25-year-old Dallas Seavey wins 2012 Iditarod

by Kraig Becker on

The 2012 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race came to an exciting end Tuesday evening when 25-year-old Dallas Seavey claimed victory in the 1000-mile race. By crossing the finish line first, he also became the youngest person to ever win the event.

Held annually in Alaska, the Iditarod has become the state’s most popular sporting event. The racers, along with their teams of powerful dogs, begin the race in Anchorage and follow a historical trail all the way to Nome. Back in 1925 that town faced a diphtheria epidemic and mushers raced along the same trail to deliver life-saving medicine in time. The modern day Iditarod commemorates that daring feat and salutes the men and their dogs who risked their lives to save others.

In order to win the event Seavey had to fend off plenty of competition from a tough and experienced field. In the end, he finished an hour ahead of second place musher Aliy Zirkle and while an hour may seem like a large gap, when you consider that the competitors have been racing for ten days straight, you realize that it is actually a narrow margin. Veteran musher Ramey Smyth arrived in Nome in third place after making a late charge to the front of the pack.For Seavey, dog sledding is a family affair. His father Mitch won the event back in 2004 and had a respectable seventh place finish this year. Grandfather Dan raced in the original Iditarod 40 years ago and as of this writing he is holding down the 52nd position in this years race as well. He is still a few days from reaching the finish line where he will undoubtedly give Dallas a proper congratulations.

Over the course of the next few days the last of the competitors will straggle across the finish line in Nome. For a full leaderboard and more information on the race visit Iditarod.com.

[Photo credit: Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News)

Photo of the Day: Austin’s Zilker Park Kite Festival

by Elizabeth Seward on

On March 4, Austin’s Zilker Park held the Zilker Park Kite Festival. It was a beautiful day — the sort that made lounging folks enjoying their Saturday want to go fly a kite. Preceding SXSW isn’t an easy task for an event, but the Zilker Park Kite Festival is a staple engrained in Austin culture. The kite festival is the oldest one in the US. It’s a free event that, on top of producing fun, raises funds for the prevention of child abuse. According to the event website, “The 2010 festival benefited the Center for Child Protection, Safeplace, Theater Action Project, Communities in Schools, Family Eldercare, the Dept. of Family and Protective Services, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and Boy Scout Troop 10.” Chris Owens is a photographer based out of Austin. He snapped this shot while attending the kite festival in 2011.

These hotels are helping guests celebrate the end of the world with Mayan-inspired packages

by Jessica Festa on

The Mayan calendar’s 2012 end of the world prophecy isn’t all bad news. In fact, the Mayans believe people on Earth will experience a positive spiritual enlightenment and connection to the universe. Along with the possibility of a profound new awareness, travelers can also benefit from the Mayan predictions by taking advantage of the special hotel packages being offered in honor of the event throughout the year.

Hotel Maya, a Doubletree by Hilton
Long Beach, California

What better way to experience Maya 2012 than at a Mayan-themed hotel? The Hotel Maya is a waterfront property that sits on the harbor in downtown Long Beach. A mix of Latin American and Southern California style, the hotel uses vibrant Earth tones, an indoor-outdoor design, and lush tropical flora to give an exotic yet modern feel. In honor of the 2012 Mayan calendar, the hotel is offering a “Live Your Life to the Fullest” package, which includes waterfront accommodations for two, breakfast for two, a $50 resort credit per stay, and free parking and internet. The hotel is also running monthly giveaways, guest lectures, food and drink promotions, themed movies, and Mayan cultural events throughout the year. Furthermore, on December 21, 2012, the day the world is supposed to end, Hotel Maya will be hosting an “End of the World” party at their onsite restaurant, Fuego.

