More headaches coming to air travel after near attack

Sunday December 27, 2009 7:26 PM By Heather Haddon

Travelers to the United States experience delays at Pierre Elliot Trudeau Airport (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Peter McCabe)

Long lines and unpredictable security checks will once again be the norm at airports worldwide after the foiled attack on a Detroit-bound Northwest plane Christmas Day.

Here are some answers to questions you may have about your next plane trip.

How will this impact my flight?
The federal government and individual airlines have revised their security protocol in the aftermath of the attempted bombing. Though officials would not disclose details yesterday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said passengers flying into the U.S. from abroad will experience most of the heightened security, including increased pat-downs and gate screenings. On board, passengers could be asked to stow carry-on and personal items, including pillows. While there have been reports of random flights restricting passenger movement, Air Canada is the only airline that has so far said it will do so on U.S.-bound planes an hour before landing.

What should I anticipate at the airport?
The heightened security will slow the processing of passengers. United Airlines advised international travelers to arrive three hours ahead of schedule, and Continental Airlines instructed all travelers to tack on an hour on to the previously advised airport arrival time.

Is it now dangerous to fly?
Federal officials said travelers should continue taking flights and report any suspicious behavior. The TSA said it will randomly use “explosive detection canine teams, gate screening and behavior detection” as needed, but the additional screening does not necessarily indicate a higher security threat.

Warm getaways: Why wait?

Tuesday December 22, 2009 10:25 AM By Courtney Crowder

Puerto Rico's El Conquistador Resort.

Did this weekend’s snowtorm make you long for the dog days of summer? Quit daydreaming — the recession has forced luxury hotels to offer extreme discounts on vacation packages. In mere days, you could be feeling the sun on your skin with one of these last-minute getaways.

St. John
This small U.S. Virgin Island is accessible only by ferry, offering an exclusive excursion. In addition to clear blue water, St. John has fascinating historical sites such as the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins. Plus, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport.

Caneel Bay, a Rosewood Resort, has seven beaches, hiking trials and a holistic mind body wellness center. When guests pay for four nights, they can receive the fifth free with the hotel’s Five for Four deal, available Jan. 3 to March 30. Rates start at $495 per night. 340-776-6111, caneelbay.com.

Getting there: Flights depart from LaGuardia and Kennedy airports daily. Round-trip flights in January start at $510.

San Antonio
This Texas city is best known as the site of Davy Crockett’s last stand at the battle of the Alamo. Visitors can enjoy the restaurants and shops that make up the San Antonio River Walk. They can also check out the dude ranches of Texas Hill Country, located just outside the city’s limits.

Located on the legendary River Walk, The Watermark Hotel & Spa has a rooftop pool and the city’s only four-star spa. With the hotel’s Holiday Spirits & Sprinkles Package, guests receive a second night for half price. The package is available until Dec. 28, with rates starting at $199. 866-605-1212, watermarkhotel.com.

Getting there: Continental Airlines offers two nonstop flights to San Antonio daily and many more with connections in Houston, from which you can hop on a shuttle flight or rent a car. Flights start at $373 for late December.

Jamaica
With four different, vibrant cities — Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston – this little island has a lot to offer. In late January, Jamaica will host its own Jazz and Blues Festival. The entire month of February is dedicated to Bob Marley, with a photographic exhibition at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston and plenty of live music.

Strawberry Hill, an Island Outpost resort, is located above sea level in the Blue Mountains. The boutique property comprises tropical cottages with a birds-eye view of Kingston. The hotel provides a fourth-night free deal. In addition, guests will get a complimentary bottle of wine and travelers’ footbath. Rates start at $295. Booking and travel must take place by April 30. 800-OUTPOST, islandoutpost.com/strawberry_hill.

Getting there: Two daily nonstop flights go between Kennedy and Kingston on Air Jamaica. Flights for mid-February start at $340.

Hawaii
Spend a day surfing or learn about this island’s whaling history and spot a humpback whale while you tan on the shore. Then enjoy the excitement of dinner and dancing at a traditional luau.

