Night sky lessons from a leading astronomer, and a floating spa on Vancouver Island
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Havn Saunas, located in a renovated World War II barge (pictured here), offers an unplugged, pampering experience in the heart of Victoria, B.C., with cedar saunas, cold plunges, Jacuzzis, a salt scrub room, and a cozy relaxation room.
(Kari Bodnarchuk)
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THERE
Visit this floating spa on Vancouver Island
Step off a wharf in downtown Victoria, B.C., and onto a historic barge that's been transformed into a Scandinavian-inspired floating wellness sanctuary. Havn Saunas, located in a renovated World War II barge, offers an unplugged (no phones allowed) pampering experience in the heart of the city with cedar saunas, cold plunges, Jacuzzis, a salt scrub room, and a cozy relaxation room. The two-story ship, built in Tacoma in 1943, was renovated in part using old-growth cedar collected along beaches on Vancouver Island. Relax in the rooftop mineral pools and watch water taxis as they crisscross the harbor, small float planes resting at a nearby dock, and views of the city's grandiose Parliament Buildings and Fairmont Empress Hotel. Then order a rejuvenating elixir and healthy snack at the first-floor café and recline on oversize loungers. Anyone 19 and older can enjoy Havn's hot-and-cold therapy experience. One of the many highlights: The salt scrub room, where you can scoop fine-grained salt from a barrel and use it for an exfoliating body scrub. Guests book a two- or three-hour time slot, which helps prevent the facility from getting overcrowded. Rates: approximately $67 for a three-hour entry during the day and $60 for a two-hour pass at night (times vary). Open year-round.
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Sonos has released its first-ever headphones, the Sonos Ace (pictured here).
Sonos
EVERYWHERE
Enjoy superb sound with these headphones
Whether traveling by train, plane, or automobile, consider the Sonos Ace headphones, which deliver outstanding high-fidelity sound and one of the best experiences I've had with Active Noise Cancellation technology. The over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones — Sonos' first foray into the headphone market — incorporate spatial audio with head tracking, meaning super realistic three-dimensional sound (you'll feel like you're in the middle of a theater) and top-notch ANC features that tamps down the sound of engines and unwanted ambient noise; set it for Aware mode if you need to maintain awareness of your surroundings. Music sounds well-balanced and crisp with robust bass that's not overly punchy. The headphones have a smooth and easy-to-use switch that lets you adjust volume, pause sound, skip forward or backward for songs, and answer, decline, or end calls. They also have built-in sensors that pause playback when you take them off and resume when you put the headphones back on. The Sonos Ace hug your head and offer enough spaciousness on the ear cups so they're comfortable on long-haul flights (those ear cups are magnetically attached and can easily be replaced if needed — a handy feature). The headphones weigh about 11 ounces, have swivel ear cups so you can easily pack them for travel (in the included hard case or in your bag), and come with a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable that lets you plug the Ace into the headphone port on your smartphone or computer for a wired option. Their internal battery lasts up to 30 hours so you can enjoy them while crossing the globe. $449.
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KARI BODNARCHUK
Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at
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