Jetsettersblog

From prehistoric Indian ceramicists to iconic Hollywood filmmakers, Scottsdale’s captivating desert setting has proven irresistible to artists of all walks of life.

Today, not only are the 100 plus galleries filled with breathtaking art, but so are a number of Scottsdale resorts where visitors can discover masterpieces throughout their stay. In the 1930s, the Hermosa Inn, a boutique hideaway began as the art studio of Alonzo “Lon” Megargee and slowly evolved into a guest ranch to supplement his income.

Today, guests can view Megargee’s work throughout the property including the paintings that still hang in the guest rooms, The Last Drop Bar, and Lon’s restaurant.

The Phoenician’s art collection boasts more than $25 million worth of artwork that illuminates the resort’s cultural aesthetic with Old World and contemporary works of art.

The resort offers guests a brochure and audio device for a complimentary self-guided tour of the collection’s signature pieces, like Navajo rugs and watercolor paintings.

Native American art also can be admired at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch’s Native American Learning Center.

The Center, with its strong influence from the Hopi community, is an ongoing collaborative venture between native artists, educators and the resort.

It was designed to provide an environment that engages, entertains, and educates visitors on native history, culture and teachings through art, jewelry, language and dance.

A country laden with adventures and challenges, the Emerald Isle will motivate you to just do it…

Adventure activities and personal challenges take on a whole new meaning set against Ireland’s jewel of a landscape. Untamed, wild, rugged and pristine, the Emerald Isle offers every kind of easy-going or adrenalin-pumped activity holiday you could imagine, alongside a host of unique characters, spontaneous fun and authentic Irish experiences. The kind you’ll talk about for a lifetime.

It’s a country that at every turn encourages you to switch off from the nine-to-five and flick on your playful side. Magnificent mountains, coastlines, islands, lakes, beaches and forests offer endless possibilities for action and activity – and Ireland is loaded with brilliant outdoor experiences, adventure centres, facilities, guides, experts and unique opportunities.

If you decide to ‘get out there’, ‘just do it’ or ‘give it go’ the Irish people will treat you like a long lost friend, pick you up if you fall and give you a massive cheer – and maybe a pint of stout or two – when you fulfil your dream.

Adventures on land
Ever pictured yourself galloping on the beach on a white horse, wind in your hair, taste of salt spray on your lips? Well it’s there for the taking along the likes of Strandhill on the gorgeous Atlantic coastline at Sligo in the West of Ireland.

Few countries revere the horse as much, so Ireland is perfect for energetic and even laid-back equestrian activity over beaches, bogs, forest and mountain trails. Worry not if you have no time served in the saddle, equestrian centres across the island will be happy to take on beginners and you can still make that beach.

Or give caving a go and enter the rarely seen world of stalactites, stalagmites, underground streams and bizarre rock formations. There are well over 50km of caves in Northern Ireland, the longest stretching to 7km. Corralea Activity Centre in the beautiful lakelands of County Fermanagh can take you into them, and offers range of residential self-catering or day visitor activities like water trampolining, wind surfing, canoeing, archery, climbing, orienteering and cycling.

Below ground you get an exhilarating day exploring horizontal spaces, twisting and turning through tunnels, sliding on your belly, paddling through water. If that’s too much, an underground boat trip at the nearby and mind-blowing Marble Arch showcaves, a UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark, is an alternative way to satisfy your subterranean curiosity – and earn a cup of coffee at the visitor centre to finish off.

Another adventure travel company, Extreme Ireland, can take you on a canoeing exploration down the River Barrow through the middle of the country or sea stack climbing off the coast of Donegal – highly unusual and superb for anyone with an adventurous streak.

And talking of climbing, many come to Ireland to conquer the country’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohil in County Kerry, a difficult but not impossible task. A guided climb will help, and at the same time provide entertaining insights into the region’s rich history and archaeology, folklore and myth. One of the best is Con Moriarty of Hidden Ireland Adventures, a recognised authority on the Kerry area. He’ll show you some serious outdoor activity along with great places to stay, good food and craic along the way.

You can also experience the real Ireland through more carefree and gentle walking, hiking and cycling breaks. A staggering array of opportunities is available everywhere in all four corners of the country. The Great Western Greenway, County Mayo and the Strangford Lough Trail, County Down – both featuring landmarks connected to St Patrick – are two of the finest.

Watery escapades
If you want to jump in or even just dip your toe into water sports adventure, a nation surrounded by ocean, peppered with expansive lakes and etched with a multitude of attractive rivers ticks all the boxes. Fishing, sailing, cruising, surfing, diving, wakeboarding, water-skiing, windsurfing – it’s all there. As is whale watching.

