Two European estates in America

Read article : Two European estates in America

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores MI (which brings us a satisfying instance of the –palooza libfix); and the Castello di Amorosa near Calistoga CA (which offers a range of California wines and also Belgian-style chocolate). The first designed to reproduce the vernacular architecture of the English Cotswolds, the second a fantasy re-creation of an Italian castle.

Traditionally, the great estates of America, designed by and for captains of industry and commerce, had European models — castles and great country houses. They also functioned as art museums or had extensive formal gardens or both. Here in California, think Filoli in Woodside (on the San Francisco peninsula, not far north of where I live) and Hearst Castle in San Simeon (on the Central Coast).

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford house, built in the 1920s, is very much in this tradition, which continues to this day: Castello di Amorosa was built early in this century and opened to the public only 10 years ago.

The Ford estate came to me via Geoff Nathan on ADS-L a few days ago, who wrote about the Pollinator Palooza event there, coming up on the 19th (10-2): an instance of the –palooza libfix in a phonologically satisfying name (long, alliterative, with a nice rhythm).

(#1) 2016 event at Franklin Park in Columbus OH

Back in June Castello di Amorosa came to me from Juan Gomez, who visited it with friends and brought me a  raspberry dark chocolate bar from the shop there:

(#2) “Artisanally made by local gourmet chocolatier, Le Belge, exclusively for the Castello”

Pollinator Paloozas. On the playful libfix, see my 12/18/11 posting “Latkepalooza”, with a section on lollapalooza / lallapalooza, the source of the –palooza libfix.

Then on the event at the Ford house. From its site:

(#3) Monarch butterfly pollinating away

Mix and mingle with live butterflies in our butterfly house and learn about Monarch migrations.

Take a peek into a living bee hive and learn what makes them buzz from the experts at Greentoe Gardens.

Check out live bats from the Organization for Bat Conservation.

Learn about gardening for hummingbirds from Wild Birds Unlimited of Grosse Pointe Woods.

The corresponding event at the Franklin Park Conservatory has its own webpage, again featuring Monarchs:

(#4) Monarch on purple coneflower

There are even nurseries that specialize in plants for pollinators — in particular, Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona MN, with its Pollinator-Palooza Seed Mix:

Designed for full-sun to partial-shade sites with medium soils, this shortgrass mix boasts grasses and most wildflowers at 3′, with some flowers reaching 5′ at full bloom. Bloom times progress spring through fall. Our Pollinator-Palooza Seed Mix moves beyond more common pollinator mixes by offering plants that appeal to a broad array of pollinating insects. Included in the 45 species are some not commonly available like Late Figwort and Hairy Mountain Mint. Research shows that inclusion of native plantings near agricultural crops greatly enhances crop yield, attracts native pollinators, improves ecosystems and lessens reliance on already-stressed European-introduced honeybees that annually are transported around the country to flowering crops. Pollinator-Palooza’s blend of flowers and grasses will be equally appealing to humans and insects. We believe this mix will help enlighten everyone to the importance of pollinator habitat.

The Ford house. From Wikipedia, quite a bit from a long and detailed article on the estate:

(#5)

The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House is a mansion located at 1100 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Shores, northeast of Detroit, Michigan; it stands on the site known as “Gaukler Point”, on the shore of Lake St. Clair. The house became the new residence of the Edsel and Eleanor Ford family in 1929. Edsel Ford was the son of Henry Ford and an executive at Ford Motor Company. The estate’s buildings were designed by architect Albert Kahn, its site plan and gardens by renowned landscape designer Jens Jensen. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016.

The Fords traveled to England with Albert Kahn for the concept’s ideas, where they were attracted to the vernacular architecture of the Cotswolds. They asked Kahn to design a house that would resemble the closely assembled village cottages typical of that rural region. Kahn’s design included sandstone exterior walls, a traditional slate roof with the stone shingles decreasing in size as they reach its peak, and moss with ivy grown across the house’s exterior. Construction on the house began in 1926.

