Heading Stateside with the kids this summer? Get On Yer Bike!

Venice Beach

Walking and sightseeing can be a chore for teens and tweens but put them on a bike and it becomes an adventure. All of these five US cities have really great bike tours. You won't be disappointed and the kids will LOVE IT!

Mark and Nicole on Venice Beach

LA

Take a walk past Santa Monica Pier to Perry's, an icon of the beach scene for nearly forty years. Perry's have twelve cafes dotted along the coast from Santa Monica to Venice Beach. A cycle is a great way to take in the views. I recommend rental by the hour rather than a tour because once we got to Venice Beach the kids wanted to stop at the stalls and soak up the atmosphere. The kids loved this windy cycle path even though we had to dodge the roller-skaters along the way. The last of the hippies and hells angels gather here and there are funky cafes to stop by for a break. Two hours is long enough to take in the cacophony of music and it's five dollars to visit the freak show or get a henna tattoo.

Bike and Roll Washington DC

Washington DC

The Bike and Roll Tour (39$ for adults 29$ for kids) is the very best way to visit the presidential monuments. Fully guided, the tour took us past The White House, Washington Monument and down National Mall from Lincoln to Jefferson down by the Potomac River. The Einstein statue outside the Science Museum was a great stop and I made sure my son rubbed the statues nose to ensure wisdom to help him with his studies.

Jefferson Memorial Washington DC

Boston

Urbanadventours is the best way to see the city of Boston from Fenway Park through the Emerald necklace and back to The Freedom Trail. The City Tour is good for kids over ten-years as it does involve going on cycle lanes in the city centre and can be busy. It takes three hours and costs $55. www.urbanadventours.com

 

Urbanadventours Boston

New York

Take a bike or quadcycle around Central Park. A quadcycle is $35 per hour and the perfect amount of time to leisurely see the lake and the sights. Kids love to be on the move so this is a great way to get to see the Alice in Wonderland statue, Strawberry fields and the chess and checker house. www.bikenewyorkcity.com

Times Square New York

San Francisco

The very best way to see the bridge and absorb the breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay is by bike. It is a long cycle but the kids won't be board. A guided tour takes up to three hours and ends at the pretty town of Sausalito where we stopped for lunch and took a ferry ride back to the city. www.baycitybike.com. Tours are $55 dollars per person but you can do this without a guide and rent by the hour.

Golden Gate to Sausalito

NYC & COMPANY SPOTLIGHTS NEW YORK CITY’S NEW FOOD HALLS

New York City (June 20, 2016) —NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization, invites visitors and locals to discover New York City’s new and trending food halls, featuring an array of dining possibilities, from casual eats to high-end restaurant offerings.   

“New York City’s food halls are an exciting way to experience the City’s vibrant and evolving food scene,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “From new openings like TurnStyle and The Pennsy to mainstays like Chelsea Market and Grand Central Market, there are so many fantastic food hall options to choose from, giving visitors more reasons to return again and again.”

New York City has long been home to popular food markets like Arthur Avenue Retail Market, Chelsea Market, Eataly, Grand Central Market and Gotham West. In addition to these iconic places, the City is experiencing a trend in the rise of food halls, celebrating cuisines from around the world.  

Highlights of recent openings include:

Berg’n: Since opening in 2015, the Brooklyn-based food hall in Crown Heights has quickly emerged as a local hotspot for its trendy food offerings. Visitors and locals can sample tasty burritos at El Meat Hook, Filipino-inspired cuisine at Lumpia Shack and pulled pork and brisket at Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque. Led by the founders of Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg, Berg’n is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Visit bergn.com for more information.

City Kitchen at Row NYC: The Times Square food court, located within the Row NYC Hotel, opened in March 2015 and features a diverse collection of vendors such as Azuki Sushi, Dough, Gabriela’s Taqueria, ilili Box, Kuro Obi ramen, Luke’s Lobster and Whitman’s New York. For more information visit citykitchen.com.

