AUSTRALIA: Australia’s southernmost state, Tasmania is a vast wilderness marked by luxury, history, and a culture found nowhere else on the planet.
Golfers impatiently await the opening of the new Lost Farm links course adjacent to Barnbougle Dunes this fall, accompanied by a 60-room lodge with spa. Already open is Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania’s first luxury five-star eco-lodge, providing personalized coastal wilderness experiences. Pavlions at Moorilla Estate, also opening in 2010, provides a precursor of building work on the Museum of Old and New Art, the largest privately-funded art institution in the Southern Hemisphere. An hour from Melbourne and two hours from Sydney by air, Tasmania is a world apart, not a world away. Press rep is Karyl Leigh Barnes, VP/tourism practice, Development Counsellors International, 10th floor, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003 (Tel. 212-444-7123, Fax 212-213-3827, karyl.barnes@dc-intl.com).
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY SWEEPSTAKES: Win a free week-long trip for four to the Blue Ridge Parkway, celebrating its 75th birthday this year. The “Go Green on the Blue Ridge Parkway Sweepstakes” includes a seven-day, six-night trip, complete with airfare and a hybrid rental car from Enterprise, plus overnight stays at Virginia Green hotels, resorts, and cabins. Open to all U.S. residents 21 and older, it runs through Nov. 1. Enter at www.Virginia.org/BRP.
CHICAGO: One of the world’s most eco-friendly and livable cities, Chicago is home to 14 Green Seal certified hotels, more than any other city in the country. The group includes such well-known names as the Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental, Four Seasons, Hilton, and Fairmont.
Ranked 10th out of 50 cities as a bike-friendly town, Chicago has such other assorted green activities as dining at an organic restaurant, shopping at a farmer’s market, exploring a functioning green roof, or discovering the city on foot. There are even green tours of former industrial pockets, such as the U.S. Steel South Works site. To learn more, contact press rep Kiran Advani, Chicago Office of Tourism (Tel. 312-742-4983, kiran.advani@cityofchicago.org).
COLORADO RAILROAD HISTORY: With train travel again a popular form of transportation, the 19-member Historic Hotels of the Rockies group is emphasizing its railroad roots this summer. Guests can learn about the legacy of western railroads and experience historical sites firsthand. To learn more, see prweb.com/releases/2009/05/prweb2389014.htm or contact Jim Osterfoss, president, Historic Hotels of the Rockies (Tel. 307-637-3333, jim@nwmbb.com). Press rep is Vicky Nash, Resort Trends, Inc. (Tel. 970-948-4923, Vicky@ResortTrends.com).
COOPERSTOWN: One of America’s original grand lakeside properties, The Otesaga is a member of Historic Hotels of America. A four-diamond property that first opened in 1909, it always houses the Baseball Hall of Fame celebrities who flock to the Central New York hamlet for Induction Weekend at the end of July. The 135-room hotel, featuring an exterior with 30-foot marble columns in a Federal-style design, is known for fine dining and gracious hospitality. The Otesaga occupies 700 feet of lakefront on the southern shore of Lake Otsego, the famous “Glimmerglass Lake” of James Fenimore Cooper’s novels (the town is named for his father).
To arrange a stay, contact Kyle Schmitz, Nancy J. Friedman Public Relations (Tel. 212-228-1500 x16, Fax 212-228-1517, kyle@njfpr.com).
CURACAO FAMs: What’s new in this tourist-friendly paradise? There’s a new jazz festival, a new Hyatt Regency, and pending status as an independent country (in October). Located between Aruba and Bonaire, 35 miles north of Venezuela, Curacao is Dutch in origin but rich in culture.
A blend of European experience and Caribbean vacation, the island features world-class diving, pristine beaches, stunning architecture, a multi-cultural diversity, and intriguing music, art, and cuisine. Ads show giant cruise ships plying a narrow channel between rows of pastel houses. Press trips are planned for late July (Family-Friendly Curacao), early September (North Sea Jazz Festival), late September (Gay-Friendly Curacao), and mid-November (Curacao Jewish Heritage). To learn more, contact Alicia Rainbolt, Hill and Knowlton, 825 Third Avenue, NY, NY 10022 (Tel. 212-885-0615, Cell 917-945-8760, alicia.rainbolt@hillandknowlton.com).
HAWAII: Aqua Hotels, largest boutique hotel chain in the 50th state, encourages guests to address any problems they encounter directly with general managers or the corporate CEO. Its system-wide commitment to top-quality service has earned several accolades, including the “Lodging Employee of the Year” award for Leticia Gamiao, a housekeeping employee at the 247-room Aqua Waikiki Wave Hotel for the past 12 years. She was mentioned in more than 100 guest comment cards last year. For more information, contact Emma Haber, Blink LA, 1420 ½ Maple St., Santa Monica, CA 90405 (Tel. 424-744-8066, Cell 917 892-4700, emma@blinklosangeles.com).
MAINE: The world’s best lobster, culled from the cold waters of the North Atlantic, can be found in Maine. The recent “Taste of Maine” media event in Manhattan not only featured a myriad of inns and resorts but also the Maine Lobster Promotion Council (www.lobsterfrommaine.com), Luke’s Lobster (lukeslobster@gmail.com), and Catch a Piece of Maine (www.catchapieceofmaine.com). Mabel’s Lobster Claw, a Kenneubunkport landmark frequented by George H.W. Bush, features shellfish caught just hours earlier. Call 207-967-2562.