Seeing a whale in the wild is still one of the greatest thrills in nature and Ireland is one of the best places in Europe to do it. Year after year, minke, fin and humpback whales, along with several species of dolphins, return to feed in West Cork’s rich waters. Weighing in at 70 tons, fin whales are the world’s second largest animal. It’s the variety and frequency of sightings that puts Ireland on the map for enthusiasts.

Among the commercial operators who can take you whale spotting is Nic Slocum, of Whale Watch West Cork. “We don’t promise whales and dolphins every time, because they are unpredictable creatures,” he says, “but for anyone interested in wildlife, there is an abundance of things to see. The marine coast is spectacularly beautiful here.”

Of course, the adventure sport of the moment is coasteering, a mixture of traversing, swimming, climbing, scrambling, and jumping off a coastline. Ireland offers brilliant facilities for coasteering and the number-one place is along the stupendous Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland near to the famed Giant’s Causeway.

Hook up with adventure operator IrishC for serious coasteering fun there – its instructors offer to ‘blow your mind and work your body’. They have various packages including two nights’ accommodation and a full day coasteering and coastal exploration. All necessary water sports gear supplied.

Still in the water, think surfing for a good way to get fit, get adventurous and have oodles of craic. Ireland is awash with great places to surf. September to May is widely regarded as the best time to ride the waves, and Bundoran in rugged County Donegal is widely regarded as the country’s surfing Mecca. A former European Surfing Championships host, the town has an extensive beachfront, plenty of surf schools, annual festivals, plenty of good waves and great night life.

Portrush in County Antrim is similar. All three of its beaches received a Good Beach Award for 2011. To achieve this, beaches must be 20 times cleaner than the European standard. Portrush Open Surf Championships take place from 25–26 September and there is a great range of self-catering accommodation in the town.

Personal challenges
If you’re game enough to sign up for the modern types of adventure and endurance races every kind of ‘thon’ is organised amid the Emerald Isle’s fantastic scenery – triathlon, duathlon and aquathon – as well as your regular, traditional and so-called ‘ordinary’ mara ‘thon’. Then there’s your sprint-tri, Olympic tri, Ironman and half Ironman events.

Races feature running, cycling, swimming, kayaking and climbing, but other challenges like navigation, abseiling, shooting or even horse riding might get thrown into the mix too.
Combining a holiday with a personal challenge race where the emphasis is on getting over the line, beating personal best times, keeping fit and healthy (OK, so you might sneak a win too) is proving very popular. They offer a chance for friends to get together to go as a group too – a fantastic way to experience Ireland.

Among the best-known adventure races is Gaelforce West, which sees 3,000 competitors every August and WAR – the Wicklow Adventure Race in September. The autumn also sees the Achill Roar (10 Sept), the Killarney Adventure Race (8 Oct), and Sea2Summit (12 Nov) in Westport, while the Ironman Ireland 70.3 event takes place in Galway (4 Sept).

The Dublin Marathon (31 Oct) is of course urban, but the 10,000 runners still get lovely views of the city’s historic Georgian architecture and fantastic spectator support. It’s known as the ‘friendly marathon’ due to the volume and goodwill of the onlookers that line the route.

Cousin of the marathon, the cycling sportive, also saddles up in Ireland and dozens take place all over the country. This year’s Giant’s Causeway Coast Sportive (17 Sept) offers three routes taking in the Giant’s Causeway, passing Bushmills (the world’s oldest whiskey distillery) and Bushmills Inn, then along coastal roads beside glorious Whitepark Bay and the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Cyclists can take in breathtaking views out to Rathlin Island and the Scottish Mull of Kintyre further in the distance.

That’s if they resist temptation and manage to get past Bushmills.

www.discoverireland.com
www.activityireland.com
www.extremeireland.ie
www.hiddenirelandadventures.com
www.irishc.com
www.achilltourism.com
www.killarneyadventurerace.ie
www.westportsea2summit.ie
www.dublinmarathon.ie
www.giantscausewaycoastsportive.com
www.gaelforceevents.com/west
www.wicklowadventurerace.com
www.ironmanireland.com

The Vale Spa is the largest in Wales and this summer will have three relaxation zones. A new Thermae Suite will feature a sauna with traditional dry heat, hot and cold rainforest showers and chromatherapy lighting.

