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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at These Great Destinations

Auberge Resorts Collection, California, California Wine, Caribbean, Cinco de Mayo, Florida, Holiday Travel, Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Resorts, San Juan, Uncategorized

Last minute destinations and events to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year. From the gorgeous beaches of San Juan and Los Cabos, to the bustling streets of Los Angeles, there is something for everyone.

Fairmont Century Plaza | Century City, CA

**Photo** **credit: Fairmont Century Plaza**

Fairmont Century Plaza’s signature restaurant, Lumiére, will be hosting the ultimate Cinco de Mayo party for locals and guests to enjoy.

In partnership with craft tequila, Tres Generaciones, the luxury hotel will be celebrating the holiday from 12-4pm with specialty tequila cocktails, fun activations, and a live DJ.

Condado Ocean Club | San Juan, PR

This Cinco de Mayo, the Caribbean beaches and ocean views await at Condado Ocean Club. Located in San Juan’s chic Condado Beach District, Condado Ocean Club is the only adults-only hotel located on the oceanfront in San Juan.

The chic, adults-only hotel has one of the most Instagrammable infinity pools on the island with spacious cabanas, and some of the best modern, oceanfront accommodations including a signature indoor-outdoor restaurant, SOCIAL, serving elevated cuisine with a local twist overlooking the water; and playful beachside dining at SANDBOX. On May 5th, SANDBOX is hosting guests from 5pm to 12am with happy hour specials and delicious eats!

La Concha Resort | San Juan, PR

With a prime oceanfront location in the heart of San Juan’s elevated Condado Beach district, travelers looking for the perfect spot this Cinco De Mayo, can have fun under the Caribbean sun at San Juan’s quintessential beach lifestyle destination La Concha Resort.

Thanks to social indoor/outdoor restaurants and bars, an expansive pool area where guests can see and be seen while enjoying live DJ sets every weekend, and nightlife and entertainment offerings, La Concha is the perfect getaway for all travelers. Specifically for Cinco De Mayo, La Concha Resort’s newest dining outlet, Tekka Bar: Handroll & Sake, is offering a new specialty roll for through May 5th: Hamachi al Pastor, Grilled Pineapple, Guajillo chile, created by award-winning Chef Scott Conant’s from VIVA! Restaurant in La Vegas.

Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection |Los Cabos, Mexico

Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection, Los Cabos’ only private beach resort, will offer an elevated, fresh twist on the classic by offering the “Mago de Piña,” an integration of grilled pineapple, fresh lime juice, cardamom syrup, Cointreau, and, of course, Tequila añejo, garnished with dehydrated pineapple and bitters.

Pro tip: Pair this pineapple-inspired drink with dinner at Cocina del Mar’s menu of locally grown and house-made ingredients.

“The sweetness of the grilled pineapple perfectly compliments the warmth from the cardamom, and bitters makes the Mago de Piña a crowd pleaser. At Esperanza we pride ourselves on using classic ingredients in new combinations and presentations, and are always excited to introduce our guests to new agave-based spirits and local tequila producers” – Nicolas Morretti, Beverage Director at Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection

Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection|Los Cabos, Mexico

For those craving a bit more spice to go along with the hard stuff, Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection will be serving a “Yayarita,” aptly named after the hotel’s new Latin-Mediterranean restaurant, YAYA.

With the celebration of YAYA’s first anniversary this year, guests to the resort are welcomed with complimentary Yayaritas, impeccable service and cloudless skies. Crafted by lead mixologist Yared Alba, this cocktail is prepared with aquavit, tequila general gorostieta, carrot & ginger shrub and finished with ‘dessert dust.’

“The Yayarita is the perfect celebratory drink, a perfect balance of smooth tequila, acidity from a homemade carrot & ginger shrub, a touch of sweetness from the dessert dust on the glass. The colors, flavors, and environment represent the vibrant yet laid-back spirit of our little coastal haven in Los Cabos.” – Courtesy of Miguel Vargas, Bartender at Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra, FL

Located on one of the finest beaches in North Florida, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers an unforgettable Cinco de Mayo celebration for families. Just outside Jacksonville, this award-winning resort not only boasts pristine shores but also offers a variety of activities tailored to the holiday.

While children enjoy Cinco de Mayo-themed fun at the kid’s club with Mexican-inspired crafts and movies, parents can unwind with a sunset Margarita and savor Fiesta Flare specials. From beachfront Margaritas to a lively atmosphere, the resort’s various dining options, including the signature Seahorse Grille and the alfresco Surf Deck Grille, ensure that parents can enjoy the well-deserved holiday weekend.

