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Amanyara, Amanresorts’ luxury hideaway in the remote untouched Northwest end of Providenciales island in the Turks & Caicos islands, has launched an on-site Nature Discovery Center, with a full-time naturalist in residence to educate guests of all ages.

Headed by Lindsay Mensen, a naturalist who has worked for the past four years in the Turks & Caicos islands, studying local flora and fauna, the new Nature Discovery Center at Amanyara will provide regular daily activities to explore the island’s natural wonders. For Amanyara’s younger guests, there are daily programs co-created by Lindsay and teachers from the American Museum of Natural History’s Science and Nature department–including research expeditions, nature-themed yoga classes, beach walks, scavenger hunts and turtle nesting site conservation, all focused on learning more about the islands’ indigenous land, sea and sky creatures.

And for adults, every day at Amanyara can now begin with a morning Eco Hike with Lindsay, the on-site naturalist, to learn more about the geology of the island of Providenciales, the dry tropic forest, the medicinal uses of native plants and the many bird, reptile and invertebrate residents of the island. Guests can also explore the ocean with Linsday, learning about the marine biology of the area while kayaking, snorkeling or diving. And the day might end with stargazing at the Nature Discovery Center, a screening of a nature documentary or evening discussion with one of the Center’s regular guest speakers, including: Dr. Glenn Gerber of the San Diego Zoo, Founder of the Caribbean Wildlife Foundation; Dr. Graham Reynolds, Philosophy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Dr. Peter Richardson, Marine Conservation Society and The Turtle Project; and Brian Naqqi Manco, Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources, Turks & Caicos Islands.

For more information about the Nature Discovery Center at Amanyara, or any of the resort’s other programs, please visit: www.amanresorts.com.

ABOUT AMANRESORTS
Amanresorts was founded by Adrian Zecha who envisioned a collection of intimate retreats in beautiful surroundings with the unassuming, warm hospitality of a gracious private residence. Amanpuri introduced the concept, and since its launch two decades ago, Amanresorts has grown to encompass 24 unparalleled resorts located in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, India, Laos, Montenegro, Morocco, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the USA.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – You drive by them almost daily, whether it’s your commute home or a trip around town, saltmarshes are a staple of the Lowcountry. Now the South Carolina Aquarium is bringing the beauty and wonder of them to you! On March 19, 2011 the Aquarium re-opened the Saltmarsh Aviary, featuring a new experience where you can feed stingrays!

Fall back in love with the coast by visiting the 2,500-square-foot outdoor immersive exhibit. It features expansive views of the Charleston harbor and gives you the feeling of kayaking through a Lowcountry tidal creek. Explore the Lowcountry’s largest habitat in this intimate exhibit which features a variety of coastal plants, birds and marine life, including herons, diamondback terrapins and pufferfish.

After checking out all the wildlife, it’s time to feed some. Just head over to Gilligan’s Shrimp Shack located right outside the exhibit and purchase a cup of local sustainable shrimp. You can then take that cup of shrimp to the all-new 6,000 gallon stingray tank inside the Saltmarsh Aviary and try your hand at feeding the gentle, gliding rays. More than 25 rays will bite the shrimp off the feeding device and swim away, but don’t worry, they return shortly looking for another treat (feeding while supplies last).

The Saltmarsh Aviary offers you the opportunity to:

• Experience a Lowcountry saltmarsh up-close in an immersive exhibit

• Learn more about saltmarsh species like diamondback terrapins, stingrays, herons and much more!

• Discover why a saltmarsh is so vital to the Lowcountry ecosystem

• Feed stingrays local sustainable shrimp! (while supplies last)

• Step into a fishing village where you can touch stingrays in our indoor touch tank!

• Marvel at the amazing view of the Charleston Harbor and Ravenel bridge

Named one of the “10 Great Places for a Leisurely Holiday Brunch,” by USA Today, The Farm at South Mountain will be hosting its annual Easter Brunch complete with a special brunch menu, Easter eggs for the children and pictures with the Easter Bunny.

TEMPE, AZ, The Farm at South Mountain will be hosting its annual Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 24.

