Jetsettersblog

For families who didn’t have the chance to get away this summer or for those who just don’t want the summer to end, it’s not too late to enjoy a relaxing holiday by the Mediterranean this year.

October half term provides the possibility of an affordable holiday abroad, so be sure to take the opportunity to escape the autumn blues. The South of France is still pleasant and mild in late October when the UK has already started to fully embrace the changing seasons.

Accommodation is up to 75% cheaper than in high season, with smart apartments and houses available to rent from only £15 per person per night through Lagrange Holidays. Three destinations in the South of France stand-out in particular as Mediterranean seaside resorts which keep their lively atmosphere year-round.

Cap d’Agde

Life in this town revolves around its port, with quaint squares and buzzing quays, making it the perfect year-round holiday destination to escape with extended family and friends. Share a house on a private island, rent a boat and explore the sandy beaches and volcanic cliffs of the Languedoc coast for a lot less than you would think.

Where to stay: Lagrange Prestige L’Ile Saint-Martin – Houses on a private pedestrianized island in the heart of the harbour each with a private mooring for boats up to 24m long. Seven nights from 22/10 in a four bedroom house (2 doubles & 2 twins) is only £1068 in total – under £20 per person per night based on two families of four sharing. The same house costs up to £4306/wk in high season.

Sainte Maxime

This pretty resort on the French Riviera is just across the bay from Saint Tropez and benefits from 300 days of sunshine a year. Admire millionaire’s yachts and glamorous villas, enjoy boat trips to little islands in the bay, Cannes or Saint Tropez or simply explore the natural beauty of the surrounding hills.

Where to stay: Lagrange Prestige Residence Port Marine – Apartments 150m from the beach and 300m from the town centre. Seven nights from 22/10 in a two apartment is only £473 in total – under £17 per person per night based on a family of four sharing. The same apartment costs up to £1740/wk in high season.

Six-fours-les-Plages

A charming, very French seaside town surrounded by 2450 acres of pine forest with a picturesque fishing port called Le Brusc. It keeps a relaxed, but lively feel year-round thanks to its proximity to the town of Toulon.

Where to stay: Lagrange Prestige Residence Les Terrasses des Embiez – Seven nights from 22/10 in a one bedroom alcove apartment with sea view is only £406 in total – under £15 per person per night based on a family of four sharing. The same apartment costs up to £1478/wk in high season.

Lagrange Holidays, French travel specialists in the UK for over 25 years, offer affordable accommodation in over 250 holiday destinations on the coast and in the countryside, cities and mountains of France. The Lagrange France 2011 programme has something to suit all styles and budgets, from apartments in the Alps to villas with private pool on the Côte d’Azur or holiday houses in Brittany and the Loire Valley. Accommodation can be booked alone, or with self-drive or rail packages at a supplement. For brochures and reservations, visit www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk  or call 020 7371 6111.

As this year’s A Level results are announced, online travel community Thelma & Louise recommends its top tips for gap year getaways

Students across the country will be getting their A Level exam results on 18 August 2011, and making all important decisions on whether to head straight to university or to defer their studies.

Many thousands will jet off on pre or post-university gap years, so to inspire and assist the next generation of gappers, Thelma & Louise, the women’s online travel community, is offering top tips for a successful and safe trip.

