Jetsettersblog

Visitors can be Super Man or Wonder Woman for a day at Comic-Con International, July 23 – 26, at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con has become a signature summertime event for San Diego; it is the largest comics and pop culture event in the United States, attracting thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture. For more information, call 619-491-2475, or visit www.comic-con.org .

San Diego’s culinary community joins forces during September 13 – 18 for San Diego Restaurant Week. More than a hundred of the region’s top restaurants offer prix-fixe, three-course dinner menus at just $20, $30 or $40 per person, so visitors can sample the signature cuisine and sophisticated style that make San Diego’s dining scene one of the region’s top attractions.

For more information, call 858-523-9020, or visit www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com .

The “turf meets the surf” at the Del Mar Racetrack where home racing fans flock each summer to wager on their favorite horses during the popular, annual Del Mar Thoroughbred Club racing season, July 22 – September 9.

The races run six days weekly, except Tuesday. Every Friday, guests can catch 4 O’Clock Fridays, a free headliner concert following the day’s last race.

On September 6, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic treats guests to a prestigious event with a race between the nation’s top thoroughbreds and $1 million purse. For more information, call 858-755-1141, or visit www.dmtc.com

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

In April 2009, the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park opened Flightline, a new zip-line adventure that transports guests more than 400 feet across the park at speeds up to 60 mph.

The 1.5-hour experience begins at the top of a mountain in Nairobi Village and features a brief training lesson, behind-the-scenes narration and an aerial adventure that soars across the Asian and African field exhibits, and ends at Kilima Point. Participants must be 10 years of age or older and weigh between 75 and 200 pounds; the cost is $70 in addition to regular park admission.

For more information, call 619-231-1515, or visit www.sandiegozoo.org/wap

On May 23, 2009, the San Diego Zoo unveiled a journey through time with the opening of its newest exhibit, The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey. Highlighting animals of the past, present and future, the $44 million, seven-acre habitat features Asian elephants, a California condor, sloths, snakes and rodents, as well as life-sized replicas of animal species that dotted the Southern California landscape more than 10,000 years ago.

A herd of eight elephants roam a 2.5-acre exhibit that includes a 120,000-gallon pool, gentle rolling hills and the Conrad Prebys Elephant Management Facility, where visitors can see keepers and veterinarians at work with the animals.

Additional highlights of Elephant Odyssey include a tar pit replication, fossil dig, children’s play area and much more. For more information, call 619-231-1515, or visit www.sandiegozoo.org

On May 29, 2009, SEA LIFE Aquarium in Carlsbad launched a new exhibit, Sharks Revealed.

The new display will replace the Kelp Forrest exhibit and provide an up-close look at the evolution, development and lifestyles of sharks, including how they eat, breathe and sleep. Several unique shark species will roam through the exhibit like the brown banded bamboo shark, white spotted bamboo shark and coral catshark.

Sharks Revealed will also showcase a number of educational displays and interactive opportunities for guests.

For more information, call 760-918-5346, or visit www.sealifeus.com

NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS

In August 2009, Hotel Indigo San Diego, a new alternative to traditional hotels, will open in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego.

Catering to the style-conscious traveler, the hotel will offer personalized service, affordable luxury and intelligent design to create a one-of-a-kind, welcoming environment.

The 12-story, 210-room property will feature open spaces, bold colors, unique textures, natural imagery and spa-inspired touches throughout the property.

In addition, public spaces and guestrooms will undergo seasonal transformations so that aromas, music, artwork, murals and more correlate to match the four seasons.

Hotel Indigo San Diego will also offer a bistro-style Golden Bean restaurant and Phi bar, each offering seasonal gourmet fare for breakfast and dinner.

A 24-hour “Phi”tness Studio, rooftop terrace with a reflection pool and fire pits, business center, 6,200-sq. ft. of meeting space and free wireless internet will round out the amenities.

Hotel Indigo will be San Diego’s first LEED-certified hotel, and green building practices will be seen throughout the property, including green roofs on its 9th and 12th floors.

For more information, visit www.hotelindigo.com

HOTEL RENOVATIONS AND NAME CHANGES

Renovations and upgrades to the historic 1906 Lodge in Coronado were completed in May 2009.

