Editor En Route

The Ranch at Rock Creek debuts in May in Montana

Hayley — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:50:59 +0000

The Ranch at Rock Creek, set to be one of Montana’s premier luxury ranches, will make its grand debut in May 2010, following a soft opening period from January to April 2010. Situated on 6,600 picturesque acres to the southeast of Missoula and west of Butte, The Ranch at Rock Creek offers guests an unparalleled luxury escape, while also providing an authentic Montana ranch experience.

Guests at the ranch have a choice of rustic, yet elegant accommodations, ranging from nine luxury rooms in the Granite Lodge; the couples’ Trapper Tent, a half cabin, half tent accommodation complete with private hot tub; as well as two private homes—the five-bedroom Bear House and the three-bedroom River House. Additionally, the luxury tents that lie along the banks of Rock Creek provide an unforgettable experience under the big Montana sky and a one-of-a-kind rustic charm, with four family tents and four couples’ tents located on the banks of Rock Creek. These tents, measuring 550 to 790 square feet, provide ample walking room and space for luggage and other belongings. Finally, adjacent to the tents lies the 1,000-square foot Bluebird cabin, a quaint one-bedroom accommodation, featuring a mini spa, complete with sauna and large bathtub, as well as a spacious front deck overlooking a meadow and large screened-in back porch, ideal for private massages amongst the peaceful Montana setting.

Each of the rooms and tents reflect a balanced blend of Western antiques with the modern amenities and comforts that guests expect from a five-star resort. The lodge rooms are inspired by an old railway station hotel, and are a great option for bridal groups or large families who wish to be at the center of ranch life.

Trapper Tent is by far the most unique and secluded accommodation on the ranch, great for couples seeking a romantic retreat. Trapper guests are treated to a luminous tented bedroom, connected by a tented breezeway to an intimate cabin featuring a small kitchen and spacious bathroom, complete with a rock-floored shower facing the stream. For those chilly Montana mornings and evenings, the cabin is equipped with a gas fireplace, radiant heat flooring and a wooden hot tub with a heated rock bench located right off the tent’s deck.

Serving as the heart of the ranch, Granite Lodge also houses a communal great room, grand dining room, 2,100-square foot spa and the Silver Dollar Saloon, complete with a four-lane bowling alley, game room, dance hall and movie screening area.

The ranch’s full-service spa features five serene treatment rooms with expert therapists on hand, and a menu offering massages and facials after an adventurous day on the ranch, or a pre-wedding day of beauty for those indulging in the ultimate destination wedding. The spa, in conjunction with the ranch opening, launched the latest product lines from Red Flower, an organic beauty and spa line, and utilizes these new products in the various massages and facials available.

“People come to Montana to enjoy its simple beauty and laid back lifestyle—and the Ranch is the perfect complement to that while also providing the services and comforts of a high-end resort,” said owner James Manley.

After a long day on the ranch, guests work up a hearty appetite and turn to Executive Chef Joshua Drage’s gourmet adaptation of delectable, yet traditional ranch fare. Utilizing a variety of organic ingredients, Chef Drage’s culinary program remains in line with the ranch’s philosophy, one of simplicity, authenticity and comfort. The ingredient-driven cuisine is enhanced by the integrity of local Montana producers, ensuring the dishes remain honest, bold and healthy, which truly defines life in Montana and on the ranch.

With the natural bounty of Montana as a backdrop, guests at The Ranch at Rock Creek can partake in a wide range of activities and adventures to complete their ranch vacation. Rock Creek has long been considered a fly fisher’s paradise, with access to just under four miles of private water on this pristine wild trout stream (the ranch observes a catch and release policy). Guests may venture off-ranch for professionally guided float fishing trips on several of Montana’s blue-ribbon streams, such as the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, Big Hole and Clark Fork (all-day fishing with a guide off the ranch is an additional expense). Additionally, the property boasts a number of hiking, biking and riding trails for guests to enjoy Montana’s natural beauty and wildlife. Sporting clays, archery and paintball are also available.

Come winter, the ranch will offer a host of activities that showcase Montana at its best, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skating and sledding through the snow. Additionally, Discovery Basin, an alpine ski destination just 30 minutes from the Ranch, offers a grand introduction to Montana’s powder, lack of crowds and stunning backdrops. With its summit at 8,100 feet above sea level, this mountain’s 2,000 acres, 1,670 feet of vertical drop and wide range of terrain appeal to all skill levels.

After scouring the West for over 25 years, Manley had all but given up his quest for the perfect ranch for his family to enjoy, and then he found Rock Creek. Built as a private home and functioning ranch, Rock Creek was exactly what he had been searching for. It was not until shortly after purchasing it that he realized its full potential as a guest ranch and began the two-year expansion to the existing property. Today, The Ranch at Rock Creek is a blend of the original ranch structure with new embellishments, including the Granite Lodge and River Camp.

