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BRITISH AUTHOR (AND AVID CYCLIST) H.G. WELLS ONCE SAID, “EVERY TIME I SEE an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” If Wells were alive today, a visit to Bogotá would be a great boost to his optimism. Boasting one of the largest networks of segregated cycleways in the world, the Ciclo-Ruta, Colombia’s capital is the envy of other cities working to promote cycling as an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to driving.
Running throughout the metropolitan area for about 300 kilometers, the Ciclo-Ruta was meticulously designed with both the topography and the economy of the city in mind. A central system of routes connects major metropolitan centers as well as secondary paths that link to residential barrios, tourist sites, and the city’s thousands of parks and green spaces. The Ciclo-Ruta is also integrated with the recently overhauled TransMilenio bus system, making it possible for a cyclist to access nearly any place in Bogotá. On Sundays and major holidays, Bogotá unlocks even more of the city’s charms for riders and pedestrians with the Ciclovía, a city-wide event that closes an additional 120 kilometers (75 miles) of central streets to automobile traffic between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Not surprisingly, Bogotá is a great place to ride. Perched amid the Andes at an elevation of approximately 8,660 feet, it has an average yearly temperature of 57 degrees and a surprisingly level landscape within city limits. Bicyclists can pedal up the Avenida Jiménez de Quesada toward the historic La Candelaria district, where the scenery morphs from the contemporary high-rise buildings of modern Bogotá to older Spanish Colonial architecture. Riders who prefer greener spaces can explore Parque Simón Bolívar, Bogotá’s answer to New York’s Central Park.
Many hotel concierges can arrange for bicycle rentals through local bicycle shops, with costs ranging from $1.20–$3.00 (3,000–8,000 Colombian pesos) per hour. Poised on your bike — helmet firmly secured — all that’s left is to go wherever the Ciclo-Ruta takes you. And that’s just about anywhere. — Kayt Sukel
OAKLAND
pick of the vine
 In the heart of a wine lover’s heaven, two talked-about connoisseurs share one common goal: to create a truly exceptional wine. Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi have certainly met their objective, and it’s evident by the ever-growing popularity of their Opus One Winery, located about an hour from Oakland. Beginning every day at 10:30 a.m., visitors can tour the location where America’s first ultrapremium wine is made and watch as the vineyard teams combine the best technology with winemaking’s classic traditions. For example, Opus One’s grapes are still hand sorted, and only the crème de la crème are used; grapes with even the slightest imperfections are discarded. Tours are free (reservations are recommended), though tastings of the current vintage are available for $25 at the end. 707.944.9442; opusonewinery.com — Alyson Papalia
BERMUDA
clubhouse on a hill
The demand for all things hybrid has officially reached Bermuda’s Harrington Sound, where Tucker’s Point Club boasts greens seeded with TifEagle, a hybrid Bermuda grass. This grass may not run any greener, but it does provide a truer putting surface that comes in just as handy on the 19th hole (for bragging about those 30-foot putts) as it does on holes 1 through 18 of this 6,361-yard, par-70 course. Of course, the postmatch meeting place is the real wonder of Tucker’s Point. The 20,000-square-foot clubhouse provides the usual amenities, but the jaw-dropping views of Castle Harbour and the Atlantic Ocean from the building’s second-floor wraparound veranda are as unforgettable as a hole-in-one. tuckerspoint.com — John Patrick Pullen
QUITO
rain forest from the trees
 Talk about remote — the Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve is a 10-day walk from the nearest town. Luckily, visitors to the ecologically and culturally sensitive lodge can take a half-hour flight from Quito to Shell, where a Twin Otter awaits for the 90-minute flight to Kapawi. From there a 10-minute hike and a 15-minute canoe ride finally yields the lodge. Surrounded by more than a million acres of rain forest, Kapawi sits in a pristine area of the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon Basin. The reserve is a joint effort of eco-tour company Canodros and the Federation of Achuar Indigenous People in Ecuador, and up to 70 percent of the employees are members of the local Achuar tribe. In addition to bird watching, river floats, and rain forest hikes, all accompanied by Achuar guides, guests can also spend a night in an Achuar community and meet the elder shamans, for a truly native experience. kapawi.com — Marlene Goldman
LOS CABOS
deep sleep
 An hour up the Baja Peninsula from the luxury resorts and fiesta-till-you-drop drinking establishments of Cabo San Lucas lies what could be called the anti-Cabo. Although “sleepy artists’ village” is a phrase you might encounter in just about any description of the former Spanish mission (there – you just encountered it again), Todos Santos’ laid-back atmosphere belies a vibrancy that can only be attributed to the community of artists, surfers, New Age philosophers, and natives who have found their nirvana there. Spend a long morning exploring the galleries, including the one in the colorful, Baja-hip Hotel California, whose connection, or lack thereof, to the Eagles song is a hot topic. Then take a break under a palapa at one of Todos Santos’ restaurants and enjoy some Mexican seafood and, perhaps, a cerveza fria. todossantos.cc — Nancy Bevilaqua