Hudson Eats: The upscale dining terrace located in Lower Manhattan’s Brookfield Place features many of New York City’s top casual eateries, including Black Seed Bagel, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar, Chop’t, Dig Inn, Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque, Num Pang, Skinny Pizza, Sprinkles and Umami Burger. The 30,000-square-foot space provides seating for up to 600 guests and offers views of the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty. Additional information can be found at brookfieldplaceny.com.

Le District: Brookfield Place is also home to an authentic French shopping district serving artisanal French foods. The 30,000-square-foot space boasts a brasserie-style restaurant called Beaubourg, the Market and Garden District offering French groceries, and a café where guests can snack on chocolate, coffee, macarons and croissants. Visitbrookfieldplaceny.com for more information. 

The Pennsy: Just steps from Madison Square Garden, the high-end food hall is home to vendors The Cinnamon Snail, Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, Mario by Mary, Lobster Press and The Little Beet. The space also includes an indoor dining lounge, an outdoor patio space and a full cocktail bar serving daily happy hour and new drink specials throughout the week. For more information visit thepennsy.nyc.

Queens Night Market: The large, family-friendly open-air night market in Queens features independent vendors selling merchandise, art and food that celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the borough. The market is located outside the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, and currently runs every Saturday through August 20^th. The market is open from 6:00 pm through Midnight. For a complete list of upcoming vendors visit queensnightmarket.com.

UrbanSpace Vanderbilt: Less than a five-minute walk from Grand Central Terminal, the Midtown food hall features over 20 artisanal and chef-driven food concepts, including notable Brooklyn pizza joint Roberta’s, popular doughnut chain Dough and the Red Hook Lobster Pound. Additional information can be found at urbanspacenyc.com.  

TurnStyle: Manhattan’s new underground food hall and retail space located in the Columbus Circle subway station holds over 30 small restaurants and shops, including Blossom du Jour, Bolivian Llama Party, Doughnuttery, Dylan’s Candy Bar, The Pizza and Yong Kang Street. A MetroCard is not required to gain access to the market. Visitors can enter at Columbus Circle or 57th Street and Eighth Avenue. Visit turn-style.com for the complete list of shops and restaurants. 

Upcoming in 2016: 
Eataly: The popular Italian marketplace, home to restaurants, food and beverage counters, a bakery, retail items and cooking classes is expected to open a 40,000-square-foot outpost at 4 World Trade Center later this year. Visit eataly.com for additional information.       
The Great Northern Food Hall: In early summer 2016, internationally acclaimed chef Claus Meyer will open a Nordic-inspired food hall inside Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall. The 5,000-square-foot space’s offerings will include baked goods, granola and Danish open-faced rye sandwiches called smørrebrød. For updates, visit grandcentralterminal.com. 

Gotham Market at The Ashland: Gotham West Market, the day and night dining destination in Hell’s Kitchen, will be opening a new location this fall inside The Ashland in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene. The 16,000-square-foot space will have a pop-up place for local chefs and restaurateurs, in addition to full-time food vendors like Apizza Regionale (Italian fare), Flip Bird (rotisserie chicken), Mu Ramen (bowls of noodles, burgers and Japanese snacks) and popular Midtown barbeque restaurant Mason Jar. Visit gothamwestmarket.com for more information. 

Upcoming in 2017:
Bourdain Market: American chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain will be opening a 155,000-square-foot international food market on Manhattan’s Pier 57 in 2017, which would make it the largest food hall in New York City. Complete details have not been announced, although the space will reportedly feature over 100 vendors from around the globe. For more information visit bourdainmarket.com.

Empire Outlets Marketplace (MRKTPL): Scheduled to open in November 2017, Empire Outlets will become New York City’s first shopping outlet, located in Staten Island’s waterfront St. George district and featuring 100 shops of the finest brands. Within the complex, an innovative artisanal food market, called Marketplace (MRKTPL), will showcase the best local and international purveyors. It will be Staten Island’s first artisanal food hall. Visit empireoutletsnyc.com for more information.

