Jetsettersblog

Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies announced the opening of the first Tryp by Wyndham hotel in Colombia, the 140-room Tryp Medellín in Medellín, the country’s second-largest city. It becomes the brand’s 14th hotel in South America, joining properties in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

The 14-story, four-star, select-service hotel is located on Calle Colombia in the heart of the Colombian state of Antioquia’s capital city. The hotel’s opening reflects Wyndham Hotel Group’s strategy of introducing the Tryp by Wyndham brand in key urban markets throughout the Americas. The hotel’s 140 guest rooms include junior suites and Tryp by Wyndham’s signature family rooms, which feature a large bed for parents and bunk beds for children. The hotel also offers the brand’s specialty fitness rooms, equipped with elliptical machines, treadmills or stationary bikes and a complimentary fitness kit complete with a workout outfit, exercise mat, mineral water and extra towels. Other features of the hotel include an on-site fitness center, Turkish bath, solarium and sauna.

The hotel also offers complimentary high-speed Internet access, private parking lot, business center and bar. The hotel’s restaurant offers Tryp by Wyndham’s signature buffet breakfast that includes a variety of items with special emphasis on healthy, fresh ingredients. Four function rooms comprising more than 3,200 square feet of space are equipped with audio-visual equipment and can accommodate up to 400 people. The hotel’s convenient location provides easy access to a variety of cultural centers in Medellín, including the Pablo Tobón Uribe Theatre and the Museum of Antioquia, which features the many works of Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The surrounding area, including the frequently visited Arví Regional Park in the Santa Elena Township, provides idyllic spots for camping, ecological scouting and stunning views of the city. Visitors looking for picturesque scenery in an urban environment will enjoy the mountains of the Aburrá Valley that frame Medellín as well as the Medellín River that bisects the city. For more information, visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com

The Jeff Bridges Band will headline at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix on July 3, during the hotel’s summer-long Hollywood & Wine festival. The concert will take place at 8 p.m. in the resort’s McArthur Ballroom. Academy Award-winner Bridges and his band will perform songs from his hit movie “Crazy Heart” and his album “Be Here Soon.” A fireworks show will follow on Squaw Peak Lawn. Tickets are priced at $35 per adult and $25 per child. VIP tickets are $60 per person. There is a $2 processing fee per ticket. Summer nightly room rates start at $109. To purchase tickets, visit http://guest.cvent.com/d/5dqym9. For general hotel information and reservations, call 800-950-0086 or visit www.arizonabiltmore.com

Detour Destinations
CONTACT: Greg Findley
TEL: 720-246-8884 x 7001
E-MAIL: info@detourdestinations.com
WEB: www.detourdestinations.com

HELENA, Mont.,– Most travelers booking an international trip with a US tour operator are paying too much! The biggest secret of the travel industry is that the majority of international tour companies don’t actually operate their own overseas trips, and travelers could instead book the same trip directly with the actual operator of the trip for a lot less money. Detour, The Adventure Travel Marketplace, is an online adventure travel marketplace that helps travelers cut out the middleman to book trips in South and Central America with the actual tour operators, saving travelers money by paying local prices without the heavy mark-ups of international tour operators.

While most US and international tour operators will tell you about the high quality of their trips, they won’t tell you that they don’t actually operate these trips themselves, or that it is possible to book the same or similar trips directly with the local operator of the trip for a great deal less money. Most international adventure tour operators hire local tour operators to operate their overseas trips, as it is very difficult to have multiple operations in different destinations, and in many cases it is illegal as the local laws require locally licensed companies and guides to operate the trips. The foreign tour operators hire these local operators to run their trips, then mark the trips up dramatically before selling to their customers to pay for their office overhead and other expenses.

Detour, www.detourdestinations.com, on the other hand, doesn’t pretend to be the tour operator — in fact Detour doesn’t operate any trips itself. Instead, Detour uses the vast experience in international tour operations of its staff to handpick high quality, professional, socially and environmentally responsible local tour operators and trips to sell on its website. Many of these tour operators are the same ones who actually operate the tours of the high dollar US tour operators. Detour doesn’t mark up the prices set by the local operators themselves, ensuring that travelers pay the same price as if they contacted the local company directly.

In addition to saving customers money, often 50% or more, for these high quality trips, Detour doesn’t just offer only one company per destination; instead they sell multiple trips in each destination by competing companies, and Detour helps travelers compare the trips and make a decision about which trip and tour operator would be the best fit for them. Detour has no stake in any particular trip or local company, so they give travelers truly unbiased, truthful travel advice, making www.detourdestinations.com a one-stop comparison shopping site for adventure tours.

For more information about Detour and the online marketplace, visit www.detourdestinations.com

Consumers Gain Free Access to Largest Repository of Travel Information, Specialists and Deals

www.Travelhoppers.com
CONTACT: Richard Earls
TEL: 904-371-2991
EMAIL: richard.earls@travelhoppers.com
WEB: http://www.travelhoppers.com

TALLAHASSEE, Florida- Planning vacations just got a whole lot easier with the launch of Travelhoppers (travelhoppers.com), a new travel research and inspiration site. Foremost, it gives consumers free access to the largest, most frequently updated, well-organized database of travel companies, brochures (3,000+), and travel planning specialists on the Internet. Also included are travel deals and real-world tips from high-quality providers, celebrated authors and acclaimed travel writers.
“Travelers like to read, research and talk about travel,” says travel industry guru Richard Earls, the site’s founder and creator. “Travelhoppers provides an intelligent forum for travelers to educate themselves and find travel values using resources that they typically would not find online – and certainly not in one place.”

