Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt discusses the company's plans to add more bookstores

Fat Tuesday in Fairfield County: Restaurants, bakeries serve up Mardi Gras favorites

Preparations begin for Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick's Day parade

Main Street Connecticut: Showcasing the best destinations in Stamford

Liberty Science Center hosts guests to experience the last meal served on the Titanic

Your Road Trip Close to Home adventure guide for Feb. 27

newyork

Brian Heyman

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Well, we are taking a winter getaway just in time for Valentine's Day. I like the sound of that. News stop's Nikita Ramos is taking us to Cedar Lakes Estate in this week's road trip close to home. Seasonal staycation as serene as the setting sun. Cedar Lakes Estate in Greenville will make you feel like you are worlds away. You're transported to a completely different world, especially in the winter time when it's so cozy and such a winter wonderland. You'll feel right at home with your complimentary meals and activities, whether you're roasting marshmallows over the fire, hiking, or snowshoeing along the sprawling 500 acre property, and even skating under the glowing lights. It has been such a cold winter, but it's only creating more opportunities here to enjoy the season by bringing your skates on the lake. We really can tailor your experience to exactly what you're looking for. There's plenty of added fun to also sign up for. Like a mixology class where you learn to make your own cocktail or mocktail from scratch. Then you can put your new skills to the test by booking a sunset happy hour experience. These heated igloos are outfitted with a bar cart, a menu of light bites surrounded with views and vibes. Stay the night in some of the coziest accommodations. I've ever seen, and a lot of that has to do with the details and the design. Take your coat off and relax in one of nearly 40 different luxurious lakeside escapes or cabins. Once you're here, you don't have to think about your needs, and that allows you to truly relax and let your hair down and just have fun. In Greenville, Nikita Ramos use 12. Valentine's Day appropriate indeed. A lot of love there, but also a lot of love, kind of a different kind somewhere else, yeah. And tonight on our half hour show road tripp close to home, we're stepping into a sanctuary of second chances. We're talking about Lucky orphans Horse rescue. It's a spot where you can meet some incredible animals and hear their inspiring stories of survival. That is tonight at 7 and 9:30. I hope you'll join us only right here on News 12, some great spots to check out. Hope to see you there.

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Well, it's time to take flight and learn about aviation history in Cape May County. On this week's road trip close to home, Amanda Eis is flying to new heights and checking out Naval Air Station Wildwood. Welcome to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum. When you're touring the museum, you know, we have all kinds of interactive exhibits. We have a couple of aircraft that you can actually sit inside. What's a unique experience is you can get behind and actually feel like a pilot. A lot of museums, it's difficult to feel that experience because you're usually looking at it from afar you can't see what's inside, but we try to offer a unique. With so many different stories among the exhibits and aircraft here in the museum, the hangar that they all sit in has a story of its own, one of the importance of Cape May County's history and what this building did during World War II. They built this building in 1942 into 1943 and commissioned it as a naval air station to train die bombing in Pacific. It operated for two. Years training dive bombers to actually that would go on and be carrier based and fight off in the Pacific. During that time there was about 130 crashes and actually led to the deaths of 42 naval aviators, so that's a big portion of our mission is to tell that story. You know these are guys they basically gave up their lives to be able to, you know, give us the freedoms we have today. Not only is the museum a tested of the past, it's the collection we have here. For instance, we have the F-14 that tells the stories of the men and women that served around this aircraft, but every one of the exhibits in the museum tells a story, a greater story, and I think there's something for everyone that they can relate to, especially for those that have had family members that have served in the military. Now it's your turn to come fly back in time and learn something new in Cape May County. I'm Amanda.

