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Kansas City Zoo
Tony Rinaldo , Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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Lee Van Grack
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A great place to go in downtown Portland with tweens is Powell's Books (1005 West Burnside St., Portland, OR 97209; 503-228-4651). Powell's is an institution in Portland -- a new and used book store that takes up a whole city block and has books of every genre, including rare and valuable ones. There is a great pizza place called Rocco's Pizza (949 SW Oak Portland, OR 97209; 503-223-9835) right across the street.
The nightlife scene in Portland is mostly pub related, which isn't particularly tween friendly. But the Lloyd Center (201 Lloyd Center Portland, OR 97232; 503-282-2511) in the North Portland Lloyd district, offers plenty of activities for families with tweens, with a food court, movie theaters, stores -- and an ice rink. A great end to your perfect day in Portland with tweens.
trekkyandy, flickr
Julie Larsen Maher, WCS
Spring is the perfect time of year to take a trip to the zoo, and it has nothing to do with the weather. Between March and June, zoos all over the continent will be debuting baby animals to the public for the first time. Besides giraffes and elephants, rare and endangered species like Bornean orangutans, African cheetahs, and Malayan tapirs will be coming out to play. So forget that African safari-stay closer to home and still get a peak at how animals on the Savanna deal with rambunctious youngsters. Here are our picks for the 10 cutest new arrivals in North America.
It's been a busy season at this Wildlife Conservation Society park, where you can see tots of all sizes-from sea lions to big cats-this spring and summer. Now on exhibit in the Congo Gorilla Forest area is a colorful and chatty baby Wolf's Guenon monkey that was born in December 2009 to parents Jordan and Gigi. Also be sure to check out the colony of teeny Kihansi Spray Toads that debuted in February. The reptile was almost made extinct when a recent dam was built in Tanzania, but thankfully, the colony that moved to the zoo is thriving. You may need to bring a magnifying glass-the newborn toads are smaller than the head of a Q-tip.
www.bronxzoo.com
At 2 a.m. on Valentine's Day, the San Diego Zoo's 13-member African elephant herd announced the arrival of a newborn male calf with triumphant trumpeting that could be heard all around the park. The baby elephant isn't the only new addition: A baby Malayan tapir named Tembikai is also a part of the family at the San Diego Zoo. The adorable snouted mammal, whose name means watermelon in Malay, weighed 13 pounds at birth. Mom and baby will finally meet the public this spring.
www.sandiegozoo.org
It was a happy day on March 1 when a new baby bonobo ape entered the world (staff and volunteers kept a respectful distance but monitored the event via surveillance camera). The little tyke, the fourth child of mother Susie, is the 11th offspring since the zoo received its first bonobos in 1990. Fifteen of the country's 85 live at this zoo, which participates in the Species Survival Plan for the rare and endangered ape, which shares more than 98% of the same DNA as humans.
www.columbuszoo.org
Andean bear cubs don't leave the den until they are three months old, so the twins born here in January will make their long-awaited public debut in May or June. Newborn cubs weigh only up to 18 ounces at birth, and are usually hairless, toothless, and blind. At four-to-six weeks of age they finally open their eyes and begin taking steps. Anxious zoo-goers awaiting the chance to sneak a peek at the adorable duo don't have to wait that long-the zoo has added a special bear web camera to record their antics.
www.nationalzoo.si.edu
Three rare golden-red maned wolf pups-brothers Santiago and Diego, along with sister Cayenne-were born on Christmas Eve 2009 at this Denver institution, marking the first time since 1985 that the zoo has heard the pitter-patter of little wolf pup paws. All three can now be seen frolicking in the zoo's Feline Building. Also on display is an endangered Grevy's zebra, named Lakota, that was born in November 2009. Lakota is extremely shy and is usually found close by his mother, Topaz.
www.denverzoo.org
All eyes are on Miri, a17-year old Bornean orangutan that is part of the zoo's colony of Indonesian orangutans (the largest such group in North America). That's because she is expecting her second baby any day now, with a projected due date sometime in March or April (the gestation period ranges from 235- to 270-days). Miri's first offspring, Satu, is five years old and was the first Bornean orangutan born at Zoo Atlanta. Experts predict that without these targeted conservation efforts this endangered species could be extinct in as little as 10 years.
www.zooatlanta.org
A 130-pound, 5-foot-10-inch male Masai giraffe made a dramatic entry into the world in January, dropping six feet to the ground as his mother gave birth while standing up. After checking out the lanky not-so-little-one, head to the zoo's Gorilla Forest to get a glimpse of a baby girl born on February 6 to Mia Moja, a Western Lowland gorilla. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are only 100,000 western lowland gorillas left in the wild, making them a critically endangered species. A naming contest for both giraffe and gorilla is expected soon.
