Conde Nast Traveler – February 2017 || Need a backdrop for that Valentine’s ‘gram? Find a love wall.
What is a love wall? Exactly what it sounds like—an expression of love captured on the facade of a building, structure, or public space. Sometimes these walls are impromptu, like New York’s “Subway Therapy” wall comprised of emotive post-it notes that popped up temporarily after the 2016 election. Others are more, well, set in stone.
January 5, 2017 on Fodors.com || All eyes will be on Washington D.C. this January for Inauguration Weekend. The city’s preparing for over 1 million visitors, coming in for everything from celebrations to protests to getting a glimpse of history. Here’s a quick guide to visiting Washington for the Inauguration, the Women’s March on Washington, or any other events on tap from January 19-21, 2017.
December 15, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || No trip to the District of Columbia is complete without a visit to the National Mall. The site of presidential inaugurations, historic protest marches and a brand-new Smithsonian museum, this 2-mile-long grassy lawn that runs through the heart of the nation’s capital sees over 25 million visitors per year. Here, you’ll find the city’s iconic marbled monuments and museums. Plus, the White House and Capitol are steps away. If you’re visiting the city for the first time – or if you want to give your feet and camera a workout – plan on spending a day here. And if you’re short on time, check out these top sights and museums.
November 2016 on Marriott Traveler || Holiday shopping season is upon us, and you’re probably well on your way to making a list and checking it twice. If you planned ahead, your gift-buying was taken care of months ago with awesome local mementos and souvenirs you picked up on your travels … Wait, you didn’t remember to buy gifts when you were on your vacation back in April? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. From stocking stuffers to high-tech travel gear, these nine gifts will wow everyone on your list.
October 2016 on Marriott Traveler || Delayed. Delayed. Delayed. Delayed. If you’re gearing up to travel this holiday season, that is the last word you want to see on the airport departures board. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to try to avoid some of the season’s biggest transportation nightmares.
We checked in with Marriott Rewards Insiders and other frequent travelers and asked them to spill their secrets for traveling between Thanksgiving and New Years. Below are some of the top tips for surviving holiday travel.
I went to Austin for a few days for a work summit. Most of our time was spent in meeting rooms in the W hotel, but I was able to check out a few things while there. Here’s what I did:
There aren’t too many direct flights from D.C. to Austin; I flew United nonstop from Dulles.
W Hotel: Good location a short walk from Sixth Street. The hotel had a chic design with an industrial edge. Large rooms had awesome attention to detail, especially the bathroom toiletries. Two words: face wash!!!
Blue Dahlia: Cute spot for tartines and breakfast/brunch food. It’s a bit dark inside, but there’s a nice outdoor seating area if it’s not too hot out.
La Condesa: Upscale Tex Mex is the name of the game at this large high-ceilinged restaurant with moody lighting.
Rainey Street: When this residential area was rezoned into commercial real estate, historic houses were turned into quirky bars. Most of them have back yards or outdoor patios, and food trucks pull up to serve eats. Basically it feels like you’re drinking in a buddy’s backyard, not a bar.
Bat Cruise: Every night between March and November thousands of bats that live in the crevasses under the South Congress bridge fly out around sundown to feed. You can stand on the bridge to look down at them, or hop on a boat cruise to tour a bit of Lady Bird Johnson Lake. The boats float beneath the bridge to watch the bats. You’ll get better photo ops from the boat because you get the bridge scene too. Tip: get a boat with a covered roof; it’ll protect you from the bat droppings.
Swifts Attic: Not your average menu here. Inventive courses whip up weirdness like spicy edamame with pop rocks and bacon-wrapped Gorgonzola. Try the ball cocktails: the flavored ingredients are frozen in an ice cube ball that flavors the liquor in the glass as it melts.
White Horse: An east side honky tonk where you’ll find a quirky mix of folks. Think sleeve tattoos and ironic hipster t-shirts with unironic cowboy hats and two-step dancing.
Rain on 4th: This gay bar on 4th Street has a dance floor with cages and an outdoor back bar.
September 10, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || As the U.S. National Parks Service celebrates its Centennial this year, there’s a lot of buzz around the country’s incredible natural resources. And to many (if not most) of the millions of visitors to these natural wonders, the most exciting part of a trip to the national parks is the chance to see wild animals. From close encounters with grizzly bears to snorkeling with sea turtles, here are the best national parks for wildlife-watching.
August 2, 2016 on Conde Nast Traveler || Want to find D.C.’s hottest bars? Just look up.
There’s something missing from the D.C. skyline: skyscrapers. A height limit has kept most of the District’s buildings shorter than the Capitol dome, creating a town-like atmosphere while offering unobstructed views. It’s the perfect recipe for rooftop bars—and this summer, the city’s nightlife mavens have taken note. D.C.’s in a rooftop boom, with nearly a dozen new drinking perches open this year. From cozy cornertops where you can people-watch the street below, to Instagram-ready sunset and stadium views, here are some of Washington’s best new rooftop bars.
July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || That PCH route from San Francisco to Los Angeles gets all the attention, but it’s not the only West Coast drive that should be on your map. A road trip through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California is equally epic, but with less traffic. You’ll see some of the West Coast’s fastest growing cities, majestic national parks, windswept beaches and sunsets that need no filter. Here’s the route.
July 2016 on Marriott Traveler || You’re a baseball stat wunderkind, not unlike Jonah Hill’s character in “Moneyball.” So your ultimate summer road trip has to be all about baseball, beer, and modern Americana. If you’re in the Midwest, the drive from Chicago through Ohio and Kentucky and on to St. Louis is a must. You’ll cheer with some of the sport’s most spirited fans, pay respects to one of its oldest ballparks, see where bats get made and learn how the game was played back in the day. Here’s the route…