44 the review
Visit USA news... Mardi Gras in Orlando
DC pretty in pink WASHINGTON DC will
once
again be in full bloom this spring with the 103rd National Cherry Blossom Festival. Described as the ‘USA’s Greatest Celebration’,
Springtime the
festival, from March 20 until April 12, will see more than one million visitors from around the world descend on the country’s capital to witness the blossoming of the cherry blossom trees that surround the Tidal Basin. Gifts
from festival Japan, the spectacular
Events are keys to unique Florida experiences
MARCH is a great time to be in the Florida Keys with several different events that showcase the uniqueness of southern Florida’s coral cay archipelago. First up is The Original Marathon
Seafood Festival (March 14-15). Held in Marathon, the event is one of
the cherry
blossom trees date back to 1912. Highlights of the flowering include
opening and closing ceremonies, a parade (a longstanding Washington DC tradition),
fireworks displays,
free exercise classes in front of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorials, and the Blossom Kite Festival. Virgin Holidays has a three-night to Washington DC to
break
experience the Cherry Blossom Festival, priced from £899pp.
virginholidays.co.uk;
nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
UNIVERSAL Orlando Resort’s ‘N’awlins’- inspired 2015 Mardi Gras celebration will feature 16 nights of concerts from a star-studded line-up of artists. Scheduled to perform on select nights from February 7 through to April 18 are guests that include Jessie J, American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, reggaeton superstar Yandel, American Authors, Olivia Newton-John, Barenaked Ladies and the B-52s. Supporting the headline acts, there will also be performances by bands pulled straight from Bourbon Street. Guests will also have the opportunity
to catch handfuls of colourful beads during this year’s rockin’ parade featuring 12 exquisitely detailed Mardi Gras floats. And at
the IN BRIEF New in New Orleans: Starwood
Hotels & Resorts has opened Le Meridien New Orleans on Poynas Street following a $29 million renovation. The hotel has 410 fully redesigned guestrooms and suites and LMNO, a destination restaurant serving ‘New American fare infused with global flavours’.
lemeridienneworleanshotel.com
Virgin debuts in Chicago: Virgin
Hotels Chicago has opened in the historic Old Dearborn Bank Building.
The
26-storey Art Deco building has 250 guest rooms – or ‘chambers’ – including 42 suites. The Commons Club is aiming for a ‘members’ club ambience’ while a rooftop bar provides cityscape views.
virginhotels.com
Double the fun: The American Queen
Steamboat Company (AQSC) has linked with luxury
train operator Rocky
Mountaineer for an 18-day itinerary that starts in Calgary, Canada, and finishes in Clarkson, Washington state. The trip, including
flights, is from £6,395pp.
Rockies.sales@
lightbluetravel.co.uk;
AmericanQueenSteamboatCompany.com
theme park’s French
Quarter Courtyard, on offer is authentic Cajun cuisine including Gumbo and New Orleans’ infamous Beignets, prepared fresh and hot. The Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras
celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida.
DoSomethingDifferent.com offers a Universal 2-Park Bonus Ticket from £130 per adult (£120 per child, three-nine). The ticket includes unlimited park-to-
park access to Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure plus all-club access to the live entertainment at Universal CityWalk
for up to 14
consecutive days. To book, and earn their commission, agents should visit:
universalorlando.co.uk;
DoSomethingDifferent.com
Middle Keys’ signature
family events. It features gourmet delicacies from the waters of the Florida Keys, live music, a kids’ play area and an array of
vendors. The
annual weekend event usually attracts more than 20,000 seafood lovers and families to Marathon Community Park.
For something a little different, the annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, a tradition on Key West for more than 50 years, takes place on March 17. The competition celebrates the
historic importance of conch in the Keys and features contestants attempting to make ‘music’ with fluted conch shells. Finally, the 24th annual staging
of the Florida Keys Island Fest, Islamorada, will take place over March 28-29.
Highlights include music, art,
food and an art show with 100 artists and crafters, live music and a ‘Taste of the Islands’ competition where the best Upper Keys restaurants compete for awards.
marathonseafoodfestival.com;
oirf.org;
islamoradachamber.com
Like to know more? Visit
www.visitusa.org.uk Subscribe to our fortnightly email newsletter online. Call the information and brochure request line on 0870 777 2213 or email
vusa@bhpdirect-mail.com
sellingtravel.co.uk
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