Jetsettersblog

One of the largest urban parks in the world, Golden Gate Park stretches for three miles on the western edge of San Francisco.

There’s not a single “Keep Off the Grass” sign and its 1,017 acres are a tonic for mind and body. Two major museums, splendid gardens and facilities for more than 20 sports confirm that this is a playground in every sense of the word.

Among the ever-evolving attractions located mainly in the eastern half of the park:

The new California Academy of Sciences, which opened Sept. 27, 2008, combines inventive architecture and eye opening exhibits to inspire visitors to explore and protect the natural world.

A museum for the 21st century, the Academy includes an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and scientific research facilities under one roof — a living one at that.

The 2.5-acre roof has been planted with more than 1.7 million native plants. It boasts the world’s largest all-digital planetarium and the world’s deepest display of living corals.

More than 38,000 live animals fill the Academy’s aquarium and natural history exhibits.

Noted for its collections of American art from the 17th through 21st centuries, textile arts and costumes, contemporary art, and art from the Americas, the Pacific, and Africa, the new de Young Museum debuted in 2005.

The entry court, expansive lobby, café, museum store, sculpture gardens, and 144-foot-high observation deck offering panoramic Bay Area views, are open to visitors free of charge.

Completely restored in 2003, the Conservatory of Flowers was erected in 1879 and is the oldest surviving wood and glass greenhouse in the U.S. From Borneo to Bolivia, the 1,750 species of plants at the Conservatory represent tropical flora from more than 50 countries.

One of the most beautiful public gardens in the U.S., San Francisco Botanical Gardens covers 55 acres and features more than 7,000 kinds of plants including outstanding geographical collections and unique specialty gardens as well as the most extensive botanical reference library in the U.S. Docent-led walks of the 17 extraordinary gardens are offered daily.

Constructed in 1893 for the California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden is graced with torii (gates), pagodas, a moon bridge, and a 1.5-ton Buddha. Fortune cookies were first created and served here in 1914 and can still be enjoyed in the teahouse.

Other notable gardens include the National AIDS Memorial, Shakespeare Garden and Rose Garden as well as ones dedicated to San Francisco’s official flower, the dahlia.

In 1887 San Francisco opened America’s first public playground. The Koret Children’s Quarter re-opened in July 2007 after a $3.8 million renovation. Still famed for its circa 1912 Herschell-Spillman carrousel, it also has a fabulously fun hillside slide.

Public transit: N-Judah from Powell and Market or the #5-Fulton from McAllister and Polk.

For more information, visit www.parks.sfgov.org  or call 311.

For general information on hotel packages and reservations; events; activities and transportation in San Francisco, visit www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com

For lodging reservations, call 800-637-5196 within North America or 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD) elsewhere.

The San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide is available at the Visitor Information Center, 900 Market St., at the corner of Powell and Market streets, lower level, Hallidie Plaza.

A virtual edition of the guide is also available online:

www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/weaver/sfovg209/#/0.

A visitor’s kit may also be ordered online at www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com

 by phone at 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD), by written request to the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, 900 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102, or via email to vic1@sanfrancisco.travel

Domestic and international shipping charges apply.

NEW SEATS ARE ON ALL 777 FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND ASIA AND EUROPE

CHICAGO – Continental Airlines today announced that all of its Boeing 777 long-haul, international flights now feature new flat-bed seats in its BusinessFirst cabin. Continental currently operates the 777-200 on international routes between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London/Heathrow, Mumbai, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Tokyo, and between its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport and London/Heathrow and Tokyo.

“Customers flying to international destinations on our Boeing 777s are now assured a flat-bed seat whenever they choose to fly with us,” said Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief revenue officer.

“These seats are highly popular with customers from all over the world, and we will begin installing them on the rest of our widebody fleet beginning next year.”

The BusinessFirst flat-bed seat reclines 180 degrees and provides 6 feet 6 inches of sleeping space in the fully extended position on the Boeing 777.

It is one of the widest business-class seats in the air, measuring up to 27 inches.

Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are conveniently tucked above the customer’s shoulder. iPod connectivity allows customers to view their personal videos and enjoy their music while their iPods are charging.

