Road Trippin

It’s May!! The sun is shining, the clothes are shrinking and it’s time for you to get out of town! It’s not always easy to just jump on a plane and get to that dream destination, but why not trade in those tickets for keys and three (or more) of your closest friends?? Trust me the stories that come from road trips will never be forgotten! Road-tripping is practically an American rite of passage and with that in mind, Yahoo! Travel released the 10 great all-American road trips. These distinctive routes include both roads less traveled and tried-and-true must-sees throughout the country’s finest landscapes. Enjoy!

• Alaska: Seward Highway
  Make way from metropolitan Anchorage into the Alaskan wild via the 127-mile, sea-and-mountain-skirting Seward Highway. This easily navigable cross section of America’s largely untamed Last Frontier makes a fantastic jumping-off point for wilderness adventure. Expect a scenically shifting backdrop of foraging wildlife (Dall sheep, moose, eagles), mountain peaks, thick forests, and hanging glaciers, inviting camping, hiking, fishing, and picnicking just off the highway’s edge. Plus, look to the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet in the summer and fall for Beluga whale-watching (in summer and fall).

• Arizona: Dine’ Tah Scenic Road
  It doesn’t get more all-American than the Navajo Nation’s ancestral lands: Whiz by sacred mountains, canyons, forests, and desert vistas, and stop off to peruse the wares of talented local artisans or to ogle ancient cliff dwellings and prehistoric drawings.

• California: Pacific Coast Highway (aka Route 1)
  Tracing nearly the entirety of the state’s fabled coastline from Monterey to Morro Bay the route runs through the artsy enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea and the breathtaking natural beauty of Big Sur via the meandering, cliff-topping 123-mile portion that twists alongside the crashing waves, towering redwoods, and barking sea lions of the rugged, sea-sculpted central California coast.

• Colorado: San Juan Skyway
  Roll through the Rockies via southwest Colorado’s 233-mile San Juan Skyway loop, passing through two alpine national forests; four mountain passes; and a handful of charming Old West mining and railroad towns.  The 50-mile Million Dollar Highway section of the route (from Silverton to Ouray), boasts particularly scenic curves through tunnels and atop waterfalls in the Red Mountains and Uncompahgre Gorge.  
  
  
• Florida: Florida Keys Overseas Highway
  This 127-mile water-wonderland of a highway spans more than 40 bridges, traversing Florida Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, as it hops from isle to isle en route to quirky Key West from mainland Florida. Highway highlights include stops at the scenic Seven Mile Bridge; snorkeling, diving, fishing, and wildlife-viewing excursions; and waterfront dining and resorts in the Keys’ charming fishing villages.

• Minnesota: North Shore Drive
  Stretching from Duluth to Grand Portage, the 154-mile North Shore Drive paves a scenic path through rugged Minnesotan wilderness, bordering boreal forests, the jagged Sawtooth Mountains, and a sweeping Lake Superior shoreline.

• New York: Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway
  Just four hours northwest of New York City, the bucolic Finger Lakes region comprises the surprise setting for the largest wine-producing region east of California. Hit the 87-mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, which circles the Cayuga lakeshore, and provides haven for some of the region’s finest wineries (try Sheldrake Point Winery) and historical Women’s Rights movement sites (visit the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls).

• North Carolina & Virginia: Blue Ridge Parkway
  Connecting two national parks—Shenandoah in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina—the Blue Ridge Parkway traverses 469 miles through blue-misted Appalachian highlands. Take in forest-blanketed mountain vistas, ripe for fauna (look for bear, deer, and beaver) and flora viewing (interesting factoid: the parkway’s namesake “blue” haze is attributed to the hydrocarbon release from the some 130 tree species).

• Oregon: Mt. Hood Scenic Byway
  The 105-mile Mt. Hood Scenic Byway follows a half-loop around one of Oregon’s iconic landmarks: the Cascades Range’s glacier-coated, 11,245-foot-high Mount Hood. Cruise past farmlands, vineyards, and orchards; temperate rain forests and alpine timberline; gushing waterfalls and rivers; and parts of the historic Oregon Trail.