An extensive buffet including Freshly Baked Pastries, Fresh Salads, Scrambled Eggs, Pecan French Toast, Grilled Chicken Paillards and Roasted Potatoes will be served. Easter wouldn’t be complete without an assortment of Baked Goods and Candy such as Carrot Cupcakes, Pecan Diamonds, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and assorted Short Bread for dessert.

Guests are welcome to bring wine or champagne. No corking fee applied.

To see full menu available, please visit: http://bit.ly/g0Cn38

Cost ranges.

Adults-$39.95 per person; Children (8-12yrs) $16.95; Children (3-7yrs) $8.00; Children under 3 years are free. (Highchairs will not be available) (9.3% Sales Tax and 20% Service Charge are additional)

Due to the popularity of this event, reservations must be made.

To make a reservation please call: (480)471-5223. Cancellations will not be accepted after Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

Scheduled Seating times will be 10:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 12:15 p.m., 12:30 p.m.

The Farm at South Mountain is located at 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85042.

Please contact The Farm at South Mountain at (480)471-5223, or http://www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com

Sea Captain Homes, Witches, Boston’s North Shore Lore

SHERBORN, MA– The tour operator who promotes independence on two wheels, Great Freedom Adventures (http://www.greatfreedomadventures.com/), announces three summer Maritime New England Bike Tour departures swept with sea breezes and the culture and lore of all of the must-see historic villages along Boston’s fabled North Shore.

This is the only fully guided and supported bike tour that explores Newburyport (think full sail merchant ships), Ipswich (an unparalleled preservation of historic homes), Essex (maritime history), Salem (the infamous witch hunt of 1692), Manchester-by-the Sea (dates to 1629), Gloucester (The Perfect Storm) and Rockport (art, art, art), all part of the Essex National Heritage Area.

“These villages are among the oldest and most historically significant in the United States,” said Jeanne Rummel, Great Freedom Adventures founder. Overnight accommodations have been selected as enhancements to the stories and histories of the towns and represent the best of each locale.

Departures are June 26, July 17 and Aug. 21, 2011. The nearly all-inclusive per person double rate for six days and five nights is $2,395 (single supplement $500). Cyclists travel 30 miles on average each day for a total of 185 miles. See:

http://www.greatfreedomadventures.com/new-england-bike-tours.html

“Our trips also incorporate activities such as a sunset sail with drinks and a kayak adventure in a wildlife-filled estuary, not-to-be-missed opportunities overlooked by other tour operators,” said Rummel. Cyclists will have an opportunity to visit Crane Beach, regarded as one of the most beautiful on the eastern seaboard, as well as other spectacular beaches, she said.

This program begins and ends in Ipswich, MA. Participates can reach the start point by car, train (any Newburyport or Ipswich bound commuter train from Boston’s North Station to Ipswich Center where guests are met), or bus from Logan International Airport (Logan Express bus to Peabody, MA where guests are met).

Other 2011 USA bike tours include New York’s Hudson River Valley, Vermont’s Green Mountains and Block Island on the Atlantic. On all trips, guests may use their own bikes or rent them for $90 for the trip.

The programs include some lunches and all but one dinner so that guests can explore local eateries on their own. Lodging, all breakfasts, guides, van support, entrance fees where required and other region-specific costs are included in the tour rate, with the exception of alcoholic beverages and guide gratuities.

Rummel, who has been arranging and running bike and other active tours for 13 years, is passionate about engaging her guests in green destinations and at a pace of low impact travel mandated by bicycle that allows the spirits of the riders to connect with the green around them.

About

Great Freedom Adventures offers road bike tours with hiking and kayaking in New England and New York’s Hudson Valley in regions distinguished by diverse natural and cultural offerings. The tours are four to six days in length and are guided and supported. Please see the website for additional information and for specific information on each tour. For information please see http://www.greatfreedomadventures.com

Frankfurt Airport’s Summer Timetable 2011, which goes into effect on Sunday, March 27, will feature a total of 4,845 departures (passenger and all-freighter flights) per week — a 5.6 percent rise compared to the 2010 summer schedule. The total number of seats being offered this summer will increase by 8.3 percent to 770,000 seats per week. Frankfurt Airport’s Summer Timetable 2011 features 114 passenger airlines serving 298 destinations in 110 countries. With 280,000 seats available on FRA’s intercontinental routes — up 5 percent — Germany’s leading air transportation gateway will account for 64.5 percent of the total seat capacity to be offered on all intercontinental flights this summer by Germany’s 16 coordinated commercial airports. For more information, visit www.fraport.com