Article: What Is the Oldest City in America? A Look at the Top 11

Adventure, Boston, Florida, Great Lakes, Historic Restaurants, New Jersey, New Mexico, Regional & Ethnic, Wisconsin

What Is the Oldest City in America? A Look at the Top 11 https://flip.it/–jqGq

Love in Luxury: 8 Top Romantic Destinations

Beaches, Desserts, Drink, Elegant dining, Florida, Gastronomy, Holiday Travel, Resort, Resorts, Romantic, Uncategorized, Valentine's Day, Virginia

Leave winter behind this Valentine’s Day with luxury destinations offering the perfect romantic getaways.

Keswick Hall | Charlottesville, Virginia

Treat your sweetheart to an unforgettable getaway at Charlottesville’s most premiere destination, Keswick Hall. The luxury resort will offer a “Virginia is for Lovers” package for those couples seeking a luxurious, romantic escape this season. Along with premium luxury accommodations, couples who book this experience will receive caviar, truffles, and champagne in their room in addition to $100 resort credit to the resort’s signature restaurant by Jean Georges, Marigold.

Marigold will have a special dinner menu for Valentine’s Day as well. The 4-course tasting menu starts at $138 per person and includes dishes such as roasted beef carpaccio, pumpkin and basil pot stickers, peppercorn crusted beef and a champagne mousse for dessert. Link to menu.

Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale, MO

Tucked away in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge is the ultimate romantic retreat in the Midwest for Valentine’s Day with picturesque views of Table Rock Lake and a variety of experiences inviting couples to spend precious time together on this special day. Embracing the natural beauty of the great outdoors, the resort offers Private Log Cabins as a classically cozy escape complete with a wood-burning fireplace, luxury tub, private balcony, full kitchen, rustic decor and the charm of the Ozarks.

On Valentine’s Day, couples can celebrate their love over a creative evening at Big Cedar Lodge’s Valentine’s Date Night, where they can decorate candy bars, build a curated charcuterie board and end the night with wood burning a custom design onto a charcuterie board to take home as a keepsake.

Other activities couples can enjoy during their romantic getaway include dining with sunset views at Osage Restaurant, channeling their artistic side with a pottery class, learning mixology to craft artisanal cocktails and much more.

The Lodge & Club | Ponte Vedra, FL

A landmark destination on Northeast Florida’s pristine coastline, guests seeking the ultimate romantic getaway should look no further than The Lodge & Club, where guests can book the Stir the Fire Package to enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience inclusive of accommodations in an exclusive oceanfront fireplace suite, daily beach chairs for two and welcome cocktails for two.

Enhance the experience even further with the new Romance Dining Package—a private in-room dining experience that includes waited service and interactive tableside preparation by Executive Chef Cameron Walton. The three-course menu features a variety of dishes including, Caesar salad or jumbo lump crab cake with piquillo pepper buerre blanc, filet mignon and cold-water lobster or chateaubriand (carved tableside), and warm chocolate raspberry lava cake or bananas foster. The private dining experience is available for $150 per person, inclusive of a choice of Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay or Cabernet.

Each guest room and suite at The Lodge & Club is located on the water featuring oceanfront views for the ultimate romantic winter beach getaway.

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra, FL

Located on the pristine beaches of Northeast, Florida, the iconic Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has provided an idyllic coastal escape for decades. Special for Valentine’s Day, couples can enjoy a Valentine’s Day dinner with wine pairings or can reserve the private Chef’s Table experience at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s signature fine-dining restaurant, Seahorse Grille, which includes an intimate setting at the heart of the kitchen, where Chef de Cuisine, Erik Osol, will craft a 10-course tasting menu curated for guests’ palates.

At The Spa, couples can re-connect and revitalize in a private room with an array of services designed for two, inclusive of steams, soaks and more within an intimate setting while the spa’s discreet staff caters to couples’ every need. Additionally, couples can book the Bed & Breakfast package featuring luxury accommodations, breakfast for two each morning and a welcome amenity upon arrival.

Hôtel Swexan | Dallas, Texas

Nestled in the heart of Uptown Dallas, Hôtel Swexan is the perfect haven for romance this Valentine’s Day, exuding European elegance and old-world luxury, yet remaining true to its lovable and unwavering Texan spirit. A family-owned, 134-room boutique concept, Hôtel Swexan was meticulously designed by world-renowned Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma, featuring enchanting rooms and suites to set the stage for unforgettable romantic moments.

An enchanting and relaxing vacation experience perfect for Valentine’s Day, Hôtel Swexan offers the pinnacle of romantic luxury with its exclusive Romance Package.

