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Clarksville, TN, Gets in the Holiday Spirit

travelgirlinc — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:40:54 +0000

Clarksville, TN, is certainly in the holiday spirit. Visitors can experience a number of dazzling experiences that will create memories that will be savored for years. Among the activities are ice skating at the Downtown Commons, a drive-thru light experience at Clarksville Speedway’s Drive-Thru Christmas with more than three millions lights to view as you drive around the mile track, watch holiday movies at the Roxy Regional Theatre and visit the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and admire hundreds of porcelain pieces that construct a festive Christmas Village.
Other activities include the Spiritfest & Lighted Christmas Parade, a visit to Erin’s Farm where you can cut your own tree and enjoy outdoor games and crafts for kids, and Christmas on the Cumberland, Clarksville’s most popular seasonal traditional. More than one million lights in dazzling display illuminate the half-mile Riverwalk at McGregor Park; it’s fun for one and all!
visitclarksvilletn.com

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Hyundai’s Reputation is Front and Center in Sante Fe Hybrid Limited

travelgirlinc — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 14:44:53 +0000

Once again Hyundai’s reputation for delivering quality vehicles with a wide variety of standard features — without a bloated price tag — shows up in the Santa Fe Hybrid Limited All Wheel Drive.
The Santa Fe Hybrid is a well-rounded SUV with plenty of amenities, such as 10.25-inch navigation system, remote smart parking assist, surround view monitor, heated and ventilated front seats and a heated wheel and back seats as well as Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist. If you want it, it’s probably there — and included in the price that starts at $39.950.
   This beauty gets a combined 32 miles per gallon and has a 1.6L turbocharged GDI 4-cylinder hybrid engine that with 178 horsepower, performs well not only on city streets but on highways as well. The Sante Fe’s fuel economy suffers a bit when compared to some competitors, but it’s still pretty good. We appreciated that, unlike many hybrids, the acceleration wasn’t sluggish. It had pep from the get-go. It quickly got up to speed on highways and it also, again unlike other hybrids, didn’t have a noticeable shift when going from gas powered to electric. The handoff was so seamless one could easily forget what is powering the SUV. Combined the hybrid system yields 226 horsepower.
   The Santa Fe is “just right” in terms of dimensions; not too big to be overwhelming but not too small so that passengers feel squeezed. The wheelbase is 108.9 inches; 188.4 inches in length and 74.8 width. The interior space is impressive and can comfortably seat two adults in the back seat and three if you squeeze a bit. The headroom for the front and second row are 39.5 inches and 37.8 inches respectfully. Again, Hyundai delivers a comfortable interior with high-quality materials that make you feel that the SUV is more expensive that it is. The total interior volume is 147.9 cubic feet , and for those wanting cargo space, this SVU again delivers, especially if you fold down the back seats, which will then give you 72.1 cubic feet of space. Not surprisingly, it is among the best in its class in terms of space.
   Is the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited a contender? You bet. It has the outstanding engineering, quality features (especially on safety) and it’s a fun family vehicle. Check it out
www.hyundaiusa.com

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Kansas City museum tells story of WW I

travelgirlinc — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 13:45:43 +0000

World War I ended on Nov. 11, 1918, but the repercussions of the war that is called the “War to End All Wars,” are still being felt today. A good way to understand the war is by a visit to the National WW I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO.
Designed to be of interest to children, veterans and history buffs, the museum’s collection of World War I objects and documents is the most comprehensive in the world and its exhibits feature interactive and immersive elements throughout, including the new experience, War Remains.
War Remains is an immersive virtual reality experience that transports viewers to the Western Front of the First World War. Through stunning visual effects, powerfully designed sound and a custom set, guests feel the trench and experience the vibration of the floor as explosions surround them.
In 2004 Congress designed the 80,000 square-foot building as the official WW I museum, and since then more than two million people have visited. One of the highlights is a French-made Renault FT-17 tank used by the Americans that has a gaping hole in its flank, the result of a hit from a German shell. Another are life-size trenches with ground-level views into six different trench scenes with actual objects in place, recorded statements from the writing of participants and relevant ambient sounds. It also has a walk-in crater that illustrates the devastating effects of a 17-inch howitzer shell struck a French farmhouse.
Not only is the museum fascinating, but the grounds are an experience in itself. With the 217-foot Liberty Tower – which is illuminated at night – overlooking its peaceful, park-like setting, the museum’s campus provides a green and stunning location for picnics, evening strolls and memorable vacation photos.
www.theworldwar.org

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Chateau Elan Reaches for the Stars

travelgirlinc — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 13:35:05 +0000

