Big structure. Big style. Big Sur. Ricardo Beverly Hills’ new Big Sur Collection is big on looks, style and functionality, yet light on its feet, er, wheels. Constructed of ballistic nylon with lightweight honeycomb Flex-Frame™, it is equipped with Nano-Tex™ fabric enhancement for superior protection against stains. In-line skate wheels with whisper-quiet Hub Guard™ ensure smooth maneuverability and a molded-in kick plate with diamond PVC helps protect the luggage when going up and down curbs or steps. After toting a piece up two and a half flights of steps to my bed and breakfast tower room recently, I can assure you that the Big Sur Collection lives up to the enduring quality its name implies.
Striking just the right tone in either eye-catching purple or dramatic black, this is a collection with a thoughtfully considered combination of mix-and-match pieces and amenities, depending on where your travels take you, not the least of which is the versatile 18” Universal WheelAboard™ with removable Quickpass™ laptop sleeve. Perfect for both business and pleasure trips, this airline-friendly bag works hard for you with multiple internal pockets, front organizer compartment and a handy 3-1-1- bag. Pack it for a weekend adventure or a business trip – it’s up for either or both with style to spare.
The 21” two-compartment WheelAboard™ and 25” and 29” two-compartment Pullmans are expandable and feature a deluxe toiletry multi-compartment organizer (25” and 29” only), vertical winged tie tapes to keep garments secure and an Add-A-Bag strap. The patented two-compartment packing system has a floating divider that adjusts automatically – a nice touch in terms of flexibility and convenience.
Probably the most versatile piece in the collection is the 16” Rolling Tote. Showing off a three-compartment design, it is outfitted with front organizer pocket and removable Quickpass™ laptop sleeve and has room left over for a change of clothes. For overnights that are strictly business, this case steps up to keep you organized and on the move. For those that are of the all-play-and-no-work variety, the 16" Rolling Tote holds everything you need – and is discreet about it.
Rounding out the Big Sur Collection is the Deluxe Rolling Garment Bag with removable corner pockets and an extender that folds down for longer garments. It is singularly focused on keeping your clothing neat and crisp in transit and that is a promise it keeps admirably. A genuine WallyLock® holds hangers and garments secure and two reinforced hanging hooks let your bag hang fully extended in the closet, eliminating the need to unpack.
The prices for the bags in the Big Sur Collection range from $240 to $400 each, but you can sometimes scoop up pieces on sale with price tags in the more amenable $120 to $200 range.
Need big style? Log onto Travelin’ Tales and leave a comment about one of the stories – you’ll be eligible to win a Big Sur of your own. Afterwards, pack your Big Sur and head to a small burg with big style: Cumming, Ga.
From pristine lake to mountain peak, adventure at every altitude in nature-loving Cumming
Sitting in metro Atlanta’s backyard, Cumming-Forsyth County is Mother Nature’s playground, encompassing Sawnee Mountain, the Forsyth County Big Creek Greenway, a 1,600-acre parks and recreation system, the Chattahoochee River, and 30 percent of Lake Lanier’s 600-plus miles of shoreline – and claiming one of only two marinas with boat rentals available to the public at Port Royale Marina. A “Hospitality Highway” community known for small-town charm and big-city proximity, Cumming-Forsyth County is also home to the intriguingly named Indian Seats, dramatic natural rock outcroppings located on Sawnee Mountain, the Buford Trout Hatchery whose fish stock Lake Lanier, and the circa 1901 Poole’s Mill Covered Bridge.
There are outdoor amusements at Sawnee Mountain Preserve, where the monumental bronze sculpture of Cherokee Chief Sawnee stands as a sentinel, and lots of indoor fun at its new Visitors Center, including exhibits and a variety of classes; water play at Lake Sidney Lanier; hiking and biking along the scenic six miles of Forsyth County Big Creek Greenway; sports fun at Central Park – from walking and mountain biking to disc golf course to kayak and canoe lessons. You can also take a jewelry making or garden art class at Central Park (seasonal).
Indoors, enjoy lively theatre at Historic Cumming Playhouse. Take a gallery tour with the Sawnee Artists Association. Thumb through the new and used books at Humpus Bumpus, a bookstore tucked inside an old brick house and made homey with fireplace and hardwood floors. Get tickets to the Sawnee Ballet Theatre or the Sound of Sawnee Concert Band.
Epicureans enjoy a bevy of eateries off the beaten path in the downtown district and along the shoreline of Lake Lanier with views of the water served on the side: upscale yet casual CooCoo’s Nest, Tam’s Backstage at the Playhouse and Norman’s Landing, a restaurant tucked into a fish-camp log cabin, among others. Theatre après dining options? Besides Tam’s, there is Bello’s for Italian cuisine, Ichabod’s for great Japanese food and Foster House for home-style country cooking.
Lodging includes Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites and several campgrounds, including wooded Shady Grove where waterfront sites overlook pristine Lake Lanier.
TIP: Fashionistas, take note: Shop The Avenue® Forsyth, a NEW upscale outdoor lifestyle center with A-List shops – there are more than 60 premier national retailers, select local merchants and specialty restaurants.
Information: Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.
ABOUT CUMMING-FORSYTH COUNTY
Sitting in metro Atlanta’s backyard, Cumming-Forsyth County is Mother Nature’s playground, encompassing Sawnee Mountain, the Forsyth County Big Creek Greenway, a 1,600-acre parks and recreation system and 30 percent of Lake Lanier’s 600-plus miles of shoreline – and claiming one of only two marinas with boat rentals available to the public at Port Royale Marina. A “Hospitality Highway” community, Cumming-Forsyth County is peaceful open spaces, mindful historic preservation, small-town charm and big-city proximity – a natural beauty with lots of activities among its diverse attractions: outdoor amusements at Sawnee Mountain Preserve and Visitors Center, where the monumental bronze sculpture of Cherokee Chief Sawnee stands as a sentinel; hiking and biking along the six-mile Forsyth County Big Creek Greenway; sports fun at Central Park – from walking and mountain biking to 27-hole disc golf course to kayak and canoe lessons; plus lively theatre, first class shopping, and dining to delight adventurous foodies, including restaurants along the shoreline of Lake Lanier where views of the water are served on the side. Lodging includes Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites and several campgrounds. Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, 1-770-887-6461.
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