| Staycations |
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Hello Staycations. Didya have plans for a lavish vacation to Europe? We did. Did you stop and take a second look at soaring gas prices, the euro from another planet and an economy on crutches? We did. Did you decide that maybe it was more prudent to get away by staying closer to home, while still enjoying the luxury and special dining delights you crave? We did! And so did thousands of others. Welcome to the “Staycation,” the latest in relaxing, rewarding getaways that can be enjoyed without…getting away! For example:
BP has made an effort to find more affordable homes to add to it's portfolio to satisfy the 'staycationer' profile vs. the more traditional, luxury client. In the end, home rentals save money over hotels. You have the kitchen to prepare meals and simple snacks from incredible local markets. You can drink local wine, watch DVDs, enjoy a four room house vs. four hotel rooms, bring your pet and save on boarding, etc. California wine country offers many free activities from tasting rooms (Many are now family friendly with lots of activities for kids); concerts and movies in the vineyards; vineyard tours and wine education; olive oil, chocolate and cheese tastings; pick your own fruits, herbs and vegetable farms; galleries; outdoor activities, county fair, and more (310.274.6430). Ciao, Italia –You still can enjoy an authentically chic, Italian experience right here in town, at Famoso Restaurant & Lounge. The new summer menu inspired by the Toscana Emilia-Romagna region of Italy is presented by renowned Chef Romina Lugaresi, who presents a new iteration of Italian cuisine in a modern fashion, using traditional ingredients not often found in today’s dishes. The treats she prepares include capesante gratinate (gratin of breaded scallops served with tomato confit, zucchini and caper oil), costolette d’agnello (lamb chop topped with pistachio lemon oil with potato gratin and artichokes) and gnocchi verdi (housemade potato spinach gnocchi with eggplant and smoked mozzarella in tomato sauce with basil). Don’t be fooled by the fact that Famoso is located in the center of the uber chic Collection at Chevy Chase with Tiffany’s, Louise Vuitton and Dior as neighbors. Close your eyes, inhale the amazing aromas and suddenly, you’re in Bella Italia – for less! (5471 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD; 301.986.8785)
Added to all that, now you can pamper yourself and a loved one close to home with the help of the romance experts at the Four Seasons with the “Capital Romance” package, with special touches such as champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries or red wine and chocolate truffles upon arrival. It also includes a Four Seasons, full American breakfast, delivered to the room the next morning with a P.S. I Love You personalized card, prepared in advance with a message from guest who booked the surprise. A long stemmed red rose compliments the note and late checkout is guaranteed to ensure the moment isn’t rushed. Sounds nice!!! Rates begin at $745 for a deluxe room based on double occupancy and includes a $50 food and beverage credit at Seasons restaurant. But wait – there’s more to tell you about the local, Four Seasons allure. You also can prep and pamper your bathing suit-bound body with a special “wrap session. The Cherry Blossom Champagne Body Treatment begins with gentle exfoliation, followed by immersion in a deep soaking tub scented with cherry blossoms. Next the body is polished with an all-natural champagne and salt scrub, followed by a full body wrap and an application of body butter to seal in moisture and leave skin fresh, renewed and ready for the season. The treatment lasts 80 minutes and costs $225. (That’s a whole lot less than 225 euros!) (2800 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 202.342.0444)
The Goodstone Inn & Estate hasn’t forgotten babymooners, either (Moms- and dads-to-be need more R&R&R (Rest & Relaxation & Romance) than anyone before the big day arrives. Included in the Babymoon Package is a hearty country breakfast for two, as well as dinner for two in Hilltoppers restaurant. Baskets of muffins and coffee are also delivered each morning to greet guests upon awakening. Additionally, a full English Tea with fresh-baked pastries and scones is served every afternoon in the Great Room at the Carriage House. Expecting couples can select accommodations from five unique dwellings on The Goodstone Inn's 19th Century estate. Plus, The Goodstone will arrange a gentle, pregnancy massage for expectant moms and a standard massage for dads. A special gift basket awaits the new parents, too. The Babymoon Package is from $700 per couple midweek and from $800 on weekends. (36205 Snake Hill Road, Middleburg, VA; 877.219.4663)
