Short-term rentals are experiencing a boost for this year’s Memorial Day.
03.05.2024 - 21:37 / forbes.com
Summertime in the Texas can really heat up. When temperatures spike, Texans and those who visit have two choices when they want to cool down. They can stay indoors and crank the AC, or head for water—if the drought hasn’t dried it up.
From the Texas Hill Country to Houston, there is an intricate system of natural, spring-fed, meandering rivers where families and friends spend time tubing, swimming, and picnicking along the shore. The 230-mile Guadalupe River, which runs from Central Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, is famous for floating, especially near San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio and Kerrville’s Schreiner Park. It’s easy to find outfitters who rent inner tubes, kayaks and canoes, and the crystal-clear Guadalupe is spring-fed so it never runs dry. The Comal River, near New Braunfels, is an easy float for families. And the Frio River, near Concan and Garner State Park, is a beauty. But it’s been a dry season so far: Before you venture forth, make sure to check that water levels are high enough for tubing.
In Boerne, in the Texas Hill Country approximately 40 miles outside San Antonio, the 72-acre Lazy River Ranch, a private property up for sale, went viral on social media when images of its resort-size lazy river were revealed. Temperature-controlled and fully lit, it features a custom-built bridge, green space with a sunken patio, fire pit, swim-up bar and a waterfall for $4.85 million.
Several Texas hotels also offer man-made lazy rivers, where you can float your boat (raft or tube, more likely) any time, with all the amenities of a full-service hotel, i.e., cocktail or mocktail in hand. Hotel lazy rivers are great fun for kids and grownups, too. “Lazy rivers have broad appeal—perfect for multi-generational trips—offering fun and intrigue, as well as relaxation and changing scenery as you float along,” says Allen Hunt, Director of Spa & Recreation at the Marriott Marquis Houston, home to a renowned rooftop lazy river in the shape of the state of Texas.
“Our sixth-floor Altitude Rooftop & Pool is essentially a resort in the sky of downtown Houston, where people come from far and wide to take the 15-minute float around the Lone Star State,” he continues. Not only the ultimate leisure activity, a lazy river can provide a workout, according to Hunt. “Walking backwards against the current provides a great leg workout as you stride against the current. It’s a great precursor to morning laps in our infinity pool,” he says.
At the Marriott Marquis Houston Hotel, the lazy river known as “Texas,” for its shape, is 530 feet long and holds 140,000 gallons of water. Located on a sixth-floor rooftop with gorgeous circumferential views of Houston, it sits above the hotel’s main ballroom—the largest in
Short-term rentals are experiencing a boost for this year’s Memorial Day.
In the heart of Sonoma Plaza, amidst charming boutiques and welcoming tasting rooms offering the finest local wines, sits the El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen. In the hospitality world, luxury is continually redefined. It is no longer just about opulence or extravagance. True luxury lies in experiences that touch the soul, ambiance that exudes warmth, and service that anticipates every need. It is about creating memories that linger long after the visit ends. El Dorado in Sonoma, California, exemplifies this new standard by seamlessly blending elegance with comfort. Admittedly, when I first visited El Dorado six years ago I thought it was just a restaurant. But El Dorado is more than just a restaurant; it is a hotel that radiates charm, comfort, and unparalleled hospitality with direct access to many of the best wineries in Sonoma County.
“The Isole Pontine are very special to me. I have been visiting Ventotene and Ponza, the larger two of the six islands, since I was a child, as my family was one of the first to buy property on Ventotene. My mother was born in Rome, and it’s where my parents first met. Even though we lived abroad all our lives, we always returned to Italy to visit relatives. My family’s a bit unusual in that Romans tend to holiday more in Ponza, whereas Ventotene is more Neapolitan.”
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