The spa already has 19 treatment rooms, a flotation tank, a hydrotherapy bath, a 20-metre swimming pool, a Jacuzzi and a steam room. The new larger spa will be able to cater for groups of up to 50 who want to spend the day together. The spa will offer supermodel Christy Turlington’s Indian-inspired Sundari range of luxury products and treatments. There will also be a new Chai Café. A boutique shopping area will sell a range of products including Melyn Tregwynt Welsh traditional wool throws, Port Merion pottery and spa products.

The Vale Resort is the highest rated 4-star accommodation in Wales and is set in 260 hectares (650 acres) of parkland, which include two 18-hole golf courses.

The Vale Resort, Hensol Park, Hensol, Mid Glamorgan CF72 8JY
Website: www.vale-hotel.com

Grays Court in York is a Grade I listed building and has recently opened their first bedrooms to the public. Situated in the shadow of York Minster, Grays Court is an oasis of calm in the heart of the city. Guests will wake to the sound of bird song and the Minster Bells which chime from eight o’clock in the morning, and then enjoy a hearty breakfast overlooking the gardens.

All bedrooms are delightful with comfortable beds, fine linen and well appointed bathrooms and provide visitors with the opportunity to extend their experience of this historic house. Rooms are all named after the historic owners and visitors of this Grand house.

Examples include:
Cumberland – named after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland who was received by the Archbishop of York in the Long Gallery in 1746. Gray’s Court’s principal suite, it boasts a magnificent bow fronted bedroom/sitting room with panoramic views over the gardens towards the medieval City Walls.

Somerset – named after Edward Seymour, The Duke of Somerset and an enchanting twin room furnished with a bedroom suite from a Chataeu in Bordeaux complete with en-suite shower room.

Aislabie – A Duel took place at Grays Court on January 12th 1674 for the honour of a lady, Miss Mallorie, daughter of Sir John Mallorie of Studley Royal. Aislabie, the unfortunate casualty of the duel was carried home and died in the Long Gallery. George Aislabie was buried in York Minster. This double room, furnished in antique furniture complete with a Louis XIV inlaid bed is named after this unfortunate gentleman and enjoys views towards his final resting place, York Minster, with large walk in shower and further views over the historic courtyard.

Other rooms include Fairfax, Williams, Willoughby and Elizabeth Gray.

To find out more about this fascinating, exclusive accommodation visit Website: www.grayscourtyork.com  or contact Tel: 01904 612613 Email: enquiries@grayscourtyork.com

COUNTY KERRY, Ireland—Ring in the 2012 New Year on a cultural and walking tour that features some of the most scenic walks in County Kerry, Ireland, often thought to be the most scenic area of Ireland. Appropriate for everyone from the casual ‘stroller’ to those who want the heart-pumping adventure of a climb up Carrauntoohil, Ireland’s highest mountain, guests will enjoy exploring scenic Ireland over the holiday. Highlights of the trip include accommodation in the luxurious 4-star Randles Court Hotel in Kallarney, enjoying a gourmet, candle list 5-course dinner, and much more. Go Visit Ireland can also customize an Ireland holiday to include an extended stay in addition to this tour, or a separate Ireland vacation. Perfect for families, couples, or people traveling solo, Go Visit Ireland can make any Irish vacation possible. For more information, visit www.govisitireland.com

CODY, Wyo.- Deck the holidays, Cowboy style this year. Dude ranches, the original all-inclusive destination, take care of the holiday chores while providing seasonal adventures.

Winter ranches from Colorado to Canada provide everything for a classic, carol-worthy white Christmas.

In British Columbia, Echo Valley Ranch and Spa has put together a Cariboo Christmas package with all the trimmings. This includes a welcoming glass of mulled wine, visit from Santa (with presents for everyone), traditional Christmas dinner and entertainment, Boxing Day champagne breakfast, and a cookie jar that’s always stocked.

Ranches across the southwest, such as Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, offer warm alternatives to northern snows. Southwestern ranch guests can spend the days mountain biking and horseback riding desert mountain trails or relaxing by the outdoor pool.

At night five-star dining, live entertainment, and extensive wine lists provide a relaxing evening to a day of playing in the sun.

Whether heading north or south, travelers can look to the Dude Ranchers Association to help pick the perfect ranch fit.

The DRA has over 100 member ranches across the western U.S. and Canada. This holiday-season try a Cowboy Christmas.

SHERIDAN, Wyo.- While big cities are full of crowds, this holiday season escape to the tranquility and hospitality of the American West. Recently named a Distinctive Destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Sheridan, Wyoming is rich in frontier heritage, American art, and seasonal adventure.