The building was originally built in 1906 as a boarding house, and now serves as a charming 17-room hotel.

Six of the hotel’s guest rooms are located in the mail lodge and feature queen beds, period furniture and original leaded glass windows that provide gorgeous views of Coronado.

Eleven of the hotel’s guest rooms are located in newly built bungalows and feature king beds, spa tubs, private entrances and private balconies or porches. Additional upgrades to the building include renovated common areas like the parlor, dining room and veranda.

The 1906 Lodge also boasts meeting space that can accommodate up to 40 guests.

For more information, call 866-435-1906, or visit http://1906lodge.com

The Holiday Inn San Diego on the Bay recently unveiled a complete brand re-launch featuring a new look and feel throughout the 14-story property.

The hotel’s 600 rooms now feature comfortable beds with crisp linens and a selection of pillows that range from soft to firm.

Guestroom bathrooms have been enhanced with superior showerheads, a curved shower rod for a more spacious feel and premium bath products. Enhanced lighting and landscaping designs offer a warm arrival experience, while just inside the lobby, new stylish touches, signature sounds, scents and an efficient guest check-in round out the welcome experience.

For more information, call 619-232-3861, or visit www.hisandiegoonthebay.com

In May 2009, Pala Casino Spa and Resort in San Diego’s North County completed a $100 million expansion, which includes major improvements to the dining and gaming areas and a new parking garage.

Pala Casino’s buffet area was expanded to 20,000-sq. ft. and renamed Choices, providing guests a world-class, interactive dining experience featuring eight live-action cooking stations, seating for more than 625 guests, an area for private parties and great views of the neighboring scenic mountains.

Pala Casino also opened two new restaurants — Amigos, an authentic Mexican eatery with quick-style service, and Sushi Sake, a Japanese restaurant. Within Pala’s casino area, a Poker Room with 15 tables, private cage windows and tableside dining was also added. Additionally, the casino’s private High Limit Area features three redesigned, Feng Shui-inspired rooms.

For more information, call 877-946-7252, or visit www.palacasino.com

Continue reading UPCOMING MAJOR EVENTS in San Diego…

As A Tie-In With Silver Dollar City’s Festivities

BRANSON, MO – If you’re seeking a fun family-friendly getaway this summer, you should check out Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa in Branson, Missouri. Featuring an array of recreational offerings that can please virtually everyone in the family, the resort is offering a new “KidsFest Package” as a tie-in with Silver Dollar City’s popular “National KidsFest.”

In addition to deluxe accommodations for two nights at the AAA Four-Diamond resort, the package includes: a $50 Food Credit toward any of the resort’s food services, to be used during your stay;

one set of Two-Day Passes to Silver Dollar City for two adults and one child, for use during your stay (additional tickets may be purchased separately);

use of outdoor and indoor pools, hot tub, fitness facilities, playground and nature trail; and free indoor parking.

The package is from $550 per room, and is available through August 9, 2009. Tax and gratuity are additional, and the package is based on availability.

Silver Dollar City’s “National KidsFest” runs through August 9, 2009, and will feature special performances that will appeal to the entire family. Summer 2009 offerings include performances by illusionist Peter Gossamer, drum and dance performances by Swedish super group Jeerk, and a special VeggieTales show.

Featuring a beautiful Ozark mountaintop setting overlooking scenic Table Rock Lake, Chateau on the Lake Resort offers a diversity of recreational options. This includes a marina, which offers more water sports activities than any other resort in the Midwest. Offerings include an array of watercraft rentals, which includes ski boats, fishing boats, waverunners, catamarans, paddleboats, sea kayaks, and canoes. Parasailing, guided fishing excursions, scuba diving, and snorkeling are among the many other available options.

Table Rock Lake features 850 miles of pristine shoreline and 80 miles of crystal blue water, making it a very appealing vacation destination.

“It’s beautiful at Chateau on the Lake in the summer,” said Stephen Marshall, vice president and general manager of the resort.

“Add to that the diversity of recreational options at the resort, and in Branson, and guests are in for a wonderful vacation.”

For reservations or additional information, call 1-888-333-LAKE (5253) or (417) 334-1161, or visit www.ChateauOnTheLake.com .

