Jetsettersblog

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has completed its North Runway Project. In conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airline partners and contractors, the Airport completed the construction project on its longest runway in 21 days. The FAA, Airport and airline staff prepared for more than six months on this project, which included a number of enhancements such as: state-of-the-art lighting, pavement repairs and marking, and taxi-way improvements. More than 250 men and women worked to ensure that the $10.6 million North Runway Project was completed on time and in accordance with the FAA’s regulations and safety guidelines.

RESORT NEWS
Enjoy a “Spring Training Family Escape” at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Guests visiting during the 2012 Spring Training Season can expect the ultimate Family FUN experience, and still be close to the nearby ballparks. With the Chief FUN Officer at the helm of the “Family FUN Program,” guests will explore endless possibilities for a memorable family getaway. Learn about special programs and activities such as Kierland Kampfires, Phoenix Zoo presentations, Kids in the Kitchen, Digital Kid’s Club and more. When families aren’t at the ballpark cheering on their favorite team, they can enjoy the Adventure Water Park with a 900-foot lazy river and a 110-foot-long waterslide as well as poolside activities with the FUN Team. The “OK Corral” is adjacent to the Adventure Water Park with lawn chess, basketball, outdoor game tables, RC Car Race Tracks, and hosts Kierland Kampfires with a create-your-own s’ mores experience. The Westin Kierland has a memorable Resort experience to offer, whether looking for a relaxing getaway while taking in a few games, or a family FUN vacation poolside in the beautiful Arizona sunshine

The Arizona Biltmore is the place for a romantic getaway this Valentine’s Day. From February 13 to February 16, guests can book the special “LOVE” package. Starting at $319 per night, enjoy a one night stay, breakfast in bed for two and a bottle of champagne. Or, book the “Valentine’s Candlelight Romance” package, offered through Guest Room Dining. Relax with a 50 minute In-Room Couples Massage, feast on the Chef’s exquisite Four Course Holiday Menu, sip on a bottle of your choice of: Domaine Carneros Sparkling Wine, Cakebread Chardonnay, or Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon, and enjoy a box of house-made chocolates along with a rose for Her. The Candlelight package is $650 per couple.

Pamper that special someone in your life with an evening of romance at the Wigwam Arizona. Indulge in the “Be My Valentine” package and receive a complimentary bottle of champagne upon arrival. Continue the magic with the addition of a hand-picked rose petal turn down service or homemade chocolate truffles. The package starts at $139 plus tax.

This Valentine’s Day, W Scottsdale invites married couples to renew their vows in true Southwest-chic fashion with a striking backdrop of the Arizona sun setting over Camelback Mountain. The ordained W Scottsdale General Manager Ren Hirose will lead a group vow renewal ceremony on the hotel pool’s WET deck, accompanied by a live musical performance and champagne toast. Extend the romantic rendezvous and book the “Valentine’s Day” package, starting at $355 per night, which includes a $50 dining credit at Sushi Roku, overnight accommodations in a Spectacular Room, where a split of champagne and sweet celebration amenity awaits, as well as complimentary breakfast in bed. The vow renewal ceremony will be held at 9:00pm on Valentine’s Day.
Enjoy a Valentine’s Day weekend escape at Kimpton’s Firesky Resort and Spa. Now and again, love birds must leave the nest to have a little fun. Kimpton’s FireSky Resort and Spa offers the perfect place to perch—with haute cuisine, a bottle of bubbly and a cinematic reason to snuggle. The “Romantic Rendevous package” includes a four-course tasting menu for two at Taggia restaurant, a bottle of champagne delivered to the room and an in-room movie. The package, which is offered year-round, is priced from $279.
Plan a “Spring Escape” at The Hermosa Inn. Guests visiting from now thru April 30 can stay a minimum of three nights or more or in Casita, Deluxe Casita or Granda Casita accommodations and receive a $50 credit per day. The credit can be applied to the room rate, food and beverages, or used at the spa.

Tempt the senses this Valentine’s Day at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North as the resort offers myriad ways to capture the romance. On Saturday, February 11, 2012, the Resort will host a “Feast for the Senses” cooking class, highlighting a three-course menu ideal for taking the romance home on Valentine’s Day and beyond. The class will feature a menu meant for sharing, and will include a celebratory welcome cocktail and take-home recipe booklet.

Make this year’s Valentine’s Day a little bit more romantic with the “Romance Package” at the
Hotel Valley Ho. Enjoy a Red Flower aromatherapy candle as a gift upon arrival, along with a complimentary turndown service and delivery of a half-bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and fresh seasonal fruit. Watch a complimentary movie in bed, then sleep in and wake up to breakfast in bed or at Café ZuZu.

