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What You Need to Know to Enjoy a Cannabis-Fueled Vacation

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The new green frontier of travel is exciting to many, daunting to others, and confusing to some who are worried they’re doing it wrong. It’s easy to understand why. When it comes to recreational marijuana, each of the states (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, plus Washington D.C.) where you can now legally partake have slightly different laws, plus there are four more states joining the legal cannabis party over the coming year. Not to mention the wildly different ways dispensaries sell their kind buds and other magic merch. Here’s a weed-buying rundown of what to know, how to choose, and what not to do.

PACE YOURSELF

weed

There are three ways that timing is key to a sensible, stoned journey. One is to be practical about how long you’re visiting a legal weed state and buy only enough to consume while you’re there. That way you’ll avoid the temptation of packing it for your trip home, which is a huge no-no since cannabis is still illegal on a federal level. This applies to driving too, since Oregon to Washington are the only two neighboring states where you can legally cross the border carrying cannabis—at least until California and Nevada institute their recreational-MJ laws in early 2018.

So how much is enough? The answer’s different for everyone. The proper dosage depends on things like your size, the strain, what form it’s in, and most importantly, your personal experience with pot. “Budtenders” can be helpful in navigating the choices. But some are more conscientious than others and might not consider all the factors for each personal recommendation.

BASIC BUD BACKGROUND

Weed

If you remember one thing, it’s that dispensaries sell very potent marijuana strains—stronger than most people are used to. There are two measurements of each plant’s strength its likely effects: THC and CBD. There’s a ton of explanation about them and how each one impacts brain chemistry. But basically, THC is the psychoactive part that’s responsible for the more familiar, sometimes goofy stoned sensations; while CBD essentially helps tamp down THC’s “high.” That’s why CBD is considered more medicinal, helping with conditions like anxiety, depression, and physical pain.

Also, remember that marijuana is either sativa, indica, or a hybrid of both. Generally, sativa strains are more energetic and uplifting, instead of more relaxing and mellow indica (as in “in da couch”). Note that weed’s kooky names do have a system, so as you dive deeper you may notice that “kush” strains are generally higher in indica so they deliver its chill-body qualities. But a “diesel” tends to be a more active, sensory sativa high.

GREEN CHOICES GALORE

Weed

Many travelers new to the 420-shopping scene may be overwhelmed or enchanted with the awe-striking array of choices stocked in dispensaries. You’ll see plants for sale, giant jars of fluffy buds, capsules, beverages, all kinds of candy, and more.

Most stores have separate areas for fresh bud that’s ready to smoke, along with accoutrements like rolling papers, pipes, and vaporizers (for sale and sometimes for rent). Displays tell you all the nitty-gritty about each kind of marijuana, such as its THC and CBD percentages, who grew it, its qualities and effects, and prices per gram or ounce.

There’s also hash and the newest creations: cannabis extracts in the form of oil, wax, and a clear oil-based version called “shatter.” Unless you’re a serious daily pot connoisseur, these are probably better left to more seasoned consumers.

For non-smokers, edibles are the preferred choice. Seemingly endless choices are offered, from hard candy and gummy bears, to mints and chocolate bars to sodas and baked goods. Every edible should list its cannabis quantity, usually offering a “serving size” of either 5 or 10 milligrams of THC. (CBD edibles are harder to find.) Most people should start with 5mg, and wait 45 to 90 minutes to feel an edible’s full effects. A digested high will likely last a good three hours, longer than an average smoked high. The important thing is to be patient and see how a bite hits you before eating more. Don’t overeat!

weed

Now back to the initial shopping questions: How long is your trip? Are you on a vacation that’s all about leisure time, or on a business trip where you need to be on point? How many times will you have a window of time and comfortable place where you can relax and enjoy being high?

Answering these should help you decide how much bud to smoke or edibles to consume, but it’s probably less than you think. Even regular pot smokers find that just two or three puffs of such high-quality ganja—which amounts to less than one gram—can last more than two hours, and its best to avoid serious responsibilities during that chill time.