Upcoming in 2018: 
The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards: When open in 2018, the Restaurant Collection at Hudson Yards will feature 12 luxury restaurants, including a steakhouse and American grill by chef Thomas Keller. The final 10 restaurants have not been confirmed, although Spanish chef José Andrés and Greek seafood chef Costas Spiliadis will reportedly be adding outposts to the collection. For updates visit hudsonyardsnewyork.com. 

for more information see www.nycgo.com

Classic Collection Holidays have some lovely villas with great value in Europe this summer!

  Luxury Villas and Larger Apartments

To compliment the large selection of 4 and 5 star hotels on offer from Classic Collection Holidays the luxury tailor made specialist now has a range of specially selected villas and larger apartments available throughout the summer and winter seasons in a range of different destinations.  

The villas and apartments featured by Classic provide exclusivity for small groups of friends or family looking to holiday together whilst still having their own privacy. With a range of properties on offer that covers everything from 1 bedroom villas right up to stand alone 5 bedroom villas with private pool, you will definitely find something to suit your taste with Classic. A villa holiday allows you the flexibility to do your own thing on holiday or, if having the facilities of a hotel close by are more to your liking, select one of the villas within a hotel complex.

Algarve Portugal

The range of destinations on offer from Classic includes Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Greece and Cyprus. In Spain, as well as offering the ever popular Costa del Sol, both Majorca and Tenerife are featured. Portugal’s Algarve coast is always popular, and here Classic has a wide range of villas to choose from. The island of Madeira is becoming more popular with Irish holidaymakers and is also available this summer.

Crete

Crete and Rhodes from the Classic Greek programme have an extensive range of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas to suit all tastes and budgets. Because Classic tailor make each and every holiday you can choose any departure date from any Irish airport and decide on the length of stay that suits you. 

All Classic Collection Holidays prices include flights, accommodation, private transfers and complimentary access to the Executive Lounge at Dublin Airport. Holidays are available from any Airport on any day for any duration.

For more details on these and many more offers contact your local travel agent or contact Classic Collection Holidays on 01 5413000 or visit www.classic-collection.ie  

Getting married next year? Check out The InterContinental in Dublin

‘SAY I DO’ AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL DUBLIN WEDDING OPEN DAY

SUNDAY 26 JUNE, 2016 FROM 1.00PM – 5.00PM

InterContinental Dublin, Ireland's finest Five Star Hotel (formerly Four Seasons Hotel), renowned for its timeless elegance and contemporary style, located in Ballsbridge, an unrivalled location for a city resort wedding, is delighted to announce its first Wedding Open Day on Sunday 26 June, 2016; from 1.00pm - 5.00pm,  since completing refurbishments of its luxurious Ballrooms.

The InterContinental Dublin Wedding Open Day is the event to attend for the most fashionable wedding couples looking to plan a celebration that is truly unforgettable with expert assistance from InterContinental Dublin’s own expert team of Wedding Specialists.

Prospective couples will get a glimpse into the top-tier services the Hotel has to offer and will be among the first to see its newly refurbished Ballrooms and event spaces. InterContinental Dublin is the only Five Star Hotel in the city to offer a choice of two Ballrooms - all luxuriously decorated with gold and muted elegant tones flowing onto beautifully landscaped Terrace and Inner Courtyard Garden.

Enjoy champagne and delicious canapés on arrival where couples will be invited to a private consultation of its stylish spaces featuring sets from formal, to informal, showcasing the huge flexibility that its wedding spaces can offer for a bespoke wedding whether you are looking for formal or informal celebrations.

Couples are invited to register for a personal invitation to confirm a private consultation on the day with one of its expert wedding specialists.