The Boulders Resort offers a weekend of romance and adventure for Valentine’s Day. Acclaimed as “one of the most romantic hotels in the U.S.,” The Boulders Resort Valentine’s Day activities include private hot air ballooning, moonlight bicycle rides for couples, rock climbing clinics for couples and a “Golfers Valentine Refresher,” where guests receive golf instruction and can play the new Pebbles Tee. Or, book the “Boulders Romance Package” and enjoy luxurious Resort Casita accommodations, daily breakfast for two, a chilled bottle of Sparkling Wine or Sparkling Cider upon arrival, and complimentary access to the award-winning Golden Door Spa and fitness facility, adult pool, steam rooms, sauna and Niwa pool.

For that special occasion, treat your significant other to a weekend of romance, adventure and pure relaxation at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort. The AAA Five-Diamond resort is the perfect retreat for your personalized romantic weekend getaway this Valentine’s Day. Book the “Couples Celebration Package” which includes one night luxurious room accommodations in a Fairmont room, champagne upon arrival and a $200 resort credit per room, per night, to be used towards the award-winning Willow Stream Spa or on food and beverage at any of the Resort’s outlets.

ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
In honor of Arizona’s 100 Years celebration, The Arizona Centennial Commission and 2012 Foundation announces its signature event, the Arizona Best Fest. Enjoy a free street extravaganza of mainstage headliners, traveling museums, cultural villages, Arizona wines and craft beers, an Arizona 100 art show and a family fun zone from Sat., February 11 from noon until 10 p.m. and Sun., February 12 from noon until 6 p.m. Don’t miss the Capitol Copper Dome Mainstage, which will feature Arizona’s own Michelle Branch, Jerry Riopelle and the Gin Blossoms on Saturday and the Grammy award-winning George Benson on Sunday. The “Best of Arizona” celebration will overtake the Arizona State Capitol complex and its streets from 10th Avenue to 17th Avenue.

Celebrate Arizona’s 100th anniversary of statehood and Valentine’s Day with live, local entertainment, food and drinks at the Musical Instrument Museum’s (MIM) “Romancing Arizona” event on February 14. Enjoy the sounds of The Sugar Thieves and the Savory Hop Cats along with a special menu of food and drinks created with local ingredients from Arizona farms, ranches and wineries. Guests will also have the opportunity to get a sneak peak of MIM’s centennial exhibition located in the USA/Canada Gallery, featuring a historical celebration of 100 years of Arizona music. Tickets are $60 and include two drink tickets and a cash bar thereafter, a special menu of local food, access to the United States/ Canada gallery, a preview of the centennial exhibition, plus entertainment in the Main Courtyard.

The Heard Museum is hosting the 22nd Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12, 2012. The Heard Museum World Championship Hoop Dance Contest combines artistry, athleticism and cultural traditions to create a unique competition. Top American Indian and Canadian First Nations hoop dancers from the United States and Canada are preparing to compete for the prestigious title of world champion during the two-day event. Both women and men compete on an equal field for the title, and will be judges on a slate of five skills: precision, timing/rhythm, showmanship, creativity and speed. Tickets are $15 for general admission.

Grab your mug and get ready for this year’s Arizona Beer Fest. Due to the success of inaugural Arizona Beer Week in 2011, the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild has brought back the weeklong celebration with more than 150 independent events across the state. From February 15-25, learn to perfect the artistry of brewing, enhance your craft beer education and taste new brews at one of the many sponsored daily events. From beer festivals to kegs and eggs brunches, Arizona Beer Fest has something for all types of beer drinkers. The celebration will start with the 12th Annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival, held atSteele Indian School Park in Phoenix on February 18th, 2012.

Starting this week, CityScape is hosting a “Pop Up Park” at Patriots Square where lunch-goers can soak up the sunshine and socialize with fun, free activities. At no cost, you can rent Scrabble, Jenga, cornhole, books and magazines from a free loaner library, lawn chairs, blankets, Frisbees and a basketball hoop for a friendly game of HORSE. Every Thursday and Friday, enjoy live music by local DJ William Reed and Sean Watson. The park will run Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the end of spring.

A new Heard Museum exhibit exploring the Apache legacy is opening February 11. “Beyond Geronimo: The Apache Experience” will bring this historic character to life via personal possessions (moccasins, beaded awl case, bow and quiver), painted and photographic portraits, and other artifacts. Using Geronimo’s life story as a window into the overall Apache experience, Beyond Geronimo will also portray other significant Apache events and leaders with exemplary pieces from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of the American Indian, the Autry National Center, other loan institutions and a number of private lenders. Combining examples of cultural and fine art, the exhibit will also include historic artifacts never before seen by the general public, such as the celebrated Naiche hide painting, recently acquired by the Heard Museum. Curated by the Heard Museum, this exhibit is an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Arizona statehood in 2012, and will run through January 20, 2013.

“Experience Italy” during the 8th Annual San Gennaro Feast March 21-25 at the Turf Paradise Race Track. The festival celebrating the spirit of San Gennaro offers over 50 Italian food vendors, 50 amusement rides, traditional Italian processions, and live entertainment hosted by “Las Vegas Ambassador of Entertainment” Tony Sacca. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for seniors and military. Ride tickets must be purchased separately. Free parking is provided.