While construction of the house itself took only one year, two years were spent fitting it with antique wood paneling and fireplaces brought from English Manor houses; interior fittings were in the hands of Charles Roberson, an expert in adapting old European paneling and fittings to American interiors. The Gallery, the largest room in the house, is paneled with sixteenth-century oak linenfold relief carved wood panelling. Its hooded chimneypiece is from Wollaston Hall in Worcestershire, England; the timber-framed house had been demolished in 1925 and its dismantled elements and fittings were in the process of being dispersed. Fourteenth century stained-glass window medallions were added to the house in the late 1930s. Roberson’s barrel-vaulted ceiling for the Gallery was modeled on one at Boughton Malherbe, Kent, England. Paneling and doors in the Dining Room, entirely devoid of electricity, came from ‘New Place’, a victim of early twentieth-century expansion in Upminster, a new suburb of London. The Library’s paneling and its stone chimneypiece came from the Brudenell seat, Deene Park, Northamptonshire, England. Harris suggests that this already once removed paneling had come from another ‘Brudenell seat.’ The Study has a wooden overmantel with the date 1585, from Heronden Hall, in Tenterden, Kent.

Other interesting design elements include kitchen counters made of sterling silver, a “secret” photographic darkroom behind a panel of Edsel Ford’s office, and Art Deco style rooms designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, a leading industrial designer of the 1930s. Teague’s first floor “Modern Room” features ‘the new’ indirect lighting method, taupe colored leather wall panels, and a curved niche with eighteen vertical mirrored sections. He also designed bedrooms and sitting rooms for all three of Edsel and Eleanor’s sons. Teague’s design for son Henry Ford II’s bathroom includes grey glass walls made of the same structural glass as its shower stall.

Furnishings: The house featured an extensive art collection, reflecting Edsel and Eleanor’s status as serious museum benefactors. After Eleanor Ford’s death, many important paintings were donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). Reproductions were hung in their place. The classical French-style Drawing Room features two original Paul Cézanne paintings and reproductions of Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas works. A reproduction of Vincent van Gogh’s The Postman Roulin hangs in the Morning Room. An original Diego Rivera painting, Cactus on the Plains, hangs in the Modern Room.

(On Rivera at the DIA, see my 6/15/15 posting “Rivera in Detroit”.)

There are also extensive gardens, where Pollinator Palooza will take place.

Castello di Amorosa. From Wikipedia:

(#6) Castle and vineyards

Castello di Amorosa is a castle and a winery located near Calistoga, California. First opening its doors to the public in April 2007, the castle is the pet project of 4th generation vintner, Dario Sattui, who also owns and operates the V. Sattui Winery named after his great-grandfather who originally established a winery in San Francisco in 1885 after emigrating from Italy to California.

The winery sits on property that was once part of an estate owned by Edward Turner Bale.

The castle interiors, which include 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below ground, cover approximately 121,000 square feet (11,200 m2). Key details and building techniques are architecturally faithful to the 12th and 13th century time period. Among many other features it has: a moat; a drawbridge; defensive towers; an interior courtyard; a torture chamber [an especially nice touch]; a chapel/church; a knights’ chamber; and a 72 by 30 feet (9.1 m) great hall with a 22-foot (6.7 m)-high coffered ceiling.

(#7) The great hall of the Castello

In addition to an assortment of wines, the Castello shop offers chocolate. Ad copy for the chocolate bar 4-pack:

Can’t decide which Castello chocolate bar is your favorite? Why not get all four! Enjoy our Dark Chocolate Sea Salt, Milk Chocolate, La Fantasia Raspberry Chocolate, and Key Lime Sea Salt White Chocolate bars in this enticing 4-pack.

The raspberry bar was quite tasty.

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This entry was posted on August 14, 2017 at 6:43 am and is filed under Architecture, Language and food, Libfixes, Names. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Explore These Six Trails to Get Your Nature Fix

Read article : Explore These Six Trails to Get Your Nature Fix

Posted 08/16/17 by Suzanne Matyas in America's Trails, Trail Use, Health and Wellness

The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a verdant beauty running through its two namesake towns | Courtesy Oregon State Park

Can you imagine your perfect outdoor oasis? Take a moment to picture it. Is it quiet, or is it filled with the laughter of playing children or the melody of songbirds? Are there trees, fields, flowers, shorelines or lots of wildlife? Is it in a tiny city pocket park or a remote reserve?