www.louisvillezoo.org
A newborn red-flanked duiker is now on exhibit with his mother in the zoo's Africa Rainforest area. The tiny duiker, which does not yet have a name, is part of the antelope species and will weigh just 20 to 26 pounds at full maturity. Mother duikers protect their calves from predators by hiding them in brush piles and only bring them out to nurse, so spotting the baby will be a game for visitors.
www.oregonzoo.org
This zoo, just minutes away from Minnesota's enormous Mall of America, is now home to a tiny female White-Cheeked Gibbon. The zoo's animal care staff is now nurturing the little one, since her mother has shown little interest since she was born. She weighed just 18 ounces at birth and is said to make sounds resembling Star Wars' R2-D2. Zookeepers organize twice-daily 30-minute family reunions in hopes that the mother, Tia, and father, Bailey, will begin to bond with their offspring. The long-armed ape, the first female born in North America since 2006, will make her public debut in the spring.
www.mnzoo.org
Relais La Suvera
If you like a side of history with your travel, you'll get it at these inns and hotels that all have an intriguing past. Some are as tame as a former convent while others have scandalous previous lives like, say, serving as the den of iniquity for an infamous Colombian drug lord. Renovations have transformed them all into visitor-friendly places with comfortable rooms that may distract from some dubious beginnings. But you can't completely wipe away the fingerprints of criminals or the memories of a Titanic survivor. So go ahead and book a stay at these 10 hotels and be transported back to dreamy Victorian days or dark medieval nights.
There are nine narrow suites housed inside these 100-year old railway cars that went out of passenger service in 1929. Black-and-white pics of the old Yountville station cover the walls like a mini-museum dedicated to the time of 20th century railroad barons. The cars sit along actual train tracks, but fear not, the only movement you'll feel is the spinning after one two many glasses of Napa' best vintages. Rooms are narrow, but wide enough to hold a king bed as well as a private sitting area and an ample-sized bathroom. Flat-screen TVs and free Internet access provide the entertainment.
707-944-2000; www.napavalleyrailwayinn.com
Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, amusingly-named one of Forbes' richest men in the world in 1989, was the owner of two three-story mansions on the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. Conscious aside, the man had taste, and this was party central for celebrities and gangsters alike who flitted around the massive property with the reckless abandon that the 80s were known for. Escobar died in 1993 and the buildings were abandoned until 1996 when nearby hotelier Melissa Perlman, of the eco-chic Amansala, began transforming it into an eight-room haven for the boho crowd. The super spacious suites with names like King Pin and King Big Daddy give a gentle nod to the past, but are now outfitted in cool, calm colors while the helipad Escobar once used for quick getaways is used for yoga sessions. And as a precautionary measure to rid the mansion of bad mojo, Perlman summoned Tibetan monk Palden Gyatso to bless the site.
www.casamagnatulum.com
Bostonians used to avoid this Beacon Hill building at all costs. That's because it was the Charles Street Jail, a lockup that held the city's most notorious criminals (Malcolm X was once a "guest"). But now it's the place to be seen since it was converted into the hottest spot for those in the know. Visitors check into one of the 298 former cells that were beautified with rose and taupe instead of dingy grey and have wrought-iron windows that let the light shine in. At night you can drink cocktails with names like Jesse James and Doing Thyme inside the brick walls of Alibi bar or order veal and ricotta sliders and striped bass at the Clink restaurant. But cute names aren't the only reference to the Liberty's beginnings. The jail's rotunda remains intact and is still lined with the catwalks formerly patrolled by officers. Unlike the past, service is top-notch. Ask for a nail file and no one will bat an eye.
617-224-4000; www.libertyhotel.com
Built in the Conquistador era, this 1651 building was constructed as a sanctuary for the Carmelite Sisters in Old San Juan. The convent had been a holy residence for more then two centuries when the last nun left in 1903. The building was then a dance hall and even a homeless shelter. In 1962 there was a divine intervention that turned this hideaway from the sins of mankind into a hotel where celebs like Rita Hayworth and George Hamilton fancied a stay. Today it is a luxury property with 58 rooms and a recently opened tapas bar offering small bites for those who love to eat but take their vows against gluttony very seriously.