SPORTS/GOLF
Batter Up! It’s that time again. March will mark the start of Cactus League Spring Training Baseball for the 2012 preseason. Come enjoy beautiful weather and baseball at any of the Valley’s 10 stadiums featuring 15 MLB teams: The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers. Tickets are as little as $5.
The LPGA tour will be coming to Phoenix for the renowned 2012 RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, March 12-18. The Founders Cup, which honors the 13 women who started the LPGA in 1950, will be held on the green of the Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. The tournament, which has been expanded to a four-day, 72-hole format, will have 132 of the world’s best women golfers competing for pride, a $1.5 million purse and the promise of $500,000 to the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program. For the first time, the Founders Cup will also feature a special tribute to LPGA “Pioneers” who had a major role in creating one of the most successful women’s sports organizations in history. Tickets are now on sale for any day on the grounds for $20.
US Lacrosse has named the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix as the host of its2012 West Regional Championships. June 1-3, teams from across the nation will travel to Phoenix to participate in these youth lacrosse tournaments. The event is open to boys’ and girls’ teams at the under-11, under-13 and under-15 age divisions. In the under-15 division, the regional champion and second-, third- and fourth-place finishers will earn automatic bids to the US Lacrosse under-15 National Championship in Orlando. In addition, this year US Lacrosse will crown a regional champion at the under-11 and under-13 levels for the first time.

Continue reading What’s New in Greater Phoenix? February 2012…

This famous route was first recorded by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, who walked to and from Rome to be consecrated by the Pope, writing his itinerary in the middle of the 10th century. More than 2000 kilometres long, the Via Francigena offers many outstanding highlights.

As it passes through England, France, Switzerland and Italy, this journey has some beautiful places of interest, such as the famous Canterbury Cathedral, Lake Geneva, the Great St. Bernards Pass and the Swiss Alps.

The highlight of the trip is the last 100 kilometres, the most famous and the most walked section, which takes you from Viterbo to the St Peter’s Basilica. You will pass by the beautiful lakes Vico and Bracciano, as well as the beautiful pools of thermal water near Viterbo. Entering Rome via the ancient Appian Way, you will walk one of the oldest Roman roads. Rome is one of the most impressive cities in the world and is full of history, art, fantastic food and culture.

The route is split into 16 sections, and each section takes approximately 1 week, with travellers booked into 2* or 3* hotels along the way. Each section starts and finishes in a large city with landmarks, like Canterbury, Reims, Lausanne, Siena or Rome.

Camino Ways, the walking and cycling holiday specialists, can organise this trip of a lifetime, with prices from €575pps, or €695 single for 6 nights.

Departure for the self-guided tours happens all year round. There are two guided tours a month scheduled for 2012.

Price includes: Luggage transfers between each hotel, breakfast, dinner and a comprehensive Holiday Pack including 24/7 assistance over the phone.

Please note, price does not include return flights.
To book, or for further information visit www.caminoways.com  or call 01 525 28 86

WATERBURY, VT– Quark Expeditions, the leader in polar expeditions, is turning the Arctic region into an adventure of epic proportions and the ultimate educational experience of a lifetime for families with tweens and teens. This August, the Spitsbergen Family Adventure: Polar Bear Safari expedition departs for eight days of unforgettable adventure in the continuous daylight offered by the Arctic region. Families with kids will learn first-hand from Quark’s polar expedition team how to identify animal tracks and scat, capture iconic wildlife such as polar bears and walrus on film, or how polar weather effects world-wide weather patterns.

“Quark’s family-focused Arctic expedition takes advantage of a kid’s natural curiosity and sense of adventure,” stated Hans Lajerweij, President of Quark Expeditions. “The Arctic trip especially, is a great way to combine activity and learning; to spot polar bears and other wildlife, and come away with a deeper understanding of the history, nature and importance of these incredibly unique areas of the world.”

In addition to the educational experience aboard a unique “polar classroom”, there is also plenty of adventure to keep everyone happy and active, including shore landings in Zodiacs, snowshoeing and camping available on all of Quark’s Arctic expeditions.

Quark is also offering an 11-day, December holiday season Antarctic Explorer expedition with family-friendly pricing. This is the classic Antarctic Peninsula trip and also explores the South Shetland Island visiting penguins and seals along the way.

Reservations

Quark Expeditions is offering two upcoming family-friendly priced departures. Children travel at a 15% reduced rate in the Arctic on the Polar Bear Safari and in the Antarctic on the Antarctic Explorer. Enter the code KIDSP for online reservations.

Please note, as part of Quark’s commitment to only the highest safety standards, children must be at least 12 years old to participate on an expedition.

Polar Bear Safari: Spitsbergen Family Adventure: August 2-9, 2012 prices from $3,690 per person.