VERACRUZ
a rio runs through it
However you do it — by zipping out into hard foam along an eddy or slipping through placid, clear water — there’s no better way to discover the beauty and history of Mexico’s Emerald Coast than from the seat of a kayak. In Veracruz, subterranean rivers and rain from tropical rain forests combine for some of the best whitewater Mexico has to offer. Guides with Kayak Mexico run weeklong, all-inclusive trips that cater to intrepid boaters of all levels. Adventure vacations through canyon runs with class 3 rapids (and higher) are available for seasoned river rats, while less experienced paddlers can explore the tranquil mangrove systems and pre-Columbian ruins on sea kayak tours. For those who want to have their fun and learn a boatload of skills, Kayak Mexico also gives five-day clinics that teach core basics and some more advanced techniques. kayakmexico.com — Andrew Eitelbach
MCALLEN
give it some throttle
 Lush tropics, rolling mountains, and desert valleys are best seen on two wheels. From October 28 to November 5, MotoDiscovery offers motorcyclists a 1,650-mile trek through colonial Mexico, just over the border from McAllen, Texas. Dramatic landscapes, spectacular architecture, and lodging at an 18th-century hacienda are just a few of the highlights of the nine-day roadtrip. After rolling through spots like San Miguel de Allende and Zacatecas, riders get to unwind in the small retreat town of Tequisquiapan. Whether you ride your own bike or rent one of MotoDiscovery’s machines, there’s no better way to experience the deep twists and turns of the old Pan-American Highway. motodiscovery.com — Jaclyn Greenberg
HONG KONG
presidential figures
 After 76,120 total hours of construction over 253 days, the Presidential Suite at the InterContinental Hong Kong opened its doors earlier this year. As the cherry on top of a $40 million sundae of enhancements to the hotel, the Presidential Suite, at 7,000 square feet, is the largest hotel room in Hong Kong. The suite includes five bedrooms, a dining room, a kitchenette, a private gym, a study, and 24-hour personal butler service. It also has a 2,500-square-foot wraparound terrace, complete with rooftop infinity pool, Jacuzzi, and panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island, which is also viewable from behind the living room’s duplex-style two-story plate-glass windows. The room can accommodate up to 60 people for private events. And at around $11,000 per night, it better. intercontinental.com — J.G.
LAS VEGAS
checkout time
The sight of zombies in Las Vegas is not all that unusual — at least not to anyone who has spent time near a slot machines hall. But the fiendish lot who call Hotel Fear their home have a spooky look all their own. According to legend, Mortimer Feoray, grandson of the Hotel Feoray’s founder, inherited the family hotel after his family disappeared. After further blood, devastation, and horror, Mortimer was locked away and Hotel Feoray became known as Hotel Fear (clever, eh?). No one spends the night anymore (or at least they don’t check out), but they sure are dying to get in for the tours (Thursdays through Sundays from October 6–30, and on Halloween). lasvegashaunts.com — J.P.P.
TOLEDO
ghosts with the most
Don’t be fooled by the skating rink, 3D theater, and arcade at Ghostly Manor. This place is anything but child’s play. An hour’s drive from Toledo, in Sandusky, this family-run haunted house is ranked in the top 10 for attractions of its kind in the U.S. by the group Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (dafe.org), who ought to know. The Ghostly Manor tour takes visitors through more than 20 rooms, including a hallway of corpses and an autopsy room packed with spooks and spirits. The combination of real actors, dummies with lifelike faces, and animatronics often leaves guests wondering who’s alive and who’s, well, undead. ghostlymanor.com — A.P.
ST. LOUIS
first in fright
No one likes finishing in second place, let alone third. So when America Online ranked The Darkness as the third-best haunted house in America last year, Halloween Productions knew it had to step up the fright. This year, the St. Louis production company dropped more than $150,000 on more than 100 grip-tightening details. Now try creeping through the Darkness’ Haunted Mansion and Ancient Tomb, around its disorienting mazes, and past its headless horseman and say it’s second best. Go on, we dare you. The Darkness — J.G.
Click here for Go Explore/In the Hubs.
Getting There: All the destinations covered in the “Go Explore” section can be reached by flying Continental Airlines. To book your vacation to these and other destinations, visit Continental Airlines Vacations at covacations.com.
Source: Bogotá District Institute of Culture and Tourism
Photographs by: David Kroodsma (Bogotá); MacDuff Everton (Vine); Tucker’s Point Club; Canodros(Quito); Patricia Fahie(Todos Santos); Brandman Agency (Hotel); International Association of Haunted Attractions(Las Vegas)
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