Six Good Reasons Your Family Should Pack Up This

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Taking to the waves at
Kalon Surf luxury resort
Good Reasons
BY
Cruising on the
Norwegian Getaway
ELIZABETH WOODSON
Playing golf at
Four Seasons Lanai
Kicking back
in Sicily at Oliva
Your Family Should Pick Up, Pack Up, and
Hit the Road (or Get Airborne) This Summer
Absorbing the culture
of Kyoto, Japan, at the
Golden Pavilion
Huw Beaugie (Oliva), Pawel TOczynSKi/geTTy imageS (KyOTO)
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Hitting the road
with Airstream 2 Go
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Nothing says summer travel better than a good ol’
fashioned road trip. But somehow, strapping the
kids into the car and setting off seems perfect in your
head — until you realize that multiple cramped hours
with stir-crazy young passengers maybe isn’t the
ideal way to go.
Enter Airstream 2 Go, a new RV rental service
that leases retro-chic 23- and 28-foot Airstream
campers attached to GMC Yukon Denalis. Peak
season rates start at $3,080 for a four-day glam
odyssey. The distinctive silver bullets are both mod
and modern with their wood paneling, contemporary
styling, leather couches, high-thread-count sheets,
barbecue grills, flat-screen TVs, and iPads. Pickup
locations in LA, Las Vegas, and Bozeman, Mont.
800-780-9880; airstream2go.com
2 suggested itineraries
1 Drive 120 miles east from
la to Palm Desert, where
you can check into the
new ritz-Carlton, rancho
mirage. then, continue on to
Vegas, where just-opened
restaurants and stage debuts
(including the kid-friendly
Far east folklore-inspired
musical Panda! at the Palazzo
Hotel) offer enticing new
reasons to park here awhile.
1 or head to California’s
Yosemite National Park,
which celebrates its 150th
anniversary this year with
film festivals, exhibitions,
and the like.
Trip planning made easy
Rather not bother with the trip details and logistics
yourself? Airstream 2 Go offers a bespoke planning
service in partnership with luxury adventure outfitter
Off the Beaten Path.
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Because out West, the great
American road trip has
gone retro-cool.
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Because
Costa Rica’s
unspoiled,
eco-travel
game is
still going
strong.
Costa Rica’s profile has
undoubtedly risen exponentially
in recent years, but you can still
find worthy spots left to discover.
Case in point: The Osa Peninsula,
which juts off the country’s
southern coast into the Pacific.
Large swaths of protected rain
forest, blissfully empty beaches,
small villages void of tourism,
and lush landscapes overflowing
with thrilling pursuits charm
adventure-minded families.
4 fun things to do on the Osa
1 Paddle out
into the Pacific
on your board
and ride the
waves of the
peninsula’s
excellent surf
breaks.
1 Hike rainforest trails to
catch a glimpse
of native flora and
fauna, including
endangered
jaguars and a
new species
of bat recently
discovered here.
1 Scale 70 feet
up towering
jungle trees with
local operator
Psychotours.
psychotours.com
1 Swim alongside
spinner dolphins
in the wild on
naturalist-led
excursions with
Costa Cetacea.
costacetacea.com
Hot hotel
Kalon Surf, the luxury surf camp resort,
reopened in a beautiful new hilltop retreat on the
peninsula in March. Seven-night, all-inclusive stays
(from $2,340 per person for family-friendly rooms)
include five days of surf coaching (customized
to whatever level you’re at), organic meals
prepared by a private chef (and using ingredients
grown on the property’s 7 acres of grounds),
Pilates classes, massages, and round-trip airport
transfers from San Jose. Families welcome.
011-1-646-25-72-107; kalonsurf.com
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Oliva
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You’ll find this seven-bedroom villa along Sicily’s western
coast, roughly 50 miles south of Palermo, the island’s capital
city. Think of it as a modern-day take on a Sicilian baglio
(a traditional type of dwelling with an interior courtyard):
Rooms, all clean lines and neutral tones, surround a lovely
shaded internal terrace. The whole space is a brilliant study in
indoor-outdoor living, with numerous patios, outdoor dining
areas, and an expansive pool that looks out over olive groves
straight to the sparkling ocean beyond. From $11,900 per week.
thethinkingtraveller.com
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Because there’s
more bubbling
on Sicily than
just lava.