Located on Hawaii’s north shore of Maui, Paia Inn is a hip, intimate boutique hotel in the center of Paia, a small beach town with access to three beaches, local cafes, galleries and surf shops. Through Dec. 31, guests can enjoy a four-night vacation for the cost of three. Rates start at $189 per night and are based on availability. 800-721-400, paiainn.com.

Getting there: Fly directly into the Kahului airport on Maui with U.S. Airways, for around $1,000 per ticket or fly into Honolulu for $691.

Puerto Rico
This “Island of Enchantment” is another locale that doesn’t require a U.S. passport. Through the end of the year, the island will host the LeLoLai Festival, which is a celebration of the many cultural influences - Spanish, English and African - that make up today’s Puerto Rican culture.

A Waldorf Astoria Property, El Conquistador Resort has a water park, private island, casino, 18-hole golf course and spa. The resort is now offering a Winter Escapes Package, which includes breakfast for two and a $50 activity credit (up to $200) for each consecutive two-night stay. The deal is valid for booking and travel by March 31.Additionally, those who book the package by Jan. 31 will receive a complimentary one-night stay during a future visit. Rates start at $259. 888-543-1230, elconresort.com.

Getting there: There are many direct flights from New York to San Juan, including multiple mid-January flights starting at $255 on United Airlines.

It's always party time in San Diego

Monday November 30, 2009 6:45 PM By Alexis Korman

San Diego has its own February Mardi Gras celebration (EnneBi Communications)

Life’s a beach in San Diego — but surf, sand, and Shamu aren’t all this Southern California city has to offer.

With a diverse lineup of fun (and often free) festivals that stretch from late fall to winter, San Diego makes for a quirky cultural destination as well as a prime place for a warm-weather getaway.

Holiday fun
If you plan to visit San Diego in December, a selection of holiday-themed activities will get you in the spirit.

Visit the colorful Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade (Dec. 13), where plenty of furry friends don Santa suits and promenade down Fourth Avenue.

Fans of blues and R&B should check out Blue Christmas on Dec. 10, where 10 venues play host to blues artists such as Eamon Carroll and the Shane Dwight Blues Band (performances are free).

On Dec. 13 and 20, don’t miss the “Parade of Lights,” where more than 100 boats decked out with twinkling lights sail the bay, followed by a fireworks show.

Partying in San Diego
Samba lovers may feel like they’re at San Diego’s version of Carnival on Feb. 13 and 14. Held at 4th&B nightclub (345 B St.; 619-231-4343)‎, the 18th annual San Diego Brazil Carnival offers performances of the Brazilian martial arts-dance form capoeira and non-stop samba and marcha music — along with strong caipirinhas (the national drink) and outrageous costumes.

But the partying doesn’t stop there. On Feb. 16, San Diegans celebrate Mardi Gras in the historic Gaslamp Quarter — hosting the largest festival this side of New Orleans with two parades, an outdoor block party and live music acts. In the LGBT-friendly Hillcrest neighborhood, another street party creates a festive scene with food, beer, and plenty of bead-sporting drag queens.

To eat
In addition to enjoying good music and gorgeous beaches, “San Diegans love to eat,” said resident foodie Calvin Bender. “and Restaurant Week is the best way to check out what’s cooking,” he added.

During Restaurant Week in January (sandiegorestaurantweek.com, Jan. 17-22), 180 of the area’s top restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe menus for $20, $30 or $40 per person.

Any time of year, it’s worth going for the fresh fish tacos at San Diego’s oldest bar, the Waterfront (2044 Kettner Blvd; 619-232-9656); or indulge in tender gnocchi and thin crust pizza at Cucina Urbana (505 Laurel St; 619-239-2222), a new Italian hot spot in Bankers Hill, where bottles of wine go for retail prices and customers can take whatever vino they can’t finish to go.

To stay
The historic, elegant US Grant hotel (326 Broadway; 619-232-3121) and modern, Asian-inspired Sé San Diego (1047 Fifth Ave; 619-515-3000) offer luxurious digs in the downtown area. Traveling with pets? Both of these hotels offer plush beds for pooches and water bowls, while the new, pet-friendly Hotel Indigo (509 Ninth Ave.; 619-727-4000) hosts “Canine Cocktails” on Tuesdays from 5-8pm at its ninth-floor lounge.

