NEW APP FOR FINDING GREAT TRAILS STATEWIDE
Download the new Go Trustees app, produced by The Trustees of Reservations, and discover some of the top places in the state to hike, cross-country ski, and snowshoe. The free app, which works on Apple and Android devices, currently highlights 20 Trustees properties that have established trail networks, from Windsor’s Notchview Reservation to World’s End in Hingham. Each listing includes info on flora, fauna, current weather conditions, and events, such as kayak trips and special vacation programs. Find a property using the GPS-powered map, or a ZIP code search and integrated driving directions. The interactive app tracks your progress using smartphone mapping technology, and provides real-time guidance and trail options while you’re on the go. An added benefit: The app works offline, meaning trail maps and other features are available to you even if you lose cell reception. www.thetrustees.org
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GET COOKING IN MAINE
Learn how to cure and smoke your own bacon and how to create the perfect popover in a series of cooking classes at the Alden House Inn in Belfast, Maine. The inn in an 1840 Greek Revival-style house hosts its winter classes through March, appealing to cooks of all levels. Three different Chinese cooking classes focus on stir frying; soups, appetizers, and veggies; and other traditional techniques, such as steaming and slow cooking. Or consider classes on fish, soups and chowders, or eggs. Alden House chefs and proprietors Larry Marshall and Rose Cyr lead the classes, which range from $35 to $60; advance reservations required. Lodging available to out-of-town visitors taking a class; room rates start at $159 per night. 207-338-2151, www.thealdenhouse.com
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HALF-PRICE DEALS FOR SEATTLE MUSEUM MONTH
Visit two dozen of Seattle’s top museums for 50 percent off admission during the month of February if you stay at one of 54 participating downtown Seattle hotels (another 16 museums offer free admission). The inaugural Seattle Museum Month runs through Feb. 28, and gives up to four guests half-price deals to the Seattle Art Museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Flight, Pacific Science Center (excluding the Pompeii exhibition), Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, and Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum. Or visit a few regional museums, including the USS Turner Joy in Bremerton and Tacoma’s Museum of Glass. See the website for a full list of participating museums and hotels. www.seattlemuseummonth.com
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TASTES TOURS OF MONTREAL
Discover the flavors of Montreal through new culinary tours that will run Feb. 20-March 1. Montreal en Lumiere’s walking tours include A Tour of Quebec’s Local Cheeses, during which you’ll discover the city’s finest cheese shops (pictured) and enjoy a cheese fondue in Old Montreal; Flavours and Aromas of Old Montreal, when you’ll stop to sample creations at boutiques in the city’s oldest neighborhood; Chocolate Montreal, which includes a visit to Montreal’s most respected chocolate maker, a cooking school demonstration, and a stop at a chocolate factory (pictured); A Culinary Experience: The Progressive Dinner, which includes a three-course meal divided into three different locations; and Food Tour in Little Burgundy/St-Henri, Montreal’s Cradle for Culinary Innovation, which includes visits to some of the city’s trendiest restaurants and boutiques. Rates range from $52 to $110 per person; reservations required.
855-864-3737,www.montrealenlumiere.com
Everywhere
BIG MEMORY IN A SMALL DEVICE
Samsung’s new solid state drive, called the Samsung Portable SSD T1, measures about the size of a smartphone battery and can hold up to one terabyte of information. The featherweight drive is blazing fast, able to transfer a 3GB movie in about eight seconds with USB 3.0. Set a password so that no one can access your data and other info if your device gets lost or stolen. Since the device is a solid state drive, you don’t have to worry if it gets dropped or banged around during your travels. The drive must be activated on first use: Plug it into your computer, name the device, choose to set a password, and then it’s ready to use. $179.99 (250GB) to $599.99 (1TB). 866-726-4249, www.samsung.com/us
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RECORD YOUR ADVENTURES WITH 360-DEGREE VIEWS
Take the V.360° on your next summit hike, ski outing, or other adventure and capture 360-degree views. The device records outstanding, high-quality images in all directions, with a vertical angle of 45 degrees up and 15 degrees down. Best of all, there’s no distortion, and no stitching involved. The 8 megapixel camera takes still shots at up to 30 frames per second, and shoots high-def videos at up to 6480 x 1080 pixels. Use the included remote control to operate the camera on the go. The Bluetooth- and WiFi-compatible V.360° works with Apple and Android devices, and is waterproof, and shock, dust, and vibration resistant. It comes with two strong adhesive mounts that let you easily attach the camera to helmets, skis, or kayaks, for instance, and a GoPro adapter (all pictured) so you can use it with GoPro’s many mounts. Or attach a tripod to the camera using the tripod mount thread. $399. www.v360life.com
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