Congrats, Tampa Bay. The awards keep rolling in. Tripadvisor named St. Petersburg the No. 2 top trending destination for travelers in the United States, just behind Napa, California.
Missing winter?
Head to the Alps, where Rupert Longsdon, CEO of Oxford Ski Company, organizes luxury ski vacations in Europe that include a personal ski butler. These qualified ski instructors spend all day on the slopes with you, strategizing the best place for lunch to the most desirable slopes, high-altitude museums, viewing platforms and sky-high bars. Sign me up!
Embrace Relaxation
The top travel trends for 2024 call for more relaxation. Embrace the culture and simple beauty of South Carolina’s Lowcountry at the five-star Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton. The resort’s Well Living programs inspire guests to focus on a life well lived, including healing the mind, body and soul. How about a full moon kayak tour under the stars?
Kentucky Derby time
Join the fun in Louisville for the 150th renewal of the “greatest two minutes in sports” on May 4. This year, the Kentucky Derby purse has been elevated to $5 million. Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith will join Sports Illustrated magazine at the Derby as the publication celebrates the official opening of Club SI. Patti Reeves used to live in Tampa and loves the event (her horse, Mucho Macho Man, finished third in 2011). She recommends dining at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse and sleeping at the Omni Louisville Hotel, where you can mingle with the horse owners, enjoy the rooftop pool and relax at the Mokara Spa.
Music Celebrations
Summers sizzle in Newport, Rhode Island, also known as the sailing capital of the world and the home of opulent mansions from the Gilded Age. The 65th annual Newport Folk Festival is July 26-28. Plan to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival Aug. 2-4. The luxurious waterfront Castle Hill Inn, built in 1875, is a prestigious Relais & Châteaux property. Overlook Narragansett Bay, watch the sailboats and dream of the ultimate bucket-list trip for sailors: the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup taking place in Barcelona between August and October. In town, sample the best lobsters and clam chowder at the award-winning Clarke Cooke House and The Black Pearl restaurants on Bannister’s Wharf.