Do the Charleston: Plan a quick getaway to this Southern belle of a city

Monday November 16, 2009 7:24 PM By Rolando Pujol

In a curious way, New Yorkers will feel right at home in Charleston, S.C.

Think of Charleston as the kind of city Manhattan might have been had Gotham not become the seat of global commerce.

Imagine picturesque pockets of Greenwich Village spread across all of lower Manhattan, river to river.

At the southern tip, Charleston has its own Battery, a similar street grid with familiar names like Broad, an old city also once protected by a wall,  two rivers meeting at the tip of a peninsula that looks eerily like Manhattan on a map, and a common lineage as great port cities born with an acquisitive streak and a practical tolerance for difference. Charleston's skyline is defined by churches, as Manhattan's once was.

Of course, their paths diverged centuries ago, and the similarities may ultimately be superficial, but there are enough to cause reflection, certainly on other unassailable commonalities: fine architecture, charming streets, history at every turn, and remarkable cuisine.

Many will tell you spring is the season to go, but then you'd miss Christmas in Charleston.  Its yuletide charm glows even warmer thanks to the truly hospitable nature of its people.

The basics

Carriage Rides: Get a quick sense of the city with a carriage ride tour. There are several choices, but we went with Palmetto Carriage Tours and were impressed with our guide's knowledge. 40 North Market St., 843-723-8145

Walking Tours: Charleston has some of the finest architecture in the U.S. Fern Tuten of Architectural Walking Tours of Charleston will give you a thoughtful, in-depth tour of the city's finest, showing you streetscapes that haven't changed in 200 years. 800-931-7761.

Highlights

Charleston City Market: This market has been selling all manner of wares for centuries. Its Greek Revival front is a Meeting Street icon. It's a good spot to score the obligatory sweetgrass basket. Between North and South Market streets.

Four Corners of the Law: This intersection of Broad and Meeting, made famous by Ripley's Believe It Or Not, has buildings representing church, state, federal government and city.

The Battery: Amble down toward the Battery and then explore the park and the gorgeous homes along South Battery and East Battery.

Rainbow Row: These are historic waterfront merchant homes on East Bay Street that were painted in pastel hues during the 1930s. They are essential Charleston and a milestone in modern preservation.

Churches: This is the Holy City, after all, so there is no shortage. Highlights include St. Philip's and St. Michael's.

Plantations: Head out of town and explore plantations. We visited Middleton Place, with remarkable landscaping, gardens and ruins from the end of the Civil War.

Fort Sumter: No visit is complete without an afternoon at Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began.

Where to shop

King Street: Once an old American Indian trade route, King remains the heart of city shopping. You'll see everything from antiques, mom and pops to chains. The real dazzle is in the beautiful buildings, which represents a range of styles.

Preservation Society of Charleston: A good spot to score smart history books, souvenirs and support the group that keeps Charleston looking beautiful. (147 King St.)

Where to eat

The dining options are outstanding and it's hard to go wrong. A few highlights:

SNOB: Short for just Slight North of Broad Street, there's nothing snobby about this place and its imaginative lowcountry cuisine. 192 East Bay Street. 843-723-3424

Jestine's Kitchen: Don't just take Rachael Ray's word for it: Jestine's Kitchen offers primo Southern cooking. The proof is in the lines always snaking outside. 251 Meeting St. 843-722-7224

Blossom: The seafood is the draw here, but so is the dining room and courtyard. 171 East Bay St. 843-722-9200.

Sweetwater Café: A perfect stop for local flavor and a nice breakfast before starting your walking adventures. 37 Market Street. 843-723-7121

Where to stay

There's a host of spots to say in historic Charleston. Nice hotels can be pricey but are worth the extra bucks for convenience and character. A few reliable options:

Mill House Hotel
Dating to the mid 1850s, the Mills House is refined, recently renovated, and in the heart of Museum Mile. Big plus: Cheap municipal parking is right next door. 15 Meeting St. 843-577-2400.

