all the dish that’s fit to print
popcorn+movie stars=memorial day weekend
Memorial Day Weekend not only inaugurates the season of white clothing but also the stream of summer blockbusters. This year pits the latest installments in the Terminator and Night at the Museum franchises against each other. Yet, the movie we’re most excited to see is Easy Virtue, a Brit rom-com starring Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Jessica Biel. The real star, though, is sure to be Wimpole Hall, a National Trust estate in Cambridgeshire, where the film’s big hunting scene was shot. This summer and fall, take a trip full of cinematic intrigue and visit one of many National Trust properties that have played roles in the iconic films of our time.
No Comments »
celebreal estate
Ever wondered where the Beatles gathered to rehearse and write their songs or even what John Lennon’s childhood bedroom looks like? Travelers “across the pond” can enter these spaces and tour many others that were once occupied by the likes of Winston Churchill, Sir Isaac Newton, and, yes, even an American – George Washington! These places are protected and preserved by the National Trust of Great Britain.
Americans visiting should be sure to join The Royal Oak Foundation – the U.S. membership affiliate of the National Trust, which protects and conserves some of the country’s top gardens. Royal Oak membership, just $55, grants free access to such homes with famous past residents as well as all other Trust properties – over 300 historic houses and gardens, 700 miles of coastline, and 620,000 acres of open countryside.
“We’re with the band”
Mendips – Woolton, Liverpool and 20 Forthlin Road, Allerton – Allerton, Liverpool
Who would have thought it was in a little terrace house in Liverpool that one of the greatest musical groups in history met? Sure enough on Forthlin Road at Paul McCartney’s childhood home, the Beatles congregated to rehearse and compose many of their songs. Not too far away is Mendips, John Lennon’s home. Both are filled with photos and memorabilia, making this just as much of a “must see” as Abbey Road.
What goes up, must come down …
Woolsthorpe Manor – Grantham, Lincolnshire
Watch out for that falling apple! Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most famous scientists in history, must have learned this lesson the hard way, here, at his family home, where he developed his remarkable work about life and gravity. Visitors can actually visit the famous apple tree and discover the scientist’s ideas in the hands-on Science Discovery Centre on site.
“Prime” Real Estate
Chartwell – Westerham, Kent
This was family home of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, who lived here from 1924 until his death. The rooms and gardens remain as they were when he was in residence, with pictures, books, maps, and personal mementoes from his career and wide-ranging interests. Also on view in his garden studio are many of his own paintings.
“Father of His Country’s” Motherland
Washington Old Hall – Washington, Tyne & Wear
It’s all in the name. OK, so George Washington never actually slept here, but his ancestors did! This 17th-century stone manor house includes portions of the original medieval home of Washington’s ancestors, and it is from this house that the family took its surname. Inside is an exhibit on the first U.S. President. Guests may wander through the garden on the property; see if you can find any cherry trees!
Healthy Travel
Claydon House – Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
Florence Nightingale was a regular guest at the home of the Verney family (Nightingale was Sir Harry Verney’s sister-in-law). Today Claydon House is home to many of her personal belongings, and new this year is an exhibit entitled “In Sickness and in Health,” which chronicles health care during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through the family’s archives and relies heavily upon Nightingale’s writings.
No Comments »
before twitter and facebook …
While England might evoke images of tradition and all things stuffy to some, here’s a new National Trust holiday cottage with a storied past to electrify – the Wireless Cottage on the Lizard in Cornwall, the most southerly point of mainland Britain. It was here that Guglielmo Marconi (Nobel Prize winner and inventor of the radiotelegraph) developed wireless communication, and the site is the oldest surviving wireless station in the world. Working in the cabins, Marconi and his team received a record-breaking wireless communication in January 1901 that covered a distance of 186 miles and proved that signals could travel well over the horizon. Had Marconi not had this breakthrough, it is thought no one could have saved the 700 who survived the Titanic nearly ten years later. Accommodating two people (plus one dog!), the fully-restored cottage has a double bedroom and a sitting room with sea panoramas. Next door, the second, smaller hut now houses a museum dedicated to Marconi’s pioneering work. The cottages are within one mile of Lizard Lighthouse and directly next to the southern Cornish coastal path. Wireless Cottage is available all year at a price ranging from £407 a week in spring and up to £934 in summer.