In addition, Good Taste! Tours will start offering culinary day trips to rural Loudoun County in July which will include “A Culinary Day in Middleburg”, and “A Food and Wine Excursion of Rural Loudoun”. These day trips will pick passengers up at the West Falls Church Metro and Dulles Town Center and transport them on their culinary adventure. Depending on which tour is chosen, it can include wine tastings at area vineyards with food and dessert pairings, cooking classes, chef demonstrations, organic farm presentations and organic dining. In the future, Good Taste! Tours will launch day-trip programs with transportation to Williamsburg, Charlottesville, Annapolis and beyond. (540.822.5000; www.goodtastetours.com) No Worries Mon…. Hudson Presents Island Patio Happy Hour -- With airplane prices hitting top dollar and the cost of gas over a whopping $4 a gallon, chances are thirsty citizens may not be hitting the roads or not-so friendly skies for a weekend jaunt this year. Not to worry. Stay in town. Use the Metro, hoof it or take a short walk to Hudson every Friday for a hint of the Islands. Beginning June 27th, and continuing every Friday throughout the summer, Hudson Restaurant & Lounge brings a hint of the Caribbean to DC’s West End. Take a seat beneath the oversized beach umbrellas on Hudson’s patio, and enjoy not only the warmth of the great outdoors, but also island inspired cocktails such as Jamaica’s own Red Stripe Beer ($5), ‘Dark & Stormy (Gosling’s Rum and Extra Ginger Beer) at $9 and new island classic Cruzan Rum 1944 Mai Tais ($9). Adding to the ambiance will be live steel drum music for the complete island experience. Sure, there may not be an over abundance of palm trees or sand on M Street, but the spirit of the Caribbean is alive and well. Complimentary jerk chicken wings will be served from 6-7 p.m. --it may be the next best thing to being there. (2030 M Street, NW; 202.872.8700)
Spanish Steps – Decided not to make it to Spain this summer? Step into La Tasca and you’ll feel almost like you’re there. Sip one of their 12 different kinds of sangrias or various Spanish wines and beers, munch on over 40 tapas and six types of paellas, and don’t forget to try the postres (desserts)! They also host a really enjoyable happy hour (everyday at the bar from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with deals on tapas, sangria, wine, beer, and mojitos) or daily specials such as half-price bottles of wine on Sundays and 25% off any paella entrée on Tuesdays. (722 7th Street, NW; 202.347.9190)
G-MANia guests also have borrowing rights to the hotel’s DVD library of themed films, such as the Good Shepherd, Déjà Vu, Shooter, Breach, and The X-Files movie. A custom-designed podcast walking tour, D.C. Undercover and Under The Covers, is available for download and features sites ranging from historic to scandalous, such as Monica Lewinsky’s apartment, the Watergate and several sites featured in spy-themed movies, including Breach, based on the true story of the greatest FBI security breach in U.S. history. Guests can also book tickets to the Spy Museum and the Crime and Punishment Museum. Museum tickets and tours can be booked online through the Affinia Hotels e-concierge at time of reservation. (415 New Jersey Avenue, NW; 866.AFFINIA.)
Set to coincide with the luckiest calendar day of the year, August 8, 2008, the hotel will offer the harmonious Prosperity Package, featuring luxurious accommodations, holistic-inspired amenities and Asian gourmet treats, considered favorable to bringing good fortune. Available August 1 through September 7, 2008, the package includes: Overnight accommodations in a deluxe guestroom, featuring elements of feng shui; Two, chef-created bento box meals in Café MoZU, served with Elixir tonics, rich in nutrients and formulated to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine; a harmonious gift basket filled with Lai See, a traditional Chinese red packet of ‘lucky’ money; The Zen Book for achieving inner calm and piece of mind, and the Oriental Wisdom CD, a collection of inspirational music produced exclusively for Mandarin Oriental; a trio of homemade Chinese mooncakes, symbolizing longevity and prosperity and valet parking. Rates begin at $388.88 for a Deluxe City View room. (888.888.1778) Cars Eat Free All Summer At DC Area Marriotts! - Escape from rising gas prices this summer by staying home and enjoying a weekend getaway package from Marriott! More than 50 Marriott hotels in the area are offering the Cars Eat Free! package, Thursdays through Sundays, now through September 1, 2008. It includes deluxe accommodations for two and a $25 gas card from Chevron. A two-night minimum stay is required. Participating brands include JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites. For information or reservations, call 800.834.6418. Staycate In Middleburg, And Shop ÂŒTil You Drop! - Middleburg, is cleaning out its closets and storage areas and moving into the streets on Saturday August 2 for its second annual Middleburg Summer Sidewalk Sale. There will be more than 20 participating stores and seven restaurants that will be giving away a gas card and providing special deals. AND, if driving out to Middleburg for one day still seems too far, then there are two lovely options to make a weekend staycation. Both the Middleburg Country Inn and Red Fox Inn will offer special overnight rates for shoppers for a Friday to Saturday stay. The first night, August 1, will be half off, and the second night, August 2, will be at the regular rate. Both are located on Washington Street, downtown. For information or reservations at the Middleburg Country Inn, call: 540-687-6082 For information or reservations at the Rex Fox Inn, call: 540-687-6301.