To request an invitation, please email weddings@icdublin.com 

We are heading to Cuba this #TravelTuesday on TV3's Midday

Cuba is probably my favourite place on earth. It has a vibe that is different to the other Caribbean Islands, and left such an impression on me after my first visit ten years ago that I set my third novel there. One Kiss in Havana was such fun to write because as I took my characters back to the places that I had visited, I relived my own holiday all over again.

The town of Holguin

Here's the link to my feature from the Irish Mail on Sunday about my return trip to Cuba last year Cuba article - Irish Mail on Sunday May 2015

I never thought I'd sit on a Cow!

One of the quaintest towns that we passed through was Cojimar and This is the place where Hemingway used to go to fish and found inspiration for The Old Man and the Sea. The bar where he used to drink, La Terraza, is still going strong. From Havana in the north-west to Santiago de Cuba in the south-east, this country has some of the warmest kindest people that I've had the pleasure to meet.
Of course there are also the white sandy beaches, salsa rhythms and Havana Club Rum - once you've had your first Havana Club mojito you won't want it made with any other rum. Tourism is crucial for the Cuban economy and the government are very aware of this since the American embargo was imposed.

Nao paladeras in Old Havana

However, since Raul Castro introduced free enterprise, I noticed a huge change on my return visit to Havana last year. Locals have set up their own cab companies and they are the most amicable, happy taxi drivers you will find in the world. Do chug along in one of the vintage 1950's cars that take visitors to the old town. The locals have opened their homes to even more paladeras, restaurants and B&Bs with the best food to be found and wonderful hospitality.

So yes, be sure to see the Hotel Nacional and the Bodegita Del Medio where Hemingway went to drink his mojitos. But the real Havana is found all around in the streets and bars. The transition is coming but like everything else in Cuba, it won't happen quickly

I've put together some Special Offers  to Cuba from various operators to entice you!

Tour America have a great deal for a family holiday

10 nights in Cuba from only €1359pp! Price Includes: Return Flights to Havana with Virgin Atlantic - all taxes and charges includedPrivate Return Airport Transfers10 nights Hotel Accommodation in the 4* Iberostar Taino Based on two adults and two children sharingTravel 10th October 2016Reference 515968Call 01-8173562www.touramerica.ie 

Sunway Travel
For reservations contact Sunway on 01-2311800 or book online on www.Sunway.ie

G Adventure Cuba Tours:

In the Ambua Mundos hotel where Hemingway lived. His room is as he left it

Cuba Libre

8 days from €1779pp

Walking through the pincushion hills, wandering amongst orchids and lush mountain coffee plantations—see another side of the island on this week-long tour through the ‘Garden Province’ of Cuba. Tour a tobacco plantation, snorkel crystal-clear waters full of colourful coral and search for the pirates of lore along the Guanahacabibes Peninsula. Soak up local culture in a homestay for an immersive experience that travellers rarely get to know. Let our experienced CEO lead you off the beaten path and discover the cultural treasures of Cuba.

Outside La Terraza in Cojimar

Visit: Havana, Viñales, María la Gorda, Las Terrazas,

Highlights:

·         Cigar factory tour (Pinar del Rio)

·         Cabo San Antonio excursion including Roncalí Lighthouse

·         Beach time (María La Gorda)

·         Las Terrazas visit

·         Havana orientation walk

·         All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Whats included:

Flights from Ireland to Havana

Accommodations: Hotels (4 nts), casa particulars (homestay) (3 nts).

Meals: 7 breakfasts. Allow USD285-370 for meals not included.

Transportation: Private van.

Staff & experts: Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

Including Cuban Visa

 

Cuban Music

Cuba Colonial

15 days from €2329pp

The melody of horns floating through the air, classic cars parked in colonial squares, revolutionary statues—get over the resort wall and discover the real Cuba! Travel east to Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa and encounter the birthplace of Cuban rhythms and revolutionary fervour. Soak in Spanish heritage while exploring churches, forts and cobblestoned streets. Overnight in homestays for an immersive Cuban experience few travellers get to enjoy. Don't just walk down the road less travelled—dance down it. Viva la Revolución!