Doesn’t it make you feel happy?

Being able to spend time outside to connect with nature is a uniquely special feeling and has many health benefits. It’s also something we believe that everyone should be able to experience. Thankfully, trails enable people of all ages and abilities to do just that. In urban, suburban and rural places all across the country, trails can take us to (and are!) incredible natural spaces.

No matter what your dream space looks like, we encourage you hit a trail and try to find it! To inspire you, here’s a list of some great paths for getting in touch nature:

Banks-Vernonia State Trail | Photo by Trailink.com/dabiker

1Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon

Starting in the West, we’ve chosen one of our favorite city escapes: Oregon’s Banks-Vernonia State Trail. Sitting less than an hour's drive outside of the hustle, bustle and delightful “weirdness” of Portland, this trail stretches nearly 23 miles through the foothills of the Coast Mountains and the magnificent L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. The park is an 1,800-acre delight equipped with campgrounds (for people and for horses), RV hookups, an 18-hole disc golf course, wildlife viewing areas and a fun Discovery Depot.

The trail’s completion is in part due to the opening of the spectacular park in 2007; its history, however, extends back to the 1920s, when it was first used to haul timber. Currently, the route hosts hikers, cyclists and equestrians, and travels under 13 bridges and two 700-foot-long, 80-foot-high railroad trestles.

Tahoe Trailways Bike Path is a favorite of hikers, cyclists and former Olympians alike | Photo courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

2Tahoe Trailways Bike Path, California

When asked about the Tahoe Trailways Bike Path, our team said it “could not get any prettier unless there were rainbow unicorns prancing on it.” And although you will not find any mythical beasts over its 19 miles, you will find this California rail-trail to be a magical place where peoples’ dreams come true—665 Olympic dreams, that is! One of the trail’s three branches travels to the base of the Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

In addition to its golden history, the trail leads its users by the Truckee River, Sugar Pine Point State Park and the shore of Lake Tahoe, the country’s second-deepest lake! The trail also has a bright future as it’s part of a developing network that will link communities across two states to trail.

The Colorado Riverfront Trail is an developing system with nine unique sections | Photo by TrailLink/jmoreco

3Colorado Riverfront Trail, Colorado

Your moment of Zen on the Colorado Riverfront Trail is possible due to the dedication and hard work of the Colorado Riverfront Commission. This 22-mile paved beauty follows the Colorado River and goes through several parks. Starting off with a stunning view of the Colorado National Monument canyons, from the aptly named Monument View Section, the trail soon introduces you to the Walter Walker State Wildlife Area, reaches the Connected Lakes Section and then forks off into two other nature havens: the Blue Heron Section and Audubon Section. From either shady route, you’ll pass by glittering lakes and have the opportunity to spy some spectacular birds, including bald eagles, herons, osprey, owls and hawks.

The trail reunites again near the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers, and then passes by Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House, the Las Colonias, the James M. Robb Colorado River State and Clifton Nature parks before it ends.

The Ti-Haul Trail lies just down the road from Shelburne Farms, which offers many educational programs | Photo by Brandi Horton

4Ti-Haul Trail, Vermont

In the Burlington, Vermont, suburb of Shelburne, near the mighty Lake Champlain, you’ll find the charming Ti-Haul Trail. This trail is short, sweet, scenic and shady, and was constructed for the sole purpose of moving the Ticonderoga steamboat from the lake to the Shelburne Museum.

Though the rail-trail itself only covers 1 mile, it links to Shelburne Bay Park and the park’s slightly longer Rec Path, and sits a mere half-mile away from the expansive Shelburne Farms. The entire length of the trail runs along this iconic property, which operates as a nonprofit dedicated to “educating for a sustainable future,” and encompasses 1,400 acres of working farm and forest as well as an estate that was designated a National Historic Landmark. The property has maintained the spirit of its roots, as it was originally created in 1886 to be a model agricultural estate by Dr. William Webb and Eliza Vanderbilt; the design was in part guided by Frank Law Olmstead, the famous landscape architect of New York City’s Central Park.

