Jetsettersblog

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau has launched the most comprehensive website yet dedicated to listing everything that is happening on the city’s lively entertainment scene.

The new What’s On section of the www.seeglasgow.com site lists a wide range of activities under sections such as comedy, books, sport, visual art, music, clubs, talks, families, days out, cinema and theatre.

Visitors can also book hotel rooms and restaurants on the site, making it the complete one-stop shop for anyone coming to Glasgow.

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said the new website will be an invaluable tool for citizens, tourists and conference delegates who are such an important part of the city’s economy.

“Glasgow has one of the most buzzing entertainment scenes you will find anywhere and our new website is the perfect portal to check out everything that’s going on in the city,” he said.

“As a UNESCO world city of music, there’s so much going on in Glasgow all year round. Anyone coming to Glasgow can now plan out what to do, book a room and plan their whole trip in advance.

“It is a fantastic resource that will help keep Glasgow right at the cutting edge as a leisure and business destination.”

Visitors can search the site by date and section, allowing them to check, for example, all comedy events that are showing on a particular date. The site also showcases major events, awards and exhibitions. Every listing includes a link to contact details, ticket prices and Google map of the location.

The events listings are being provided by entertainment magazine The List and the site was built by Glasgow agency Triple One Digital.

Australian Pacific Touring’s (APT) Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge won the Hosted Accommodation Category at the 2009 Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards. Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge — recently awarded Eco Accreditation — is located on a secluded area of Kings Creek Station near Kings Canyon in Australia’s infamous outback near Ayers Rock. APT packages featuring the Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge include the following. From Alice Springs: ARK3 – three days Alice Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kings Canyon. From Ayers Rock: RKMA – four days Kata Tjuta, Uluru, Kings Canyon & Alice Springs.

For more information, call 800-290-8687 or visit www.aptouring.com

Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis of the Seas was deemed among the most accessible cruise ships by Andrew Garnett, founder Special Needs Group, Inc.

The vessel offers the largest number of accessible staterooms of any cruise ship: 46. Wider doorways, roll-in showers, grab bars and other assistive features are designed to ensure barrier-free vacations.

The accessible staterooms are distributed throughout the decks, ensuring ample choices for location and category.

Of the 46 accessible staterooms, 33 have balconies, eight with Central Park or Boardwalk views.

Since most persons with disabilities travel with others, RCI designed half of the accessible staterooms to accommodate more than two people. The ample number of family suites and adjoining staterooms facilitates multigenerational travel.

Twenty-two percent of all accessible staterooms connect to an adjacent non-accessible stateroom.

Each of the 24 dining venues is designed to accommodate guests in wheelchairs. Viewing space in lounges and theatres, including the ice rink, are configured for wheelchairs, as are card tables in the casino.

The ship’s carousel has a ramp for wheelchairs, and at least one pool and one whirlpool have lifts.

The ship also is outfitted for people who are blind or have low vision. Menus, daily activity schedules and ship directories are available in Braille and large print.

Braille signage, including stateroom numbers and elevator information is also used.

The ship also provides a four-foot-square relief box for service animals.

Advanced technologies for people who are deaf and hard of hearing are available in staterooms and public rooms.

Guests who are traveling with oxygen need only alert the cruise line in advance of the quantity and type, and the method of delivery.

Noble House Hotels & Resorts added its first hotel in Colorado, the Mountain Lodge at Telluride, a slopeside resort.

Located in Telluride’s Mountain Village resort community in southwestern Colorado, the Mountain Lodge at Telluride offers ski and snowboard rentals, a fitness facility, free shuttle service to the Mountain Village Core, Mountain Village Market and gondola, a 24-hour front desk, concierge service, in-room spa services, heated pool, hot tubs, bell staff, valet parking and complimentary wireless Internet service in all guest rooms and the main lodge.

For more information about the Mountain Lodge at Telluride, or to make a reservation, call 866-368-6867 or visit www.mountainlodgetelluride.com

Rancho de San Juan, a luxury country inn and restaurant located between Taos and Santa Fe, N.M., has renamed it restaurant, now called the Three Forks Restaurant at Rancho de San Juan.

The name Three Forks comes from the location itself.

The property is situated near the forks of three converging rivers: the Ojo Caliente, the Rio Chama and the Rio Grande.

Serving dinner Tuesday through Saturday, Three Forks will also offer lunch on Saturdays, April through October. The restaurant’s International Passport Dinners will be available monthly beginning in March and feature a different country’s cuisine each month.