Package rates start at $169 per night, per room with a two-night minimum, and runs from now until December 21, 2012. Call 562-435-7676 or click here to book. Hotel Teatro
Denver, Colorado

Located in downtown Denver near the Convention Center and Denver Center for Performing Arts, Hotel Teatro is a historical property built in 1911 that combines “the grandeur of yesterday with the modern conveniences available today.” To ensure guests live their lives to the fullest before the end of the world, Hotel Teatro is featuring a “Live While You’re Alive” package until December 21, 2012. The lavish deal includes a night in Hotel Teatro’s Chancellor’s Suite, stocked with Dom Pérignon and caviar, private butler service, a six-course tasting menu and wine pairing for two in Restaurant Kevin Taylor, in-room massage for two, a one-hour private helicopter ride over Denver with private limo service to and from the airport, and a $25,000 Oster Jewelers Cherry Creek shopping spree with a personal shopper. Furthermore, if you’re still around next year, the property is offering a complimentary night in 2013 and a celebratory Dom Pérignon champagne toast.

Package rates start at $35,000. Call 303-228-1100 or click here to book.

Blancaneaux Lodge
Cayo District, Belize

The Blancaneaux Lodge is a secluded property located at the base of the Maya Mountains. Surrounded by waterfalls, turquoise ponds, and tropical jungle, the luxury hotel is a great place to relax and unwind in a natural setting. To commemorate the end of the Mayan calendar, Blancaneaux Lodge has launched five cave explorations to help guests learn about Belize and the Mayans by visiting the natural underworlds where they once dwelled. The excursions range from easy treks like the dry and well-lit Rio Frio Cave, to the more challenging Actun Tunichil Mucnal Cave, which is difficult to access and forces you to squeeze through tight spaces, climb over jagged rocks, and swim in 12 feet of water. Although difficult, you will be rewarded with Mayan artifacts, rock carvings, and the crystal maiden, “a victim of ritual sacrifice from the Late Classic Period.” Other cave explorations include: the Offering Cave, ‘Caves Branch’ Nohuch Che’en Reserve, and Barton Creek Cave.

Excursion prices vary depending on cave choice and group size. Click here for more information or click here to book.

Hacienda Petac
Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico

Hacienda Petac is a private estate and spa offering resort service without the crowds. Located in the Mayan countryside, guests will have access to all-inclusive meals, a spa, and a workout facility while also being immersed in lush vegetation and artifacts from the Mayas. To help guests experience the Mayan Yucatán even further, the hacienda is offering a complimentary “Mundo Maya” package for 2012. The packages includes seven nights of pampering from a staff of 23 (maximum 10 guests), Mayan-inspired meals, a personal driver and guide, a tour of the area’s backroads with a swim in a cenote or a stop at a local market, and three guided Maya-related excursions.

Price for rental is $357 per person, per night (5 person minimum) for seven nights. Package is also available for four nights minimum. Click here to book.

Condo Hotels Playa Del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Condo Hotels Playa Del Carmen isn’t just a hotel, but a group of four upscale properties located in the popular Riviera Maya. Renowned for their beautiful location and luxurious amenities, El Taj, Porto Playa, Maya Villa, and Villas Sacbe each include spas, health cafes, fitness centers, hot tubs, swimming pools, and beach access. As the brand has traditionally observed important Mayan holidays and celebrations by offering specials to guests, it is no surprise that on December 21, 2012, the hotels will be offering rooms at no charge. By offering visitors a free stay, they are inviting travelers to partake in the festivities, traditions, and ceremonies that will be taking place during this time at the hotels and all over town, making it a fun and enlightening trip.

Free room is available with a minimum of three nights stay. Click here to book.

Acanto Hotel
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Acanto Hotel is a new boutique property featuring a tropical courtyard, Jacuzzi, pool, sundecks, lounge chairs, and everything you will need to relax and unwind in an exotic setting. To coincide with the Mayan calendar, the hotel is offering a “2012 Mayan Message” package, which includes five nights in a luxury two-bedroom suite, a One Day Pass Plus for two people to Zcaret Eco Park offering hiking trails and Mayan history, complimentary wine flights at the onsite wine bar (value $100), VIP beach club access, and airport transfer. The package also includes the chance to visit the site of the Mayan Time Capsule in the jungle of Quintana Roo to leave a message about the future.