Ansborough Inn: A former warehouse converted into sumptuous B&B, with atrium lobby and comfortable suites. A Harris Teeter supermarket across the street adds to the convenience. 21Hasell Street, 800-522-2073

Charleston Place: This is one of the finest hotels you'll find anywhere, and the rates reflect that. 205 Meeting St. 843-722-490

A holiday primer

With festive parades, tree lightings, and bedecked historic homes, Charleston is a Christmas charmer. Here are highlights:

1. The lobby of the Charleston Place Hotel, (205 Meeting St.) is transformed into a Christmas wonderland.

2. The Christmas parade runs through town 2-5 p.m. Dec. 6.

3. Festival of Lights at the James Island County Park offers a fun drive through a jolly landscape just 20 minutes from downtown.

4. The Christmas tree lighting at Marion Square Park is at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5.

5. Parade of Boats: Boats are decked in holiday lights in a beloved show that runs from the Cooper to the Ashley rivers. Culminates with fireworks. Starts 5 p.m. Dec. 5.

Essential Charleston

1.) Earthquake bolts: You see these everywhere on the facades of historic buildings. They are the ends of bars installed in buildings to prop them up after the great earthquake of 1886.

2.) Carolopolis: This noble medal is given to buildings that have undertaken admirable preservation efforts.

3.) Boot scrapers and carriage steps -- Boot scrapers (to get that muck off) and carriage steps (for folks mounting or getting off a carriage) still abound.

4.) Cobblestone streets: Trot on real cobblestone, not Belgian block, which everyone mistakes for cobblestone

5.) The Single House: The signature house style of Charleston, they feature side porches, or piazzas, that take in breezes, and a street door that leads to the patio, not right into the house.

Don't tarry! Lose your head in Sleepy Hollow

Monday October 26, 2009 6:02 PM By Rolando Pujol

Saturday is Halloween, and there’s no better place to spend a spooky afternoon than the Westchester County villages of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.

This is the hilly countryside where author Washington Irving lived, and where he set his 1820 tale "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” It was here that Irving unleashed the Headless Horseman — a decapitated Hessian soldier who rises from the Old Dutch Church graveyard in quest of his head — on the hapless schoolmaster Ichabod Crane.

Spend an afternoon tracing Irving's haunts, and those of his legendary characters. Find it all on an easy and short walk along Broadway.

Stop 1: Christ Church
At Broadway and West Elizabeth Street in Tarrytown, admire the Christ Episcopal Church, where Irving worshipped. The facade's ivy descends from a cutting taken at Irving's beloved Sunnyside (914-631-8200), a picturesque villa on the Hudson, which you can also visit.

Stop 2: Main Street
Walk north a block to Main Street, where the affable Irving often mingled. You can take in the 19th century ambiance while antiquing at shops such as Belkind Bigi at 21 Main St. Nourishment nooks include Lefteris Gyro and Coffee Labs, all inside the Tudor-style Washington Building, the former site of an inn visited by George Washington. Next door, The Music Hall is an 1885 Queen Anne brick masterpiece.

For a drink, tarry at the Set Back Inn (914-631-9740) — after all, Irving jokingly suggests in "The Legend" that the town got its name because of the local farmers who tarried on market days.

Stop 3: Landmark Condominiums
Get back on Broadway and walk north a block to the intersection with Hamilton Place, where you'll find the Landmark Condominiums, graced with a large, lush lawn out front. This land was once part of the Van Tassel farm, and a long-gone Van Tassel building where the condos now stand may well have been Irving's inspiration for “The Legend” character Katrina Van Tassel's home. Her party there drew lanky Ichabod and big-bully Brom Bones, who vied for the "plump as a partridge" catch. It is from here that we can visualize awkward Ichabod setting off down Broadway on his unreliable steed, Gunpowder.

Stop 4: Andre monument
Farther north on Broadway, about a half block past the 1929 Warner Library at the intersection with Wildey Street, is the Andre monument in Patriots Park. It's a tribute to three patriots who captured Major John Andre, a British spy. The encounter actually happened about 200 yards east, but the spot is not marked because this part of the road was rerouted. In "The Legend," the Andre intersection is significant, as it's where the horseman encounters Ichabod and gives chase. The brook Irving mentions still runs through the pretty park.