Challenge yourself – Do something which is alien to you and get out of your comfort zone. Doing what you are used to is more of the same. Even going on the underground in a foreign city is an eye opener. Be open to doing what the locals do. If they look as though they are enjoying it, there must be a reason!
Pack strategically – Only pack what you know you will use, rather than carting around a whole load of clothes that will never see the light of day and remember that unless you are heading off into the wilderness you will be able to buy and replenish essential items along the way. It’s often cheaper to buy these items oversees than it would have been at home and picking up a few special souvenirs on your travels is all part of the experience. Carry a lightweight pashmina or shawl to cover up in countries where this may be required, especially for entering religious buildings or shrines. Also, take a small magnifying mirror with sucker pads on the back which you can attach to any surface (even if it is the underside of the bunk above!) and a head-torch so that you can put your make up on in the dark!
Be prepared for some quiet time – Always have a good book with you and a notebook to write down thoughts and impressions. It’s amazing how stimulating to the imagination a new environment can be. Just forget being in a rush and observe.
Get a little help from your friends – in both the planning stages of your trip and during your travels, make sure you tap into the best resource you have available to you – your friends! Take advice from friends and family who have visited the countries you are going to and use social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to get instant tips and recommendations on where to eat, what to see, what to avoid and great places to stay, as you arrive at your destination. You can also use www.thelmandlouise.com  to post a trip idea, question or topic in the forum and receive advice and tips from a whole community of women travellers!
Meet up with a local female – Whether you are travelling with a couple of girlfriends or as a lone female it’s a good idea to locate other women in the destination you are visiting to sight-see with or simply grab a coffee/drink/dinner with. You can tap into her local, insider knowledge of which dodgy parts of town to avoid and where’s fun to go out. You can use www.thelmandlouise.com to find members all over the world.
Find a travel buddy – If your friends just don’t have the same travel ambitions as you and you don’t fancy travelling solo, look for a travel buddy online to share the adventure with. www.thelmandlouise.com connects like-minded women but we always recommend that you meet up with your prospective travel companion before you plan a trip together – not just for safety but to ensure you get on. Even if you are happy to travel alone for the most part, it could be fun to find someone to share part of your journey with, so consider looking for a buddy for certain aspects of your adventure that you might not want to do alone.

Book a tour – Independent travel is liberating but consider booking certain legs of your journey as part of an organised tour, particularly if it’s an adventurous experience such as Gorilla trekking in Rwanda or hiking the Inca Trail. Using a travel company such as The Adventure Company is a great way for you and your friends to mix with other backpackers and travellers for short bursts within a wider, independent trip. Alternatively, if you only have a couple of months to do your travelling it might be worth booking with a travel company for the whole trip to maximise your time away.

Make an effort to talk to the people you meet – If they don’t respond, it doesn’t matter as you may never meet them again, and if they do, it’s a bonus.

Hire a personal GPS – If you are heading off the beaten track, hire a personal GPS tracking device (www.traakit.co.uk; from £60 per month) that regularly pings back your co-ordinates by email and SMS to a nominated friend or family member. It must have an SOS alert button too.
10. Sign up to Skype – stay connected to friends and family at home as well as pals you meet along the way with Skype. You can make free video calls, cheap phone calls to landlines and mobiles and communicate using instant messaging.

For more information on Thelma & Louise and to become a member go to www.thelmandlouise.com

New Concepts, Sustainable Menu Spices Up Napa Valley’s Restaurant Scene
St. Helena, CA — Pioneering chef Cindy Pawlcyn and business partner Sean Knight have transformed Go Fish into Brassica, a modern Mediterranean concept, with an extensive and innovative wine program. The restaurant’s grazing-friendly portions are inspired by a host of Mediterranean countries. Brassica is Latin for the plant family of crucifers and mustards native to the Mediterranean and grown in the Napa Valley. It links the new restaurant to Pawlcyn’s legendary Mustards Grill and bridges the distance between Southern Europe and Northern California.

Culinary offerings range from smaller plates such as “Eggplant Fries with Spiced Yoghurt” and “Garlic Shrimp with Brandy and Espelette Pepper” to more substantial offerings such as “Moroccan Lamb with Golden Raisins & Couscous” and “Braised Beef Cheeks with Pedro Ximénez Sherry and Cauliflower.” An example of Pawlcyn’s use of sustainable seafood along with house-grown produce can be seen in her “Crispy Sardine Salad with Bitter Greens and Mustard Dressing.” Brassica’s menu also reflects the way Pawlcyn herself likes to eat “enjoying lots of variety and not too much of one thing.” The restaurant was designed to offer everything from a small bite to a full meal, provides good value, and reflects the trend of a lighter diet. The robust, hearty flavors of the food are designed to pair with both local and Mediterranean wine selections.