San Diego Resort Unveils New Equestrian Center with Kids Programs, Lessons and More

There’s no horsing around here: The Grand Del Mar is adding to its sensational spate of outdoor activities. Now, visitors to this stunning resort just north of San Diego can saddle up at a new 20,000-square-foot, eight-stall equestrian center, complete with tack and feed rooms, an expansive riding area and eight trail horses and ponies. The Grand Del Mar’s new equine-related programs and packages include:

• Happy Trails: Riders veer off the beaten track and traverse the spectacular 4,100-acre natural preserve adjacent to The Grand Del Mar. Safe, reliable horses accommodate all ages and riding levels. Minimum age: Seven. Rates: $125, 1 hour; $160, 1.5 hours; $195, 2 hours.

• Horseback Riding Lessons: Held in the center’s fenced arena, lessons include grooming/tacking, a private riding lesson, untacking and cleaning. Minimum age: Five. Rate: $125, 1.5 hours.

• Day Camps: These information-packed three-hour sessions on select days are not for “neighsayers,” and include insightful tips on barn safety, grooming and bathing horses; riding pointers; games and crafts. Age groups: five to nine and 10 and up. Rate: $100, 3 hours.

• Pony Rides: Tots can even ride gentle ponies on a lead. Ages: Six and under. Rate: $25, 15 minutes.

• Picnic n’ Ride Package: Guests can mount their steeds for a breathtaking trek through the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, then indulge in a hearty picnic lunch prepared by Club M chef Ernest Lopez. Package includes trail ride and lunch. Rate: $300 per person, 2 hours.

WHO: Jessica Odom, a skilled show jumper and seasoned horse trainer. Odom has led riding programs in the region for years, and now oversees The Grand Del Mar’s equestrian center and riding program.

WHEN: The Grand Del Mar’s Equestrian Center is now open.

WHERE: The Grand Del Mar
5300 Grand Del Mar Court

San Diego, CA 92130

858-314-2000

www.thegranddelmar.com

SUPER savings! Breezes Curaçao, the island’s only Super-Inclusive resort, is letting travelers save up to 15 percent when they book by May 31! The package is good for travel between May 1 and December 16, 2011, while the blackout period is July 2-September 4, 2011. Rates start from $123 per person, per night. For more information or to book your stay, please visit www.breezescuracao.com

Get your beach chair and flip flops ready! Curaçao has been selected by SmarterTravel readers as one of the ‘Top 10 Beach Destinations for 2011!’ The island’s charming, picturesque Cas Abao Beach was chosen for its sparkling, turquoise waters and pristine, white sands.
Contact Us

To learn more about Curaçao visit Curacao.com and to request a free Curaçao information package click here or call toll free 1.800.328.7222.

For information concerning Groups to Curacao, please contact Linda Patterson, Group Representative on behalf of the Curacao Tourist Board – 407-260-9377 or Groups@Curacao.com

Prepare to get your jazz on! Curaçao welcomes the second annual Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival to the island, September 2-3, 2011. Top performers include Sting, Earth Wind & Fire, Juan Luis Guerra, Dionne Warwick, Chic, Eric Blanchard & Poncho Sanchez, Danilo Perez Trio and many more! The first edition of the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival debuted on September 2010, featuring headliners such as John Legend, Simply Red, Lionel Richie, George Benson, La India and Sergio Mendes. For more information about this year’s Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival, please visit www.curacao

The Hilton Curacao wants its guests to work up a sweat! The hotel is helping travelers maintain a healthy lifestyle during their stay with the Get Fit Resolution Package! Starting from $179.99 per night in a double room, guests receive accommodations, a personal trainer, a massage session, a diet diary and a selection of healthy menu options for meals. The package is valid for travel between May 8 and December 22, 2011. For more information or to book your stay, please visit www.hiltoncaribbean.com/curacao  or call 1-877-GO-HILTON.