February Getaway Guide: Flowers in Philadelphia, arts & crafts in Asheville

This month’s travel tip sheet
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Photograph courtesy of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Photograph courtesy of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Festival of the Month
Philadelphia Flower Show
Organizers promise the return of Atlanta’s beloved Southeastern Flower Show in 2016, but if you want to see over-the-top horticultural exhibits this winter, travel to Philadelphia for the world’s longest-running and largest indoor flower show (February 28 to March 8). This year’s theme is a Hollywood-inspired “Lights, Camera, Bloom!” The event includes lectures, workshops, competitions, and acres of floral exhibits—plus a room with 20 different species of butterflies. The show is so large it has its own smartphone app.
Book Now
The flower show partners with 20 hotels, but our pick is the Palomar by Kimpton (from $239). The art deco landmark was built in 1929. Kimpton converted the office building into a LEED-certified hotel with a $92.5 million renovation in 2009.

Omni Grove Park Inn
Photograph courtesy of Omni Grove Park Inn

Photograph courtesy of Omni Grove Park Inn

Bungalow Buffs
Arts and Crafts
If you live in a bungalow-style house or just wish you did, consider attending the 28th National Arts and Crafts Conference at Asheville’s historic Grove Park Inn—arguably the South’s most well-known example of the genre. The early-20th-century style was embodied by Gustav Stickley’s sturdy oak furniture, Roycroft Copper Shop’s mica lighting, and William Morris’s intricate wallpapers and fabrics. From February 20 to 22, fans can check out antiques, reproductions, seminars, workshops, house tours, and demonstrations. The luxury Omni Grove Park Inn is offering discounted two-night weekend packages starting at $532, which include a $150 conference pass.

Photograph by iStockphoto.com
Photograph by iStockphoto.com

Rover & the Road
Almost half of American households have at least one dog, and 94 percent of them consider the pooch part of the family. So plenty of people worry about the pup when traveling. Here, some survey results from Rover, a nationwide service that matches dog lovers with pet sitters and services:

80%
of dog owners worry about their pets when they’re away from home.

60%
of dog owners who travel by car decided to drive so they could take their pets along.

59%
of pet parents would be willing to pay at least $100 extra to take their pets with them when they travel.

61%
look for dog-friendly hotels.

38%
have changed travel plans to stay home with their dogs.

55%
said they would volunteer for the middle seat on a long flight if it meant they could take their pets along.

Photograph by Sandy Kilgore
Photograph by Sandy Kilgore

Mardi Gras Mask Market
Every year, a dozen or so vendors from around the U.S. converge on the French Market’s Dutch Alley in New Orleans to sell handmade masks the weekend before Mardi Gras (February 13–16). Also find jewelry; clothing; art; and local food like muffulettas, po’boys, and alligator on a stick.

Batter Up
The Atlanta Braves kick off spring training on Wednesday, March 4, versus the New York Mets in Kissimmee, Florida. Preseason runs through April 4 before the home opener (also versus the Mets) on April 10. VIP and mini-packages are available. Single tickets from less than $20.

This article originally appeared in our February 2015 issue.

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