The appeal of the Mediterranean for Pawlcyn, has much to do with its affinities with wine. It is a natural match for Napa Valley, where Pawlcyn and her team will continue to focus on local products, with global inspiration. Pawlcyn affectionately calls Napa Valley “Chef Heaven,” because for her it is all about food, wine and the hard-working people who create it.

Executive chef Darren McRonald also has an extensive background in these traditions, thanks to his passion for travel, and work experience in French kitchens. “My heart and soul really lie in the Mediterranean style,” he professes.

The design of the restaurant is typically Napa Valley laid-back. “Come as you are, just come on in,” notes Managing Partner Sean Knight. The restaurant was designed by architect Howard Backen and features warm, lush colors. Rich chocolate leather and mahogany wood melds with a mirror and lighted glass bar. Brassica also carries on the tradition of live music on the patio.

Brassica has five unique points of difference in its drinks program. Pawlcyn’s restaurants have always been known for their comprehensive wine programs and Brassica is likely to set new standards in that arena. The restaurant offers 70 wines by the glass, serves 8 wines on tap, and pours the “Brassica 12”- a dozen lesser-known local wines that can only be tasted there. Brassica also offers a seasonal cocktail program with fresh syrups and produce. The restaurant also offers retail wine sales.

Knight says that Napa Valley needs “restaurants that have a key focus on wine programs that are accessible to a broad demographic.” Chef Pawlcyn promises the list won’t overwhelm because servers will help guests zero in on regions and grapes with good food-pairing synergies. The approach will be savvy and low key, she notes, as diners “like to be in the know, but don’t want to go back to school.”

The “Brassica 12,” features a rotating selection of exclusive high quality wines and acts as a wine tasting collective inside the restaurant. The program, actively promoted by producers with events, offers barrel samples and library wine – with a focus on reds. Brands on the first list include El Molino, Arietta and Bressler.

The cocktail program also features a series of food-friendly cocktails. Wine director Jennifer Ingellis sources many ingredients for these drinks directly from the restaurant’s own gardens. She says that Brassica features “interesting twists on traditional cocktails using ingredients that you might find in the Mediterranean.” She also incorporates her own house-made syrups in flavors such as honey-ginger, tamarind and hibiscus.

About Cindy Pawlcyn and Sean Knight

Cindy Pawlcyn is the pioneering founder/owner of Napa Valley’s legendary Mustards Grill, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, Chef / Partner of Monterey Bay Aquarium and now, Brassica. An inductee of Who’s Who of Cooking in America and recipient of the Robert Mondavi Award for Culinary Excellence, Pawlcyn has a devoted local and national following and has twice been nominated for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in California. Her strong belief in sustainable cuisine manifests itself in creative, award-winning dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. Business partner Sean Knight has been featured in Gourmet, Food & Wine, Wine Spectator, The San Francisco Chronicle, and public television’s The Chefs of Napa Valley. Cindy and Sean’s other restaurants include Mustards Grill and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, — Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Brussels has announced all Business Class rooms at the hotel have been recently renovated into the stylish and vibrant ambience of New York.

Guests staying in a Business Class room benefit from added values and amenities such as a Nespresso coffee machine in the room, free access to the Royal Fitness Club and the Business Class Lounge of the hotel. To top that off, the signature “Super Breakfast Buffet” is always included in the room rate.

Furthermore the brand new Business Class rooms offer a first class service with the highest level of comfort and amenities that guests travelling for leisure or business can expect from a five star hotel, including but not limited to free wireless Internet access, a flat screen TV with free pay TV, one laptop-size safe, daily newspapers, 24h room service and complementary bathrobe & slippers.

As opposed to standard rooms, the newly renovated Business Class rooms in the city hotel Brussels turned into a ‘NYC Mansion Style’ design, which is defined by its sophisticated strong black lines, bright highlights and finishes with flashes of chrome and stunning turquoise. Its cosmopolitan and contemporary avant-garde feel features bold attention to style and detail with a powerful use of artwork. This chic atmosphere has the feel of a unique urban flair.

Taking responsibility for the environment, the newly renovated Brussels accommodation features a large walk-inn shower which saves many liters of water in comparison to the standard bath-shower combination.

