Escape to Hidden Luxuries within US

Hidden Luxuries Escape to within US

The bad thing about good places is that word gets out.

A beautiful area wild enough to be special but close enough to modern conveniences to keep our shortened attention spans engaged is trumpeted by a few people, and within a few years you must share it with thousands of other travelers. It’s hard to select hidden vacation spots because the moment they pop up on the right person’s radar they’re destined for discovery, but here are a few locales that appear to be at the sweet spot between obscurity and fame. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN This growing city combines Midwestern hospitality and kid-friendliness with a thriving adult beverage scene, claiming the mantles of “America’s Best Beer City” and “Craft Beverage Capital.” Stroll the downtown “refreshment area” with your drink to attractions like the world-class Grand Rapids Art Museum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives (affectionately known as GRAAMA). Check out the elegant Amway Grand Plaza for four-diamond luxury. MENDOCINO, CALIFORNIA Mendocino is a picturesque collection of Victorian villages 150 miles north of San Francisco strung along rugged coastlines, sprawling vineyards and towering redwood forests, welcoming those who prefer taking the scenic route. Most accommodations put an emphasis on pampering guests, whether they’re B&Bs or resorts with day spas offering massage and hydrotherapy — but no big chains! Go to the shore to visit unusually beautiful stretches like Glass Beach and Bowling Ball Beach. ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA This district embraces six islands in the northern Florida Keys, each with its own gorgeous white beaches but the same laidback charm.

The Morada Way corridor has six blocks of galleries, art studios, restaurants and shops. Kayaking and snorkeling are just a couple of the activities you can partake in while you’re here, and its top resorts, Cheeca Lodge and Spa and Amara Cay Resort, include elegant surroundings and top-notch services. ESTES PARK, COLORADO The gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, this classic mountain town is 90 minutes north of Denver and the ideal base for park adventures like hiking, wildlife viewing and scenic drives in the heart-stopping beauty of the park.

If you can get past the fact the historic Stanley Hotel was the inspiration for “The Shining,” explore its four options for accommodations and a brand-new day spa. MOLOKAI, HAWAII The fifth-largest of the Hawaiian Islands remains tucked away as a lesser-known option that retains the charm of old Hawaii as the birthplace of the hula, with unpaved roads leading into stunning jungles and over to villages like Maunaloa or the main town of Kaunakakai with a mighty 3,500 residents.

The island offers another respite from corporate hospitality, with just the Hotel Moloka’i and lots of luxurious condos and vacation rentals on one of the quietest, most rural areas of the state. Its location between Oahu and Maui makes it perfect for experiencing the joys of both hubs!

Put your BestFace Forward WHEN FLYING

You’ve been dreaming for two years about this vacation to a far-off land — once you get past that 9-hour plane ride and the number the parched cabin air and all the germs it circulates will do on your skin.

You probably don’t want to spend your first couple of days in paradise trying to reconstitute your complexion, so here are a couple of preflight, inflight and postflight tips to ensure your skin can glow with your excitement once you arrive:

BEFORE YOU GO

• Keep hydrating your skin with moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid and/ or lipid oils night before and the morning of.

• Drink lots of water but don’t spray water onto your face, since it will just evaporate during the first part of your flight and could suck the rest of the moisture out with it.

• When getting ready to board, don’t wear makeup if you’re comfortable with that, but don’t forget to use a moisturizer or sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, because you’re going to be closer to the sun and airplane windows won’t filter out the UV rays. IN THE AIR

• Warnings against wearing makeup during a flight still hold some water, but moisturizing, noncomedogenic products likely won’t do any damage, especially on rides of about four or fewer hours.

• Use ice cubes to calm puffy eyes while taking off and landing, then apply a couple drops of eye cream to protect this especially sensitive part of your face.

• If you’re sans makeup, apply more moisturizer every hour and don’t be stingy with the lip balm. • The salty, sugary food normally provided in-flight may leave you even more dehydrated, so pack a healthy snack with protein, whole grains, nuts and veggies

• Avoid wearing a cloth face mask.

AFTER YOU LAND

• This is when you should remove all makeup, cleanse and exfoliate your skin to wash off any bacteria and other irritants that did make it through your inflight defenses.

• Maintain your regular skincare route, with a little extra moisturizer during the day to keep you looking and feeling your best.