Jetsettersblog

In anticipation of the opening of Australia’s largest private museum, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), in late 2010, four new deluxe accommodation pavilions have been added to Tasmania’s Moorilla Estate accommodation offering.

These four new MONA pavilions opened Nov. 1 in a vineyard setting on the banks of the Derwent River, 15 minutes’ drive north of Hobart.

Three are translucent glass and steel cubes that appear suspended on their apex; the fourth is a diamond-shaped three-story building enclosed in a silver metallic skin. Guests can choose from one- or two-bedroom configurations and each self-contained pavilion is completely private.

All have access to an enclosed, heated lap-pool, sauna and gymnasium.

Museum and vineyard owner David Walsh has personally chosen works from his private collection for each pavilion, including time-based art pieces. Guests will also have access to their choice of online imagery streamed from the MONA collection once MONA opens.

The original four pavilions, featuring works by major Australian artists Brett Whiteley, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Charles Blackman, are being refurbished to reflect the new look and feel.

The contemporary design furnishings include Arflex Marenco sofas, Fatboy bean bags, B&B Italia UP1 “doughnut” chairs, Zanotta wire coffee tables, bespoke furniture by some of Tasmania’s top furniture designers, and pieces from Walsh’s furniture collection.

State of the art bathroom fittings include Kaldewei spa baths, and a Zucchetti Roca Vythos bath and spa system outdoor spa.

Kitchen equipment is by top European manufacturers and guests will find their in-room Moorilla wine collection stored in under-bench, two-temperature zone wine cellars.

For more information, visit www.mona.net.au

with Canyon Calling Adventures for Women

Alaska is the Last Frontier and the ultimate multi-activity adventure destination for women. Everything in Alaska is grand – from the 5,000 glaciers to seventeen of the twenty highest peaks in North America.

The good news is that finding wilderness is easy and Canyon Calling Adventures for Women has chosen the best adventures to enjoy the solitude and the magic of the wild. Travelers will hike a glacier, whitewater raft, horse ride, hike to see salmon spawning, ride the Alaskan Railroad, photograph wildlife, sea kayak in a secluded bay and canoe through icebergs at the foot of a glacier.

Visit remote towns with rich histories like Talkeetna, Seward and Homer.

There’s also plenty of wildlife to see including grizzlies, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, otters and plenty of bald eagles.

In the wilds of Alaska, its important to have a local in charge and Canyon Calling has Alaskan guides that do a superb job of keeping travelers safe and well informed.

This trip encompasses the jewels of Alaska – Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula.

Nine days. July 16-24, 2010. $3,595.

www.canyoncalling.com

Topanga Canyon, in LA’s woodsy Santa Monica Mountains, has long been the filming site of movies and TV shows, as well as home to numerous celebrities.

Now, Topanga Creek Bicycles lets visitors and groups explore the off- and on-road excitement of this scenic and legendary backcountry.

Topanga Creek Bicycles is located at the edge of Topanga State Park, in a building that was once the recording studio for Jim Morrison of The Doors.

Owner Chris Kelly and his pro-racing staff rent mountain bikes and high performance racing bikes, and create self-guided itineraries for all skill levels, providing an excellent opportunity for cycle-enthusiast groups and individuals who are visiting LA.
Every Sunday morning is the official “shop ride,” and Kelly invites enthusiasts to show up with their gear, meet the locals and join the fun.

The shop also custom-makes bikes and sells and services a wide range of bicycles and accessories.

Its popular demo/rental program lets riders test out high performance racing bikes including BMC, Salsa and Pivot, before purchasing one, or simply enjoy the ride.

Founded in 1999, Kelly started in business as LA Bike Tours, leading bicycle excursions throughout Los Angeles. In 2008, he moved to Topanga Canyon and changed the company name.
www.topangacreekbicycles.com

Cruceros Australis
CONTACT: Heather Miller
TEL: 970-568-7423
E-MAIL: heather@atmstravelnews.com
WEB: www.crucerosaustralis.com

SANTIAGO, Chile – In sailor’s terms, “rounding the horn” used to be a treacherous proposition. The horn in question — Cape Horn – is the last territory in the Pacific Ocean before Antarctica. Prior to the Panama Canal rounding this southernmost tip of South America was a necessary — and due to strong winds, large waves, strong currents and icebergs — dangerous route for trade ships.

