Glamorous Green Lodging in Long Island: Less than 30 miles from NYC, this LEED-certified hotel sits next to the ocean and has a 10,000 square-foot rooftop spa with views of the city. When Allegria Hotel and Spa opens on June 16, both Jacks on the Roof and Atlantica will feature organic fare and local wines. On-site surfboards and lessons will be available. [Allegria]
Megabus Installs Sky Views: In addition to WiFi and $1 fares, the bus with the jolly conductor has become a double-decker with 25 more seats—81 in total—and a glass ceiling. Top level spots are advised. [Jaunted]
Brooklyn Has Perky Deals: Fish NYC, a boat charter operating out of Mills Basin that takes up to six people on fishing and mansion sightseeing expeditions, became a new participant of Brooklyn Perks Savings Card this week. For the full day tour, a group will pay $425 instead of the usual $500. [BrooklynPerks]
Hail a Water Taxi This Summer: Long Island City’s Water Taxi Beach will be accessible by the free New York Water Taxi starting May 23 from 8p.m.-2a.m., Fridays and Saturdays. All aboard on the East Side. [AMNY]
A Baaahber Appointment: Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture is having its annual Sheep Shearing Day this Saturday, 10-4; it’s free and all ages are welcome. Once the Finn-Dorset sheep are naked, head to the gift shop to pick up a 100% virgin wool blanket for next winter. It’s okay, they’re not sheepish. [StoneBarns]
Photo: Courtesy of Allegria Hotel and Lou Hammond & Associates
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram