Jetsettersblog

This year Festival Cairns begins a new chapter in its 47 year history.

For the first time in many years it will be managed and directed by its founding organisation, Cairns Regional Council; who have unveiled details of its vision to deliver a reinvigorated, brighter and bolder event program.

Taking its cue from this year’s theme, “Telling Our Stories”, Festival Cairns’ will start with a bang and end on a high – rolling out over 16, action-packed days from Friday 21 August to Sunday 6 September 2009.

Festival Cairns top five highlights will be its Grand Parade and Tropic Wave Festival with special guest headliner, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (one of the largest regional indigenous art fairs in Australia), Cairns Amateurs Racing Carnival, Reggaetown and Father’s Day favourite, Carnival on Collins.

A stylised sun inspired by the licuala palm of Cairns Regional Council’s logo is the basis for this year’s ‘look’.

A bright palette of colour gives life and movement to this graphic device while relating to the sensory feel of Festival Cairns.

“Our new identity has been chosen to be a fun and fresh representation, symbolising the revitalisation of Festival Cairns and the vibrant new programming our in-house ‘Festival’ team is creating.

While at the same time, being respectful to the city’s event tradition - dating right back to the original grand parade and Fun In the Sun,” said Councillor Schier, Mayor of Cairns Regional Council.

According to Festival Cairns Coordinator, Belinda Griffin this year’s ‘look’ and ‘theme’, have evolved from community engagement undertaken last year as part of Cairns’ new Regional Cultural Plan.

“Over 1000 members of the community gave us a good dose of local perspective on their thoughts about many issues, including Festival Cairns – and this reinvention is our response to that feedback,” said Mrs Griffin.

The opening of a new Green Island jetty on 26 May, 1962 was established as the first annual Cairns Tourist Festival, and renamed ‘Fun In The Sun’ the following year.

Since then Tropical North Queensland’s most significant annual celebration, now in its 47th year/

It has experienced a number of changes including its re-launch in the early nineties as ‘Reef Festival’ before its dynamic incarnation in 2002 as ‘Festival Cairns’.

Variety is the spice of life and the new menu at Shoal Bay Resort & Spa’s iconic Promenade Dining Room will leave you spoilt for choice with four irresistible buffets to choose from every night of the week!

The exciting new menu offers the very best in fresh local produce as well as absolute value for money. There’s something for everyone, choose from over 25 dishes and as many courses as you like including tea and coffee. The new look buffets consist of:-

Seafood & Salads
Home Cooked Favourites
Chefs Theme of the Day
Decadent Desserts

The popular seafood & salads buffet showcases the freshest catch of the day including sumptuous local prawns and complimented with creative salads. Feel like something warm and hearty on a cool night and you don’t feel like cooking? Then sit back and let our renowned Chefs prepare your favourite roast meats, fresh crumbed fish and delicious roast vegetables from the “Home Cooked Favourite” buffet.

Escape in international flavours as Chef prepares his theme buffet of the day – a culinary experience not to be missed:
Monday ~ Arabian Nights
Tuesday ~ Flavours of the World
Wednesday ~ Chinese

Thursday ~ Thai
Friday ~ Deluxe Seafood
Saturday ~ Italian
Sunday ~ Carvery & Grill

Just when you thought you couldn’t fit another thing in your drawn to the decadent desserts buffet and just have to try them all. You’ll find a wonderful selection of individual desserts such as sticky date puddings, strawberry shortcake with mousse, mini lemon meringue pies, crème caramels and also gourmet gateau including baked cheese cake, pecan pies and many more. Believe it or not there’s still the Australian cheese platter to be sampled.

Enjoy this amazing array of local cuisine at affordable prices from just AUD$32 per adult, children at half price and seniors discount is also available. The staff at the Promenade Dining Room pride themselves of quality food, fantastic value for money and their friendly service.

The Promenade Dining Room is the original dining room of the Shoal Bay Country Club since 1934. Rekindle the spirit of this local dining icon and revisit an old favourite with breathtaking views across Shoal Bay to the Tomaree Headlands.

Bookings for The Promenade Dining Room’s exciting new four nightly buffets can be made by calling 1800 18 18 10.

