Jetsettersblog

Egypt’s recent tourism slump caused by civil unrest could be given a boost as news emerges that archaeologists have discovered evidence of 17 underground pyramids, more than 1000 undiscovered tombs and 3000 settlements.

As tourist numbers slumped by some 46% in the year’s first quarter, the BBC is set to televise a programme detailing how US Egyptologist Dr Sarah Parcak from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, US, has used infra-red images taken of the desert in Egypt to find a wealth of hidden treasures.

In the programme, Egypt’s Lost Cities, Dr Parcak says:

“We were very intensely doing this research for over a year. I could see the data as it was emerging, but for me the “Aha!” moment was when I could step back and look at everything that we’d found and I couldn’t believe we could locate so many sites all over Egypt.”

It is believed the newly-discovered pyramids were covered by Nile silt and Dr Parcak believes there could be many more sites yet to discover.

Test excavations are now happening in Saqqara, which have unearthed the new pyramids.

Landmark Boutique Hotel in City’s South Loop Offers Overnight “Culinary Delights Dinner Package” with Savings of up to 30 Percent

Chicago, IL — Stir your culinary senses with dinner at Chicago’s acclaimed Custom House Tavern, and wake up in your well-appointed guest room at the Wyndham Blake Chicago with the landmark hotel’s “Culinary Delight Dinner Package.”

Save up to 30 percent with this package, which includes your luxurious accommodations along with a $100 gift certificate to the popular Custom House Tavern restaurant located right next door to the Wyndham Blake Chicago. Rates start at just $179.00, per room, per night, plus tax (based upon availability).

Ideally located in the South Loop’s Printers Row neighborhood in the Morton building at 500 S. Dearborn Street, Wyndham Blake Chicago is the perfect destination for a pampering escape to the Windy City.

Pull up to our carved limestone entrance and let our valet take care of your car as one of our bellhops carries your bags.

After check-in, unwind in your oversized guest room featuring warm, jewel-toned hues, richly finished wood furnishings and large, expansive windows that offer spectacular views of our bustling city. Amenities include complimentary high-speed Internet access, an on-site business center, 24-hour fitness center, dedicated concierge, oversized rain showerheads, sumptuous Egyptian cotton linens and plush bathrobes, complimentary continental breakfast, Wyndham’s True Blue® Spa Bath & Body Works® bath products and Wyndham Blake Chicago’s Personal Services Retreat Cart, which offers relaxing in-room spa services, including massage treatments, facials and nail care.

When you’re ready for dinner, stroll down to Custom House Tavern, which is located just off Hotel Blake’s lobby. Featuring sleek, contemporary architecture and farm fresh, seasonal cuisine artfully crafted by executive chef Perry Hendrix, paired with one of the city’s best selections of fine wines, craft brews and artisan spirits. After dinner, stroll to Grant Park, where you can take in the stunning lakefront, or see a show in the city’s nearby theater district. Awaken the next morning in your urban oasis and make plans to visit one of the city’s world class museums within walking distance, or do some shopping on the city’s famed Magnificent Mile, just a few blocks away. For baseball fans, catch a Sox or Cubs game–U.S. Cellular Field and Wrigley Field are each a short ride away from Wyndham Blake Chicago.

All Wyndham Hotels and Resorts guests can take advantage of Wyndham ByRequest®, the brand’s guest recognition program offering complimentary benefits including high-speed Internet access, personal choice of welcome snack and beverage, preferred pillow type, express check-in, guaranteed late check-out, local and long-distance calls, best available room upon arrival, photocopies, faxes and online receipts.

Wyndham ByRequest members also earn Wyndham Rewards® points, which can be redeemed for complimentary hotel stays, airline tickets, name-brand merchandise and dining and shopping gift cards, among other options. In lieu of points, this complimentary program offers members the option to earn airline or rail miles with a variety of carriers. More information is available at www.wyndhamrewards.com

For more information about Wyndham Blake Chicago, visit www.hotelblake.com  or call (312) 986-1234.

Wyndham Blake Chicago is an upscale luxury boutique hotel located in the city’s vibrant South Loop neighborhood, providing elegant, chic, contemporary accommodations within the confines of a charming landmark building. Wyndam Blake Chicago is managed by the Hostmark Hospitality Group (www.hostmark.com ), a leading hospitality management firm that operates upscale full service hotels, resorts, focused service hotels and restaurants worldwide.

