Jetsettersblog

History connoisseurs experience the charming setting of a seaport village in the Crystal Coast — North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks — during the 50th annual Beaufort Old Homes & Gardens Tour, from June 25 to 26, 2010.

The event also allows guests to view a variety of historic highlights from the oldest courthouse in North Carolina and the Old Burying Grounds with gravesites from early 1700s to gardens and private homes dating back as far as 300 years.

For more information on Beaufort Old Homes and Gardens, call 800-575-7483 or visit www.beauforthistoricsite.org

For more information on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, call 800-786-6962 or visit www.crystalcoastnc.org

Flowing past the city of Passau at the confluence of three rivers, the Danube winds its way through forested highlands to the Schlögen bend.

Starting this July, this area of majestic landscapes both wild and carefully cultivated can be explored on the 280-mile Donausteig hiking trail.

A total of 64 hotels and inns in the Bavarian and Upper Austrian Danube regions will market themselves as “Donausteig Hosts,” providing advice for those hiking the new trail.

Hosts with special offers specially designed for hikers make the Donausteig a bookable tourism product.

For more information, visit www.donausteig.com

Starting in June, it will for the first time be possible to hike the scenic Wachau valley along the Danube on well-marked trails. The Wachau, a UNESCO world heritage site, thus also positions itself as an attractive area for hiking.

Email jutta.mucha-zachar@donau.com  or visit www.donau.com .

The Alb-Donau district in the center of the Swabian Alb GeoPark is rich in geological, scenic and historical sights.

These attractions are now described in a new hiking guide.

The complimentary brochure details 26 different thematic routes, each of which features a scenic or historic focus.

The guide includes maps, route descriptions and detailed information about points of interest.

The tours vary between six and 12 miles in length and are suitable for those with limited experience, as well as for families with children.

For more information, visit www.tourimus.alb-donau-kreis.de

This summer, the decommissioned naval submarine USS Kittiwake, will be sunk off the northern end of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach after approximately seven years of planning.

This represents the single most significant occurrence in a decade for Cayman’s dive industry, and marks the first time that a U.S. MARAD (United States Maritime Administration) ship has been donated to a foreign government for the creation of an artificial reef to preserve the marine environment.

The Kittiwake left the James River Reserve Fleet in St. Eustis, Va., in February and will be towed to Grand Cayman, after being cleaned, for sinking in late July.

The 251-foot historic ship, which was in service for more than 50 years since 1945, will be sunk in just 65 feet of water, providing easy access of the site for both divers and snorkelers.

Originally commissioned as a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship in the U.S. Navy during World War II, the five-deck, 2,200-ton USS Kittiwake will become important to the future of scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, a destination known for its underwater world and dive possibilities.

Prior to sinking, the USS Kittiwake will be thoroughly prepared with the removal of all hazardous materials and chemicals to ensure that they will not leach into Cayman waters, or pose any potential threats to divers and snorkelers.

In addition to providing yet another wreck for exploration, the ship’s sinking further proves the Cayman Islands’ commitment to protecting its renowned reefs from environmental overuse by providing necessary relief for the destination’s most frequently visited dive sites.

The sinking of the USS Kittiwake also serves as a supplement to Dive 365, an on-going project to establish a dive for every day of the year.

For more information, visit www.caymanislands.ky  or www.divecayman.ky

Ozone Zipline Adventures, the Midwest’s largest zipline tour, reopens for the season on April 1 in Mason, Ohio.

The eco-adventure combines flying through the treetops at heights of 200 feet above the valley floor, with outdoor recreation, environmental education and historical awareness. Now in its second year of operation, Ozone offers two guided tours seven days a week April through December.

The Extended Tour includes all 10 ziplines (totaling over 6,000 feet of cable) and covers nearly two miles of land. Ziplines on the Extended Tour range from 250 feet long to more than 1,100 feet long. Wooden platforms in the trees connect the ziplines and provide vistas of the forest, valley and National and State Scenic Little Miami River.

Platform heights range from 25 feet to 60 feet high. Nine sky bridges connect various points along the tour and range from 10 feet to 75 feet long and 10 feet to 40 feet high. Riders can reach speeds of up to 30 mph along portions of the tour. The tour last approximately four hours.

A Traditional Tour lets riders fly on seven lines and cross seven sky bridges. The Traditional Tour is approximately three hours long.

All tours depart from a 45-foot-tall multi-level central tower. Riders must be at least 10 years old and weigh at least 80 pounds. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

Reservations are required.

“The broad appeal of this new attraction complements the existing product mix of outdoor adventure, professional sports and family-friendly attractions in Warren County, such as Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge and The Beach Waterpark,” said Phil Smith, president and CEO of the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Located minutes north of Cincinnati, Ozone Zipline Adventures is alongside The Little Miami State and National Scenic River in Southwest Ohio.

For more information, call 513-932-3756 or visit www.ozonezips.org or www.ohioslargestplayground.com

The Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa Resort will rebrand to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana later this summer.