The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Brussels is an eight-storey high, glass domed 5-star hotel located in Brussels’ city centre. The famous Grand’Place, the main shopping and restaurant areas and, the Central Station with direct connections to Thalys (Paris – Amsterdam – Cologne) and Eurostar (London) are walking distance from the hotel.

Combining different room styles it offers 281 rooms and suites, 15 state-of-the-art meeting and Brussels conference rooms, two renowned restaurants, a distinctive bar and a brand new fitness club located on the top floor of the hotel. Concierge services, private underground parking and the warmth of the well-known “Yes I Can” spirit top that off.

About The Rezidor Hotel Group:
The Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 400 hotels in operation, and under development with 88,800 rooms in over 60 countries, including hotels in Brussels and Disneyland Paris accommodation.

Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites in Europe, Middle East and Africa, along with the Club Carlson loyalty programme for frequent hotel guests. Under a worldwide licence agreement with the iconic Italian fashion house Missoni, Rezidor also operates and develops the new lifestyle brand Hotel Missoni.

In November 2006, Rezidor was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Carlson, a privately held, global hospitality and travel company, based in Minneapolis (USA), is the majority shareholder.

The Corporate office of the Rezidor Hotel Group is based in Brussels, Belgium.

For more information on Rezidor, visit www.rezidor.com

BERLIN, GERMANY – Visitors to Berlin next month will be able to enjoy a colourful spectacle when the seventh annual Festival of Lights commences in the German capital next month.

Taking place between October 12th and 23rd 2011, the event will see more than 50 of the city’s most famous landmarks and public spaces brightened up with illuminations and projections.

Among the locations that will be lit up are the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral and the radio tower, while the Europa-Center and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church will also be involved for the first time.

The festival will commence with a spectacular opening ceremony at 19:30 local time on October 12th, with various “lightseeing” tours set to take place over the course of the event.

Tourists will be able to travel the city by bus, boat, rickshaw or on foot as they take in each of the creative compositions up close.

Berlin has hosted the Festival of Lights each year since 2005, with celebrities, businesses, institutions and artists all supporting the event.

Sightseers can choose from a wide selection of hotels in Berlin at LateRooms.com, with the Melia Berlin among them.

More information about this event can be accessed at http://festival-of-lights.de/en/

Irvine-based Yard House Restaurants, an award-winning casual chain of eateries known for its American fusion fare, classic-to-contemporary rock, and world’s largest selection of draft beer, will open eight new restaurants within the next 12 months.

Early this year the company announced it would debut its empire of beer in the Empire State when it opens in Westchester County, New York, in October followed by its first-ever location in Virginia at the Town Center in Virginia Beach the following month. Yard House will add yet another California location, bringing the count up to 17 when it opens in December in Fresno.

In 2012, Yard House will open five new restaurants—one a month—starting in March with the opening of its second Massachusetts location at Fenway Triangle in Boston. In April, Yard House will open its very first Georgia location at Atlantic Station in Atlanta followed by its third Colorado eatery in Lone Tree, about 30 miles south of Denver, in May. The company will make its foray into the Pacific Northwest when it opens its doors at Pioneer Place near downtown Portland, Oregon, in June. With three southern Florida locations in place—Palm Beach Gardens, Hallandale Beach and Coral Gables– Yard House will open a fourth location in the Sunshine State at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

Each restaurant averages between 10,000 square feet with a guest capacity of 400, and an impressive 130 taps of beer. The new locations will be distinctly their own, yet will collectively share many common elements that include a mix of warm woods and steel accents, expansive booths and a collection of tables, outdoor patio dining, a glass-enclosed keg room with five miles of industrial tubing that carries the chilled beer to the center island where fleet of tap handles are located, and original abstract works of art by Jerome Gastaldi.

Adding to the ambiance is a menu of American fusion fare created by award-winning Executive Chef and Partner Carlito Jocson. With a nod to his Filipino heritage, many of Chef Jocson’s dishes feature flavors of the Pacific Rim which are then infused with more traditional fare. The menu, which boasts more than 100 items, includes a creative list of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, rice and pasta dishes, as well as steak and seafood. Yard House also offers a gluten-friendly menu and Sub Vegetarian dishes where chicken and beef are substituted with gardein™, a blend of garden vegetables and protein that have the look, taste and texture of their meaty counterparts.