Los Angeles may be synonymous with car culture, but a steadily growing throng of bicyclists are taking their own piece of the road. Getting out of the car (or the tour bus) can be a bit of a culture shock in LA, but West Hollywood-based Bikes and Hikes LA is here to help.

The tour company offers seven different tours, including a 32-mile “LA in a Day” bike tour and a slightly less intimidating Old Hollywood/Hancock Park bike tour.

Pedal…or Not offers guided tours of Venice and Santa Monica on electric bicycles for those who want the option of letting a good old-fashioned motor do some of the work. And Topanga Creek Bicycles in Topanga Canyon offers bike rentals for those looking to go off road or off path, while Perry’s Beach Café and Rentals has eight bike rental locations in Santa Monica and Venice so that visitors can easily explore the coast on two wheels.

Visitors who choose to go the independent route will find that bike paths abound in LA.

The beachside bike path that runs through Santa Monica and Venice is likely the most popular dedicated bike path in the state. The county’s longest bike path is the San Gabriel River Trail, which runs almost 40 miles between the Azusa foothills and Seal Beach. Other dedicated bike paths include one that runs along Ballona Creek between Playa del Rey and Baldwin Hills, another which parallels the Los Angeles River between Maywood and Long Beach, and one that winds its way through the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area in Encino.

For information about the many bike baths throughout Los Angeles, the LA Metro website has a detailed (PDF) map.
www.discoverLosAngeles.com

www.metro.net

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) solidified its position as the gateway to Asia and the world, with three new first-ever direct flights.

American Airlines launched new daily nonstop service from LAX to Shanghai, the largest U.S.-China air travel market. American is the first U.S. carrier to offer this service.

Los Angeles became the only West Coast destination with nonstop service to Spain, when Iberia Airlines began new nonstop service between LAX and Madrid.

The Madrid flights depart three times a week.

Passengers can fly direct to Turkey on Turkish Airlines’ new nonstop flights from LAX to Istanbul.

The flights depart four times a week. LAX also is expanding its domestic service.

American Airlines’ regional affiliate American Eagle began service from LAX to nine new domestic destinations, including Houston, Oklahoma City, Phoenix and Albuquerque.

American also expanded existing service with additional new daily flights from LAX to Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando.

LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and third in the United States, offering more than 565 daily flights to 81 domestic cities and more than 1,000 weekly nonstop flights to 65 international destinations on more than 75 carriers.

www.lawa.org

ALBERTA, Canada — Golfers looking to escape the summer heat will find cool vacation options in the Canadian Rockies, where golf packages to iconic spots such as Banff, Jasper, Canmore and Kananaskis Country start at $199 CDN.

All seven golf courses in Alberta, banded together as Canadian Rockies Golf, are open for the season and are welcoming golfers to see elk in the fairways and dramatic elevation changes amid the majestic mountains. Temperatures average 70-80° F (20-25° C) from now until September.

Golfers can go to http://www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca  to build a custom golf vacation package to this top Canadian destination or choose from the many offerings on the site, including:

• Kananaskis Country Golf Package: Starting at $199 per person per night, this package includes accommodations at renowned Delta Lodge, G-8 Summit site, and a round at Kananaskis Country’s Mt. Kidd Course or Mt. Lorette Course, voted a Top 25 Modern Course in Canada by Golfweek earlier this year. (two-night minimum)

• Banff Golf Escape, starting at $668 for three nights: Enjoy three nights at the castle in the Rockies – The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel — plus a round on the Stanley Thompson 18 (ranked 5th among Canadian Classic Courses) and a round at Stewart Creek near Three Sisters Mountain. Celebrating 100 Years of golf this year, The Fairmont Banff Springs will host the TELUS World Skins Game July 25-26.

• Jasper Stay and Play Golf Vacation, starting at $569 for three nights: Play Canada’s #1 Resort Course (voted by SCOREGolf) twice and stay at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Add on a trip to their new spa for a little R&R.

• History Meets Modern in Canmore, starting at $224 per night: Canmore Golf and Curling Club is celebrating its 85th season this year. Play the course or its modern neighbors at Silvertip Resort or Stewart Creek, and overnight at one of three resorts.

