thePULSEIdeas for your next Exploration
By Jillian Locke
Seeking an educational excursion? Perhaps looking for something a little edgier? Perhaps even something… daring? Maybe all you want is to escape the day-to-day drudgery for a few days? Well, we’re here for you: spanning the globe, here’s a list of a few enticing vacation spots that will awaken your senses and help rejuvenate your bored brain circuits that have been dulled by the tedious, mind-numbing effects of the everyday 9-5 life.
In a Land Far, Far Away…
Like it or not, winter has begun, and perhaps some away time from New England’s longest season is exactly what you’ll need. Set your compass on South for the warm waters and sandy beaches of Barbados. Orbtiz.com offers a package deal for flight and hotel together. You can get two airline tickets and 4 nights at Bougainvillea Beach resort in Barbados (this deal is for 2 people, so it’s perfect for a romantic getaway!) starting at $1,036. Then for you marine-lovers, arrange hotel pick-up to the Atlantis Expedition attraction for $7.50/adult. Once you’re there, for only $85 you can board the award-winning Atlantis Submarine Expedition, where you’ll come face-to-face with tropical fish, shipwreck sites, and the beautiful underbelly of the Caribbean Sea. This discount rate ends December 30th, so shed your scarves and stock up on sunscreen now! www.atlantisadventures.com
Are you the New Englander who basically loves winter but wouldn’t mind a change of scenery? Lake Tahoe has the slopes and breathtaking scenery you’re craving. Grab your fellow snowbunnies and take advantage of Northern Tahoe’s Granlibakken Lodge’s ski/snowboard packages, starting at just $109. Package includes hot breakfast buffets, access to the sauna, outdoor pool and hot tub, a mid-week lift ticket at a nearby mountain, and lodging. Check out www.granlibakken.com/packages.php for more details.
Feeling adventurous? Seeking cultural exploration and enlightenment? Set your sights on Brazil’s beautiful and lush Rio de Janeiro, with packages starting at $1,150 for a 10-day excursion spanning the waters and beaches of Copacabana to the jungle realms of the Amazon. Enjoy Iguaza Falls at Iguaza National Park, a tour of the city of Manaus, alligator sighting, monkey guides, rainforest explorations, and canoe tours. Lose yourself (and any lingering stress) in the beautiful and ancient culture of these Latin American attractions. www.unlimitedborders.com
If mental stimulation and developing or enhancing your creative side is top on your vacation priority list, then look no further than the art capitol of the universe, Italy. Choose from ceramic, Plein (open) Air Painting, and wine-making workshops on the Italian Riviera in the Medieval Village of Ceriana, with 8-day packages starting at $1,599. Or head to the Medieval town of Fondi, located South of Rome, the ultimate of all that is art, for a true and authentic taste of the old world. The workshops run from March to October, which gives you plenty of time to choose your artistic poison, location, and award-winning faculty. www.infohub.com
Closer to Home
If you’d rather keep it more local and seek adventure the paranormal way, then take a drive down to Fall River, MA, and check out the newly restored house/murder-scene turned bed and breakfast of local (alleged!) axe – wielding legend Lizzie Borden. Although acquitted of the heinous act in 1893, many still believe Borden to be culprit. “Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty one.” The Greek-Revival home is a popular attraction for many ghost enthusiasts, and now offers a unique package for paranormal investigators: for $600, groups of 15 can have the house to themselves from 4pm-10am (for investigation purposes only, does not include lodging or breakfast). For regular supernatural thrill-seeking guests, room rates range from $150 to $250. Call 508-675-7333 for reservations, or check out the website www.lizzie-borden.com
Looking to heat things up? Love a good party? Combine romance and the ultimate party experience during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Beginning January 6th ~ on the Feast of Epiphany ~ and ending on February 5th, better known as Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday,” the Carnival celebration provides adult themes and entertainment, allowing you to toss your inhibitions to the wind and become carefree, careless teenagers all over again. Not only does this Carnival celebration bleed into the Hallmark month of love, but what better way to rekindle many kinds of sparks than to visit the heartland of jazz during this most hedonistic time of the year? Throw your beads, flash your goods, and relish the lavish and outrageous activities, people, and sights that have come to make Mardi Gras the epic and outlandish event that adults of all ages flock to year after year. www.mardigrasneworleans.com
And last but absolutely not least, no vacation check list would be complete without a purely rock and roll location ~ welcome to Music City, Nashville, TN. Having visited it myself, I can assure you that this town has a culture and populous all its own. The main road, Broadway, houses Nashville’s Hard Rock Café, paying due homage to the King himself with various Elvis sculptures and statues decorating the sidewalks. Also on this popular strip are such staples as Laya’s Bluegrass Inn, where you can catch local rockabilly heroes Hillbilly Casino every Friday night. After their set, shoot around the corner to one of the greatest and most authentic Irish bars in the south, Mulligan’s Pub and Restaurant, to catch last call and the tail end of every-other-weekend house band Def Leprechaun’s set, ranging from old rebel folk songs to more classic, witty sing-alongs. But wait, there’s more! The punk scene is thriving and pulsating just down the street at the divey yet cozy Springwater, where exists the best and most diverse jukebox anywhere, not to mention a vast array of local punk acts and all the Pabst and Mickey’s your heart could ever desire. The Muse and The End are just spitting distance away, hosting national and local punk/hardcore bands at affordable prices. All in all, you want music, culture, and a chaotic nightlife? Nashville is your all-around destination. For lodging, check out www.visitmusiccity.com
And thus concludes the tour of locations near and far, catering to a wide-spectrum of budgets and passions. Even if you haven’t found anything you like here, perhaps a seed of inspiration has been planted to help execute your next escape from reality.
