Are We There Yet?
For many families, summer means traveling with the kids, and for the kids, that can sometimes seem like an endless summer. The good news is that now there is a “family concierge” waiting and willing to plan activities for families staying at any of the 20 Loews hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada. These family concierges underwent training based on material from the pages of Parenting Magazine. Guests will be contacted prior to arrival for their specific needs and goals and parents will receive a vacation-planning package with info on the destination’s offerings. For more information, call 800-23-LOEWS (800-235-6397) or go to www.loewshotels.com.

Ouch! Oooh! Ouch!
Celebrity Cruises, which began offering acupuncture treatments aboard its Serenity cruise ship last September, will be adding the “Acupuncture at Sea” option to at least five other ship during this cruising season. The program features between two to four doctors of Oriental medicine who offer treatment for pain management, smoking cessation, weight loss and stress management. They also present lectures about acupuncture, feng shui, nutrition and healing with herbs, as well as diagnose and treat specific syndrome with medicinal herbal formulas. For more information, cal 800-437-3111 or go to www.celebrity.com.

All That Jazz
If you like to see people toot their horns, then this is the event for you. The fourth annual Satchmo SummerFest, a five-day event celebrating the lasting influence of the jazz icon, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, will be held August 4-8, 2004,  the weekend closest to his true birth date. This year, the celebration marks Satchmo’s 103rd birthday. There will be art shows, tours and special lectures. Performances include the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and a Jazz Mass in the historic Treme at the St. Augustine Church. For more information, call 800-673-5725 or go to www.fqfi.org.

Billionaire for a Week            
Looking for the ultimate gift? Then consider the US$ 50,000 gift certificate from Relais & Chateaux, a worldwide association of 450 privately-owned hotels and restaurants in 50 countries. The gift certificate can be redeemed at any of the association’s properties, as well as at nearly 250 leading hotels around the world for rooms, meals and the like. Relais & Chateaux properties include such locations as the French Polynesia, South Africa game reserves and a Scottish castle. The gift certificate will be personally delivered to the recipient anywhere in the world. For more information about this 50th anniversary offering, call 877-337-6464.

Heating up the Spices
St. George’s and other towns in Grenada will hold their annual carnival August 9 and 10, 2004. The event includes calypso and steel band competitions, along with colorful costume parades, street “jump-ups” and a traditional “Carnival Queen” beauty pageant. Visitors are invited to join in the dancing and celebrating, often until dawn. Known as the “Spice Island of the Caribbean,” Grenada offers a mix of beaches, international and West Indian cuisine, a tropical rainforest and lots of water activities. The island is reached from the U.S. from major gateways. For more information, call 800-927-9554 or go to www.spicemas.com or www.grenadagrenadines.com.

Jet Lag Remedy
In the continuing battle for customers, hotels are increasing creative in their amenities. For example, the Courtyard by Marriott Warsaw International Airport Hotel in Poland is offering a “Jet Lag Recovery Menu” for those weary travelers, many of them arriving after double digit hours in the air. The menu includes an eye mask to block out light; lavender aromatherapy oil to soothe, restore and balance the mind and body; and for those who miss mom’s old sleep strategies, a warm glass of milk delivered bedside. For more information, call 888-236-2427 or go to www.courtyard.com.

Luxury Commute
For those faced with a daily commute or frequent traveling between Boston and New York City, a new service started last October—the LimoLiner. It’s a first class, 28-passenger vehicle that goes door-to-door for $69, each way. Onboard conveniences include free wireless Internet access at each seat, clear cell phone reception, seat-side power outlets, complimentary newspaper sand magazines and even a conference table for meeting with colleagues. There’s a professional onboard travel assistant, and there are even snacks and beverages available. For more information, go to www.limoliner.com.

Rare Book Museum Reopened  
The world famous Shrine of the Book Museum in Jerusalem, home to the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, reopened its doors this summer for the first time in more than a year, following renovations. The ancient manuscripts housed in the museum are considered to be some of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries. Two-thirds of the museum is below ground, and the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit is designed in the shape of a massive cave similar to where the ancient manuscripts were found. For more information, call 888-77-ISRAEL (800-774-7723) or go to www.goisrael.com.