Rates are all in Canadian Dollars and are valid through the golf season, based on availability. Golfers can also enjoy a 5% discount off of their total package when they book online at canadianrockiesgolf.ca. The instant online quote tool can mix and match courses and stays, and can also include preferred rental car rates.

The destination can be reached through Calgary International Airport (YYC), Canada’s fourth largest airport. A variety of non-golf activities is available to complement a golf trip, ranging from hiking and biking to whitewater rafting and fly fishing.

About Canadian Rockies Golf

To view the stunning topography, vacation options and learn more about golf in western Canada, visit www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca

Website visitors can view stay-and-play packages or request custom quotes for trips and packages or they may call 877.323.3633 for more information.

Online information is regularly posted at http://www.facebook.com/canadianrockiesgolf

The critical acclaim and extraordinary attributes of the six members of the destination – “Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic. Dramatic. Untamed.” – include:

1. Canmore Golf and Curling Club (www.canmoregolf.net,  888.678.4785)

• Celebrating 85 years of golf in 2011

• Valley-based property requires players use all clubs in their bag, narrow fairways challenge all levels of golfers

• Tree-lined course, friendly community atmosphere provides intimacy and camaraderie

• Located at base of Bow Valley, glacier-fed streams lace through course

2. The Fairmont Banff Springs (www.fairmont.com/banffsprings , 800.441.1414)
• Celebrating 100 years of organized golf in 2011 and host of the TELUS World Skins Game

• Historic course and Conde Nast Gold winner for its castle-like hotel, award-winning Willow Stream Spa and exquisite resort amenities

• 27 holes of golf – 18 Stanley Thompson-designed holes including the 200-yard, par-3 Devil’s Cauldron, 147 bunkers, and the 9-hole Tunnel Course

• Panoramic beauty, picturesque-mountain setting between Sulphur Mountain & Mount Rundle

• Situated in Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Golf Digest “Top 5 Resort in North America,” “Best 25 International Golf Hotels” and “Best 100 Courses Outside the USA” ; GOLF Magazine “Best Lodging in Canada” and “Top 3 Golf Course in Canada” and Golfweek Best Canadian Classic Courses

3. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (www.fairmont.com/jasper , 800.441.1414)

• Voted Best Golf Resort in Canada by ScoreGolf Magazine

• Featuring the “wild side of the Rockies” – elk, caribou, coyote and wolves inhabit the national park

• Designed by Stanley Thompson, the 18 holes carve contours at the feet of mountains
• Located in the heart of Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Golf Digest “Best 100 Courses Outside the USA” ; Golfweek Best Classic Canadian Course; GOLF Magazine “Top 3 Lodging in Canada” and “Top 3 Golf Course in Canada”

4. Kananaskis Country Golf Course (www.kananaskisgolf.com , 877.591.2525)
• Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed courses, situated in serene Kananaskis Country

• 36 holes played beneath breathtaking Mt. Lorette and Mt. Kidd, after which the courses are respectively named

• Features immaculate lush fairways, famed island-like 4th green on Mt. Kidd course, 140+ silica sand bunkers and the cascading Kananaskis River

• Golfweek “Best Canadian Modern Courses” ranking (2011)
• SCORE Golf! “Top 5 Best Public Courses to Play”

5. Silvertip Golf Resort (www.silvertipresort.com , 877.877.5444)

• Home course of PGA Tour Member and 2006 Players Champion Stephen Ames

• National Geographic Top 10 Environmental Courses (2011)

• Golf Digest rated 4 ½ stars, lauded for environmental sensitivity, maintenance practices

• 600 feet of elevation change, including dramatic par-4 18th with extreme altitude drop from tee to fairway, fairway to green

• Wine Spectator 2009 and 2010 “List of Excellence” Award for Rustica Steakhouse

• 2009 Golf Digest Environmental Leader Award

6. Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club (www.stewartcreekgolf.com/golf , 877.993.GOLF)

• Golf Digest rated 4 ½ stars

• Surrounded by the spellbinding Three Sisters Mountains

• Audubon-certified course preserves habitat for plentiful wildlife

• SCORE Golf! “Top 5 Best Public Courses to Play”

HONEYMOON PACKAGE GEARED TOWARDS GAY COUPLES

Iguazú Grand Resort, Spa & Casino, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and the only full-service luxury resort on the Argentinean side of Iguazú Falls, is now offering a new honeymoon package geared specifically towards GLBT couples. Highlights include a couple’s chocolate massage, daily breakfast in bed and excursions to both the Argentinean and Brazilian sides of the falls.