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While there, don’t miss …
Masseria
Costanza
Masseria Costanza
Azzurra
Seldom can you call a coastal nature reserve your
backyard, but you can at this villa, one of the most
exciting accommodations to debut in Sicily this year.
Located in the heart of the Vendicari Nature Reserve
on the island’s south coast, this meticulously restored,
rustic-chic retreat — once a working farm during the
1800s — now features six bedrooms and public spaces
done up in a white-on-stone scheme and punctuated
by historic details. The farm’s original stone olive
press serves as a striking architectural feature. From
$11,773 per week. thethinkingtraveller.com
Palermo, a must-see city for those
looking to discover Sicily’s modernday cultural scene, hosts several new
experiences to keep travelers busy.
1 February saw the opening of
the Ecomuseo Urbano Mare
Memoria Viva, an eco-museum that
explores Palermo’s relationship with its
surrounding waters in three exhibition
spaces across the city.
1 the scenic Utveggio Castle is
now open to the public on weekends
and public holidays. explore the
neo-gothic-inspired palace built atop
mount Pellegrino during the 1920s and
take in sweeping Palermo views.
1 the recently reopened Palazzo
Riso, an 18th-century, Sicilian baroque
palazzo that now houses Sicily’s most
extensive contemporary art museum,
the museo regionale d’arte moderna
e Contemporanea di Palermo.
1 last year, Sicily also instituted
a travel ban on 23 of its most
important works of art (including
several Caravaggio paintings). So,
museums such as Palermo’s Galleria
Regionale della Sicilia and Museo
Regionale di Arte Mediovale e
Moderna will be the only places in
the world to view such treasures for
the foreseeable future.
Oliva
While there, don’t miss …
Reserve this three-bedroom villa for
one of the most enviable settings in
all of Sicily: Located near the quaint
fishing village of Brucoli, 30 miles
south of Catania, the villa sits right
on a protected bay — literally. In fact,
the seawall serves as Azzurra’s back
fence. As a guest, you have access to
your own private boat jetty (perfect
for catching a boat taxi to one of the
breezy, waterfront seafood restaurants
nearby), tiny pebble-strewn beach,
plunge pool, and expansive front
lawn. From $3,810 per week.
thethinkingtraveller.com
While there, don’t miss …
sicily has been called one of the world’s most
exciting wine regions today — in part because
of the new wave of winemakers embracing
the indigenous, highly complex grapes grown
around mount etna and digressing from the
island’s history of overproducing cheaper,
heavier wines in favor of fresh, lively, smallbatch pours. owned by the prominent benanti
winemaking family, azzurra exposes visitors
to the movement firsthand by arranging
private tours of the family winery on
mount etna’s slopes, along with visits to
neighboring vineyard estates. even though the
kids can’t appreciate what’s in the glass, they
can enjoy the majestic setting and the lessons
they’ll learn as they sample the local food and
immerse themselves in the culture.
Huw beaugie (oliva)
Azzurra
Huw beaugie (azzurra), giaComo Foti (masseria)
The Mediterranean island of Sicily
ticks a number of boxes on the
ideal family travel destination list.
For starters, its picture-perfect
landscape — from the gorgeous
beaches and lush stretches of
countryside, to the smoking
craters of Mount Etna (Europe’s
tallest active volcano), which rises
nearly 11,000 majestic feet into
the sky — is ripe for exploration.
Then there are the mind-enriching
experiences: Ancient Greek and
Roman archeological sites, Arabic
structures, and Norman churches
teach 2,500 years’ worth of history
and cultural exchange, while sunbleached Baroque towns and artistic
treasures found across the land
provide lessons in both architecture
and the visual arts.
But while visitors may be
well-versed in paying homage to
Sicily’s natural and historic charms,
a new generation of government
officials, business owners, chefs,
gallerists, and the like hopes to
expose travelers to the island’s
undiscovered and reborn sides.
Sicily’s new family-friendly villas
(all with multiple bedrooms,
extensive living spaces, and gourmet
kitchens) provide ample opportunity
to get up close to this renaissance.
