Outside in Aspen delivers outdoor fun June 11-13

by Gadling Staff on

Outside magazine and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) have announced the first annual Outside in Aspen adventure weekend set to take place in Aspen, Colorado June 11-13. The three day event will be filled with hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities, with a host of professional adventure athletes, such as Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton and mountaineer/photographer Jake Norton, on hand to take part in the fun.

The festivities get underway on Friday night with a welcome party at the Sky Hotel which will be used t for the Leave No Trace organization. Then, on Saturday the Base Camp will open, which will serve as the adventure headquarters for the weekend’s activities. Visitors will gather at BC to meet up with guides who will take them rock climbing, trail running, cycling, fly fishing, and much more. Then, following a full day of active outdoor pursuits, it’ll be time to head over to a pool party at the Hotel Jerome. An after party at the Belly Up Aspen, will round out the evening.

On Sunday, it’s back to Base Camp for another full day of outdoor fun. The weekend will be capped by a panel discussion moderated by Outside editors, with adventure athletes fielding questions from the crowd and discussing issues in the adventure community. Lunch will be served following the panel discussion, with a gear give away soon there after.

In order to make Outside in Aspen as affordable and accessible as possible, special packages are being offered through Stay Aspen Snowmass, where you can get two-night lodge packages starting at $99. Additionally, the Outside in Aspen Activity Package is available for $250 and includes entrance to the welcome party, half day outdoor activities on both Saturday and Sunday, access to Base Camp festivities throughout the weekend, and entrance to Saturday’s Pool Party as well. The package also includes admission to the adventure athlete panel discussion on Sunday, and includes lunch after that event too.

For a great weekend of outdoor fun and adventure, plan on being in Aspen on June 11-13. It is sure to be a great time. Register here.

Five incredible sights in Idaho

by Gadling Staff on

On your next trip out West, forget about Colorado or California. Visitors in the know are heading for Idaho. There’s lot more here than potatoes. In fact, the state’s wild, unspoiled terrain is dotted with natural wonders, a intriguing range of activities and loads of hidden finds. Wondering where to kick off your Idaho adventure? Give these five great sights a look:

Craters Of The Moon National Monument
You feel you might be on the moon’s surface at Craters of the Moon National Monument, covering 618 square miles of desolate volcanic wasteland bearing lava tube caves and cinder cones southwest of Arco. Apollo Astronauts visited in 1969 to practice exploring the moon. The visitor’s center has exhibits and films. Take a hike on one of the many trails or enjoy the stark scenery along a 7-mile loop drive. Admission: $8 autos, $4 cycles or by foot, under 15 free. Campsites are available.

Hagerman Fossil Beds
More than 200 specimens of the Hagerman Horse, along with mastodons and saber-toothed cats are still being found at the Hagerman Fossil Beds, a quarry north of Buhl. Be ready to do some walking but no digging. A couple of miles away, the Hagerman Valley Historical Museum houses this zebra-sized replica which has become Idaho’s state fossil. Kids can apply hands-on activities with the pre-historic displays and sign up to be a ranger. Donations are welcomed. Hours: May-October, Wednesday-Sunday, 1-4; November-April, Saturday-Sunday, 1-4.
Balanced Rock
It’s nearly a 200 foot climb to Balanced Rock, the camel’s head-shaped rock perched on a pedestal only 3 feet by 17 inches. As you feel very small underneath this 40 ton monster, you’ll be treated to a view of the spectacular Snake River country below. Less than a mile from the rock, nestled between two walls of volcanic rock, free camping is available in the small and narrow, yet peaceful state park south of Buhl.

World Center of Birds Of Prey
Located south of Boise on Flying Hawk Lane, the World Center of Birds of Prey and interpretive center breeds birds of prey in captivity to release to the wild. Viewing our nation’s Bald Eagle or Idaho’s state bird, the Peregrine Falcon, from only a few feet away makes you realize what large birds they are when you see them soaring through the air hundreds of feet above. Live bird presentations are regularly scheduled. Hours: November-February, Tuesday-Sunday, 10-4; March-October, daily, 9-5. Admission: $7 general, $6 (62+), $5 (4-16), under 4 free.

Warhawk Air Museum
Getting up close to real air planes can make you feel mighty small. World War II History of Aviation, right up to the space age, is depicted in the aerial displays of Warhawk Air Museum, located in Nampa on Municipal Drive. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 to 4; Saturday, 10-5. Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors and military identification, $4 (5-12), under 5 free.

Panama City Beach, Florida, puts a guarantee on fun, despite oil spill

by Leigh Caldwell on

Amid concerns about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, some travelers are reconsidering plans for a Florida beach vacation this summer.

That’s why the Panama City Beach tourism folks have issued a “Real Fun Guarantee” that promises a $200 future travel credit if your stay at the beach is affected by the oil spill.

The program applies to new reservations, booked now through June 10, 2010, for stays at certain properties in the Panama City beach area, including the Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, Beach Side Resort Vacation Rentals, Origin at Seahaven and several others.

If government officials close the beach or must be actively cleaning the beach during your vacation in the Panama City Beach area, you will get a $200 credit toward a return visit to the same property. The credit must be used by June 11, 2011.

Garden Court Hotel’s $9 million renovation reforms the ‘staycation’ concept

by Melanie Nayer on

The Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto is hoping more Californians stay local.

Now that the $9 million renovation is complete, the Garden Court Hotel is hosting a special ‘staycation’ package. Reserve a King Deluxe Suite as part of the “Hometown Tourist Package” for $299 and get the following free amenities:

  • Champagne and Shokolaat Welcome Amenity
  • $50.00 gift certificate for dining at Il Fornaio (choice of dinner or breakfast to only be used during this stay)
  • Valet overnight parking
  • Complimentary wireless Internet connection

In addition, the hotel is offering free upgrades to locals who show their ID at check-in.

As part of the Garden Court Hotel‘s renovation, all the guestrooms have been newly redesigned by Spanish interior designer Pablo Paniagua. The bathrooms were redesigned with white-grey marble that compliments the silver fixtures and dark wood, with deep soaking tubs and rain showers. What’s a new bathroom without some new products? Indulge in Molton Brown luxury bath products and fresh gardenias. In addition, each room features HDTV screens, iDesign Cube Clock Radios for iPods and complimentary wireless Internet access.

The majority of the guestrooms include French doors and private patios that look out onto the open-air tiled floor courtyard and fountains of the hotel. Guestrooms vary in amenities but many feature a separate aerated spa-tub, fireplace and breakfast nook. The penthouse suite offers guests deluxe king accommodations, a bathroom with separate aerated spa-tub, luxurious marble rain shower, an airy living room with private bar, fireplace, fresh flowers and two private landscaped patio gardens with fountain.

Not bad for a night away from home.

Royal Caribbean brings hammer down on art auctions

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you liked the art auctions on your Royal Caribbean cruises, brace yourself. In a post on his blog, the company’s president and CEO, Adam Goldstein, wrote that the contract it had with Park West Art Services to run its auctions on the ships expired and that it isn’t going to renew.

He adds that other art-related endeavors could be on the chopping block as well: “We are evaluating what if any art-related programming we may offer in the fleet in the future beyond Oasis of the Seas where Art Actually is our provider of art tours and art for purchase onboard.”

For now, Royal Caribbean and Park West Art Services are going through a “wind down period” as the art auctioneers wrap up on different ships over the next few months.