The Ranch at Rock Creek is located one hour and fifteen minutes southeast of Missoula and one hour from Butte in western Montana. Rates for rooms in the Granite Lodge begin at $800 per person, per night, and rates for the luxury tents begin at $825 per person, per night. Trapper Tent is $1,150 per person based on double occupancy, while the log homes begin at $5,000 per night. The Bluebird cabin is available for $1,200 per person, per night. All rates include accommodations, meals, beverages (including spirits, beer and wine) and all activities. Spa treatments and reserve wines are available at an additional charge.

For more information on The Ranch at Rock Creek, please visit the Web site at www.theranchatrockcreek.com

Leading Hotels of the World Welcomes New Properties

Hayley — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:55:36 +0000

Leading Hotels of the World, has recently added these two properties to its roster of fine hospitality properties:

Scheduled to open early this summer, the Lotte Hotel Moscow is located in the heart of the financial and shopping districts of the city, to the west of the Kremlin and Red Square, and approximately 45 minutes from Sheremetyevo Airport. The newly built hotel will feature 304 guest rooms and suites, with clean-lined contemporary styling, spacious seating areas and generously sized marble bathrooms. Guests of the Club Floor are entitled to additional privileges, such as express check-in and check-out; access to the Club Lounge where they can enjoy buffet breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea; use of a small office with computer stations, free Internet, a scanner and printer; two meeting rooms; and a library. Renowned French chef Pierre Gagnaire oversees the gourmet restaurant Les Menus. The serene Mandara Spa is complemented by an indoor pool, fitness center and health club. The hotel also has six rooms for conferences and banquets.

History fairly breathes in the walls of the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, Peru. Created from what was a 16th-century monastery built on ancient Incan foundations, it is today a sophisticated, intimate hotel where guests will find the finest in 21st-century comfort. Set in the main archeological area of the city, it is just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, the central square. Guest accommodations are in 126 rooms and suites, with unique architectural features, and period pieces of furniture and artwork. Dining venues include Illariy Restaurant, serving Peruvian and international cuisine; El Tupay, the former refectory, serving buffet breakfast; and the Lobby Bar, for tea cocktails and canapés by the fire. Among the nearby recreation options are horseback riding, paragliding, hang gliding, mountain biking and whitewater rafting.

About The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.
The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. is the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing more than 450 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas, and is the operator of lhw.com, lhwspas.com and lhwgolf.com and – the online sources for your luxury lifestyle. As the largest international luxury hotel brand, the firm maintains offices in 22 major markets across the globe.

Since 1928, the company’s reputation for excellence derives from the exacting levels of quality it demands of its members, each of which must pass a rigorous, anonymous inspection covering hundreds of meticulous criteria spanning from product to behavioral standards. This set of standards is the most stringent in the industry.

For reservations and information, visit www.lhw.com or telephone toll-free from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, (800) 223-6800.

Los Angeles Athletic Club Does Wine Tasting

Hayley — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:57:52 +0000

Wine and food experts will guide guests on a distinctive tour of wines, cheeses and chocolates from the early 1900’s. The event will showcase wines from the pioneer regions born in the early 1900’s; a time just before prohibition when the vineyards started to stretch throughout California.

While sampling these historic vineyard wines, guests can indulge in tasty pairings with artisan cheeses from the old continent, directly imported by Nicole’s Gourmet Food in South Pasadena, including cheeses such as Brillat-Savarin created in the 1930’s. Guests can also indulge in the sweeter side of things with Grand Cru chocolates from Valrhona; featuring some of the best cocoa plantations from around the world.

To top off this culinary tour, Venice-based Dustbowl Revival will be performing its funky mix of folk-blues orchestra music fused with old school gypsy rhythms and bluegrass.

WHERE:
The Rooftop At The Los Angeles Athletic Club
431 W. 7th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014

WHEN: Friday, March 26, 2010
7PM-9PM

Price: Tickets will be offered at: $66/person or $88* for a pair. For more details visit: http://www.lawinetasting.com/wine_pairing_events.html

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB:
When the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) first opened its doors in downtown Los Angeles in 1880, it set the standard for a private membership club and athletic facility. Today the club still holds true to that standard. With over 88,000 square feet of fitness facility, the club features everything from yoga to squash, an indoor 25 yard pool, court sports, group exercise programs, personal training and more.

For inquiries about how to become a traditional LAAC club member, please contact the membership department at (213) 630-5200 or laac@laac.net.