The Go Both Ways at Iguazu Grand package includes:

3 nights’ accommodations in a Junior Suite
Welcome drink at check-in

Complimentary upgrade (subject to availability)

Bottle of Champagne in-room upon arrival

Round-trip transfer to the Argentinean side of Iguazu Falls with a Great Adventure boat ride

Candlelit dinner for two with a bottle of Malbec, in-room on a private balcony

Round-trip transfer to the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls
Chocolate Therapy massage for two

Breakfast in bed each morning

Hotel transfers to and from the airport

The package is based on double occupancy and is priced at at US$1,475 + VAT.

For more information or to book this package, guests can call 011-54-3757-498-050, email reservas@iguazugrand.com  or visit www.iguazugrand.com

Abante Golf, the market leaders in hosting golfers in the Czech Republic, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and has announced the launch of the 2011 Czech Golf Festival to mark the achievement.

The new festival, which will enable golfers to experience the best that the country has to offer on and off the course, will be held from July 10-15 in association with Planet Golf, the leading outbound golf tour operator for the Czech republic.

For as little as £499 per person at the Majestic Plaza Hotel, players can enjoy four-star accommodation for five nights, on a B&B basis and sharing a room with four rounds of golf including free airport and golf transfers.

Check with your local golf breaks operator because the event can be booked through them as well.

The event will feature 18 holes each day at Prague City Golf Club, Albatross Golf Resort, Golf Club Berovice and Golf Resort Konopiste and it will also include a tour of Prague’s ancient city, all transfers, a welcome reception and gala dinner and refreshments after golf.

In addition, this year’s event is just the start to further tournaments scheduled for 2012 and 2013 in West Bohemia and Prague respectively, for which plans are already at a well-advanced stage.

Post and pre-tours are available at favourable rates as an add-on for any golfers wanting to explore the history and culture of the country and, for an extra £85 cost, accommodation on the same basis in five-star rooms can be supplied at the Radisson Blu Alcron Hotel.

Jan Makarius, CEO of Abante Golf, said: “I am delighted to be getting this festival of golf off the ground. We have worked hard in the last decade to establish our customer base and our reputation for supplying excellent service is something I am very proud of.”

Abante Golf has established itself as the number one incoming agent for golfers to the Czech Republic since being founded in 2001.

As well as the new golf festival, the company and its partners pride themselves on their ability to offer a range of golfing breaks to cater for all standards of golfer.
Abante Golf will book all tee times, collect you to and from your hotel to the course and also take care of airport transfers.

Flight costs are not included but Abante Golf can arrange these for their customers through their network of operators based in the UK.

In addition, it must be remembered that Prague is but a 90-minute flight from London hubs.

With more than 50 18-hole golf complexes to choose from, in various locations in the country including South and North Moravia and West Bohemia, there are many opportunities for a great golfing break about which Abante Golf has plenty of experience and expertise in arranging.

And that doesn’t include the capital city of Prague with its wonderful architecture, varied history and notable places to visit including historic Prague Castle and the stunning Charles Bridge.

The food in the restaurants and hotels also has an international flavour with visitors able to indulge in a wide range of cuisines from around the world as well as local delicacies.

For more information on the Czech Golf Festival or booking a golf break with Abante Golf, go to www.abante-golf.co.uk , phone 0208 133 4366 or visit www.czech-golf-festival.com

Hotels from Vermont to California announce major renovations, a new Chef and adventurous outdoor packages
Terra Resorts has summer vacation options for those who love the outdoors, live music, local cuisine or just some relaxation in a gorgeous setting. Hotels across the country, including Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge in Jackson Hole, WY; Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, VT, and Casa Madrona in Sausalito, CA, have summer travel tips on what’s new, what to do and when to go.