“When a traveler says they want ‘the best travel deal’ – that doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest,” explains Earls. “We’ve all heard the stories of how many travelers have booked a cut-rate package simply to find that the accommodations are below the standards they were expecting, or the location was far from the city’s main attractions… These are NOT travel deals; they are simply vacation spoilers that end up costing travelers more than money. At Travelhoppers, our focus is to provide travelers with the values they seek. We want to provide a forum for travelers to educate themselves.”

“Not only does Travelhoppers strive to make better travelers of us all, but it provides a place where travelers can connect easily with travel planning experts who are helpful in planning just about any kind of travel experience. Our goal at Travelhoppers is to help travelers find the right trip at the best price. We don’t want Travelhoppers to be just another travel site. We want it to have personality.”
About Travelhoppers Founder, Richard Earls: Travelhoppers is the third travel-related start-up launched by Earls. He has been in the travel industry for over 20 years as a travel agency owner, technology entrepreneur, and publisher/writer. He is also the creator of Travel Research Online, a successful online resource tool for travel agents.

About Travelhoppers: Launched on March 16, 2011,Travelhoppers travel site brings travelers unabridged information directly from 3,000+ tour operators, packagers, cruise lines, destinations and other travel suppliers; insight from travel industry veterans; first-hand knowledge from travel writers; feedback from other consumers, and a means to connect with travel specialists for assistance with travel planning.

FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST — Meeting facilities in the Florida Keys offer high-tech business amenities in a casual atmosphere for any subtropical corporate getaway, whether it’s an executive retreat, strategic planning session or board meeting.

Meeting planners and participants can find new leisure-time outings and incentive activities to ramp up a pre- or post-meeting gathering, and make use of technology and social media to learn more about the island destination before donning their corporate duds.

Small and large groups traveling to the Florida Keys & Key West can now “visit” the destination prior to their meeting or “revisit” it afterward to recall their experience. Located on the home page of the destination’s tourism Web site at www.fla-keys.com, the Video of the Week presents brief, 90-second television news-style features on enticing, quirky and informative aspects of the destination.

Segments showcase all regions of the Keys and a wide variety of attractions ranging from eco-tourism activities to cuisine, festivals, water sports and the Keys’ rich creative community.

These mini-features address the trend toward more rich multimedia and streaming video content, and provide business and leisure travelers a window on the Keys. Past “video of the week” segments remain easily accessible to viewers in a dedicated archive.

Each mini-feature also is uploaded to a YouTube channel at FloridaKeysTV, bringing a taste of the Florida Keys to the Internet-savvy audiences that frequent that popular site.

Bahamas Air, provided by Airstar Executive Airways, is offering Friday and Sunday charter flights between Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport and Florida Keys Marathon Airport in the Middle Keys.

The twice-weekly flights depart Marathon at 10 a.m. and return flights arrive at Marathon at 3 p.m.

One-way flight cost is $169 per person and round-trip fare is $299 per person. Free parking at the Marathon airport is available.

For details and booking information, call 754-200-0005 or visit www.flybahamasexpress.com/marathon.

***

Marriott’s Courtyard Key West Waterfront, located at 3031-41 N. Roosevelt Blvd. in the island city’s New Town district, recently completed a $750,000 lobby renovation and meeting space expansion.

Guests enter the three-story property, which contains 42 rooms and 26 suites, via the new contemporary-style lobby decorated in vivid primary colors. Its attractions include free Wi-Fi service and computer terminals, a 55-inch LCD touch screen offering local information and a 24/7 snack-and-sundries shop offering Starbucks coffee and tea.

The property’s 675-square-foot meeting space also has been renovated and provides a comfortable setting for up to 40 people.

All guestrooms at the Courtyard Key West Waterfront feature queen or king beds, wired Internet access and a balcony or patio. Suites are available.

Other amenities include free parking and complimentary shuttle service to Key West’s historic downtown shopping and dining district. For information and reservations, visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/eywcy-courtyard-key-west-waterfront/  or call 800-853-1153.

***

Captain Hook’s Marina & Dive Center is now offering snorkeling and sunset cruise excursions at a second location, from the Tarpon Creek Marina behind Marathon’s new Holiday Inn Express & Suites located at mile marker 53.5.

A Corinthian catamaran accommodates up to 49 snorkelers, and tours depart at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Popular sunset cruises, accompanied by champagne and hors d’ oeuvres, depart one hour before sunset, and require a minimum of eight persons.

Cost for each tour is $25 per person, including gear for snorkel excursions. For information call 1-877-CPT-HOOK (278-4665) or visit www.captainhooks.com.

***

The last tall ship assembled in Key West, the historic Schooner Western Union, has resumed passenger excursions following a two-year, $1 million renovation spearheaded by the nonprofit Schooner Western Union Preservation Society. The 130-foot vessel, the flagship of the City of Key West, underwent an overhaul that included replacing numerous hull, transom and deck planks and refitting all electric, plumbing, engine and steering mechanisms.

