A forgotten travel destination is quietly reinventing itself - and it's working
San Francisco has had a bit of a rough patch. While travellers returned to many classic destinations with a vengeance post-COVID-19, the Californian hub experienced an extended spell of silence, with remote working killing the vibe. But the Golden City is having a bit of a moment in 2025, with three major openings. Sunset Dunes - a 3.2-kilometre, 20-hectare oceanfront park, with murals, installations, and walking and biking paths - has just opened between Golden Gate Park and San Francisco Zoo. Another significant outdoor space with picnic areas, gardens and food trucks, Outpost Meadow is opening in July this year; while the Counterculture Museum - celebrating some of the city's most pivotal movements, from the Beat Generation to Summer of Love - will open on the iconic corner of Haight and Ashbury streets later this year. Perhaps, it's time to head back to San Fran with a vengeance, too. sftravel.com
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Courier-Mail
31-05-2025
- Courier-Mail
I spent 3 days at the USA's most scenic ski resort, Heavenly Mountain
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Like siblings hugging in a snowstorm, Heavenly Mountain Resort has two distinct sides – one in Nevada and the other California. Here's how to ski both in 72 hours, enjoying stunning Lake Tahoe views, epic tree runs, swathes of powder and a fun village. X DAY ONE: Afternoon Turn away from famous Lake Tahoe and point your rental all-wheel drive uphill, along a narrow road hugged by old lodges. You'll weave around bends that become increasingly white with snow until you find yourself side-by-side with skiers zipping down one of Heavenly's home trails. Instead of parking and racing onto the slopes, climb higher to the behemoth that is Tahoe Ridge Resort, a Holiday Inn Club Vacations property clinging to the mountainside. Spend the afternoon in the resort's heated pool, partially undercover but mostly not, and enjoy the magic of tiny flakes dancing to the water. Dinner One of the benefits of staying in a resort as large as Tahoe Ridge is you don't need to leave. In the main building, you can play pool and ping-pong, then enjoy burgers at The Ridge Club Bistro. If you feel like eating in your apartment, there's the small Marketplace on site, or you can drive 30 minutes down the mountain into Gardnerville for groceries. Tahoe Ridge Resort. DAY TWO: Morning After frying up bacon and eggs in your apartment, catch Tahoe Ridge Resort's fun Skier Express gondola to Stagecoach Express. The chairlift leads to some of the mountain's best intermediate runs, and if the snow has fallen thick and fast overnight, you can take advantage of the advanced wooded areas, chutes and bowls on the Nevada side of Heavenly. Lunch By lunchtime, make your way to Tamarack Lodge, a handy meeting point for friends riding opposite sides of the resort. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, so nab a table and cover it with plates of chicken tenders, pizzas and bowls of chilli. Heavenly Mountain Gondola. Afternoon If you're travelling with kids, take it slow in the beginner zone outside Tamarack Lodge. This is where you'll find the children's Ski & Ride School, as well as tubing and an alpine coaster. Families can access the tubing and coaster – without the need to ski – via Heavenly's gondola, caught from the heart of Heavenly Village, on the California side. Evening Enjoy an easy apartment dinner before making your way to Tahoe Ridge's single-room cinema to watch a complimentary screening of The Super Mario Bros Movie. Before you go, grab a packet of microwave popcorn from the Marketplace. Snowboard lessons on the resort's Californian side. Picture: Jennifer Ennion DAY THREE: Morning Enjoy a day off the slopes as you move to the California side of Heavenly where there's a pedestrian village full of restaurants, bars and shops, including big-brand stores such as Showcase and Patagonia. If you prefer community stores oozing authenticity, drive to The Village Board Shop to browse a top range of boards and outerwear. Lunch You're spoilt for choice for village dining options, but for something simple and affordable, swing by Sugar Pine Bakery for cinnamon scrolls and apple pies. Or for a real change of pace you can join locals at Cuppa Tahoe, a café in a bookshop with fabulous cosy nooks filled with vintage furniture and chalkboards. Order one of the specialty drinks, such as the caramelised pear tea latte. The Baked Bear ice-cream sandwich. Picture: Jennifer Ennion Afternoon Head back to the village for a spin on the small Heavenly Village Ice Rink before heading to The Baked Bear for an over-the-top ice-cream cookie sandwich. With bellies stretched, check into Forest Suites Resort, a sprawling low-level property a short stroll from Heavenly Mountain Gondola. It has an inviting foyer lounge, outdoor hot tubs, and apartments with full kitchens. Dinner Skip the tourist traps and cross the highway to Poké Rok, offering visitors a refreshing break from burgers and fried food. Order a giant sushi roll with crab or shrimp, or a poke bowl brimming with ahi tuna, salmon or teriyaki chicken. Your body will thank you for it. Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village. DAY FOUR: Morning Forest Suites offers a decent free buffet breakfast of pancakes, hash browns and sausages. You can then catch the gondola to mid-mountain or, to fully experience the California side of Heavenly, hop on the free shuttle to California Lodge. Eager skiers jump on the chairlift here, but if the weather is particularly wild, line up for the aerial tramway. There's a stack of epic runs on this side of the mountain, especially if you score a fresh snow day. If you're advanced, drop into Powder Bowl Woods and be sure to ride the black terrain back to the base at the end of the day. Lunch Lakeview Lodge is a great lunch spot, offering a cosy respite from a snowstorm. This lodge is the quintessential back-to-basics experience with plenty of character and window seats. Make yourself a cup of hot apple cider, order the gyro and grab a rocky road cookie while they're warm. Afternoon Spend the rest of the day lapping your favourite runs. If it's snowing heavily, keep your eyes on the opening of the Sky Express chair so you can claim more fresh turns through trees or down fast blues. (Sky Express offers some of the best views of Lake Tahoe on clear days.) Celebrate a day of fun riding back at Forest Suites Resort with free s'mores by an outdoor fire. The writer was a guest of Vail Resorts, South Lake Tahoe and Visit California. Skiers enjoy great views of Lake Tahoe. How to get to Heavenly Mountain Resort The closest airport to Heavenly Mountain Resort is in Reno, Nevada, but save yourself the hassle of two flights and travel with Qantas into San Francisco where you can collect a hire car for an easy 3.5-hour drive to Lake Tahoe. Find more travel tips at Where to stay at Heavenly Mountain Resort Tahoe Ridge Resort is an on-snow property with a restaurant, games room, activities centre, pool, hot tubs, saunas and free shuttle. In town, Forest Suites Resort is a great mid-range, family option, a short stroll to Heavenly Mountain Gondola. Skiing/snowboarding tips The Heavenly ski season is from mid-November to mid-April, snow dependent. If you're snowboarding in the Tahoe region for several days, buy an Epic Australia Pass for unlimited riding at three Aussie resorts, as well as Heavenly. Originally published as I spent 3 days at the USA's most surprising ski resort, Heavenly Mountain
The Advertiser
20-05-2025
- The Advertiser
A forgotten travel destination is quietly reinventing itself - and it's working
San Francisco has had a bit of a rough patch. While travellers returned to many classic destinations with a vengeance post-COVID-19, the Californian hub experienced an extended spell of silence, with remote working killing the vibe. But the Golden City is having a bit of a moment in 2025, with three major openings. Sunset Dunes - a 3.2-kilometre, 20-hectare oceanfront park, with murals, installations, and walking and biking paths - has just opened between Golden Gate Park and San Francisco Zoo. Another significant outdoor space with picnic areas, gardens and food trucks, Outpost Meadow is opening in July this year; while the Counterculture Museum - celebrating some of the city's most pivotal movements, from the Beat Generation to Summer of Love - will open on the iconic corner of Haight and Ashbury streets later this year. Perhaps, it's time to head back to San Fran with a vengeance, too.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- West Australian
Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's anniversary scrapbook: Unseen photos and royal flashbacks