As this year’s host hotel for the 2010 Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE), the Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa Resort is gearing up for Monday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. featuring an evening of drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a live performance by Jon Secada, one of the music industry’s Grammy-winning Latin cross-over artists.

The event will not only kick off the island’s annual tourism event, but will also celebrate the anticipated transformation of the property to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana will be the first all-inclusive property for the Hard Rock brand.

The Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa is the largest luxury, all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, and was chosen to host the 11th annual Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) being held on April 17 to 21.

Sponsored by the Dominican Ministry of Tourism, DATE is the leading event for the commercialization of tourism in the Dominican Republic.

Every year, the event welcomes more than 100 tour operators from the main tourism markets of North America, Latin America and Europe.

For three days, the tour operators take part in an effective business exchange with the leading providers of Dominican tourism including hotels, travel agencies and rental car companies.

For more information, visit www.hardrockhotels.com or www.hardrock.com

The recent opening of Secrets Resorts & Spas in Montego Bay continued to grow and diversify Jamaican tourism. The newly built 700-room, side-by-side Secrets St. James and Secrets Wild Orchid resorts targets the luxury market and also marks the debut of the Secrets brand in Jamaica. Secrets Wild Orchid, which  features a total of 350 suites, 260 on the main complex and 90 in the preferred club, with a variety of in-room amenities.

These include oversized four-poster beds, full entertainment systems complete with LCD flat-screen televisions and CD/DVD players, a Jacuzzi for two, private furnished balconies, luxurious bath amenities and more. Secrets Wild Orchid features eight international á la carte dining options; nine bars and lounges including swim-up; free-form swimming pools and beachfront Jacuzzi; a 15,000-square-foot spa featuring indoor and outdoor spa facilities and hydrotherapy circuit.

Secrets St. James, scheduled to open in mid April, has an additional 350 rooms and will feature a British colonial air. Both Secrets St. James and Secrets Wild Orchid will share a common area, The Promenade, featuring a number of bars, lounges and a la carte restaurants, spas with oceanfront massage cabanas, private concierge on every guest floor, open-air theater, and a full array of activities.

On-site sports include tennis, beach volleyball, basketball, soccer and non-motorized water sports, and daily yoga, aerobic, and introductory scuba classes, and over 16,000 square feet of meeting space for business conventions and weddings.

For more information, call 800-526-2422 or visit www.visitjamaica.com  

or www.secretsresorts.com

Avanti Destinations is offering two new castle stays in Europe for 2010. In Bavaria, Avanti provides accommodations at the four-star Castle Wernberg.

Dating back to the 13th century, the castle is a unique and refined place to stay as a base for visits to the beautiful Bavarian countryside.

Avanti’s price for three days/two nights is $505.

Just one hour from Prague in the Czech Republic is Zbiroh Castle.

It was once a 13th-century gothic castle and retains the ambiance of a luxurious Neo-Renaissance mansion.

Avanti’s package for a three-day/two-night Zbiroh Castle stay includes a wellness program with massages for two people, a candlelight dinner, tavern lunch and more from $599.

In Valencia, Spain, Avanti offers a new five-star hotel that was originally two 19th-century palaces. Valencia is located on the Mediterranean and boasts a beautiful harbor that has been designated as the host city for the next Americas Cup yacht race.

The Hospes Palau del la Mar is located within walking distance of Old Town, with its famous architecture, art museums and shopping at the Plaza del Mercado.

The hotel has been extensively transformed into a blend of contemporary sophistication and antique elegance.

The Avanti luxury package for three days/two nights is priced from just $275.

In Mazan, France, located in Provence 40 minutes by car from Avignon, Avanti offers the four-star, family-run Chateau de Mazan, an elegant chateau that was painstakingly preserved in 2001.

The town of Mazan is enjoyable to explore with its 14th-century buildings, and the location offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the authentic lifestyle of Provence. A three-days/two-night package is priced from $319.

Avanti also offers the five-star Dromoland Castle in Ireland, as well as five other castles throughout Ireland. The castle is located just a few miles from Shannon Airport and is one of the finest luxury hotels in Ireland. Avanti’s three-day/two-night package is priced from $819.

“For 2010 we are offering a number of new properties in Italy, Spain, France, the Czech Republic and Germany that are real finds,” said Harry Dalgaard, president of Avanti Destinations. “We are always on the lookout for interesting new places to stay and things to do, and our travel consultants provide informed personal service that is acknowledged by travel agents as among the best in the business.”

All of the new accommodations are included in Avanti’s comprehensive 2010 full color “Essence of Europe” brochure. For copies, visit www.avantidestinations.com/EVWeb/Agent_Brochures.jsp.

For more information, visit www.avantidestinations.com

Visitors enjoying Wiltshire’s popular Stonehenge Tour are about to get an even better deal thanks to an agreement which will see the official tour also including Salisbury Cathedral.

Commencing services during British Tourism Week, the tour ticket now includes Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Stonehenge and the hilltop fort of Old Sarum, providing a fantastic day out with prices starting from just £11 per person.