Casa Madrona, Sausalito, CA

What’s New? Almost everything! This historic hotel has recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation. Be sure to check out the totally new 3,000 square-foot Spa (opening June 15) while enjoying views of the Marina, Richardson Bay, and lush Marin headlands

What To Do? Perfect the sip and swirl in Napa Valley or Sonoma, just 45 minutes away (don’t worry, Casa Madrona will arrange a driver)

When To Go? Stay the weekend! Jazz by the Bay is held every Friday just across the street from the hotel

Book It: The perfect Sausalito day includes gift certificates to acclaimed local restaurants with the Simply Sausalito package

Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, Jackson Hole, WY

What’s New? Sometimes a solo trip is just what the doctor ordered so the Lodge has created Solitude Unplugged to cater to this growing group of travelers that want to detox from the digital world

What To Do? It’s good to be a kid at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa with activities like Monday Giddy Up Wagon Rides, Wednesday Wildlife Discovery and Thursday Outdoor Pool Parties

When To Go? Smart families will time their vacation with the Free National Park Days starting with the June 21 Summer Solstice and finishing summer with National Park Lands Day on September 24

Book It: Find that inner-cowboy/cowgirl in true Western style with the Horsing Around package which includes tickets to the Jackson Hole Rodeo

Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole, WY

What’s New? On July 3 and 4, Teton Village will offer an epic fireworks show with a Tetons backdrop, best viewed from Hotel Terra’s rooftop deck alongside the infinity pool

What To Do? Get up close to bison, elk, moose, antelope and more with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris

When To Go? July 4-August 20, The Grand Teton Music Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer, featuring world-class concerts by the finest orchestra players in Walk Festival Hall, just steps from Hotel Terra

Book It: A helmet cam records mountain biking adventures on the new trails at Jackson Hole Mountain Biking Park with the Be a Hero package

Topnotch Resort and Spa, Stowe, VT

What’s New? Executive Chef Steve Sicinski joined the Topnotch team this month. Coming from Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona he will create new menus for Norma’s and Buttertub Bistro utilizing his French training and modern health food influences

What To Do? Stowe’s version of an Ice Cream Float is a 4-mile trip by canoe or kayak including ice cream and a tour of the Ben & Jerry’s factory

When To Go? Check out summer events and festivals like the Wine & Food Classic, June 24 to June 26 and the Stowe Summer Arts Festival, July 29 to August 7

Book It: Discover Vermont’s summer playground with bike rentals, a picnic lunch and a credit to Umiak Outfitters with the Adventure Vermont package

About the Terra Resorts

Formed in November 2006, Terra Resorts boasts a highly credentialed pedigree of operational and business talent led by company President Jamie Yarrow, who works in partnership with Rob DesLauriers, Chairman of Terra Resorts and the developer of Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa. Terra Resorts offers services for developers and owners that include: asset management, development and operational consulting services, renovation management, and an expertise in the condominium hotel model that covers, HOA structure, real estate sales, operations and association documentation. The group currently includes three Teton Village, WY properties: Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa, the Inn at Jackson Hole as well as the historic Casa Madrona in Sausalito, CA and the iconic Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, VT.

National Veterans Art Museum is One of More Than 1,300 Museums Across U.S. to Offer Free Admission to Military Personnel and Their Families This Summer

CHICAGO, IL, May 27, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ — Today the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,300 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at http://www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums

The NVAM offers free admission to all active duty military, dependents, as well as veterans, on a year-round basis. The NVAM’s involvement in Blue Star Museums is part of a nationwide effort to draw attention to and provide for military families.

The NVAM will officially announce the program on Friday, May 27, 2011, to coincide with other special events in honor of Memorial Day weekend. The museum will be open to the public Friday from 5-8 p.m. to celebrate two new exhibits:

Charlie Shobe Memorial Exhibit
 NVAM remembers the life and work of Charlie Shobe, a former Marine and original member of the Vietnam Veterans Art Group. This exhibit will remain on display through July 31, 2011. 
 Expansion of Intrusive Thoughts
 Two new pieces will be added to the Intrusive Thoughts exhibition: Jon Turner’s Prayer Boots, an interactive piece that asks patrons to reflect on their relationship to war, and Angel in the Desert, a sculpture of one veteran’s experiences in the Persian Gulf War. This exhibit will remain on display until Veterans Day, 2011.

“The National Veterans Art Museum is proud to join Blue Star Museums in honoring our nation’s military personnel and their families. We look forward to sharing our mission of exhibiting art inspired by combat and created by veterans of all U.S. military conflicts with the next generations of art patrons,” said Executive Director of the NVAM, Levi Moore.