Seven years, one royal exit, two kids and a cross-continental relocation later, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is reflecting on it all with a heartfelt anniversary post on Instagram that's part love letter, part personal scrapbook. To celebrate her seventh wedding anniversary with Prince Harry, Meghan took to Instagram with a nostalgic tribute to the couple's journey, sharing a curated mood board filled with previously unseen photos, handwritten lyrics, and milestone memories from their relationship. Alongside the memory board post, Meghan wrote, 'Seven years of marriage. A lifetime of stories.' She continued by writing, 'Thanks to all of you (whether by our side, or from afar) who have loved and supported us throughout our love story — we appreciate you. Happy anniversary!' The memory board was filled with photographs marking milestones of the royal couple's love story dating from 2016. Here's what she shared — and what it reveals about how far the Sussexes have come. The memory board begins with a throwback selfie from London in 2016, when Meghan and Prince Harry had just started dating. Prince Harry smiles over Meghan's shoulder, a glimpse into the private beginnings of what would become a globally scrutinised romance. Another snap shows the couple in Botswana, on their second date, shirtless Prince Harry, safari vibes, and the kind of early adventure that would later shape the symbolism of Meghan's engagement ring. Meghan included a set of candid 'engagement photos' marked 2017. A nod to the roast-chicken dinner gone down in royal history. The Daily Mail reported that Prince Harry popped the question at Nottingham Cottage, surrounded by candlelight and their rescue beagle, named Guy. His proposal? Prince Harry got on one knee and said, 'Spend your life with me? Make me the happiest guy on the planet?' Her answer? 'Can I say yes? Can I say yes?' One photo from their 2018 wedding at St George's Chapel shows the Sussexes in full fairytale mode. But tucked into the collage is a more personal touch: the handwritten lyrics of Stand By Me, the gospel version of which played during the ceremony, after ten rejected arrangements. Yes, ten. According to choir conductor Karen Gibson, it took a face-to-face meeting at Kensington Palace and an eleventh attempt to get it 'just right.' Among the romantic visuals is a quieter, more symbolic yet controversial choice: Meghan's personal coat of arms. Designed in partnership with the College of Arms and approved by the late Queen Elizabeth II, it features nods to Meghan's Californian roots, golden poppies, blue skies, and rays of sunshine, alongside a crown and quill symbols representing communication. It's a reminder of a different chapter, one that began with royal titles and ended with a cross-Atlantic reset. One unexpected inclusion? A kiss in the kitchen of Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor home gifted by the Queen and later paid back by the couple after public scrutiny over renovations. Though they haven't lived there since 2020, the image is a throwback to their final UK chapter and perhaps a quiet acknowledgement of where it all changed. Meghan also shared a shot from the 2020 Mountbatten Festival of Music, where she wore a striking red gown next to Prince Harry in military dress. It was one of their last public outings as senior royals before stepping down, and the matching scarlet outfits were as coordinated as their united front. Among the most intimate photos were glimpses of Archie and Lilibet, a rare occurrence, given how tightly the Sussexes guard their children's privacy. One beachside photo shows Prince Harry with both children in sunset light; another captures a sweet backyard arts-and-crafts session at their Montecito home. In another, Archie flashes his face to the camera, a tender update on the now six-year-old who's largely grown up out of the public eye. A throwback to their 2018 tour of Australia also made the board, a rain-drenched appearance in Dubbo, where Prince Harry addressed drought-stricken farmers and reflected on his own mental health journey. 'I've been there,' he said at the time. 'You need to talk about it.' One photo seems to show Meghan and Prince Harry walking the sands of Holkham Bay, a location with royal ties, often frequented by Princess Catherine and previously loved by Queen Elizabeth II. It's a subtle blend of the old and new, of monarchy and Montecito, all rolled into a windswept beach moment. True to form, Meghan's handwritten touch was everywhere — from date labels to quotes like 'Love wins' in her signature cursive. She's long championed the art of handwritten notes, once teaching calligraphy and gift wrapping at a Beverly Hills boutique before her acting career took off. The sentiment? Personal, polished, and unmistakably Markle. This wasn't just an anniversary post. It was a curated reminder of everything the couple has shared and a gentle message that their story, for all its public twists, is still being written.
