Traveler's USA Notebook

Your guide to travel news, discoveries, delights and pleasures

Welcome travelers! Welcome professional travel journalists! Welcome Mensa members! Welcome TATLER readers! Welcome human rights activists! Welcome vegetarians! Welcome hipsters, hustlers, high-rollers, hyphenated scenesters, and the whole EU! Wilkommen, bienvenue, baby! We invite you to eavesdrop on tips and tales that professional travel writers like to swap with each other. But shhh . . . don't tell a soul.

Spotlight Destination

A Big Look at Little Rock

Ignored and off the radar, not officially a trendy destination . . .yet Little Rock has all the ingredients that make for a satisfying vacation. And when the President Clinton library opened, the city had even more to offer-- history, recreation, shopping, scenery, events and a touch of authenticity. Let’s look. [more]

A fresh look at some welcoming destinations.

Bright lights! New York City! Curtain Up! The reviews are in. Spotlight on Gypsy, South Pacific, Sunday in the Park With George, Straight Up With a Twist, The 39 Steps and New Jerusalem.

The solar system on $10,000 a day. The astrology of travel.

There's travel fever . . .and then there's travel fever

Good taste in good taste and it's vegetarian.

Editor:
Norman Schreiber

Special Correspondent: Debbi Kempton-Smith

Pacific Rim Correspondent
Jan Prince

Contributing Editors: April Burbage, Robert Rattner, Fern Siegel, Debra Griboff and Giles the Unflappable

Traveler's USA Notebook
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The News

Cool hotels; hot restaurants; deals, sights, sites & more

New York A new generation of art lovers gets to experience the oversize art, ego, passion and Courbet -- Desperate Man talent of nineteenth century French artist Gustave Courbet. The occasion is a retrospective exhibit (named for the artist) which opened at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on 27 February and will run through 18 May of this year. Courbet (1819-1877), very much the idealist and revolutionary, won acclaim and derision for posing “common” people in settings usually reserved for the A-listers of his time. In fact, he embraced realism to highlight his progressive sensibilities rather than the noble or formal classical subject matter favored by the government and Academy of Fine Arts, as exemplified in their annual juried Salon. He painted his self-portrait, “A Desperate Man” (seen above right).after being rejected by the Salon several times (and shortly before being accepted,) This exhibit marks the first time A Desperate Man,” is available for viewing in the U.S.

The curators have gathered over 130 oil paintings and works on paper from museums and private holdings. The exhibit is arranged chronologically and some galleries focus on paeticular themes: — early self-portraits, scenes from his hometown Ornans, nudes, and Courbet and photography. The exhibit (which previously was displayed at at the Grand Palais, Paris) was organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Réunion des Musées Nationaux and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, and the Communautéd'agglomération de Montpellier/Musée Fabre, Montpellier where it heads next. For more information,. call 212.535.7710 or click here/

Boston Speaking of lovers, the various Hilton hotels in Boston are offering a “Pop the Question” package. As its name suggests, the package helps interrogatively-challenged swains propose to their sweethearts. You provide the lovey and Hilton provides the setting, atmosphere, and blandishments. Participating hotels are the Hilton Boston Back Bay (mention code NR), Hilton Boston Logan Airport (code NR), Doubletree Club Hotel Boston-Bayside (code {POP), Doubletree Hotel Boston-Downtown (mention code MEE) and Doubletree Guest Suites Boston (code POP). The one magical night package’s enticements are accommodations for two in the Presidential Suite (or equivalent), total pampering, a bit of the bubbly and fine chocolates in-room, private limousine service, dinner for two at the spectacular Top of the Hub Restaurant in the scenic Back Bay, in-room flower-petal turndown service, hotel buffet or a la carte breakfast for two the following morning and late check out. Although one can’t really put a price on such a romantic madcap adventure, the package starts at $1,650.00 plus tax per couple, and will be available . Package is available throughout the year.

Contact individual hotels to book. Hilton Boston Back Bay - 617.236.1100 ; Hilton Boston Logan Airport - 617.568.6700; Doubletree Hotel Boston-Downtown - 617.956.7900; and Doubletree Guest Suites Boston/Waltham - 781.890.6767.