The offer includes two monogrammed Frette bathrobes, a dozen roses, complimentary champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and macarons upon arrival, daily full, Swexan breakfast at Isabelle’s, Léonie, or in-room dining, one night’s accommodation for two at Hôtel Swexan, and overnight valet parking. The hotel’s crown jewel is its expansive rooftop infinity pool, perched 20 floors high with 180-degree panoramic views of the mesmerizing Dallas skyline, providing a captivating backdrop for intimate yet photo-worthy memories.

The hotel is uniquely playful and inviting, with an afternoon tea service, martini bar, hidden imbibing outpost, a robust lineup of entertainment, art and wellness facilities, so couples can engage and indulge or relax and recuperate, all within the walls of the expansive hotel. Venturing out, couples can explore the vibrant 19-city-block Harwood District, a flourishing walkable neighborhood chock-full of eateries, art, public parks, multi-use spaces and more.

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa | Palm Beach, FL

The Forbes Five-Star oceanfront retreat, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, shines as a crown jewel of Florida’s Gold Coast and offers nothing short of glamour and sophistication at every turn. Special for the month of February, treat that special someone to a deluxe in-room dining experience, “Room with a Veuve,” and receive complimentary chocolate covered strawberries with the purchase of a bottle of champagne.

Enjoy a special 4-course Valentine’s Day menu at Polpo Palm Beach in addition to a la carte menu Angle Valentine’s Day Dinner – Open for A La Carte Dining with a special 4-course prefixed menu, indulge in delicious food while immersing in sounds from Chad Micheals on the Grand Piano (5:30 – 9:30pm) Stir (2/9-2/14) – Go beyond a bit of a bubbly or bottle of wine this Valentine’s Day and enjoy a romantic cocktail menu ‘Drunk on Love’ that you are sure to adore. (4pm – 12am)

The Hermitage Hotel | Nashville, TN

Set in the heart of Downtown Nashville and originally opened in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel has stood as Nashville’s premier luxury property for more than 110 years. For an ultra-luxurious Valentine’s Day, guests can book The Hermitage Hotel’s Ultimate Romance Package (Starting at $15,000) for an opulent stay in the Hermitage Suite and a one-of-a-kind dinner in The Veranda, a historic space that has hosted some of the most charming and intimate weddings in Nashville.

The couple will have the entire Veranda to themselves while a heartfelt song is created exclusively for the couple and performed during dinner for a true Music City experience.

Package is complete with One Dozen Roses, Rose Petal Turndown, Champagne, Chocolates and Strawberries, and Breakfast in Bed or at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk | San Antonio, Texas

Couples can book the SuiteHeart Romance Package for a $200 Property Romance Credit to be used at the full-service Thompson San Antonio Spa, dining at signature restaurant Landrace, minibar, or parking. Guests will also arrive to a beautiful rose petal setup and a bath/shower welcome amenity for deserving R&R with their loved one.

Not to be missed: cocktails and twinkly city and star views at The Moon’s Daughters, an enchanting indoor-outdoor rooftop restaurant and bar floating high above the River Walk that dazzles from its 20th-story perch over the city. Couples can also indulge in the epitome of romantic bliss with the property’s highly sought-after Cabana Cuddle Up, an experience that seamlessly melds ultimate relaxation with unparalleled luxury.

Begin your journey with an opulent 80-minute massage for two in the exquisite couples’ room, where tranquility and connection intertwine. Following the rejuvenating session, continue the enchantment as you and your favorite person nestle into the sumptuous embrace of one of the poolside daybed cabanas. Here, amid the soothing ambiance, revel in the shared joy of sipping on chilled champagne and partaking in a curated picnic, where every bite is a celebration of love and indulgence. Offer Code = SATROM for Booking Dates: 1/4/2024 – 2/14/2024; Stay Dates: 2/9/2024-2/18/2024

Experience the Magical Harry Potter Realms at Universal Orlando Resort

Adventure, Amusement Park, Florida, Universal

Award-winning author and travel writer Kathy Witt is again a Special Guest Blogger. Enjoy her blog post about Universal Orlando Resort below.

“It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

Universal Orlando Resort (www.universalorlando.com) walks the Dumbledore talk.

Having already made magic with its Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter, the park keeps cranking up the enchantments. The latest? Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure—what Universal calls a “story coaster”—set in the Forbidden Forest and replete with ruins, dragon eggs and Skrewts.

Play:

Standing in line for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure following the passing of Robbie Coltrane might be a bittersweet experience for some Harry Potter fans. Wait times can clock in by as much as 185 or more minutes—plenty of time to remember the actor who brought such humanity to the role of the gentle giant. But this adventure is an unabashed tribute to Harry’s beloved friend—and it just might be the best ride you ever experience.