One big note for travelers is that discretion is key. Technically, none of the legal weed states allow pot smoking in public, though most violators receive only a fine. And strolls through downtown Portland or Denver prove that open-air smoking is happening all the time—just take a whiff. You can avoid the risk by joining tours aboard smoke-friendly vehicles, marijuana social clubs, cooking classes, and other designated high zones.

But for your opening foray into the wild green yonder, a wise option is lodging at a cannabis-friendly B&B or hotel where you can try your fragrant new purchase in the comfort of a safe space. Then, whether you’re new to marijuana or sampling a new strain, you can enjoy the journey within your journey…hopefully with quality munchies nearby.

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The Luxurious Way to Experience Tokyo’s Cherry Blossom Season

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cherry blossoms

Palace Hotel Tokyo’s Blossoming Tokyo package immerses guests in the beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom throughout the city during the spring months. Over the course of a three-hour tour, guests will be chauffeured to Tokyo’s most scenic sakura-spotting locales in a luxury car.

Interested in taking your Instagram to the next level? The hotel’s concierge can, at an additional charge, arrange for a professional to photograph guests among the blossoms. No filters necessary!

The package (which features additional add-ons such as a workshop on mochi making, a lesson on the art of flower arranging, as well as a seasonal bento box lunch tasting) is available from March 1 through May 31.

To learn more about the Blossoming Tokyo package visit Palace Hotel Tokyo.

PLAN YOUR VISIT with the Tokyo Travel Guide.

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Travel Tips

Today Is National Plan for Vacation Day!

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Today marks the first-ever “National Plan for Vacation Day,” created by the organization Project: Time Off, which estimates that 55 percent of employees in America do not use all of their allotted vacation days.

In fact, Americans skipped out on 658 million days in 2015, many of which couldn’t be recouped the next year because they didn’t roll over. What’s the reasoning behind the overzealous work ethic?

For one, employees are glued to their computers and phones, available at all times, and able to work anywhere that has Wi-Fi. We also have fears associated with taking time off: work will pile up while we’re away, or employers will see us as replaceable.

And some of us are bad at planning—by the time we get around to thinking about vacation, our calendar has already filled up for the year. Making time is worth it, though; as it turns out, vacations are actually quite good for employees and have benefits similar to meditation. Many employees found their own concentration had improved and were able to get more done after returning from vacation.

It’s still early days for 2017, so Project: Time Off is urging employees to work out a schedule today, so you can make sure that PTO doesn’t go to waste, even if it means having a conversation with your boss.

Now, the fun part: where should you go with your pent-up wanderlust? Our staff recommends places like Bordeaux, Cape Town, and Kiev, (but maybe skip Dubai and Times Square).

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Test Drive Google’s Totally Amazing Arts and Culture App

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Picture yourself standing within inches of Chagall’s magnificent ceiling at the Paris Opéra, examining every last detailed brushstroke of the surrealist masterpiece. Or strolling through the back streets of Paris in the company of urban explorer and photographer David de Rueda. This is the stuff art dreams are made of, experiences that only the luckiest of art aficionados may have the chance to enjoy—if they’re really, really lucky.

But thanks to a new Google online platform, you don’t even need to leave your home to relish in some of the world’s most amazing art. Since not everyone has the time or money to travel the world appreciating global culture or the connections to access such masterpieces, the Google Cultural Institute has partnered with more than 1,100 institutions, making available more than 400,000 artworks and 5 million photos, videos, manuscripts and other documents online, to everyone, for free. And not just make available, but curated with virtual tours, online exhibitions, a searchable database, and a bounty of other ways to experience the world’s foremost cultural treasures. It’s a platform called Google Arts & Culture, available via website and app.

Admittedly, the site is a little confusing to navigate. The best thing to do is just play and see what you discover. You will be rewarded wherever you end up. The homepage changes daily with different features, while the hamburger menu provides navigation to artists, art movements, partner institutions, and the like.