The John Heinz Refuge Trail winds through pristine natural lands and connects to the Circuit Trails | Photo courtesy Heather Jerue/USFWS | CC 2.0

5John Heinz Refuge Trail, Pennsylvania

If you imagined your ideal space as an idyllic island surrounded by the thrum of industry, then you will absolutely love the John Heinz Refuge Trail. But even if you did picture something different, you will still fall for America’s first urban wildlife refuge and its residents: deer, opossums, foxes, turtles, frogs and more than 300 species of birds. Conveniently located within eyesight of the Philadelphia International Airport, this nearly 8-mile trail is as much a sanctuary for wildlife as it is a refuge for city dwellers.

While navigating its two wide loops along Darby Creek, woodlands, meadowland and the Tincum Marsh, trail users need only look northeast to feel welcomed by the City of Brotherly Love’s skyline. The trail also serves as a key piece of the developing 750-mile Circuit Trails Network and is part of the Maine-to-Florida route known as the East Coast Greenway.

One of the New River Trail State Park’s highlights is the impressive 950-foot Hiawassee trestle | Photo by Lee Hogan

6New River Trail State Park, Virginia

Rounding out this list is one of our southern belle routes: Virginia’s New River Trail State Park. Truly the bell of the ball, this delightful rail-trail was declared an official National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior for good reason! Graced with the good looks and shade from the surrounding Blue Ridge Highlands—the professed Birthplace of Country Music—the majority of the verdant route is within view of the New River. Visitors can cool off and become fully “immersed” in nature by going for a swim or canoe ride in the refreshing water, or taking a forest bath underneath the tree canopy.

The 57-mile trail’s natural beauty is complemented by its manmade garnishes, including two cavernous tunnels, impressive dams, railroad trestles—such as the 950-foot Hiawassee trestle—the historical shot tower, train depots and even a red caboose.

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Suzanne Matyas is RTC’s social media and campaigns coordinator. She is an inline skating and skiing enthusiast, and a mediocre runner, and loves corny jokes.

Buy An Island in Maine For Less Than a Condo in Boston

Read article : Buy An Island in Maine For Less Than a Condo in Boston

If you loved the private island off the coast of Portland, Maine or the six lighthouses in Maryland and Michigan for sale this summer, have we got the place for you — combining both dreamy maritime features, but for less than the cost of a Boston condo.

The entirety of Green Island in Brooklin, Maine is for sale for $650,000 — including its main house, a 1,750 square foot keepers cottage with four bedrooms and one half bathroom, and the adjoining Blue Hill Bay Lighthouse that was built in 1856 (and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places).

According to the listing with Acadia Realty Group, Blue Hill Bay Lighthouse on Green Island is a historic landmark with commanding views in all directions, from Isle Au Haut to the mountains of Acadia National Park. From the Keeper's House, residents can watch schooners come within yards of your porch, so sitting on this outer island is like having your own private window to the world with amazing views in all directions.

We bet you could angle for a furnished sale, too, to complete the authentic New England maritime aesthetic — including the Jenny Lind and wire bed frames, caned and Windsor and Adirondack style chairs, antique hurricane lamps, and vintage hand-hooked rugs.

All that and, as Boston Magazine points out, the entire seaside property (including the 1-acre island) is about the list price of an "average-sized" Boston condo (Zillow reports that the median listing price in the city is $699,000).

For those thinking "how cool, but I don't own a boat" like me, apparently you can walk back to the mainland at low tide, the listing agent, Steve Shelton, told Boston.

Check out the entire listing for 1 Green Island, and learn more about the long and storied history of Blue Hill Bay Light on LighthouseFriends.com.

‘Fairytale’ Irish castle ranked in 25 best travel experiences in the world

Read article : ‘Fairytale’ Irish castle ranked in 25 best travel experiences in the world

A “fairytale” experience at Ashford Castle has been listed as one of the 25 best travel experiences in the world.