800-468-2779; www.elconvento.com
Downtown Nashville's Union Station was considered a showpiece of Gothic Revival architecture when it opened in 1900 and drew the likes of Mae West and Al Capone to get a glimpse. The station's 65-foot vaulted lobby ceiling, Italian marble flooring, intricate Tiffany-style stained glass, and limestone fireplace are as impressive today as they were more than 100 years ago. The fifth-floor balcony offers a great view of the ornate lobby and guests can take a self-guided audio tour that details the station's history. And while the hiss of locomotives is long gone, the turn-of-the century elegance continues in the 137 rooms.
615-726-1001; www.unionstationhotelnashville.com
The 101-room Augustine is a regal pressence near Prague Castle in the city's historic Malá Strana district. The seven 13th century cloistered buildings were once home to monks of the St. Thomas Monastery (several practicing friars still live in a separate part of the complex). You won't find basic, spare quarters, though. Guestrooms feature accessories inspired by early 20th century Czech cubism like timber chairs. The glass-roofed restaurant is surrounded by 19th-century Baroque frescoes, but the place isn't at all puritanical. So don't feel guilty about downing a Pilsner Urquell at the cellar Brewery Bar. Once upon a time, monks fermented beer there for profit, so we're sure they'd give you their blessing today.
888-667-9477; www.theaugustine.com
Originally built in 1908 as the American Seaman's Friend Society Sailors' Home and Institute, this Georgian-style building was designed with cabin-like rooms, perhaps so the sailors would feel right at home. In 1912, the building was used to shelter Titanic survivors who lived there until the end of the investigation into the ship's sinking. The YMCA bought the hotel in 1944 and in the 80s and 90s it was a doss-house for the down-and-out. Restored in 2008, the revamped hotel is still a refuge, but now for smart travelers who appreciate the $99 and under rates. The 200 rooms duplicate ships quarters-space is sparse and calling the bed a berth wouldn't be an exaggeration. But the perks are big and include flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, and iPod docking stations, making up for the Jane's only drawback-communal bathrooms.
212-924-6700; www.thejanenyc.com
Sleeping inside an airplane has never been as comfortable as at the Vliegtuigsuite, a modern luxury room inside a Cold War-ear East German government plane at Amsterdam's Teuge Airport. Unlike that seat in coach, there's more than enough space here for two, and it's been rehabbed into a mega-suite with a king-sized bed, sauna, and a media center with three flat-screen TVs, WiFi, and a Blu-Ray player. A hostess is at your beck and call 24-hours a day should you need a midnight snack or cocktail. The bonus: unlike today's flights, if you want to go and hang out in the cockpit, it's all yours. After all, you are the captain of this fantastic voyage.
011-31-30-2210568; www.hotelsuites.nl
The ornate, 16th century private residence of Pope Julius II is set in the tranquil, olive-and-wine nirvana of Tuscany. From 1503 to 1513, this grandiose pope (the same one who commissioned Michaelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel) transformed his own residence into a decadent villa with paintings by Raphael. The home passed through various family ties and today Marquis Giuseppe Ricci Paracciani and his wife Princess Eleonora Massimo have made their home a country hotel filled with tapestries, canopied beds, and antique furniture. The simple décor is authentic to its medieval Middle Ages past, but the in-house spa offers hydromassage baths and local sea-salt scrubs that are in tune with 21st century pampering sensibilities.
011-39-0577-960300; www.lasuvera.it
Glenn Hotel
Looking for an alluring escape for you and someone special? Just in time for Valentine's Day, we're tempting you with a list of the top ten sexiest hotels across America. Travel review website TripAdvisor revealed the most seductive hideaways, a list based on the number of times real travelers used the term "sexy" in their candid hotel write-ups. From New York to Seattle, some are stylishly seductive while others are X-rated, but there's no doubt these are the most beddable hotels around.
Chicago, Illinois
Average Nightly Rate: $246
Starting out the list of America's Sexiest Hotels is the James Chicago, a luxury boutique hotel right off the Windy City's Magnificent Mile. The hotel's oversized rooms with dark wood platform beds and white leather furnishings ooze sex appeal. Create an unforgettable experience with the hotel's "Weekend for Two package," where you and your loved one can split a bottle of white champagne and feed each other white chocolates in a room strewn with white flowers. As an added bonus, the hotel throws in a spa "Feel the Love" amenity-what's inside is a surprise just for the two of you!
Romance Review: "Nice big sexy boutique-style rooms."
www.jameshotels.com
55 East Ontario
Chicago, IL 60611
312-337-1000
New York, New York
Average Nightly Rate: $338
Steps away from the New York Public Library, this concept hotel provides all travelers with a thought provoking experience-every floor is dedicated to one of the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System. Since each room comes with a unique theme, book lovers should check out room 800.001, the Erotic Literature Room, or room 1100.006, the Love Room. Add to that the "Erotica Package," and you'll be writing your own love story: the bundle features a chilled bottle of wine, a dozen red roses, strawberries and whipped cream, erotic dice, and two plush bath robes-all of which you can take home. You and your lover will be speaking volumes about the experience for years to come!