Family-Friendly Antarctic Explorer: The Classic Adventure: December 25, 2012 – January 4, 2013 prices from $6,995 per person.

To book your trip, call a Quark Polar Travel Adviser at 888-892-0171 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com.

Since 1991, Quark established a tradition of firsts in polar expedition travel. The company was first to transit the Northeast Passage with commercial passengers; the first to take travelers to the “Far Side” of Antarctica and the first to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent with guests. Quark is recognized for its diverse passenger fleet – including the only polar-class icebreaker operating as an expedition ship in Antarctica. In 2011, Quark was named a recipient of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime” for their “Three Arctic Islands” voyage.

OpenSkies, the trans-Atlantic subsidiary of British Airways, is adding a new Eco cabin class to its planes, offering more people access to a premium travel experience between New York-Newark and Paris-Orly.

Starting June 19, OpenSkies will have a new three-class configuration on its planes. The Eco class, now available for booking, will join the Biz Bed and Biz Seat classes, which will become Prem Plus. OpenSkies’ new Eco class will be equipped with 66 leather seats. Prem Plus (formally Biz Seat) will include 28 seats. Biz Bed, the business class cabin of OpenSkies, will continue to offer lie-flat seats in an exclusive 20-seat cabin.

At New York-Newark airport, all passengers will be able to check-in at joint British Airways/OpenSkies and use priority lanes at security check points (Biz Bed and Prem Plus). Further, Biz Bed passengers can use the British Airways lounge and will have the option to dine before the flight to maximize their resting time while traveling.

At Paris-Orly airport (West Terminal), investment will focus on improving services and a smoother passage through the terminal.

Passengers get individual iPads, access to British Airways business class check-in desks at New York-Newark and priority access through security checks for Prem Plus and Biz Bed passengers. Biz Bed passengers also have access to the British Airways airport lounges at Orly and Newark.

Open all year round La Plagne’s brand new swimming pool and SPA complex ‘l’Espace Paradisio will have the most amazing selection of activities and relaxation facilities for the whole family to enjoy. Winner of the Famille Plus award ‘l’Espace Paradisio provides affordable leisure activities and a ‘family friendly’ environment. Boasting a phenomenal view of the slopes, this resort makes for a perfect getaway with plenty of fun and games for the children too.

After an intense day on the slopes you can rest assured knowing that you’ll be returning to Turkish baths, a sauna, a cold plunge pool, a Jacuzzi and much more.

Inside Facilities: 340m2 (Available until September)
- A 70 m2 spa pool
- Turkish baths, sauna, infra-red treatment rooms, cold plunge pool and Jacuzzi
- A play area for children
- A health and beauty clinic with a full array of treatments including massage and facials. (Combi prices from 30€)

Outside Facilities: (Available from June)
- A 280 m2 fun pool
- 3 fun slides (20m long)
- Splashpad (aquatic games)

Fitness Classes all year round:
Aquafitness and aquabiking

To find out more visit www.la-plagne.com

In 1909, Teddy Roosevelt spent months preparing 127 crates of gear for his journey into the”Dark Continent”; in 1908, Winston Churchill had his servants build a portable bath tub for his African adventure; and David Livingstone spent four whole years from 1852 to 1856 making arrangements for his memorable trans-Africa expedition.

Now, with Africa safari planner — our free, revolutionary online safari tool — http://africasafariplanner.nathab.com/planner#/start you can create your own perfect Africa safari in just minutes, using only two fingers.

Choosing from our carefully selected collection of nearly 300 luxury camps and lodges across dozens of Africa’s best safari routes, anybody who can click a mouse can now view a lion. There’s no charge for using this novel program, and it’s fun and shareable. Go ahead, create a dream safari and send it to your family and friends.

And when it’s time for you to make your journey, our exclusive Quality-Value Promise guarantees that our highly professional and experienced safari staff will ensure that you get the BEST SAFARI at the BEST RATE!

So if you’ve dreamed of viewing animals at close range on the vast African velds, or awakening to the sights and sounds of nature’s most awe-invoking landscapes, it’s time to move beyond cookie-cutter, off-the-rack safari packages — our exclusive Africa safari planner will put you in the driver’s seat.

CLICK HERE to check out this unique and fun new travel adventure tool! This is the future of travel to Africa.

Marriott International’s Edition brand, the luxury lifestyle hotel chain launched in partnership with Ian Schrager, will debut five hotels in major gateway cities across three continents by 2015.

The new projects include a hotel in New York City’s Clock Tower building, as well as new properties in Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles and Gurgaon, India.

The New York Edition will be located at the landmark Clock Tower building at 5 Madison Ave., which was acquired for $165 million from prior owner Africa Israel USA. While design work is already underway, the renovation and conversion of the building will begin in late 2012.

The Bangkok property will be part of a mixed-use development planned for one of the tallest buildings in Bangkok. The Abu Dhabi Edition will be part of the Al Bateen Harbor complex within the Abu Dhabi Marina. Marriott International is also developing Edition hotels in Miami Beach, London and now New York.

