As most of you saw from yesterdays post, we had an amazing weekend test driving the 2015 Chevy Impala on our recent road trip to Newport, RI. While taking this beauty on the road a few things became quickly apparent: one was the slimmed down stature and sporty profile of the Impala’s that I used to know, which were large but a bit cumbersome.
One of the most amazing weekend getaways you can take is one to Newport, RI. Famous for their opulent, gilded-era mansions and sailing culture, this charming New England enclave is only 3 hours from New York and 1 hour from Boston.
Founded in the colonial era, the entire area has a rich history which includes settlers, commerce, pirates, riches and a major role in the Revolutionary War. We recently hit the road with Chevrolet testing out the 2015 Impala and spent an amazing weekend touring this town and soaking up all it had to offer. With so many incredible places to visit we barely scratched the surface of our list (we’re okay with it, it just means we have to go back).
One of the most amazing weekend getaways you can take is one to Newport, RI. Famous for their mansions tours and sailing culture, this charming New England enclave is only 3 hours from New York and 1 hour from Boston. We recently hit the road with Chevrolet to spend an amazing weekend touring this town.
Normally, when James and I travel we’re obsessed with reading everything on Tripadvisor and reaching out to our networks for all the must-do’s so we can try them and report back for our guides. However, with a 36 hour trip to Dallas we were so enamored by all that the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas had to offer, we decided not to leave the property.
Let’s start with the fact that the Palacio Del Inka hotel has a history as Pizarro’s palace and an Incan Temple. It’s luxurious, recently renovated and does an outstanding job of preserving and displaying history with thoughtful and attractive decor. Even if you don’t stay at this hotel, stop by for a drink or tour the lobby, courtyards and common rooms.
Due to the high altitude, when we first flew into Cusco, we left immediately for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu and we were excited to explore it on our way back. Cuzco is a magnificent city which dwarfs anything around it and is filled with great architecture, history and food. Being so high above sea level means having to watch your physical activity, but since we had already acclimated in the Sacred Valley for a week we felt pretty good to go.
In our previous travel guide, we talked about getting into the region and heading towards the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. After doing these activities, you can make a fun day trip with travel back towards Cusco.
A few days into our trip through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu we headed about 10 minutes away from the town center of Urubamba, went up an unassuming dirt road and arrived at the Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba hotel. Traveling through some local farms and ranches, the hotel is located in a secluded nook of the Peruvian highlands, with postcard views all around. Being that the hotel itself is so new and the area so private, it was hard for our cab driver to figure out where it was. I see that as a great feature and luckily, I printed out step by step directions.
One of the seven wonders of the world and a testament to the abilities of the Inca people, Machu Picchu sits high in the Andes, its location so remote that it remained undiscovered by the outside world until 1911. While we traveled all over Peru, this segment was the focus of our trip. Many choose to hike the Inca trail (Enigma Aventure Tours came highly recommended to us by friends), however we wanted to explore the Sacred Valley and see everything (or at least get a taste) so we carved out 10 days to explore the region with stops at every town and visits to a variety of hotels, restaurants and activities.
After our arrival to the Sacred Valley of Peru, we headed straight to Urubamba to acclimate at the famed Tambo Del Inka hotel. This award winning resort that’s included in the Libertador, Starwoods, and Luxury Collection Hotel portfolios is conveniently located halfway between Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Spending your first night in a luxury hotel when entering this high altitude region is a godsend. This was the perfect place to acclimate, even with our precautionary prescriptions, we were starting to feel heavy and short of breath in the high altitude.