Originally launched in 1939, Western Union is the last surviving example of a traditional American coasting schooner. It served the Western Union Telegraph Co. for 35 years and is believed to be the world’s only surviving sailing cable ship.

Passengers can set sail on two-hour nightly sunset cruises that include complimentary refreshments, live music and an opportunity to help the crew raise the vessel’s sails. Cost is $59 per adult and $29 per child.

Western Union also is available for charters and weddings.

Passenger excursions depart from a dock at 201 William St. in Key West’s Historic Seaport. For more information, visit www.schoonerwesternunion.org . For reservations, call 305-292-1766.

***

To learn more about the meeting facilities and features of the Florida Keys & Key West, visit www.fla-keys.com and click on the words “meeting planners” on the left-hand side of the page. Alternatively, contact Jack Meier, corporate and incentive sales manager for the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council, at grpsales@fla-keys.com.  Keys social media

Keys social media sites include facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest , twitter.com/thefloridakeys and youtube.com/floridakeystv

Ahoy, Matey! Join the “Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean” as they take over the park with “Swashbuckling Summer” at Miami Seaquarium

MIAMI, FL — This summer Miami Seaquarium is offering swashbuckling adventures for the whole family with “Swashbuckling Summer” at Miami Seaquarium. From June 11 to August 21, 2011, the park is featuring exciting daily high wire acts by the pillaging “Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean.” In addition, “Swashbuckling Summer” will include a Giant Shark Slide that is over 25 feet tall and a Pirate Skeleton Walk, these friendly pirates are guaranteed to put a smile on kids’ faces. Guests should also prepare to hit the deck as Pirates take over the Top Deck Dolphin Show all summer long.

“The Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean’s return brings added fun and a big splash to Miami Seaquarium this summer,” commented Andrew Hertz, general manager at Miami Seaquarium. “This show will keep our guests in suspense and amazement with incredible aerial high wire performances.”

The Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean is an exhilarating death defying high wire aerial performance. Everyday the Colombian Caribbean pirate ship will set sail for a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. Pirates will awe guests as they are suspended 30′ in the air, dueling for the right to be the Captain of the coveted Colombian Caribbean pirate ship.
Miami Seaquarium, South Florida’s most popular tourist attraction, is a family-oriented marine-life park open to the public 365 days a year. The park provides visitors with a greater understanding and appreciation for marine life through shows, presentations and marine-life exhibits. For more information on Miami Seaquarium, please call 305-361-5705 or visit www.miamiseaquarium.com

Miami Seaquarium is an accredited member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, an international organization committed to the care and conservation of marine mammals. Accreditation by the Alliance means this facility meets or exceeds all the standards of excellence for marine mammal care, husbandry, conservation and education.

California’s Golf and Spa Resorts Offer Spectacular Settings

SACRAMENTO, Calif., – With so many great golf courses and spas around the world these days, it can be challenging to offer visitors a unique look and feel. Except in California. Here in the Golden State, many of our resorts come with a setting that makes golf and spa outings stand apart from the rest. Whether it’s the big city, a national park, beach, winery, mountain or desert, California has it all to make golf recreation truly special – no matter what your style.

GOLF WITH A VIEW
California is a golfer’s paradise – with pleasant temperatures and sunshine year-round, the greens are always calling. Tournaments draw many fans, and visitors can also experience the famous Pebble Beach course or take a swing at any of the hundreds of specially-designed courses around the state. Golf lovers can purchase custom-fit golf clubs or receive special golf massages while staying in private suites – complete with their own putting greens. With hundreds of public access facilities and resorts, head to California to golf in great locations that make closing the deal or just relaxing on the greens a lot more enjoyable. Here are just a few:

Desert
Throughout Palm Springs and the Palm Desert communities, there are many spectacular golf resorts with challenging courses, wonderful spas, great restaurants and other activities nearby like jeep tours, casinos , dining and shopping – all with views of the picturesque mountains that shelter the Coachella Valley, from the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, the San Jacinto Mountains to the west and the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east. One of the most renowned of these is the PGA West course at La Quinta Resort, named one of GOLF magazine’s “Top 100 Courses in the World.” The beautiful desert views help sooth golfers struggling with the Pete Dye course, considered by some the most challenging course in the world. One of the most unique golf locations in the desert is the Furnace Creek Golf Course at the Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park, which lies 214 feet below sea level, making it one of the lowest courses on the planet. The 18-hole, par-70 golf course forms a picturesque oasis amid one of the most rugged desert landscapes in the world. And in late February through April, there are spectacular desert flowers in bloom. The resort has two hotels – the historic, four-diamond, 66-room Inn at Furnace Creek and the more family-oriented, 224-room Ranch at Furnace Creek – options for different styles and budgets.

Cityscapes
One of the most beautiful city view golf vantages is the Lincoln Park Golf Course in San Francisco. This public golf course, which opened in 1928, rests on a cliff overlooking the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. Golfers can enjoy sweeping views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge while golfing the 18-hole course. Another amazing golfing location is the Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, renowned for its spectacular eucalyptus and pine setting in one of the most beautiful urban parks in America. One of the oldest and most environmentally sensitively managed courses on the West Coast, this historic course was once restricted to military officers and the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and Dwight Eisenhower, but today is open to the public. After the game in either of these urban courses, golfers can go back to the hotels that suit their style – from chic boutiques to elegant luxury properties – and get ready for a night on the town.