The company expects to recycle its property investments over time through the sale of the hotels while maintaining long-term management contracts. The London Edition will open next year in the historic building formerly known as the Berners Hotel, located in the city’s Fitzrovia neighborhood. The Miami Beach Edition, under construction in the former Seville Hotel, is expected to open in late 2013. The Istanbul Edition is open and operating under a long-term management agreement.

The Edition portfolio had also included a Waikiki property for which the management contract ended last fall after a hostile takeover of the hotel by its owners, which was then followed by lawsuits between Marriott and the owners.

FLORIDA KEYS — With balmy temperatures even in the winter months, the Florida Keys & Key West offer visitors a warm welcome and a wealth of new and enhanced accommodations, land and water attractions, and culinary and creative experiences. Explore the highlights here.

Keys Accommodations

The property that was once Islamorada’s iconic Holiday Isle Beach Resort and Marina, located at mile marker (MM) 84 oceanside, has completed an $11.6 million renovation. Now known as the Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina at Holiday Isle, the landmark has been transformed into a lushly landscaped, modern tropical oceanfront resort.

The Postcard Inn at Holiday Isle’s evolution includes renovations to its guestrooms, meeting space, main lobby and swimming pool area. Extensive landscaping improvements have been made to highlight natural scenic views, while technology upgrades include comprehensive resort-wide Wi-Fi access and flat-screen televisions at the on-site bars as well as in all guestrooms.

The resort’s main restaurant facility, formerly the Sport Fish Grill, has been transformed into the first Shula Burger. Named for legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, the restaurant offers a full-service bar and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Holiday Isle’s famed Tiki Bar, with its hand-carved wood floor, is expected to remain — along with the resort’s claim to have invented the frozen rumrunner cocktail.

For more information, visit www.holidayisle.com.

***

Marathon’s luxurious Hawks Cay Resort, located on Duck Key at MM 61 oceanside, has begun a $1 million renovation to enhance the culinary options available to guests at the 60-acre island getaway.

Much of the renovation will be focused on the main kitchen to allow several menu enhancements. Terrace, the pool area breakfast eatery, will expand its menu to include lunch items.

The Beach Grill at Hawks Cay and the surrounding beach area are to transition into a designated adults-only area renamed Sand Bar. The Sand Bar menu is to feature more adult-oriented opulent light fare.

The resort’s gift shop, soon to be known as Island Time, will expand to include a coffee bar serving a full Starbucks menu.
Resort renovations are slated for completion by March 2012.

For more information visit www.hawkscay.com.

***

Albury Court Hotel, one of five properties in the Historic Key West Inns collection, has completed room renovations that marry historic architecture with modern amenities and décor.

All of the boutique hotel’s 38 rooms were transformed at a cost of approximately $100,000.

Located at 1030 Eaton St., Albury Court offers rooms in five adjacent historic buildings whose Key West–style architectural features include clapboard siding, open porches, metal roofs and picket fences. The buildings share a courtyard, lobby and heated pool with waterfall.

Continental breakfast is included with all guest stays.

For more information, visit www.historickeywestinns.com/the-inns/albury-court.

***

The poolside Lighthouse Court Café & Mojito Bar recently debuted at the Lighthouse Court Hotel, located at 902 Whitehead St. beside the historic Key West Lighthouse and across the street from the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum.

The café and bar provide an ideal venue for hotel guests and walk-in visitors seeking a few drinks or a quick lunch in the island’s historic district. Menu items at the café include fresh salads, wraps, homemade Key lime pie and personal-sized flatbread pizzas. The full bar provides specialty cocktails like Not Quite Hemingway’s Mojitos and Adalina’s Key Lime Margaritas.

The café features seating for 23 people, with space for about 200 people in the adjacent courtyard.

Lighthouse Court is one of five boutique hotels in the Historic Key West Inns collection. The property features 40 guestrooms in 10 “conch” buildings dating from 1890 to the 1920s. A large central pool, tropical landscaping and decked courtyards enhance the spacious environment.

Continental breakfast is included with all guest stays.

For more information, visit www.historickeywestinns.com/the-inns/lighthouse-court/lighthouse-court-cafe-bar.

Keys Experiences

Classic historic elegance meets modern luxury aboard Key West’s newest sailing cruise vessel, the Schooner America 2.0.

Modeled after the maritime icon Schooner America, the original 1851 winner of the prestigious sailing competition named for the vessel — the America’s Cup — the America 2.0 is a 105-foot tribute ship built with lightweight modern materials that enable it to navigate with speed, efficiency and minimal environmental impact.

The Schooner America 2.0 is to spend the winter months through April berthed at Key West and sailing with the Classic Harbour Line Fleet from Key West’s Historic Seaport.

