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Ess a Bagel, Inc. is known for their nationally acclaimed bagels, salads, cream cheese, and meats, as well as a fine assortment of cakes, pastries, rugelach, muffins, and cookies. Coming from an Austrian baking family, it is not surprising that within two years their hand-rolled bagels were voted the best in the tri-state area.

359 1ST Ave New York, NY 10010 – 212-260-2252

2. Riverdale Stables

Horseback Riding in Central Park, if your looking for something really special for a lovely lady in your life make sure to request the white gelding, Romeo, who also appears in the feature on the previous pages.

960A California Rd. Eastchester, New York, 914-633-0303 for a reservation or to get lessons and guided trail rides at the stables.

3. Inoteca, Lunch

It doesn’t get better than the best cheese selection, wine selection and friendly staff. Among the must haves are the truffle toast, select vintage wines, panna cotta, and afogado.

98 Rivington St New York, NY 10002 – 212-614-0473

4. New Museum of Contemporary Art

Since it’s opening up 30 years ago, the museum has a variety of ever-changing exhibits to choose from. Posed with some of the best curators in the city, your visit will not be a disappointment.

235 Bowery, New York, NY 10002 – 212-219-1222

5. Le Rivage, Dinner

With a 1960’s decor coupled with a fine french cuisine, Le Rivage is a definite dinner spot to consider. You will experience grand, yet intimate dining.

340 W 46th St (Between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue)  New York, NY  10036 – 347-748-1134

Usually theme park locales sacrifice sophistication for spill-proof polyester fabrics, nylon carpet, and coarse wood furnishings. The décor at Hershey is primarily the result of design firm C2 Limited (www.c2limited.com), right from the local town of Fairfield. Designers Craig Smith and Christina Romann, who have carved a niche in resort design, have once again worked their magic as they did at the Turks and Caicos and Greenbrier Sporting Clubs. They provided their “signature style of classic design for the modern lifestyle” in the newly-renovated Cottages at Hershey, the farm-fresh Harvest restaurant, the grand hotel lobby, and the Cocoa Kids Club. Uniquely, the cottages provide families the ability to rent entire houses with living and dining rooms, and multiple bedrooms together in a private setting.

The historical elements here add an endearing charm and Americana tone. Milton S. Hershey’s story of rags to riches is every entrepreneur’s dream come true. The park is a testament to his accomplishments as a brand strategist and makes every effort to educate its guests on the life and times of this colorful man. There’s a 10-minute mechanical car tour through a chocolate factory and a 3-D film about chocolate with real water and sound effects. You can make your own chocolate candy as a ‘factory worker’ or buy an enormous 5-pound bar. The trolley tour to downtown Hershey brings you to an air-conditioned museum that holds actual artifacts from the early 1900s. This chocolate world leaves you pampered, amused, and educated like a real life Willie Wonka factory, without all those scary Oompa-Loompas.

Fifty six per cent of the area’s houses are seasonal rentals, and with good reason. Martha’s Vineyard offers visitors sand, sunshine, and plenty of excuses to whip out their cameras. On the island are five historic lighthouses, including the West Chop Lighthouse, regarded as an island port of protection since 1645, and the most-remote Cape Poge Lighthouse, with a history of falling victim to fierce ocean tides. It’s been rebuilt four times since its initial construction in 1801.

Managed by the Martha’s Vineyard Audubon Society, the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary offers four milesof walking trails and plenty of opportunities to see nesting ospreys, tree swallows, and barn owls. Access to ponds and marshland affords glimpses of waterfowl and native plants. The Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary in Vineyard Haven and Gay Head Cliffs in Aquinnah provide the same kinds of scenery but also have the hilly terrain ideal for hiking, bike riding, and horseback riding. Private sight-seeing tours of the Sanctuary can be arranged through the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.

When the sun goes down, Menemsha Harbor is the place to bask in the serenity of waterside sunsets, while the Menemsha Pond is the thrill-seeker spot. Organized activities such as hang gliding, sailing, and kayaking are common there.

Art lovers will enjoy the many galleries and artist.

If you thought beaches were just for sun-tanning and building sand castles, think again. The island’s nineteen beaches are prime spots for fishing, scuba diving, and boogie boarding. Several of the nearby resorts will restrict beach access only to guests. If you are staying at an ocean side hotel, you can enjoy easy beach access..