The listing was compiled by US travel advisor Chad Clark, who is aiming to certify travel “experiences” to create an annual list similar to what the Michelin Guide is for restaurants.

“You have the Forbes Travel Guide for hotel star ratings and Michelin for restaurants and Golf Magazine for the Top 100 courses, but there is nothing like that for experiences and that’s what everyone is looking for today,” he says. The ‘Certified 25’ is the “first of its kind in the travel industry”, he says, and the aim is to create an annual list of the best travel experiences around the world.

Experiences - and “experiential travel” - are the current buzzwords travel industry. For the ultimate travel bragging rights, it’s no longer enough to book a luxury hotel room in the five-star hotel with the best views of whatever piazza you happen to be in. Now it’s about “making memories through experiences”, according to travel advisors. Travellers want to actually do, see or learn something while on a trip, as opposed to lazing by the pool. It’s no surprise that the trend is particularly evident in the luxury travel market with wildlife safaris, Arctic cruises and active travel with learning experiences, such as photography courses, all on the increase.

Airbnb is also building on this momentum with its “experiences” section, where travellers can link up with locals in cities around the world. Other similar initiatives include Cool Cousin, which is soon to launch in Dublin. The Cool Cousin app provides a profile of locals who you can select according to your interests. You then receive their map of their city ,which is loaded with at least 25 of their favourite places, from restaurants to shops, as well as personalised advice.

Despite all the interest in the area, Clark believes it is hard to find the “best in class” experiences – there is no gathering of five-star experiences, which is where his “Certified 25” come in. The winners of the first annual listing were announced at the Virtuoso Travel Symposium in Las Vegas earlier this week. Virtuoso is a consortium of luxury and specialist travel advisors and agents and many of Clark’s listings are affiliates of the network, which has about 1,700 affiliates around the world.

Clark owns the Phoenix-based Chad Clark Travel Ventures. To create the Certified 25, he surveyed luxury travel industry suppliers and other travel experts, who submitted their best experiences from around the world. The winners were “chosen on their own merits of how cool the experience actually is”, he says. Reader beware however – money is no object when it comes to Clark’s definition of a “cool” experience.

A private showing of The Quiet Man in the 32-seat cinema at Ashford Castle is included in its fairytale experience – with Champagne and popcorn of course

Ireland’s sole listing is the “Ashford Castle Fairytale experience”. It includes private chauffeur transfers from the airport; two nights in a Stateroom; afternoon tea in the Connaught Room; falconry; a private showing of The Quiet Man in the 32-seat cinema at the hotel, with Champagne and popcorn of course; dinners in the Dungeon and George V restaurants; wine tasting; and meeting the estate’s Irish Wolfhounds. The price of your fairytale? From €4,350 in low season to €6,350 in high season.

General manager Niall Rochford says the castle is “privileged to represent Ireland and Irish tourism internationally as the only Irish property to be included in this inaugural list”. He describes Clark as someone “who has himself carved a career as a highly regarded and influential travel expert worldwide”.

“Our Fairytale Castle Experience offers guests the chance to experience the magic of Ashford Castle, offering the utmost in modern luxury and five-star hospitality in the unique setting of this historic castle.”

In Sydney, Clark’s list recommends you contact husband and wife team Jamie and Alex, aka Local Eyes Sydney, to give you the quintessential Sydney experience. This involves starting your day with early morning yoga or surfing on the beach before breakfast, National Park bush and beach walks. Jamie and Alex bring guests to their home for lunch and drinks before sailing to see Sydney Harbour’s icons up close from their classic cruiser, Iluka. The nine-hour “quintessential” experience will set you back €4,183 for two people, more than what most of us will spend on a 10-day trip Down Under. (Price comparison note: Flights from Dublin to Sydney average at €1,100 per person.)

For those with even deeper pockets (or a second home to sell) who also have an ethical travel conscience, safari company Singita offers a behind-the-scenes stay in their lodge and Sabora Tented Camp in Tanzania.