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You don't need to travel far to soak in the vibrant sights of Mexico. The Orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden kicks off tomorrow in our News 12's Marissa Santorelli got an early sneak peek at their display. They're bold, they're bright, and they're right here in the Bronx, but it's just incredibly soothing and this perfect environment to enjoy the beauty. We're here at the New York Botanical Garden soaking in the vibrant sights of Mexican modernism here at the Orchid show, a tribute to. The design principles of Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragan, as well as the beauty of orchids as one of the most diverse and absolutely gorgeous plants, an annual celebration of color, culture and contemporary art. Thousands of orchids, 11 different galleries all bloomed on the Mexican backdrop. Everything from deserts to rainforests in which we tell the story of orchids, their biology, how they grow in nature, and also how the nature has influenced an architect like Luis Barragan. I mean, between the colors, the warmth, the. Smells you physically have to be here to feel the beauty showcasing the weird, the wonderful, and the beautiful here in this year's orchid exhibition. And that's not all on select Saturdays when the lights go down. Oh, that's where the fun begins. Orchid nights, a 21 plus evening experience where the observatory turns into A dance floor. You can see our wonderful orchid show at night under a truly different light and atmosphere and then come on into our dance space and enjoy some drinks, some light bites, and of course and dance with us. To get your tickets, go to our website, newst2.com and click on numbers and links at the New York Botanical Garden, Marissa Santaelli, News 12, the Bronx.

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Cocktails history and intrigue. That's this week's road trip close to home. It's sure to have you asking who done it, solved the mystery while enjoying old fashioned spirits and fare at some of the oldest pubs in the Elm City. News 12 photojournalist Laurie Goliath takes us to New Haven and gives us a taste of this unique murder mystery cocktail tour. Everyone be excited murder mystery I think what we're trying to do is instill a little nostalgia in people by going to an old spot like this. You start to feel the history. You can touch it. My name is Colin Kaplan. Welcome to the basement. I'm the founder, tour guide, and storyteller for Taste of New Haven. So we run the murder mystery cocktail tour. So this is a story about an actual murder, an unsolved murder that took place in the Victorian times in New Haven. So we do this kind of really interactive true crime storytelling clue based experience by going from one place to the next and we tell the story while we're there we have a drink, we have a progressive meal, we eat a little bit, tell the story, and finally at the end we all have to vote and see who done it. We've got a cast of characters who are culprits. We've got a victim we've got places where things happened and it's uh really tough to tell these stories. I mean, murder and you know some of the issues in our humanity are really troubling. But eventually you're gonna have an idea of maybe who did it with a bunch of leading suspects, um definitely possible motives possible weapons being used there's a lot of detail here but it's all made more digestible with all the things we offer. So what we use is the Woodford Reserve bourbon. We do our own housemade syrup as well, uh, brown sugar with uh dehydrated orange, orange bitters, aromatic bitters, and, uh, what are the. You know, we take you to places that have a little bit of historical, uh, uh memory here, so the old Heidelberg, this great spot, lots of old woodwork, memories of old New Haven. So this is ordinary um it's an old barroom it's just lots of history here, woodwork, candles, you name it, this place has got history. Some of the best crafted cocktails you'll have specially focused on like local, and it's really that kind of place. Every everything is sought out the lighting, the ambiance, um, the level of service is unmatched anywhere so we come here on the murder mystery tour, um, it's pretty obvious this place is full of ghosts. Sometimes people feel a little tap on the shoulder could be her. Taste of New Haven offers about a dozen different tours. For more information, head over to News Twelve.com.

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We're here at New York ax throwing range in Farmingdale, and we're about to throw it down. And joining me right now is Ray Valentine. You're an ax first. That's right. You're gonna show me all about safety. Yes, it's all about the safety first. All right, you grab the ax. OK, perfect. Oh the handcuffs it just like that. Lean back and when you're ready you let it go. That's how to do it. All right, you think I'm ready? Oh, I know you're ready. Come on, let's let's go. Managers say it's here at New York As where you can get the practice you need to hit that bull's eye. The range features real wood targets but with added state of the art digital screens allowing you to choose from a variety of games. The thrill of ax throwing is for almost everyone. There are even safe options for those 10 and under. 10 and below we have something called Kid's ax, which is a foam foam ax with a Velcro stick on it. They have the same amount of fun, but you know I'd say ages like 4 to 10 could play that whether you're a seasoned pro or just a beginner, nothing beats the thrill. Of landing that bull's eye at New York ax throwing in Farmingdale on this road trip close to home. I'm Antoinettes 12.

