The Roosevelt New Orleans’ Rooftop Pool
Photo Courtesy of Hilton Worldwide
Summer: Blink and you’ll miss it. With August already here, there are just a few precious weeks for that last-minute vacation. Here are some great ideas for a quick, easy trip to bask in the sun and sand before it’s too late.
New Orleans
If you’re looking for an excuse to enjoy the taste of crawfish, the sound of jazz performers in the streets and beignets from Café du Monde, then we’ve got a deal for you in New Orleans. This August, try the Family Fun Package by The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where you’ll get free Wi-Fi and breakfast for two adults and two children during your stay. A special surprise for the little ones awaits at check-in, and the hotel’s personalized concierge staff can help with organizing a family movie night, kid-friendly cooking classes or Mom & Me spa treatments.
Ladera Resort Saint Lucia, Photo Courtesy of Ladera Resort
Don’t forget the rooftop swimming pool, where you can cool down from the Louisiana heat, catch some rays or work on your cannonballs.
St. Lucia
What’s not to love about a whole month devoted to chocolate? Head to the beautifully tropical island of St. Lucia to celebrate its annual Chocolate Heritage Month. The cocoa plant has played a significant role in St. Lucia’s history for hundreds of years, and today the crop still thrives all over the island. This month you can delve into St. Lucia’s history while reaping the delicious benefits of chocolate.
Over at the luxurious Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Ladera Resort Saint Lucia, one of the Soufrière region’s oldest cocoa plantations, savor a romantic, sweets-themed getaway that starts with chocolate-covered fruit at check-in, free chocolate mousse dessert at the Ladera’s Dasheene restaurant and a luxurious chocolate body scrub.
West-facing rooms that overlook the lush Soufrière hillside and the ocean below create the perfect setting for a romantic Caribbean sunset.
Los Angeles
Take off to the West Coast for the sixth annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival (August 25 to 28). The four-day festival celebrates the best that L.A. has to offer in food and drink, not to mention there’s some serious celebrity chef presence (Hugh Acheson, Stephanie Izard) along with world-class wine and entertainment.
Partake in events like a poolside Sunset Grill ’n’ Chill with chef Rick Bayless or head out to the Grand Avenue Night Market, featuring inspired street food from more than 30 participating chefs and restaurants.
If you still haven’t gotten your fill, check out the fine-dining options at Five-Star The Peninsula Beverly Hills, just steps from Rodeo Drive. Enjoy alfresco dining at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Four-Star The Belvedere; a healthy California-inspired lunch at The Roof Garden; or a luxe afternoon tea in The Living Room, overlooking lush gardens.
Shore Lodge, Photo Courtesy of Shore Lodge
Idaho
Nothing says summer vacation quite like an outdoors adventure. For families, couples and mature travelers alike, McCall, Idaho, offers a picturesque setting with something for everyone. On the shores of Payette Lake, Shore Lodge provides an authentic Pacific Northwest mountain retreat, complete with contemporary cabins, lodge rooms and suites. Have a casual-contemporary meal at The Narrows or book a treatment at Four-Star The Cove, a nature-inspired spa, to sooth sore muscles from all the boating and biking.
As a guest of the hotel, you get exclusive access to play at the award-winning Whitetail Club golf course. Tackle 18 holes and 7,200 yards of nature surrounded by centuries-old ponderosa pines. From August 25 to 27, the 2016 Payette Cup, now in its 11th year, takes place at the Whitetail Club. The two-day, 36-hole couples’ golf invitational is a one-of-a-kind treat in the region.
Reno
Get the best of multiple worlds by heading to Reno, Nevada, for a quick getaway. Book at stay at the brand-new Whitney Peak Hotel and make the most of the outdoor activities that the Reno-Lake Tahoe area has to offer, from horseback riding in the desert and fly fishing in the Truckee River to rock climbing and kayaking.
The hotel delivers a pet-friendly, luxury boutique experience that’s only a few minutes from the famous Reno Arch. Panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a 7,000-square-foot indoor bouldering park and the world’s tallest climbing wall (164 feet) only add to the excitement.
Additionally, we can’t neglect to mention an upcoming live music roster at Whitney Peak’s eminent Cargo Concert Hall that includes names like Paul Thorn & Reckless Kelly (August 2), Foals (August 4), Whitechapel (August 14) and Best Coast (August 27).