Amadeus Waterways The World In 2009, Amadeus Waterways has a cruise schedule that offers selection of 17 vacation programs in Europe, Russia, Portugal and Egypt. Joining the Amadeus fleet in 2009 are the MS Amalyra in March and MS Amadolce Among the travel opportunities are a Paris to Prague journey that takes you along the Mosel and Main River from Trier to Nuremberg. Or you can cruise Provence and Spain and Portugal’s Douro River Valley. Those who book by 30 September, 2008 will receive a 5% Early Booking Discount. For details about the various cruises, call 800.626.0126 or click here.

USA This may be the Year Of The Rat on the Chinese calendar; but to Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) members, this is the “Year Of The Frog.” Jumping off point for the “Year Of The Frog.” is 29 February, “Leap Day. Yes, it’s Leap Year. Celebrations and events will take place at zoos and aquariums all across the country. There’s a serious side to all this. The AZA wants to promote amphibian conservation. The organization notes that extinction threatens about one-third of the world’s amphibians. To learn more about amphibians and frogs “Year Of The Frog” events, click here.

Hemiphractus fasciatus
©Paul Crump

Washington, D.C. The storied St. Regis, Washington, D.C. reopened on 21 January after a 16-month renovation. Long known as a stately luxury hotel, the D.C. St. Regis is now a St. Regis Washington DC modern stately luxury hotel. New features include wireless Internet, 32" LCD television, DVD player, Pratesi linens and Remède Spa products. Bathroom devotees will get a special kick out of the 15-inch LCD television, installed behind the bathroom mirror. permitting images to be projected onto a screenless surface. Of course, the public spaces, as well as the room interiors have been given a makeover. Sumptuous materials and custom furnishings create an aura of luxury. The renovation reduced the room count from 193 to 175, while adding 11 sumptuous suites. As with all properties under the St. Regis umbrella, the special, pampering, attentive butler service is available here.
For more info, call 202.638-2626 or click here.

san Diego North See San Diego North from the point of view of an insider. Okay. An insider who also happens to be a civic booster. The San Diego North region, which defines itself as the 2,000 square-mile resort region of San Diego, has just released the 2008 San Diego North Travel Planning and Conference Guide. Despite its official status as a tool for conference planners, this 176-page resource will serve the casual visitor quite well. The book is loaded with information about the area’s coastal, valley, mountain and desert attractions. It offers tips, lists events and describes the various ins and outs and special perks and pleasures of San Diego North.

"Insider tips and itinerary ideas such as the best places to stargaze, hike, or discover hidden beaches along the San Diego North coastline add a valuable, customized and memorable experience for the visitor," said Cami Mattson, President and CEO of the San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau.

To get your copy, call 800.848.3336 or click here.

Ocho Rios Couples Ocho Rios is getting a facelift and will be closed between 1 April and 15 December. The $15 million renovation to Jamaica's first couples only resort will spruce up virtually all areas of the haven. In addition to renewing lobby, spa, restaurant and pool, the management will add 20 ocean view accommodations— four suites and 16 rooms. Additions to the property include a new wedding gazebo, veggie and juice bar, pool grill, spa with 10 treatment rooms, swim-up pool bar and new dive pool, gym, aerobics room, photo shop, gift shop, games room, and a floating dock at Tower Isle, Couples Ocho Rios’ own private island. If you've already booked a stay at Couples Ocho Rios during the closed period, you will be offered a booking. At one of the resort's three sister properties (Couples Sans Souci, Couples Swept Away or Couples Negril) plus you will get a certificate entitling you to two complimentary nights at Couples Ocho Rios from April 1 – December 15, 2009. Those who decline this alternative will be offered a full refund. For more information, call 1-800-COUPLES or click here.

USA Maybe it's a coincidence. Now that travelers are renewing their interest in railroad travel, especially along the Northeast corridor, Amtrak and Chase have teamed up to present a new affinity credit card -- -- the Amtrak Guest Rewards World MasterCard. As you swipe your way to happiness with this card, you get two points for every dollar spent on Amtrak and one point for every dollar spent on any other card purchase. There's a 5000 point bonus upon the first use of the card. You also can exchange points for free Amtrak trips, hotel stays, car rentals and gift certificates. For more information call 888.58.AMTRAK or click here.