Romance Review: "We had the erotic literature room and were surprised by the quality of books that we found."
www.libraryhotel.com
299 Madison Avenue & E 41st St
New York, NY 10017
212-983-4500
Atlanta, Georgia
Average Nightly Rate: $253
Located in the center of Downtown Atlanta, the Glenn Hotel's chic rooftop lounge is a must-stop for you and your sweetie to grab a cocktail. Inside your bedroom, you'll find plenty of amenities to get you in the mood: a rain flow shower head, plush bath linens, a pillow top mattress, and even a peek-a-boo window into the shower. The hotel also has a roundup of sexy add-ons, ranging from a bottle of champagne and batch of "love cookies" upon arrival to an adult "novelty" turn down that is guaranteed to turn you on instead of turn you down.
Romance Review: "I loved the little window from the bathroom into the bedroom: this is definitely a great hotel for young couples, or for older couples who want to feel young again!"
www.glennhotel.com
110 Marietta St NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
866-40GLENN
New York, New York
Average Nightly Rate: $393
One night at the Hotel on Rivington might change your outlook. Here, each room features floor-to-ceiling windows, meaning you don't even have to step out of your Tempur-Pedic Swedish bed to take in an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline. Even the shower comes with a view, and rooms on floors three through eight feature Japanese soaking tubs. The bedroom areas, furnished by Paris-based designer India Mahdavi, include velvet sofas and chairs, Frette linens, and Italian Bisazza tile floors.
Romance Review: "From the unconventional layout, to the glass curtain walling, to the voyeuristic shower walls, everything about this place screams hedonistic pleasure."
www.hotelonrivinton.com
107 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
212-475-2600
Miami, Florida
Average Nightly Rate: $826
This oceanfront resort in South Beach is as serene and seductive as it gets. The Asian-influenced design features rainfall showers, mood lighting, and black granite baths. Get cozy with your lover in a secluded beachside sitting area or sunken pod in the hotel's outdoor courtyard. Or, immerse yourself in the "Couple's Love Ceremony" at the spa, where you and someone special can share a candlelit terrazzo bath filled with rose petals and Love Potion. At $826 a night, the price for a room is pretty steep-but there's no doubt the Setai promises you more bang for your buck!
Romance Review: "It is by far the ideal hotel in South Beach to stay at if you want peace, tranquility along with luxury and a trendy scene."
www.setai.com
2001 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-520-6402
Las Vegas, Nevada
Average Nightly Rate: $197
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is turning up the heat in Sin City. The entire hotel is decked out in red-hot sexy décor, but in your guestroom you're invited to get steamy in a walk-in rain shower or roll around in an extra comfy, oversized sleigh bed. As if that's not hot enough already, the hotel's room service menu allows you to order lingerie and other between-the-sheets accessories.
Romance Review: "Don't bring kids... The mood is sexy and friendly and the music makes it a party atmosphere at all times."
www.hardrockhotel.com
4455 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89169
702-693-5000
Portland, Oregon
Average Nightly Rate: $156
A "Stay and Be Calm" sign sits outside this laid back, romantic Portland hotel. According to a spokeswoman from Hotel Lucia, the hotel's red rooms "have been proven to escalate ones sexual desires" and "many children have been conceived here." Keep the night exciting any day of the year with their "Kiss This" guest package, a Kama Sutra Kit with champagne, chocolates, massage oils and dusting powders. Plus, their custom-made pillow top mattresses will leave you feeling satisfied in more ways than one!
Romance Review: "My boyfriend and I had the most incredible night at Hotel Lucia! He was coming to town for a visit from Los Angeles and I wanted to a chance to show him the sexy side of Portland."
www.hotellucia.com
400 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
503-225-1717
Washington, DC
Average Nightly Rate: $346
Couples don't need to use Valentines Day as an excuse to indulge in some sexy-time at Hotel Palomar-this sexy hotel's year-round "Art of Celebrating Romance" package includes a private couple's massage, champagne, strawberries, room service vouchers, and even a body paint set. Every night from 5-6 guests can rendezvous in the hotel lobby for complimentary candlelit wine, and leopard print robes come standard in every closet. The hotel also features nine spa suites where you can share the love in a Fuji soaking tub for two.