Isn’t star gazing fun? It gets better if you are outside around a fire pit with a glass of wine at a beautiful resort as an astronomer points out the constellations. That’s exactly the experience at Sunset Stargazing at Chateau Elan, a 3,500-acre resort and winery located near Atlanta. Explore the North Georgia night sky with professional telescopes as the stargazing instructor points out star constellations, planets in orbit and other lunar objects. Event dates are set to correspond with the monthly moon cycle and other celestial phenomenon and will take place Sept.13th: First Quarter Moon; Oct. 8: Draconid Meteor Shower; Oct.13th, First Quarter Moon; Nov. 11, First Quarter Moon; Nov. 19, Partial Lunar Eclipse and Dec. 11, First Quarter Moon.
This 60 minutes event takes place shortly after sunset and guests will have a short intro into stargazing, a brief explanation of the equipment and an overview what they’ll be viewing in the sky. Chateau Elan is reminiscent of an elegant French country estate and is one of the largest and most awarded wineries on the East Coast with more than 30 wines produced. Other activities include golf, spa, tennis, wellness classes hiking and bikingComplimentary for guests.
www.chateauelan.com

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Famed Saint-Tropez hotel opens after renovation

travelgirlinc — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:23:52 +0000

After an eight-month renovation, the legendary Hôtel La Ponche, in the heart of historic Saint-Tropez, is opened and will remain open year-round. The hotel, which has welcomed some of France’s most famous, including Françoise Sagan, Brigitte Bardot, Gunter Sachs, Romy Schneider, Michel Piccoli, Boris Vian, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, features 21 rooms, including five suites.
The tone is Provencal with a black-and-white marbled checkerboard floor, ivory walls, concierge, luggage room, and reception with traditional round brass keys.
The veranda and its zenith-like overhead lighting invites people to meet there in the company of the library and the game tables (chess and backgammon). The spa, Le Le Tigre Yoga Club will provide treatments adapted to the spirit of the moment: morning yoga on the deck facing the sea. And afterwards, yoga classes on request, body treatments, massages serve as an invitation to let go at the end of the day.
www.laponche.com

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Best Instagrammable Best Weddings

travelgirlinc — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 13:17:01 +0000

Want your wedding to be picture perfect? Or, better yet, Instagram perfect? Well, then have it at the world’s most Instagrammable beaches. Cannon Beach in Oregon has more than 479,252 hashtags, followed by Rosemary Beach in Florida (260,078) and Bavaro Beach in the Dominican Republic (195.380), according to showerstoyou.co.uk.
Ireland is home to the largest amount of Instagrammable beach wedding with 12 spots making the list, including Arcadia in Antrim (3,297 hashtags), Rathmullan House in Ulster (1,924 hashtags) and Hotel Doolin (1,375 hashtags). The USA takes third place with a total of 10 places, with four ranking in the top 10.
In second place is the U.K. with 11 insta-worthy destinations making the list. Lusty Glaze (30,311 hashtags), Watergate Bay Hotel both of which are in Newquay (8,393 hashtags) and Tunnels Beaches in Devon (6,453 hashtags) are amongst the favorites.
Cannon Beach is nestled between the Coast Range and the Pacific Ocean and wedding pictures will feature breath-taking views and crashing waves. The waves at Rosemary Beach are a bit gentler but the blue seas are amazing. Bavaro Beach is an adults-only inclusive hotel.
www.showerstoyou.co.uk/

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Skyline Lodge, steakhouse, open in Highlands, N.C.

travelgirlinc — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 16:48:46 +0000

Skyline Lodge and Oak Steakhouse, newly renovated historic properties, have opened in the mountain town of Highlands, N.C. Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Skyline Lodge was a 1930’s-era property and has 39 guest rooms and one suite. It also offers stunning panoramic views as well as easy access to hiking trails, waterfalls and shopping destinations.
Oak Steakhouse is located on the lodge’s second floor and offers certified Angus beef and locally sourced produce from area farms. The first and only steakhouse in Highlands, Oak is led by Executive Chef Kelly Vogelheim, and guest will enjoy a variety of starters, entrees, sides, and more, including Braised Rabbit Agnolotti with White Wine, Hazelnut, and Lavender; Wild Mushroom Tart with Shaved Turnips, Garlic Confit, Sherry Cream, and Gruyere; Duck Fat Poached Lobster Tail with Saffron Risotto, Pea Tendril, and Chive Oil. Executive Pastry Chef Anne White offers delectable treats such as her signature Sorghum Caramel Cake (which is sold both by the slice at Oak and as a full cake to take home), a gluten-free Eight Layer Chocolate Cake, and a Honeysuckle Sorbet with Fried Sage Leaves and Baked Honey Meringue Shards.
In addition to Oak, Skyline Lodge’s central lobby bar, Butlers Lounge, serves mid-century cocktails and features expansive lounge seating, vaulted load-bearing ceilings, and two large scale fireplaces of hand-carved, locally quarried granite.
The lodge is part of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, led by group founder and three-time James Beard Award Outstanding Restaurateur nominee Steve Palmer and Indigo Road President of Lodging & Lifestyle Adventures Larry Spelts.

https://skyline-lodge.com

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Ireland to Offer 4 Best-in-Class New Experiences

