National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Photo Courtesy of National Center for Civil and Human Rights
With the harsh winter weather in full effect, it’s exactly the right time to go on a quick trip to get away from it all — even if it’s just for a little while. So, if you’re looking for a two- or three-night escape, here are some worthy places to go:
Atlanta
With Martin Luther King Day just behind us and Hollywood still buzzing about Selma, the tremendous biopic centered around the inspiring leader himself, Georgia’s capital city makes for a timely trek. Through May 3, the new National Center for Civil and Human Rights will feature “Strategies of the Civil Rights Movement,” an exhibition in its Voice to the Voiceless Gallery. The showing includes King’s personal items, such as handwritten notes from his 1965 speech on Selma, excerpts from his diary from the Albany jail in 1962 and a 1963 letter from President Lyndon Johnson.
If you plan on visiting the museum, be sure to take the new Atlanta Streetcar there. The service, which started in late December, offers free rides for the first three months. Visitors and locals alike can now easily get from attractions like the King Historic District to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. And just a few blocks from many of these sites is Forbes Travel Guide Recommended TWELVE Centennial Park, an upscale urban hotel experience with spacious designer suites that boast 10-foot ceilings and gourmet kitchens.
The Savoy’s Royal Suite, Photo Courtesy of FRHI
London
As if you needed an excuse to get away to England, Five-Star The Savoy makes the move even sweeter. The Elements Stay Package lets you enjoy the magnificent city with a fresh, environmentally conscious approach. The weekend begins with a chauffeured pickup from the airport in a Mercedes BlueTEC hybrid vehicle. Upon arrival, a Savoy green butler will assist in any request to ensure you leave as light a carbon footprint as possible, be that with an organic, gourmet picnic or outdoor activities. Along with luxurious overnight accommodations, the stay also comes with meals at Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill, a member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, of course, and pre- or post-dinner biodynamic cocktails at the famed American Bar. You also can enjoy complimentary BMW bicycles, visit the ZSL London Zoo or take in a three-hour green walking tour of the city.
Hotel deLuxe’s Driftwood Room, Photo Courtesy of Hotel deLuxe
Portland
If you’re looking to do something active on the West Coast, don’t miss Sentinel’s Gear Up, Get Inspired special, inspired by author Cheryl Strayed’s stunning memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, written about her 1,100-mile hike from the Mojave Desert to the Oregon-Washington border. Her encouraging story is now being told on the big screen in an Oregon-shot film starring actress Reese Witherspoon, who was nominated for a 2015 Best Actress Academy Award for the role. In addition to a room at Sentinel, the deal comes complete with a new custom-fit pair of Danner Mountain Light Cascade hiking boots, a copy of Wild and a Pacific Crest Trail Hiking Guide to get you on your way for your own adventure. The deal also includes drinks for two at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Hotel deLuxe’s Driftwood Room, the Hollywood-inspired lounge where some Wild scenes took place.