Recently, with a multi-million dollar hotel renovation, the hotel has quickly become the premium boutique-style downtown hotel. The Hotel at The Los Angeles Athletic Club features 72 completely renovated urban chic hotel rooms including nine incomparable themed suites. From the minute a guest steps out from the elevator and begins the journey to their room, their eyes will be transfixed by the beautifully rich hallways and the nostalgic sepia tone prints of the famed Olympian members stretching back over 100 years. With the new Olive Club Membership- a new rewards program granting guests access to the hotel, banquet facilities and fitness facility- anyone can take advantage of the club experience.

To book a room reservation at the newly-revamped hotel at the LAAC now, please call (800) 421-8777 or visit www.laac.com. Introductory room rates start at $149/night.

Maytag Mountain Ranch in Hillside, Colorado

Hayley — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:21:05 +0000

Maytag Mountain Ranch, located in Hillside, Colorado — about three hours from Denver — is a for-sale property unlike any in the United States.

Buyers who purchase one of Maytag’s 27 100-acre lots become owners of a unique set of amenities.

Sure, they have access to the usual amenities found in mountain resort property: stunning views, bubbling streams, quaint neighboring mountain towns.

But few other properties in the United States can claim the following amenities:

Cows. When Maytag homesteaders purchase their 100-acre plot, they also become owners of a grass-fed, USDA organic-certified, 300-head herd of Hereford and Red Angus cattle.

Another benefit? A better world. Maytag Mountain Ranch owners become part of a movement toward conservation of land and sustainable farming practices. While many resort properties use up the land’s resources, the Maytag Ranch Owner’s Association preserves the ranch’s 3,000 acres, and participates in a larger effort to conserve the land and to create sustainable food for their families and the greater community. Homeowners own and manage the cattle herd that is raised on native grasses, on pastures that are never artificially fertilized. The entire Ranch is USDA organic-certified, including the one-acre garden and orchard, egg-producing chickens and beehives – also included in the homeowner’s amenities.

What’s more? Quality time. Five years ago, second home buyers may have been more interested in golf memberships, status or luxury, but a recent study (Resort Real Estate #2, Kelsey and Norden, 2009) showed that consumers are more focused on the quality of life benefits offered by owning a vacation property, with the strongest focus on quality time with family and improved health and wellness.

Maytag has activities galore for children and grandchildren – current kiddos love the hay wagon, the newborn calves, gathering eggs from the chickens and hiking around the ranch while observing and identifying wild animal tracks (elk and deer are frequent visitors on the Ranch).

The best benefit of all? It’s profitable. Each year the cattle herd makes money for the Owner’s association, which is used to reward the three full-time ranch managers or make improvements to the land or the beautifully appointed buildings on the ranch – totaling $3 million in value.

The Ranch is the work of Russ Maytag, a 30-year veteran of the ranch business. When he purchased the land that is now Maytag Mountain in 1978, he had one vision: Sustain the land ecologically, so that it can be sustained economically.

Prices start at $895,000 for 100-acre parcels, and cost of buildout averages $250 per square foot.

http://www.maytagmountainranch.com

Redesign of the Hotel Diva in San Francisco

Hayley — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:34:30 +0000

A few lucky people get sexier with age, and the same is true for the boutique hotel industry’s hottest lady, Hotel Diva, as she rings in her 25^th year this month. Now in her mid-twenties, she’s more stylish than ever and continues to up the ante for innovative boutique hotel design, boasting sexy new “art piece” custom roller window shades, the hip new “Suite ESC” and new bathrooms and bedding in all 116 guestrooms.

The “Suite ESC” (aka “Suite Escape” named after the keyboard tab “ESC”) provides everything a savvy business traveler needs to ensure a seamless visit to San Francisco including: a large computer screen (just plug in your laptop), an all-in-one printer/fax/scanner/copy machine and a desk filled with office supplies and business reads. Adding even more convenience, there’s a microwave, a coffeemaker and a refrigerator stocked with complimentary bottled water and snacks. Styled in shades of white, blue, black, taupe and pops of orange, the suite has a queen bed and a separate seating area with a sleek white crocodile-patterned couch, Diva’s signature Bertoia chairs and a coffee table (providing the perfect spot for a casual meeting). Innovative lighting by Pablo Designs completes the look. Window shades pay tribute to the stock market (diva style, of course) with “skyscraper-esk “legs adorned with a ticker tape pattern.

All guestrooms feature luxury duvet covers designed by SFERRA and windows newly dressed in shades printed with two dramatic images – one of a woman’s curvaceous form in a lacy corset and thigh-high fishnet stockings and another of shapely legs in heels. Both designs incorporate hints of the structural elements of the hotel and the Diva logo. Passersby are treated to just a small peek of these shades, as their shapely silhouettes can be seen from the hotel’s exterior. Bathrooms, to be completed in Spring 2010, are outfitted floor to ceiling in pure white patterned Lucite, shiny steel granite flooring, new vanities, TOTO toilets and new designer shower curtains.

