addresses requirements, key areas of sustainable winegrowing and why supporting vineyard and winery sustainability efforts matter. Additionally, there are insights on Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing’s logos, other California sustainability programs (e.g., LODI RULES, SIP Certified and Napa Green), and definitions for sustainable/organic/biodynamic wines. Via the Learn page, users can also “dig deeper” for even more details about the program.
About the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. CSWA’s mission is to encourage adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices and communicate the California wine industry’s global leadership through education, outreach, certification and partnerships. The result of this work will be a healthier environment, stronger communities, and vibrant businesses.
Developed for trade, media, consumers and visitors who want to find sustainable wines, wineries and vineyards that are certified with a rigorous third-party audit, the website also illustrates how sustainable vineyards and wineries are making wine in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
“
The new certification website is a tool to convey key sustainability messages and to connect certified wines, wineries and vineyards with interested trade and consumers,” said Allison Jordan, CSWA’s Executive Director. “The California wine industry is a global leader in sustainability and well positioned to meet the growing interest we’ve seen in recent research.”
Feature pages of the new site are:
FIND – Users can search for certified wines, wineries and/or vineyards, and sort by varietal, region or appellation. With 2,247 Certified California Sustainable Vineyards that farm 204,000 acres (32% of California winegrape acres; another 22% are certified by other California sustainable winegrowing programs), 171 certified wineries producing 255 million cases (80% of California wine) and 9.4 million cases (113 million wine bottles) bearing the certification logo or claims, the search function is a valuable new tool to discover California wineries and vineyards that are committed to sustainability. VISIT – Visitors can browse an interactive map to plan a wine country trip to certified wineries with tasting rooms open to the public. The website allows users to identify certified wineries within a specific wine region, or see the broad embrace of sustainability across California.
LEARN – An overview of certification addresses requirements, key areas of sustainable winegrowing and why supporting vineyard and winery sustainability efforts matter. Additionally, there are insights on Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing’s logos, other California sustainability programs (e.g., LODI RULES, SIP Certified and Napa Green), and definitions for sustainable/organic/biodynamic wines. Via the Learn page, users can also “dig deeper” for even more details about the program.
About the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. CSWA’s mission is to encourage adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices and communicate the California wine industry’s global leadership through education, outreach, certification and partnerships. The result of this work will be a healthier environment, stronger communities, and vibrant businesses.
Friday, April 9, 2021
Travelore News: Maui To Require 2nd Virus Tests For Tourists, Visitors
WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Maui County in Hawaii will soon require second coronavirus tests for out-of-state and international visitors.
Tourists flying into Maui County from outside Hawaii will now need negative, pre-travel coronavirus tests and negative tests when arriving at the Kahului Airport, Mayor Michael Victorino told reporters on Wednesday.
People who refuse either test will be required to quarantine for 10 days in Maui. The pre-travel virus tests must occur at most 72 hours before passengers take their flights.
“This secondary test has been designed to determine if visitors and returning residents are contributing to the large rate of COVID-19 here in Maui,” Victorino said.
Victorino estimated that the program may take up to 10 business days to put in place.
A study conducted in November by Maui health officials found that two out of every 281 travelers who consented to second, follow-up coronavirus tests at the airport tested positive, the Maui News reported.
A county spokesperson could not be reached for comment Wednesday by the Maui News regarding how much the new testing program will cost.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, breathing trouble, sore throat, muscle pain and loss of taste or smell. Most people develop only mild symptoms.
But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia. Sometimes people with a coronavirus infection display no symptoms.
Tourists flying into Maui County from outside Hawaii will now need negative, pre-travel coronavirus tests and negative tests when arriving at the Kahului Airport, Mayor Michael Victorino told reporters on Wednesday.
People who refuse either test will be required to quarantine for 10 days in Maui. The pre-travel virus tests must occur at most 72 hours before passengers take their flights.
“This secondary test has been designed to determine if visitors and returning residents are contributing to the large rate of COVID-19 here in Maui,” Victorino said.
Victorino estimated that the program may take up to 10 business days to put in place.
A study conducted in November by Maui health officials found that two out of every 281 travelers who consented to second, follow-up coronavirus tests at the airport tested positive, the Maui News reported.
A county spokesperson could not be reached for comment Wednesday by the Maui News regarding how much the new testing program will cost.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, breathing trouble, sore throat, muscle pain and loss of taste or smell. Most people develop only mild symptoms.
But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia. Sometimes people with a coronavirus infection display no symptoms.
Thursday, April 8, 2021
I Prefer Hotel Rewards Evolves Suite of Member Benefits with Introduction of I Prefer Loves
New Partnership Series Offers Loyalty Program Members Monthly Drop of Unique Savings and Private Experiences from Hand-Picked Lifestyle Brands
I Prefer Hotel Rewards – the world’s largest points-based loyalty program for independent hotel experiences by Preferred Hotels & Resorts – continues to enhance its range of benefits catering to the varied interests of its members with the launch of I Prefer Loves. Each month, I Prefer will showcase a much-loved brand partner across the travel, fashion, food and wine, home, and wellness industries through promotions that unlock privileged access to bespoke gifts, offers, and experiences. The series kicks off tomorrow with I Prefer Loves Anatomie, a collaboration - inspired by women who love to explore - with luxury apparel brand, Anatomie, which rewards all I Prefer members with a $50 discount code* to redeem towards purchases made via the brand’s website.