Shoal Bay Resort & Spa, your unique local dining experience.

About Shoal Bay Resort & Spa

Shoal Bay Resort & Spa is the ultimate beachfront resort for couples and families alike. Including 200 luxurious self-contained beachfront, waterview, pool view and executive style apartments, 4 restaurants, 5 bars, the iconic Country Club Hotel and the exclusive Aqua Spa.

Shoal Bay Resort & Spa overlooks the pristine white sandy beaches to Port Stephens volcanic Tomaree headland. Shoal Bay boasts walking and cycling tracks, flat water beaches perfect for families as well as three pristine unspoilt National Park surf beaches.

For the more energetic a paved pathway to the top of Tomaree affords unparalleled views of Port Stephens, all within sight and a 10 minute stroll of the resort. Port Stephens is the largest Marine Park in NSW with over 160 resident dolphins and 7000 Humpback Whales passing within sight on migration each year.

Dining options range from the award winning Catch at Shoal Bay, the casual alfresco dining of Sandyfoot Café, the iconic Promenade Dining Room and the family friendly Mermaids Bar & Grill. The legendary Country Club Hotel still remains one of the most popular watering holes on the East Coast of Australia.

Aqua Spa includes the unique thalassotherapy mineral spa pools, twelve treatments rooms, group room and an extensive menu of treatments from hydrotherapy to massage.

For further information please call T: 1800 18 18 10 or visit www.shoalbayresort.com

Summer never really ends in the Whitsundays, and the region is currently enjoying the best sail & cruise season of the year.

Now is the perfect time to go explore this magical island group and its abundant nature on a sea based getaway onboard the 20-meter luxury cruiser DescaradA.

To get the full feel of the great many things that the area has to offer, why not combine a range of experiences with your exclusive cruise and discover the best of the Whitsundays all in one holiday.

The island escape may start from Airlie Beach which is considered the mainland gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

You can stay in a pleasant, fully serviced hotel conveniently close to the town centre or one of the luxurious holiday apartments that offer great views from the hillside over the ocean, before heading for your DescaradA cruise the next day.

The DescaradA crew take guests around the amazing island areas on scheduled two-day and three-day tours as well as extended stays on private charter.

The cruises take in some of the most beautiful areas of the Whitsundays, such as Nara Inlet with its extraordinary rock faces, pure white silica sands of Whitehaven Beach, stunning scenery of Hill Inlet from Tongue Point lookout and fabulous snorkelling spots off northern Hook Island.

While basking in the breathtaking beauty of the Whitsundays the guests are treated to wonderful service with fine food, fun activities and moments of sweet relaxation.

Speed boat trips to beaches, walks in the nature, snorkelling, jet skiing and kayaking are all included activities within the DescaradA cruise package.

On request, scenic flights over the marvellous Great Barrier Reef can be organised directly from the vessel with the thrilling seaplane landing as part of the fun. Guests get the best views of the reef area high from the sky on an hour’s flight, and then return back to their private ocean oasis on DescaradA.

Once the vessel returns to the marina and the unforgettable cruise comes to an end, your holiday can still continue with a relaxing stay in one of the exquisite Whitsunday Island resorts.

Whether you want to experience something private, secluded and romantic or something social, fun and active, you can always find the right island to suit your preferences. Poolside daydreaming, rejuvenating spa treatments, candle lit dinners, and waking up in fresh ocean air that one more last time really do seem like the best ways to take your Whitsundays holiday to an end.

Airlie Beach is the departure and arrival point of all scheduled DescaradA cruises. Proserpine airport is only 25km away and has daily flight connections from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Hamilton Island Airport has daily direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane and regular flights from Cairns and Melbourne.

There is a convenient ferry connection from Hamilton Island to Airlie Beach several times a day. DescaradA Charters organise transfers from local accommodation to the vessel and private charter pick ups directly from island resorts. Contact the DescaradA team for great Whitsunday package ideas and start dreaming of the perfect island escape in one of the renown boating destinations of the world.

Adventure lovers have a new way to enjoy the radiance of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve with the opening of the Gateway in May 2009.

