With so many hotel chains all over the US, it’s rare that you’ll ever hear me say that there’s room for another company to build and launch a whole new brand. Shockingly though, Starwood Hotels did just that with their newest brand, aloft hotels. What’s even more surprising is that they actually succeeded to build a chain of hotels that gives you something more than just a place to stay, but a sense of place. Combine that with the fact that the whole chain is dog friendly with no crazy pet fees or deposits, and it’s no wonder we felt like we just had to visit and review an aloft hotel and share it with the world.
Author Archives: Kenin Bassart
Mermaids do Exist at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park !
In Florida there is a small place where magic from the days of old still exists. No I’m not talking about all of those Orlando theme parks, I’m talking about a place where you can find beautiful, mystical creatures on display that have not been seen anywhere else on this earth. A place where you can find the grand sirens that tortured brave Ulysses and all of his men. The very divine creatures that have both brightened and haunted sailors’ dreams for centuries. A place where real live mermaids do still exist and can be seen. This place is tucked away in a sleepy little town nestled on the west coast of Florida. If you take a drive about an hour north of the bustling Tampa Bay area, you too can experience the magic of mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
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Capture The Color Contest 2013 – #CTC13
Whether you’re a full time traveler or just a long weekender, your best travel souvenirs are usually your photographs. While you could tell me you cherish that “I heart Las Vegas” shot glass you bought, I bet you spend a lot more time enjoying the photos you took than you do taking shots (If you are currently a frat-boy or under the age of 23 that last statement doesn’t apply to you). The other great thing about travel photographs is that you get to share them with the world, while that shot glass collects dust in some curio cabinet somewhere. That’s why we were stoked to get invited to Travel Supermarket’s CAPTURE THE COLOUR CONTEST 2013!!! ( I used bold so you can tell it’s a big deal :-)) Thanks to our friends over at Travel Addicts, Jdomb’s Travels, and Tripologist, we were invited to share 5 of our favorite photos inspired by a specific color. So without further ado (or rambling on my part) here are our entries for the 2013 Capture the Color Contest.
Rootin’ Tootin’ Fun at the Tweetsie Railroad in North Carolina
Tucked into a mountainside between the small towns of Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina is a great little hidden gem called Tweetsie Railroad. Stepping through its entry gates immediately takes you back to a time of gold prospectors, steam engines, and horse-drawn carriages. It’s a great day of fun with something to do for every age group, and as an added bonus Tweetsie Railroad is dog friendly too!
Touring Exotic India with Great Wide Open
There are many times when we interact with a company and every thing goes as expected. You make your selection, money changes hands, you take your commodity or experience, and then move on. Those experiences seldom stick in your head unless one of two things happen, the experience is supremely extraordinary or things go terribly awry. Think about it, how many times have you told a story about that restaurant that screwed up your steak 3 times versus all the average acceptable meals you’ve had where you didn’t utter a peep about it? Or the opposite, how many times have you told the tale of that super salesperson that remembered your name, and your kid’s name when you went back the store a second time. Occasionally though, there’s a third circumstance that occurs which trumps both of these. When something goes terribly wrong that was out of everyone’s control and the company goes above and beyond their scope not only to fix it, but to delight you. This is the tale of such a company in a place notorious for scamming foreigners and taking advantage of tourists. This is a tale of delight. This is the tale of Great Wide Open adventure travel in India.
