US Civil Rights Trail expands
Two new sites have been added to the US Civil Rights Trail: Jefferson Street Sound Museum and the Museum of Christian & Gospel Music, both in Nashville, Tennessee. The addition of these two new sites means Tennessee now has 17 destinations along the US Civil Rights Trail.
The Jefferson Street Sound Museum showcases how music, culture and activism intersected. During the 1940s-1970s, Jefferson Street hosted artists like Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles, James Brown, Tina Turner, Little Richard and played a central role in shaping both Nashville’s musical legacy and the Civil Rights Movement.
The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music looks at the powerful role the genre and its musicians played as the sound served as a source of hope, unity and inspiration during the fight for civil rights.
InsideJapan launches Summer Elegance tour
InsideJapan has released a number of new small-group tour dates, including the new-for-2026 Summer Elegance tour.
Highlights of this itinerary include: seeing traditional thatched farmhouses at the Hida no Sato folk village in the Japanese Alps, meeting a maiko (trainee geisha) in the Gion geisha district of Kyoto, and a food tour of one of Japan’s less well-known districts, Sugamo.
The Summer Elegance tour will let tourists follow in the footsteps of the samurai while visiting one of Japan’s best-preserved castles in Matsumoto. Also on the itinerary are the Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa — without the peak-season crowds — and the Hakone Open-Air Art Museum with sculptures by world-famous artists including Picasso and Rodin.
The Tour du Rwanda returns in February 2026
Following the UCL Road World Championships in 2025, Rwanda’s ‘Thousand Hills’ will once again set the stage for another week of sport, as the Tour du Rwanda returns, running from 22 February to 1 March.
Attendees will watch as cyclists put their endurance to the test, with Rwanda’s lush forests and ‘smoking’ mountains providing the backdrop for the gruelling race.
The Tour du Rwanda has evolved from a regional competition into a major UCI 2.1 event since 2009. The race brings together professional UCI ProTeams and UCI Continental teams, showcasing elite African talent alongside international competitors. For more information, visit tourdurwanda.rw.
White Elephant Aspen opens in Colorado
Known for resorts on Nantucket and in Palm Beach, White Elephant Resorts has now opened a property in Aspen. Opening downtown against a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, the White Elephant Aspen will feature 54 rooms and suites with ‘alpine-chic’ interiors created by Boston-based architectural firm EMBARC.
Art features art throughout the hotel, with more than 125 original works, including pieces by Alex Katz, Robert Peterson and Orit Fuchs on display.
Families and large parties will have plenty of space to spread out in multiple suite options, including the 1,560s qft Ajax Penthouse, with three bedrooms and a 1,600-square-foot balcony with sweeping mountain views.
Tapati Rapa Nui Festival on Easter Island
Easter Island, the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania, is still one of the world’s most mystical destinations. Perhaps the most special time to visit is during the Tapati Rapa Nui Festival (1-14 February), a cultural event featuring music, dance, and traditional competitions.
The festival unites the island’s community through a series of clan-based contests, culminating in the selection of the festival queen.
Nayara Hangaroa, a hotel on the island, offers immersive experiences into the culture and history of the ancient Rapa Nui civilisation. Guests are offered unmatched opportunities to learn about — and participate in — the island’s customs and cultural traditions.
Marriott hotel opens in Scottsdale Old Town
The AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town has opened, aiming to bringing a slice of European design to Arizona. The property features a pool, Mexican restaurant and AC Lounge.
This month, the city is home to number of events, including the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, held on
12-22 February and drawing in almost 2,000 horses each year.
The Wilde Meyer Gallery will host a reception for its new sculpture show between 5 and 26 February and the Scottsdale Gallery Association will hold its February Gold Palette ArtWalk on the 12th.
Frostival Lodge opens in Boston
The first annual Boston Frostival open this month with two signature activations: the Frostival Lodge furnished by Wayfair at Copley Square, and the 75-foot Frostival Ferris Wheel on the Greenway operating throughout the entire month of February.
Wayfair will outfit the Frostival Lodge space with cozy cabin furniture and décor and Eataly will offer food and drink options. The lodge will offer the following activities: weekly trivia nights, kids’ movie nights, live music and games such as Scrabble, Jenga, cornhole, chess, and backgammon.
The Olympic Winter Games in Italy will feature heavily, with numerous watch parties plus curling lanes available for use on site.
Modernism Week, California
Palm Springs’ Modernism Week runs from 12–22 February 2026, where the city hosts more than 350 activities, including tours of iconic homes, architectural walking and biking excursions, and a classic car show.
Guests will be well-placed at Parker Palm Springs, the Jonathan Adler–designed desert oasis set on 13 acres of landscaped grounds. More than 120 original art pieces are featured throughout, including a lithograph from Marilyn Monroe’s last sitting by Hollywood photographer Bert Stern.
There’s also an op-art work by Hungarian French artist Victor Vasarely, whose work is also featured at the Palm Springs Art Museum.