On the balcony in Santiago de Cuba where the revolution was declared in 1961

Visit: Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Camagüey, Trinidad, Santa Clara

Highlights:

·         Castillo del Morro entrance and visit

·         Santiago de Cuba orientation walk

·         Trinidad orientation walk

·         Salsa lesson

·         Che Guevara mausoleum and museum visit

·         Old Havana walking tour

·         Internal flight

·         All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

What’s included:

Flights from Ireland to Havana

Accommodations: Hotels (2 nts), casa particulars (homestay) (12 nts).

Meals: 12 breakfasts, 1 dinner. Allow USD410-535 for meals not included.

Transportation: Private van, plane, walking.

Staff & experts: Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

Including Cuban Visa

Cuba – 5* Honeymoon

Flights from Dublin, Taxes

Transfers from Havana by Road to Varadero

7 Night Accommodation at the 5* Paradisus Princesa del Mar

All Inclusive is €1659pp

Including Cuban Visa

Departs: 13^th September

I had such a great time at the Princessa del Mar that I sent my characters there
in my novel One Kiss in Havana - lovely honeymoon hotel too!

From September this year American Airlines will have flights operating into Varadero so depending on the time of year, we’ll be able to fly passengers Ex Dublin or Shannon say into Charlotte and onto Varadero, knocking out Havana and that road transfer. However, part of the charm of Cuba is really seeing Havana so doing a twin centre is easily done, say 2/3 nights in Havana and then 5/6 nights down in Varadero

Trailfinders have cycling tours for the more adventurous.

For more information call

Dublin Travel Centre: 01  677 7888

Cork Travel Centre: 021 464 8800

Limerick Travel Centre: 061 292 700

 Cuban Highlights Ride, 7 nights, February 2017, from €2499 pp

Don your Lycra and pump up the tyre with a Trailfinders cycling holiday! This ride through Cuba will allow you to get off the beaten track, access areas where vehicles dare not venture and immerse yourself in the stunning scenery and friendly culture. On this adventure experience Central Cuba’s most cultural and historically rich cities, including Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and the Bay of Pigs.

Cycle along the spectacular Bay of Pigs, through fascinating cities and beautiful countryside as you enjoy the breathtaking scenery, the colourful people and get to know the history of this remarkable country. With a variety of terrains and tracks, the Cuban countryside is a cycle-lover’s paradise. This trip will allow you to travel back in time and experience the authentic daily life of Cuba’s rural inhabitants. 

This vibrant Caribbean island is full of contrasts, from beautiful beaches and tropical sun to crumbling but opulent architecture, cigar-smoking Cubans who groove to salsa beats in the streets, and a revolutionary history of both triumph and oppression.  This active cycling adventure will allow you to explore a side of this island few get to know.

Price includes: return flights to Havana with Virgin Atlantic, 7 nights hotels, experienced tour leader throughout & support vehicle, all breakfasts, 4 lunches & 3 dinners, bike hire and Cuban Tourist Card.

Epic new tourist attraction in Dublin

Epic Visitor Museum at CHQ Building Custom House Quay

Open 7 days per week 9am-6pm

There's an Epic new attraction in the CHQ described as Dublin's newest immersive visitor museum. I brought along two pre-teens, to see how Ireland's Diaspora changed the world, and was surprised and impressed at how the interactive displays kept them busy.

Getting passports at emigration

On entering the fully accessible building, we were handed our passports, which instantly gave the girls something to do. The adults seemed just as amused with the task of stamping their passports as they completed each section of the exhibition.