Passengers choosing this route today don’t have to worry about the same dangers that troubled sailors hundreds of years ago.

Today’s passengers travel to Cape Horn for a different reason: scenery. Impressive glaciers, native forests, penguin and elephant seal colonies can be seen on the journey towards this mythical land.

Since 1990, Cruceros Australis has been sailing sight-seers to Cape Horn aboard two ships: Mare Australis and Via Australis.

For the 2010 – 2011 season, the company has commissioned a new ship – The Stella Australis– to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The Stella Australis will have a capacity of 210 passengers distributed in 100 cabins of 161 sq. ft. each. She will measure 292 ft. long and her beam or breadth will be 47.8 ft.

The ship will feature first-class creature comforts to match the first-class scenery. Travelers can enjoy three lounges equipped with modern audiovisual equipment, a dining room, an exercise room, and a spacious open deck area allowing the observation of the marvelous southern scenery at all times. Cabin highlights include picture windows, independent climate controls, private bathrooms and a satellite phone.

A cruise with Cruceros Australis is an all-inclusive experience including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and open bar for wine, beer, liquor and other beverages. The menu combines international cuisine and local recipes, which allows the discovery of the delicious and varied regional gastronomy, accompanied by local varietals of Chilean and Argentine wines.

Pebble Beach, a new state-of-the-art indoor simulator golf experience in Koreatown, lets golfers play entire games on 42 of the world’s most famous courses, including Pebble Beach, Augusta National and other challenging greens across the world.

Using new video screen projection technology that goes beyond standard driving range golf simulators, players swing into action driving, chipping and putting across the entire celebrated course of their choosing. In addition, duffers can play tournaments via the Internet. Pebble Beach is located in the City Center complex at 6th Street and Mariposa Avenue.

Renaissance Adventure Guides offers outdoor adventure travel for the nature lover in everyone. Taking an adventure trip to an exotic locale, kayaking lessons in amazing outdoor destinations or even exhilarating Avalanche training with Renaissance Adventure Guides is more than just an outdoor adventure.

Travel is a journey of self discovery and fun and RAG’s safety conscious, knowledgeable guides take care of the details. Whether it’s an international adventure vacation, a kayaking lesson on the Colorado River, or avalanche training in the Rocky Mountains, Renaissance Adventure Guides ensure the itinerary is appropriate for each individual’s level of skill and physical fitness.

That way, friends, family, work colleagues, and newly acquired “trail buddies” can concentrate on learning new outdoor adventures skills, absorbing the local culture, and enjoying the adventure vacation of a lifetime.

An international adventure vacation with Renaissance Adventure Guides is more that just a vacation.

The highly trained professionals at Renaissance ensure that travelers have trip includes plenty of time for spiritual renewal and break from the monotony of life.

The trips offered are small, integrated with the local land and culture, and vary from the classic, one-of-a-lifetime trips of climbing Kilimanjaro to the multi-day, bonding-with-the-kids rafting trips in Morocco.

These international adventures are active and seek to provide an opportunity for learning, whether it’s honing your whitewater kayaking skills on the lesser known but ever more beautiful rivers of Costa Rica or enriching your knowledge in the ancient civilization of the Incas while trekking near Machu Picchu in Peru.

Their sustainable outdoor adventure vacations leave visitors feeling rested, invigorated and ready to face new challenges with new energy and confidence.

. www.raguides.com

They come right to your hotel in super big trucks capable of navigating remote corners of Langjokull, Snaefellsjokull and other Icelandic glaciers not far from Reykjavik.

When you get there, off you go on snowmobiles, with guides leading the way. Snowmobile excursions are arranged by experienced agents who also provide all the warm gear needed.

Arctic Adventures offers daylong trips beginning at around $200. They leave directly from Reykjavik and require at least two people. Guided glacier trips continue through the winter. The wildest excursions are to Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier, covering much of southeast Iceland, including several active volcanoes. Participants must be 21 and have a driver’s license, but no previous knowledge of snowmobiles is necessary.

For more information: www.Adventures.is/Iceland/SnowScooter

Join the first voyage of discovery on an ocean-going Challenger yacht sailing around the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa this winter with Tall Ships Adventures (023 9283 2055 www.tallships.org).