Located at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, Hagrid’s is a hair-raising three-minute hurtle traveling up to 50 miles an hour and featuring the first free-fall vertical drop in the USA. (Yep, that was your stomach that just dropped.) The ride shoots forward like a bat out of Azkaban, dips, spirals, accelerates, reverses, drops and revs up again . . . and again. Surely Hagrid himself is at the wheel.

There are three rides in this world—the other two being Flight of the Hippogriff and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey—but each is a major attraction combining thrills and theatricality. Also in Hogsmeade: the Triwizard Spirit Rally and Frog Choir, which bring to life the music of the Harry Potter movies, and foodie fave Three Broomsticks.

Board the Hogwarts Express to reach Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. The train travels between Hogsmeade Station and King’s Cross Station (a Park-to-Park admission ticket is required) and guests are either treated to Harry meeting up with Ron and Hermione or tortured by Dementors, depending on the direction of the journey.

At Diagon Alley, swap Muggle currency for Gringotts with the goblins of Gringotts Money Exchange; step into movie history by boarding the Knight Bus—an actual prop vehicle used in the series’ third film, “Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban”; and keep a wary eye out for Voldemort, Bellatrix and a gang of trolls on the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts rollercoaster ride. (The vault is inside the building with the giant fire-breathing dragon perched atop.)

In either land, visit Ollivanders to purchase a wand for the park’s interactives and to see a wand choose a wizard—who gets to keep it. (The lucky wizard chosen will save more than $50.)

Visiting the Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter is like stepping into the book or movie—and a true bucket list adventure for fans, many of whom dress in their house robes and other such attire when visiting the parks.

Stay:

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort (www.universalorlando.com, click “Places to Stay) is one of eight Universal hotels, each offering free and convenient transportation to the parks and early park admission, among other benefits). With a gorgeous lobby overlooking the lagoon, the largest hotel pool on the campus and Strong Water Tavern, which serves up more than 100 types of rum along with tasty tapas, this Caribbean-inspired oasis casts a magic spell all its own.

The hotel has 1,000 rooms and suites, including Kids Suites with separate nautical-themed bedroom for the little ones, and four dining options, including the poolside Drhum Club Kantine, plus room service. The lavish tropical-themed pool area has sandy beach, hot tub, waterslide, firepit, children’s play area, cabanas (for rent) and more.

Guests can park their car and forget about it, traveling to the park by complimentary water taxi by way of Universal CityWalk, a shopping/dining/entertainment complex tucked between Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Those counting their steps can trek the walking paths to the parks.

Eat:

For breakfast, lunch or dinner, head to the Leaky Caldron in Diagon Alley. It’s the restaurant come to life, complete with a patina of dinginess that befits its centuries of use. (It was built in the 1500s, after all). Amidst the glowing chandeliers, cubbyholes and old pictures askew on the walls, tuck into British fare such as Toad in the Hole, Bangers & Mash and a Ploughman’s feast of English cheese, crusty bread, salads and Scotch eggs—those deep-fried sausage snack sensations swaddling soft-boiled egg so beloved by the Brits. The only thing missing is Tom the Innkeeper.

Treat:

Guests staying at one of Universal’s hotels will pass through Universal CityWalk to and from the parks. Take time to explore, catch a show, play miniature golf or test your skills at Universal’s new Great Movie Escape (www.universalorlando.com, click “Things to Do”), the first-ever escape room experience that features two rooms with interactive state-of-the-art missions, elaborate storytelling and intricately detailed sets.

Go head to head with Biff, the bully from “Back to the Future,” in Outatime or run for your life from an apex predator on the loose in Jurassic World: Escape. Inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s blockbuster films, “Jurassic World” and “Back to the Future,” these missions are a fun group activity for all ages.

Read:

The Unofficial Universal Theme Parks Cookbook by Ashley Craft. The 240-page book includes 100 recipes from the world of Universal—from snacks to main dishes to desserts and drinks—including Fish and Chips from The Three Broomsticks and Pumpkin Juice from Hog’s Head.

For more information about visiting Universal Orlando Resort and Orlando and for trip planning assistance, click into www.visitorlando.com.

Recipe

Love Potion

Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes at Universal Studios Florida

Serves 4

In introducing the Love Potion recipe in her book, The Unofficial Universal Theme Parks Cookbook, Ashley Craft writes: “Love Potion, or ‘Amortentia,’ is a powerful agent of magic in the Harry Potter books and movies, as it causes the drinker to be intensely infatuated and obsessive. The scent of the potion morphs and changes to match whatever the subject loves best.” Hmm. Feeling emboldened? Craft cautions all to “enjoy in small quantities because the flavor is powerful.”

Ingredients