“Arriving at a time when we are all excited to reconnect with the world and enjoy new experiences, I Prefer Loves represents the continuous diversification of member benefits offered through I Prefer,” said Jeri Salazar, Vice President of Loyalty for Preferred Hotels & Resorts. “We have always been committed to protecting the interests of our loyal guests, and this exciting new addition offers valuable savings and unique experiences for them to enjoy from the comfort of their own home or in exciting new destinations when they are ready to travel again.”
As the featured I Prefer Loves partner for April 2021, Anatomie is gifting I Prefer members with a $50 discount code to use towards a new look or as a token of appreciation for an inspirational woman in their life from now through June 30, 2021. The discount is valid towards purchases valued at or in excess of US$178. Anatomie offers a range of lightweight, wrinkle-free clothes to suit every travel occasion and season - ideal for active women seeking style and comfort, especially now with travel and exploration once again in reach. The May 2021 edition of I Prefer Loves will feature a collaboration with The Bicester Village Shopping Collection – a global family of open-air luxury shopping destinations known for deep savings across more than 1,300 luxury fashion house boutiques, renowned restaurants and cafés, and concierge services. I Prefer members will receive an invitation to a Private Sale taking place across seven of its European Villages in destinations such as London, Paris, and Milan. In addition to existing savings of up to 60% for designer goods and dining experiences, members will enjoy an additional 10% savings on purchases made in-person or via virtual shopping, among other perks. Future brand spotlights will include luxury leather goods retailers, a sparkling wine purveyor, and an aviation company, among others.
The launch of I Prefer Loves follows the January debut of I Prefer Auctions, an initiative that allows members to bid for one-of-a-kind travel experiences with earned points for a limited time period. One of the first major hotel loyalty programs to postpone points expiration in light of COVID-19, I Prefer made a subsequent announcement in November 2020 that any of its 3.8 million members with accrued points would have their validity extended through June 30, 2021 and maintain Elite Status through June 30, 2022.
For more information on I Prefer Hotel Rewards or to enroll in the program, visit www.IPrefer.com. Members can visit I Prefer Loves for additional details on current and future partnerships, including terms and conditions for I Prefer Loves Anatomie and I Prefer Loves The Bicester Village Shopping Collection.
I Prefer Hotel Rewards – the world’s largest points-based loyalty program for independent hotel experiences by Preferred Hotels & Resorts – continues to enhance its range of benefits catering to the varied interests of its members with the launch of I Prefer Loves. Each month, I Prefer will showcase a much-loved brand partner across the travel, fashion, food and wine, home, and wellness industries through promotions that unlock privileged access to bespoke gifts, offers, and experiences. The series kicks off tomorrow with I Prefer Loves Anatomie, a collaboration - inspired by women who love to explore - with luxury apparel brand, Anatomie, which rewards all I Prefer members with a $50 discount code* to redeem towards purchases made via the brand’s website.
“Arriving at a time when we are all excited to reconnect with the world and enjoy new experiences, I Prefer Loves represents the continuous diversification of member benefits offered through I Prefer,” said Jeri Salazar, Vice President of Loyalty for Preferred Hotels & Resorts. “We have always been committed to protecting the interests of our loyal guests, and this exciting new addition offers valuable savings and unique experiences for them to enjoy from the comfort of their own home or in exciting new destinations when they are ready to travel again.”
As the featured I Prefer Loves partner for April 2021, Anatomie is gifting I Prefer members with a $50 discount code to use towards a new look or as a token of appreciation for an inspirational woman in their life from now through June 30, 2021. The discount is valid towards purchases valued at or in excess of US$178. Anatomie offers a range of lightweight, wrinkle-free clothes to suit every travel occasion and season - ideal for active women seeking style and comfort, especially now with travel and exploration once again in reach. The May 2021 edition of I Prefer Loves will feature a collaboration with The Bicester Village Shopping Collection – a global family of open-air luxury shopping destinations known for deep savings across more than 1,300 luxury fashion house boutiques, renowned restaurants and cafés, and concierge services. I Prefer members will receive an invitation to a Private Sale taking place across seven of its European Villages in destinations such as London, Paris, and Milan. In addition to existing savings of up to 60% for designer goods and dining experiences, members will enjoy an additional 10% savings on purchases made in-person or via virtual shopping, among other perks. Future brand spotlights will include luxury leather goods retailers, a sparkling wine purveyor, and an aviation company, among others.
The launch of I Prefer Loves follows the January debut of I Prefer Auctions, an initiative that allows members to bid for one-of-a-kind travel experiences with earned points for a limited time period. One of the first major hotel loyalty programs to postpone points expiration in light of COVID-19, I Prefer made a subsequent announcement in November 2020 that any of its 3.8 million members with accrued points would have their validity extended through June 30, 2021 and maintain Elite Status through June 30, 2022.
For more information on I Prefer Hotel Rewards or to enroll in the program, visit www.IPrefer.com. Members can visit I Prefer Loves for additional details on current and future partnerships, including terms and conditions for I Prefer Loves Anatomie and I Prefer Loves The Bicester Village Shopping Collection.
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Smiles Won’t Be Hidden For Much Longer At Disney World, Temporary Mask Removal For Outdoor Photos Now Approved.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — At Walt Disney World, the smiles won’t have to be hidden for much longer.
Starting Thursday, visitors to the theme park resort will be able to remove their masks temporarily for outdoor photos, the company said on its website.
The change tweaks a requirement that all workers and visitors age 2 and up wear masks except when they are actively eating or drinking, provided they are socially distanced and not moving about. The mask mandate includes those who already have been vaccinated.
Workers and visitors have been required to wear masks, get temperature checks upon arriving and follow social distancing markers while in line ever since the Florida theme park resort reopened last summer after closing for more than two months because of the pandemic.
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