Mary Welch — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:38:10 +0000

Visitors to Ireland will be thrilled with four new best-in-class experiences planned for counties Cavan, Donegal, Dublin and Mayo. Located in the country’s Hidden Heartlands, the Shannon Pot Discovery Centre will showcase the waterway’s rich heritage, culture and influence on Irish life from the earliest settlers to the modern day and allow visitors to begin a journey of the mighty Shannon at its source. Cavan Burren Park, located under the shadow of Cuilcagh Mountain, is widely recognized as one of the finest prehistoric relict landscapes in Ireland. Among the enhancement plans is the installation of an elevated forest viewing walkway.
   Fort Dunree and Head in County Donegal will feature Ireland’s first funicular cable railway. The one-of-a-kind attraction will offer travelers a thrilling ascent to the high fort amid incredible 360-degree vistas of the Wild Atlantic Way. A dramatic glass walkway at the site will jut over the waters of Lough Swilly, providing spectacular views of the natural environment.
   ‘This Is Ireland’ in Dublin will be an immersive experience consisting of multiple shows, with its principal feature being a simulated flight experience based on similar attractions in Amsterdam and Vancouver. The ‘edutainment’ attraction will feature a breathtaking and engaging experience of Irish history, the Ireland of today, and the ultimate finale – a flight using state-of-the-art flight simulation and audio-visual technology.
   The new attraction at the 300-acre Westport House and Gardens Estate in County Mayo, will allow visitors to explore ancient Irish rituals and Ireland’s connections to the land as told through a series of accessible wild and natural spaces.
   The Westport House and Gardens will also be restored. Visitors will be able to enjoy the enhanced experience of the grand house with its formal gardens while learning about the trail-blazing pirate queen and chieftain Grace O’Malley and the Browne family who have lived there for centuries.
   These experiences are the most significant investment in tourist attractions ever undertaken by the Irish government and cost more than $86 million (€ 73 million).

www.ireland.com #loveireland @tourismireland

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Northeast hotels offer special packages to help the LBGTQ community

Mary Welch — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 19:11:47 +0000

In honor of Pride Month, two Northeast hotels are raising awareness with new packages that benefit the LGBTQ community.

The Hotel Ithaca, the only independently-owned hotel in the area, is offering a LGBTQ Walking Tour package with proceeds benefitting the Center for LGBT Education, Outreach & Services at Ithaca College. Surveys show that 20 percent of visitors to Ithaca, NY identity as LGBTQ, while only four percent in the state does, which shows how popular this destination is among the LGBTQ community.

The Ithaca LGBTQ History Walking Tour, with 32 stops over seven miles, showcases one of the first cities in the US to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, where one of the first student-organized sit-ins for LGBTQ rights took place, the site of one of the first public declarations of the American bisexual movement. The tour is available as a self-guided experience through the free app with options for users to customize their experience. The Ithaca LGBTQ tour just received two national awards, presented at the 2020 ACPA Convention, The Outstanding Social Justice Collaboration award from the ACPA Commission for Social Justice Education, and The Research Recognition Award from the ACPA Coalition of Sexuality and Gender Identities.

The 170-room hotel is close to Cornell University and Ithaca College an the Finger Lakes Region. The package includes deluxe accommodations for two, a bottle of Finger Lakes Wine at check-in and a picnic lunch for two guests who show proof they will take the tour by downloading the Pocket Sights app or brochure with map.

www.thehotelithaca.com

In the next state over, the DELMAR West Hartford, CT., has created the True Colors Package to raise funds for a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of sexual and gender minority youth.

In support of the LGBTQ community in Connecticut and nationwide, Delamar West Hartford will donate 10% of every package booked to True Colors, Inc. Package include: overnight accommodations for two; 10% spa discount for couples massage or facial; $25 dining credit to Artisan Restaurant; two hand-beaded Free2Luv custom rainbow bracelet and an-room bottle of wine.

West Hartford, dubbed one of “America’s coolest suburbs” by Travel & Leisure magazine, is located exactly midway between Boston and New York. The DELAMAR West Hartford is the perfect vantage point from which to explore all that Connecticut’s Capital Region has to offer – from the trendy boutiques and eateries to historically and culturally rich attractions including The Mark Twain House, Wadsworth Atheneum, and The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. The hotel’s full-service DELAMAR spa offers cutting-edge treatments specializing in anti-aging and lifting for the face and body with a focus on wellness. Artisan, the hotel’s highly acclaimed farm-fresh restaurant, offers exquisite New England-inspired cuisine with a European flair.

www.delmar.com/west-hartford.com

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Say It with Paper Flowers

travelgirlinc — Tue, 11 May 2021 20:31:15 +0000

Who doesn’t love getting flowers? Or even an unexpected greeting card? Now you can combine both, thanks to FreshCut Paper, an innovative, environmentally friendly option that offers beautiful, life-sized, pop-up paper flower bouquets that look like the real deal but won’t wilt after a few days.
   The bouquets were created by designer Peter Hewitt, who has developed products for Disney, Revlon, Crate & Barrel and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). He also founded Tea Forté, which use gourmet whole leaf teas in a pyramid silken infuser for a more complete and satisfying tea experience.
   All bouquets, envelopes and enclosed note card are 100 percent recyclable with a portion of every purchase going to 1% For The Planet, an earth-saving organization. In addition, for every bouquet purchased, the Concord, MA-based company will plant a tree in your loved one’s honor.
   Customers can choose from yellow or pink tulips, white roses, daffodils, red amaryllis and murillo tulips. $12.

www.freshcuttpaper.com

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