The new seats feature 15.4-inch video monitors for customers to enjoy on-demand movies, music and games.

The flat-bed seats made their operational debut in November 2009 and are also being installed on Continental’s fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft. CO will begin retrofitting substantially all of its Boeing 767 aircraft with BusinessFirst flat-bed seats in 2011.

Continental Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL). Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 142 domestic and 131 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,172 airports in 181 countries. Continental has hubs serving Cleveland, Guam, Houston and New York/Newark Liberty, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.

The USS Kittiwake is heading for the Cayman Islands to become the newest purpose-sunk wreck, and you can follow her journey every step of the way.

Learn more about the history of this Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship, view photos of the Kittiwake pre-sinking, or even track her progress as she’s towed from Norfolk, Virginia, to the west side of Grand Cayman – a total distance of around 1,400 nautical miles.

» It’s all on www.kittiwakecayman.com

This eatery in Orillia, ON, may be the most Canadian place in the country. 

Call it Kismet, because it can’t be mere coincidence that this “O Canada”  of a restaurant — “Era 67” by name—reclines on the main street of Orillia, ON. 

This town was summer playground of Canadian icon Stephen Leacock; it’s five km (3 mi) from a First Nations sacred place; it’s just up the street from a lake where Samuel de Champlain spent a winter.

Even the name is a tribute to Canada—named for the date when Canada became a country, 1867—as well as a testament to the values that created this northern homeland.

“The inspiration of our name is derived from the era of 1867, when citizens of all walks of life joined together to create Canada,” says co-owner and General Manager Sarah Valiquette.

You get that patriotism the minute you walk inside: birch trunks, artfully arranged as decorative pieces, complement the earth tones inside;

the fireplace; the Group of Seven reproductions and landscapes by local artists hanging on the walls.

Photos of Canadian politicians and luminaries (as well as a letter to the restaurant from the Prime Minister) oversee a private dining room dubbed the “Grand Parliament Room.”

The menu’s no less patriotic. “It costs more for PEI mussels than having them shipped from Thailand, for example,” says Executive Chef Ian Thompson, “but it’s worth it.”

That’s just the beginning. You can order British Columbia salmon, Manitoba bison, Ontario lamb, Georgian Bay whitefish. And, of course, the Québécois favourite: poutine.

Even Era 67’s phone number says Canada: 705-259-1867.

www.ontariotravel.net

The first phase of the 322-unit Koloa Landing at Poipu Beach Wyndham Grand Resort has opened on Kauai’s south shore. It is the first property in Hawaii to fly the Wyndham Grand flag.

Phase One of the multi-phase development includes the opening of 85 villas, as well as lagoon pools, a fitness center, a marketplace and an upscale sundry shop.

The project ultimately will include one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom luxury residences.

The second phase of construction is expected to begin in May 2011.

Upon completion, the resort will also feature a central pool with a water slide, a sand bottom area, cascading waterfalls and a swim-through grotto, as well as several hot tubs, a day spa, a poolside bar and grill, covered parking and semiprivate elevators to each front door.

Villas include gourmet kitchens with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and granite countertops. Additional amenities include walk-in closets, hardwood and natural stone flooring, central air conditioning and technology.

In addition, each villa includes a custom furniture package with premium finishes, indoor and outdoor living spaces and floor-to-ceiling glass doors leading to spacious lanais.

For more information, call 800-996-3426 or visit www.wyndham.com  or www.thewyndhamgrandcollection.com

Auberge Resorts, which owns and operates luxury resorts and private residence clubs, has added its first ski project to its portfolio — The Auberge Residences at Element 52, a new development of Telluride luxury residences in Colorado.

Opening just in time for ski season, the project is a collection of 33 whole-ownership two- to five-bedroom luxury residences and town homes, managed and enhanced by Auberge Resorts, operators of premier small luxury resorts and private clubs, including Auberge du Soleil, Esperanza, Calistoga Ranch, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Encantado and Rancho Valencia Resort.

Located in the spectacular mountain destination of Telluride, the residences are nestled at the base of the ski mountain along the banks of the San Miguel River, just steps from the historic town of Telluride.

For more information, visit www.aubergeresorts.com

The Outrigger Kanaloa at Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island has unveiled a new pool deck with quartzite tile and a new Jacuzzi.