The modern schooner sails twice daily. The 90-minute Key West Day Sail departs at 1:30 p.m. for a voyage around Key West highlighting the island’s maritime sights. The two-hour Champagne Sunset Sail in Key West waters emphasizes the island’s famed sunset as a backdrop to its natural beauty.

Day sails are priced at $49 per guest and sunset sails are priced at $75 per guest. Both excursions feature complimentary beer, wine, champagne, soda and water, and guests can bring aboard their own picnic.

For more information, call 305-293-7245 or visit www.sail-keywest.com.

***

Visitors to the Florida Keys can try their luck aboard the Tropical Breeze Casino, the island chain’s newest casino cruise ship.

The 10,000-square-foot casino area is a gamers’ dream, offering blackjack and craps tables with buy-ins as low as $5, poker and mini-baccarat tables as well as several slot machines.

The floating casino also features two full bars, a restaurant and a top viewing deck perfect for stargazing, dolphin watching or simply enjoying the ride.

The Tropical Breeze Casino cruises Keys waters Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and nightly from 6 to 11 p.m. departing from Key West Harbour Yacht Club, 6000 Peninsular Ave. on Stock Island. Tickets are $20 and reservations are required. Patrons must be at least 18 years old.

Key West’s Old Town Trolley will transport casino patrons from four of its centrally located stops to the Key West Harbour Yacht Club.

For more information, visit www.tropicalbreezecasino.com  or call 305-294-3990.

***

Key West’s well-known Subtropic Dive Center recently changed ownership to become Seaduction Key West.

Now managed by a group of dive veterans, the shop at 1605 N. Roosevelt Blvd. is poised to restore Key West’s former reputation as a technical diving capital.

With a focus on technical dives —deeper than 130 feet using mixed gases — Seaduction Key West plans to offer daily dive trips to the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg artificial reef and to lesser-known deep-dive sites like the USS Curb and USS Wilkes-Barre. The shop also will offer dive training and equipment rentals including Nitrox and Trimix gas tanks.

For further information, visit www.seaduction.com/keywest  or call 1-800-853-DIVE (1-800-853-3483).

***

Active travelers now have a new way of seeing the Florida Keys. Key Largo Bike and Adventure Tours provides guided bicycle tours of the islands.

The Pigeon Key Biking and Kayaking Tour is a six-hour excursion that includes transportation, active gear, entrance fees and lunch. In addition to biking and kayaking, participants can choose between snorkeling on the beach or taking a 1.5-mile hiking trail.

The Century Rides to Key West are for experienced cyclists who are used to riding along the road. The tour starts at MM 100 and ends at the southernmost point in the continental United States. Participants can choose to explore Key West for the afternoon, or spend the night for an additional charge. These tours take place on the second Saturday of every month.

For a shorter trip focused on history and local culture, the company provides historical trips in Islamorada. The three-mile tours, which last approximately two hours and take place every weekend, proceed at an easy pace and include 10 stops around the island.

For details and tour availability, visit www.keylargobike.com  or call 305-395-1551.

***

Visitors to Key Largo, known as the dive capital of the world, now can experience the majesty of the sea without getting their feet wet aboard a 128-passenger paddlewheel boat. Island Time Cruise Co. specializes in 2.5-hour island cruises for lunch, brunch or sunset dinner with food prepared by Steamers Restaurant.

The paddlewheel boat features an all-wood dining room and two bars, and offers spectacular views of Keys waters and wildlife. The company also plans to offer Sunday brunch, murder mystery dinners, wine tastings and live island music aboard the boat.

The Island Time Cruise Co. paddlewheel boat is available for private charters for weddings, seminars and other special events.

The ship departs from Steamers Restaurant, located next to Gilbert’s Resort at MM 107 on Blackwater Sound. Tickets are available at Keys Diver, MM 99.6 bayside.

For more information, visit www.islandtimecruises.com  or call 305-453-0001.

***

Tavernier’s Florida Keys Dive Center is the newest dive operator to join Blue Star, a voluntary conservation recognition program started in 2010 by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Ten Keys dive operators are participants, recognized for their dedication to coral reef education and conservation.

Blue Star’s mission is to help reduce the impact of divers and snorkelers on the coral reef system that parallels the Florida Keys — the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States.

Dive operators who participate in the program are evaluated yearly, and must be involved in conservation-related activities such as reef cleanups or fish counts. They also must have trained staff committed to promoting responsible tourism and teaching divers and snorkelers in-water etiquette.

Florida Keys Dive Center, located at MM 90.5 oceanside, offers several dive charter and equipment rental packages including seasonal coral reef restoration dives.

For more information, visit www.floridakeysdivectr.com  or call 1-800-433-8946.

For Blue Star details, visit www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/bluestar/operators.html

Keys Flavors

The Lower Keys has a new sweet spot with the opening of Fruitcakes! Tasty Vegan Bites, an almost entirely organic vegan bakery.