Call 505-753-6818 or visit www.ranchodesanjuan.com

VANS Launches First Ever Live Surfing iPhone App
in Time for Big Waves at Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

Haleiwa, HI – Coinciding with the arrival of huge waves on Oahu’s famous North Shore, surf fans can catch all the live action of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing with a $0.99 iPhone application, available now at the iTunes store.

Delivering live contest webcasts, dynamic, real-time scoring and video-on-demand among its many features, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing app is the first ever live mobile webcast application for any action sports event, and is a first for an Association of Surfing Professionals event.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink showcases top-ranked surfers in three big wave contests at the world’s most iconic venues.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing iPhone App includes:

LIVE CONTEST WEBCAST (WiFi only) – Each Vans Triple Crown of Surfing event streamed live in low, medium and high bandwidth.

LIVE RESULTS – Dynamic heat scores after each wave is surfed.

VIDEOS (WiFi only) – Daily event highlights, highest scoring rides, rider interviews.

PHOTOS – Live ASP photo feed with new images refreshed throughout the day.

NEWS – Daily news updates on competition, competitors, conditions, outstanding performances/best rides, and anything else that is noteworthy for the day.

FORECASTS -Daily surf report “powered by Surfline” with current surf conditions and swell forecast.

PUSH ALERTS – Let’s you know when live event webcast is available.

Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O’Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).

The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future.
www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

Ice fishing can add months of enjoyable fishing.

Most lakes and reservoirs are open year round, and if the weather is cold enough, ice on these waters can be safe and provide good fishing for yellow perch and trout. Anglers should wear warm clothing and be prepared for winter weather and driving conditions.

Check the ice thickness and condition before venturing over deep water. It takes at least three to four inches clear, solid ice to support a person’s weight; but it takes 8 to 10 inches to support a snow machine or an ATV.

In addition to fishing gear, ice anglers will need some special gear. Hand-held ice augers are inexpensive and easy to use if the blade is sharp. Also a slotted ladle will help keep the fishing hole free of ice.

Ice fishing rules are slightly different than general fishing for public safety and general crowding. Fishing is allowed only through a hole up to 10 inches in diameter. This reduces the risk of someone falling through holes. There is one exception on Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho where anglers can dip net cisco through any size hole.

There are no restrictions on the number of holes, but an angler can fish with up to five poles or lines at a time, and up to five hooks per line.

A two-pole validation does not allow more than five lines while ice fishing. All lines must be attended by the angler.

Gaff hooks may be used only to land fish through a hole cut or broken in the ice in waters that have no length restrictions or harvest closures for that species.

Anglers who use any enclosure or shelter for ice fishing and plan to leave it unattended overnight on the ice must have the owner’s name, telephone number, and current address legibly marked on two opposing sides. Shelters must be removed from the ice before the spring thaw.

Are You Crazy?

Tell your friends you’re thinking of visiting Iceland in winter and they’ll think you’ve lost it. ICE-land? In the winter? They’ll back slowly away and size you up for a straight jacket. But you’ll keep your cool, knowing they’re the ones who are crazy to dismiss the idea.

There are a thousand great reasons to come to Iceland at any time of the year, especially January through March. For one thing, Reykjavik normally enjoys only one completely clear day every July. In January, the average goes up to three, although there are no reports just yet of sunglass shortages.

Other highlights of a typical winter visit:

• We’ll Leave the Lights on For You – Winter is the best time to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, and there are tours catering to those who hope to view this gorgeous celestial display flickering in the starry sky (www.auroratours.com) .

The cozy 32-room Northern Light Inn, 30-minutes from the capital city of Reykjavik, is the perfect location to view the aurora. It offers low winter rates and shuttles to the nearby Blue Lagoon (www.northernlightinn.is).

• Someone Left the Water Running – Waterfalls don’t exactly switch off for the season. They’re still running strong, including Gullfoss, the Niagara Falls of Iceland (but without the silly boat ride or people trying to ride in barrels). In winter, the falls are etched in beautiful ice formations. At the top is a café that sells the best lamb stew known to mankind.

• Steamy Winter Fun – Nature’s hot tubs are best experienced with the delicious contrast of cold air and hot, cozy water.

The city of Reykjavik operates seven thermal pools, all with changing rooms, lockers, showers, even wading pools for children (www.spacity.is).

The biggest thermal pool of them all, the Blue Lagoon (www.bluelagoon.com , is the country’s most popular destination. You can get married there with your face smeared in white mud, attend rock concerts, have a business conference, eat fresh local gourmet cuisine, or just chillax.