Here’s where to book now and
what to do nearby.
1 the beaches along Sicily’s
southeastern coast, some
of the island’s most beautiful
and least spoiled; the vendicari
Nature reserve lays claims to a
particularly stunning stretch of
undiscovered coastline. access
the wetland’s beaches via a path
from the villa, which wanders
through lemon groves and
past marshes full of migrating
flamingos and herons.
1 exploring the picturesque
southern Baroque towns of
Modica, Noto, and Ragusa.
the area has just opened to
international travel, with the
former military-exclusive Comiso
airport accepting civil traffic
since last august (budget carrier
ryanair runs direct flights from
both london and rome).
1 the food scene, as the
southern region is home to a
buzzy culinary culture.
modica is known for its aztecstyle chocolate producers.
Sample some of the best at
Laboratorio Don Puglisi.
wander about Noto’s beautiful
uNeSCo-protected baroque
palazzos, then stop into
Caffè Sicilia for gelato. the
café’s pastry chef, Corrado
assenza, a modern master
in the subject matter, dishes
out singularly unique complex
creations in flavors such as
agrumi (a type of citrus fruit),
jasmine, and rose.
in ragusa, experience the
new regional cuisine that has
taken off in Sicily in recent years.
it’s best sampled at the michelinstarred Ristorante Duomo,
where chef Ciccio Sultano’s
dishes that use indigenous
ingredients in unexpected ways
have made him a prominent
face of the movement.
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How the two ships
match up
Norwegian Getaway
Launched: February
Back story: Call norwegian’s 4,028-passenger
Getaway a Vegas-style megaresort on the
water, with 28 restaurants, countless bars, a huge
casino and spa, and a broadway-style theater.
Family-friendly: the ship caters to kids of all
ages with its top-deck aqua park (complete with
five multistory water slides and a Spongebobthemed water play area); trilevel sports complex
with a rock climbing wall, ropes obstacle course,
and zip line; plus kids and teen clubs, where youth
13-17 can learn how to spin from top-tier dJs.
Luxe factor: in the haven, norwegian’s shipwithin-a-ship concept, guests staying in the
all-suite enclave get butler service, upgraded
amenities, and access to an exclusive pool,
restaurant, and lounge.
Ports of call: this summer, the Getaway trolls the
Eastern Caribbean during seven-day,
round-trip voyages from miami to the u.S. virgin
islands, the british virgin islands, and nassau,
the bahamas.
More info: 866-234-7350; ncl.com
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Because families have
exciting new ways
to go anchors away
with one new and one
renovated cruise ship
to discover.
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ingrid Fiebak-kremer (Slide); matt StroShane (avengerS, diSney magiC)
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the Getaway’s
kid’s aqua Park
Disney Magic’s
Avengers Academy
Disney Magic
Relaunched: last october
Back story: received a stern-to-hull makeover. the
2,700-passenger ship now includes enhancements such as
expanded dining options (the led lights dinner show “drawn
to magic” at animator’s Palate, for example), a larger spa, and
redesigned adult-friendly spaces.
Family-friendly: already one of the best family ships,
the Magic has upped the ante with chill-inducing new features,
such as a three-story, 20-foot AquaDunk body slide that sends
brave riders zooming down a transparent tube that curves out
over the ship’s side, before ending in a splash pool. in the new
nephews’ Splash Zone, huey, dewey, and louie preside over
water spouts, tipping buckets, and a kiddie pool. the kids Club
now has an Avengers Academy, for youngsters looking to
channel their inner iron man.
Luxe factor: teens can now get in touch with their sybaritic side
at the new Chill Spa, which offers hot chocolate body wraps,
acne facials, and other services geared toward ages 13-17.
Ports of call: in summer, the Magic explores Mediterranean
cities, including barcelona, Florence, naples, nice, and rome.
More info: 800-951-3532; disneycruise.com
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AS ON
Maui is dusting off
its luxury chops with
new and renovated
hotels, restaurants, and
experiences set to lure
in visitors. Add in its
neighboring sister island
of Lanai, which — thanks to
its new owner Larry Ellison
(Oracle CEO and the thirdrichest man in the U.S.)
and his rumored billiondollar investment — is
being totally re-imagined,
and it’s little wonder
that these two Hawaiian
isles are shaping up to
be among the summer’s
hottest destinations.