During the rest of summer, Mount Vernon gives away Its China! In celebration of the exhibition, “Setting the President’s Table: American Presidential China,” visitors to Mount Vernon now through August 31 can enter to win a piece of porcelain featuring the Martha Washington “States” pattern. A retail value of $45, this popular reproduction comes boxed with a recipe from the Washingtons and a certificate of authenticity. A grand prize winner will receive an entertainment set including a teapot, pedestal cake plate, creamer, sugar bowl, four cups and saucers, and four dessert plates, valued at $750 and courtesy of Woodmere China. Drawings occur daily at 3:00 p.m. in the Shops at Mount Vernon, and the grand prize will be drawn on August 31. No purchase is required, and visitors do not have to be present to win. (Mount Vernon is located at the Southern end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Just 16 miles south of Washington)
There’s al the hotel’s Cool Summer in the City package to consider. Recharge and revive in the spa-inspired limestone rain shower. Savor the seasonal flavor of a hand-cranked ice cream from the pastry pantry of the celebrated Blue Duck Tavern. And if forced to go out into the sun, let the hotel’s custom designed Audi A8 L transport you to your favorite shopping or sightseeing destination. Got kids? Consider disguising an educational experience with an urban adventure through Park Hyatt Washington's Children's Adventure package. This two-night weekend package provides a private tour guide for your child to explore any one of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC. From the discovery of natural history to space exploration, your dedicated guide will show you and your child a private look at one of Washington's most famous museums. The package includes a two-night stay and upgrade to a signature Park Deluxe room (the largest deluxe room in Washington!); a bucket of homemade, hand-cranked seasonal ice cream from Blue Duck Tavern’s pastry pantry upon arrival; a full American breakfast for two adults and one child daily; the children's surprise backpack with sightseeing supplies; a three-hour children's tour guide to take your child on his/her chosen Smithsonian Museum tour, and a chauffeured SUV (4 hours) to drive the family to and from the Smithsonian Museum tour. Note that the maximum occupancy for our guestrooms is three people. You can reserve this package and a second room for your children for up to 50% of the prevailing rate (800 778 7477; ask for the Family Plan)
Want a getaway that’s really different…AND meaningful to others? Consider participating in The Ritz-Carlton’s community initiative, the Give Back Getaway Program. Events are scheduled throughout the summer at The Rainbow Center at Frazier Stables in Haymarket, Virginia. Guests spend an inspirational day assisting individuals ages 3 and up who live with psychological, physical, social and emotional disabilities as they experience the therapeutic effects of horseback riding. There is a unique bond that is formed between a rider and a horse and guests are invited to witness and participate in this extraordinary interaction and truly rewarding experience. (800.241.3333)
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California Dreamin’? - Yes, staycationing is hot this year. Many people plan them in a favorite location combining the value of staying in a home vs. a hotel, while enjoying the lifestyle of the destination. BeautifulPlaces Inc. (
A Rejuvenated Hotel For All Seasons - The $35 million dollar restoration program continues at Four Seasons Hotel Washington D.C. Projects span from brand new guestrooms to special, new dining experiences. A renovation and refurbishment of the entire West Wing will add ten spacious guest rooms along with a sixth, entirely new presidential suite. The Hotel lobby will be completely transformed, along with the adjacent Garden Terrace (set to become the new, signature restaurant and lounge). Seasons restaurant also will transition from all-day dining to a venue used exclusively for breakfast and private events. Finally, ENO -- a wine, chocolate and charcuterie bar --will open on the hotel grounds on M Street.
Romance, Middleburg Style - There are lots of ways to stay close to home and still put lots of romance into your relationship. One idea? The 
Gassed Up And Ready To Go - Good Taste! Tours, a culinary tour company based in Loudoun County, VA, offers culinary weekend getaways and day trips to Loudoun County’s wine and food country, with local weekend getaways and culinary day tours for beginners and seasoned cuisine travelers. Tours are designed around activities for a culinary and wine enthusiasts, offering dining at unique establishments, cooking classes in chefs’ homes, local wine tastings and tours, samplings of local artisan products, attendance at food festivals and visits to local farmers’ markets. The Culinary Tour of Rural Virginia is currently offered through Good Taste! Tours and Lansdowne Resort, the four-diamond resort in Leesburg, VA. The weekend getaway includes two nights’ accommodations, wine pairing dinners – one at Lansdowne with Mary Watson, resort sommelier, and another at Patowmack Farm, an organic farm restaurant, chef demonstrations, cooking classes, wine tastings at local vineyards and even VIP seating at Lansdowne’s Jazz on the Potomac.