Debuting in 1985, Hotel Diva still prevails as one of San Francisco’s most preeminent boutique hotels. Redesigned in 2000 by renowned San Francisco Architect/Designer T. Olle Lundberg, Hotel Diva’s 118 striking guestrooms are styled with vibrant cobalt blue carpets, silver accents, custom-designed sculptured rolled steel headboards, modern black leather couches and blond wood tabletop desks. Four cutting-edge 24-hour Diva Lounges, created by San Francisco’s hottest artists and designers, offer guests an inspirational space for brainstorming, meeting with a friend or colleague, checking emails or simply unwinding after a long day. From skateboards lining the walls to a couture dress suspended from the ceiling, each lounge has its own unique style and personality.

Hotel Diva is located at 440 Geary Street in the heart of Union Square. All of the excitement of San Francisco’s finest shops, theaters, art galleries, restaurants and nightlife is just right outside the hotel door. For guests who want to see a show, two of the city’s best performing arts theaters, the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T) and the Curran Theater, are located directly across the street from the hotel.

Established in 1982 as San Francisco’s first boutique hotel company, Personality Hotels is the largest privately owned boutique hotel operator in The City. From a quaint European-style suite to a zenful night’s sleep amid sounds of a tropical rain forest, Personality Hotels can oblige. Celebrating the unique personality in all of us, Personality Hotels consists of an eclectic collection of seven San Francisco boutique properties including WHIMSICAL Hotel Vertigo, BOLD Hotel Frank, SEXY Hotel Diva, GRAND Kensington Park Hotel, AUTHENTIC Hotel Union Square, VIVID Hotel Metropolis and TIMELESS Steinhart Hotel. Located in the center of the action, all Personality Hotels are within walking distance of Union Square shopping, theatres and restaurants. For more information and to book reservations, call 800.553.1900 or visit www.personalityhotels.com.

Enchantment Resort Offers Family Spring Break Fun

Hayley — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:56:43 +0000

Set on 70 acres in Sedona’s Boynton Canyon at the heart of Northern Arizona’s red rock country, Enchantment Resort was recently named the #1 resort in the U.S. and Canada for families by Travel + Leisure readers. At Enchantment, families enjoy taking part in the abundance of activities that the resort offers, including swimming, hiking, mountain biking, playing croquet, pitch & putt golf and tennis.

Camp Coyote is Enchantment Resort’s program designed to educate and entertain children ages 4 -12. More than 1,000 children participated in the acclaimed program last year. Trained counselors guide camp-goers in exciting activities that explore the region’s culture and natural environment. For spring break 2010, parents and children will enjoy this year’s theme: Spring Into Action! highlighting all of the magnificent outdoor activities found in Sedona and at Enchantment.

Spring Break events will run for four weeks, with special additions during Easter Weekend!

MONDAYS
10 – 11:30 a.m. Badminton in the Main Pool
Badminton has never been this much fun! Dive and splash around in the cool water for the game winning point.

1 – 3 p.m. Photo Scavenger Hunt at Camp Coyote
Enjoy a new twist to this popular group activity. Cameras will be provided.

TUESDAYS
10 – 11:30 a.m. Bowling in the Big Time at Hole 1 on the Pitch ‘n Putt Golf Course
This gigantic outdoor bowling game is perfect for beginners, as well as the avid bowler.

1 – 3 p.m. Ready, Set, Relay at Enchantment Circle
Work as a team in this non-stop ultimate relay race including an oversized bouncy ball, flags, cones, beanbags and loads of laughs.

7 – 9:30 p.m. Dive-In Movie at the Main Pool
Splash around while you enjoy a movie in beautiful Boynton Canyon! Camp Coyote staff will serve beverages and snacks throughout the evening. Movies will include G-Force, The Princess and the Frog and Disney Nature Earth.

WEDNESDAYS
10 – 11:30 a.m. Flag Football at Enchantment Circle
Come fly the flag during this Sonic Pop version of Flag Football.

1 – 3 p.m. Volleyball at the Main Pool
Delight in this classic fun in the sun pool game.

THURSDAYS
10 – 11:30 a.m. Game, Set, Match at the Pro Shop
Enjoy a friendly competition with our tennis pros. For beginners we will offer a tennis clinic to teach you the basics of this exciting sport!

1 – 3 p.m. Water Madness at the Main Pool
Obstacle Courses, swimming competitions and more!

7 – 8:30 p.m. S’mores and Storytelling at the Tipi
Create your own delicious S’mores while listening to classic stories around the campfire.

FRIDAYS
10 – 11:30 a.m. Round Robin at the Tipi
Show off your skills as you run, jump and play your way into victory.