Grumeti Black Rhino Project, learning about their anti-poaching unit and local enterprise development" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189875!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> A six-night safari with Singita Safaris in Tanzania includes working with Grumeti Black Rhino Project, learning about their anti-poaching unit and local enterprise development

The experience includes learning about their wildlife re-introduction efforts, through the Grumeti Black Rhino Project; working with their anti-poaching unit first-hand; learning about their new canine law enforcement unit as well as their fund of local enterprise development. As for the cost…take a deep breath. The six-night experience costs €6,305 per person, which might not seem too wild for a luxury six-night safari experience. However, there is also a compulsory contribution of €42,500 ($50,000) per booking to support Singita’s conservation programmes. It is based on a minimum of two people and the maximum group size is six.

You might be glad to find out that the list also includes more affordable items to enhance your travel experience wherever it may be, such as the Kickstarter crowd-funded G-RO Smart Carry-on luggage.

features USB ports and a powerful battery, lightweight design, and a patented larger wheel making it easier to wheel on all terrain" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189874!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> G-RO Smart Carry-on luggage (from €380) features USB ports and a powerful battery, lightweight design, and a patented larger wheel making it easier to wheel on all terrain

The bag (from €380, g-ro.com) features smart technology such as USB ports and a powerful battery, slick lightweight design, as well as a patented larger wheel concept that means a bag that is easier to wheel on all terrain - from cobbled streets to airport walkways.

Photography company Flyographer (flytographer.com) also features. The company, founded in 2013, links travelers with professional photographers in more than 130 destinations so you can abandon your selfie stick and instead use a professional photographer to capture your holiday snaps…for a fee of €210-€550 depending on the number of locations and length of the session.

Other immersive experiences include a volcano adventure with Four Seasons Hualalai; Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival with Nomadic Expeditions; an overnight Yurt stay at Platte Canyon with Brush Creek Ranch Luxury Collection; and a banquet on a remote section of the Great Wall of China with conservationist William Londesay.

See the full list below, or for more details, chadclarksertified.com

Top 25 Travel Experiences in the World (for those with very deep pockets)

Cong, Ireland: Ashford Castle’s Fairytale Experience includes a “luxurious stay in a medieval Irish castle where guests are invited to take part in authentic Irish activities throughout the castle and its picturesque grounds”.

London, UK:Travel company Noteworthy - who create “unforgettable Exquisite British Experiences” - allow clients behind-the-scenes access to the “Changing of the Guards” and the opportunity to photograph the event.

London, UK: The Beaumont Hotel in London offers a ‘do-it-yourself’ ice cream sundae with 300 potential permutations in the resort’s Colony Grill Room. For Clark, this is (thankfully) only part of the luxury offering at the Beaumont, which adding personal touches to all client stays.

ice cream sundae with 300 potential permutations in the resort’s Colony Grill Room" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189870!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> The Beaumont Hotel in London offers a ‘do-it-yourself’ ice cream sundae with 300 potential permutations in the resort’s Colony Grill Room

Bhutan:Amankora Bhutan’s spiritual and cultural safari involves walks through ancient rhododendron forests watching black necked cranes, soaking in a hot stone bath; interacting with novice monks and dining in a rustic stone potato shed.

Wyoming, US: Platte Canyon Overnight Camp at Brush Creek Ranch is a luxurious camping experience that includes private outdoor activities, gourmet meals around an open fire, a large yurt and two traditional teepees with large decks located over the North Platte River.

New York, US:Chatwal Hotel guests can enjoy insider access to Broadway from the landmark building once home to the oldest theatrical club in the US. Guests have the opportunity to be part of the cast of a Broadway show.

Italy:Rosa Alpina Hotel bring guests on a journey through the Dolomite Mountains where guests hike in luxury from “hut to hut” while enjoying the gourmet food and wines.

Colorado, US:Limited “only by the imagination”, Colorado’s Dunton Hot Springs offers customizable experiences that are specifically tailored for each guest’s interests, including cattle driving, and horse riding.

Flytographer:Flytographer connects travelers with vetted local photographers for short, candid vacation shoots in over 200 cities around the world, providing both an authentic travel experience and unforgettable souvenirs.

