Here, There, and Everywhere: from a Castle Hill tour to an Eat Well Global app
A CASTLE HILL TOUR
Fans of Downton Abbey know there’s a world of difference between upstairs living and the servants’ quarters in grand old estates. With the Hot & Cold Tour, the Trustees of Reservations offers a behind-the-scenes look into both worlds at the Great House at Castle Hill, a National Historic Landmark in Ipswich. Offered every other Wednesday at 5 p.m. though Oct. 17, the 1½-hour tour leads participants from cellar to roof of this 59-room English-style summer house designed in the 1920s for plumbing magnate Richard T. Crane Jr. Explore closets, the boilers and coal room, the quirky servants quarters, and ascend a spiral staircase to the roof for panoramic views. Members $15,
nonmembers $20. Preregistration required. 978-356-4351, thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/north east-ma/castle-hill-on-the-crane.html
WORK-STAY AT LOCAL FARMS
This fall, city dwellers yearning to reconnect with nature can do so on a number of Massachusetts working farms where visitors are encouraged to participate in activities such as gathering produce and tending to livestock. At Blue Heron Farm in Charlemont, a herd of Boer goats and Norwegian Fjord horses greet guests at the organic farmland property. Visitors can try their hand at milking a goat, grooming horses, picking up bales of hay, and leading animals to
and from pastures. At the Warfield House Inn, also in Charlemont, guests are entertained with barnyard tours,
llama treks, picnics, gardening clinics, horse-drawn wagon rides, and horseback trail rides. massvacation .com/blog
BARBADOS GETAWAY
Set on 40 acres on the coast of this eastern Caribbean island, The Crane is Barbados’s oldest continuously operating vacation resort. Following extensive restoration and expansion, it celebrates its 125th anniversary with a variety of special offers, including the Crane 125 Package. Book a five-night stay in a two- or three-bedroom suite in the resort’s Residences by the Sea, Residences in the Park, or Historical Residences, and get a $125 spa credit, and $125 dining credit per room to be used at any of the resort’s restaurants or eateries (available through Dec. 22). This year also signals the completion of Crane Village, a 55,000-square-foot guest pavilion perched above the pink sand and turquoise waters of Crane Beach, complete with dining, entertainment, shopping, and
a health and wellness center. From $338 per night. 866-978-5942, thecrane.com
MUSEUM DAY LIVE TICKETS
The best free tickets in town are just a click away. At Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day Live website, you can download free tickets to over 1,400 participating museums and cultural institutions
nationwide. For one day only, Saturday Sept. 29, these venues will emulate the Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission every day. Tickets grant admission for two people per household. Only an official Museum Day Live! ticket is eligible for free entry, and does not include parking or other special exhibits and events. smithsonianmag.com/museumday/ticket
BUENOS AIRES GRAND OPENING
The boutique-style Buenos Aires Grand opens this month
in the chic Recoleta neighborhood, the cultural center of
Argentina’s capital. This 90-suite modern luxury hotel is steps away from designer shops, museums, restaurants, tango
cabarets, botanic gardens, and parks. Serving business and
leisure travelers, the hotel has an outdoor dining terrace,
rooftop spa and fitness center, and indoor heated swimming pool. Each suite has a 40-inch plasma TV, Nespresso coffeemaker, and free Wi-Fi. Meeting and banquet rooms can
accommodate small conferences and intimate weddings. Grand opening rates start at $189, including breakfast.
buenosairesgrand.com/new/?lang=en
FOLDABLE LUGGAGE
What if you could fold your luggage flat and
store it under your bed or on a shelf in your closet? Biaggi, a foldable luggage, converts a full-sized rolling suitcase, duffle bag, or overnight business tote into a super-compact unit. Perfect for spaces where storage is limited, Biaggi’s three collections (Contempo, Volo, and Tecno) come with interior and exterior pockets, a telescoping, aircraft-grade aluminum handle system, and two-, four-, or eight-wheel spinner technology. Available at
select stores and Internet retailers. From $79 for fashion tote to $339 for 30-inch ballistic nylon packing case. 917-702-0566, biaggi.com/default.aspx
EAT WELL GLOBAL APPS
Eating well abroad just got easier. Eat Well Global has launched a new suite of “nutritionist in your pocket’’ country guide apps to help travelers stay healthy and manage their weight. The apps, available for iTunes and Android, include Eat Well Israel, China, Thailand, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela. Each features a health snapshot of the host country, including market tour, food safety info, typical dishes, as well as nutritionist-approved listings in major cities for
restaurants, markets, delivery services, and cooking schools. Audio files in local languages make ordering easy for those with special needs, such as kosher, vegan, and gluten-free
diets. ($2.99) eatwellglobal.com
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