Tomato tasting, coaster thrills, and a handy phone gadget

Savor peak summer sweetness at the 9th Annual Great Tomato Tasting at the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Kelly Way Gardens (Aug. 17). Sample several heirloom varieties assembled by master gardner Benjamin Pauly (a.k.a. the “tomato whisperer”) before touring the 3-acre gardens planted with more than 200 varieties of vegetables, 50 types of herbs and edible flowers, 75 varieties of berries and orchid plantings, and 51 types of heirloom tomatoes. The tomato tasting is one of three Garden Day 2024 activities in Woodstock on this date. Additional tours, live music, crafts, and activities can be found at Billings Farm & Museum and the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. https://billingsfarm.org/events/garden-day-2024
Savor peak summer sweetness at the 9th Annual Great Tomato Tasting at the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Kelly Way Gardens. Woodstock Inn & Resort
Looking for more to do in the area? Longer summer days allow more time for outdoor adventures, such as hiking the 60-plus miles interconnected trails that wind through Woodstock Village. Stay at the 142-room Woodstock Inn & Resort for a wide range of additional experiences and activities, such as a guided Orvis flyfishing excursion, unlimited golf on their own 18-hole course, falconry, mountain biking trails, tennis, and more. Recover with a massage, facial, manicure, and more at the 10,000-square-foot spa facility. When you’re ready to eat something more than tomatoes, the inn offers four different chef-driven restaurant concepts, all specializing in locally sourced products from New England purveyors, and produce picked daily in the Kelly Way Gardens. Rates from $469. www.woodstockinn.com
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Take a wildlife safari without needing a passport at the new Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa in Jackson, N.J. Six Flags Great Adventure Resort
THERE:
COASTER THRILLS AND WILDLIFE AT N.J. PARK
Take a wildlife safari without needing a passport at the new Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa, located off I-195 in Jackson, N.J., between New York City and Philadelphia. One of the new attractions at Six Flags Great Adventure Resort, the African glamping experience offers guests panoramic views of open land inhabited by more than 1,200 animals from six continents. Stay in one of the couples or family suites in a custom luxury canvas tent outfitted with a private bathroom and HVAC unit, with access to outdoor entertainment, fire pits, restaurant and bar, spa services, and more. A two-night minimum stay includes daily gourmet breakfast, giraffe feeding encounters, wild safari tour, nightly s’mores and a single day multi-park ticket per night to all three parks that encompass the Great Adventure Resort. Couples Suites from $599/night; Family Suites from $999/night. www.sixflags.com/savannahsunset
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Take a wildlife safari without needing a passport at the new Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa in Jackson, N.J. Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa
The Six Flags Great Adventure Resort’s 50th anniversary season also boasts major upgrades, including the brand-new coaster, THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity, the first super boomerang coaster to open in North America. Experience microgravity as you speed upside down, almost 100 feet off the ground, and zoom through a 180-degree twisted drop followed by a Zero-G roll back. Reaching speeds of up to 59 miles per hour, the coaster pauses and, just like its namesake THE FLASH, changes directions in a nanosecond to rush backward along the track. (Not for the faint of heart!) The park is also updating two original favorites: the log flume and the iconic big wheel. Additional activities include family and kiddie rides (bumper cars, spinning teacups, and carousel, to name a few); restaurants and boardwalk eateries; live music and other entertainment; and gift shops galore. Daily ticket from $39. www.sixflags.com/greatadventure
The ultra-portable Pocket Tripod provides all the essential features you’d expect from a full-size tripod with the added ability to fold down to the thickness of two credit cards — making it easy to slip into your wallet or carry in your pocket. Pocket Tripod
EVERYWHERE:
ADJUSTABLE PHONE HOLDER FITS IN WALLET
Here’s a handy little gadget for everyone who takes smartphone photos when on vacation. (And who doesn’t?) The ultra-portable Pocket Tripod provides all the essential features you’d expect from a full-size tripod with the added ability to fold down to the thickness of two credit cards — making it easy to slip into your wallet or carry in your pocket. Holds your phone in the exact angle that you want with carbon fiber legs that stay stable on any surface, including sand and rocks. Interchangeable adapters make it compatible with any phone or case. Perfect for group portraits and for framing the perfect landscape shots for your social media posts. Additionally, the Pocket Tripod makes it easy for enjoying hands-free video streaming and having video chats with family and friends. $35. https://pocket-tripod.com
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