Camping Out…In Style - In response to the current travel trend of "staycations," Kimpton's mid-Atlantic hotels are offering value-driven packages and complimentary perks that take camping in your own backyard to a luxurious level. Try the:
Beautiful Anne - When families and singles find Lake Anne, they tend to keep coming back for more. Lake Anne is the original “Live, Work & Play” center of Reston, with its ‘avant-garde’ 1960’s architecture. There’s a bit of an older-times vibe still here, with a pharmacy that includes a post office, lunch counter and ice cream; a funky, used book shop; vintage women’s clothing; a children’s consignment shop; chocolate shop; florist; museum; barbers and hair salons and more. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are lively at the lakeside plaza, with free concerts, children’s shows, farmers market and a bazaar, special events, and boat rentals. Six one-of-a-kind restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating are big attractions and each carries its own style of live evening entertainment, including bands, open mike and belly dancing (yes, you read it right!). In particular, Chef Eduardo Faubert reigns over Jasmine Café. In Reston, it’s the oldest dining spot, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. (1609 Washington Plaza, Reston, VA; 703.464.5559)
“X” Marks The Spot - As popular agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully return for the July 25 premiere of the second X-Files movie, real world “G-Men” will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the FBI in Washington, D.C. For conspiracy theorists or anyone captivated by the undercover intrigue of the nation’s capital, the G-MANia package at the new Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel, offers a front-row seat to D.C.’s surreptitious side. Available July 1 through Labor Day, September 2, 2008, the package starts at $179 per night for a weekend stay, and includes two nights accommodations’ for two people, tickets to the Newseum to see the “G-Men and Journalists” exhibit (a special installation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the FBI debuting on July 26), and one $50 credit toward food and beverage per stay.
Feel Right At Home With Good Fortune - This summer, 
George Would “Staycate,” Too! - Two area attractions, Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, are partnering to give visitors a good deal. Purchase a ticket to Mount Vernon OR the Corcoran and receive 50% off adult admission to the other site through July 27. This promotion is offered in conjunction with the Corcoran’s special exhibition, The American Evolution: A History through Art, which devotes an entire gallery to George Washington. Included in the exhibition is the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington and a life mask by Jean Antoine Houdon who created the most accurate likeness of George Washington. He did so when he made a bust now on display at Mount Vernon with a History Channel video showing how the life mask was prepared and the terracotta bust created. 
Park It At The Park Hyatt – Staycation while savoring life with the Park Hyatt Washington’s Pamper at the Park package. Enjoy cozy accommodations, breakfast for two and pick from your favorite indulgences with a food and beverage credit. Whether you choose to feast your palate with exquisite cuisine at Blue Duck Tavern or relax and unwind with a selection of rare and vintage teas in the Tea Cellar, the ultimate pampering experience awaits you.
Farm Yourself Out - The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm provides a dining ambience only Mother Nature could create. Our suggestion is to stay at a local B&B and visit Loudoun County’s wine country. Consider checking in early and have Point to Point Limousine or Reston Limousine pick you up and take you on a Loudoun County wine adventure. After, dine at The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm, where the a la carte and five-course prix fixe menus by Chef Christian Evans give you the opportunity to dine on local, organic cuisine reflective of the seasons. The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is located approximately 1 hour from downtown D.C. (540 8229017; 
Ritz Right Here - The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner offers a convenient, cost-efficient alternative to long-distance travel for weekends getaways and summer with a “Luxury in Your Backyard” offering. Stay at the hotel on a value added package, including breakfast for two and a $50 daily hotel credit, and build a personal getaway catering to your own desires. For example, there are special experiences to be experienced in The Day Spa, retail offerings at the Tysons Galleria malls or rewarding dining experiences at the hotel. Or, consider booking the Reconnect package, including a complimentary bottle of Cuvee Ritz Champagne with dinner at The Steak House restaurant.
Town and Country, As You Like It – Staycate at the historic and recently resorted Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton, VA (home to James Madison University) and stroll the town, where everything is within walking distance. Discover delightful galleries, fine antique stores, artisan shops, the American Shakespeare Center and a choice of 16 fine dining venues. Then maybe consider experiencing a little country. Hike the Shenandoah National Park with over 500 miles of trails, including 101 miles of the Appalachian Trail or experience Staunton's very own authentic Farmer's Market every Saturday morning starting at 7am. (24 South Market Street, Staunton, VA; 540.885.4848)
Chi mangia bene, mangia Italiano!" ("He who eats well, eats Italian!”) - 