Here’s a primer on the absolutely-do-not-miss highlights.

Explore a Database of Artworks

Frida

You can sort through thousands of masterpieces from thousands of museums in more than 70 different countries. Use the search tool to search for anything: shoes, all things silver, Egyptian cats, Bordeaux, whatever you choose. You also can search by artist, medium, art movement, museum (search by partner), even object. Or scroll through an artist’s repertoire by time period (for example, see Rembrandt’s evolution as an artist, one painting at a time, here) or color (see here).

Zoom in to See Masterpiece Secrets

Google has devised advanced technology to hone into the extraordinary detail of images, paintings, artifacts and more, far beyond what you can see with the naked eye. One of the most amazing stories concerns Paris Opéra’s ceiling by Marc Chagall. Chagall’s son, David McNeil, had always heard that his father had painted a picture of him as a baby but he never knew where it was – until they found it embedded in the Paris Opéra ceiling, near the Stravinsky panel, during this Google project. Take a peek here.

Take a Virtual Tour

Castle

Get up close and personal to hundreds of art institutions and cultural icons—the Statue of Liberty, Sagrada Familia, Fenway Park—where you can drag your finger around the image and tap to move through an exhibit or location in a museum-themed version of Google Street View. It’s like you’re personally visiting the site, studying what’s on the walls, on the floor, in the next room, whatever interests you, without actually being there. And it’s not just big museums here–check out, for example, the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion in St. Joseph, Missouri. Some also require the use of a virtual reality viewer to enhance the experience (such as Google Cardboard; the website shows you how to make your own; see here).

See Secret Spaces in 360

Join urban explorer and photographer David de Rueda in an exploration of Paris’ secret side in a feature called Curio-Cité, best seen on your mobile phone with a virtual reality viewer and headphones. This is just the first of many such explorations to be created.

Get Good Old-Fashioned Museum Info

MOMA

Should you be planning to physically visit a museum, you can check opening hours, its location on a map, and daily events.

Enjoy an Interactive Online Exhibit

Google offers a series of different online exhibits in which you can delve into archival materials, objects, and stories typically not available to the typical museum visitor. There are straightforward museum visits as well as curated exhibits centering on various themes. The American Democracy collection, for example, brings together more than 70 exhibits and 2,500 artifacts from 44 institutions dedicated to the preservation of U.S. political history and American democracy. Take a peek here. That said, the behind-the-scenes tour of London’s Natural History tank room, curated by Oliver Crimmen, the museum’s Senior Curator of Fish, has to be one of the more unusual tours you’ll find. Among the things he’ll show you are specimens collected by Charles Darwin during his voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle.

Read Fascinating New Stories About Art Every Day

Daily

Google experts post featured new stories every day, offering insight (and photos) into different angles of art and culture. Recent ones include: “Weird Histories: The Peacock Room,” exploring the history of Whistler’s beautiful London dining room, currently at home in Washington’s Freer Gallery; ”Virtual Herbal Garden,” taking you to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences; and “Black and British: A Forgotten History,” a four-part series delving into Britain’s slave narrative. As you will see, these are not light and fluffy fillers!

Enhance a Personal Visit

If you find yourself taking a physical tour of a museum, check out a new feature that several museums are offering through Google Arts & Culture. With Art Recognizer, you point your phone at a painting to access a bounty of info about it. For now, this is available only at Washington, D.C.’s National Gallery of Art, Sydney’s Art Gallery of New South Wales, and London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery. But Google is planning to roll this out in museums around the world, so stay tuned.

There’s Much, Much More

Yangzhou

Just play around with the website and you’ll come across all kinds of fascinating offerings. The folks at Google are constantly innovating–there’s even a page that shows their experiments at the crossroads of art and technology. You can bet this site will continue to be massaged and improved upon and enlarged. Stay tuned!

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