Summer camp, where to stay and play in Raleigh, and a charging station that can do it all
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Summer camp for underserved youth
Students ages 12-17 who are facing economic challenges can attend a free Berkshires camp where they can try acting, dance, rap writing, improvisation and more. Summer Stars Camp for the Performing Arts welcomes more than 150 underserved children to a campus in Gill each summer. Here, a team of master teachers, performers, advisors, and guest artists guide campers on a journey of self-discovery (past guest artists include Steven Tyler, 50 Cent, and Taylor Swift). The 9-day camp culminates with a 90-minute evening performance in a state-of-the-art theater where all camp participants can perform to an audience of up to 500 people. This donor-sponsored camp provides free transportation, accommodation, meals and participation costs for all campers, keeping it completely free for participants. Registration opens on February 6; Deadline May 1st. www.summerstars.org.
Try a skimo race in Bromley
Get a workout and have fun with ski mountaineering, or “skimo” racing — an uphill then downhill ski race — on February 11 at Vermont’s Bromley Mountain. Skimo, also referred to as Randonee or “Rando” (meaning ski touring), makes its debut as a new Olympic sport in 2026. Bromley’s 13th annual Rando race features a shorter recreational fun climb for casual skiers (with two climbs on Bromley’s wooded trails to the summit and back) and a longer course for more competitive racers (with three laps to the summit, more than 4,000 feet total ascent and descent). Use any setup with climbing skins, including telemark, alpine touring or splitboard. If you need rental gear, visit Base Camp in Killington or Boot Pro in Ludlow. Registration $55 by February 6 at 5 p.m.; $65 through February 10, 5 p.m., and $75 through February 11, 9:15 a.m. www.bromley.com/event/rando-race.
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Stay and play in Raleigh
If you’re visiting Raleigh and want to stay in a place that feels like an independent boutique hotel – with its cool history and charm – but falls under a household name from a major hotel owner, book a stay at The Casso (formerly Origin ). This 126-room, pet-friendly hotel, now part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute portfolio, is located in the hip and up-and-coming Warehouse District. The rooms have clean lines, uncluttered space and a magnetic board to keep notes, reminders, a postcard or your child’s photo. The hotel offers easy access to shops and local museums such as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. It’s also a block from Morgan Street Food Hall, a renovated brick warehouse with small restaurants — a bagel sandwich from Benchwarmers Bagels and Coffee is a must, with plenty of savory options and also a delicious bagel sandwich made with peanut butter, and banana roasted marshmallows for those with a sweet tooth. Don’t miss the Casso’s on-site Good Day Good Night Restaurant, which serves breakfast, dinner, and weekend brunch and draws locals (it’s that good). Room rates start at $289. If you’re looking for something fun to do locally — or traveling with kids — check out the Triangle Rock Club, which offers beginner-to-expert lessons. Take a lesson, do some self-climbing (auto belays are provided), or if you’re visiting in the fall, learn how to rappel down 30 stories (400 feet) of a Raleigh skyscraper to raise money for the Special Collect Olympics of North Carolina. The Triangle Rock Club has three locations in the Raleigh area and a new one on the way called the Salvage Yard in the city’s Iron District. This new climbing and fitness complex, housed in three renovated warehouses, will feature more than 100 climbing tracks, a large bouldering area, two yoga studios and other fitness areas when it opens next year. www.thecassoraleigh.com, www.trianglerockclub.com.
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Charge six devices worldwide at the same time
Take the OneWorld 65W World Adapter with you on your next international adventure and minimize the number of plugs you need to pack. This Oneadaptr 6-in-1 adapter and charging station works in more than 200 countries and is compatible with North American, European, Australian and UK power sockets. Use one of the three simple slide mechanisms on the side of the adapter to insert the appropriate socket prongs, plug the OneWorld adapter into the wall outlet, and then connect your devices. The adapter features a universal AC outlet, a USB fast charge port for a USB-C MacBook or notebook, two USB-A smart charge ports, and three USB-C smart charge ports so you can charge six devices at the same time . The adapter/cradle weighs less than 7 ounces and slips easily into a corner of your pocket. $69. https://oneadaptr.com.
Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at [email protected].