Yard House also offers a SNACKS menu featuring small bites, such as deviled eggs and truffle fries, for $2.95-5.95. A weekday Happy Hour is offered Monday-Friday from 3-6pm and features select half-prize, full-size appetizers and personal pizzas coupled with beer and drink specials. The fun repeats Sunday-Wednesday with Late-Night Happy Hour from10pm-close. Kids enjoy a three-course, prix-fixe meal (entrée, side dish, frozen fruit bar and drink) featuring many items found on the adult menu but served in age-appropriate portions.

With the opening of each Yard House restaurant, communities can expect a boost in their local economies. Yard House employs an average of 200 people at each location and works with local purveyors to supply the meat, fish, spirits, beer, fruit and vegetables needed to stock the kitchens’ pantry. The company also develops relationships with local businesses for ongoing maintenance and janitorial services, supports local media outlets through advertising, and supports tourism as a member of the local convention and visitors bureaus.

“We have been expanding an accelerated, but comfortable rate,” says

Harald Herrmann, president and CEO of Yard House Restaurants. “We will continue to focus our expansion efforts into new markets, continue branding the Yard House concept, recruit new employees while promoting from within, and

carry on with our philosophy of giving back to the communities that have been so supportive of us.”

Yard House is also philanthropically active with several non-profit organizations. Round It Up America®, a program co-conceived by the company’s President and CEO Harald Herrmann and Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Weerheim, is a pay it forward concept that invites Yard House guests to “round up” their restaurant checks to the nearest dollar with the remaining change donated to charities at the very local level. Nearly 100% of the proceeds are distributed among the various organizations with only a small amount allocated for administrative expenses to facilitate the program. Since its inception less than two years ago, Round It Up America® has raised more than $425,000, granted $250,000 to 15 organizations including Operation Homefront which assists wounded warriors and their families, and has assisted financially with two national disaster reliefs benefitting the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri, and the flood victims in North Dakota.

“Round It Up America® has been one of our proudest achievements, and over the next several months we’ll identify charities in our new markets who will benefit from the program” says Jennifer Weerheim. “While we collect and distribute the monies that help these local organizations, it’s really our guests who are responsible for the success of Round It Up America®. They’re the ones who open up their wallets freely to help their communities and those in need, and we applaud them for their generosity.”

The company has also implemented several eco-friendly features in its restaurants, including a one-touch, space-saving, stand-alone machine that quickly decomposes compostable waste through intensive heat with no negative environmental impact. The waste is then converted into high-density organic particles which can be used as soil amendments, biomass energy, and organic fillers. Aside from reducing its bulk waste, the restaurant chain saves an estimated 180,000 gallons of water annually per restaurant with its bank of waterless urinals, uses cleaning solutions that are environmentally friendly, and illuminates its interiors with LED lighting. Tables and chairs, used for outdoor dining, are crafted from plantation-grown teakwood rather than materials harvested from the rainforest.

Yard House has its home office in Orange County, California, and currently employs more than 4,900 people, which is expected to swell to nearly 6,500 by July 2012. The restaurant has been the recipient of several industry awards and has received rave reviews in most every market. For more information on Yard House Restaurants, call 949.727.0959 or visit online at www.yardhouse.com

From Hawaii to Great Barrier Reef, Baja to Cambodia;

New Waters Ahead for Leader in Expedition Cruising

TAHOE CITY, CA,– The active travel company that secures matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small, expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ ), announces a roster of new and favorite cruises for late 2011, 2012 and beyond.

When northern winds howl, here are some warm-weather options from AdventureSmith Explorations Director Todd Smith:

Hawaiian Seascapes explores the “other side” of the Hawaiian Islands beginning in early Nov. 2011 with a nearly continuous schedule through May 2012, repeating again from Nov. 2012 to May 2013.