1 – 3 p.m. Ultimate Frisbee Tournament at Enchantment Circle
Mix the best features of sports such as soccer, basketball, football and netball into a simple, yet fascinating game.

7 – 9:30 p.m. Friday Night at the Movies at the Main Pool
Splash around while you enjoy a movie in beautiful Boynton Canyon! Camp Coyote staff will serve beverages and snacks throughout the evening. Movies will include Astro Boy, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Alvin & the Chipmunks – the Squeakquel and Disney Nature Earth.

SATURDAYS
10 – 11 a.m. Family Yoga at the Tipi

1 p.m. Special Events at the Tipi
March 20: Native American Hoop Dancer
In honor of the Spring Equinox, we invite you to enjoy an authentic performance by Derrick Suwaima Davis. Derrick is a Native Arizonan, from the Hopi and Choctaw Nations.

March 27 and April 10: Out of Africa Presents
Experience animals from around the world! Join the Out of Africa staff for this interactive program where you will have the chance to touch and learn about some of the park’s animals such as birds, small mammals and reptiles.

Twilight Stargazing at the Main Parking Lot
Join Dennis Young, Astronomer and President of Sirius Lookers of Sedona Astro Club, as he highlights the bright and fascinating stars that fill the Sedona skies.

SUNDAYS
10 – 11:30 a.m. Hole-in-One Golf Tournament at the Pitch ‘n Putt Golf Course
Challenge yourself to an enticing game of golf.

EASTER WEEKEND
Enjoy our exciting Spring Break activities along with these additional events:

Friday, April 2
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
7 – 9:30 p.m., Main Pool
Splash around while you watch this hilarious film! Camp Coyote staff will serve popcorn, cookies and beverages served throughout the movie.

Saturday, April 3
Yellow Bird Indian Dancers
1 – 2 p.m., Tipi
The Yellow Bird Indian Dancers present a repertoire of authentic Apache, Southwest and Northern Plains Dances which are colorful and educational. Enjoy songs and storytelling, as well as interactive activities.

Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt
7 – 8:30 p.m., Camp Coyote
Join the Camp Counselors as they hunt for glow-in-the-dark eggs throughout the property. The hunt will end at an undisclosed location for a special surprise!

Sunday, April 4
Special Delivery
6 – 9 a.m.
An Easter Basket full of goodies and fun will be delivered to all rooms with children ages 12 and under.

Easter Egg Hunt
9 – 10:30 a.m., Tipi
Keep your eyes peeled for delicious decorated eggs. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance for pictures with the kids!

Enchantment Resort
Surrounded by the towering red rock walls of Northern Arizona’s Boynton Canyon, Enchantment Resort combines the rugged grandeur of the Southwest landscape with equal parts luxury and Native American culture. The 70-acre resort is designed to take advantage of the breathtaking scenery with private, one-story adobe accommodations and panoramic views of rock formations and pine forests. A centrally located clubhouse contains two restaurants, a gift shop and concierge desk. A rooftop deck provides an ideal vantage point for the millions of stars in Arizona’s clear night sky.

Enchantment Resort is located approximately two hours north of Phoenix in the towering red rocks of Sedona. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Enchantment offers 218 guest accommodations and guests enjoy hiking, tennis, swimming, outdoor whirlpool spa, mountain bike rentals, par-three golf course and putting green, championship croquet, bocce ball and ping pong. Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment named for a Yuman word for “passage” or “journey,” promotes healing through mind, body and spiritual therapies, and provides spa services to Enchantment guests that range from massage and body treatments to Native American treatments and spiritual exploration. For reservations, please call 1-800-826-4180, or visit www.enchantmentresort.com.

Gap Advneture’s Create Your Own Adventure Contest

Hayley — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:44:30 +0000

To celebrate 20 innovative years providing life-changing travel experiences across the globe, Gap Adventures is launching the Create Your Own Adventure contest (www.createyourownadventure.com), the largest and most ambitious interactive competition in the company’s history.

The global online contest invites everyone from once-a-year vacationers to seasoned globetrotters to submit an itinerary for the tour of their dreams, virtually anywhere in the world, virtually any way they want. The winning entry—determined through public online polling and input from a panel of world-renowned judges—will be featured in a Gap Adventures brochure in 2011.

“Create Your Own Adventure is the biggest and most exciting contest we’ve ever staged,” said Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. “I’m thrilled that in celebration of our 20th anniversary, we’re inviting everyone from aspiring to avid travelers to build their dream itinerary and share it with the rest of the world. One of our company’s core values is to create happiness and community the world over, and I can’t think of a better way of doing that than by unlocking the creativity of so many people.”