Coast
Named the Greatest Public Golf Course in America, there are few golf thrills like teeing-up for the first time on Pebble Beach Golf Links. Visitors to this magnificent oceanfront course, where players hit straight out toward the Pacific Ocean with a backdrop of the surf crashing against rocky outcroppings, sense the presence of golf’s biggest legends and the greatest moments in golf history. Designed by Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, the challenging course hugs the rugged coastline, providing wide-open vistas, cliffside fairways and sloping greens. Host to some of golf’s most prestigious tournaments, including the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and five U.S. Open Championships, Pebble Beach Golf Links is a course that every golfer should play at least once in his or her life. Also not to be missed is the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes near Los Angeles, mentioned on numerous lists as one of the greatest golf holes in the world. The entire length of this cliffside course sits precariously above the Pacific Ocean, thus bringing water into play for both the drive and approach shots. The renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla also sits on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, giving golfers great views and access to family activities near San Diego, such as the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. The oceanfront Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, listed on the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” by Condé Nast Traveler, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is close to theme parks such as Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry Farm. With courses named Ocean North and Ocean South, visitors get a pretty good idea of what’s awaiting them when they golf at Pelican Hill. Perched along the Newport Beach coast, the Tom Fazio-designed courses feature ocean views from nearly every hole. On the Central Coast, the Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta near Santa Barbara offers breathtaking ocean and mountain views from every hole, and was recently listed among Golf Digest magazine’s top 25 public courses. On the North Coast, the New Links at Bodega Harbour in Bodega Bay, Sea Ranch Golf Links (Sonoma County) and the Half Moon Bay Golf Links south of San Francisco, also provide great ocean views.

Wine Country
Golfing in California – America’s premier wine country – brings a whole new meaning to golfing the greens. More and more wine-loving golfers are heading to wine country, from Temecula to Sonoma, putting in landscapes dotted with green leafy vines bursting with green and purple grapes. With a four-star rating from Golf Digest’s “Places to Play,” the Temecula Creek Inn Golf Resort in Southern California features 27 holes of championship golf surrounded by over 300 acres of rustic beauty, dramatic elevation changes, sweeping mountain views and year-round sunny weather. The Stonehouse Nine Golf Course features rock outcroppings where precision play is critical. The Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles, one of the leading wine regions in California, is a hidden gem that mixes the small-town charm of Paso Robles with a world-class golf experience. The course is rated 4.5 (out of 5) by Golf Digest and offers smooth, fast greens and beautiful wine country scenery. In the Central Valley, the Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club is celebrated as the home of two of the finest courses in Northern California. The 36-hole golf facility is located among 33,000 stunningly beautiful acres of rolling hills, taking the golf experience to extraordinary heights with breathtaking views of lush vineyards and native wildlife. Known as “The Mustang,” the course offers a fantastic view of Mike’s Peak, the highest point at Diablo Grande. Further north in Livermore Valley near San Francisco, the Greg Norman-designed Course at Wente Vineyards blends beautifully with the vineyards. The Sonoma Golf Club in Sonoma wine country, a classic from the Golden Age of golf course architecture, is a treasured “core golf” experience on rolling terrain highlighted by massive oaks, lakes and sweeping vistas of the Mayacamas Mountains and neighboring vineyards (available to guests of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn).

Mountains
There’s gold up in those hills, and it’s not just a precious metal. To golf lovers in Gold Country, the Saddle Creek Golf Course is worth its weight in gold. Designed by Carter Morrish over rolling hills with dramatic views of the High Sierra mountains, this renowned course attracts many visitors. The Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee rests among towering pines and the Wawona Golf Course in majestic Yosemite National Park is surrounded by some of the oldest and biggest redwoods on earth and close to all the outdoor recreation this top national park provides. The golf course is open daily mid-April through October and located directly across Highway 41 from the historic Wawona Hotel, built in 1856. Boasting a backdrop similar to Yosemite’s Half Dome, but located in Southern California, the highly rated Oak Quarry Golf Course in Riverside was crafted by the team of Champions Tour star Dr. Gil Morgan and Schmidt-Curley Design. The course winds through the historic Jensen Quarry, which in its operating heyday supplied limestone, marble and 88 various minerals for the construction of roads, large buildings and private residences in the greater Los Angeles area.

SPECTACULAR SPA SCENES
Californians see the pursuit of wellness as an inalienable right, a cornerstone of their healthy lifestyle. We work hard, but play seriously too, reflecting a mindset that’s all about balance. So it’s no surprise that the Golden State is home to an unusually high number of exceptional health and beauty spas and wellness centers. Whether visitors desire an afternoon’s pampering or a weeklong rejuvenation or transformational retreat, they’ll find bliss here. For those looking for all this in extraordinary settings, California has plenty to offer.

Desert
Named the number one resort spa in North America by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, the Well Spa at Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells integrates wellness into every aspect of life. Reminiscent of a beautifully appointed Italian home, guests enjoy unforgettable desert vistas with their treatments. Also consistently named by the magazine as one of the country’s top 10 spas, the Parker Palm Springs is an oasis of health and beauty at an elegant, country club-style resort. After hitting the tennis courts or renting a mountain bike to explore nearby trails, the spa lets visitors unwind with a “rubdown”—whether it be Thai, hot stone or create-your-own.

