If you're looking for something unique and entertaining for all ages, head toward Vermont for the 27th annual Stoweflake Hot-Air Balloon Festival.

Voted a Top Ten Event of Vermont, the Stoweflake hot-air balloon festival kicks off Friday, July 12, 2013 at 4 p.m. with festivities and a twilight balloon launch at 6:30 p.m. The event will continue with two additional launches on Sat., July 13th at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and a final launch on Sunday, July 14th at 6:30 a.m.

Watch as more than 25 decorative balloons take flight July 12-14, 2013. Tethered rides are available for $10 per person. Or, you can lift up with the other balloonists for a New England hot-air balloon ride for $275 per person, plus tax (advanced reservations are required for these rides).

Flickr: Bexatious
With Fourth of July right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about where to go to show your independent spirit. It's hard to deny any American city the title of "most patriotic" but Foursquare rounded up some of the more popular ones, if you want to escape for the long weekend.

The social media check-in site looked at check-ins from last year to create the lists of Most Patriotic and Most Historical.

Methodology: Foursquare looked at cities that had the highest jump in check-ins at parks, firework and parades on July 4, 2012. Boston didn't make the list... I guess we have this year to make a better impression. Get our your phones and start checking-in, Boston! The Esplanade will be full of fabulous entertainment next week, so check-in and let us know where you are.

If you feel like traveling, Foursquare says these are the most patriotic cities:

Joining the trendy pop-up trend is the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, just in time for the summer rush.

The Five-Star luxury hotel on the Boston Common is prepping its lobby for summer crowds with a summer favorite: ice cream.

Starting July 3 and running through Sept. 8, the hotel will host an ice-cream pop-up shop featuring ice cream from Gifford's Local Ice Cream. You can grab your $6 scoop Wednesdays through Sundays from 1-4pm.

The pop-up will also offer various ice cream dishes, like the Romeo & Juliet (2 scoops of various flavors for $9), The Kitchen Sink (5 scoops of various flavors for $15) and extra scoops for $3. Each cone comes with a free topping.

Hollywood is nothing without its stars, so why should you be treated like anything less than A-class? On your next visit to Los Angeles, stop by the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and embrace your inner starlet with their new cabana packages, meant to indulge your every command (and provide a little pampering, too).

Now through September, the hotel is offering poolside cabana packages ranging in themes from power couples to cast party, offering everything from Tory Burch sandals to spa treatments. Here's the deal:

Looking to save a little on summer travel? Maybe you have a few extra dollars you're willing to spend? TripAdvisor recently released the results of their annual study that analyzes the costs of a night out and overnight stay (a four-star hotel, cocktails, a two-course dinner paired with a bottle of wine, and round-trip taxi ride) in cities around the globe, giving travelers some insight into cost-effective travel.

Boston ranked third on the list, following Honolulu and New York City.

TripAdvisor looked at prices from June 1 through August 31, and showed the biggest increases happening in Orlando, Denver, Honolulu, L.A. and Seattle. Honolulu was the most expensive U.S. city ($504.94), while Oslo brought in the highest numbers internationally ($581.08). If you're looking for a budget trip, a night out in Vegas will cost you $272.94 and Sofia, Bulgaria, is a bargain at $158.42.

Beer brewing and beer tasting is a new trend in luxury hotels.
It's the little luxury items we look forward to: chocolates on our pillows, a complimentary glass of champagne upon arrival or fuzzy slippers at our beside for turndown service. But all that's about to change, according to one PR company.

Hawkins International PR, based out of New York City, recently revealed their list of the top luxury hotel trends for this summer, looking at what's in, what's out, and what's happening at luxury hotels around the world. Whether you're into food, cocktails or amenities, you might enjoy something different this summer. Take a look:

Top Hops

What's Out: Cooling down with a fruity cocktail
What's In: Cooling down with a beer

Forget fancy cocktails with sugary names and even sweeter taste. This summer, hotels are inviting guests to beat the heat with cold brews. The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC is serving up an exclusive Centennial Pale Ale to celebrate their 100th anniversary, while Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH teamed up with local New England brewery Peak Organic to create the resort's signature Organic Amber Ale.The new Hotel Vermont in Burlington has partnerships with multiple local breweries including Drop-In Brewery and Wolaver Brewery.