Stop 5: Broadway and Beekman
Past the brook, you’ll enter Sleepy Hollow. Continue on Broadway to the intersection with Beekman Avenue, the main shopping drag of Sleepy Hollow and home to the Village Hall and tarry-worthy watering holes such as J.P. Doyle's (914-631-3015).

Stop 6: Old Dutch Church and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Return to Broadway, consider a stop at the excellent Horseman Diner (try the pizza), and finish your jaunt down the hill along Broadway toward the Old Dutch Church.

The late 17th century gambrel-roof church is on your right past the Headless Horseman Bridge, a successor to the original span that was farther east inside the cemetery (a pipe bridging the Pocantico River roughly marks the spot.) It's at the original bridge site where the horseman finally polishes off poor Ichabod. (Irving suggests Brom, who won Katrina, disguised himself as the horseman to scare off the superstitious Crane, but townies in the tale believed the specter whisked Ichabod away.)

The Dutch burial ground has evocative gravestones, and the deceased include some real-life inspirations for Irving's tales, such as Katrina and Brom. The adjacent Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is home to many famous dead, including Brooke Astor and Leona Helmsley. (Guidebooks are at a visitor's center across the street at Philipsburg Manor, the restored mill where Ichabod flirted with the Hollow's lovely ladies.)

As for Irving, he rests on a hill in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, looking below on the land he immortalized.

***

What's in a name? Sleepy Hollow was called North Tarrytown between 1874 and 1997. Voters approved the name change in part to celebrate the village's Headless Horseman heritage.

Asbury Park: Jersey boys and beaches

Monday July 13, 2009 4:29 PM By Lucy Blatter

A tea dance at Asbury Park's gay nightlife hotspot Club Paradise.

By Lucy Cohen Blatter

Take a stroll down the recently renovated boardwalk in Asbury Park and you’d never believe that not too long ago, the beach and boardwalk were almost entirely off limits, overrun with violence.

Thanks in large part to its popularity with the gay community, the town, made famous as a stomping ground for Bruce Springsteen (and his “Greetings from Asbury Park N.J.” album), is enjoying a resurgence.

This weekend’s festivities are geared toward the gay community. The annual Road Trip Weekend is a two-day event featuring beach parties, sports and arts events, and much more.

But this weekend, and all summer long, there’s truly something for everyone in this seaside town.

DURING THE DAY

Cookman Ave.

Asbury Park’s main retail thoroughfare is lined with stores, coffee shops and restaurant. Added bonus: It’s chain-store free.

Beach and Boardwalk

asburyparkboardwalk.com

Lining the Atlantic Ocean, Asbury Park’s sandy beach is worth the $5 admission charge.

The recently renovated boardwalk is lined with shops, restaurants and bars. At the north end, you’ll find the historic Asbury Park Convention Hall. True to its roots, it still feature lots of musical events (run by Live Nation), and other fun Jersey Shore spectacles, like the roller derby.

AT NIGHT

The Stone Pony

913 Ocean Ave., 732-502-0600

StonePonyonline.com

This legendary rock-music venue is credited with helping launch the career of Jersey Shore golden boy The Boss. Both Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi have been known to just

drop by.

Club Paradise

101 Asbury Ave., 732-988-6663

paradisenj.com

Owned by famed dance-music producer Shep Pettibone, Paradise is the gay nightlife hot spot. DJs spin pop and dance music in two separate rooms. On Sundays, the pool provides a backdrop for tea dances from 4-8 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs and frozen drinks are served (entrance fee is $5).Ghost tours

327 Cookman Ave., 732-455-3188

paranormalbooksnj.com

Kathy Kelly, owner of Paranormal Books on Cookman Avenue, runs ghost tours

Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 8 p.m.($10 for

adults, $5 for kids). Haunted investigations take place twice a month from July-November. The price is $50, which includes dinner.