For tourists more interested in staying dry and above sea-level, the town of West Tisbury offers plenty of agricultural fun. But expect to get your hands dirty. Regarded as the farming hub of Martha’s Vineyard, Tisbury supports five farms, some of which teach visitors to do barnyard chores such as milking cows and garden harvesting or sheep shearing. Morning Glory Farm and the Red Pony Farm offer family-friendly activities, including hay rides and winding corn mazes. Then be sure to stop by the Flying Horse Carousel in Oak Bluffs, the oldest-operating carousel in the United States.

Visits to the Vineyard can last a few days to a few weeks. But either way, there’s always room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Aquinnah Cliffs features several shops emphasizing the Vineyard’s Native American roots. The Wampanoag tribe, many of whom still live in the town of Aquinnah, sells art and indigenous crafts.  Fifty art galleries are in the same area. Vineyard Haven has stretches of clothing boutiques and jewelry stores such as Pandora’s Box as well as surf shops that supply water fans with quality boards and bathing suits. Just be sure to pop into Alley’s General Store for sun block. The town of Oak Bluffs indulges the tourist taste for urban nightlife. With its variety of bars and nightclubs, a vacation can be as loud as you want.

Oyster lover will be in heaven with all the fresh-daily catch.

Let’s not forget about dining on Martha’s Vineyard. Quality restaurants dot the entire island, serving traditional seafood cuisine, including the island’s famous Dijon Codfish cakes and salted pork clam chowder.

The Vineyard can be a destination for more a vacation. In fact, the island is a popular location for weddings. Its dramatic seascapes, historic inns, and fine restaurants make it a perfect choice for a memorable wedding. Also of note are the island’s forty professional wedding photographers, sixteen florists, and eight bakeries. Martha’s Vineyard is a destination  prepared to make a day about love very lovely.

Martha’s Vineyard is accessible by ferry, commute airline Cape Air, and on the island, year-round bus service. Check www.mvy.com for details. Then pack your bags and get going.

A brief background

The rich and extensive history that surrounds the island adds to its charm. In 1602, the island was given its name by the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold. The name “Martha” was in honor of Gosnold’s first daughter, and the island’s abundant wild grapes inspired him to add “Vineyard” to the name. The Wampanoag Indians were the first inhabitants of the island and are still prevalent today, enriching the island with their native culture and customs. Their Indian territories were once expansive, and the tribe was said to be the first to greet the English upon their arrival to the area.

Where to stay

The dining & bedroom of the cottages

203 had the pleasure of staying at the elite Harbor View Hotel & Resort in Edgartown. Once a booming whaling town, Edgartown was called home by the wealthiest of the Vineyard. As a result of the Civil War, the whaling industry took a financial beating and in turn so did the citizens of Edgartown. In an attempt to revive the economy of the island, town leaders later decided to convert the Vineyard into a resort destination. Construction of the resort was begun, and in 1891 the grand opening of the Harbor View Resort was held. For its time, the resort offered the most modern conveniences, such as piped-in gas and a telephone at the livery stable.

Today, this upscale location offers its guests a wide variety of rooms including 114 guestrooms and 18 remodeled suites. Six original Captain’s quarters have been converted into 18 one-to-three bedroom suites that range from 900 to 1,200 square feet in size, the result of a 30 million dollar multi-phase renovation and enhancement project. Harbor View is the only resort on the island able to accommodate large groups.

What to do

The resort offers its guests panoramic views of Edgartown Harbor, including the Edgartown Lighthouse as well as Starbuck’s neck and Chappaquiddick Island. For those who prefer a relaxed time on-island, they can enjoy strolling on the beach or touring the harbor aboard the wooden vintage yacht, Stardust. For adventure seekers or those who enjoy group activities, the resort offers boat building, golfing, guided kayak tours, and clam bakes on the near-by beach. Deep-sea fishing and more intense harbor tours on the sporty watercraft, Scout, are other options.

Where to dine

Meals at Water Street use local meats and produce in every plate.

Harbor View is particularly proud of its dining options that include Water Street and Henry’s Hotel Bar. Water Street specializes in Vineyard Harvest Cuisine. Chef Levon Wallace uses only the freshest produce, meats, and poultry from local island farms as well as line-caught and day board seafood from the local fishermen. If you are seeking a more informal dining environment, make your way to Henry’s Hotel Bar located behind Water Street restaurant. Chef Wallace features a tapas-inspired grazing menu of Vineyard small plates. Henry’s also offers some of New England’s best micro-brewed draft beers, signature cocktails, and exquisite wines by the glass. Its traditional pub-style ambiance and scrumptious bites are sure to please the fussiest of palates.