Summer is the most popular time to get married. With everything in bloom and the weather at its peak for the year, brides of all ages and incomes are rushing to alter in an effort to capture the best ambiance Boston has to give. There are endless summer wedding venues in Boston, and once the details have been decided upon and the contracts signed, the real question looms: where to go on the honeymoon?

If you're still up in the air with your honeymoon plans this summer, Brides magazines recently ranked the top honeymoon destinations around the world. Here are the top 12:

The much-anticipated Virgin Hotels is set to open in various cities starting next year, bringing a whole new level of hospitality to travelers.

Richard Branson's newest venture announced that it will open a New York City location on the northwest corner of 29th Street and Broadway in the NoMad neighborhood. The New York Virgin Hotel is slated to open in 2016 and feature 300 guestrooms, meeting spaces and restaurants and bars.

"We are delighted to enter the New York market and specifically to play a part in continuing the NoMad neighborhood's growth as a dynamic destination," Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal said in a release. "Virgin's 60 million global customers can't get enough of New York City, and we hope to welcome them all with our trademark style, humor, innovation, and friendly customer service."

In addition to New York City, Virgin Hotels is also developing properties in Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and London. Virgin is expected to announce plans to open a 200-room property in Dallas, according to local Dallas reports. The first hotel, slated for Chicago, is set to open in the second quarter of 2014.

As for Branson: "At long last, the city that never sleeps will get a beautiful and irresistible Virgin Hotel to play, eat, work, mingle, and yes, even to sleep."

Readers: What would you expect to see at Virgin Hotels?

Elbow Beach, Bermuda

If owning your own resort on an idyllic island has always been a dream of yours, one Bermudian resort is ready to make your dreams come true.

Elbow Beach in Bermuda is giving guests the option to buy out the 50-acre beachside resort - the whole resort - for you and 199 of your closest friends. The Resort, the new package offered by the property, comes with everything. Literally. Because it would be yours in its entirety.

If you're not convinced that you would be the most popular person among your friends and co-workers by taking advantage of this package, here's a few things to help convince you:

I'll admit I'm a bit jaded when it comes to hotels. Some would say I'm a "snob", others might call it a "nice life" to be able to stay in luxury hotels around the world. However you view it and whatever you call it, I'm the first one to admit I'm fortunate to have experienced a side of travel journalism that keeps me connected with hotels around the world. It didn't come without hard work, sleepless nights and a perpetual state of jet lag - even when I'm home in Boston - but that's for another time... today is about the moments that capture this journalist's heart, and remind her why she's in that perpetual state of jet lag to begin with.

I'm in Florida right now preparing for the EyeForTravel conference that's taking place this week in Miami. I'm speaking at the event, along with many others in the travel industry, about the state of the market and travel trends in online marketing. I'll be speaking on social media, and how businesses can and should use content as a way to communicate with guests and the media via social media networks (more on that later).

I checked into the Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach before the conference, to see family and catch up on some beach time before three days inside conference rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, where the conference is taking place.

If you've stayed at any Ritz-Carlton before, you know it's the service that sets them apart from their competitors. And while it's no secret I've spent many years covering Ritz-Carlton news and events, and following the brand's efforts on social media and expansion in new markets, I'm still always looking for that extraordinary moment to write about. That simple gesture that turned a bad day into a good one for a guest, the late-night cup of tea that is delivered when you're just off a 2 am flight from China, or a quiet conversation with a staff member. Believe it or not, when you cover hotels as frequently as I do, the employees of these hotels become family - the people you look forward to seeing and catching up with when you return. Which is why what came next truly touched me.

When it comes to summer, exercise and vacation do not always go hand in hand. You spent all winter working out at the gym so you could fit into your summer clothes, why would you want to waste precious beach time lifting weights or tracking miles on the treadmill? Good news, body-conscious travels: hotels around the world are introducing new ways to introduce a little fun into guests' fitness routine.

But before you check-in, it's a good idea to keep your mind and body aligned, says Will Coons, a yoga teacher and massage therapist at StillPointWithin in Provincetown, MA.

"It is just as important to keep yourself in alignment, filled with plenty of fluids and avoiding misuse, as it is for your vehicle," said Coons. Coons recommends you always keep moving, even if it's just a few foot taps or leg lifts at your desk.