That nine-person panel includes Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler, filmmaker and adventurer Céline Cousteau—the granddaughter of iconic explorer Jacques Cousteau—Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, National Geographic Adventure Magazine editor-in-chief John Rasmus, explorer and BBC presenter Benedict Allen, Outside Magazine executive editor Mike Roberts, adventurer Alastair Humphreys, polar explorer and author Tom Avery, and Gap Adventures’
Bruce Poon Tip.

Everyone with a winning tour idea can log on to www.createyourownadventure.com and use the customized itinerary engine to select up to three countries to include as part of their trip, a name and duration for the tour and a selection of highlights and activities. They will then be asked to provide a summary of why they think theirs is an adventure like none other. Deadline for submission is March 31, 2010.

The creator of the winning tour will have the opportunity to experience their adventure along with two lucky friends, and enjoy a host of exciting prizes—provided by Sony Canada, Lonely Planet, Kobo Books, KEEN Inc., Outside Magazine, World Nomads and Universal Music Canada. In addition, five Mystery Tour winners from around the world will be chosen through a draw to join the lucky creator on this inaugural trip. The winners will be announced May 25, 2010.

About Gap Adventures
Gap Adventures is a world leader in the adventure travel industry offering small group adventures on all seven continents and beyond to more than 100,000 global travelers annually. The award-winning trips, which focus on culture, nature and active travel, are ideal for those with a sense of adventure – people who want to leave the beaten path and authentically immerse themselves in a local culture or environment to experience the real world in a sustainable manner. Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, Gap Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its passengers can give back to the communities visited. For more information, please visit www.gapadventures.com.

Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun

Hayley — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:44:23 +0000

Le Blanc Spa Resort, the premier, adults-only resort voted number one in Cancun by TripAdvisor users and ranked as the sixth most popular all-inclusive resort in the world in the TripAdvisor 2010 Travelers’ Choice Awards, continues to offer luxurious yet affordable escapes with a 20 percent discount and 30 percent off green fees for select stays of three nights or more booked now for travel throughout 2010. With an elegant ambiance highlighted by contemporary and minimalist décor, Le Blanc Spa Resort offers an experience of sophisticated style and lavish personalized attention with a robust staff to guest ratio of approximately one to one.

The 20 percent discount is applied to the room rate, available to all guests who book now through May 31, 2010 for travel through Dec. 23, 2010. Guests who book and travel now through Dec. 20, 2010 also receive a 30 percent discount on green fees at Moon Spa & Golf Club, Riviera Cancun Golf & Resorts and Playacar Spa & Golf Club.
Le Blanc Spa Resort, located in the heart of the famous Cancun hotel zone, sits along an expansive beach, recently renovated and enhanced by the Cancun Beach Restoration Project. Elegant touches throughout the resort create an unforgettable getaway. Infinity pools with swim-up bars overlooking the Caribbean Sea offer partially submerged lounge chairs for sunbathers to soak up the sun while staying cool in the water. Personalized attention at the pools and beach is a signature service at Le Blanc Spa Resort, and the exclusive Pool Concierge tends to each guest’s every needs, with fresh fruit, cool towels, refreshing mist, silver plated water coolers and a choice of leisure magazines. The signature Le Blanc Spa features a unique blend of Asian and European traditions providing guests with a refreshed and rejuvenated mind, body and spirit experience. Eight all-inclusive dining venues, including elegant a la carte themed restaurants, bars and lounges, offer haute cuisine and premium drinks. The resort also features a fully-equipped fitness center, non-motorized water sports, and nightly live shows and musical performances from local entertainment groups.

All 260 luxe waterfront guest rooms feature spectacular views of the alluring Caribbean Sea or Nichupte lagoon and offer relaxing indulgences such as double Jacuzzi®, double Swiss spa showers, custom-made pillow top Le Blanc bed® and a Comfort Menu with pillows, bath salts and aromatherapy scents, 24-hour room service, included wireless internet, unlimited phone calls to the Continental U.S., Canada and Mexico and premier turndown service that tempts guests to stay in for the evening to fully indulge.
To book a stay at Le Blanc Spa Resort, call toll free at 877-753-2526, visit www.leblancsparesort.com, or contact your preferred travel professional.

Go Whale Watching at Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Hayley — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:57:03 +0000

Sometimes called the Whale Capital of the West, scientists believe that Dana Point may possibly serve as a reference “landmark” for whales and is a famous gathering area, attracting not only marine mammals but marine biologists and whale lovers from around the world. In celebration of the California Gray and Blue whale’s annual journey, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel offers a year-round whale watching package.

A Whale of a Package starts at $500 for garden/pool view accommodations. The package includes overnight accommodations, a 2-hour whale watching excursion with Dana Wharf Sportfishing, including an on-board snack and beverage, and American breakfast for two in the ocean front Restaurant 162’.

