Veteran outfitter Western River Expeditions names top favorite whitewater runs on Colorado River

SALT LAKE CITY – Where’s the wild water on the mighty Colorado River?

The legendary Colorado River is just another float trip until it crashes into Westwater Canyon just over the Utah/Colorado border and upstream from Moab, UT, says whitewater rafting pioneer Western River Expeditions (http://www.westernriver.com/).

After this introductory splash, named by National Geographic as “The West’s best short whitewater run,” the Colorado River gains momentum and a well-earned reputation for some real kick-in-the-butt, whitewater rapids that live deep down in the Canyonlands of Utah (Cataract Canyon) and farther down in the Grand Canyon of Arizona.

While every commercial boatman has his or her own favorite, the team at Western River Expeditions got together and agreed upon their top eight most beloved rapids along the course of the Colorado River. While there’s still time to enjoy a trip this season, reservations are already open for 2016, a year that may experience the best spring runoff on record thanks to the predicted effects of an unusually strong El Niño, adds Brandon Lake, CMO of Western River Expeditions.

Pure Adventures launches new self-guided bike tours In California’s Napa and Sonoma Wine country - Fall trips come with $150 savings

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Pioneers of self-guided cycling vacations, Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/), announces two new self-guided bicycle itineraries in the California Wine Country that come with a savings of $150 per person if traveling this September or October.
  With new itineraries come opportunities for spontaneity and discovery, so the incentive is dubbed a “Scout Discount” for the first riders to follow these planned routes.

“These are new tours; as such there may be some unexpected hiccups, so if you are willing to share your feedback and suggestions for possible improvement, Pure Adventures is willing to extend a “Scout” discount of $150/person for anyone who signs up for a September or October departure,” said Loren Siekman, Pure Adventures founder/owner.

September is prime time to explore Moab, Utah

Moab, UT – The local inhabitants of Moab, Utah can’t wait until Labor Day, the start of their favorite season. The summer heat has mellowed, the hordes of tourists have moved on and festival season begins.

It’s also prime time to do that last raft trip of the season, lace up the boots for an all-day national park hike or top off the fat tires on that mountain bike.

“Here in one of the world’s most spectacular natural playgrounds, September can fool visitors into thinking we have endless summer,” explains Jamie Pearce, longtime resident and manager of the one-stop shop for outdoor activity, the Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).

“The climate is still great with daytime temperatures averaging in mid-80’s F. It’s also again possible to snag a table at a favorite restaurant without a long wait!”

ACE Adventure Resort assists students With hands-on learning through STEM curriculum

Minden, WV – On 1,500 acres in West Virginia’s southern hills, ACE Adventure Resort (http://aceraft.com/) delivers fun and adventure along with non-traditional instruction through STEM-based field trips offering hands-on learning for grades 9-12 in a stunning outdoor classroom. (STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is a national effort supported by private companies.)

Students raft, zip, climb or hike their way to becoming more interested in the world around them while performing scientific studies and experiencing living history here.  Using the natural world as a classroom increases students’ enthusiasm for learning, enhances critical thinking and relationship skills and improves academic performance across curriculums, observed Jackie Gallimore, ACE Director of Outdoor Recreation.
 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts introduces Sheraton Grand

From Rio to Beijing, Tokyo to Dubai: New Premier Tier Celebrates Best of Sheraton Brand with Focus on In-Demand Destinations, Service Excellence, and Outstanding Designs

 100 Sheraton Hotels to be Recognized with Grand Designation by Early 2017

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has introduced Sheraton Grand, a new premier tier that recognizes exceptional Sheraton hotels and resorts for their enticing destinations, distinguished designs, and excellence in service and guest experiences.

Starwood revealed the first ten Sheraton Grand properties, which span from Bangalore to Beijing, Dubai to Edinburgh, Miyazaki to Seoul, Taipei to Bangkok, and Tokyo to Rio de Janeiro. By year end, Starwood expects to have 50 newly-designated Sheraton Grand hotels around the world with plans for 100 by early 2017. Sheraton Grand is one of many initiatives currently underway for Sheraton 2020, a comprehensive plan designed to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice, everywhere. 

A new kind of New Year at Gogo Island Inn in Newfoundland

  Fogo Island, NL -- By the time the ball drops in Times Square, 2016 celebrations will be well underway at Fogo Island Inn. Newfoundlanders are the very first in North America to welcome in the New Year.

Guests at Fogo Island Inn will indulge in Island traditions of music, poetry, fireworks and a Seven-Season supper paired with wines by Norman Hardie, a winemaker at the forefront of the Canadian craft wine industry. An auspicious – and unforgettable – start to 2016 begins on Thursday, December 31, 2015 and runs through to January 2, 2016 at Fogo Island Inn.
 
The Inn’s New Kind of New Year’s Eve combines repose and retreat with cultural experiences and festivities before and after the arrival of a brand new year. Fogo Island Inn’s guests will ring out the old year with a cocktail reception before dinner, followed by a festive seven-course supper in the award-winning dining room just steps away from the wild North Atlantic. Each course will be thoughtfully introduced and paired with a cold-climate varietal by Chef Murray McDonald and celebrated Ontario winemaker Norman Hardie.

Travel ideas from Destination British Columbia

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Tumbler Ridge: Dinosaur Tracks, Extraordinary Landscapes and now, a Geopark

Northern BC's Tumbler Ridge may be small in number (population: 2,983), but here, amid the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, all offerings are on a grand scale, including the remains of prehistoric beasts who once roamed the landscape. In this tight-knit, forward-thinking community, locals like to think big, too — a happy fact celebrated by the recent unveiling of a brand new 7,722 square-kilometre (2,981 square-mile) Global Geopark, a designation meant to protect and promote geological heritage and sustainable local development.