Category Archives: Leisure

Italian Road Trips: Aosta Valley & Western Liguria

ITALY MAGAZINE (Aug 20, 2020) …you will reach Issogne Castle, in the lower Aosta Valley, one of the most famous manors of the region, noteworthy for its fountain in the form of a pomegranate tree and its decorated portico, a rare example of medieval Alpine painting, featuring a frescoed cycle of scenes of daily life from the late Middle Ages. 

Aosta Valley

Castles, snow-capped mountains, Roman history and food: a road trip in Aosta Valley, Italy’s smallest region, offers this, plus plenty of fun for the keen driver, who will enjoy the mountain roads with their hairpin bends, climbs and tunnels. 

The three-day itinerary we present here starts at Bard Fort, a fortified complex built in the 19th century by the House of Savoy on a rocky prominence above Bard; today, it houses a cultural center and, in the summer, the main courtyard hosts musical and theatrical performances.

Western Liguria

The westernmost part of Liguria is ideal for those looking for a mix of sea and mountains, as a road trip here alternates stretches along the coast with detours into forests, mountains and inland villages. The same variety will be found on the table, with seafood dishes, such as the famous prawns of Sanremo and brandacujùn, a dish typical of Ligurian cuisine made with potatoes and stockfish, and ingredients of the interior, including vegetables, cheeses and goat meat.

This three-day itinerary (about 80 kilometers) starts from the beaches of Ospedaletti and Bordighera (which is only 20 kilometers from France – you can indeed see the French coast from there), two picturesque villages of the Riviera dei Fiori (Coast of Flowers); since Bordighera is built where the Maritime Alps plunge into the sea, it benefits from the Foehn effect which creates a special microclimate that has warmer winters.

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Travel: “Zürich’s Lakeside Public Baths – Badis”

“Monocle 24 – The Urbanist” Fernando Augusto Pacheco takes the plunge into one of Zürich’s lakeside public baths.

Badis are essentially public “baths” or “swimming areas”, where you can come to swim in the lake or the river, and then cool off on the wooden docks or grass, grab something to eat or drink, socialize and pass the hours reading, sleeping, tanning or just enjoying the sun. Most badis in Zürich cost 8 Francs to enter, though some are free. 

Travel & Leisure Books: “Lido – A Dip Into Outdoor Swimming Pools” (2020)

Few experiences can beat diving into a pool in the fresh air, swimming with blue skies above you. Whether it’s a dip into a busy and bustling city pool on a sweltering summer day, or taking the plunge in icy waters, the lido provides a place of peace in a frenetic world. 

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The book begins with a history of outdoor pools – their grand beginnings after the buttoned-up Victorian era, their falling popularity in the 20th century, and the newfound appreciation for the outdoor pool, or lido, and outdoor swimming in the 21st century.

Journalist and architectural historian Christopher Beanland picks the very best of the outdoor pools around the world, including the Icebergs Pool on Bondi Beach, Australia; the 137m seawater pool in Vancouver, Canada; Siza’s concrete sea pools in Porto, Portugal; the restored art deco pool in Saltdean, UK, and the pool at the Zollverein Coal Mines in Essen, Germany. The book also features lost lidos and the fascinating history behind the architecture of the pools, along with essays on swimming pools in art, and the importance of pools in Australia. In addition there are interviews with pool users around the globe about why they swim. The book is illustrated throughout with beautiful colour photography, as well as archive photography and advertising.

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Travel & Leisure Videos: “Driven – The Rise Of RV’s”

Looking to take a vacation while avoiding COVID? Many families are heading out AND staying home, exploring public spaces while avoiding hotels and public bathrooms, by traveling in an RV. The pandemic is driving up sales of midrange recreational vehicles, which have nearly doubled compared to last summer. And as The New Yorker magazine’s Kelefa Sanneh finds out, some motorhomes have amenities you may not even have in your own home.

World’s Best Small Hotels: “Ca’ Sagredo – Venice” On The Grand Canal (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-7fz8T8c8

A cultural and historic landmark set on Venice’s Grand Canal

A meticulously renovated 15th-century palace, with its lavish pink façade, sits proudly between Ca’ d’Oro and the Rialto Bridge on the spectacular Grand Canal. Ca’ Sagredo Hotel in Venice is a real gem, half hotel, half museum with important works of art by 17th and 18th-century artists Sebastiano Ricci, Giambattista Tiepolo, Niccolò Bambini and Pietro Longhi.

