Conrad Maldives hotel offers guests a chance to spot whale sharks

by Kraig Becker on

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island hotel has announced that it is once gain joining forces with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme. This unique partnership gives visitors to the resort a rare opportunity to view and interact with those amazing aquatic creatures while research is conducted on their behavior, migration patterns, and habitat.

The whale shark is the largest fish on the planet, sometimes stretching as much as 40 feet in length and weighing over 20 tons. Despite their great size however, they are known to be docile and gentle creatures who inhabit warm ocean waters like those found in the Maldives. In fact, the island nation happens to be one of the few places on Earth where whale sharks are known to congregate year round.

For the 5th year in a row, the MWSRP will be working in conjunction with the Conrad Maldives hotel on their research project, which will continue through February. Until that time, the hotel is offering its guests daily excursions out into the Indian Ocean to view whale sharks in their natural setting. The price of those excursions is $200, which includes transportation aboard a speedboat/luxury cruiser to dive and snorkeling sites that are inhabited by the large fish.

For adventurous travelers who love interaction with unique animals, this is an amazing opportunity. Diving in the Maldives provides the chance to not only see the whale shark, but also manta rays, moray eels, grey reef sharks, and sea turtles. Having just returned from a trip to the Virgin Islands, during which snorkeling and diving were frequent activities, I can safely say that I would jump at the chance to do this as well.

[Photo credit: Jaontiveros via WikiMedia]

10 film festivals in the United States to check out this winter

by Jessica Festa on

When it’s cold outside, nothing beats staying inside with a good movie. Why not make the experience even better by checking out one of these United States film festivals this winter?

Sundance Film Festival
Park City, Utah

The Sundance Film Festival began in 1978 and is now the biggest film festival in the country. This year, the event will take place from January 19-29, 2012, presenting new work from independent filmmakers from around the globe. Program categories in the competition include U.S. Documentary, U.S. Dramatic, World Cinema Documentary, World Cinema Dramatic, Shorts, and Animations. There are also non-competitive categories, which include:

  • Premiers- Some of the most highly anticipated films of the year shown before they hit theaters
  • Documentary Premiers- Powerful new films covering big topics or by master filmmakers
  • Spotlight- A showcase of films that have already been successful at other film festivals around the globe
  • NEXT- These films are hard to categorize and their creativity stretches the limited resources of the filmmaker
  • New Frontier- With a focus on experimentation, these films bring together film, art, and new media technology
  • Park City at Midnight- For hardcore film enthusiasts who don’t even notice they’ve stayed up all night watching movies
  • From the Collection- Indie films from the vault of the Sundance Collection at UCLA

For ticket information, click here.Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs, California

The 23rd annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, which will take place January 5-16, 2012, is well-known for showing the most foreign Oscar nominees as well as for having A-list celebrities in attendance. Featuring more than 200 films from over 60 countries, special events, gala receptions, and a black tie awards party are all part of the fun. And, big name stars like George Clooney, Glenn Close, and Michelle Williams will all be receiving awards.

For ticket information, click here.

Cinema on the Bayou
Lafayette, Louisiana

The 7th annual Cinema on the Bayou will take place January 25-29, 2012. In their mission statement, it states that the festival is “committed to advancing the understanding of Cajun and Creole cultures through film screenings, film panels and cultural exchanges among French Louisiana, the United States and the Francophone countries of the world”. Attendees will get the chance to sample delicious Cajun cuisine and listen to local music while watching new and innovative fiction and non-fiction films from around the globe.

While the festival is free to attend, donations are appreciated.

Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Santa Barbara, California

The 27th annual Santa Barbara Film Festival will take place January 26-February 5, 2012. This event is known for being able to pick out Academy Award Winners, and will feature award ceremonies, black tie galas, celebrity tributes, and more.

For ticket information, click here. For information on passes, click here.

Trail Dance Film Festival
Duncan, Oklahoma

The 6th annual Trail Dance Film Festival will take place January 27-28, 2012. An open-genre contest for independent filmmakers, the aim of the event is nurture creativity and ingenuity. Panels of film professionals, live entertainment, and vendors will also be part of the event, which will take place at Simmons Center and Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. On Thursday, the festival gets things going with a “Where the Beer and Buffalo Foam” Kickoff Party which will be followed by film screenings on Friday and Saturday. Award ceremonies and an After Party will take place on Saturday evening.

For ticket information, click here.

Portland International Film Festival
Portland, Oregon

The 35th annual Portland International Film Festival will take place February 9-25, 2012. This festival draws more than 35,000 attendees and showcases over 100 international shorts and feature films. Attend parties and chat with the artists while viewing some of the best indepdent films ever created.

For ticket information, click here.

Thin Line Film Festival
Denton, Texas

The 5th annual Thin Line Film Festival will take place February 15-20, 2012. This festival aims to showcase a variety of compelling and creative documentaries that are high quality and relavent. Expect dozens of films from around the world educating about important issues and causes in a vibrant and historical setting.

For ticket information, click here.

Boulder International Film Festival
Boulder, Colorado

The 8th annual Boulder International Film Festival will take place February 16-19, 2012. This festival is renowned for showcasing undiscovered shorts, feature films, and documentaries that tend to go on and do well in theaters (many have even received Oscar nominations). Guests can expect a big turnout, as well. In fact, in 2010, the festival had over 16,000 attendees.

For ticket information, click here.

Sedona International Film Festival
Sedona, Arizona

The 18th annual Sedona International Film Festival will take place this winter from February 18-26, 2012. Attendees will get the chance to see over 145 independent films including features, shorts, foreign films, documentaries, student films, animation, and more. For those who don’t want to just watch film but learn more about the craft, free workshops are offered to everyone regardless of skill level.