In addition to the marina, recreational options at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa include the $6 million, 14,000-square-foot Spa Chateau.

The full-service spa features 10 luxurious treatment rooms; customized body treatments; a soothing Infinity Tub that is filled from the ceiling; a Roman Bath situated beneath a waterfall overlooking Table Rock Lake;

a lake-view Movement Therapy Studio for Yoga; and a unique Barber Spa.

Additional recreational offerings at the resort include a 24-hour fitness center, two lighted tennis courts, a year-round indoor pool, an outdoor (seasonal) pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, nature and biking trails,

The Sassafras Movie Theater, Crawdaddies Kids Club (for children ages 4-12), and full-service concierge. Golf at six area courses, which includes two of Missouri’s finest, also is available to guests.

Widely regarded as the “Live Music Show Capital of America,”

Branson features more than 100 live shows per day, and a variety of impressive attractions.

Among the newest offerings is the Titanic: The World’s Largest Interactive Titanic Museum & Exhibition.

The new $420-million Branson Landing in historic downtown features festivals, musical events, a variety of new waterfront dining options, and more than 400,000 sq. ft. of national brand-name shops, galleries and specialty gift shops. Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Complex is among the many other offerings in Branson

Dining options at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa include the award-winning Chateau Grille, the 9th Street Italian Deli, the Atrium Café & Wine Bar, and The Sweet Shoppe.

The resort’s 301 beautifully-appointed guest rooms and suites boast cherry wood beds, down comforters, tiled stone baths, dual-line telephones with data port, WiFi access (at a nominal fee), iron and ironing board, coffee maker, in-room safes, and in-room movies and music (at a nominal fee). Select pet-friendly rooms for pets less than 25 pounds are also available.

Additional features at Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa include an impressive 10-story sky-lit atrium that provides breathtaking vistas of the lake, lush gardens, and surrounding mountains, and which features meandering streams brimming with colorful Koi fish, as well as a charming library lounge with a great stone fireplace.

Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa is owned and managed by Springfield, Missouri-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts.

For more information or reservations, call 1-888-333-LAKE (5253) or (417) 334-1161, or visit www.ChateauOnTheLake.com

A Vast And Magical Land – September & October Special Offer

TSWALU KALAHARI
KALAHARI, NORTHERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

Tswalu Kalahari, owned by the Oppenheimer family, is South Africa’s largest private game reserve.

Located in the Northern Cape, at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains, Tswalu covers over 100,000 hectares and offers only two camps on the entire reserve - the Motse and the Oppenheimer’s villa Tarkuni. Each provides the ultimate in barefoot luxury in sophisticated surroundings designed and recently refurbished by world-renowned Boyd Ferguson.

The word “Tswalu” means “a new beginning”. Tswalu Kalahari is driven by two ambitions; to create an inspirational experience for its guests, where every traveller can be renewed and feel reborn in this magical landscape, and a conservation vision, to restore the Kalahari to itself.

These two goals sit in perfect equilibrium; each guest contributes directly to the sustainability of the reserve in a true model of eco-tourism.

The recently launched Tswalu Foundation now creates the possibility to become even more deeply involved in a number of conservation initiatives.

Tswalu Kalahari has received international recognition and awards including the Relais & Chateaux Global Environment Trophy in 2006 and Conde Nast Traveller’s World Saver Award in 2007. Tswalu was named as one of National Geographic’s top 50 eco-lodges in the world in 2009. Tswalu Kalahari (www.tswalu.com) is a member of the Relais & Chateaux portfolio of unique experiences in Southern Africa

Spring September & October Special Offer

Clients visiting Tswalu Motse between the 1st of September and the 31st of October 2009, who stay for 3 nights, will only pay for 2.

The accolades continue for Brisbane’s Emporium Hotel - the boutique property has won the Best Small Luxury Hotel title in the prestigious Gourmet Traveller Awards announced last night.

Emporium Hotel topped the best in the country to take the title including The Lyall and The Adelphi in Melbourne, the Islington and The Henry Jones Art Hotel both in Hobart and The Lake House in Daylesford Victoria.

