Violet Thorn at the Verve, Crown Plaza Natick

Last week, the Crowne Plaza in Natick, Massachusetts, right across from the Natick Mall (the largest indoor mall in New England), revealed their metamorphosis into The Verve, Crowne Plaza Natick.  The 18-month, $25 million renovation turned the standard business hotel into a Metrowest Boston hotspot.

The lobby bar, once a standard hotel bar, has been rebranded to Violet Thorn, a flashy bar which is more reminiscent of Vegas than Metrowest Boston.  The old steakhouse restaurant has been completely transformed into the Pantry, a retro restaurant celebrating the art of cooking.  Fun features include utensil light fixtures, a TV playing cooking segments, and a wall of milk bottles.  The lobby has also been completely renovated with a fun, American pop culture vibe, and local business Bose designed a special sound system which plays popular tunes from decades past.

Business travelers will appreciate the improved WiFi in the conference rooms, and the recently renovated hotel rooms, while casual travelers will love the location right across the street from the Natick Mall, the restaurant, and the lobby shop with ice cream and coffee.  The Verve, Crowne Plaza Natick is just about 15 miles from Boston, and is conveniently located right off of Route 90 (The Massachusetts Turnpike).

Crowne Plaza Boston Hotel – Natick
1360 Worcester Street
Natick, Massachusetts 01760
877.384.0706

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

A Room at the Colonnade Hotel

Looking for a fabulous winter break in Boston for this upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend?  Combine the Colonnade Hotel’s popular Frosty Friday’s package with their Valentine’s Dinner Menu, which is being offered as a special on the evenings of February 10-13th at the on-site restaurant, Brasserie JO.  This fun, romantic dinner includes four courses – appetizer, salad, fish, meat, and dessert.

If you’d prefer to stay overnight over Valentine’s Day (on a Tuesday this year), you can book the Overnight Escape at the Colonnade Hotel and combine it with the Valentine’s Day Dinner at Brassiere JO.  The package including deluxe accommodations for two and a full American breakfast in Brasserie JO (the dinner is separate).  Rates start at $249 per night, excluding tax and gratuities.

The Colonnade Hotel, a four-star boutique hotel that recently completed a $25 million renovation, is centrally located right in the Back Bay section of Boston.  You can walk right across the street to the Shops at Prudential Center and Copley Place.  Newbury Street, the Boston Public Garden, Symphony Hall, and Boston’s South End are walking distance away.

The Colonnade Hotel
120 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA
1-800-962-3030

Photo credit: The Colonnade Hotel

The Haute Chocolate Package at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead

Valentine’s Day is coming up in less than a month – have you made your plans yet?  One option is to experience one or more of the fabulous Haute Chocolate Experiences at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta, GA.  From February 1, 2012 through Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2012, there’s a different chocolate event going on that would be a great experience for any Valentine’s Day celebration.

Some standouts on the schedule include the “Haute Couples, Haute Chocolate” Candy-Making Class on Saturday, February 11, 2012.  Make it a weekend getaway, and also attend the Haute Chocolate Sundae Brunch on Sunday, February 12, 2012.  If you are planning to stay through Valentine’s Day (this year on a Tuesday), the whole fourteen day celebration ends with a special dessert – the Two Hearts are One” Dessert in The Café.

The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead offers 510 elegant, luxurious hotel rooms including 56 suites.  The hotel is located in the popular, trendy, Buckhead area of Atlanta, and in close proximity to the MARTA mass transit.  Amenities include a fitness center, indoor pool, business center, valet park, 24-hour in-room dining, wireless internet access, and flat-screen televisions.

The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead
3434 Peachtree Road, N.E.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Phone: (404) 237-2700

Photo credit: The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead

Yosemite Lodge green prototype room

One of the most awe-inspiring views in California’s Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Falls. Gawkers stand for hours at the base and hikers venture up the trail to the top. When you plan your vacation to the park, why not stay as close as possible—Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

Take advantage of the opportunity to get even closer to nature by staying in one of the new green rooms. Two of the 245 rooms at the lodge have been redesigned to be environmentally friendly as a first step to eventually get all the rooms to follow suit. The green rooms include electronic key cards, insulation made from recycled newspaper, double-pane windows, fixtures to reduce water consumption, organic cotton sheets, recycled flooring, and more.

Now that you’re all hyped up to be green at Yosemite, take note that since these are only two rooms, they may be difficult to get. When you make your reservation, make your preference known, and you may snag one. But if you don’t, you’ll be happy to know that other aspects of the hotel follow environmentally friendly practices.

Yosemite National Park seems like the ideal place to be green.

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, 801-559-4884
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

Photo courtesy of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls

More Yosemite-related information:
Award-Winning Ahwahnee in Yosemite Delivers Best Lunch