Cityscapes
Many people head to Los Angeles for glamour, culture and excitement rather than serenity. But The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Los Angeles gives visitors the best of both worlds, letting them escape the city’s hustle and bustle into a world of pampering for the mind, body and spirit. The 8,000-sq. ft. facility has a full range of body and skin treatments, including massages in the guest rooms or rooftop pool overlooking the skyline. Standing at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, Cavallo Point in Sausalito offers one of the most coveted views of any resort. Overlooking the legendary bridge and the twinkling lights of San Francisco, this luxury lodge, a member of Historic Hotels of America, is nestled in the Golden Gate Recreation Area and has obtained LEED gold certification for its environmentally sustainable design and construction. The lodge’s Healing Arts Center & Spa offers innovative spa treatments in a serene, tranquil setting located just minutes from the city and Marin Headlands recreation.

Coast
The list of visitors who have passed through the doors of Big Sur’s Esalen Institute on the Central Coast reads like a ‘who’s who’ of intriguing and talented individuals – Bob Dylan, Ansel Adams, Aldous Huxley, Susan Sontag, Deepak Chopra – each searching for knowledge, personal improvement and perhaps something else within. Perched on a Pacific bluff, the grounds alone are enough to stir the soul: 120 acres of craggily glorious Big Sur land and seascape. Add to that Esalen’s diverse intellectual and spiritual offerings – 500 workshops a year for just about anyone who wants to stretch and learn – spiritually, mentally and even physically in yoga classes. Those looking for pampering can take a soak in cliff-hugging hot springs or enjoy a spa massage overlooking the sea. Reflecting the artistic heritage of its home, Montage Laguna Beach is set where the surf meets the coastal mountains. The luxury hotel’s architecture takes its lead from the early California Arts & Crafts movement, and the property displays museum-quality paintings with stunning works of public art by noted regional artists. One of only 11 spas in the country named to Condé Nast Traveler’s hot list, the Spa at Terranea at the posh new Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula features an enormous 50,000-sq. ft. facility with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. The extensive spa menu includes innovative holistic treatments, such as a volcanic clay wrap. Although it lacks spa amenities, a popular retreat is the Prince of Peace Abbey, a monastery in the town of Oceanside that’s located on a mesa overlooking the San Luis Rey River Valley with the Pacific Ocean in the distance. This Benedictine monastery was originally founded in 1958 by monks of St. Meinrad’s Archabbey in Indiana and now serves as a retreat house and gardens near San Diego for those seeking spiritual renewal.

Up in Santa Barbara, a magical location tucked between the Pacific and scenic Santa Ynez Mountains, the Bacara Resort & Spa is spread over 78 oceanside acres of natural beaches and breathtaking bluffs. In Northern California, the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is perched atop a beautiful bluff with panoramic coastal vistas just 23 miles southwest of the San Francisco airport.

Wine Country
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is the ultimate wine country destination oasis with spa, golf and a Michelin-award-winning restaurant, and blessed by natural mineral hot springs from the Sonoma Valley. The spa, which has won dozens of awards over the years, has its own source of thermal mineral water, flowing from 1,100 feet beneath the surface of the Earth, prompting visitors to indulge in an elaborate bathing ritual, which includes an exfoliating scrub, a warm mineral water soak, a hot Jacuzzi, a eucalyptus steam room and a European sauna. Over in the upper reaches of the Napa Valley, an oasis of healing hot springs and mud baths awaits in Calistoga’s famous spas. Set among the rolling landscape of Carmel Valley in the Central Coast region, the Spa at Bernardus Lodge offers the ideal setting for relaxation and renewal. Guests can linger over a glass of award-winning local wine, then slip into the 5,300-sq. ft. spa, where they can choose from a range of spa treatments such as Vineyard Romance (a cabarnet grape seed exfoliation, alfresco lavender bath and warm grape seed oil massage, designed especially for couples). Down in Temecula, the popular South Coast Winery, Resort & Spa offers spa treatments reflecting its gorgeous vineyard setting, such as a grapeseed body scrub.

Mountains
For those who like to enjoy their spa treatments on top of the world, California has many options. For distinctive body treatments with spectacular mountain views, many visitors flock to the romantic all-season Spa and Resort at Squaw Creek. Whether coming off the slopes in the winter and spring or from mountain trails in the summer and fall, this full-service spa, which recently underwent a $1.5 million renovation, offers localized treatments such as the Sierra Ski Stretch (a special massage for pre or post skiing). Nearby, the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe is a wonderful mountain retreat featuring 16 luxurious treatment rooms, a Fitness Center with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and weight-training equipment, and a fully integrated wellness program including a heated co-ed spa lap pool overlooking the slopes. On the north shore of Lake Tahoe overlooking the mountains is the Lighthouse Spa, featuring many restorative treatments to help visitors unwind after hours of virtually unlimited outdoor recreation. Marked by its unique location at the southernmost edge of Old Mammoth and at the base of the Sherwin mountains, the 450-acre Snowcreek Resort offers sunny open meadows and 360-degree views of the Sherwin, Mammoth and White mountains. Down in the Los Padres National Forest, which encompasses nearly 2 million acres in the beautiful coastal mountains of central California, visitors can enjoy the healing waters of the Big Caliente Hot Springs. Unlike many other hot springs, which often require miles of hiking, Big Caliente’s are easy to access (and close to many hotels), and quiet visitors may get greeted by a grazing deer.

