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    Tuesday, May 25, 2010

    Whistler Offers deals, events and Olympic legacies for families all summer

    Summertime in Whistler means endless family activities and great accommodation deals - offering families the ultimate summer getaways for weekends, week-long getaways or extended visits.  

     Hiking, biking, golfing and dining - along with skiing and snowboarding on Blackcomb Mountain (until late July), as well as festivals and events - all combine to provide the quintessential summer Whistler experience. 

    And while the spring sun has melted the valley snow, Whistler's 2010 Winter Games venues will be opening their doors to summer visitors. Although the Winter Games are behind us, you can still have a taste of the Olympic spirit. 

    The Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) opens June 25 with self-guided and guided walking tours, as well as a new "Behind the Scenes" shuttle bus tour that transports guests from the village to the WSC- from top to bottom.  The centre's facilities will also be available for events and meeting space bookings starting in June. 

    Warm, sunny weather has transformed Whistler's valley into a lush playground and hundreds of kilometres of mountain biking trails are now in ideal condition after a snowy winter. Families looking for a free scenic cycling experience can enjoy the Valley Trail system, offering 35 paved kilometres through lush forests and past glacier-fed lakes, surrounded by mountains. 

    In addition to village-based biking and hiking trails that access Whistler's temperate rainforest, a network of trails atop Whistler and Blackcomb mountains makes for hours of exploration the whole family can enjoy.  Amazing views of the Coast Range mountain peaks and glaciers, alpine meadows and wildlife habitat - including black bears and hoary marmots - are provided along more than 50 kilometres of trails accessible via the PEAK 2 PEAK Alpine Experience

    Family-friendly events taking place this summer in Whistler:

    •·All summer, Whistler Street Entertainment presents free juggling acts, circus performers, musicians, bike stunt riders, dancers and acrobats attractions and performances every weekend in the heart of the Village.

    •··July 17 and 18 is the Whistler Children's Art Festival, with lots of free activities, popular children's performers, wandering musicians and characters, and hands-on workshops led by professional artists in fine arts, crafts, theatre, multi-media, dance and music.

    •·The Whistler Dragon Boat Festival takes place July 3 and 4. This year's event will also feature the Canadian National Dragon Boat Championships. Join the teams for a weekend spent in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world filled with beating drums, fierce paddling, cheering spectators, and live entertainment

    Whistler.com can tailor a package for your family.  For more information, call toll free 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit http://www.whistler.com/ for more details and offers.

    Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America for the past 12 years in a row, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets.  Whistler boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 9,000 permanent residents.

    Monday, May 24, 2010

    Steinhatchee Landing Resort in Florida Welcomes Scallop Seekers


    Big Bend Area Gulf Waters Open, Scallop Season Begins July 1

     Equal parts snorkeling, hunting for hidden treasure and saltwater fishing, scalloping is a can't-miss summer event in Florida's Big Bend.  The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has left the Steinhatchee area unaffected thus far and Steinhatchee Landing Resort, a family-style, riverfront vacation retreat, welcomes scallop seekers for a busy 2010 scallop season, July 1 through September 10. One- to four-bedroom individual cottages start from just $212* per night, allowing multiple families and multiple generations to share accommodations and travel together for a budget-friendly summer vacation.  And located just three miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico and along the Steinhatchee River, Steinhatchee Landing is just minutes from Dead Man's Bay, a unique ecosystem and breeding ground for some of the best bay scalloping in the United States. 

    "The Gulf waters surrounding the Steinhatchee area are currently open to fishing and scalloping for the summer season," said Dean Fowler, developer of Steinhatchee Landing Resort.  "Our local guides are experiencing some of the best near shore fishing with Trout and Reds in recent months and the same goes for offshore angling for Grouper.  We haven't seen any oil along our shorelines from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and aren't expected to in the coming weeks."

    A popular activity for families, scalloping best resembles snorkeling, but with the simple addition of a mesh bag for storing the harvest.  Most scallops can be found in the shallow, grass flats of the Gulf of Mexico that range anywhere from three to six feet deep.  Only two to three inches in length and located inside a fan-shaped shell, the scallops can be easy to spot with their 30-40 bright blue eyes, but provide a good chase as these eyes help them detect predators.

    Steinhatchee Landing Resort provides several boat slips for a nominal fee and will also arrange guided trips with local charter Captains who can guarantee a daily limit of the bay bivalves.  Several locals are available at the marina docks to shuck scallops for a small fee as well and the Landing's cottages provide full kitchens for cooking up a fresh day's harvest. 

    After a full day of wading and scooping scallops, guests of the resort can rest, relax and enjoy the Landing's extensive amenities, including the 55-foot swimming pool and pavilion area with playground, table tennis, fitness center, an indoor swim spa and three-person sauna.  The resort also offers canoe and kayak rentals, croquet, tennis and archery. 

    A peaceful drive from any direction, Steinhatchee Landing Resort is just 75 miles west of Gainesville, and a two-and-a-half hour drive from Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa Bay.  To book your stay, call toll-free (800) 584-1709 or (352) 498-3513 or visit www.SteinhatcheeLanding.com

    *Rates based on availability and minimum stay requirements may apply.  10% resort and state taxes not included. If the Gulf of Mexico becomes closed to fishing or scalloping in the Steinhatchee area as designated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill anytime from July 1-September 10, Steinhatchee Landing Resort will return advanced deposits on stays scheduled during those closed dates for the summer season.

    Media Contact:
    Gentry Baumline-Robinson
    Hayworth Creative Public Relations
    (386) 677-7000
    gentry@hayworthcreative.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    San Diego North: Wellness Destination

    San Diego North’s year-round temperate climate and an abundance of outdoor recreational activities make this resort region a great destination for health and wellness.  Visitors can get a whole body work out while having fun and stimulating the mind during a getaway that encompasses all aspects of total fitness:

    ·         Cardiovascular – Hiking Torrey Pines State Reserve on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean or cycling past a waterfall through the extensive geological formations of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve allows visitors to experience stunning views of the region’s natural beauty while engaging in cardiovascular activity. Enjoy over 2,000 acres of undeveloped coast as you gaze upon the spectacular sandstone cliffs  which overlook the Pacific and wide sand beaches below. Also, the Torrey Pine is the rarest pine in North America. 
     
    ·         Strength Training – Visitors can take a yoga class on a stand up paddle board on the ocean or learn to surf; these activities combine traditional fitness components to strengthen muscles and sculpt the body in a serene setting.   
    ·         Flexibility – Whether engaging in seaside yoga sessions, partaking in golf fitness screening and flexibility classes or learning circus-style aerial stunts, visitors can find a multitude of activities designed to increase flexibility and overall range of motion.
    ·         Mental Stimulation – An abundance of mental restoration offerings, including year-round colorful exotic gardens perfect for meditation and therapeutic spa treatments made from local organic and natural healing ingredients, provide visitors with a variety of options for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-reflection.   
    ·         Nutritional – Containing the most organic farms of all the counties in the nation, San Diego’s surplus of fresh produce make it a natural choice for farm-to-table dining.   Visitors can also learn about nutrition and maintaining a healthy lifestyle from The Grand Del Mar’s Holistic Lifestyle Coach while enjoying a nutritious meal at the award-winning property.    

    For more detailed information on health and wellness offerings in the San Diego North region, please visit the www.SanDiegoNorth.com press room.  Special well-being packages and deals can also be found at www.SanDiegoNorth.com/Wellness  Contact:  Amber Connor, Public Relations Coordinator


    San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau
    360 North Escondido Blvd.
    Escondido, CA 92025
    Tel: 760-745-4748
    Fax: 760-745-4796

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