Activities include birding, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, with explorations of, among others, secluded coves and beaches on the Big Island, Molokini, Lanai, Molokai and Maui.

The 150-foot luxury small ship Safari Explorer carries up to 36 passengers in 18 modern cabins. From $4,995 per person, double.

See http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/200

The Many Faces of Panama and Costa Rica is a Dec. 17-27, 2011 departure on the 62-passenger Sea Lion.

The most comprehensive Panama cruise itinerary ever offered visits Panama City, the Panama Canal and Barro Colorado, the primary Smithsonian center for tropical rain forest study since 1923, the Embarra village of Mogue and the Pearl Islands.

There are opportunities for birding, kayaking and canoeing.

See: THIS LINK.The Jan. 11-21, 2012 Baja California Odyssey: San Ignacio Lagoon and the Sea of Cortez emphasizes San Ignacio Lagoon along the Pacific Coast, the primary mating and birthing ground for California Grey Whales.

Close encounters are commonplace.

Activities while exploring the Sea of Cortez include bird watching, kayaking and canoeing. Up to 70 guests aboard the M/V Sea Bird are accommodated in 37 outside cabins.

See: THISI LINK.

Viet Nam & Cambodia: Along the Mekong River has four departures beginning in late January and continuing through mid-March 2012.

Archeology, birding and hiking team up with a cultural insight of these ancient countries. The itinerary includes both land and water portions; while cruising guests are accommodated aboard the 48-passenger Jahan in 24 outside facing cabins.

Onboard amenities include fully air-conditioned indoor areas, pool deck, Jacuzzi, bar, wellness spa, gym and private boutique.

See: THIS LINK.

In late spring, Natural Treasures of the Russian Far East traverses waters few would ever think of. Departures of Orion II on the 11-day cruises May 31-June 10 and June 10-June 20, 2012 explore the Northern Ring of Fire, an environment dominated by the effects of volcanic activity across the Bering Sea between Russia and Japan. From Hokkaido, Sapporo through sparsely populated islands, guests are greeted with vodka, bread and salt and the cacophony of seabirds, sea lions and fur seals.

The journey ends in Petropavlovsk, one of the oldest towns in the Russian Far East and home to a Russian submarine base.

Weather permitting; a helicopter trip can target the Valley of the Geysers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and probably the second biggest collection of geothermal features outside of Yellowstone National Park.

See: THIS LINK.

For lovers of astronomy, two Great Barrier Reef Solar Eclipse Cruises are scheduled Nov. 10-Nov. 16 and Nov. 13-Nov. 17, 2012, plying waters rife with reefs from Cairns to Lizard Island which lies on the ‘centerline’ of the prime eclipse viewing area.

See THIS I LINK.

About Adventure Smith Explorations

AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Company founder Todd Smith helped pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore. The company matches guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well with intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers.

In moving through exotic natural environments and exploring vibrant native cultures seldom associated with more mainstream cruise itineraries, AdventureSmith Explorations dedicates its efforts to small footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon free cruising initiative. Its off-the-beaten-path destinations include Alaska, Baja, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Hawaii, Peru, the Arctic, Antarctica, and Australia.

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. P: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775. E: travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com  / W: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com

Australia’s private island resort offers a diverse range of outdoor experiences

for active vacationers looking for an ultimate escape

Travelers looking for a new destination to engage in more active pursuits will find a host of outdoor adventures at Hayman, Australia’s most awarded private island destination in the Great Barrier Reef.

Thrill-seekers looking to take advantage of Hayman’s idyllic location in the Great Barrier Reef can choose from a number of ocean excursions. Hayman offers remarkable snorkeling and scuba experiences including everything from a 10-minute try-dive to full PADI Open Water certification. Night dives entice more seasoned divers with the thrill of the unknown, and speedboats are available on the island to travel to remote locations for snorkeling, scuba diving and exploring. And during the winter months, divers can often hear whales singing in the water.

At Hayman, this starts in July and continues through September.

Above water, guests can enjoy Hayman’s water sports equipment and experts, including experienced kayaking guides and customized sailing lessons. Additional complimentary sports include windsurfing, paddle skiing, tubing, water skiing and wakeboarding.