Romance Review: "The Hotel Palomar is great for a sexy tryst or rendezvous."
www.hotelpalomar-dc.com
2121 P Street NW
Washington, DC
202-448-1800
Seattle, Washington
Average Nightly Rate: $167
This swanky crash pad in the heart of Seattle is the runner-up sexiest hotel, and here is just one reason why: the mini bar comes with a "Climax Box" that includes glow in the dark naughty dice and a tickling feather. Art lovers flock to the hotel, too, which adorns its walls with contemporary pieces by local Seattle artists. The telephone comes with a "You Got It" button, and their restaurant, Red Fin, offers 24-hour room service. For Valentines Day, the hotel has designed a red-hot romantic getaway package, complete with red rose petals, red candles, red velvet cupcakes, and red wine. Couples can also choose an in room movie-it's up to you whether you choose a flick that's naughty or nice.
Romance Review: "The Hotel Max came through in a pinch when I was looking for a quick one night romantic get away in my own city."
www.hotelmaxseattle.com
620 Stewart Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206-728-6299
Hawaii's budget took a blow last year, due largely to a lack of visitors. Tourism is Hawaii's primary source of income, with nearly three-quarters of all jobs directly impacted by tourists, and last year the state saw traveler's hesitation with shorter and fewer stays. The good news? Hotels are willing to wheel and deal just to have bodies in the beds, making Hawaii's financial woes translate into major savings for savvy travelers. Some hotels are hoping you'll extend your stay, by offering a fifth night free, while others, like Waikiki's Aqua Resorts, have rooms for as little as $60/night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
Budget carrier JetBlue announced service to Montego Bay this winter from Boston, New York, and Orlando. You can jet to the second largest city in Jamaica for as little as $119 each way if you book now for the Spring, Those looking to hit the duty free shops and tropical shores during the day and find a budget place to rest their head at night can book a room at the Caribic House for as low as $25 a night-just cross your fingers for a 3rd floor room so you can still catch a glimpse of the beach.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
Last year marked the worst recession in Singapore's usually-affluent 44-year history, making the country rely more than ever on tourism. To help bolster their economy, hotels have lowered their prices, making luxury suites more in reach to those with smaller budgets. With all that money you save, you can seek out some of Singapore's best known experiences, shopping at famous destinations like Orchard Road or Marina Square. Thanks to a promotion running all year, stay at the prestigious Goodwood Park Hotel, noted as one of the best hotels in Asia, and a landmark on its own, for as little as $110/night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
With the Atlantic Ocean on the West and Irish Sea to the east, no point on Ireland is more than 30 miles from the ocean. In Dublin, tourists could spend days traipsing through the country's many museums, cathedrals, and parks, only takings breaks to eat up deliciously fresh seafood. Even better, they can do it all on the cheap: the hospitality industry is luring travelers with discounted rates and special offers, like the Ardmore Hotel, a three star hotel offering rooms for as low as $65 per night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
Last year Iceland was faced with a financial crisis, making the US exchange rate with the krona nearly three times more favorable than the year before. Travelers will be able to find meals and hotels for almost half the price they were just a few years ago, giving travelers the chance to see the Northern Lights, and the country, without having to break the bank. Stay at the Hotel Plaza, located in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, for only $50/night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
Adventurers aren't the only ones who enjoy Costa Rica's tropical beaches and dense rainforest, the Central American country is actually one of the world's most popular destinations for eco-tourists because of its biodiversity of tropical plants and animals. There are plenty of travel deals to be snagged up, too, including a deluxe room with an open-sky shower and hammock at Beijaflor Resort for just $99 a night. Those who are looking to stay in the thick of things can rent a jungle bungalow at the Hotel Kasha for just $50 per person, per night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
Sin City was hit hard last year when conventions, which fuel its economy, dropped off by 26 percent. The convention cut-backs, and empty hotel rooms that ensued, made the average nightly rate plummet to under $100. On top of all of that, the city has seen major expansions lately, with the opening of the multi-billion dollar CityCenter, and room add-ons to the Golden Nugget and Hard Rock Hotel. Fewer visitors, added to more inventory, results in big savings, and a chance to stay in a luxe room you might otherwise not be able to afford. Stay at one of the largest hotels in the world, the MGM Grand, for as little as $53/night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism just reported that the country sustained no damage in the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12th that devastated Haiti, the other country on the western side of the island of Hispaniola. All eight of the Caribbean country's airports, seaports, and resorts are open for business, and prices on airfare and hotel rooms are expected to drop in 2010-especially when peak season ends in April. A decent meal in Santo Domingo, the first European City in the New World, can easily be found for less than $8 and the Quality Hotel Real Aeuropuerto Santo Domingo has rooms between $80 and $140 per night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
The dollar is gaining momentum, making exchange rates to the Mexican peso that much more favorable. Additionally, Mexico is still recovering from the swine flu scare, and the recession, which both hurt the country's tourism. Many locations throughout the country have responded by slashing hotel rates, and including perks, like free massages and gift certificates, to lure travelers back. Airfare has even become more affordable as more and more flight itineraries include destinations in Mexico. While deals abound all over Mexico, stay sea-side, at the Emporio Acapulco, for only $85/night.
Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2010
Magestic Mount Hood is the backdrop to Portland, a locale known as the most environmentally friendly city in the United States and the microbrewery capital of the world. If you've ever had an inkling to explore Portland's quirky neighborhoods or browse art galleries in the Pearl District (free the first Thursday of every month), now is the time. The city has added more than 900 downtown hotel rooms in the past three years, and budget carriers JetBlue and Southwest serve the city. Even hip Hotel Lucia-a four star establishment-has rooms available for as low as $100 a night. If you're looking for something offbeat to do for just $5, stop by the city's "Velveteria," a museum with over 2,000 velvet masterpieces, but hurry-it's closing soon.
Corbis
An unexplained chill abruptly descends. A weeping lady in white appears then vanishes. Objects float across the room.
Hundreds of lodgings from grand resorts to intimate B&Bs swear the dead make themselves at home like their living guests. Many allegedly haunted hotels happily market their spectral residents to eager ghost hunters; others fear publicity will scare away customers.
While hauntings are controversial and nearly impossible to prove, the hotels on the following pages are all well-known for "mysterious" happenings. In this case, we've restricted our choices to benign, Casper-like ghosts. No desecrated Native American burial sites à la Poltergeist or Amityville Horror shows: We want to ensure you fall into a dead sleep and check out the right way.
Keep reading to find out which two hotels inspired Stephen King novels, where Marilyn Monroe reportedly "hangs out," and where the ghost of a small boy is said to steal golf balls.
This Hollywood landmark, which hosted the first Academy Awards presentation, opened in 1927 and immediately became a celebrity haunt, luring luminaries like Chaplin, Fairbanks, Swanson and later Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Cary Grant. Since its 2005 makeover by decorator-to-the-stars Dodd Mitchell, current cavorters include Kirsten Dunst, Eva Longoria, and Prince. No surprise that spectral superstars, including Marilyn Monroe (who lived here for two years during her early modeling career), seek the spotlight. Supposedly her spirit floats around the VIP Tropicana poolside lounge; guests have also reported seeing her reflection in the full-length mirror from her original suite, which sometimes sits near the gift shop, as well as a voluptuous blonde dancing in the ballroom. Another restless resident, Montgomery Clift, occupied room 928 while filming From Here to Eternity. It's said the strains of his bungled bugling (practicing for the movie) resonate in the hallways.
This sumptuous Art Deco ocean liner sailed the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967, before being permanently berthed in Long Beach. The ship, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been a filming location for maritime adventures from the original Poseidon Adventure to Pearl Harbor. Sections were gutted to expand the museum and add themed restaurants, a theater, and guestrooms (recently modernized with iPod docking stations and LCD TVs). At least 50 former crew members and passengers met an untimely demise during its thousand-plus Atlantic crossings (not including possible WWII casualties while it served as a POW transport). Oddly apparitions weren't reported until after its retirement. People hear infants crying in the nursery (the original third-class playroom), while the first-class swimming pool sightings include a little girl named Jackie and women in vintage swimsuits; wet footprints and splashing sounds allegedly appear though the pool is drained. A watertight engine room door crushed engineer John Pedder during a 1966 fire drill; he supposedly still cruises the area.
This exclusive, yet relaxed, Adirondacks summer retreat debuted in 1883, fell into disrepair a century later, and eventually was restored to its original glory. Today is on the National Register of Historic Places and is popular among present guests and, reportedly, among "former" guests, including a mysterious lady in white who rouses sleepers with her chilly breath, a couple who argues violently through the fine-dining Trillium, and a portly walrus-mustachioed man dubbed Walter by employees who "bump" into him in the elevator. Supposedly a stately blonde in white evening dress rebuked then walked through a sous-chef at Mr. Brown's, a resort restaurant (the chef promptly resigned). Golfers also claim to see a boy in 1950s attire struck on the golf course. Legend has it that he was hit by a car while he chased golf balls for resale to the pro shop. Today he spirits away your balls and flings them from behind a tree while giggling.