TO EAT

Stella Marina

800 Ocean Ave., 732-775-7776

StellaMarinarestaurant.com

Located at the south end of the boardwalk, this Italian spot features indoor

and outdoor seating, plus a large (and tasty) selection of pizzas, pasta and

seafood dishes.

TO STAY

Sixth Avenue House

305 Sixth Ave., 732-361-6609

sixthavenuehouse.com

This cozy bed-and-breakfast is just a couple of blocks from the boardwalk.

Each of its six rooms are decorated uniquely, but it’s all clean and quaint.

Added bonus: It’s pet friendly. During the summer, rates range from $99-$150 a night

during the week and $125-$250 on weekends.

The Empress Hotel

101 Asbury Ave., 732-774-0100

asburyempress.com

If you’re looking for a gay-friendly party atmosphere, this hotel, located directly across from the beach, is the place to stay. The hotel has 101 rooms, some of which overlook the beach. Club Paradise is attached to the hotel.

Party on the beach

Sand Blast

Sandblastonline.com

Part of this weekend’s Road Trip Weekend, Sandblast is a gay dance event on the beach, complete with the music of DJ Corey Craig, that begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday.($40 advance tickets, $55 at door. Under 25 pay your age.)

Explore history

Ocean Grove

Located a stone’s throw from Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, which is one-square-mile, was founded in 1869 by Methodist clergymen as an outgrowth of a camp meeting movement.

The land is still owned by the camp meeting association and leased to individual homeowners and businesses (it’s also a dry town). For a historical journey, check out the tents surrounding the Great Auditorium, which are occupied from May to September, just as they have been since 1869.

Summer camp revisited

Monday July 6, 2009 5:06 PM By Lucy Blatter

Canoe Bay's Dream Cottage is a very upscale version of a camp bunk.

By Jessie Pascoe

Special to amNewYork

Traditionally restricted to childhood, summer camp’s bucolic draw has more and more adults making their vacation a sleepaway experience. To cater to these forever-young vacationers, a slew of “grown-up” camps and activities have sprouted up, offering “mature” campers the chance to learn a new skill, perfect an old one or just indulge in some rustic relaxation. Here’s a sampling of some top adult camps.

Pura Vida Surf Camp

Located in the Costa Rican village of Malpais, Pura Vida offers week-long surf sessions for a mainly all-female crowd. Owned by Tierza Davis, a former dot-comer from San Francisco, Pura Vida offers daily surfing and yoga lessons, as well as gourmet meals, luxe cabin accommodations and hour-long massages. No wonder Davis admits that some guests take up long-term residency in town. $1995-$2595 for seven nights/six days ($200-off summer bookings); puravidaadventures.com

Canoe Bay

For those who want to forget early camp memories of mosquito mobs and makeshift outhouses, there’s Canoe Bay. Twenty-four Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired cabins sprawled across 280 acres of pristine Wisconsin wilderness, a strict no-kids policy, fireside massages, chef-led foraging expeditions, gourmet s’mores and artisan cheese tours promise to make you happy you’ve left childhood behind. Rooms start at $350; canoebay.com

The Inn at Manitou’s tennis clinic

Nestled on the banks of Ontario’s Manitouwabing Lake, The Inn at Manitou seems worlds away from the daily grind, even though its only 150 miles north of Toronto. One of North America’s top tennis resorts, the Inn at Manitou’s tennis clinic offers top-notch instruction in state-of-the-art facilities. The clinic takes all levels. Rooms start at $299 per night; manitou-online.comThe Tyler Place Family Resort

A summer camp for all ages, Tyler Place offers both adults and kids a chance to unwind across lush Vermont forestland. Grown-ups can indulge in more than 20 athletic activities, from diving in swimming holes to trap shooting, while those interested in cultural activities find organized Quebec wine tours and jazz nights with local musicians. Kids keep busy, too, with traditional and innovative camp activities every morning and evening. Housing options vary, but history buffs will appreciate the Elmwood cottage, a historic building built in the early 1890s. Rates start at $111 per night for adults and $78 for kids; tylerplace.com