MAINE WINDJAMMER ASSOCIATION: Sailing ships of 19th century design still ply the craggy coast of Maine, making daily stops at small fishing villages while anchoring offshore with overnight guests. Long-time member Christine Tibbetts thoroughly enjoyed her six-night cruise, earned as a NATJA prize-winner. The cordial press rep is Meg Maiden (Tel. 207-374-2993, meg@sailmainecoast.com).
MEXICO: Baja’s largest oceanfront resort, the Rosarito Beach Hotel, is a 500-room property 20 miles south of the U.S. border. Founded in 1925, the hotel has hosted Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Gregory Peck, and the film crews of Titanic and Master and Commander. Eight writers are invited on a three-night FAM from Aug. 6-9 or make other arrangements through press rep Ron Raposa (Tel. 619-948-3740, ronraposa@hotmail.com).
NEW ORLEANS: The National World War 2 Museum has more than tripled in size. The former D-Day Museum is now a destination all by itself. Contact press rep Stacey Udell (Tel. 631-253-4043, Cell 631-379-7784, siudell2@aol.com).
NORTH CAROLINA: According to Haywood County’s publicists, the best 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway bisect the county. The highest, wildest, and most photogenic stretch of the 469-mile road offers a myriad of ways to enjoy the pristine surroundings. The county includes waterfalls, hikes, horseback rides, fly-fishing, 200+ accommodations, and even flying lessons at Appalachian Amusement Center, home of a vertical wind tunnel some say is the world’s finest.
Wanna come see? Contact press rep Darren W. Miller, Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (Tel. 828-734-1026, darren@smokeymountains.net).
PARK CITY: Just 45 minutes from Salt Lake’s airport, Park City is North America’s most accessible ski destination. The Deer Valley Music Festival, Kimball Arts Festival, and Park City Jazz Festival (Aug. 20-22) highlight a summer of arts and culture, though recreational pursuits range from hiking and biking to aerial jumping at Utah Olympic Park. Contact Karyl Leigh Barnes of DCI (Tel. 212-444-7123, karyl.barnes@dc-intl.com).
PERU: If the Call of the Wild wins, why not consider a writing visit to this exotic South American land? Home to Machu Picchu, the Latin American culinary capital of Lima, and a rich tapestry of cultural and historic traditions, Peru is full of endless discoveries – including Caral, the oldest civilization in the Americas. Want to see? Contact Karyl Leigh Barnes of DCI (Tel. 212-444-7123, karyl.barnes@dc-intl.com).
PHILADELPHIA: The National Museum of American Jewish History is a five-story building rising on Independence Mall opposite the Liberty Bell. Slated to open in November, the 100,000 square foot museum highlights the Jewish experience in the United States from the Revolutionary War to the present. The museum is designed to illuminate the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all Americans and explore the life experiences, struggles, and triumphs of American Jews. Among featured honorees are Albert Einstein, Leonard Bernstein, Barbra Streisand, and Sandy Koufax. For more information, contact cordial press rep Jay Nachman [jnachman@nmajh.ccsend.com].
POCONOS: The Inn at Pocono Manor, which opened in 1902, is the longest continually-operating resort in the Poconos and one of the oldest in North America. Often called “the Grand Old Lady of the Mountains,” the 237-room property was once a country retreat for Philadelphia Quakers. Spread over 3,000 acres, the inn features two golf courses plus proximity to Camelbeach Water Park and the Mt. Airy Casino. It is two hours from both New York and Philadelphia. To arrange a visit, contact Ken Ellens, Ken Ellens Communications (Tel. 201-758-2864, Fax 201-758-2865, KenEllens@aol.com).
PORTLAND, Ore.: Not to be confused with the same-named coastal community on the opposite coast, Portland is within an hour of Mount Ghood, Washington State wine country, kayak-friendly Scappoose Bay, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. According to National Geographic Traveler, Portland is “a city that gets almost everything right: it’s friendly, sustainable, maybe even a model for America’s future.” Wanna come see? Contact Karyl Leigh Barnes of DCI (Tel. 212-444-7123, karyl.barnes@dc-intl.com).
RIVIERA MAYA FAM: Join fellow travel journalists July 22-25 on a FAM trip to Ceiba del Mar Beach and Spa Resort in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Trip includes airfare, ocean-view accommodations, gourmet cuisine, snorkeling tour and more for writers with secure assignment that includes publication date. Also included are complimentary use of land and sea sports equipment, gym, and spa treatments. Contact Tammy Petersen (tammy@lmpinternational.com).
VIRGINIA: In addition to its rich history, benign climate, and diversity of attractions, Virginia overflows with unusual story ideas. Consider Luray/Page County, site of so many cabins (600+) that it was named the Cabin Capital of Virginia. Chestnut Creek Cabins, six authentic log cabins, come complete with large porches, rocking chairs, and spectacular vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Morning breakfast is delivered daily. It doesn’t hurt that the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is marking its 75th birthday this year. To arrange a trip, contact Tamra Talmadge-Anderson, public relations director, Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219-4048 (Tel. 804-545-5500, Fax 804-545-5501, ttanderson@virginia.org).
PRESS REPS: Mention in this column is free. Send one-graf blurbs containing complete contact information The Wayfarer, 10 Ballard Place, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-3601, e.mail dan@natja.org, or fax 201-791-3349.
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