The Hotel Palomar Lobby, copyright Kimpton Hotels

We’re starting the week with the Hotel Palomar in Washington D.C. A Kimpton Hotel located close to both Georgetown and Dupont Circle, this boutique property is firmly ensconced in the contemporary art scene. The hotel has 335 guestrooms and suites with flat-screen TVs, complimentary WiFi access, and a fitness center. If you arrive in the evening, you may be in time to enjoy the complimentary evening wine reception – a perfect way to start your romantic getaway. (more…)

Copyright Hotel El Convento

You may not be the beach nuts we are. You may find that it’s a perfectly wonderful vacation if you hit Puerto Rico and never once set foot on some sand. And it’s true, there’s a lot more to this Caribbean island than hitting the ocean. For one thing, with an estimated 400 historic structures, some of which have been around since the 16th century, Old San Juan is a treasure trove of history and Spanish colonial architecture.

Hotel El Convento is but one of those structures. The hotel began life as a Carmelite convent in 1651 and was home to nuns until 1903, when costly repairs forced the then Archbishop of San Juan to give up the building. The building then went through various incarnations including a dance hall, store and outright ruin, until Robert Woolworth of Woolworth’s fame purchased it in 1959 to turn it into a hotel. Now owned by San Juan businessmen, El Convento is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and features Old World styling with New World comfort (think flat-panel TVs with Bose stereos). (more…)

Children’s Museum of Taipei

We’ve begun taking D to children’s museums in our hometown because they provide her with some great stimulation and provide us with something a tad more interesting than the playground. (At least, they’re interesting the first five times you visit…)

Then, several months ago, we came across the website for the Association of Children’s Museums. It hadn’t occurred to us that there was such a thing – an organization to which many of the children’s museums around the world belong. The boon for us has been that we’ve been able to find museums in several destinations we’ve been to, and many we’re planning to get to. There’s even a list of “emerging museums”, worth a look since some of the museums on the list are already operating. With headquarters in Washington DC, the US is best represented, but there are member museums in 23 countries across the world, in locations such as Mexico City, Vienna and Amsterdam.

Many of these museums are well-managed with unique exhibits, often nature- or science-based, that can even teach you a thing or two. We’ve often managed to pick up some local trivia that gives us a new appreciation for the city we’re in. With the opportunity for some serious hands-on play time, this part of the itinerary will be a hit. Which could give you some serious leverage for places you want to hit…