This new destination joins the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries as the base for warm weather activity sailing holidays on board 72-foot Challenger race yachts or traditional 200-foot square-rigged tall ship, Stavros S Niarchos.

They are featured in the new Tall Ships Adventures 2009/10 Winter Voyage programme. Voyages to these islands, which are available from December through to March 2010, cost from just £399 per person for 7-night sails including training and full board. Note connecting return flights are extra.

Winter choices also include:

• Offshore sailing: For a real sense of adventure and a chance to tackle the elements in the Atlantic Ocean or Bay or Biscay there are several long distance sails. They include 16 night voyages next spring on either the brig or a Challenger yacht sailing from the Azores to Southampton and Portsmouth. Both cost £599pp

• Taster trips: In the UK, budding sailors can take their first steps into yachting on day sails (£89pp) and short taster voyages (from £99pp)

• Academy sails: The Tall Ships Youth Trust is the UK’s largest single provider of the RYA Competent Crew Certificates.

These can be obtained on a choice of Academy sails for adults and young people operating out of Portsmouth – from £199pp for 4-nights

• This autumn: Before the boats head south for winter sunshine there are autumn sails off the south coast.

For example in November join 4-night sails from Southampton and Portsmouth on the Tall Ship or Challenger Yachts sailing to London (£269pp)

As indicated above, all sails include training and full board but do not include flight connections. Sails are open to sailors and non sailors with four age categories: 14-15, 16-25, 18-65 and 18-75.

Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Henry VIII’s Accession to the Throne in Yorkshire

Ingleby Manor, a stunning Grade II*, 16th Century Manor House, was built from the generosity of Henry VIII to the powerful Eure family in the early 1500s, possibly with some of the riches from the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Nestled in a fold of the Cleveland Hills and within the North York Moors National Park, Ingleby Manor offers visitors a truly unique retreat in its four self-catering apartments situated within the Manor and house and cottage set in the grounds, all of which are exquisitely decorated and atmospheric.

Best known of the English kings, Henry VIII has usually been portrayed as a gargantuan party boy seducing court ladies, quarrelling with the church, arresting friends and beheading wives.

But he brought much more to the throne than that, to which Ingleby Manor, set in 50 acres of exceptionally peaceful, beautiful gardens and magnificent countryside bears witness. Today Ingleby Manor provides a haven from the frantic pace of 21st century living, set against a backdrop of history and intrigue.

The original medieval plan of Ingleby Manor, with living areas arranged around two internal courtyards divided by the Great Hall, allowed the creation of four spacious apartments, which sleep from two to six people.

Each apartment is totally self-contained with its own entrance and lovely views over the surrounding gardens, woods and hills.

Added to the offer is the stunning house and cottage set in the grounds providing accommodation for from four to eight people. Whether Autumn, Winter, Spring or Summer, Ingleby Manor is delightful at all seasons in its wonderfully unique and secluded location.

On three sides the 1000 foot high Cleveland Hills rise to the moors and create an amphitheatre around the Greenhow valley, and on the fourth, a half-mile private avenue connects the house to Ingleby village and the outside world.

Bright, cultured and handsome, Henry succeeded peacefully to the crown in 1509 as he turned 18, securing the Tudor dynasty and making possible England’s golden age.

Henry’s fondness for food was certainly no secret and the Old Kitchen at Ingleby Manor would have provided sumptuous feasts of local produce.

Today guests can enjoy some good home cooking whilst regressing in thought to times gone by as they while away a leisurely morning with the newspapers under the Tudor beams and in front of the massive fireplaces, although the bell on the roof which called labourers in from the fields and gardens has fallen silent.

The Manor Kitchen can also be hired by groups or families taking more than one apartment to enjoy meals together and create a rather special atmosphere around the solid old wood tables.

The surrounding gardens, woods, hills and moors abound in serious or light hearted walks to suit different abilities and inclinations. Bustling market towns, English Heritage and National Trust properties, and the nearby coast with its towering cliffs, sheltered sandy coves and picturesque old fishing villages provide days out for all the family.

At home, there is also something for everyone whatever the weather, including a Children’s Play Area, barbecue facilities, croquet lawn, DVD Library and Internet Connection, and fishing for the wild brown trout in the stream is free.