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On this week's road trip close to home, a Brooklyn baker is putting her own twist on a classic Dominican dessert right in the heart of Cypress Hills. News Twelve's Shakti Dennis takes us inside sweets and things where Tres Leche's cakes are front and center. We double soak always. Jessenia Rodriguez has mastered the art of tres leches cakes. So right now we just have to wait until the milk goes down. Probably around 10 minutes. She's been at it for nearly a decade. I. Baking from home over 8 years ago. A few months ago, she took her passion to the next level, opening sweets and things right here on Fulton Street. Everything is fresh. Every single cake is fresh. Whatever we bake the day of goes straight outside. That looks really good, but it's not just about freshness. Yes, it's about the perfect balance of sweetness and flavors. 00 my God. Rodriguez was born and raised in Brooklyn, but her roots run deep in the Dominican Republic. I love to incorporate Dominican tropical flavors like Guayaba, and we love pineapple. We actually also import Dominican coffee straight from um the Dominican farm. And while she won't reveal what makes her cakes so delicious. Well, my mix it's a secret because of course it's original. What she is sharing is her drive and a little advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. It is a process. It takes time and to always believe in yourself. Sweets and Things is open 7 days a week here on Fulton Street, so come get a treat in Cypress Hills. Shakti Dennis news.

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If you are planning a road trip, it's important to practice traffic safety, right, especially in the winter time when roads can get icy, but be careful out there. And so in this week's road trip, close to home news told Shannon Lanier takes us to skip Barber racing school and shows us some tips. If you're taking a road trip this winter, you may encounter some inclement weather like the snow that's falling right now or the water and ice that's on the ground. So just to make sure you can handle your car and drive safely, we came to the skip Barber Driving Academy actually. Ok, Mike. So what are some of the main things people learn in your driving academy, although, well, I take off that big heavy coat. So you're not so restricted, you get behind the wheel and you'll learn how to be a safer driver and how to avoid the event of a crash, right? To teach these skills, licensed drivers or even those with a learner's permit will get hands on training behind the wheel on how to react in their vehicle to avoid a crash. So what did you do to control yourself in that turn. Basically, you steer into the slide. I learn how to come to a stop in the middle of a turn. So that's a perfect scenario of when we should get to the break though. That was exciting. Lastly, how to stop when you're sliding. I'll walk you through this 7 L black or down the left street. Get across time. Here you go. All right. So we just avoided the crash right there. Yeah. All right. I feel like the same driver. Now. That was a lot of fun. From the Skip Barber Driving Academy. You ready? Let's go on this week's road trip. Close to home. I'm Shannon Lanier. All right. Some state funding will now go to.

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Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt discusses the company's plans to add more bookstores

Fat Tuesday in Fairfield County: Restaurants, bakeries serve up Mardi Gras favorites

Preparations begin for Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick's Day parade

Main Street Connecticut: Showcasing the best destinations in Stamford

Liberty Science Center hosts guests to experience the last meal served on the Titanic

Your Road Trip Close to Home adventure guide for Feb. 27

Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt discusses the company's plans to add more bookstores

Fat Tuesday in Fairfield County: Restaurants, bakeries serve up Mardi Gras favorites

Preparations begin for Belmar Lake Como St. Patrick's Day parade

Main Street Connecticut: Showcasing the best destinations in Stamford

Liberty Science Center hosts guests to experience the last meal served on the Titanic

Your Road Trip Close to Home adventure guide for Feb. 27

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