HERE
THE CAT COMES TO SUGARLOAF
Ski aficionados will be thrilled to know that Sugarloaf Mountain Resort will debut Maine’s first cat-skiing operation on Burnt Mountain this winter. No, this doesn’t involve skiing with your favorite feline in tow. Cat-skiing allows adventurous skiers and snowboarders to access deep powder and steep terrain by being transported up the mountain in a snow cat, a grooming machine with a cabin on the back with seating for up to 12 passengers. At Burnt Mountain, previously only accessible by hiking or skiing in, two snow cats will operate in tandem to climb more than 1,400 vertical feet before dropping skiers into 100-plus acres of powder in the resort’s signature side country. Shuttles depart every 20 minutes. Recommended for expert skiers only. Single cat rides range from $20 to $30, plus the price of a lift ticket. 800-843-5623, sugarloaf.com/the-mountain/burnt-mountain-cat-skiing-x2827
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VINTAGE DEPARTMENT STORE DEBUTS AS HOTEL
Those heading to the historic town of Salem this winter — perhaps to the Peabody Essex Museum or the town’s witch-related homes and museums — now have a new and comfy place to stay. The Hotel Salem, the newest property from boutique Lark Hotels collection, is a 44-room hotel located in the former Newmark’s Department Store building on the city’s Essex Street pedestrian mall. Boasting a combination of midcentury furnishings and funky details from the 1950s and 1960s, the vintage-themed hotel offers affordable micro king rooms, lofted suites, compact king deluxe accommodations with trundle beds, and the 500-square foot signature Lark Suite. Scheduled to open soon: Counter, a full-service restaurant, and The Roof, a seasonal rooftop bar and restaurant with views of the cityscape and nearby harbor. Rates from $159 based on room type, season, and availability. 978-451-4950, www.thehotel
salem.com
THERE
CUSTOMIZED CAVE EXPLORATION
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Push your limits, face your fears, or express yourself creatively in Solitude, a new experience offered by Canmore Cave Tours in the mountains of Alberta, Canada. Solitude is an intense experience designed for a personal underground exploration of Rat’s Nest Cave in Grotto Mountain. The customized experience is for you, your close friends, and guide who will have private use of the entire cave to do anything you want, including photography, recording music, making a Go Pro action movie, or simply enjoying the quiet space. Canmore Cave Tours provides all of the necessary caving equipment including coveralls, kneepads, gloves, helmet and headlamp, harness and safety lanyard, and backpack. The six-hour tour includes four hours underground. Two cavers $499; each
additional caver $129. 877-317-1178, www.canmorecavetours.com/
experiences/solitude
COOK, CYCLE WITH CHEFS IN SICILY
Those who love cycling and also love cooking may want to check out the new Sicily Chef Bike Tour by Tourissmo (May 5-12). Cohosted by two celebrity chefs from California, Chef Traci Des Jardins and Chef Mary Sue Milliken, the tour aims to connect the geography and products of the area (artichokes! figs! almonds! olive oil!) to its rich gastronomic traditions. The all-inclusive program includes bikes, two guides, accommodations, all meals, wine, beer, and cappuccino, support vehicle to carry luggage, and more. Highlights include experiences such as market-to-table cooking with local chef, learning and cooking Sicilian recipes, visit and tasting at Planeta Winery, and tours of historic architecture. Price per person in double room: $4,595. 857-997-0051, www.tourissimo.travel/sicily-chef-bike-tour-2018
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EVERYWHERE
LUGGAGE STORAGE WEBSITE DEBUTS
Tired of hauling suitcases and backpacks around a city before check-in or after checkout? LuggageHero might be your the perfect solution. Launching in New York City this month (and already available in London and Copenhagen), the website allows you to store your bags by the hour in more than 140 certified shops, cafes and hotels located in all boroughs, including the neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Park Slope, Flushing, Astoria, NoLita, Flushing, Midtown, SoHo, and many more. Simply locate a convenient storage site online, reserve your spot, show up, and check in your luggage. Each bag will be secured with a tamperproof seal, and its contents insured for up to $2,000. Introductory rate (through Jan. 1): $1 per hour with a maximum of $7 per day per piece of luggage. Can be stored for multiple days. No fees are charged until bags are dropped off. luggagehero.com
GLOVES MADE FOR SPEED
Motorcycle enthusiasts can stay warm and look stylish with Velomacchi Speedway Gloves, part of a new line of adventure products inspired by tradition and the best carry-technology for those who pursue speed. Featuring soft deerskin palms for dexterity and goatskin backs for abrasion protection, the glove was inspired by classic flat track and road racing gloves that were hand-built from the 1960s and 1970s, gloves once worn by legends such as Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Ray Carroll. Other features include conductive finger and thumb for touch-screen navigation, high-impact TPU dorsal guards for finger protection and goggle wipe, reinforced brass rivets on hypothenar impact zone, and Velcro closure at wrist. Available in solid black, and tan/black. $159. www.velomacchi.com/products/speedway-gloves