Package rates start at $2,050 for five nights based on double occupancy. Click here to book.

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Cancun, Mexico

Located in the heart of Cancun’s hotel zone, the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa is a beachfront property with 448 spacious rooms, four world-class restaurants, and their Mayan Inspired Spa, which offers body wraps, mani-pedis, soothing massages, and more. From now until the last day of the Mayan calendar, the hotel will be offering an “Escape! Mayan Experience” package, which includes luxury accommodations, tour for two of Chichen Itza, two 80-minute Mayan-inspired spa treatments, daily $50 resort credit, a Mayan-themed welcome amenity, and free internet access.

Package rates start at $399 per night based on double occupancy. Call 800-228-9290 or click here to book.

CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
Cancun, Mexico

A sister property of the above mentioned Marriott hotel, the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort is located on the vibrant hotel strip and offers well-appointed rooms with views of the Caribbean or Nichupté Lagoon. Like the JW Marriott, CasaMagna is offering an “Escape! Mayan Experience” package through December 21, including the same luxury accommodations: a tour for two of Chichen Itza, two 80-minute Mayan-inspired spa treatments, daily $50 resort credit, a Mayan-themed welcome amenity, and free internet access.

Package rates start at $399 per night based on double occupancy. Call 800-228-9290 or click here to book.

Serene sunsets and self-reflection in Southern California

by Jessica Festa on

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous sunset? While nothing compares to seeing one in person, these photos of Southern California sunsets by Nick Chill are just as good, if not better, than viewing a setting sun with your own eyes. According to Chill, the trick is getting away from the developed coastline and clean, sandy beaches.

“You can still find high cliffs, rocky surf, and other beautifully natural settings from which to view the warm Pacific sunsets,” he explains in an interview. “Another challenge to photographing sunsets in Southern California is the inherent lack of clouds. While this is a dream for tourists, photographers aren’t so enthusiastic about a clear sky. Clear blue skies tend to make for less dramatic images.”

While most people can agree sunsets make for moving moments, it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint exactly why this is.

For Chill, it is a magical time of day. “As the sun gets low in the sky, it casts a warm light over the land that seems to make everything beautiful. It’s sometimes hard to see the beauty of life when you are toiling away, at work or at home, but the magical light of sunrise and sunset is always there to remind us that life is beautiful. To watch the sun set over the horizon reminds me of the impermanence of life. It’s really a very spiritual, self-reflective experience for me, and I do my best to try and share that experience with the viewers of my work.”

To get a better idea of what he means, check out the gallery below.

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Outside magazine’s inaugural ‘Travel Awards’ winners

by Laurel Miller on

With twenty-three categories and every continent up for consideration, the competition is fierce, but today Outside magazine released its picks for its new Outside Travel Awards. The winners include everything from travel companies and locales to cameras, suitcases, hotels, and apps, road-tested by those in the know (you know, those people).

Amongst the chosen is Seattle-based Mountain Madness, a mountain adventure guide service and mountaineering school, for its new Tsum Valley trek in Nepal, named “Best Trip in the Himalayas.” Known in sacred Buddhist texts as the “Hidden Valley of Happiness,” the Tsum Valley lies on the edge of the more visited Manaslu Conservation Area, which opened just three years ago to tourism.

Best travel company Geographic Expeditions (GeoEx) has “consistently taken travelers to the most remote regions of the world, from Everest’s north side to Patagonia’s glaciers to the far reaches of Papua New Guinea. This year its trailblazing new terrain with a 27-day trek to the north face of K2 ($11,450).” Bonus: “the price of every GeoEx trip includes medical assistance and evacuation coverage from Global Rescue and medical-expense insurance through Travel Guard.” Not too shabby.

Also making the list: Myanmar is the “Best New Frontier;” Canon Powershot G-12 makes the “Best Camera;” the “Best New Adventure Lodge” is the Singular, outside of Puerto Natales, Patagonia, Chile; and the “Best Eco-Lodge” is the architectural marvel, The Mashpi in Ecuador.

[Photo credit: Flickr user tarotastic]