Snow Play: Speed across alpine meadows on a snowmobile, take a leisurely snowshoe trek on mountain trails, or try a bit of ice fishing with a local outfitter. Just outside of town the majestic Big Horn Mountains offer endless snow adventures during the winter months. Well over 300 miles of marked and groomed trails meet thousands of acres of powdery meadows, offering plenty of space to roam by ski or sled.

Warm Up: If a day in the snow sounds a bit chilly, take advantage of Sheridan’s art and cultural scene. Visit some of the sites in the Historic Main Street District such as the internationally famous Kings Museum and Saddlery where the artistry of Don King’s leather work and saddles is displayed. Not to be missed the Bradford Brinton Memorial and Museum displays frontier life from the 1920s and an extensive American art collection with artists ranging from Audubon to Remington.

Holiday Spirit: Celebrate the season in true Cowboy style.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, Sheridan is transformed during the Annual Christmas Stroll. Picture an old fashioned wagon with evergreen wrapped bows, jingling along Main Street; the store fronts and lamp posts twinkling under colorful lights.

The sights and sounds of holidays passed will be on display from Trail End State Historic Park to the Bradford Brinton and even the WYO Theater.

This year leave the hustle and bustle of the city and travel to a less complicated time and place. The friendly folks of Sheridan look forward to sharing their holiday traditions.

stt@sheridanwyoming.org

www.sheridanwyoming.org

PORT ANGELES, Wash.-From the twinkle-light parade of Forks to the Victorian celebrations in Port Townsend holiday travelers have their pick of festive adventures on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.

Outdoor enthusiasts can snowshoe along Olympic National Park’s famous Hurricane Ridge, search for hidden waterfalls on the Waterfall Trail, watch for Pacific storms off the coast of Kalaloch, or hike part of the 126-mile Discovery Trail.

A holiday tradition for novice and professional ornithologists, multiple towns along the north peninsula participate in Christmas Bird Counts.

Travelers more interested in culinary than outdoor adventures, can tour the peninsula’s wineries, cideries, organic farms, and creameries. During the holidays, the sparkling ciders of Finnriver Farms and Cranberry Jubilee from Olympic Cellars add a festive air to local celebrations.

The Olympic Culinary Loop website offers itinerary ideas, or traveling foodies can choose to customize their own trip.

The Olympic Peninsula’s cultural history is as varied as its landscapes. Cultural excursion can be found from the Victorian architecture of Port Townsend to the tribal carving sheds of Jamestown S’Klallam and beyond.

This winter celebrate with the rich sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the Olympic Peninsula.

www.olympicpeninsula.org

ESTES PARK, Colo.- YMCA of the Rockies resort properties in Estes Park and Winter Park, Colorado have everything a family needs for a fun snow-filled holiday.

Guests enjoy the comforts of home, such as a fully equipped kitchen and cozy living room, while staying in their own Colorado cabin.

Everyone can stay warm making homemade Christmas presents at the craft and design center, reading holiday stories at the library, or having cocoa and s’mores by the fireplace. To keep the holiday calorie count in check there’s an indoor pool complete with waterslide and climbing wall, roller and ice skating rinks, athletic centers with volleyball and basketball courts, and miles of trails for hiking.

At Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park, the Nordic Center provides equipment and lessons for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and tubers of all ages.

The family dog or cat doesn’t have to miss out on the fun, since cabins and some Nordic trails are pet-friendly. There are also plenty of opportunities to dash through the snow aboard a horse-drawn sleigh provided by Sombrero Stables.

The program department will merrily take care of planning activities such as a holiday scavenger hunt, caroling, gingerbread house building, guided snow shoe hikes, and family movies.

Worship services are held during Christmas and Christmas Eve with candles, carols, and exquisitely decorated chapels.

This year join the YMCA of the Rockies family and spend the holidays in Colorado’s winter wonderland.

www.ymcarockies.org

GRANTS PASS, Oregon—A river rafting trip is one of the best vacations you can take if you want to truly unplug from everyday life.

No phones, no traffic, no worries, no stress.

But doesn’t a good cocktail with your vacation sound like a great idea? Rogue Wilderness Adventures, an outfitter that offers multi-day rafting and hiking trips along Southern Oregon’s historic river is offering a brand new adventure for 2012 that offers you a chance to find your inner self…and drink a little too!

For this new rafting tour, Rogue Wilderness Adventures is partnering with the burgeoning craft distillery industry in Oregon to host a distillery river rafting trip. For four days and three nights, guests will enjoy the best river adventure in America and sip on homemade cocktails as the scenic Rogue River floats by.

Two nights of camping under the stars, one night spent at historic Paradise Lodge, and enjoying delectable riverside fare with new friends will truly make this a trip to remember.

www.wildrogue.com