Hawaii, US:The Four Seasons Hotel Hualalai offers a volcano with a private helicopter journey over the big island, a trip to a Rainforest Cottage Hideaway where you can hike, swim, explore the area around the volcano.

New York, US: The Greenwich Hotel offers a fully complimentary minibar in all rooms. This includes v “vintage favorite goodies” reminiscent of childhood combined with trendy new snacks with all-natural, vegan and gluten-free options. By the way, this is a mini-bar with a difference. Alcohol is excluded.

Utah, US: A stay at the Waldorf Astoria Park City offers beautiful snow-covered views of the largest ski and snowboard resort in the US. Don’t forget to take their signature vanilla mint chapstick on all adventures, according to Clark.

G-RO Luggage: G-RO luggage is specifically designed to accompany on-the-go travelers whether they are traveling around the block or around the globe.

China: With Imperial Tours, guests travel by helicopter over the Great Wall of China, landing at an isolated tower for a gourmet banquet with conservationist William Lindesay, who helped draft the law protecting wall.

France: Indulge in a progressive Parisian culinary journey at Le Bristol Paris, where they experience the French Art de Vivre, a decadent breakfast, a tailor made picnic and dinner at Michelin three-star restaurant, Epicure.

France:A meal at Les Prés d’Eugénie-Michel Guerard is described as capturing “the essence of French luxury, style, grace and elegance in a sumptuous setting”.

Ecuador: Metropolitan Touring offer a nighttime walk through the forest in search of nocturnal amphibians and insects, ending with a surprise (well, it was meant to be a surprise) picnic.

Minaret Station, New Zealand:Travel company Minaret Station bring clients on a helicopter tour of the Southern Alps in New Zealand before touching down in a deserted alpine meadow. Then it’s time to enjoy a gourmet spread of lobster pulled fresh from the sea, Minaret Station-sourced beef and lamb and award-winning New Zealand wines.

Mongolia: Watch Kazakh hunters at the Golden Eagle Festival in the remote Altai Mountains as these skilled hunters and their highly-trained eagles compete for the top prize. Nomadic Expeditions arrange this experience.

Amalfi Coast, Italy: Hotel Palazzo Avino’s “Sea of Love” dining experience aims to suspend guests between land and sea. Start with a boat trip to your private candlelit dinner overlooking the ocean.

Hotel Palazzo Avino’s “Sea of Love” dining experience aims to suspend guests between land and sea." height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189871!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> On the Amalfi Coast in Italy, the Hotel Palazzo Avino’s “Sea of Love” dining experience aims to suspend guests between land and sea.

Peru:Experience the mystical beauty of Peru’s Lake Titicaca, the cradle of Andean civilization, through visits to a traditional community on the island of Taquile and hiking ancient trails surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountain landscapes.

Tanzania:Singita safari company offer behind-the-scenes insight into the work of the Anti-Poaching Unit in the Serengeti.

Singita Safaris offers a behind-the-scenes stay in their lodge and Sabora Tented Camp in Tanzania – once you make a $50,000 ‘donation’ to their wildlife preservation work" height="348" src="https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3189876!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg" width="620" /> Singita Safaris offers a behind-the-scenes stay in their lodge and Sabora Tented Camp in Tanzania – once you make a $50,000 ‘donation’ to their wildlife preservation work

India:Guests of the Ultimate Traveling Camp at Thiskey enjoy a day “on top of the world” where they are immersed in the region’s unique rituals and have the opportunity to try their hand at archery, raft down the Indus River and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Australia: True North conducts adventure-cruises in Australia’s stunning Kimberley region, with daily off-ship activities, some via the ship’s onboard helicopter.

Australia:Tour Sydney with husband and wife team Jamie and Alex (aka Local Eyes Sydney) who invite guests to their home for lunch and onboard their classic cruiser, Iluka to sail up close to Sydney Harbor’s icons. The tour also includes a native bush walk and opportunities to surf, stroll or perform yoga at the world famous Manly Beach.