For the kids

Harbor View’s Kid’s club is perfect for those young adventurers, ages 3 to 12 years old. This club is offered in July and August to provide a wide range of age-specific activities for children. Arts and crafts, field trip hikes, and soccer on the beach are just a few of the activities they can experience while hanging out at the Kid’s Club. Mom and Dad can relax and enjoy each other and the day, knowing their kids are safe and having fun!

Planning a wedding?

With its spectacular views and romantic facilities, Harbor View provides the ideal setting for a wedding or family gathering. An indoor meeting space of 4,700 square feet and a spacious outdoor space of 7,700 square feet can easily accommodate even a sizable guest list.

The beauty of Martha’s Vineyard is complemented by the well appointed Harbor View Resort

In early years Antigua was known as the “gateway to the Caribbean,” because its location offered easy access to and control of all major sailing routes in the region. Today, most of the island’s historical sites, from ruined fortifications to the immaculately restored architecture, are reminders of colonial efforts to protect the town of English Harbour from invasion. The Inn’s private white-sand beach bears witness to the early days of the island’s past.

When my companion and I visited the island, we were warmly greeted by the hospitable hotel manager, Fabio Giorgi, who personally showed us around and made sure that our every need was accommodated. After we settled in, Fabio drove us to the island’s highest point, a place called Shirley Heights. Although this location serves as a historical landmark, Shirley Heights comes alive on Sunday nights when loud Calypso music delights diners and dancers.

A view into one of the deluxe suites

Fabio also pointed out that the Inn at English Harbour has recently undergone a dramatic $1.5 million renovation that put a fresh face on nearly every corner of the colonial-style resort. All 28 guestrooms have been beautifully refurbished to blend historical glory with contemporary bliss for guests to enjoy. Two traditionally structured Beach Cabanas, located directly on the sandy beach, include four waterfront hideaways where reflected island light magically illuminates their new Italian Brera marble floors. All-new bathrooms feature Toto fixtures, toilets, and bidets. Spacious verandahs, complete with tropical rattan furniture, offer direct access to the palm-studded beach and magnificent views all the way to Montserrat.

The Inn’s 16 colonial-style Junior Suites and 8 Deluxe Junior Suites, with polished mahogany floors and sanded access walkways, are the perfect distance from the resort’s infinity-edge pool. The forty-square-meter Junior Suites feature twin, queen, or king-sized beds, and the sixty square-meter Deluxe Junior Suites spoil guests in mahogany four-poster beds. All of the resort’s luxurious suites are furnished with handsome antiques that capture the essence of the colonial days, while spacious up-to-date bathrooms are equipped with separate toilet and bidet, twin washbasins, and a shower lined with earthy green slate. Penhaligon’s fine English toiletries add an elegant touch. The lower suite verandahs face the lushly landscaped gardens, newly planted with unique tropical species; the upstairs suites, crowned by vaulted ceilings, open onto balconies overlooking the gardens.

Each guest room offers high-count Egyptian-cotton sheets, mini bars with refrigerator, cable TV, direct dial telephones, safes, new flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi Internet access that allow guests the comfort and convenience of modern technology and still savor the serenity of the island.

Outdoor dining at the Terrace Restaurant

During dinner with Fabio at the Terrace Restaurant, we enjoyed meeting Wesley Dyer, the restaurant manager and perhaps the friendliest person on the entire island. We also enjoyed an exceptionally tasty meal suggested by Chef Anna that included a great Tuna Sashimi appetizer, a NY steak entrée and a lobster tail with mango sauce entrée. The highly acclaimed Terrace Restaurant has also been newly refurbished and supplied with English Silver Service, gleaming dishware, Jacquard table linen, chair covers, and formal drapery.

The Hanis Bistro is the Inn’s more casual dining area. This open-air-pavilion style venue allows diners to appreciate the island’s warm blue waters, balmy nights, and cooling trade winds. The area has also been newly remodeled with marble tile flooring and expanded into a more spacious dining and event space. The Bistro serves breakfast and lunch, along with a variety of Caribbean and international cocktails, and even hosts special event dinners as well.