From January through April, California Gray Whales leave the cold Arctic Seas and follow the coastline to the warm, calm waters of Southern California and Baja. This migration brings much of the pod past Dana Point, where the whales can be easily seen and photographed. Blue whales, the largest mammal ever to roam the earth, migrate to tropical waters to mate and give birth to their calves from May through November. The Blue whale migration also takes these amazing creatures past Dana Point.

The Gray Whale are essentially black, but have a grayish appearance caused by the accumulation of marine parasites on their skin. They measure 30 to 45 feet as adults and weigh about a ton a foot. Gray Whales do not have a dorsal fin like other whales; instead they have a series of “knuckles” along the after portion of the back. The whales travel up to 12,000 miles every year from their feeding grounds in the cold arctic waters where to the warm, shallow lagoons of Baja California where they mate and bear their young. Twice hunted to near extinction, the Gray whale population has rebounded in the last 50 years to an estimated population of nearly 30,000 animals.

Blue whales are an overall blue-gray color and are long and streamlined. Their dorsal fins are extremely small, and their pectoral flippers are long and thin. Blue whales are rorqual whales, a family of baleen whales with pleated throat grooves that expand when the animal takes in water while feeding. Blue whales can be up to 100 feet long, weigh as much as 150 tons and have been found in every ocean of the world. They swim individually or in small groups, and they are commonly seen traveling in pairs. Approximately 2,000 blue whales live off the California Coast and migrate to Mexico, and Costa Rica. The historic population of Blue whales, prior to commercial hunting, has been estimated at 200,000. Today there are anywhere from 5,000 to 12,000 blue whales in the world. The Blue whale is listed as endangered.

Dana Wharf Sportfishing is dedicated to helping visitors enjoy the unique wonders of Dana Point Harbor and the Orange County coastline. The warm waters off of Dana Point flourish with sea life including whales, dolphin, harbor seals, and California sea lion. The thriving coastal waters provide bountiful fishing of sand bass, calico bass, halibut, bonito, yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, albacore, and dorado.

Consistently ranked among the best resorts in the world, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego and sits on a 150-foot bluff with panoramic white-water views of the Pacific Ocean and two-miles of sandy beach. For more information or reservations call 800-241-3333, the hotel directly at 949-240-2000, a travel professional or visit The Ritz-Carlton Web site at www.ritzcarlton.com.

Devoured Culinary Event in Phoenix

Hayley — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:34:40 +0000

If you are in Phoenix this is a great new event promoting local restaurants and arts. The best chefs in the Valley are all participating and it should be an excellent festival. Get out there and eat up!

WHAT. Devoured (www.PhxArt.org/Devoured), Devoured is a new culinary event inspired by Local First Arizona and Phoenix Art Museum, and produced by R Entertainment Co., showcasing Arizona’s finest restaurants, chefs, wineries, and industry purveyors in a unique, yet distinctly Phoenix, location. Devoured’s mission is to further position metro Phoenix as a fabulous culinary destination.

WHERE. Phoenix Art Museum (1625 N. Central Ave) Central Avenue and McDowell Rd.
 FREE Parking at Viad garage, directly across Central Avenue
 METRO Lightrail: McDowell Rd/Central Ave stop

WHEN. Sat. & Sun., March 13&14, 11am – 4pm

WHO. The finest chefs & vintners from 50+ area restaurants and wineries from the world over, including Arizona; plus purveyors of meat and poultry, local farmers and dairies.

Tickets & Information
$65 or $90 for both days (fees apply). www.ProTix.com or call 1.866.977.6849
$57 for Phoenix Art Museum members by calling 602.257.2124

Participating Restaurants
Arcadia Farms
Barrio Café
Caffé Boa
Chef Bernie Kantak
Chelsea’s Kitchen
Cheuvront
Christopher’s Crush
Cibo
Coronado Café
Cowboy Ciao
Crudo
Different Pointe of View
District American Kitchen
& Wine Bar
Downtown Public Market
Espressions Coffee
Roastery Estate House
Fez
FnB
Fossil Creek Creamery
Frank & Albert’s
Gallo Blanco
Hana Japanese Eatery
Heirloom An American Restaurant
Honey Moon Sweets
Bakery
J&G Steakhouse
Kai
Lola Tapas
Mabel’s on Main
Maizie’s Café & Bistro
Modern Steak
Nine|05 Modern Asia
Olive & Ivy
Over Easy
PastaBAR
Petit Fromage
Petite Maison
Postino Wine Café
Prado at Montelucia
Quiessence Restaurant
Relish Burger Bistro – The
Phoenician
Rita’s Kitchen at Camelback Inn
Roka Akor San Tan Brewing Company
Sweet Republic
Switch Restaurant & Wine
Bar
Taggia
Talavera at Four Seasons
Resort Scottsdale
Tammie Coe Cakes and
MJ Bead
Tarbell’s
The Breadfruit
The Parlor
Ticoz Resto-Bar
True Food Kitchen
Tuck Shop
Udder Delights

Participating Wineries
Alexander Valley Sin Zin
Anne Aime Amrita
Anne Aime Muller
Thurgau
Anne Aime Pinot Noir
(Oregon)
Arizona Stronghold
BR Cohn Chardonnay
Buehler Napa Cabernet
Cecchi Chianti Classico
Decoy Merlot
Dos Cabezas
Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir
Hangtime Pinot Noir
Hess Suskol Chardonnay
Iron Horse Unoaked Chardonnay
Jam Red Blend
Jerome Las Rocas Garnacha
Lockwood Sauvignon Blanc
Martin Codax Albarino
Panther Creek Pinot Gis
Pillsbury Wine
Purple Hands
Quail Distributing
Robert Craig Affinity
Robert Hall Rhone de
Robles
Robert Hall Viognier
Rodney Strong Sonoma
Merlot
Rombauer Chardonnay
Scarpetta
Souverain Chardonnay
Su Vino
Trefethen Reisling

Sponsors & Purveyors
The Arizona Republic, Alliance Beverage, Sub-Zero/Wolf, Fiji Water, BPI (Beef Products International), Red Bird Poultry

Sub-Zero/Wolf Chef Demonstration Stage — UPDATED
Saturday, March 13
11:30 – Roy Pell, executive pastry chef, The Phoenician
12:30 – Christopher Gross, chef, Christopher’s / Crush Lounge
1:30 – Matt Carter, chef, Nine|05
2:30 – Aaron May, chef, Mabel’s on Main
3:30 – Jacques Qualin, chef de cuisine, J&G Steakhouse (at The Phoenician)
Sunday, March 14
11:30 – Roy Pell, executive pastry chef, The Phoenician
12:30 – Gregory LaPrad, chef, Quiessence
1:30 – James Porter, chef, Petite Maison
2:30 – Payton Curry, chef, Caffe Boa
3:30 – Gio Osso, chef, Estate House

MUSIC, ART & MORE
Art
Devoured guests have full access to Phoenix Art Museum galleries and exhibits.
 Ansel Adams: Discoveries. Exclusive to Phoenix Art Museum, this exhibition offers insights into the photographer’s greatest works by bringing the vast holdings from the University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography’s Ansel Adams archive to light.
 Urban Plough. Land artist Matthew Moore presents an installation of his family farm outside Phoenix, using earthworks and video to artistically document the transformation of the farm into suburbia. (http://www.urbanplough.com/)

Seminars, Sat, March 13
11:30 – Wine Seminar (TBD)
12:30 – Pam Swartz. Author, Dine Out Phoenix: Where to Eat from Chic to Unique; and Arizona Getaways for the Incurably Romantic: 45 Sensational Destinations for Lovers. Topic: Developing Sophistication of Arizona’s Dining Scene, Recent Trends, and New Interesting Restaurants Opening Around Town
1:30 – Raymond Sokolov. Author, Wall Street Journal column Eating Out. Topic: The Splendors and Miseries of a Restaurant Critic’s Life. Stories from the Corner Table. One Man’s View of Today’s Food Scene
2:30 – Bacardi (TBD)
3:30 – Wine Seminar (TBD)

Seminars, Sun, March 14
11:30 – Wine Seminar (TBD)
12:30 – Wine Seminar (TBD)
1:30 – Raymond Sokolov. Author, Wall Street Journal column Eating Out. Topic: The Splendors and Miseries of a Restaurant Critic’s Life. Stories from the Corner Table. One Man’s View of Today’s Food Scene
2:30 – Bacardi (TBD)
3:30 – Wine Seminar (TBD)

Film
11:30am, Sat. & Sun — Blood Into Wine. Whiteman Hall, Phoenix Art Museum. Documentary film featuring Maynard James Keenan of Tool music fame, his business partner Eric Glomski, and their yearlong (2009) adventure and travails at their Northern Arizona wineries which ultimately produced glorious wine. Film created by Chris Pomerenke and Ryan Page.

Music – LIVE Sat. & Sun.
11am — Steve Ansel Band
Noon — SugarThieves
2pm — Big Bang Theory

DEVOURED-RELATED EVENTS
Cocktail Competition. Tues., March 2, 5:30pm. St. Francis (StFrancisAZ.com) restaurant to feature nine top bartenders. Megan Finnerty of The Arizona Republic/AZCentral.com., to host. Local celebrity judges. $10 admission to sample competing cocktail concoctions.