With 2009 marking a very special year in history with the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII accession to the throne, why not celebrate and enjoy your own piece of English history and make Ingleby Manor your home for a short break or longer stay?

Frankfurt am Main, the bustling metropolis in the heart of Europe, is known throughout the world for its exciting and unusual contrasts. Here, upon the majestic River Main, tradition and modernity, commerce and culture, activity and tranquillity are all harmoniously juxtaposed, with international trade shows and finance on one side and cultural as well as historical landscapes on the other.

Together, they have helped to turn Frankfurt am Main into what it is today – a vibrant and multicultural metropolis.

Frankfurt enjoys a excellent reputation as a city of culture. This is in large part due to its unique museum embankment, which has a total of 26 museums scenically set on or near the riverside promenade. With a variety of renowned museums standing side by side like pearls on a string, the Frankfurt Museum Embankment is a cultural location like no other.

Thirteen museums are located directly on the southern banks of the River Main, while a further thirteen are only a stone’s throw away.

Featuring lush green banks and countless gardens and parklands, the Frankfurt Museum Embankment offers locals and visitors a unique combination of art, culture, recreation and relaxation.

And, what’s more, there are numerous further exhibition venues spread out all over the city, each exuding its very own style and flair.

Every summer, Frankfurt’s museums take centre stage for one of Europe’s largest cultural celebrations, the Museum Embankment Festival. During this festival, which is traditionally held on the final weekend of August, participating museums put on display a colourful programme that remains open late into the night.

At the same time, countless stages, stalls and stands line the riverside promenade, offering live music, culinary delights from across the globe and first-class entertainment for both young and old.

The reasons behind Frankfurt’s reputation as a place of culture and the arts are manifold. Oper Frankfurt, for example, has gained international acclaim for its world-class opera performances. In fact, it has been voted Germany’s leading opera house on several occasions, the last time in 2008. Frankfurt’s diversified cultural landscape features a further 60 theatres and independent theatre groups, including the continent’s largest English-language theatre: The English Theatre Frankfurt has been playing a significant role in Frankfurt’s international cultural scene for some 30 years. Its colourful programme consists of highly entertaining musicals, time-honoured theatre classics and much more.

When speaking of classics, the mind automatically turns to Frankfurt’s favourite son, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born here in 1749. The Goethe-House, his place of birth, has been lovingly restored to its original condition, offering visitors excellent insights into the life and times of Germany’s most celebrated poet and author.

Nearby, St. Paul’s Church remains as one of the most significant places of German history. Germany’s first national assembly met here in 1848, forming the basis of Germany’s modern-day constitution. Emperor’s Cathedral, site of numerous crowning and coronation ceremonies during the Middle Ages, is just around the corner.

And then there’s Frankfurt’s most historical landmark, the three-gabled façade of the Römer.

This former patrician’s house was chosen as Frankfurt’s town hall way back in 1405. It continues to serve as the seat of Frankfurt’s lord mayor to this day.

Here, in the Römerhallen, or “Roman Halls”, and on the Römerberg in front of the town hall, fairs and markets were held in the earliest mediaeval times.

Today, the Römerberg marks the centre of the historical old town, a popular and pulsating sightseeing attraction and outdoor venue for countless special events, such as the IRONMAN European Championships and the time-honoured Main Festival, just to name a few.

Whether at a lively street festival or on a cosy Frankfurt evening, Frankfurt loves its apple wine.

This cider-like drink has been the locals’ beverage of choice for over 250 years.

At the heart of Frankfurt’s social life, apple wine brings people of all ages and walks of life together at one table, usually at one of the city’s many traditional apple wine pubs, where comfort and a cosy atmosphere are at the order of the day.

The year concludes with the equally cosy and traditional Frankfurt Christmas Market, a must-see for all wintertime visitors of Frankfurt.

Over three million people flock to the old town centre for this yuletide classic every year, enjoying both the historical setting and holiday atmosphere of one of Germany’s oldest and most beautiful Christmas markets.

In fact, the market is so popular that it has become one of Frankfurt’s biggest export sellers. Residents and visitors of Birmingham, for example, our English sister city, have been enjoying Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market for many years, in particular the traditional Frankfurt Christmas specialities and the unusual yet very popular Frankfurt Christmas pub.