Caneel Bay Resort
Photo Courtesy of Caneel Bay Resort
May is almost the perfect month. It’s warm enough that you can stow away the jacket but it’s not so hot that you feel the need to pack SPF 50 sunblock in your bag every day. This month, it won’t much matter if you’re sipping garden party mojitos or catching a baseball game — there’s just something about these last pre-summer days that puts a bounce in everyone’s step.
Around the world, people are gearing up for the season with a calendar full of fun. Don’t miss the chance to spend some quality time outdoors reveling in the May sunshine at these five destinations.
Puerto Rico
Take yourself out to the ballgame because the two-game San Juan Series is one a baseball fan can’t miss. The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Miami Marlins (May 30 to 31), and to honor Pirates Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente’s former team returning to his homeland, May 31 will be dedicated to the beloved icon.
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico, Photo Courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc
After nine innings in bustling San Juan, retreat to Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico, only 45 minutes outside the city. Rest up or even play a round of golf — the games’ first pitches won’t toss until 7 p.m.
U.S. Virgin Islands
It’s a weekend of beach parties, beer and country singing stars when the Love City Country Music Festival takes over the beautiful tropical island of St. John. Thursday’s beach bash (May 12) kicks off the concerts while a songwriters’ showcase (May 13) and Pat Green’s headlining show (May 14) ensure that boots never stop stomping in the sand.
With all of the action taking place on St. John, Caneel Bay Resort proves the obvious choice in lodging. The Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel even has a sweet-sounding VIP package arranged, with passes to the festival, $20 drink tickets, concert gear, VIP access and four nights of blissful accommodations.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Foodies, rejoice: Blackberry Farm’s Cultivating Generations benefit is your chance to be immersed in locally sourced fare. From May 15 to 18, organic food champion and trend-setting chef Alice Waters will cook California-inspired meals paired with Napa wines and share her stories about bringing natural and nutritious food to schools across the country.
The four-day event benefits the Blackberry Farm Foundation and Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project. Although the packed itinerary of demonstrations and tastings will keep you plenty busy, you should still have a few moments to explore the Four-Star inn’s Smoky Mountain countryside.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Photo Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC
Cayman Islands
Get ready to dance to the rhythm of Batabano (or more commonly known as “the Cayman Carnival”) on May 6 and 7. On Friday night, international and local DJs get the party started with a frenetic soca party. Saturday’s highlights include a parade of glittering, feathered and bedazzled dancers, floats and musicians charting a course from the beach to the heart of the festival on Harbor Drive.
Rest up between celebrations at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The Four-Star resort has beach access and private balconies, not to mention deep soaking tubs that’ll come in handy to rejuvenate your feet for more dancing the next day.
Atlanta
Whimsical glass sculptures add an enchanting aura to the already fantastic Atlanta Botanical Gardens during the April 30-premiering “Chihuly in the Garden” exhibition (open through September). There are 20 of the internationally acclaimed artist’s pieces scattered throughout forests and meadows, which can be viewed to different effect in bright sunshine or early twilight.
Less than five miles away, Four-Star Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta mixes city and serenity — it sits in the lively Buckhead area but maintains a sense of calm. The hotel has its own English garden, ensuring you enjoy the beautiful May weather even before you get to Chihuly’s pieces.