The award is the latest in the Emporium Hotel’s string of prestigious titles and will take pride of place alongside the recent Queensland Tourism Award for “Best Luxury Accommodation”; the two Queensland Hotels Association Awards for Excellence 2008 for “Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation Five Star” and “Best Marketed Hotel”; the 2008 HM Award for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence for “Best New Hotel” and of course the prestigious title as one of the world’s best hotels in the International Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2008.

The Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards, now in their third year are a tribute to the finest operators in the country. Gourmet Traveller’s award winners are not decided solely by industry experts or by members of the public. Instead, knowledge of both camps is drawn on to get the broadest perspective possible.

The judging panel includes dozens of travel writers, editors, photographers, TV types and industry heavyweights. They nominate their favourite new and enduring Australian holiday experiences, a high-calibre shortlist is developed and then readers are asked to vote.

Emporium Hotel General Manager, Mr Peter Savoff said the award was a tribute to the staff of the hotel, and to the vision of the owners.

“This award is especially significant for the team of dedicated staff at the Emporium Hotel, many of whom have been with the property since it opened two years ago. Current economic trends have made the hotel industry even more competitive and it is a huge tribute from the readers of Gourmet Traveller, who continue to recognise the outstanding service our entire team aspire to provide.”

The Emporium Hotel was developed by the Anthony John Group, driven by the architect/design team of Tony and Fran John. A second Emporium Hotel is in the planning stages, part of the $650million Southpoint at South Bank. It is scheduled to open in 2011. Brisbane’s only boutique luxury hotel, has made an important mark on the Brisbane and the Australian leisure and corporate travel market over the past 18 months, cementing itself as a benchmark in design and service and launching a number of innovative packages and products.

Emporium Hotel - 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006

PO BOX 2600, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006 - Phone: (07) 3253 6999 or 1300 883 611 Fax: (07) 3253 6966

www.emporiumhotel.com.au

Winner: Best Luxury Accommodation, The Australian Travel & Tourism Award 2008

Winner: Best Luxury Accommodation, Queensland Tourism Awards 2008
Winner: Best New Hotel, HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence 2008

Winner: Best Marketed Hotel (1-99 employees), Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence 2008

Winner: Best Deluxe Accommodation Five Star, Queensland Hotel Association Awards for Excellence 2008

Finalist: Award for Business Innovation, Lord Mayor’s Business Awards 2008

Finalist: Best Luxury Accommodation (100 rooms and over), The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards

Named one of the world’s best new hotels in the International Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List 2008

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

Bozeman, Montana is increasingly one of the more popular outdoor destinations in the United States. But, if you are like many residents or
tourists, you walk along the few trails you can find information on, watching others enjoy themselves in their rock climbing, birdwatching or rafting adventures. You have always had a desire to enjoy these activities but where do you start?

BozemanPassage.com has just posted exciting additions to the developing free Outdoor Recreation Guide. The top spots in the area for climbing, camping, fishing, birdwatching, and floating can now be found conveniently from the
comfort of your own home.

Just visit BozemanPassage.com click the Outdoor Rec Guide button, select the activity that interests you and begin exploring
the area by clicking the dots which provide detailed information and directions to the sites.

So, whether you want to know the best put-ins and take-outs to float the Madison, if the boat ramp at the Headwaters Fishing Access is gravel or concrete, types of Grades you will find climbing “The Magic Wall” south of town, or the best place to spot a double-breasted cormorant, the answers can now be found with the click of a button at www.BozemanPassage.com.

Still have questions? Then visit our Facebook or MySpace groups and post
your question to the board as surely one of our hundreds of members will
have the answer.

It’s official, summer is here! VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales highlights summer events happening around the U.K. Travellers can enjoy a myriad of activities from bog snorkelling to jazz festivals. There’s something for everyone this summer, and to top it off, Britain’s on sale!

VisitBritain and Virgin Atlantic Airways have launched an exclusive partnership to offer trans-Atlantic travelers irresistible value packages for their summer vacation in Britain. Consumers can explore fabulous deals and more at the website www.getmorebritain.com where savvy travelers can take advantage of the strong dollar which makes Britain more affordable than a year ago.