No Comments »
go-to gadget guru
Taking your new digital toy on holiday may seem a little daunting, especially if you aren’t quite sure how all the bells and whistles work. But Crystal Cruises is making it a breeze for guests to explore the advanced features on their MacBook Pros and BlackBerry BoldsTM while sailing the high seas with the addition of the line’s very own version of the Geek Squad. (more…)
No Comments »
the power of place
Sure Greenway was once the haven for the world’s best-selling author Agatha Christie. But the former holiday home also provided a base for a fleet from the U.S. Coastguard preparing for D-Day in the fall of 1943 as mentioned in today’s New York Times.
One member of the Coastguard who was stationed there during WWII happened to read this morning’s paper. He immediately rang The Royal Oak Foundation offices to share his memories of his time in the famed house, recounting a fellow soldier, Lt. Marshall Lee, who used the walls of the library to portray local scenes of the war … and even to depict a female au natural!
No Comments »
how does your garden grow?
With spring around the corner – and in the air (New Yorkers are rejoicing at the prospect of 60-degree weather forecasts) – garden lovers are dusting the dirt off their shovels and trowels and sharpening their clippers. Warm weather aside, here’s another reason for excitement: The Royal Oak Foundation’s annual British Garden Tour.
No Comments »
do as the dugongs do
At Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, guests can catch a glimps of the region’s famed “sea cows” (dugongs) on a guided boat tour to the popular hangout spots of these genetle creatures. On this “sea cow trekking” excursion, guests can kayak, swim, and snorkel along with the heards! The cost for this activity is $186 per couple and includes a picnic style breakfast and lunch. Don’t miss this chance to get up close and personal with sea cows and check out one of Anantara’s newest resorts! Opening special room rates begin at $171 per night from now until April 30, 2009.
No Comments »
spring is (or soon will be) in the air
Despite the snow this past week, DC will surely thaw out before NY, and the Cherry Blossom Festival is actually right around the corner, end of March! The breathtaking scene around the Tidal Basin is rumored to make even cold-blooded lobbyists crack a smile. A true sign of spring in the air is Park Hyatt Washington’s annual Spring Blossom Package (available now through April 26). Take advantage of a room upgrade, a pot of Cherry Blossom Green Tea from the hotel’s Tea Cellar, choice of valet parking or breakfast, and a backpack for the kids filled with sightseeing supplies and gifts.
Spring in DC (before the swampy summer) is also perfect for the obligatory sightseeing tour of our nation’s capital. In this historic year, it means more than ever. With Park Hyatt Washington as a home base it’s easy to get around and explore everything from the monuments and museums, to galleries and boutique shops. The hotel wraps it up nice in the Culture at the Park package – room upgrade, behind-the-scenes tour of “Portraying Lincoln” on display at The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., tickets to George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate and Gardens, homemade apple pie from its award-winning Blue Duck Tavern, and drinks for two in the Lounge (American Martini or Bourbon Sampler anyone?).
*Spring Blossom package available through April 26, 2009, with rates starting at $329.
**The two-night, Culture at the Park package is available through October 31, 2009, with rates starting at $749.
No Comments »
will yodel for spring
One can still hear yodelers calling from the Alps in Switzerland. In a country with such a rich relationship to the outdoors, that’s not surprising.
But who knew that there are three major music festivals a year in Lucerne? The first festival took place seventy years ago, in the gardens of Richard Wagner’s villa. Now an Easter festival, Summer festival, and Piano festival round out the year in this beloved Swiss city.
First up is the LUCERNE FESTIVAL at Easter, from March 28 to April 5. The mix of sacred and secular music, much of it performed in churches around the city, just might lift everyone out of their winter blues. Among the headlining events is the soaring conclusion to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and performances honoring the 200th anniversary of the death of Haydn and the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel. A new spin on a ‘spring awakening,’ for sure.
As an added pleasure for culture-lover, several events will take place at the KKL, the Culture and Congress Center. The KKL was designed by Jean Nouvel, an edgy architect who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2008. The KKL has outrageous acoustics and overhangs Lake Lucerne. The spot is so sensational that it may just inspire a little yodeling.
Come home to the Palace Luzern, just across the lake from the KKL. Feast at their Michelin-starred restaurant Jasper and hear a little night music at the bar, where the musicians tend to hang out after-hours. Finally, curl up in the Suite of Arts and wake up to a Swiss spring.
No Comments »
new year brings new adventures … in bhutan!
Eggnog, latkes with crème fraîche, holiday hams, cookies … the holidays can be a time of over-indulgence. As sugar levels start to stabilize, the new year leaves us hungry (well, maybe that’s not the best word …) to do something that is not only invigorating but also authentic and meaningful. So for 2009, why not commit to one of Uma Paro’s eleven Adventure Retreats that are sure to shake off the post-holiday blues? (more…)
No Comments »