The property offers one- and two-bedroom condominium units from a nightly room rate of $155.

For more information, call 800-688-4444 or visit www.outriggercondos.com

Blount Small Ship Adventures is offering discounts up to $1,000 per couple on select sailings to new bookings on select Caribbean cruises this winter.

The discount applies to five itineraries, to destinations including Belize, St. Maarten and Antigua, the Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Honduras and the Bahamas.

New travelers will save $500 to $1,000 per couple, depending on the cruise selected, when they book an eligible voyage.

Departures begin in early January and space is limited.

The company’s vessels feature a shallow draft and retractable pilot house, allowing them to navigate waterways that big ships cannot.

Passengers can step directly from the ship into a secluded lagoon or beach during a signature bow landing.

Guests can take glass-bottom boat rides, or explore with onboard kayaks and bicycles. Optional excursions are offered.

There are onboard photography workshops and lectures by onboard naturalists.

Eligible cruise itineraries include the nine-day “Gems of the Virgin Islands,” 12-day “The Best of Belize and the Barrier Reef,” the 10-day “Caribbean Spectacular: St. Maarten & Antigua,” the eight-day “Journey Through Central America: Belize to Guatemala” and the 12-day “Bahama Beachlovers: Caicos to Nassau.” Blount Small Ship Adventures was formerly known as American Canadian Caribbean Line.

For more information, call 800-556-7450 or visit www.blountsmallshipadventures.com

The Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang, Calif., has launched the Alisal Wine Club, featuring hand-selected, small-production and hard-to-find wines, most of which hail from Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast.

Wine club members can choose from three levels, each designed to suit specific tastes and styles.

Each wine club membership includes “Cellar Notes,” a newsletter with information about the wines and suggested recipe pairings; a one-year subscription to “Touring & Tasting” magazine; discounts on wines by the bottle or case (up to 70 percent off); a guarantee that the wine is to the member’s liking, or it will be replaced at no cost; and free shipping.

The wine club levels include Golden Horseshoe ($199 per month), which offers four bottles of world-class red wines (i.e., rare, limited quantity, and/or highly rated); Silver Spur ($119 per month), offering six hand-crafted and limited production wines from California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as selected imports (three reds and three whites, or members can tailor the order to suit their needs); and Brass Buckle ($89 per month), offering four bottles of wine each month.

The first 50 charter members (any level) will receive special gifts from the Alisal, such as a logo cork puller and discounts on spa services at the property.

The first 12 members to join at the Golden Horseshoe level will receive the 2008 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir with their first shipment. And subscribers who purchase a personal membership will receive 15 percent off the purchase of a gift membership (offer good until Dec. 31, 2010).

For more information on the Alisal Wine Club, call 800-850-4370, ext. 100, or visit www.alisalwineclub.com

For hotel information, call 805-688-6411 or visit www.alisal.com

The W Austin hotel and The Residences at W Austin have opened in the city’s 2nd Street District, connected to ACL Live at The Moody Theater, a 3,000-seat performance venue and the new home of the “Austin City Limits” television show.

The brand’s 38th hotel, the Austin property features 251 guestrooms and suites and 159 W Residences, including Extreme Wow Suites (the W brand’s reinterpretation of the presidential suite), a Wow Suite, two Marvelous Suites, a Fantastic Suite and 27 Cool Corner Suites.

Each includes original prints by “Austin City Limits” photographer Scott Newton, which are available for purchase.

Amenities include the W Signature Bed, W robes, Bliss Sinkside Six products, the Munchie Box (the W brand’s take on the hotel Mini Bar), and Sonoro for W Hotels clock radio with iPod docking station.

Hotel amenities include Trace restaurant, offering locally produced cuisine; the Living Room, with four spaces designed to allow guests to mix and mingle; Sweat, the W brand’s fitness facility with a yoga room;

the 6,500-square-foot Away Spa with seven treatment rooms;

Wet, a rooftop lap pool surrounded by seven cabanas;

and more than 10,500 square feet of meeting and event space.

The property also offers W Hotels’ Whatever/Whenever service philosophy; and its sustainable practices are geared toward earning LEED certification.