MAUI
STAY
Andaz Maui at Wailea
opened last fall, the andaz injects a heady dose
of beachy, poly-chic into maui — think an openair lobby with a sand pit, three-level sleek
infinity-edge pool, and 297 modern rooms
and villas. the whole effect is very Hawaiian for
the 21st century, from the apothecary spa to the
farm-to-table restaurant Ka’ana Kitchen, where the
breakfast menu includes dishes such as Kalua Pork
benedict. request a first-floor room in the makai
Wing, and you can step directly out to the pool.
From $499. 808-573-1234; maui.andaz.hyatt.com
45-minute family photo session at the on-site
photo studio.
this summer, the 380-room hotel is debuting a
new look for its presidential suites, to the
tune of $3 million. the three-bedroom suites now
feature teak hardwood floors, a curated collection
of original Hawaiian art, outdoor fire pits, and
techy upgrades, such as integrated sonos sound
systems. room renovations start next January.
Presidential suites from $16,500 per week. 800-3346284; fourseasons.com/maui/
DO
For families By special request only, be
Kapalua Ziplines
among the first to experience underwater
photography sessions with award-winning
photographer brothers Dan and John Cesere,
before these excursions are added to the resort’s
Unforgettable Events series in 2015.
this tony resort
community’s zip line just
reopened after extensive
upgrades, including new,
comfy bucketlike seats.
Fly across West maui
mountain gulches on
nearly two miles’ worth
of line — two of them
2,000-foot-long spans.
808-756-9147; kapalua.com/
activities/zipline
Lumeria Maui
imagine if your summer camp was designed by
a top-tier designer, had Zen undertones, and was
located along the lower slopes of the Haleakala
volcano, surrounded by pine forests, and you get
this 24-room hideaway. opened by architectural
conservator Xorin balbes (known for his restoration
of lloyd Wright’s sowden House), this yoga and
wellness retreat spreads out over six acres of a
historic plantation estate. From $299. 855-579-8877;
lumeriamaui.com
Ocean Vodka
Organic Farm
and Distillery
For families Partake of the property’s full
The Ko restaurant at
Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
For families Learn about the history and
importance of the Hawaiian canoe, and then
set off on an expedition in an outrigger vessel
during the resort’s Hawaiian Canoe Experience.
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Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
For families Book a complimentary,
Fairmont is spending nearly $70 million to give
this Wailea property a more contemporary
and refreshed resort feel. all 450 suites and
villas are being overhauled, with emphasis
on sedate earth-tone colors. the Ko restaurant
serves up dishes inspired by the islands’
sugarcane plantation era, and an impressive new
spa features treatments grounded in Hawaiian
healing traditions. From $599. 800-798-4552;
fairmont.com/kealani
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Top Chef: Seattle contender and Hilo native
Sheldon Simeon opened this eatery at the
Wailea beach marriott last December. the
menu puts a modern spin on the plantationstyle cuisine that emerged when Hawaii’s
many immigrant communities came together.
two good choices: fried ahi belly and avocado
belly topped with a sauce of lemon-pressed
olive oil, soy sauce, and sambal chili; or
sliced hibachi hanger steak with pickled
shallots and vietnamese nuoc mam dipping
sauce. 808-875-9394; migrantmaui.com
Andaz Maui
at Wailea
The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui
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Matteo’s Osteria
Migrant Maui
daily activities roster, from kid-friendly yoga
sessions and gardening lessons in the property’s
on-site farm (it supplies the restaurant and new
spa), to bike tours and visits to a goat dairy farm.
Montage Kapalua Bay
southern California luxury hotel operator
montage has just taken over management of the
residences at Kapalua bay. one wing will continue
to operate as residences, while the other will open
as an intimate, 50-suite hotel in June. inviting
enhancements include the on-site spa montage
(with open-air treatment rooms) and the soon-toopen, locally inspired Cane & Canoe. From $795.
808-662-6600; kapaluabay.montagehotels.com
For families The private beach club will
bring a vaunted level of service to one of
Maui’s best beaches.