Meanwhile, consider combining summer travel with some active ideas. Whether it's a biking tour of Portland or bootcamp in the Swiss Alps, these hotels and tour companies have a wellness adventure for every type of traveler this summer:

The St. Regis New York was ranked the most expensive hotel in New York City. Photo credit: St. Regis/Facebook
New York has it all -- theater, restaurants, shopping. It's also one of the most expensive cities in the world. But if you've got the dough to drop, New York can be one of the best playgrounds in the world.

Imagine for a moment you do have a few extra grand to spend -- how would you spend it in New York City? Shopping on 5th Avenue? Dining at five-star restaurants? Private chauffeurs and shoppers? And where would you stay?

NewYorkHotels.org compiled a list of the most expensive luxury hotels in New York City, and calculated the average room rate for the most affordable double room in each hotel from May 2012 to April 2013. The results: The St. Regis tops the list as the most expensive hotel in New York City with an average of $823 a night for the most affordable room.

The hotels that made the list have everything you'd expect -- luxury amenities, stellar service, and fine dining options and in some cases a spa, but are they worth the cost?

With the unofficial start of summer around the corner, it's officially time to start thinking about your summer travel plans. Whether you're a beachcomber or a mountain climber, there's no denying the allure of a dip in a great pool at the end of the hot day. With that in mind, here's a list of 10 of the hottest hotel pools around the world. Where would you like to take a dip?

Grand Wailea, Hawaii

Grand Wailea, Hawaii: The hotel’s 2,000 foot long, 25,700 square foot, 770,00 gallon Wailea Canyon Activity Pool has an aquatic theme park, thanks to its nine pools that are connected by a river that carries swimmers along at varying speeds, from whitewater rapids to lazy currents. Wailea Canyon also has four waterslides, a whitewater rapids slide, a Tarzan pool with rope swing, the world's first water elevator at the center of a multi-level volcano (you sit on an inner tube that rises and descends with the water level), a sand beach, six waterfalls, caves, three Jacuzzis, an infant pool, and a swim-up bar.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa: The River Bluff Water Experience offers six acres of heated pools, fountains, waterfalls, rivers, and an abundance of poolside lounges. The highlight is the Pedernales River, a water ride utilizing lower gradients and higher volumes of water to create the feel of a natural river. For a more leisurely experience, the 1,200 foot lazy river carries guests around the grand cabana and pool deck areas.

Oil Nut Bay, Caribbean

Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda: Perched on the rocky southeast cliffs of Oil Nut Bay, The Cliffs rental suites each boast a private outdoor infinity plunge pool that blends seamlessly with the boundless Caribbean Sea. The resort’s Beach Club features three infinity pools complete with a tiled waterfall and grotto flowing off the main, 45,000 gallon pool. All three are plastered with recycled glass beads known as Beadcrete, and all pools on the property have salt generator systems. The resort is accessible by boat or helicopter only.

Sunrise on one of Turnbery Isle Miami's 18-hole golf courses.
Mention southeast Florida and the first thing that most people think of is South Beach - white sand beaches draped from end to end in bikini-clad sun-worshippers, volleyball nets, parasailing and partying in the streets. Sure, South Beach has its finer points - a little further down the road and you'll find yourself in Bal Harbour, the tony village coveted by luxury travelers, and you really can't be the entertainment factor on Ocean Drive on any given night. But for those who want a little more privacy and recluse, there's something a little less flashy but just as luxurious only minutes from Miami Beach.

Turnberry Isle Miami, one of Marriott's newest Autograph Collection hotels, is located just minutes from Fort Lauderdale and Miami in the city of Aventura, and is a welcome escape from the mayhem synonymous with South Beach and southeast Florida.

Turnberry Isle Miami sits on two 18-hole championship golf courses, boasts a 25,000 square foot Four-Star Spa, three heated pools and four restaurants. And that's just the beginning.

Take the early morning 3-hour flight to Fort Lauderdale and you can be relaxing at the resort's Laguna pool by lunch. From there, the options are endless.

Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is a the must-do travel experience. Photo credit: Flickr Sarah_Ackerman

To help entice your wanderlusting side, VIRTUOSO TRAVELER, the magazine published by luxury travel network Virtuoso®, published “29 Experiences of a Lifetime." From snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef to escaping to a private island, and learning how to tango in Buenos Aires, the list of experiences spans the globe and gives travelers a glimpse of adventures just waiting to be experienced.

Sure, some of these trips require a good amount of time and money, but here's the good news: there's plenty of time to save, many are quite affordable, and you might even find some inspiration from some of the trips on this list to create your own.

Here's are a couple "lifetime experiences" from Virtuoso:

Prepare your sweet tooth, because next installment of Mandarin Oriental, Boston's pop-up shop is bound to make your mouth water and cure any and all sugar cravings.

After a successful couple months in the pop-up business, Mandarin Oriental, Boston is setting up it's next shop: Oralia’s Pop-Up Cake Shoppe.

Oralia’s Cake Shoppe will feature a four special cakes created by Mandarin Oriental, Boston pastry chef Oralia Perez, who also creates all of the hotel's wedding cakes. The individual servings of cakes will include Boston Cream Cupcake, Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake, Carrot and Cream Cheese Cake and Strawberry Shortcake.

You can grab the cakes to go, or enjoy them with a glass of champagne, or a cup of coffee or tea in the hotel lobby. The cakes are all priced at $10.

The Cake Shoppe, open now, will be available daily from 1:00pm to 4:00pm in the Lobby Lounge next to the fireplace.

Finding the best wine and the best price is always a fascinating hunt for oenophiles, but a few sommeliers west of Boston are hoping to make things easier for you.

The Berkshire Tasting Panel, an experienced group of sommeliers at hotels and restaurants in The Berkshires, kicked off the “Berkshire Summer Wine Challenge” - a challenge to choose a white, rose or red wine, retailing under $20, "that represents all the Berkshires has to offer…artistry, history, poetry, purity, relaxation and lastly great taste."

The panel members were Sommelier Dan Thomas from the Red Lion Inn, Kollin Kozlowski CSW and Wine Director at Kelly’s, Blanytre’s Sommeliere Christelle Cotar and Front End
Manager of Mezze, Caitlin Harrison.

The judges participated in two roundtable blind tastings where each judge selected a rose or red wine out of a group of over 100 samples. On April 22 at Blantyre in Lenox, the judges revealed their choices and announced the “Quintessential Berkshire Summer Wine”
selections.

Here's what the panel had to say about the winning wines, both of which hailed from Spain:

The most surprising choice, our #1 red wine, a Cannanou (Grenache) which the group agreed/guessed was a southern French red, maybe a Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault blend because of its earthy, ripe and mature character. Much to our surprise it was from Sardinia (I guess you could call that “extreme southern France!”). Grenache is a great summer choice, fresh and fruity, with minerality and acid backbone. The same descriptors could be said about Albarino, or even Chacoli for that matter. Ultimately our white wine choice was the Chacoli, produced not far from Rias Baixas, the “green” land of northern Spain. This wine stood out for its purity, lively personality and true sense of terroir.

The entrance of the 45 Park Lane Hotel, London, a Forbes Five-Star hotel
If you're planning a trip to London in the near future, Forbes Travel Guide has some insight to share. The international star-rating company released its first ever star-ratings for London last week, and the results are nothing short of luxurious.

In total, London brought eight Five-Star ratings to the city, ranking London in the top five cities with the greatest Five-Star concentrations (New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Shanghai round out the top five in the world).

The six luxury hotels in London with Five-Star ratings are:

• 45 Park Lane
• Claridge’s
• Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
• The Dorchester
• The Lanesborough
• The Savoy

Luxury is limitless, especially when it blends the best of all words: travel and retail. So when French crystal company Baccarat announced it was planning to open high-end residences, hotels and spas, luxury lovers around the world perked up.

In a statement released by Baccarat, the company plans to open six hotels, resorts and residences by 2016. The locations have been set:

• Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York (2014, shown right)
• Baccarat Hotel & Residences at Dubai Pearl in UAE (2016)
• Baccarat Residences Shanghai in China (2016)
• Baccarat Hotel Rabat, Morocco (2014)
• Baccarat Spa Resort Marrakech (2015)
• Baccarat Resort & Residences Marrakech (2016)

Some of America's finest beers are crafted here in New England. To help bring beer lovers together, the BrewInn was created - an opportunity for beer lovers to embrace travel while taste-testing their way through different brews.