The ‘Get More Britain For Your Buck’ campaign extends now through Fall 2009.

Highlights of festivals and events happening around the UK, include:

ENGLAND

Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3-5) - A world famous car event for racing aficionados, celebrating everything about car performance in Chichester, West Sussex. www.goodwood.co.uk

Glyndebourne Opera Festival, East Sussex (until August 30) - The country’s most exclusive opera festival. www.glyndebourne.com

The Festival of History (July 25 – 26) - A two-day event taking place on the grounds of 18th-century Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire, celebrates 2,000 years of English history with more than 1,000 costumed interpreters re-enacting historical events. There will be over 50 shows a day during the festival. www.festivalofhistory.org.uk

Glastonberry Music Festival (June 24-28) - Also known as Glasto, is the largest Greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, famous for its contemporary music, but also dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. Now part of the Cultural Olympiad preceding London 2012, the four-day event takes place in South West England at Worthy Farm, located six miles east of the town of Glastonbury. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

14th Leeds Shakespeare Festival (July – August 2009) - Two of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will be performed in the idyllic setting of Leeds, the only English city outside London with its own repertory theatre, opera house and ballet companies. http://www.visitleeds.co.uk

Manchester Pride (August 21-31) - One of UK’s premier gay event, features a flamboyant celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life through a series of more than 40 events covering art, film, debate and entertainment, as well as other fantastic parties. www.manchesterpride.com

The Cotswold Show & Country Fair (July 4-5) - Features a full two-day program of action-packed, family fun at Cirencester Park. www.cotswoldshow.co.uk

Henry VIII 500 years celebrations (around Britain, 2009) - Highlights of the calendar include the opening of the Tudor Garden at Hampton Court Palace this month and a jousting tournament at Eltham Palace. Henry’s many women also get a look in August when their portraits will be displayed at a fascinating exhibition hosted at Hampton Court. www.visitlondon.com

LONDON

The British Music Experience at the O2 in London – An exciting, new permanent interactive exhibition dedicated to the history of popular music in Britain. www.britishmusicexperience.com

BBC Proms, London (July 17 – Sept 12) - Represents a massive showcase of live music and performances at the Royal Albert Hall, including a string of 76 concerts with world class orchestral music and solo performances in the heart of London. www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2009

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (April 23 – Oct 10) - London’s iconic venue that boasts some of the finest history known to theatre, features performances throughout the summer. www.shakespeares-globe.org

Regents Park Open Air Theatre (May 25 – Sept 12) - Allows you to enjoy exciting new shows while making the most of the weather. www.openairtheatre.org

The National Theatre Goes Outdoors - The area outside the theatre, beside the Thames on London’s South Bank, will be used as a stage for theatre, circus, dance, music and spectacle. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

SCOTLAND

Homecoming Scotland (throughout 2009) - A year-long celebration filled with events focusing on whisky, golf, and ancestry poet Robert Burns. August highlights include the piping music festival in Glasgow, Piping Live and the iconic Military Tattoo music and military theatre event in Edinburgh. www.homecomingscotland.com

16th Annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (July 2-5) - In Portsoy Harbour in Aberdeenshire, celebrates all aspects of Scottish maritime heritage. www.visitscotland.com

The Highland Games (around Scotland, Summer 2009) - A unique mix of sporting, cultural and social events, including field and track events, piping, Highland dancing competitions, and ‘heavy events’ like the tug-o-war, the hammer throw and tossing the caber. One of the largest Highland games in history, The Gathering (July 25-26) will be hosted at famed Edinburgh locations like Holyrood Park, Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. www.visitscotland.com

Whole in One Golf Exhibition (Rozelle Estate, Ayrshire, June 8-August 31) - Charts the history of open golf, incorporating a wealth of unusual and rarely seen exhibits. Scotland is widely acknowledged as the ‘Home of Golf’ and boasts some of the best, most challenging and most beautiful courses in the world. www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Return to the Ridings (June 1 – August - The annual Border Common Ridings are a stunning mounting spectacle packed with heart stirring music. Each participating town has its own distinctive history and ceremony providing a unique Return to the Ridings experience. www.visitscotland.com