Fruitcakes! Tasty Vegan Bites serves up vegan made-to-order baked goods that are friendly to people with allergies. Bakery specialties include flour-free macaroons, double chocolate brownies, oatmeal raisin cookies, cakes, dairy-free cheesecakes, biscotti, baked donuts and more.

Ready-made baked goods are available in the Fruitcakes! Tasty Vegan Bites baking case at Good Food Conspiracy, located on Big Pine Key at MM 30.2. In addition, custom orders can be placed by phone and picked up at Deer Run Bed & Breakfast, also on Big Pine Key at 1997 Long Beach Road.

Treats from Fruitcakes! Tasty Vegan Bites are available for small-order catering for private parties and small-scale events, with the debut of large-volume catering for weddings and large parties planned for early spring 2012.

For information, call Jennifer DeMaria at 305-872-2015.

Keys Artistry

Visitors and residents traveling the Florida Keys Overseas Highway have a new outdoor art mural to view at MM 95 bayside in Key Largo. The mural was created for the centennial anniversary of the completion of Henry Flagler’s Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad.

The hand-painted mural, measuring 60 feet long and 11.5 feet high, depicts a train similar to a Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad passenger train steaming across an arched bridge much like the Long Key Viaduct. Above the bridge is a full moon adorned with the face of the railroad’s creator, Henry Flagler.

The mural was a collaborative effort between the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, lead artist Cris Sandifer and high school art club students at Islamorada’s Island Christian School. It covers the southwest exterior wall of the Atlantic Title building.

Creation of the mural is one of a number of Keys events commemorating the 1912 arrival of Flagler’s first train from the U.S. mainland through the Florida Keys to Key West.

For information on the railroad and its centennial, visit www.FlaglerKeys100.com.  For information on the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, visit www.purpleislesartguild.com.

***

Since opening a year ago, Islamorada’s Gallery 84 has evolved into an eclectic one-stop shop for art lovers, a co-op art gallery combined with island-style inspirations and design. Located at MM 84.7, it features displays from five local artists, an interactive artisan workshop and a menu of new creative offerings for first-time and repeat patrons.

Shop guests can discover custom-filled gift baskets such as the Welcome to the Keys, I Do and Beach Basket that feature artistic items and gourmet foods, and displays of hand-painted shoulder bags, pillows and other cause-based sustainable tourism gift items.

Artist-owners Liz Queeny and Meeja Ritchie-Smith also have developed the Design Center @ 84, offering hand-created wedding, shower and event invitations and cards for special occasions. In addition, Queeny and Smith can create gallery-wrap canvases from digital images captured by Keys vacationers, with a turnaround time of as little as 24 hours.

For more information, call 305-735-4596, email G84@gmail.com  or visit www.facebook.com/whid1211.

Keys Historic Sites

The historic and architecturally unique Casa Antigua was the first place Ernest Hemingway resided in Key West, where he worked on “A Farewell to Arms” in 1928. Recently, the building’s ground level and open-air garden atrium has become available to the public for wedding and private event rentals.

Located at 314 Simonton St., Casa Antigua was once the Trev-Mor Ford dealership. Hemingway meant Key West to be a stopping-off point when he arrived in 1928 by sea from Paris, but the Ford car that should have been waiting at the docks was delayed — so the car dealer persuaded Hemingway and his wife Pauline to stay at the Trev-Mor Hotel above the dealership.

Their extended stay sparked Hemingway’s fascination with Key West and led to his decade-long sojourn on the island.

Today, the property is fully restored to feature the Pelican Poop Shoppe, offering Caribbean gifts, and a luxuriant atrium garden. Its attractions include 80 orchids, star fruit, palm trees and other foliage, a pool and fountain — all surrounded by the brickwork of the building whose private rooms, hugging the exterior walls but leaving the center open to the sky, make up the most unusual home in Key West.

Casa Antigua can be booked 365 days a year for afternoon and early evening events serving up to 200 guests.

For more information, call Lee at 305-849-3473 or email lee@conchcolor.com.

***

Florida Keys visitor information: www.fla-keys.com  or 1-800-FLA-KEYS (1-800-352-5397)
Social: facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest • twitter.com/thefloridakeys • youtube.com/FloridaKeysTV

No need to worry about a chance of showers or winter weather advisory this Valentine’s Day. Guests can enjoy the ultimate romantic package that would make even Cupid envious! Indulge a little this upcoming Valentine’s Day and let your honey take you to where it’s sunny…at the St. Regis Bora Bora with the ultimate Couples Retreat package.

Experience the exclusive romance of Bora Bora with five nights in an elegant deluxe overwater villa with an upgrade to a premier overwater villa or from a pool beach villa to premier oceanfront retreat villa. Additional amenities include daily breakfast for two with signature Bora Mary on weekends, 50 minute couples massage at the Resort’s Miri Miri Spa, one flower turndown service, a flower bath and Tahitian Black Pearl guaranteed to make your hearts flutter. Welcome champagne and sweet treats will be served upon arrival by your very own St. Regis Butler (courtesy of executive chef Sebastien Le Gall from the Resort’s four dining options including Lagoon Restaurant by Jean-Georges Vongerichten). Guests celebrating their wedding or wedding anniversary at the Resort will receive a personalized gift.