• Cooler than Cool – Ten percent of the country is covered in glaciers, including both the largest glacier in Europe, and the only glaciers that sit atop volcanoes.

The best time to visit is from mid-February to mid-July when the surface is more stable. Guides can also arrange cross-country ski trips, or for speed freaks, drive-it-yourself snowmobile tours. (www.mountainguides.is)

• Travel Viking Style – Alas, we don’t mean by longboat: there are guided horseback riding excursions all winter.

Visitors are provided insulated overalls, waterproof boots, helmets, and gloves to resist cold, and the native Icelandic horses, descendants of those imported by the first Viking settlers, are renowned for their docility. (www.ishestar.is)

• Bring an Appetite – News about the closing of McDonald’s went viral this fall, so don’t come expecting a McMuffin for breakfast (a McPuffin, maybe, but no Big Macs).

Frankly, it’s puzzling why anyone would want manufactured fast food while surrounded by free-range sheep roaming the open countryside feeding on wild berries and moss; waters teeming with fresh cod; vegetables and herbs from geothermally-heated greenhouses; and dairy products such as the yogurt-like skyr, a big seller at Whole Foods in the U.S.

Iceland has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic gastronomic destinations – Icelandic chefs train abroad then come home to experiment with different ways of cooking traditional Icelandic ingredients.

• Thrills for the Eyes and Ears – The Iceland cultural scene in Reykjavik is one of the most avant-garde in the world.

Stay indoors and see the Reykjavik Art Museum (see below; www.artmuseum.is ), or check the listings and catch a jazz performance or perhaps the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.(www.musik.is )

• PartyPartyParty – Become enthralled by the legendary Reykjavik club scene and party until the sun doesn’t come up.

Icelandic clubs tend to be bistros during the day and change into a wilder character at night, like the popular Vegamot (www.vegamot.is ), NASA (www.nasa.is ), and Kaffibarinn (www.kaffibarinn.is ) where you can drink a golden lager named Viking beer.

Want to dance with someone?

Ask like a Viking: “viltu dansa?”

If the answer is “ja” (yes), congratulations.

Want to have a deeper conversation than that? See our YouTube link below.

Here are two comprehensive on-line resources to find out more about the night scene: www.infoiceland.is  or www.visitreykjavik.is

Remember to dress warmly. While Iceland is kissed by the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream and is generally more comfortable than the Northeast U.S. in winter, there’s still a lot more weather up there to contend with.

Icelandic Mountain Guides (IMG) is one of Iceland’s premier local guide services, and can take you to any one of thousands of Iceland’s natural wonders. Go hiking, ice climbing, mountaineering, horseback riding or, for a safari Iceland style, go in one of the country’s famed Super Jeeps.

Iceland Rovers is the branch of IMG that runs Super Jeep excursions – where travelers ride in burly, jacked-up, all-terrain trucks across some of the most awe-inspiring country anyone could hope to experience. Vacation packages include trips to and through volcanic craters, lava caves, glaciers, the site of the world’s first parliament, waterfalls – you get the picture. They even depart right from Reykjavik, and can drop you off at the Blue Lagoon Spa if you so choose.

Log onto icelandrovers.is to see how you too can roll out into the wild.

For those who like to keep their transportation self-powered, IMG offers a host of boots-on-the-ground excursions in keeping with their motto: Adventure For All.

From easy glacier hikes of a few hours, to multi-day, multi-faceted, and much more challenging tours, they all provide a powerful and direct connection to the unspoiled beauty of Iceland.

The guides can provide equipment, and private guiding is available along with group trips. Log onto mountainguides.is to get your adventure started today.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE OUTDOORS

Icelanders take great pride in the natural beauty of their island nation, but there is plenty to be seen indoors as well, particularly at the Reykjavik Art Museum – actually a consortium of three different museums located throughout the city: Hafnarhus, Kjarvalsstadir, and Asmundarsafn.

The three locations all have their own flavor and their own specialties in order to make the best in Icelandic art available to culture-seekers.

Kjarvalsstadir’s claim to fame is a permanent exhibition of paintings by beloved Icelandic painter Johannes Kjarval.

The museum also focuses on modern design and architecture. Now (through January 31) the Kjarvalsstadir will showcase the works of designer Steinunn Sigurdardottir (see below), and the stunning photographs of Mary Ellen Mark.

(For more information: http://www.artmuseum.is/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-2173/3432_read-6298)