Sunday, September 30, 2012

Boston Marriott Peabody Hotel Offers End-of-Summer Whale Watching Deal

The Boston Marriott Peabody Hotel is offering guests an exciting end-of-summer Whale Watching package.

Guests staying at the hotel near Salem can take this opportunity to catch one of the most exciting occurrences at sea: majestic whales migrating for the season.

September and October are the final months of the active whale watching season. Majestic humpback whales can be spotted feeding and swimming out at sea. Guests staying at this hotel near Gloucester can take advantage of the Whale Watching deal, which includes two tickets to Cape Ann Whale Watch, one of the best whale watching companies according to Boston Magazine’s New England Travel guide, and an overnight stay in a deluxe guest room with either a king or two double beds.

After a day out at sea whale watching, guests will return to this Peabody hotel and relax in spacious hotel rooms and enjoy luxurious amenities. Complimentary high-speed Internet access lets guests go online and share their whale-watching photos. Plush beds and furniture provides plenty of comfortable places to relax. Guests can also grab a bite to eat at the on-site Sophia’s Restaurant.

Book the Whale Watching Package at the Peabody Hotel and experience one last adventure this summer.

To reserve the Whale Watching Package, use promotional code ES7 online or call 1-800-228-9290. This deal is available from now until October 28, 2012, seven days a week. Other restrictions may apply. For more information, visit www.marriott.com/BOSPB



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Samoset Resort in Maine Announces Winter Wonderland Season

Samoset Resort, a classic resort in mid-coast Maine, will be launching its brand new winter season of holidays, romantic retreats, family activities and winter group meetings. The Holiday Happenings at the resort will commence on Thanksgiving weekend and last through to New Year’s Day. After the New Year, the resort will remain open for a Winter Wonderland of activities for spa weekend getaways, school breaks and group meetings.

“This is The Samoset’s first return to winter season in three years and our staff and community are ready to welcome guests for this spectacular time of year!" said General Manager, Connie Russell. “We’ve got some terrific activities planned, as well as amenities and services to enhance the guest experience.”

The Samoset announced earlier in 2012 that the resort would be open year-round, a decision which was fueled by the completion of numerous additions to the resort in 2011 including a full-service, seaside spa, La Bella Vita and Enoteca wine bar, and three new luxury guest cottages. These recent improvements are the result of a multi-million dollar investment by the resort owners in an effort to bring the guest experience to a new level.

The new 2012/2013 winter season at Samoset will start with a series of Holiday Happenings from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. The hotel will be festively decorated and guests will be able to enjoy holiday packages, menus, and activities such as Brunch with Santa. The resort will also feature a new ice skating rink with bonfire and S’mores. La Bella Vita Ristorante will feature an outdoor Ice Bar set amongst the fire pit and fire lamps overlooking the ocean. Samoset’s Winter Weekends and School Break Vacations will feature a series of family activities, culinary events, kid’s recreation center, indoor pool, group health classes and custom Spa treatments for winter weather.

Leisure guests can take advantage of great rates and packages, including the Thanksgiving Package which includes accommodations, traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet for 2, breakfast daily and children’s activities. This package starts at $229 per night. The Winter Wonderland Package which includes accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, a $50 spa credit and all resort amenities and activities, starts at just $249 per night.

The year-round status and festive nature of the winter season is great news for groups as well as leisure guests. Groups can now take advantage of great rates for holiday parties as well as generous incentives to book a party in one of the resort’s beautiful ballrooms or the La Bella Vita Ristorante. Incentives for party planners include gift certificates for complimentary hotel stays, meals and golf. Room rates begin at just $99 per night and holiday parties range from lavish buffet style to elegant sit-down meals.

The Samoset gears up for the winter on the heels of a very busy and successful summer season. In 2012 improvements guests enjoyed included an updated and renovated 21,000 feet of meeting space, as well as new iPod docking station radios, refrigerators, Keurig coffee makers, safes and complimentary bottled water in every guestroom at the hotel. The resort also introduced a very popular 9-hole Disc Golf Course overlooking the ocean, adding this new amenity for guests and groups, as part of the Ultimate Backyard Experience, which also includes tennis, basketball, zero entry outdoor pool, shuffleboard, volleyball, badminton, croquet, horseshoes and a playground.

For more information and booking, please visit http://www.samosetresort.com or call 800.341.1650.


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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Watch: Morgan Horse History on Equitrekking



Video courtesy of Equitrekking on YouTube

"Watch the history of the Morgan horse from the Public Television TV show, Equitrekking. The history of the Morgan horse is intertwined with the history of America. Learn about this versatile breed in this special Equitrekking video with interviews from Kathy Furr at the National Museum of the Morgan Horse and Steve Davis at the University of Vermont's Morgan Horse Farm with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman." --Equitrekking

www.equitrekking.com


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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Vermont: The Stage is Set for a Beautiful Foliage Season

Impending cool nights and reduced daylight hours will soon evoke the green leaves to transform to red, orange and yellow. In these early stages of fall foliage, the best colors can generally be found in higher elevations, the northern sections of the state, and in wetter low-lying areas, where swamp maples bring an early splash of crimson.