Rates begin at USD$1,194 per night, minimum five nights stay is available until March 2013. Rates do not include taxes, and is based on double occupancy per Villa per night. Based on availability and black out dates apply. Use booking code: CPL. For reservations email: reservations@stregisborabora.com or visit www.stregis.com/borabora. Direct reservations accrue double SPG points.

St. Regis Bora Bora Resort features 100 exquisitely designed over-water and beach villas, many with terrace whirlpools or private swimming pools, the one-, two- and three-bedroom villas range in size from 1,550 square feet to the resort’s ultra-luxurious 13,000-square-foot Royal Estate, fittingly set apart in a secluded cove. Guests of the resort have access to world-class restaurants, including Lagoon which is suspended over the water and features cuisine by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Set amidst lush unspoiled surroundings and pristine waters, guests enjoy spectacular views of the main island of Bora Bora as well as the mystical Mount Otemanu, towering over the Pacific Ocean, with the remote islands of Tahaa and Raiatea on the horizon. St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora is protected by self-contained saltwater lagoons and designed to complement the surrounding landscape. The resort features a manmade “hoa” — a Tahitian inlet that utilizes the ocean tides and currents — that provides deep ocean water to the lagoon, replenishing fresh nutrients to sustain the abundant variety of native fish and stingrays.

Why visit the Grand Canyon in the winter? For one thing it’s less crowded, the views are amazing – there may be a sprinkling of snow. There is so much to do and see, the winter birds have returned, and winter has its own magical qualities.

Although summer is certainly the most popular time to visit the spectacular Grand Canyon, a visit to this natural wonder in winter has its own magical qualities. Only the South Rim of the Canyon is open in winter and although the breathtaking views remain the same, there are far fewer crowds to contend with. At almost 7,000 feet in elevation, there is sometimes snowfall in the Grand Canyon, with daytime temperatures ranging anywhere from the 30s to the 60s, often quickly melting any measurable snow.

Taking a day trip to the Grand Canyon from nearby Sedona, Arizona is a great way to enjoy the South Rim and its various sights. Pet friendly Sedona hotel, El Portal, offers a variety of Grand Canyon tours with experienced guides year-round. The beautiful Rim Trail is accessible in winter, providing amazing views and photo opportunities without venturing too far.

Taking in the Grand Canyon IMAX movie provides a wonderful overview of information on the canyon and its history, as well as the thrilling, big screen IMAX experience. You can bring your pets, and the luxury inn will keep an eye on them as you take in the sights. They will water, walk and feed them, letting you tour worry-free.

El Portal owner, Steve Segner, finds that winter guests enjoy experiencing the added bonus of the Canyon’s unique offerings during the winter season. Stops at the South Rim can include El Tovar Lodge, the stately hotel that features a grand lobby.

In winter the massive stone fireplace in the lobby is roaring, and you can take in the canyon views while relaxing in one of the seating areas or having lunch. Hopi House is another interesting sight at the South Rim. This 1905 building was designed by American architect, Mary Colter, in the image of a Hopi pueblo.

This three story building made of local stone and adobe masonry was built to offer visitors insights into Native American culture and artwork.

Native American blankets, baskets, pottery, jewelry and more are on display and for sale at Hopi House today. During the winter season, Hopi House is decorated with glowing luminaria along the roofline in the evening.

For those who want to experience the magic of Northern Arizona in an unforgettable way take a ride on the GrandCanyon Railway.

This journey takes travelers through the wilderness, the terrain changes from high desert to prairie to pine. It’s a view that’s ever-changing – until a view comes across that changes so dramatically, it could very well change you.

Each train engine and each train car has been painstakingly restored to its original state by a staff of mechanics that see their work as more a labor of love than a job.

During the train tour, the crew is no less enthusiastic. Each is bursting with local and Grand Canyon folklore and history, as well as Grand Canyon Railway knowledge.

Strolling musicians play what was hot way back when. And there’s even fun re-creations of an old fashioned shoot out and a train robbery.

El Portal’s staff works with guests to customize Grand Canyon tours and day trips, with the 12 room Sedona hotel serving as home base.

Guests returning to the luxury boutique hotel after a Grand Canyon excursion can relax in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine, or enjoy the comfort of their own well-appointed suite.

The luxury inn was designed and built with painstaking attention to detail, featuring turn of the century South western design.

El Portal encourages guests to make themselves completely at home throughout the property’s indoor and outdoor living spaces.

This pet friendly bed and breakfast has pet patios for your canine companion as well. El Portal’s welcoming atmosphere and personalized concierge services for Sedona and area will make a winter trip to the Grand Canyon an unforgettable experience.