The Stonehenge Tour buses can be picked up at a variety of points in the city including the bus and rail station. Visitors can hop on and off as they please at all three historic sites and with buses running every 30 minutes during the peak season there is no worry about waiting long periods between journeys.

Alun Williams, Head of Partnership for VisitWiltshire welcomes the service:

“Stonehenge is our most popular visitor attraction, receiving around 900,000 visitors each year.

This new service will hopefully bring greater numbers of visitors to the Cathedral, the Close and other attractions in the centre of Salisbury. It’s also great news for the shops, cafes and restaurants of Salisbury which will no doubt benefit from the additional visitors.”

The service operates daily with buses every 30 minutes in the summer and hourly at other times of year.

Tickets start from £11 for the tour only or £22 to include admission into all three sites.

Tickets are purchased on-board from the driver or bought in advance from Salisbury Tourist Information Centre, 01722 334956 or email: visitorinfo@salisbury.gov.uk

For further information about Salisbury and its attractions please visit www.visitwiltshire.co.uk  For further details of The Stonehenge Tour, including timetables visit www.thestonehengetour.info

A Selection Of Island Holidays

Croatia has 1500 islands, surrounded by crystal clear blue waters and now offering some of the best value and best quality hotels, restaurants and self-catering accommodation in the Mediterranean.

This popular non-eurozone is set to be popular with British tourists again in 2010 and here’s a Hidden Croatia’s pick of the best island holidays

Car free Croatian island, 7 nights £409

Croatia’s Kolocep island, the smallest of the Elafiti islands, is completely car free, has just one hotel, the Hotel Villas Kolocap, and a population of less than 150 inhabitants, which combined with its low-rise, unspoilt landscape makes for very good walking and cycling opportunities.

Unusually for Croatia the island has a sandy beach. Hidden Croatia offers 7 nights room and breakfast at the 3* Hotel Villas Kolocep from £385 in April 2010 (children £285), including return flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik, road and ferry transfers.

Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

Remote island off the tourist track, 3* b&b £599

The remote island of Vis is as impregnable as a Bond villain’s lair and as beautiful as Capri before the tourists.

It has no big hotels, no big resorts, and despite its magnificent unspoilt scenery and deserted beaches has only recently opened up to tourism.

The island’s Hotel San Giorgio is a charming 10 rooms boutique 3 star hotel and Hidden Croatia offers 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation from £599 per person (April 2010), including flights from London Gatwick to Split and road and ferry transfers, based on 2 sharing. Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

On the shores of Slovenia’s Lake Bled Pension Mlino is a charming boutique hotel with just 11 rooms and a renowned home cooking a la carte restaurant, offering views of the lake, the castle and Slovenia’s only island.

Hidden Croatia has 7 nights b&b accommodation in spring 2010 for £489 (Easter) and £475 during May, including return flights from London Gatwick to Ljubljana and transfers.

Contact Hidden Croatia on 0844 477 9999, www.hiddencroatia.com

With its long sandy beach, an excellent climate and a maze of Mediaeval streets lined with restaurants, pavement cafés and enticing shops, Cefalù is one of the most attractive holiday towns in the Mediterranean. Renting a villa in the area makes for a great vacation, and Think Sicily has an amazing range of delightful properties from which to choose.

Those who stay in Think Sicily villas near Cefalù go home with memories of hedonistic evenings, sunbaked days by the sea and long, relaxing breakfasts in the cool of the morning shade.

Cefalù is a very child-friendly town, thanks to its pedestrianised streets, its beach and its puppet theatre. You will also find plenty of restaurants more than happy to welcome kids and a plethora of ice-cream bars for the occasional treat! If you’re looking for a secure environment, with plenty of space for your family and a private pool then Think Sicily has exactly what you’re looking for.

The sea in Cefalù is at once azure, turquoise, deep blue and limpid green. It offers constantly changing vistas taking in vast tracts of Sicily’s coastline and the Aeolian Islands. The sandy beaches that run all along the coast in this area are amongst the most beautiful in Sicily. If waking up to the sound of gently lapping waves, nipping out of the gate and plunging in to the sea is your idea of a good holiday, take a look at Think Sicily’s villas near Cefalu’ with direct sea access.

But the area of Cefalù is not just sea and sand! Staying in these parts you will feel a real magnetic draw pulling you towards the Madonie Mountains, a nature reserve with peaks rising to almost 2,000m and a host of charming mediaeval villages. Up in the green wooded hills, life is a little more laid back, the temperature a little cooler and the sea views from on high, breath-taking.To have the best of both worlds, both sea and mountains, look at one of Think Sicily’s many villas nestling in the foothills behind and around Cefalù.

Being at the centre of things, or at least being able to walk to restaurants, bars and shops in a lovely town like Cefalù is also real pleasure. After a hard day on the beach, an evening stroll and a spot of dinner without the car certainly has its advantages. Think Sicily boasts several properties right in the centre or within easy walking distance of the town’s gently buzzing centre!

Cefalù has something for everyone, and so does Think Sicily!

See www.thinksicily.com or contact info@thinksicily.com for more information.