wcw JUNE 2022

travel news
Last-Minute Summer Getaways
Destination: Richmond, VA
For travelers interested in exploring
Black history, Richmond, Virginia
should be considered a major destination
for Juneteenth, our country’s second
independence day. The historic day is now
recognized as a national holiday, and with
many people having the day off there is
ample to do to celebrate in Richmond.
Why June: On Saturday, June 18, join
Henrico Recreation & Parks at Dorey Park
for a free and open to the public vendor fair,
kids’ zone, food trucks, and entertainment
including fireworks. While in town, check
out the Mending Walls murals around
town, Richmond’s collaborative public art
project from artists of diverse backgrounds,
or dine at one of Richmond’s black owned
restaurants like Lillie Pearl or Ms. Girlee’s
Kitchen. For a deeper dive into the black
experience, head to BLK RVA for travel
itineraries, events, dining, and more.
Website: www.visitrichmondva.com
Destination: Westchester, NY
For the second time in its history, the Westminster
Kennel Club Dog Show will be
held outdoors at the Lyndhurst Mansion.
Spectators will be able to pre-purchase online
daytime tickets for the Saturday, June
18, Masters Agility Championship, and the
full event held Monday, June 20- Wednesday,
June 22.
Where to Stay: Mansion, The Opus offers
guests and exhibitors of the Westminster
Kennel Club Dog Show dog-friendly
amenities like complimentary dog bowls,
beds, and toys upon request and a luxe
residential flair.
The hotel features 146 guest rooms including
38 luxury suites, the rooftop Kanopi
restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows
and sweeping views of the Manhattan
skyline, Long Island Sound, and Hudson
Valley, a lobby bar, an indoor rooftop pool,
and a spa opening this summer.
Website: www.theopuswestchester.com
Frontier Airlines add Flights from Tampa
to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica
Frontier Airlines will launch the first
nonstop service from Tampa International
Airport (TPA) to Punta Cana (PUJ) and
Santo Domingo (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic
as well as Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ).
AAA’s Environmentally-Friendly Travel Tips
The Auto Club Group offers these tips
to be an environmentally-friendly
traveler:
Reduce carbon footprint by bringing
reusable water and toiletry bottles, and
having travel documents sent electronically
instead of printed.
Be mindful of energy and water usage
by taking shorter showers, reusing bath
towels, and keeping heat/air conditioning
at moderate temperatures.
Travel during the off-season or to less
popular areas to limit infrastructure challenges
created by over-tourism.
Additionally, the airline will begin offering
daily nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico
(SJU). Each of these new routes, plus previously
announced nonstop service to Cancun,
Mexico (CUN), will begin this summer.
Frontier Airlines will now offer more
nonstop flights from Tampa to destinations
in Latin America than any other carrier. The
new service to San Juan will provide more
options for those heading to Puerto Rico to
visit friends and family or to enjoy the island’s
beaches. More info at FlyFrontier.com
Shop and eat locally to support the community.
Purchase locally made souvenirs (preferably
handmade) and pay a fair price.
All these activities are examples of
sustainable travel, a concept that focuses on
how to maintain travel and tourism without
hurting or exploiting natural or cultural
environments in the process. This includes
using the revenue generated by travelers to
benefit destinations and the people that live
there. It also means being conscientious of
the resources you use and how your behavior
can impact the places you visit.
Plan-ahead Summer Getaways
Destination: Paradise Island,
The Bahamas
Atlantis Paradise Island is home to
Aquaventure which is a 141-acre waterscape
of slides and river rides, eleven pools, and
five miles of white sand beaches as well the
largest open-air marine habitat in the world.
From the 60-foot drop on the thrilling Leap
of Faith waterslide, to the Serpent Slide
where guests can experience marine life up
close as they float through an acrylic tube, to
a relaxing and scenic lazy river, Atlantis Paradise
Island is a perfect spot for a summer
family vacation.
Why July?: Celebrate National Waterpark
Day on July 28.
Website: www.atlantisbahamas.com
Destination: Boone, North Carolina
Atop North Carolina’s majestic Blue Ridge
mountain range, the Art of Living Retreat
Center is a home and community for yoga and
meditation enthusiasts. The retreat center
offers a serene and rejuvenating wellness experience
surrounded by nature, where guests
can relax, renew, and discover inner peace.
Why August: As the world celebrates National
Wellness Month, those looking to embark
on a mindful journey can visit the Art of
Living Retreat Center and enjoy its newly
introduced All-Inclusive Wellness Escapes
offering yoga, workshops, meditation, hikes,
art classes, spa treatments and more.
Website: www.artoflivingretreatcenter.org
Destination: Aruba
Located on 12 acres of beachfront property
on Aruba’s world-renowned Palm Beach,
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa & Casino
is a year-round resort that recently finished
a multimillion-dollar renovation that included
a new adults-only pool, Trankilo, and
transformed ZoiA Spa.