Game fishing is also popular in the waters surrounding Hayman, where Australian and international records are continually set and broken. During the months of September to February, Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi Mahi inhabit the region.

Full and half day game and bottom fishing trips, as well as private charters, are available from the Marine Centre. And at the end of the day, Hayman’s chefs will prepare the catch of the day for a personalized meal at any of Hayman’s restaurants.

Hayman’s environmental efforts to preserve its fragile ecosystem and rehabilitate terrestrial species make hiking especially rewarding. In addition to outstanding vistas and secluded beaches around the island, novice and advanced hikers can get up close and personal with endangered species of all kinds.

In the upcoming months, Hayman’s dense forest trails will be covered with thousands of colorful butterflies, and the endangered Proserpine Rock Wallaby, which has been rescued by Hayman breeding efforts, can now be seen thriving on the island’s rocky inlets.

Sports enthusiasts can take advantage of Hayman’s new activity center, which includes brand new championship-style tennis courts. Hayman Activities features four grass courts and one very special Plexicushion hard court – the same surface used at the Australia Open.

Lastly, for an elevated golfing experience, enthusiasts of the sport can take Hayman’s 10-minute helicopter trip to a par 71 championship golf course. The 18-hole Dent Island Golf Course, designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thompson, features two 9-hole circuits, a magnificent clubhouse and a relaxing setting with views of the surrounding Whitsundays beaches.

About Hayman

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Hayman is Australia’s premier luxury nature-resort destination, located on the northernmost of the Whitsunday Islands in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland. Hayman, which covers 726 acres, offers guests an unparalleled experience of tranquility and natural beauty in the resort’s 210 stylish accommodations situated within separate locations throughout the property, including the stunning new residences—all with access to the turquoise waters and access to the Reef. The resort—and the island on which it is located—are named in honor of Thomas Hayman, the sea navigator who chartered the island’s waters and has been an oasis for guests since the 1950s. In 2004, Mulpha Australia Limited acquired ownership of this unique destination and has enhanced the offerings available at the modern tranquil hideaway. With four restaurants, Hayman Spa and fitness facilities, picturesque meeting and special event areas, and 24-hour butler and concierge service, leisure and luxury are offered in many forms throughout the island. Visit www.hayman.com.au

The Dolomites of Northeastern Italy are some of the steepest and most dramatic mountain ranges in the world. They are well known as destinations for the world’s best climbers and skiers, and are fast gaining a reputation among cyclists.

French cycling company Cyclomundo, featured in Outside Magazine’s 2011 Trips of the Year, offers cyclists of all abilities the chance to tour this inspiring mountain range. The most popular route is the iconic Grande Strada delle Dolomiti, or Great Dolomites Road. This road winds through the mountain range’s best vistas and through some of the area’s famous resort towns.

Though the terrain is rugged enough to please the eyes and strain the thighs, life in the villages of Northeastern Italy’s villages is easy.

The region is famous not only for its mountains, but for its pastoral landscapes, unique architecture, and local wines. Cyclists who plan a custom trip through the region with Cyclomundo can arrange to stay in any of the area’s towns.

The company’s expert guides can steer those unfamiliar with the region off the beaten path to the area’s most authentic cultural destinations.

www.cyclomundo.com

Retirement used to mean slowing down. These days, it seems to mean just the opposite. Healthy, active retirees are redefining the term by filling their golden years with excitement and adventure.

For that crowd, experiential tour operator Myths and Mountains offers a motorcycle tour down Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Trail. Over two weeks, the tour takes riders from Hanoi to Saigon on 125 cc motorcycles. The trail cuts through historic and tribal areas, and through landmarks of the American Vietnam war like the birthplace of Ho Chi Minh himself.

Accommodations on this trip are not necessarily for the silver spoon crowd. While hotels in major cities are luxurious, those in rural parts of the country are basic. For those adventurers willing to take the plunge, though, the trip creates memories that last a lifetime. As one rider described it, “I traveled all around the world, but this is the first time I have traveled in the world.”

www.mythsandmountains.com