by Kari Bodnarchuk · Originally published in The Boston Globe July 1, 2020
A new place to ride in Boston
East Boston welcomes a new indoor spin studio this month. AXL Cycle Studio, which has offered live-stream spin and strength classes through its website since May, plans to open its 1,700-square-foot fitness studio in Maverick Square. AXL will offer daily spin classes for small groups, with contactless check-in, regular deep cleanings, and other safety protocols in place. Or take advantage of AXL LIVE, the studio’s livestream programming — take a class live or reserve it in your AXL library and watch it later. AXL LIVE offers spin classes daily and off-the-bike strength classes several days a week. The cycle studio will provide free Shimano shoe rentals to those who attend classes in person (although you’re encouraged to bring your own shoes). Online classes: $8 per class or $45 per month unlimited; in-person classes: three classes for $30 or $99 per month unlimited for new riders. 617-874-8249, www.axlboston.com.
See art exhibits in person — at last
Eight exhibits opened at Vermont’s Brattleboro Museum & Art Center on March 14 and then closed for three months the very next day. Grab your mask and head to the museum where you can see those exhibits now until Oct. 12. The museum has two exhibits on homelessness, featuring larger-than-life portraits of people experiencing homelessness in New York City, and a multimedia project by Brattleboro-artist Liz LaVorgna; an exhibit by National Geographic documentary photographer Alison Wright that showcases women from around the world; and an installation by Roger Clark Miller, cofounder of the art-punk band Mission of Burma, featuring video, sound, and modified vinyl records. Visitors must wear face masks and abide by social-distancing requirements. Walk-ins are welcome; or reserve a time online to avoid a potential wait (40 visitors max). Open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is on a “pay-as-you-wish” basis. 802-257-0124, www.brattleboromuseum.org.
THERE
Time for an epic bike adventure
Pedal by glacial lakes, through enormous canyons, and within eyeshot of towering peaks on a six-day camping and cycling adventure in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. The tour, run by Las Vegas-based Escape Adventures, suits travelers of all fitness levels and families (kids welcome as long as they can cover the miles). Pedal 14-59 miles a day on a human-powered bicycle or e-bike. Highlights include cycling over Geneva Pass and Teton Pass; pedaling by bubbling mud pots and burping fumaroles; visiting the world’s largest rhythmic spring; biking through Star Valley and Snake River Gorge; and keeping an eye out for bears, bison, and bighorn sheep along the way. Tours run through September 2020, starting at $1,695 per person, which includes use of carbon fiber Specialized bikes with disc brakes and GPS, camping gear, meals, guides, and more. 800-596-2953, www.escapeadventures.com.
Montana’s first Kimpton hotel
Heading to Montana’s “big sky country” this summer? Consider staying at the new Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman, a 122-room property that opens this month and offers travelers easy access to the region’s wilderness areas (including Yellowstone) and wide-open spaces. The hotel, located in the historic National Guard Armory building in downtown Bozeman, also has 12 suites and offers guests complimentary yoga mats, bicycles, access to a fitness room and, later this summer, access to a rooftop pool during their stay. The hotel will offer three dining options: Fieldings, named after the local architect who designed the armory building, offers breakfast, dinner, and in-room dining; Tune Up, offers hearty bar snacks and a library of whiskey; and Sky Shed, a rooftop bar with light bites and mountain views. The hotel follows Kimpton’s Clean Promise initiative, ensuring guestrooms are thoroughly disinfected between stays, encouraging physical distancing, and providing guests with gloves and masks. Special opening rate: $307, includes a travel tote with house-made road-trip snacks. 855-546-7866, www.armoryhotelbzn.com.
EVERYWHERE
Fend off germs with this travel kit
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Whether you’re heading to the store, to the airport, or out on a road trip, consider bringing a Germ Genie. Henry Hurowitz, a 16-year-old from southern Florida, created this travel kit long before the novel coronavirus hit, after a travel mishap when he fell asleep on his airplane tray table and woke up with a rash. This rugged travel pouch comes with a variety of TSA-compliant products that help travelers fend off germs on public transportation, at hotels, while pumping gas, and in other travel scenarios. The Germ Genie Travel Package comes with 15 airplane tray table covers, an airplane headrest cover, two pairs of non-latex gloves, hand sanitizer, two face masks, and a package of 10 disinfecting wipes ($24.99). The deluxe version includes all of the above, plus a basic First Aid kit, 10 disposable toilet seat covers, a pair of shoe covers, and one ($39.99) or two ($44.99) KN95 masks. www.germgenie.com.
A dress for any adventure
Grab brunch at an outdoor café, hop on your cruiser bike for a spin around town, or do cartwheels along the beach on a picture-perfect day. Title Nine’s Dream Dress works for all these activities — and more. The versatile dress, made of a wrinkle-resistant buttery fabric (90 percent polyester, 10 percent spandex), is stylish enough to kick around town and tough enough to handle more sporty adventures. The breathable dress comes with the company’s clever SwiftSnap feature, a secret hem snap that lets you fasten the dress together between your legs so you can bike, run, or do those cartwheels without flashing too much skin. It also comes with a zippered pocket and in two colors: black with “celestial dots” and a blue and orange “mosaic.” $89. www.titlenine.com.
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