New this year, the Foliage Report will be issued Tuesdays, September 18-October 30. The Foliage Report will include a map that features best driving routes, an audio update and hiking/walking trail recommendations. The information will be comprised from a weekly survey of a more than a dozen state foresters, led by the state’s lead Foliage Forecaster, Michael Snyder, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation.

With the highest percentage of maples trees in New England, one-third of which are sugar and red maples responsible for producing intense red hues, Vermont has the most vibrant fall foliage in the northeast. As Vermont is 76 percent forested and home to more than 50 state parks, leaf peepers can view expansive foliage across more than 300,000 acres of state-owned forests beautifully contrasted next to farm valleys, towns and waterways. 

VermontVacation.com tools for planning a Vermont Fall Foliage tour include:
  •     Lodging Availability & Midweek Packages
  •     Fall Foliage Forecaster
  •     Scenic Drives & Byways
  •     Fall Travel Tips
For more information, visit www.VermontVacation.com. Leaf peepers can also easily stay up-to-date on the color progression of Vermont’s foliage by calling the Fall Foliage Hotline at 1-800-VERMONT.


{via press release}
Photo Credit: Vermont Tourism

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Monday, September 10, 2012

Spotlight: Scrub and Shine Bar at Lotus Spa on New Royal Princess Cruise Ship


Video courtesy of Princess Cruises on YouTube

"When you visit the Lotus Spa onboard the all new Royal Princess cruise ship, you'll have the option to visit the "Scrub and Shine Bar" before your treatment begins. Visit with a spa mixologist to find your ideal blend of salts, sugars, and herbs to be used in conjunction with your spa treatment to get the most out of your personal experience." --Princess Cruises


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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Weekend Digest - For the Week Ending 9/8/2012

 

Buck Island National Monument is located off the shores of St. Croix. Buck Island is one of only two underwater national monuments in the U.S. -Caribbean Tourism Organization [Photo]

Turtle Swimming Underwater at Couples Swept Away Resort in Negril, Jamaica [Video]

In a recent Travel + Leisure Magazine poll, Providence, Rhode Island was voted #1 for hamburgers in the country. Here's what some locals and business owners had to say... [Video]

Celebrate Scottish culture at the New Hampshire Highland Games Highland Games ~ Sept. 21-23, 2012. [Info]

National Trust Tours: Cuban architecture, Bermuda private houses & gardens, cruising Antigua, history and more.

The Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival is coming up on November 16-19, 2012. Check out this year's lineup of international chefs, info.

Modeled after a Venetian palazzo, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston houses one of the world’s most remarkable art collections. Take virtual tour via their Pinterest Boards.

Looking for country fairs in Connecticut? Check out this list on the Connecticut Office of Tourism website.


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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The Affluent Traveler Contest: Win a Luxury Vacation to Boston Worth More Than $10,000



The Affluent Traveler, the semi-annual luxury lifestyle magazine of The Affluent Traveler Collection, is offering readers the chance to win a $10,000-plus luxury vacation for two to Boston in its new Summer/Fall 2012 issue. The prize includes 7 nights at the Taj Boston, select meals, Swan Boat Ride tickets (seasonal) and a two-day Go Boston Card. Round-trip, first class tickets onboard Delta Air Lines is also included. Aspiring travelers can enter by visiting the contest page; entries will be accepted through December 15, 2012* Readers can also enter to win via smartphone through the magazine’s mobi tag.

The winner will enjoy accommodations in a Park View Suite, inclusive of daily breakfast and a dinner with wine at The Café, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant and Champagne Sunday brunch on The Roof overlooking the Public Garden. The two-day Go Boston Card permits entrance to attractions and museums, as well as savings at local shops.

The Affluent Traveler, designed to serve as the ‘guide to the good life,’ features the world’s finest travel experiences, celebrity interviews and an expansive culinary section. It has an international distribution in more than 15 countries and is available by subscription, through licensed travel advisors of The Affluent Traveler Collection, at major bookstores, on newsstands, in select airport lounges and in the guestrooms of all Affluent Traveler Collection preferred hotels.

The Affluent Traveler is the official magazine of The Affluent Traveler Collection, one of 19 brands owned by American Marketing Group, Inc. To learn more about The Affluent Traveler Collection or find an Affluent Traveler Collection licensed travel advisor, visit http://www.theaffluenttraveler.com.

*No purchase necessary to win. Terms and conditions apply and can be found by visiting http://www.theaffluenttraveler.com/contest


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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Weekend Digest: For the Week Ending 9/1/2012

You could win a week at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts! Take the Travel Style Quiz on Facebook.

Watch: Aruba Tourism's new video by Justin Wu Films [Video]

September is Revival Month in Harvard Square: A Celebration of Renewal and Tradition 

Enter for a chance to win a beautiful vacation home in historic Waldoboro, Maine. 
(From DIY Blog Cabin)

8 Best All Inclusive Honeymoon Resorts [Destination Wedding Mag]

Courtyard by Marriott Boston Cambridge Introduces Three New Experience Packages

Lobster Dave cooks up a storm in Ocho Rios, Jamaica [Cruise Maven]

Caribbean: Palm trees, salt air and miles of pristine beaches. Find your perfect spot! [Photos]

Upcoming: A Taste of Block Island | September 21-23, 2012 | Rhode Island

The Bermuda Department of Tourism Launches a New Branding Campaign


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