Major chains offering reasonably priced lodging are lined up along Horizon Drive near I-70. Downtown, you'll find a very nice Fairfield Inn & Suites at 225 Main St. ([tel] 970/242-2525), with double rates of $109 to $159 and suites for $159 to $209. ... Read more >
Among the chain properties in town are Travelodge, 165 N. 3rd St. (tel. 800/942-6671 or 307/742-6671), with rooms for $70 to $100 double; and Howard Johnson Inn, 1555 Snowy Range Rd. (tel. 307/742-8371), with double rates of $65. Outside of the chains... Read more >
Phone 626/795-5841 Prices Main courses $12–$24 Cuisine Type Californian/Italian Parking Metered street parking; several nearby public parking garages, 90 minutes free, then $2 per hour. Web site Union
This newcomer (as of March 2014) is a departure for lovely but staid Old Pasadena, one of the most restaurant-saturated neighborhoods in the region, if not the country. The wheat stalks in place of flowers on the tables and the shelves of pickles lining the walls (Chef Bruce Kalman is a well-known vendor at farmers markets) are early clues that you are in the realm of house-cured duck prosciutto, free-range eggs, and meals served on wood slabs. The inspiration is Italian, but the spirit is Californian; witness the spaghetti alla chitarra, with the pasta shaped into a tight cylinder capped with a roasted hot chile. There are more appetizers than entrees, and nothing on the brief menu is exactly what you expect—wild king salmon here comes with bean puree, pickled green almonds and salsa verde—but it mostly turns out to be exactly what you want.
It took a while for this urban outpost to hit Miami, but once it did, it became a favorite for the young hipster set who favor T-shirts that read “Princess” instead of Prada. Cheapish, utilitarian, and funky, it’s an excellent spot to pick up a pair of cool jeans or some funky tchotchkes for your pad.
In addition to boating and other outdoor recreational activities available in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and nearby Curecanti National Recreation Area, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, off-roading, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling on other federal lands in the area. Information is available at the Public Lands Center, 2505 S. Townsend Ave. (tel. 970/240-5300). For camping and fishing gear, bike rentals and repairs, outdoor clothing, and other outdoor recreation items and sporting goods, stop at Jeans Westerner, 147 N. Townsend Ave. (tel. 970/249-3600; www.jeanswesterner.com), with the entrance to its bike facilities around back at 120 N. Selig Ave.
There are more than 9 miles of paved off-street walking and biking trails in Montrose, plus numerous areas for mountain biking in nearby lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. A free map of city trails is available at the visitor center; stop at the Public Lands Center for information on where to ride on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands. You can also obtain maps, information, bike repairs, and accessories at Cascade Bicycles, 21 N. Cascade Ave. (tel. 970/249-7375), and Jeans Westerner, which also rents basic mountain bikes at $29 per day.
The Tabeguache Trail -- which runs 142 miles from Shavano Valley near Montrose to No Thoroughfare Canyon near the Colorado National Monument west of Grand Junction -- is a popular and challenging route for mountain bikers. For information, contact the Colorado Plateau Mountain-Bike Trail Association, P.O. Box 4602, Grand Junction, CO 81502 (tel. 970/244-8877; www.copmoba.org). Bikers can also use the Uncompahgre RiverWay; it's eventually scheduled to connect Montrose with Delta (21 miles north) and Ouray (37 miles south).
For starters, you can drop a line into the Uncompahgre River from Riverbottom Park, reached via Apollo Road off Rio Grande Avenue. Most anglers seek rainbow trout here and at Chipeta Lake, behind the Ute Indian Museum, south of Montrose. About 20 miles east via U.S. 50 is the Gunnison River, which produces trophy-class brown and rainbow trout.
The 18-hole Black Canyon Golf Club, 1350 Birch St. (tel. 970/249-4653), is open year-round, weather permitting. Greens fees are $22 to $30 for 18 holes. The Links at Cobble Creek, 669 Cobble Dr., off Chipeta Drive (tel. 970/240-9542), is another 18-hole course with fees of $35 to $37 for 18 holes.
The best hiking in the area is in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, but there are also paved paths in town and plenty of trails on nearby national forest and Bureau of Land Management parklands. These include the 4.5-mile Ute Trail along the Gunnison River, 20 miles northeast of Montrose; and the 17-mile Alpine Trail from Silver Jack Reservoir in Uncompahgre National Forest, 35 miles southeast of Montrose via Cimarron on U.S. 50. Contact the Public Lands Center for information.