“Blue Star Museums may be the program at the NEA of which I am proudest,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Blue Star Museums recognizes and thanks our military families for all they are doing for our country, and simultaneously begins young people on a path to becoming life-long museum goers.”

“Last year the success of the inaugural year of the Blue Star Museums program showed that partnerships between the nation’s museum and military communities are a natural,” said Blue Star Families Chairman Kathy Roth-Douquet. “We are thrilled that 300,000 military family members visited our partner museums in the summer of 2010. We hope to exceed that number this year as the military community takes advantage of the rich cultural heritage they defend and protect every day. We appreciate the NEA and the nation’s museums who chose to partner with us. We also are grateful to our friends at the MetLife Foundation, the lead supporter of the Blue Star Museums outreach initiative, whose generous donation helps make our work possible.”

This year, more than 1,324 (and counting) museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa are taking part in the initiative, including more than 500 new museums this year. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer. The effort to recruit museums has involved the partnership efforts of The American Association of Museums, the Association of Art Museum Directors, the Association of Children’s Museums, and the American Association of State and Local History. This year’s Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and 70 children’s museums. Participants include The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia, The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine in Portland, Maine, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles, California, the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, and the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.

About Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums runs from Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 through to Labor Day, September 5, 2011. The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their immediate family members (military ID holder and five immediate family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, please contact the museum directly. To find out which museums are participating, visit http://www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. The site includes a list of participating museums and a map to help with visit planning.

This is the latest NEA program to bring quality arts programs to the military, veterans, and their families. Other NEA programs for the military have included Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience; Great American Voices Military Base Tour; and Shakespeare in American Communities Military Base Tour.

About the National Veterans Art Museum
The National Veterans Art Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art inspired by combat and created by veterans. No other gallery in the world focuses on the subject of war from an artistic perspective, making this collection truly unique. The National Veterans Art Museum addresses both historical and contemporary issues related to military service in order to give patrons of all backgrounds insight into the effects of war and to provide veterans an artistic outlet to work through their military and combat experiences.

To learn more about the National Veterans Art Museum, visit http://www.nvam.org

(Carbondale, CO) — Carbondale is Colorado’s Base Camp for biking adventure this spring and summer. Like much of Colorado, opportunities for biking adventures abound around this picturesque Western town. Whether looking for a relaxing ride on paved trails through the sprawling valley, a moonlit cruise through the historic downtown, or a technically challenging ride on single track, Carbondale is a biking paradise for the casual rider or the expert.

Recognized as a Bike-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in 2010, Carbondale is not only home to many multiuse paths connecting key areas within the community and more challenging terrain for experienced cyclists, but also hosts a number of bike-related events ranging from a week of educational awareness during Bonedale Bike Week, May 16-23, to the more hardcore Rocky Mountain Omnium Bike Race, June 17-19.

Something for Everyone: Cradled in the bottomlands along the Roaring Fork River, the paved Rio Grande Trail starts in up-valley Aspen and winds its way 44 miles along the Roaring Fork River. Almost completely protected from vehicular traffic, it is the perfect choice for the long distance rider trying to log some “leg miles” or for families with small children.

Carbondale’s “Secret” Trails: The Crown Mountain Trail Complex is fast becoming a local’s favorite destination and includes the Crown Trails and Prince Creek routes. Along with breathtaking views, these bike options include a quick ride on pavement and dirt, fast and twisty single-track, and challenging double-track through scrub oak and sage.

Choose Your Challenge: Right from town are the Cattle Creek/Catherine Store loops that again offer spectacular scenery up above the Roaring Fork Valley for road bikers who choose to ride either one large loop or smaller loops using the Rio Grande Trail to connect back to the starting point or trail head.

The picturesque town of Carbondale is located 170 miles west of Denver, 12 miles from Glenwood Springs, and 30 miles from Aspen in the heart of Colorado’s central Rocky Mountains. Besides biking, there is plenty to do here in the spring and summer months, and the Carbondale area offers a variety of comfortable lodging options, great casual and exquisite fine dining, creative arts and entertainment, and intriguing historical areas.

Carbondale is a great Base Camp for recreation enthusiasts.

For more information about biking in Carbondale, visit: http://www.carbondale.com/activities-recreation/biking , call: 970.963.1890 or email: tourism@carbondale.com