Idyllwild Arts Academy

You would be hard pressed to find a more inspiring setting than Idyllwild Arts Academy’s San Jacinto Mountain range. Keep in mind this is not your average arts and crafts instruction. Classes as specific as Hopi Tewa pottery to as broad as “Mixed Media Art Buffet” await those eager to forget their 9-to-5 city job and embrace the California woods. Idyllwild’s child and young adult programs also make Idyllwild an ideal getaway for the whole creative clan. Rates vary with accommodation packages; idyllwildarts.org

Know Before You Go:

Camps usually offer discounts during their slower months, so make sure to ascertain these dates before deciding on your vacation schedule. Can’t find any deals online?

Sometimes a simple email or phone call can yield better, more up-to date information.

Turn photos into postcards!

Monday June 22, 2009 3:51 PM By Lucy Blatter

A new iphone app by HazelMail instantly turns photos taken on an iPhone into personalized postcards and then prints, stamps and mails them. The app is free to download and includes one free postcard. Users may pre-purchase a dozen postcards for $12, or $1.50 each. HazelMail.com/iPhone

Summer fun at the ski slopes

Monday June 15, 2009 5:21 PM By Lucy Blatter

Smugglers' Notch features a water playground for kids.

By Emily Mathis

Special to amNewYork

When it’s scorching hot in the city this summer, you may find yourself dreaming of the ski slopes.

So why not head there? Off-season travel offers an affordable option for those looking to escape the heat and humidity. ­

Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont

smuggs.com, 800-419-4615

This mountain resort, nestled in Vermont’s Green Mountains, is 45 minutes west of Burlington, a six-hour drive from New York City.

A common ski destination, the family resort knows how to do summer, too. “It’s completely green,” said Barbara Thomke, PR director at Smugglers. “We make a total switch.”

This summer, it’s 2004 at Smugglers’ Notch, with the resort rolling rates back five years.

The action-packed, Family Fest Package for a family of four (which includes five nights’ accommodations in a one-bedroom condo) is $1,046 — down from $1,575 last year. The package includes guided hiking and garden tours, tennis camp, mystery shows, volleyball, and daily camps for kids ages 3 to 17.

Getting there: By public transportation the closest you you’ll get is Burlington, Vt., which can be reached by plane or Amtrak train. From Burlington, you can rent a car or take a shuttle provided by the resort (for a fee).Hunter Mountain

huntermtn.com, 518-263-5580

Located a little more than two hours north of the city in the Catskills, Hunter is an easy escape.

According to Kim Pickett, a manager at Kaatskill Mountain Club, the area has seen an increase in summer travel thanks to the resort’s new focus on assisting travelers in taking day trips to surrounding areas — including the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the underground caves of Howe Cavern or Woodstock.

Beginning July 5, mountain biking will be offered and the Skyride will open.

Here, the ski chairlift transforms into a 5,500-foot-long ride to the second-highest point in the Catskills, with views of the Berkshires, the Catskills, and the Green Mountains. You can ride or hike back down if you’re so inclined.

From now until Labor Day the Kaatskill Mountain Club hotel is offering third nights free. Weekend rates for studios for a family of four range from $150-$250/night. One-bedrooms range from $200-$375/night.

Getting there: Trailways Bus runs from Port Authority to Hunter Mountain. The 3½ hour trip costs $66 round trip. Tickets for New York to Hunter Mountain are not available on the Internet. Instead, call 800-776-7548.

Killington, Vermont

killington.com, 800-621-6867

The East’s largest ski area doesn’t just shrivel up and die in the summer heat — it gets adventurous.

Their summer adventures package, which includes lodging and a pass to the adventure center, begins at $58 per person per night. The deal must be booked for two nights and is based on four people in one bedroom.

The pass includes access to hiking, K1 gondola rides, alpine slides, mini golf, climbing walls and the quad Pico Power Jump, a trampoline contraption. Mountain biking can be added on for a fee.

Getting there: Killington is a five-hour drive from the city. Amtrak trains run from the city to Rutland, and Killington can be reached by car or by bus. The closest airport is Burlington, from which Killington may be reached by bus.