The Preserve, a protected area of land consisting of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert, provides a place for tourists to connect with the city’s unique desert attractions like Saguaro cacti and roadrunners.

As the main entrance into the Preserve, the Gateway welcomes hikers of every physical ability level and in the fall, an interpretive trail allowing people with disabilities to enjoy the park will be created.

The Gateway also incorporates eco-friendly architecture, using rock and soil excavated from the area for the walls of its administration building. Currently, the Gateway is awaiting approval for the United States Green Building Council’s LEED certification.

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is supported by Scottsdale residents and is expected to house the proposed Desert Discovery Center, which will educate visitors on the Sonoran Desert. Once complete, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve will total more than 36,000 acres of permanently protected land, making it larger than the cities of Tempe and Paradise Valley, Ariz. combined.

July 19, 2009 – Darwin Beer Can Regatta: A regatta like no other, optimistic crowds cheer on boats built entirely out of beer cans.

This annual event is rapidly becoming a spectacular for all who line Mindil Beach and cheer on the home-made boats of cans as they flounder and sink in the shallows. www.beercanregatta.org.au

July 11 2009 - Imparja Camel Cup, Alice Springs: The quirky, annual Camel Cup attracts visitors to Alice Springs from all over the world. More than 4,500 people gather to experience this famous camel race and its dusty outback track.

These animals are not short on character, and with nine races scheduled throughout the day, entertainment is assured with novelty events such as rickshaw races and camel polo adding to the races.

www.camelcup.com.au

ASSA ABLOY Henley-On-Todd Regatta, Alice Springs: A boat race with a difference on the dry sands of the Todd River, which has been running since 1962, when a local man decided to start a regatta based on the famous Oxbridge UK boat race. Have fun and enjoy the hilarity as you watch seemingly sane people race in bottomless ‘eights’, ‘oxford tubs’, ‘bath tubs’ and ‘yachts’ through the deep coarse sand in Outback Alice Springs. http://www.henleyontodd.com.au

Excitement is Growing for the 50th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

October 29 – November 2, 2009

The world’s largest boat show is turning 50 this year and will celebrate with an extravaganza of more than $3 billion worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, electronics, engines and thousands of accessories from every major marine manufacturer and builder worldwide. The show encompasses more than 3 million square feet of space, both on land and in water, at six sites and are all connected by the official Show Transportation Network.

Six Locations:

Bahia Mar Yachting Center
Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center
(Hilton) Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club
Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Hotel & Marina
Hall of Fame Marina
Las Olas Marina

Admission is valid for the same-day entrance at all show sites.

E-Ticketing Available for Advance Purchase: Avoid the lines and get your tickets in advance online. Just visit www.showmanagement.com, and then click on the “Buy Tickets ONLINE” link box on the main page.

Box Office Purchase: Purchase tickets on site during the show from the box offices at:

Bahia Mar Yachting Center
Broward County Convention Center
Las Olas Marina
Las Olas Riverfront Docks

Shuttle Buses: Free. Transportation routes between all six show sites, War Memorial Auditorium parking and downtown Riverfront parking.

Water Shuttle: $10 all-day pass, unlimited usage. Waterfront location pick-up points are:

Bahia Mar Yachting Center
Broward County Convention Center
Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club
Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Hotel & Marina

Shuttle busses and water shuttles run one hour prior to show opening and one hour after show closing.

Visit: www.showmanagement.com
or Call: 954-764-7642 or 800-940-7642.

raises funds for wildlife conservation

The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle offers you a chance at a unique hunt and raises funds to benefit wildlife conservation.

There are now 10 special big game tags up for raffle—one each for pronghorn antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues whitetail, desert bighorn sheep, elk, javelina, mule deer, turkey (Gould’s or Merriam’s), and now mountain lion.

In addition, there will be a Swarovski optics package raffled, which will pay for the administration costs of the Super Raffle.

The deadline to purchase tickets by mail is July 3 (postmarks don’t count).

The deadline to purchase tickets online is July 12.

For as little as five dollars, you can get a chance at a great hunt.

For $25, that highly sought-after tag for desert bighorn sheep or a bull elk may be yours.