This place is truly mesmerising. Ascend the stately marble staircase by Tirali, with an impressive fresco by Longhi, and experience the air of romance and mystery that is uniquely Venice. With several of the rooms and suites providing a canal view, stay in one of Ca’Sagredo Hotel’s historical grand suites to appreciate 18th-century stuccoed ceilings, bas reliefs and elaborately painted wall friezes.

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Top New Motorhomes: “2021 Airstream Atlas” – “Elegantly Expansive”

The Atlas Touring Coach is our most luxurious touring coach to date. It’s a Class B+ RV built on the legendary Mercedes-Benz® Sprinter van chassis and inspired by our trailblazing Airstream Interstate series. In fact, with its power slide-out, richly appointed features and finishes, and understated automotive styling from grill to bumper, we affectionately call it a Class B+. A new standard has arrived for those who believe a well-traveled life begins with the best.

2021 Airstream Atlas Touring Coach

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Top New Campers: “Scout Yoho” – “Lightweight, Off-Grid” Camper For Trucks

Scout Yoho Interior LayoutThe Scout Yoho is the lightest hardwall camper in the truck camping industry today, weighing a base weight of 913 lbs* dry, sleeping up to 4, and built for mid-size trucks. 

It was developed for individuals and families who want an exceptionally lightweight, highly-durable, and versatile adventure vehicle. This camper is like a backpack for your truck – inside it contains all the camping equipment you need for off-grid adventures and the portability to take out and use the components outside.  

Yolo Scout Camper Interior

Powered by the Sun

The Renogy 160W Monocrystalline Solar Panel is capable, durable, and reliable. Built-in standard to every camper, this solar panel can withstand the elements from heavy snow to strong winds. It’s high-quality construction and multi-layered sheet laminations enhance cell performance and ensure a long-lasting solar system. 

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Leisure Post-Covid: “The Time To Reinvent Travel”

From McKinsey & Company (June 15, 2020):

As travel companies redesign their traveler experiences to address risks and anxieties related to COVID-19, they should remember that the pain points and trends that existed before the crisis—such as the shift toward a more digital and personalized journey, and an increased emphasis on wellness and sustainability—have not gone away.

Travel Industry Trends Pre-Covid-19 - McKinsey & Company - June 15 2020

Many initiatives can make the travel experience simultaneously better and safer. Housekeeping services, for instance, will need to adjust for safety concerns, but revised protocols can also reduce environmental impact (such as through less-frequent Digital Technology - Reinventing Travel - McKinsey & Company - June 15, 2020laundering of sheets during each stay), decrease cost, and give guests more flexibility (by letting them choose their own housekeeping schedule).

Companies should empower customers to build their own itinerary using smarter, connected digital tools and make it easier for them to modify or cancel their plans. In addition, companies must recognize that the factors that promote customer loyalty may now have shifted; near-term uncertainty may mean, for example, that the ability to cancel a reservation matters more than brand choice or price.

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Travel: “MyBusHotel” Converts School Buses Into Luxury Campers

Our expertise in converting buses started with a 39’ school bus named Natasha. Converting a school bus into a home on wheels was part of an ambitious project : the road trip of our life. We converted our bus with the help of some of the best craftsmen in South California.

MyBusHotel Interior

MyBusHotel Side ViewOnce completed, we drove off to South America and traveled around 16 countries, for what was going to be the best road trip ever ! Before we drove a single mile, we had to build Natasha and after doing all the cabinet-making, welding, dovetailing and decking, we became specialist ! The art and craft of building the best home on wheels is now our job ! Every square inch of the skoolies we build is up to convenience, comfort, functionality and aestheticism. We only build skoolies we would live in, and we are pretty demanding. Working with wood and metal experts, we put our heart and passion in every project we have, eager to create something meaningful for our adventure-seeking clients.

MyBusHotel Roof Deck

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Future Of Mobile Living: Amazing “Expanding” Tiny House (Zero Squared)

The 26 foot long tiny house on wheels has large rooms with a Murphy bed on the main floor, a 3-seater couch, rotating TV and fireplace, a combo washer dryer, loads of storage space, and a massive kitchen with a full-size fridge and more!

About the Aurora:

This model features two of our propriety integrated modular expanding spaces that adds over 120 sqft to a traditional tiny house towing platform of equal length. Available in lengths of 26′, 28′ and 30′ in a 8′ 6″ towing width that expands to 15′ 6″ onsite:

The “Nordic” features Scandinavian design features:

  • 341 sqft main floor 
  • 33 sqft double bed loft
  • Ground level queen bedroom Rotating RV and Fireplace
  • Solid cedar window trim
  • Gloss finish millwork
  • Integrated 50 sqft deck
  • Full Size Kitchen, living and dining rooms

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