Stamping passports as we passed through the museum

The ambience and initial imagery is unmistakably celtic, and I did wonder if this was going to be fun for the kids, Our island's tragic history makes gloomy reading and the story of emigration even more downbeat and ever cyclical. However, the constant stamping got the kids through the initial horrors of famine, destitution and poverty without determent, and the girls had their phones out from the initial display. Using their cameras and social media is as much a part of an experience for this generation as the exhibits, and because the displays became more fun and interactive as we passed through each section the girls stayed longer to find out more.

The layout of the exhibition is cavernous which neatly blocks the themes of music, arts, sport and literature into tidy separate sections that are easy to navigate.

I was especially impressed by the books in the literature rooms which recounted tales from various classic novels when pulled from the shelf. The guides were especially helpful in this part of the museum and eager to show off the novelties.

Those Diaspora who had achieved acclaim on the silver and small screens were recorded especially well and I was so engrossed that I lost the girls at that stage. They were more amused by the sports room and found a place to make better use of snapchat and instagram.

The images taking me through Italia 90 made me quite reminiscent of our innocence as a nation and I was even emotional watching the pope in the Pheonix Park in 1979. Although, I'd imagine the JFK speech will impact largely with the American Visitors to the museum.

The girls were getting into the swing of the museum by the time we reached the sport room

I was genuinely astonished to see the Irish Diaspora's contribution to science and astronomy and this particular display was the most innovative with fluorescent light effects.

The room of notorious Irish was possibly the most fun for the girls and they were educated about historical facts while they partook in the interactive quiz. I have to admit that I danced around from option A to B a couple of times myself. Every bit of space is used with the displays in all the rooms making the floors, walls and free standing surfaces equally interesting and informative.

It was nice to see one of my classmates from my old alma mater, the NCAD in Thomas Street, getting a display to himself beside the likes of Francis Bacon and Eileen Gray.

We did spend over an hour at the museum which made the entry fee of €16 for adults and €8 for kids good value.

With plenty of opportunities to see their names in lights the girls got involved with the personalised postcards and twitter feeds. If you do visit this summer be sure to use the hastag #epicireland to see your tweet in lights. Some heavyweight social media experts like @tedrubin have been to visit here already! It's good to see a top quality attraction like this in Dublin. With the range of healthy eating options upstairs at the CHQ I really hope that visitors are directed to this attraction this summer and it will put in an interesting afternoon for those living in Dublin or visiting from the rest of Ireland too.

Win two nights at Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel to celebrate their 40th!

TAKE A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH KILLYHEVLIN LAKESIDE HOTEL

ONE of Fermanagh’s leading hotels, the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, they are asking people from all over Ireland to send them any photos they may have and details of any special memories which are linked to the hotel.

The nostalgic memorabilia will go towards helping create a ‘Memory Wall’ in the hotel reception area where visitors can look through all the many photos of weddings, birthday parties and other unforgettable gatherings.

This display will be ‘one of a kind for the hotel’ explained Jacqueline Wright, Director of the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel.

“We want people across Ireland to search through their old photo albums and scrap books and see if they can uncover some hidden gems capturing the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel during its 40 year history.  I’m sure there will be some beautiful photos out there as well as some really interesting ones and we can’t wait to see them!

“We have had thousands of weddings take place in the hotel over the years and would be delighted to be reminded of these as well as any engagement pics, parties or even images of someone who just had a really enjoyable meal or night with their family. As our history spans four decades we know there must be some really terrific stories to tell.

“Don’t forget to include your contact details on your submission as everyone who sends us something will automatically be entered into a draw to win a weekend break for two at the hotel! This should be the perfect way to relive some of those amazing memories,” added Jacqueline.

If you would like your photo to be part of the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel Memory Wall then please email a copy of your photo or favourite memory from the hotel to 40@killyhevlin.com

You can also share your memories on social media using the hashtag #Killyhevlin40.

For more information on the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel or to book a stay go to www.killyhevlin.com or call 048 6632 3481.  Find out more at www.facebook.com/Killyhevlin and on twitter @killyhevlin