Another member of Historic Hotels of America, this 1925 Federal-style, brick hostelry faces site of the infamous 17th-century witch trials (it was also the hotel that starred in the film Ghost Hunters). Some parapsychologists believe former witch victims may reside here, including the first person executed, orchard owner Bridget Bishop, who is believed to be responsible for the aroma of apples often permeates the hotel. Guests also claim a woman paces the sixth floor, pausing to pine at room 612. The front desk has also received complaints about suite 325-it seems that ghostly "strangers" use the bathroom in this room (indeed closing the door modestly) with running water, lights turning on, and flushing toilet.
A National Historic Landmark, Hotel del Coronado is best known as the hotel where the film Some Like It Hot was shot. Named "one of the top ten resorts in the world" by USA Today, The Del has hosted newsmakers from Edison, Lindbergh, and Babe Ruth to every president since LBJ. It ostensibly inspired Stephen King's novel 1408, which is based on parapsychologist Christopher Chacon's investigation of a famously haunted room, 302 (now 3327). It was in this room that lonely, lovelorn, 20-something Kate Morgan was found dead several days after checking in under an alias in1892. Kate claimed she was waiting for her brother, but it was really her reprobate estranged husband (some believe he murdered her, though the coroner's inquest ruled suicide). Hotel guests and employees have reported flickering lights and TVs, floating objects, strange sounds from footsteps to voices, sudden chill spots, and mystifying breezes. Her apparition (in black lace Victorian garb) and antics occur throughout the grounds, often at the Established 1888 gift shop.
On the National Register of Historic Places, this Victorian charmer welcomed such VIPs as Robert E. Lee, Ulysses Grant, Oscar Wilde, Dwight Eisenhower, Mae West, and Babe Ruth. The owners seem equally proud as haunted hosts to 32 ghosts. "Teddy" Roosevelt recruited several Rough Riders over drinks here in 1898 to fight in the Spanish-American War and he supposedly continues to imbibe beverages here in the cozy dark bar off the lobby. After arguing with her jealous husband, chambermaid Sallie White stayed overnight. She died two days after her husband's brutal March 28, 1876 assault; the Menger paid the $32 funeral cost. Sallie still wanders the Victorian wing halls, carrying towels but ignoring housekeeping requests. Richard King, owner of the famed King Ranch, died in his private suite here and supposedly walks through walls. Staffers report hearing heavy footsteps only to find a pair of army boots by the door: The hotel was constructed 23 years after the adjacent Alamo fell, prompting speculation that soldiers haunt the land. Interactive entities range from a buckskin-clad cowboy to a woman knitting, while utensils float around the kitchen and restaurant.
War often evokes bloody phenomena: The spirit of Gettysburg lives on in this 1797 handsome historic hostelry. At one time, the Cashtown Inn served as Confederate General A.P. Hill's headquarters and triage center for the wounded-some of whom may not have departed. The inn's brochure reproduces an 1895 photo that purportedly caught the apparition of a Confederate soldier standing on the front porch. The entity is particularly active during summer (Gettysburg raged from July 1-3), prowling the attic and halls, rapping on room 4's door, even mischievously appearing in a chair opposite the bed. Rooms contain guests' journals to note paranormal occurrences, like the door of Room 1 slamming of its own accord, mysterious scrawling on mirrors, creaking floorboards when adjacent rooms are unoccupied, even an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) supposedly clearly stating, "OK," in response to the guest's comment "I am leaving this recorder on... If you would like to talk to us just speak."
When this early 20th century, neo-Italianate Renaissance classic (also on the National Register of Historic Places) was renovated in the '80s, it became the linchpin in downtown Portland's redevelopment. Sadly, it's also known for a jumper who jumped down the stairs outside of room 703-according to rumor, his spirit now haunts the rooms on the way down (though baffling phenomena occur up to room 1003). Rooms in that vertical column are particularly susceptible to supernatural doings, but 703 features the eeriest events of all-inexplicably moving objects, mysterious tapping, and cold spots. Photos taken in this room occasionally depict a dark cloud and videos contain strange shadows, distorted faces, even EVPs. Guests report that upon returning to their room, glasses are out, towels used, chairs moved---though the electronic key record indicates that no one entered. One reported hearing increasingly heavy breathing as the sheets practically mummified him. When he finally freed himself from their stranglehold, his large heavy luggage flew across the room towards him, followed by a figure running into the closet. Security demonstrated he was quite alone in the room.