T in the Park (July 9 - 12) - Scotland’s biggest outdoor music festival held in Balado, Kinross will feature over 170 artists playing across 11 stages and will welcome 80,000 music fans this year. www.tinthepark.com

WALES

Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival (July 10 – 12) - Highlights food from around Wales, France, Germany and Italy, along professionals demonstrating seasonal recipes. Enjoy the walkabout street and bandstand entertainment as you relax with a drink and world-class cuisine. www.cardiff-festival.com

National Eisteddfod (August 1-8) - The largest and oldest celebration of Welsh culture dating from 1176, invites visitors to meet bards dressed in druidical robes and green-clad elves dancing to trumpeters. www.eisteddfod.org.uk

Brecon Jazz Festival (August 7-9) - A world-famous jazz event, features more than 90 concerts in the picturesque market town of Brecon. www.breconjazz.org

Bryn Terfel Faenol Festival (Faenol Estate, August 28 - 31) - Will host three star-studded concerts with the mountains of Snowdonia as their backdrop.

The World Bog Snorkelling Championship (August 31) - The unusual event held annually in UK’s smallest town - Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales, involves contestants battling through a peat bog using a mask and snorkel. www.worldbogsnork.com

WAC Travel, specialists in luxury tailor-made adventure vacations are launching a luxury eco-lodge in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

The first of its kind in the Ozarks, the lodge will combine high-end features, such as double rainfall showers, egg baths, and woven circular daybeds with eco-features like dual flush toilets, recycled tiles, reclaimed wood furniture, bamboo bedding, and organic towels.

Named ‘Anedodi’ (meaning ‘adventure’ in Cherokee), the lodge offers numerous adventure activities: From water skiing, wake boarding, and knee boarding on Lake Norfork, to fishing some of the best trout rivers in the country. Nearby, the Buffalo River National Park offers opportunities for hiking along riverbeds to find waterfalls and floating the river by canoe or kayak. Rock climbing is another big attraction, with over 1,000 established routes through the Ozark sandstone.

Views in the Ozark Mountains have hardly changed in thousands of years. Mountain rivers and lakes are crystal clear and clean – as testament, there are two PADI dive shops on Lake Norfork. Each season offers different views and attractions – waterfall walks in spring; water sports in summer; hiking to see magnificent vistas in fall; and trout, bass, and walleye fishing in winter.

For more information, see: http://www.anedodi.com

Launched in January 2008, WAC Travel steer clear of big name chain hotels and resorts in favor of destinations which combine a sense of place, with integration into local culture and explorations of the natural environment.

They choose hotels, villas, yachts, representatives and transportation that act responsibly to minimize their impact on the environment.

They avoid brochures, flyers and mail-outs and carbon neutralize every flight booked. Destinations include the U.S.A, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Australia, prices range from $1,000 per person to $40,000 per person.

The luxurious Pinctada Cable Beach opened this and now Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat  opeed its doors.

Eco Beach, which was closed by cyclone Rosita in 2000, is set on the stunning and untouched coastline in the Kimberley, just one hour’s drive south of Broome.

Guests can choose between 25 cyclone-proof luxurious self-sustaining eco villas and 30 demountable safari style eco tents for a glamorous wilderness experience.

Visitors in June will get 50% of normal rates which start from $184 per tent per night

www.ecobeach.com.au

These latest offering in Broome are part of a $100 million bed boom in the town and are in response to the town’s rising popularity. Broome’s beach-to-wilderness buzz and mix of indigenous, Malaysian, Chinese, Anglo and Japanese cultures has drawn in visitors from around the world and visitor numbers for January and February this year are up by 6 per cent to 8 per cent, compared with the same months last year.

For those looking to keep track of all things WA while on the move, Tourism WA has created a new podcast channel in iTunes, delivering the latest audio and video podcasts direct to your desktop or mobile mp3 device.

Podcasts currently playing on the channel include:

• Explore El Questro Wilderness Park in the Kimberley with local guide Chilli Chilcott

• Hear what it’s like to swim with the world’s largest fish – the whale shark – which visit Ningaloo Reef each year

• Walk through the Valley of the Giants, the ancient forests in Australia’s South West

• Find out what Perth’s best beaches have to offer