● San Diego is the latest city to join the CityPASS® family of partner destinations. The new San Diego CityPASS program, which was just launched, includes deeply discounted admission to various combinations of top attractions clustered in and around San Diego. The three combinations of tickets, which allow travelers to save up to 40 percent off combined regular admission, are: SeaWorld® San Diego + 3 Additional Attractions. This includes one-day admission to SeaWorld San Diego, plus admission to any three of the following four options: San Diego Zoo® or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (choose either the zoo or the Safari Park), USS Midway Museum, City Cruises, and Old Town Trolley Tours. Cost: $149, adults; $129, children 3-12. Similar combinations are: LEGOLAND® California + 3 Additional Attractions; SeaWorld San Diego + LEGOLAND California + 3 Additional Attractions.
Depending on what they want to see and do, the amount of time visitors have to spend in the San Diego area, and the ages of those in their traveling party, visitors can customize their own San Diego experience with CityPASS. Tickets, which can be ordered online at CityPASS.com, arrive within moments via email. CityPASS tickets are currently available in 15 North American destinations: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto. To date, more than 23 million CityPASS tickets have been sold. For more information, visit CityPASS.com.
● The Arizona Office of Tourism has launched a statewide digital Arizona Wine Trail passport and interactive map powered by Bandwango. Visitors can register for the free passport and save as an icon to their phone’s home screen for easy access. Geolocation enables visitors to find over 100 tasting rooms while they travel throughout Arizona. Incentives for visiting multiple wine regions are built into the program. The passport will be available by visiting ArizonaWines.com.
● Manhattan’s first and only legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition has opened its doors in NoHo. The Great Jones Distilling Co. and its attraction is the result of a six-year construction journey that overcome numerous city regulations, centuries-old fire codes and a global pandemic to deliver a new spirit to the city and give New Yorkers their own whiskey distillery. The result is now a 28,000 square-foot space located at 686 Broadway, which encompasses a custom-built and engineered distillery where people can enjoy distillery tours and tasting experiences. A restaurant, speakeasy and event venue will open starting this month.
Great Jones Distilling Co. was founded by Proximo Spirits and the passionate vision of owner and 11th generation spirits maker Juan Domingo Beckmann. To celebrate the best that New York has to offer, the whiskies are made exclusively with grains grown in the soil of the Black Dirt region less than two hours north of Manhattan in Upstate New York. With the opening of Great Jones Distilling Co. comes the introduction of three new whiskies: Great Jones Straight Bourbon, Great Jones Four Grain Bourbon and Great Jones Rye Whiskey.
Visitors are now able to enjoy: distillery tours and guided whiskey tastings and experiences; The Restaurant at Great Jones (opening this month); The Speakeasy, an intimate underground speakeasy spot offering a restaurant and exclusive tasting menu; The Lounge, an exclusive enclave for guests as well as private events; and The Shop—the three signature spirits and a curated selection of Great Jones merchandise from New York-based makers and beyond will be available for purchase. Please check the website www.greatjonesdistillingco.com for timeframe updates. Distillery tours will be offered for those 21+ and are available for booking at https://greatjonesdistillingco.com/book-your-visit/.
● A spectacular new outdoors attraction—the Malahat Skywalk—has opened about 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of Victoria, BC. The 600-meter (656 yards) elevated walkway winds its way through the treetops to a spiral tower 250 meters (273 yards) above sea level with 360-degree views of the coastal region, including the Gulf Islands, Coast Mountains and Mount Baker. For the really adventurous, there is also an “adventure net,” that lets visitors bounce and stare down at the void below, and a huge spiral slide. The global pandemic had its impact on the Skywalk, as construction on the project started in January 2020. It did open, however, until July 1, when the province of British Columbia moved to Stage 3 of its COVID-19 reopening plan, which meant that operators were able to confirm an opening date. For information on the cost of tickets, groups and other matters, visit info@malahatskycalk.com, or call 1.833.625.2428.
● The recently opened Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego is an architectural wonder on the edge of San Diego Bay and the heart of downtown. Years in the making, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is the culmination of a long-time civic desire to have a state-of-the-art concert venue that elevates the experience of live music while also serving as a public center for all of San Diego. The Rady Shell also provides a sparkling summer home for the San Diego Symphony. For more information on events or prices, Call 619.235.0804. Or e-mail groupsales@sandiegosymphony.org/tickets-events/ticket-office/groupsales/
● Broadway Museum to Open Next Year: The Museum of Broadway, which will be the first permanent museum dedicated to the history and legacy of New York City’s theatre industry, is now scheduled to open next summer in Times Square (145 West 45th Street) following a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Visitors will experience the history and migration of New York City’s theaters through immersive video projections, from the financial district to Union Square and Herald Square to modern-day Times Square. They will also get go behind the curtain into the making of a Broadway show with a special exhibit honoring the community of brilliantly talented professionals – both onstage and off – who bring Broadway plays and musicals to life every night. (Museum of Broadway rendering, Paul Bennett Architects, PC)
And, of course, The Museum of Broadway will also include a retail store, created in partnership with Creative Goods, that will sell show-specific merchandise as well as customized products from small local businesses. Meanwhile, tickets for the new attraction are expected to go on sale later this year. For more information, visit www.themuseumofbroadway.com.