Originally a fashionable Victorian spa, Eureka Springs is one of America's quirkiest towns. In the past, Native Americans touted its healing waters; Today this alternative, artsy destination welcomes everyone from Hell's Angel conventioneers to LGBT activists. Over the years, the Crescent has served as a college, hospital, and hotel and there are nearly as many ghosts here as there are incarnations of the property. The ghost of Norman Baker (who ran a hoax "Cancer Hospital" and health resort here during the late '30s) rambles about. The Crystal Dining Room is a hotspot for sightings of Victorian-garbed spirits. Elsewhere, a wailing woman carries her infant's blanket. A tall bearded gent knocks on doors, asking, "Are you waiting for me?" An Irish stonemason who crashed from the roof into Room 218 during construction bangs on walls and flicks the lights and television on and off. A nurse floats around the third floor. A woman in Room 419 introduces herself as a cancer patient. A waiter in old-time attire bearing a tray of butter followed teenagers closely in and out an elevator and down the hall to their room.
Brent Bradley, Travel Portland
If you're like us, you have a need to travel. Here are ten low-budget vacation destinations that everyone can enjoy. Some are major metropolitan areas, others couldn't be less so. While price is the big factor, we also need to make sure these places have the things we like to see and do -- otherwise, what's the point of going?
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
The Texas capital is perched on the edge of Hill Country, so hiking and mountain biking options are plentiful (and free of charge). The art scene ranges from funky to highbrow, with a multitude of galleries and shows to see. This city is billed as the "live music capital of the world," with shows for just about any musical taste. However, no visit to Austin is complete without the show put on by the Congress Bridge bats. Nope, that isn't a band; it's over a million Mexican Free-tailed Bats that emerge from under the bridge nightly.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
In Vegas, you can be fed, transported and entertained for less than you'd imagine possible. If you're on a tight budget, don't expect to get a lot of comps (freebies) from the casinos. You have to spend some to get some back. Grab every coupon book you see and watch for daily or hourly specials for food, drinks, clubs, and shows. Many food specials are off-menu, so you'll need to ask your server for it.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
Inner Harbor is a must-see even if you have only a passing appreciation for boats and sailing. Here you'll be impressed by the museums and the National Aquarium. Civil War buffs can visit Fort McHenry, the birthplace of "The Star-Spangled Banner." You can also take in an Orioles game for as little as $8. Little Italy is a vibrant area full of great, cheap dining places, and if you're lucky enough to schmooze your way into a crab boil, your life will never be the same again.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
Touring California Wine Country is possible even on a canned-beer budget. Tasting-room visits and winery tours are usually inexpensive and are occasionally free. Don't be discouraged by some restaurants and hotels that don't fit in with your monetary plan: Bargain food and lodging is still reasonably easy to find. Along the way, make it a point to cruise along California's Highway 1, even if it means driving out of your way -- you simply can't put a price on the coastal views.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
Uptown boasts great public art displays and hosts. The Taste of Charlotte food festival each June is worth checking out, but if you're traveling in the fall, Charlotte Shout is September's month-long celebration of art and culture. You can always immerse yourself in NASCAR too. Lowes Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Hendrick Motorsports Museum, Richard Childress Racing Museum, and North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame should all be on a race fan's list.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
Over at the lakefront, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a mandatory stop. (Adult admission is $22 for a one-day ticket.) Later, wander next door to the Great Lakes Science Center and experience Robots + Us: Where Humans Meet Machines exhibition. Throughout Cleveland, we found it to be inexpensive, yet more clean and more sophisticated than we'd ever imagined.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
LoDo, the historic, culturally diverse downtown area, can also be "low-dough." For about the price of a bottle of Coors Light ($4), you can head over to Coors Field to see a Colorado Rockies game. Right field reserved tickets are just $9 a piece. Getting around Denver is not a problem, because the city offers decent public transportation, including a light rail system. Denver locals tend to be outdoorsy, so you'll easily find biking, camping, hiking, and skiing outlets.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
"The Birthplace of Rock and Roll," Sun Studio, asks just $8.50 for a tour. This is where the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and B.B. King all began. W.C. Handy Memphis Home and Museum on Beale Street is a mere $2 to visit. Graceland (Elvis' home and final resting place) mansion tours are $28 (see all the attractions for $69). On a somber but important note, make a point to visit the National Civil Rights Museum ($12), located on the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
Top 10 Cheap Travel Destinations Across America
Portland is blessed with a temperate climate and everything is close by. Feel like a trip to the mountains? Mount Hood is about an hour east of the city. Would you rather head west and check out the Pacific? That's an easy day trip too. Portland is known as the City of Roses, with a month-long rose festival each June. If you find that agreeable, you may have a hard time leaving after your visit.