Background
California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $95.1 billion annually in California (18 percent of which is international), support jobs for 873,000 Californians and generate $6.1 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about CTTC and for a free California Visitor’s Guide, go to www.VisitCalifornia.com

Utah’s National and State Parks for Outdoor Enthusiasts

SALT LAKE CITY – Home to five National Parks, seven National Monuments, one National Historic Site, two National Recreation Areas, and 43 state parks,

Utah offers dramatic settings for any adventure. With ideal experiences for nature lovers and adventure-seekers alike,Utah’s parks include vibrantly colored soaring spires, towering pinnacles, bottomless sandstone canyons, intricately eroded arches and towering walls of sculptured stone. For outdoor aficionados,Utah’s parks are famous for world-class recreation opportunities such as hiking, biking, four-wheeling, fishing, rafting, boating, canyoneering and climbing.

National Parks include:

Arches National Park: Located in southeastern Utah, this desert landscape is accentuated by 2,000 natural stone arches – the largest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. In addition to the famed Delicate Arch, major sites at Arches include Balanced Rock, Skyline Arch, Double Arch, Fiery Furnace and Devil’s Garden. A 40-mile roundtrip drive offers visitors a jaw-dropping journey through this “garden of natural wonders.” Standing silent against the alpine backdrop of the La Sal Mountains, Arches offers a picture perfect backdrop for exhilarating hiking, biking, climbing, camping and other outdoor adventures. 435-259-8161, www.nps.gov/arch

Bryce Canyon National Park: Not really a canyon, the Bryce amphitheater in southwestern Utah is characterized by its thousands of pillars, columns, windows and hoodoos, all delicately carved by millions of years of erosion by wind and sand. From the edge of the amphitheater, visitors are treated to breathtaking views and displays of color as the natural light changes throughout the day. A 37-mile roundtrip drive through the park includes popular sites such as Sunrise, Sunset, Rainbow, Yovimba and Inspiration Point. Photographers find Bryce Canyon a perfect spot for stunning art photography. Hiking, camping, biking and horseback riding are among the activities offered. 435-834-5322, www.nps.gov/braca

Canyonlands National Park: Visitors to Canyonlands can view thousands of feet down to the Colorado and Green Rivers or thousands of feet up to the red rock pinnacles, cliffs and spires in Utah’s largest and most diverse national park. Today, the park is comprised of five unique regions, including Island in the Sky, Needles District, The Maze, Horseshoe Canyon and The Rivers. This park in southeastern Utah offers challenging 4×4 roads and whitewater rapids, not for the faint of heart. Other popular activities include climbing, biking, camping and hiking. 435-259-7164, www.npx.gov/cany

Capitol Reef National Park: Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah comprises 378 square miles of colorful canyons, ridges, buttes and monoliths. A rocky wilderness, the park is characterized by sandstone formations, cliffs and canyons. About 75 miles of the long up-thrust called the Waterpocket Fold is preserved within the park boundary, extending like a rugged spine from Thousand Lake Plateau southward to Lake Powell. The Waterpocket Fold features a variety of rock shapes that include Capitol Dome, Hickman Bridge, Grand Wash and Cathedral Valley. In addition to touring the park by car, visitors can bike, camp, climb, hike and ride horses. 435-425-3791, www.nps.gov/care

Zion National Park: Named by early Mormon pioneers, “Zion” means the “promised land,” which is the perfect way to describe Zion’s peaceful yet dramatic landscape of sculptured canyons and soaring cliffs. The second most popular tourist attraction in the state and the oldest of Utah’s national parks, Zion offers a number of sites of interest including The Narrows, Emerald Pools, Angels Landing and Weeping Rock, all of which are located at spectacular Zion Canyon, carved from the Virgin River. For those who want to venture off the beaten path, both Kolob Canyon and Kolob Terrace are ideal areas in which to explore the backcountry. Hiking, climbing, biking, camping and horseback riding are some of the outdoor activities pursued here. The park features Zion Lodge, a dining room, gift shop and picnic area. 435-772-3256, www.nps.gov/zion

Other “Must See” Parks include:

Antelope Island State Park: The largest island in the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park can be accessed by a seven-mile causeway. The park offers stunning views of the Wasatch Mountain range and the island is also home to free-roaming bison, bighorn sheep, deer, pronghorn antelope and many varieties of shore and wading birds. 877-UTPARKS, www.stateparks.utah.gov

Cedar Breaks National Monument: Surrounded by Dixie National Forest in the southwestern area of the state, Cedar Breaks National Monument is similar to Bryce Canyon. This monument is an amphitheater on the western edge of the Markagunt Plateau filled with pillars, columns and hoodoos which are particularly vivid because they are concentrated in a small area surrounded by verdant meadows and forest. 800-354-4849, www.nps.gov, www.nationalparks.org

Dinosaur National Monument: Dinosaur National Monument, in northeastern Utah, shelters more than 2,000 dinosaur bones exposed in a 200-foot-long sandstone wall. The site was discovered in 1909 by paleontologist Earl Douglass. Over 350 million tons of fossils, including full skeletons and previously unknown dinosaur species, were excavated by Douglass’s crew and now reside in museums all over the world. www.nps.gov, www.nationalparks.org