The new wellness program “Rise and Shine”
consists of various daily classes including
aerial yoga, and meditation. There are also
full moon yoga classes every month at the Big
Palapa that will help guests restore energy
and celebrate the beauty of the full moon. The
resort is now also offering a new Master Mixology
class and a Cooking with Chef series.
Why August: The Aruba Summer Music
Festival 2022 takes place from August 14-17 at
the Harbor Arena in Oranjestad, Aruba where
travelers can enjoy listening to quality concerts
performed by leading bands and artists.
Website: www.hotelsbarriere.com/en/saintbarth/le-carl-gustaf.html
Destination: Saint Barths
Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf opened in St.
Barth in October 2020 and is set amid tropical
elegance that creates an ambience of wellbeing
and relaxation. The five-star hotel features 21
luxurious rooms, suites and bungalows.
Le Carl Gustaf features renowned Fouquet’s
restaurant and bar, Shellona Restaurant
located on the idyllic Shell Beach, Spa
Diane Barrière featuring products from
Biologique Recherche as well as various activities
such as aquabiking, pilates and yoga.
Why August: St Barts Tennis Open is taking
place on August 15.
Website: www.hotelsbarriere.com/en/saintbarth/le-carl-gustaf.html
Destination: West Hollywood, California
Andaz West Hollywood is Los Angeles’ iconic
rock ‘n’ roll hotel located on the famous
Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA, where
musical history, celebrity, and style come together.
The hotel features the highest rooftop
pool in Los Angeles and the acclaimed Riot
House restaurant.
Why June: West Hollywood is celebrating
Pride from June 3-5 with an LGBTQ+ street
fair, music festival and parade. Los Angeles
will host their annual Pride festival from
June 10-12 with a variety of events during the
day and in the evenings including parties at
the most iconic bars and clubs in L.A.'s most
LGBTQ neighborhood, West Hollywood.
Website: www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/andaz-west-hollywood/laxss
Destination: Buckhead, Atlanta
Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta, opened
in December 2021, it’s an upscale, stylish
boutique hotel located along the edge of Lenox
Square Shopping Center in the heart of
Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. The property
was designed to reflect the history of its
location, drawing inspiration from Georgia’s
ancient pottery heritage and Buckhead’s
evolution as a fashion destination.
Why June: Celebrate Juneteenth in Atlanta
at Centennial Olympic Park with a music
festival and parade from June 17-19.
Website: www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/georgia/hyatt-centric-buckhead-atlanta/atlct
Destination: Hawaii
Pacific Whale Foundation is a nonprofit organization
that conducts research, education
and conservation programs. Founded in
1980, the nonprofit organization is dedicated
to saving the world’s whales and other marine
life from extinction.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa offers an
authentic Hawaiian experience in a setting
of tropical paradise and recently underwent
a multimillion-dollar guestroom renovation.
Inspired by the rich heritage and authentic
spirit of the famed Ka’anapali Beach, guests
will enjoy a fresh experience at the resort.
Why June/July: Pacific Whale Foundation
is having their annual World Whale Film
Festival in celebration of World Ocean Day on
June 8. Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery
in Upcountry Maui featuring dinner,
drinks and a screening of official selections.
General event tickets are $135 and VIP tickets
are $225. For more information visit www.
pacificwhale.org/filmfest/.
While on the island, guests can treat
themselves to Recharge and Restore at Hyatt
Regency Maui which is a new wellness package
offering three nights in the Palace Suite,
a garden tour at Huamomona Farms with
transportation, an outdoor cooking class with
Chef with dinner for two on the suite’s secluded
lanai, an immersive cultural experience
restoring an ahupua’a at Kipuka Olowalu with
transportation, plus lunch, an authentic Lomi
Lomi massage for two and a flower bath with
Hawaiian salts to unwind, a yoga and meditation
session, a one-hour personal training
session, live streaming stationary bike, yoga
mat, weights and yoga blocks in the room, a
mocktail mixology class, a daily oceanside
cabana (ocean hale), an exclusive VIP table for
two at Drums of the Pacific Lu‘au, two tickets
to the Tour of the Stars, led by NASA ambassador,
private hula lesson for two, and private
lei making lesson for two.
This experience can be booked by calling
+1 808-667-4932 and starts at $23,000.
For guests traveling in July, Hyatt Maui is
offering a variety of activities to celebrate
Independence Day on July 4 including lawn
games at Halona Kai, an educational Penguin
and Koi Fish presentation, Hula lessons,
a scavenger hunt on property, a watermelon
eating contest, a pool float race and more.
Destination: Maui, Hawaii.
Website: www.pacificwhale.org/ and www.
hyattregencymaui.com
18 WEST COAST WOMAN JUNE 2022