All ticket proceeds from hunt tags will go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department where every dollar raised for each species will go directly toward the management of that particular species. Last year’s raffle raised $478,860.

The public drawing is Saturday, July 18. The time and location will be announced soon.

For more information, visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com  or find a mail order form in the 2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations on page 34.

LOS ANGELES – It’s never been a better time to visit Los Angeles than now through the end of summer with the unveiling of LA Inc.

The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau’s new “Top 100 Vacation Deals.”

The sizzling summer offers are available through August 31, 2009.
For a complete listing of hotel offers, visit this  link

Stay in the middle of the action and save up to 40 percent with a Hollywood Getaway at Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel or Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa.

Choose from online exclusive getaway packages including two nights of accommodations, a seven-day unlimited ticket to enjoy all the new entertainment at Universal Studios Hollywood, complimentary breakfast for two, complimentary parking and roundtrip transportation between your hotel and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Wind down with a midweek or weekend stay at a choice of 16 Westside hotels.

Escape to The Sofitel Los Angeles, where visitors who book a guestroom by July 5, 2009 get their fourth night free, in addition to a sumptuous picnic basket. If performing arts or a studio tour is on your travel itinerary, visit Inter Continental Los Angeles Century City, where guests who stay a minimum of two nights receive breakfast for two, complimentary parking and a tour of Sony Studios or two tickets to Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Rates start at $269.

In Beverly Hills, The Residence Inn treats travelers to an American Express gift card valued at $50, complimentary AMC movie tickets for two, free WiFi and complimentary breakfast for two starting at $229. At the Holiday Inn Century City, travelers who book two nights obtain the third night free.

For the ultimate ocean-side retreat, take advantage of beachside getaways at Hotel Casa Del Mar with rates starting at $395 per night based on space availability, Le Margot, A JW Marriott Beach Hotel & Spa highlighting two Swedish massages with guestroom rates starting at $459 based on space availability, or Shutters On the Beach which offers a $50 hotel credit and guestroom rates starting at $525 per night based on space availability.

Discover culture in the heart of downtown Los Angeles with Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s “I Love (Downtown LA)! Package for two which highlights a one night stay priced from $179 per night based on space availability, breakfast and tickets to the Museum of Contemporary Art, tickets to the Grammy Museum and vouchers to visit the ESPN Zone.

Other attractive downtown hotel deals include Wilshire Grand Los Angeles’ “Beat the Heat,” whereby the guestroom rate is based on the high temperature of the day of your stay with a $20 room upgrade and 20 percent off hotel dining.

At the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, guests relax in a deluxe guestroom, savor a three-course pre-fixe dinner for two at LA Prime Restaurant and obtain complimentary overnight parking.

In addition to these exclusive packages, travelers can obtain up to 50 percent off on LA’s top cultural, dining, entertainment and other top attractions.

Head to Hollywood for a night at the theatre with 35%-50% off theatre tickets to Dirty Dancing at the Pantages Theater, Hollywood. While in the area, enjoy $5 off regular Adult/Child admission to Madame Tussaud’s Hollywood Wax Museum, or treat yourself to a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée when dining at the renowned Geisha House on Hollywood Boulevard.

While in downtown, embark on a larger-than-life feature film adventure with $2 off Adult admission and $1 off Children’s admission to an IMAX movie at the California Science Center IMAX Theater, or enjoy $3 off admission to the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live. Stop for lunch at Zucca Ristorante, an upscale Italian establishment, currently offering a $19 lunch special and $5 parking for guests of the restaurant.

Chill out on the Westside with a complimentary appetizer while dining at Crustacean, one of Beverly Hill’s finest eateries, or experience 2-for-1 general admission to the Skirball Cultural Center.

Soak in the sun at the city’s top seaside eateries with offers including 15% off the total bill at I Cugini’s in Santa Monica, or a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée at Geoffrey’s Malibu.

Take in the sites and sounds of the Santa Monica Pier boardwalk with 15% off an unlimited-ride wristband at the popular weekend beachside destination, Pacific Park.

The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Though not part of city Government, LA INC. is recognized as the city’s official tourism marketing organization.

For more information about “Los Angeles Top 100 Vacation Deals,” visit the official visitors information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com