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area: Situated in the northeastern portion of the state, Flaming Gorge features 207,363 acres of land and water. The area is popular for fishing, hiking, mountain biking, wildlife watching and provides access to the neighboring Ashley National Forest. 800-477-5558, www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: Located in south-central Utah, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area includes world famous Lake Powell, which backs up for more than 186 miles behind the dam that formed it. Visitors can explore nearly 2,000 miles of serpentine shoreline with hundreds of side canyons, inlets and coves. 866-25GRAND, www.nps.gov, www.nationalparks.org

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: Located in south-central Utah, Grand Staircase-Escalante is divided into three areas: the canyons of the Escalante River, the Grand Staircase and the Kaiparowits Plateau. The monument is a vast and rugged region and is intersected by National Scenic Byway 12 (which has earned the federal All American Road designation.) The area provides access to various recreation opportunities in the monument and vicinity. 800-733-5263, www.blm.gov/utah

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: The picturesque Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the border of southeastern Utah and Arizona. Goulding’s Trading Post and Museum is a must for movie aficionados as it recreates life in the 1920s and documents the starring roles of Monument Valley’s formations in movies and television through several decades. Movies filmed in the area include “Back to the Future III,” “Forrest Gump” and a number of John Ford’s Westerns. 928-871-6436, www.discovernavajo.com

Snow Canyon State Park: Situated outside St. George in southwestern Utah, Snow Canyon State Park is best known for its enjoyable hiking through acres of vibrant red Navajo sandstone capped by an overlay of black lava rock. 877-UTPARKS, www.stateparks.utah.gov

This Is The Place Heritage Park: Situated at the mouth of Emigration Canyon on the eastern edge of the Salt Lake Valley, this 450-acre park features the Heritage Village Living History Experience. Within the park, visitors can find 40 original and replica homes and businesses featuring period villagers demonstrating crafts, trades and home-making skills typical of 19th century Utah. Hands-on crafts, pioneer chore activities, school lessons, farm animals, pony rides, train and horse-drawn wagons are also featured on site. The park also boasts sweeping panoramic view of the Salt Lake Valley. 801-582-1847, www.thisistheplace.org

Wasatch Mountain State Park: Wasatch Mountain State Park in northern Utah’s Heber Valley has two excellent 36-hole golf courses. The park’s Soldier Hollow section was the venue for the biathlon and cross country events during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and is open year-round. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, tubing and snowshoeing. 877-UTPARKS, www.stateparks.utah.gov

About Utah
Home to five national parks, 43 state parks, seven national monuments, two national recreation areas and “The Greatest Snow on Earth®,”Utahrepresents the best of both theRocky Mountainsand the Desert Southwest. Whether it’s heart-thumping downhill skiing, picturesque fly fishing, life-defying rock climbing, serene bird watching, thrill-seeking white water rafting or just communing with nature, Utah has it all – holding true to the state’s “Life Elevated®” brand.

To contact the Utah Office of Tourism, an agency of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, or to view the Utah Travel Guide online, please visit or call (800) 200-1160 or (801) 538-1900. Follow Utah Office of Tourism on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TravelUtah

Channel Islands National Park: This week’s National Park Getaway

Ventura, Calif. – Your National Park Service is desperately seeking suckers for beauty. ISO those with a capacity for awe. Calling all color-philes. At war with drabness. Ready to seize by the shoulders and shake anyone who takes for granted the natural world.

This week’s installment in the Getaway series of travel articles presents Channel Islands National Park, an ensemble of submarine and terrestrial landscapes that rest off the coast of southern California.

The park forms a haven for luminous orange garibaldi; the radiantly yellow flowers of the coreopsis; grape-purple seastars; and ocean waters so fiercely blue that they keep the mind, for a moment, from fathoming any other hue.

A variety of fun outdoor activities bring visitors into contact with this beauty. Check out the article at www.nps.gov/getaways  for ways to explore the park.

Don’t feel disheartened if a trip to southern California just won’t work for you right now. Even in that case, this week’s Getaway is not a tease. You can experience the Channel Islands – perhaps one should say “channel these islands” – no matter where you are, with the help of technology. Find out more from the latest Getaway.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 394 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov

In a state synonymous with adventure activities, is it no wonder that Colorado is home to dozens of hot springs and spas where visitors can soothe sore muscles after a full day of white-water rafting, hiking or mountain biking.

Ranging from rustic to refined, Colorado’s hot springs are geothermal treasures that offer visitors a year-round respite from the state’s high-energy adventure travel scene. In addition, the state’s hotels and resorts feature world-class spa facilities that consistently capture awards and accolades for their intelligent approach to wellness and rejuvenation.

High Mountain Hot Springs

Though not unique to Colorado (hot springs exist on every continent on earth), the state’s hot springs still hold a singular place among the world’s geo-thermally heated groundwater. For example, the world’s largest hot springs pool is located in Glenwood Springs (www.visitglenwood.com ) and the world’s deepest hot mineral spring is in Pagosa Springs (www.pagosaspringschamber.com). Celebrated for their high mineral content and resulting therapeutic qualities, Colorado hot springs are a favorite stop on many visitors’ itineraries.