• South Dakota: Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
  The 70-mile Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway winds through South Dakota’s storied Black Hills, weaving together towering granite formations, narrow tunnels, spiral bridges, and hairpin curves, with blockbuster sights like iconic Mount Rushmore and the nearby, yet-to-be-completed Crazy Horse Memorial.

To read more on this story please visit: http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/top-10-all-american-road-trips.html

Ho’Brah Is Open For Business!

You’ve been patient and your waiting has finally paid off. Tonight the doors of Ho’Brah will open and Brooklyn will be taco-less no longer! Come in and check out this surfer chic enclave located in the heart of Bay Ridge. Don’t think surf boards and margarita machines scream Brooklyn? Shame on you…word on the street is their ginger pineapple margaritas are a must! Enjoy and tell them The Tipsy Traveler sent ya!

Location: 8618 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209

Phone: 718.680.TACO   Website: www.hobrahtacos.com

Travel Like The Jetsons…

It seems like something out of cartoon. With the mere touch of a button whatever hospitality need or want is at your finger tips (something only Mr. Sprocket himself would have imagined). But thanks to the tech geniuses at Intelity, fantasy has become reality…

Intelity, an Orlando based hospitality software solution company, is changing the way hotels do business and enhancing the overall experience for travelers with the creation of its ICE (Interactive Customer Experience ™)  software. Through a groundbreaking virtual concierge program executed through custom branded iPads, smartphones and touch screen applications, hotel guests have the control to maximize their stay from the palms of their hands. ICE not only provides a valued added component for guests but also fine tunes and simplifies the backend workflow process for hotels and in turn increases staff efficiency and guest service satisfaction while giving properties a competitive edge over hotels relying on telephones.

Didn’t you always want your own Rosey the Robot? It might not be exactly the same, but it’s pretty damn close. All but eliminating the purpose of the concierge, guests now have the ability to order room service (still my favorite thing), book a spa treatment and make dinner reservations all without leaving the room or even picking up the phone.

In a digital age where convenience, content and control are in demand, Intelity is leading the movement from the conventional to the future. Hotels including The Plaza, The Royalton, Mondrian Soho and Hudson in New York, The Palmer House in Chicago, The Eliot in Boston, Hotel Beaux Arts and Delano in Miami and the largest JW Marriott in the world – the JW Marriott Indianapolis – have all partnered with Intelity to stay relevant and competitive in the market and currently offer one or more of the five available platforms – ICE Touch, ICE Mobile, ICE TV, ICE Connect and ICE Lobby.

Coming Soon…Ho’ Brah!!

Just when you thought you couldn’t pack anymore culinary treats into Bay Ridge up pops Ho’ Brah, a surf inspired taco joint bringing a taste of the beach and Hawaiian style to Brooklyn. Developed by some of New York’s Bravest, Ho’ Brah (Hawaiian surfer slang for “hey, brother”) is set to open in mid-September. Bay Ridge is in need of a good Taco joint and some tropical flavor will be an interesting addition to this urban landscape. Stay tuned for a full report!

Location: 8618 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209

Phone: 718.680.TACO   Website: www.hobrahtacos.com

The 300th Handbag Giveaway

Congratulations to Pietro Alessandro on their 30th Anniversary!! Made with amazing quality and a unique look, it’s no wonder this family owned company continues to see success. Whether traveling throughout the city or abroad, I never leave home without my black Pietro Alessandro hobo and can’t wait to go back for more!!

pietroalessandro:

In preparation for our 30th Anniversary of Pietro Alessandro we would like to give everybody a chance to win a FREE handbag!!

This is not a stunt or false advertisement, this is very real. A FREE handbag will be presented to the winner who is the 300th follower on each: Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr (of course).

That is 3 chances to win a FREE handbag that are handcrafted in New York City by a family owned company.

Even if you don’t become the 300th follower you will get a 20% promotional code for participating once we announce our winner. We’ll pay the tax and the shipping costs.

All you have to do is Like/Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. If you have Tumblr also follow us here too to have a chance to win a FREE handbag.

If you have any questions or concerns please email or ask me anything for any details.

Good luck!

(Source: parkavenuehandbags.com)