For ticket information, click here.

Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
Chilmark, Massachusetts

The 12th annual Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival will take place March 16-18, 2012. On their website it states that the mission of the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival is “to produce community events that celebrate all genres of film and spark discussion, debate and action”. After spending his childhood watching television that gave no real contribution to society, film festival Founder and Artistic Director Thomas Bena decided to create a movement of new ideas and inspiration. For those who don’t want to wait until March for the festival, there is also a Winter Film Series on the first Saturday of each month that includes:

  • 5PM: Dinner and snacks followed by short films for children
  • 6:30PM: Live music and community dinner cooked using fresh, local ingredients
  • 7:30PM: Feature film

For ticket information, click here.

Telluride’s Hotel Madeline gives the gift of all-inclusive holiday ski packages

by Laurel Miller on

I don’t know about you, but all I want for Christmas is a ski holiday in Telluride, Colorado. Call me biased, but as an on-and-off resident for five years, I consider it the most beautiful, authentically Western ski town in the Rockies, and the top resort in the U.S..

When it comes to actual skiing, there’s 2,000-plus acres, never a lift line, and if you love steeps, off-piste, moguls, and serious pow, this is the place. Did I mention the annual average of 300 inches of snow and 300 days of sun? Located at the end of a box canyon in the heart of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, Telluride is remote, but worth the effort to get there.

The actual “ski resort” area in Telluride is Mountain Village, a 15-minute ride up the free gondola, or a seven-mile drive up Hwy 145. Mountain Village is actually an incorporated town, an “affluent” community with a handful of luxury hotels and condos, rental homes, and McMansions, and shopping, dining and apres-ski venues. If you’re debating which town to stay in, it depends upon what you’re looking for. If you want a true local’s experience, and the convenience of being stumbling distance from apres-ski to dinner to bars to bed, choose Telluride. It’s also worth noting you can catch the gondola or two chairslifts if you stay in Telluride.

If you’re looking for a full-on luxury ski holiday and a ski-in/out property (or one with a spa), get up to Mountain Village and book yourself into Hotel Madeline. The luxury property was rebranded in February, 2011, and it’s a gem. Done up in a quasi-Euro-mod style, it’s located in the heart of the Village, and offers spectacular mountain views from every angle.

With 100 condominium hotel rooms and 60, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom condo residences, the Madeline also features spacious, quiet rooms in soothing natural tones, spectacular customer service, the Spa Linnea, indoor heated pool and jacuzzi, a ski valet, the swanky Bar M (popular for apres-ski), fine-dining at M’s Restaurant, climate-controlled parking (these things matter, trust me), and free candy by the fistful in the hotel lounge. What’s not to love?

More to love are this ski season’s specials, which include an “All-Inclusive Holiday Package” of six nights in a King room; round-trip transportation to Montrose Airport (70 miles p/w); two, five-day lift passes; daily breakfast or dinner for two; Performance Package equipment rentals from on-site Neve Sports, and a resort credit of $100.00 for use in the hotel Spa, bar, or restaurant, or at 9545 Restaurant at venerable sister hotel Inn at Lost Creek, a few minutes walk away. Package price for two is $3,737.00/$1,868.50 p/p, valid December 19 through January 2, 2012, taxes included.

Other winter specials include the “Just One More Night” package: stay seven nights and receive eighth night free, as well as similar attributes to the Holiday Package; pricing for two from $6,500/$3,250.00 p/p. Valid December 19 through January 2, 2012, and February 17-25, 2012, taxes and gratuities included.

Check Hotel Madeline’s website for more specials applicable through the end of the season (April 8th), or go to the Inn at Lost Creek website for their ski season specials. There, all guests have access to complimentary daily ski waxing, edge de-burning, and on-slope valet service with immediate lift access and trail access, and individually-designed suites with stone fireplaces, jetted tubs and steam showers, and kitchenettes.

For more information on Telluride Ski Resort, click here.

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2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge route announced

by Kraig Becker on

Organizers of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge have announced the dates and route for the 2012 edition of the race, which will once again take place in Colorado. This year, the state played host to the inaugural event, which saw some of the world’s top cyclists competing on a course that involved plenty of climbing and altitude.

The 2012 version of the Pro Cycling Challenge will get underway on August 20th from Durango and will continue through the 26th, when riders finish up with a time trial through the streets of Denver. In between, they’ll visit Telluride, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Colorado Springs, Boulder, and a host of other mountain towns. The route will cover more than 520 miles and will feature climbs over five different mountain passes in excess of 10,000 feet in height.

This year’s race was a resounding success, bringing in more than one million spectators and generating an estimated $83.5 million in revenue for the state of Colorado. The week-long, stage race was won by American Levi Leipheimer, but also managed to attract some of the best riders in the world, including Frank Schleck, Robert Gesink, and 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans.

American cycling fans should be ecstatic that this event has been so well received and is returning for another year. Colorado is a fantastic place to hold a pro-level cycling competition, as the scenic mountain passes bring drama and excitement to every day of the race. This year’s course was billed as the highest altitude cycling competition ever, and it appears that the 2012 edition is poised to up the ante even further.

Photo of the day – Easter Island at sunrise

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Remote places are special. They certainly capture the imagination. Organized economically and socially around their distance from centers of commerce and distribution, they often share both a rhythm and many characteristics with each other.

Easter Island is one very remote place. The Chilean island, located over 2000 miles from the Chilean mainland (and another 2000-plus miles from Tahiti) is off on its own on the edge of Polynesia. Flickr user John Overmeyer snapped this impressive image of 14 of Easter Island’s mysterious Moai at sunrise.

Upload your favorite images of remote spots to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. If we like what we see we might just choose one of your images to be a future Photo of the Day.