JosHua FletCHer (Ko), Don riDDle (nobu)
Because new
hotels, buzzy
restaurants, and,
yes, billionaires,
are ushering in
Hawaii 2.0.
LANAI
EAT
Four Seasons Wailea alum chef matteo
mistura and his wife, Gianna, spent more
than a year in italy culling together recipes,
interviewing purveyors, tasting wines, and
boning up on Italian culinary techniques.
Savor their newfound knowledge at this
new restaurant and wine bar in Wailea town
Center. 808-891-8466; matteosmaui.com
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STAY
Four Seasons Lanai
at Manele Bay
When ellison bought 98 percent of lanai
(the Hawaiian government owns the other
2 percent) in 2012, he acquired the island’s two
Four Seasons properties as part of the deal.
immediately, he put plans in place to overhaul
the brand’s oceanfront manele bay property,
first dressing up the public spaces, including
an enhanced spa and a Nobu outpost. this
summer, experience the property’s new
rooms, which embody modern Polynesian
style — from the dark wood floors to blackstone showers and mod raffia furniture.
manele also now offers a new lounge and
personal Mercedes transfer service at
the Honolulu airport for those connecting
from mainland arrivals to lanai-bound flights
run by island air (which ellison also just
recently purchased). From $489. 800-3214666; fourseasons.com/lanai
For families Sign up for one of the
resort’s new guided hikes, which take
you along beachside paths at sunrise and
tree-lined mountaintop trails, hitting sights
such as ancient Hawaiian village ruins and
dramatic blowholes along the way.
Sushi at the Four
Seasons’ Nobu Lanai
DO
Four Seasons Golf
the Four Seasons lanai’s golf programming is undergoing a major overhaul
as part of ellison’s grand vision for the island. already, golf management has been
brought in-house under the Four Seasons umbrella, upping the service level; the
clubhouse has been renovated; and a new restaurant introduced. Something to
look forward to: Jack Nicklaus is renovating the lodge at Koele’s course, which will
be a branded Signature course when it reopens this winter.
the Four Seasons
lanai’s golf course
before you comment, yes, a
visit to ocean vodka’s yearold distillery is appropriate
for children (all ages
permitted). Younger guests
can learn about organic
farming and the more than
20 different varietals of
native Polynesian sugar cane
grown on-site, while those 21
and over can enjoy tastes of
the signature spirit. 866-7762326; oceanvodka.com
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Because
historyfilled
Kyoto,
Japan, is
getting
in touch
with its
modern
side.
Kyoto does heritage well. After
all, the central Japanese city
served as the country’s imperial
capital until the Meiji regime
moved the royal court to Tokyo
in 1868. And Kyoto has long
been associated with its
17 UNESCO World Heritage
Sites (including several
immaculately restored Buddhist
temples and Shinto shrines),
beautiful rock gardens, gliding
geishas, and the traditional
artisans who toil away in
centuries-old wooden houses.
But, it’s not all old school in
the city, as hoteliers, cultural
institutions, artists, chefs, and
shop owners bring traditional
ideas and techniques into a
modern context.
1 February saw the opening of the
Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, one of Japan’s
most anticipated new hotels. Spread
out along the banks of the scenic
Kamogawa River, the property integrates
architectural and design elements from
Meiji-era houses (wooden latticework
doors, traditional Shippo cloisonné
patterns) into its public spaces. Plus, at an
average of 500 square feet (the largest
in Kyoto), the 134 Zen-leaning rooms are
perfect for families. From $730. 011-81-75746-5555; ritzcarlton.com
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1 Coming soon for culture buffs: The
Kyoto National Museum debuts
its new Collections Hall in September.
The striking, contemporary glass-front
building, designed by Yoshio Taniguchi
(the architect behind New York’s Museum
of Modern Art), will house works from the
museum’s permanent collection — more
than 12,000 pieces of historic Asian art
and archaeological objects — a perfect
history and cultural lesson for the kiddos.
kyohaku.go.jp
GettyimaGes (DraGon)
2 don’t-miss examples
Yesterday meets
today in Kyoto. This
page: A modern
bathroom at
the Ritz-Carlton,
Kyoto. Above left:
Traditional art at the
Kennin-ji Zen Temple
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