Parikia The port town has three basic hotel zones: agora (the market area), harbor, and beach; alas, all can be very noisy at night. As always in Greece, bring earplugs, in case people walking the streets talk louder than you'd wish after you've gone ... Read more >
Reveillon: New Year's Eve in Rio -- Trust Brazilians to throw a party where everyone is welcome and admission is free. At Rio's annual New Year's Eve extravaganza, millions pack the beach for an all-night festival of music, food, and fun, punctuated by spectacular fireworks. Arrive early and enjoy a New Year's buffet at one of the scores of restaurants or hotels along the beachfront Avenida Atlântica. Music kicks off at 8pm, as people make their way down to the beach until every square inch of sand is packed. By midnight, more than two million have joined the countdown. As the clock strikes midnight, the fireworks begin. Barges moored off Copacabana beach flood the sky with a shower of reds, greens, yellows, and golds. When the last whistling spark falls into the sea, bands fire up their instruments and welcome in the new year with a concert that goes on until wee hours. Many stay all night and grab a spot on the sand when they tire. The event is perfectly safe. During the party, followers of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé mark Reveillon in their own way. New Year's Eve is an important moment in Candomblé, a time when followers make offerings to the sea goddess Yemanjá. Along the beach circles of women dressed all in white light candles and prepare small boats loaded with flowers, mirrors, trinkets, and perfumes. They launch the boats into the surf in hopes of obtaining Yemanjá's favor for the year to come. Cariocas traditionally wear white on New Year's Eve; it's the color of peace and the color worn by devotees of Candomblé to honor Yemanjá. Don a pair of white shorts and a T-shirt, but don't forget your swimsuit. The traditional New Year's Eve "polar bear swim" will be even more tempting when the temperature is a balmy 40°C (105°F). Many Cariocas will also buy flowers to take to the beach and offer these to Yemanjá by tossing them in the ocean. The best way to get to the event is by subway (buy tickets in advance to avoid lines). Most streets in Copacabana are closed to traffic; parking anywhere near the beach is impossible. The Rio newspaper O Globo (www.oglobo.com) normally publishes a full schedule in early December. You can also contact Alô Rio at tel. 021/2542-8080 or 0800/707-1888.
Our Rating Neighborhood around town Amenities Canoeing; Diving; Fishing; Snorkeling; Windsurfing; Tour Desk; Free Parking; On-site Parking; Outdoor Pool (all year)
Condominio Verde Mar features a swimming pool and is only a 10-minute drive from historic downtown San Juan. It is located a 1-minute walk from Isla Verde Beach and next to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport. The studio has basic décor, a fan, wardrobe and a kitchenette with a microwave and fridge. The bathroom includes shower. Guests at Condominio Verde Mar can visit a variety of restaurants that prepare local and international dishes. There is also a grocery store that is a 5-minute walk away. Guests will be able to find casinos and nightlife entertainment within a quarter mile from Condominio Verde Mar. Popular activities in the area are snorkeling and diving, among other water-sports activities. This property is 7 miles from the San Cristobal Castle, and guests can move about the area easily by public transportation and taxi. Kayak rental is included in the room rate.
Dreamcatcher Guest House is located just 100 metres from the beach in the gated community of Ocean Park, San Juan. This property offers on-site yoga and meditation classes, vegetarian breakfast and free Wi-Fi. The house is decorated with vintage furniture and collectibles. Each bright room is air conditioned and includes a dreamcatcher. Suites also have a private bathroom and a terrace. A wide variety of shops, restaurants and bars can be reached within a 5-minute walk, while Old San Juan is just a 10-minute drive from Dreamcatcher Guest House. Dreamcatcher Guest House offers 2 fully equipped shared kitchens, a dining room and a spacious terrace with rocking chairs. Guests can also find a tropical garden protected by dozens of Buddhas. The popular Plaza Las Americas Shopping Centre is 5 km from the property, and guests can reach Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in 10 minutes by car. Free parking can be found in the surrounding streets.
Our Rating Neighborhood Midtown Transportation Metro: Farragut North (L St. exit) Phone 800/424-2970 or 202/223-4320 Prices Year-round weekdays $189–$289; weekends $99–$149. Parking $30 (in adjoining garage). Pets welcome for $25 a day. Children 17 and under stay free in parent’s room Amenities Free passes to nearby full-service Gold’s Gym; room service from Mackey’s restaurant (next door); Wi-Fi (free) Units 99 units Web site The Quincy
The Quincy is nothing fancy, but it’s perfectly adequate, especially for its reasonable rates, which is saying something in this part of town. The White House is a couple of blocks away; the K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue corridors of lobbying, law, and international organization offices are directly south of The Quincy’s L Street location. Weekdays, The Quincy’s clientele draws from these segments—the World Bank has an ongoing contract here. Weekends, the hotel belongs to tourists and families, who appreciate The Quincy’s low weekend rates and convenient access to nearby Metro stops. The Quincy calls all of its rooms “suites,” but not all contain two rooms. Some are open-plan king studios with wet bars (minifridge, microwave, and Keurig coffeemaker), others are simply rooms with two double beds, and queen efficiencies, in which the sofa pulls out into a bed and the full kitchen is in a separate room. All of the suites are 400 square feet in size.