New England Inns & Resorts is made up of nearly 250 properties, many of which have their own breweries or pubs, or have tapped into the local craft beer movement in their area. The BrewInn offerings vary by property, but sample packages include:

Stressed? Maybe stressed? A little stressed? If you're feeling even the slightest bit off this month, Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel, has an overnight package for you.

April is National Stress Awareness Month and what better place to blow off some steam than in New York City? Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel, is offering stress level reduction packages to help keep your stress levels in check. Depending on where your stress level is - high, medium or low - you can enjoy a tech-free room, aromatherapy or yoga in your room.

Here's a breakdown of the deals:

In the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedies, airlines and hotels are waiving cancellation and trip change fees for travelers. If you're in Boston, or you have plans to travel to Boston, here is a list of phone numbers to call for travel changes:

AIRLINES

American Airlines: 1-800-433-7300
AirTran: Call 800-AIR-TRAN (800-247-8726)
Delta: 800-221-1212
JetBlue: 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583)
Southwest Airlines: 1-800-435-9792
United Airlines: 800-864-8331
US Airways: 800-428-4322
Virgin America: 1.877.359.8474

HOTELS

Hotels are also waiving fees for last-minute re-bookings. Here's a list of the major hotel groups and their phone numbers:

Fairmont Hotels: 800-527-4727
Four Seasons: 800-332-3442
Hilton Hotels: 800-445-8667
Hyatt Hotels: 800-233-1234
InterContinental Hotels: 800-327-0200
Kimpton: 800-546-7866
Marriott: 800-831-1000
Preferred Hotels: 800-323-7500
Ritz-Carlton: 800-241-3333
Sheraton Hotels: 800-325-3535
W Hotels: 877-946-8357
Westin Hotels: 800-325-3535
Wyndham Hotels: 800-545-5545

The most important thing at this point is your safety.

If your travel plans are cancelled, or if you need to change your travel plans, rest assured you'll be able to do this with ease.

Watch this space and I'll keep you updated on any more information about travel as it happens.

Ever wondered where Chef Daniel Boulud likes to dine in New York? Or what chocolatier Katrina Markoff craves with her desserts? Or, what spices mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim hides in his hidden cocktails?

Startle.com, the online ratings site for Forbes Travel Guide, recently named their top 40 "Tastemakers" to watch in 2013, and the list will have you salivating for more.

What's a Tastemaker, you wonder? These are the people who make travel a little more delicious. They are your favorite chefs, bartenders, pastry perfectionists, sommeliers and all things epicurean. They are also the ones who create the atmosphere and environment that you enjoy - from barstools to lighting and flatware. They are the ones responsible for wishing you were back at your favorite restaurant, bar or hotel.

Who are some of these Tastemakers?

Healthy eating is a priority for most parents, but how do you keep kids noshing on healthy snacks when on vacation? More hotels are offering healthy food options for kids and families, giving parents a sense of relief when it comes to curbing appetites on-the-go.

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts just announced its partnership with nationally recognized nutritionist and author Keri Glassman to create a new JW Kids Menu. This kids menu is meant to help kids build healthy eating habits while traveling, said the hotel group.

“With kids’ food choices becoming increasingly diverse, we are looking to create dining options that are fresh, healthy and imaginatively tasty,” said Mitzi Gaskins, vice president & global brand manager for JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts. “These items will not only delight kids from a culinary standpoint, but will also let parents know the JW Marriott brand cares about the well-being of their entire family.”

There's luxury travel, and then there's "dreams come true" in luxury travel. This post has a little bit of both.

Imagine walking into your luxury hotel room in the heart of the one of the most fashionable cities in America and finding a closet, pre-stocked, with your favorite designer labels in your size and style. Heaven. In a hotel. All for you.

That's the concept from Miami's newest luxury resort, The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and Residences, and their partnership with Neiman Marcus.

The new service is a spin on the traditional idea of personal shopping. Neiman Marcus, which is located directly across the street from the resort in the trendy Bal Harbour Shops, will personally style a guest's closet in advance of their stay, with items hand-picked from that guest or chosen directly from a Neiman Marcus personal stylist, based on guests' taste and preferences.