The majority of Colorado’s developed hot springs are located in the San Luis Valley, the San Juan Mountains, Clear Creek County, and the Arkansas, Yampa and Colorado River Valleys, affording visitors the opportunity to soak in the mineral-rich waters amid spectacular natural beauty. The state also boasts dozens of undeveloped hot springs.

The world’s largest hot springs pool is located on the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. Measuring two blocks, it is the state’s most popular hot springs complex, complete with pools, waterslides, diving boards and even a pool for little ones.

Enjoyed by Northwest Colorado’s Ute Indians for centuries, the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge & Pool (www.hotspringspool.com ) was officially founded in 1888. Nearby, visitors can enjoy a sauna-like experience in the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves (www.yampahspa.com ), the only natural steam chambers in the country. Its three underground rock chambers are a centuries-old gathering place once used by the Utes for healing.

One of the state’s most interesting hot springs is also its least accessible – demanding a nine-mile hike into the Aspen area’s Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area (www.coloradowilderness.com/wildpages/maroon ) to Conundrum Hot Springs, where visitors are rewarded by views of six 14,000+ foot Rocky Mountain peaks. Another hot springs worth the hike is Rainbow Hot Springs, a five-mile trek deep within the Weminuche Wilderness. Here, two hot spring pools are perched on the shore of the San Juan River’s West Fork.

In Pagosa Springs, the banks of the San Juan River afford a picturesque setting for 18 terraced hot springs pools in the heart of town. The Pagosa Hot Springs (www.pagosahotsprings.com ) are open to the public for a fee; guests of the Pagosa Springs Inn (www.pagosaspringsinnsuites.com ) have complimentary use of the pools. The source of these mineral-rich waters is the famous Great Pagosa Aquifer, the world’s largest and deepest hot mineral spring.

The Ouray Hot Springs Pool is owned and operated by the town of Ouray (www.ouraycolorado.com ), making it a low-key, family-friendly option for hot springs goers. A fitness center welcomes those who want to work-out before their soak. Nearby, the Historic Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodge (www.wiesbadenhotsprings.com ) is a more intimate retreat, offering visitors the opportunity to soak in several continually  flowing hot springs pools against the backdrop of the San Juan Mountains. Therapeutic massage and reflexology sessions are available in the spa.

Luxe Resort Spas

In addition to its abundance of natural hot springs, Colorado boasts several “man made” spas within its collection of luxury hotel and resort spas. Many of the spas find inspiration in the state’s hot springs culture, introducing architectural water features and hydrotherapy treatments that reflect an awareness of and appreciation for water’s therapeutic qualities.

The Spa at The Broadmoor (www.broadmoor.com ) in Colorado Springs is perhaps the state’s most celebrated spa. Renovated in 2003, it counts among its most distinguishing features a $100,000 Silver TAG shower with 18 showerheads customized to fit all body shapes and sizes. Developed by TAG Gaylean, the world-renowned spa architect and designer, it is a cutting-edge version of classic European hydrotherapy technique, allowing users to customize their experience through adjustments to water temperature, placement, and pressure. Outdoors, the historic property sits on 3,000 acres at the base of the Cheyenne Mountain.

In Aspen, The St. Regis Aspen (www.stregisaspen.com ) features the signature Remède Spa, the town’s first resort spa. Its unique water feature, the Confluence, is reminiscent of the hot springs found throughout Colorado. The 15,000-square-foot facility offers spa treatments, a state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga/Pilates room.

The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch (www.ritzcarlton.com/en/properties/bachelorgulch ) in Avon garners sweet reviews for its Hot Chocolate Stone Massage and Rocky Mountain High Body Coffee treatment. In the spring, summer and fall months, the Spa taps the majesty of the Rocky Mountains to craft an unparalleled outdoor wellness experience. Called “Mountain Spa Mornings,” the program includes a guide hike through Bachelor Gulch, an outdoor yoga session and 60-minute outdoor massage. Indoors, a natural stone Grotto with lap pool evokes the atmosphere of Colorado’s underground caves.

Many spas tap Colorado’s indigenous botanicals to create unique and soothing body treatments. At Chipeta Sun Lodge and Spa (www.chipeta.com ) in southwestern Colorado, native pine, fir and cedar oils distinguish an aromatic Alpine Herbal Steam Wrap. In Telluride (www.telluride.com ), the acclaimed Golden Door Spa at The Peaks (www.thepeaksresort.com ) specializes in treatments using natural ingredients found only in the alpine environment of the Rocky Mountains.

Set on a pristine lake in Evergreen, The TallGrass Aveda Spa & Salon (www.tallgrassspa.com ) uses the Adeva line of plant-based products to create imaginative full- and half-day spa packages such as The Quencher. A three-hour program designed to combat the drying effects of Colorado’s climate and altitude, it includes a hydrating facial, body scrub, hair and scalp treatment and paraffin hand dip.

A sybaritic city spa experience is found at the Spa at the legendary Brown Palace Hotel (www.brownpalace.com ) in Denver. Reconstructed in the space that once featured men’s and women’s Turkish baths at the turn of the century, the spa taps the healing powers of natural artesian waters that have flowed 750 feet beneath the hotel since before it opened in 1892. Specializing in custom treatments designed for Colorado’s climate, the Spa’s popular hydrotherapy treatments include the 20-minute Artesian Plunge Soak.

ABOUT COLORADO

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state’s breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2011 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com  or call 1-800-COLORADO.