Travel ideas from Destination British Columbia

Fresh travel ideas from Destination BC on Twitter and Instagram. Follow at @HelloBC.

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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.

Stowe, Vermont to welcome new boutique hotel‏

Destination Vermont: Lark Hotels Debuts First Mountain Resort Property, Field Guide, Grand Opening October 1, 2015 

STOWE, VT, Aug. 26, 2015 – Lark Hotels is bringing luxe lodge accommodations and a rustic mod design aesthetic to Stowe, Vermont, with the October 1 grand opening of Field Guide. Stowe’s newest boutique hotel is Lark’s first non-coastal property and brings the number of hotels in this fast-growing collection to 12.

Envisioned as a home base for exploration and unique Vermont vacation experiences, Field Guide occupies the site of the former Ye Olde England Inn and features 30 accommodations, comprised of 17 standard guest rooms, ten suites, and three private-entrance cottages.

Rail Europe offers $50 off first-class France Rail Pass bookings

Kids Under 12 Travel Free With The New Family Friendly France Rail Pass Offering

TORONTO, ON, July 30, 2015 – Rail Europe, Inc., the largest distributor of European rail products in North America, offers $50 off 1^st class France Rail Pass bookings in celebration of the new expanded France Rail Pass product line. The pass is more attractive than ever with:

• Free travel for up to two children under 12 years of age (Per adult or senior pass holder. All children under 4 travel for free when sharing a seat with an adult or senior.)
• Children, Youth, Adult, Saver and Senior passes available in 2^nd class as well as 1^st class, making multi-generational trips easy and affordable
• More validities on the flexi-pass with new 2-day and 15-day options. Now travelers can choose to travel as much as they want:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 15 days within a one-month period
• The new “consecutive” pass includes 2, 4, 5, 8 or 15 consecutive days of travel. For those traveling by train every day, they will save 20% on consecutive validities as compared to the same validities on a flexi-pass
• Bonus discounts on city passes and other activities, so travelers can make the most of their family vacation

Austin Adventures suggests seven trips on seven continents to enjoy or book this fall

BILLINGS, MT – Austin Adventures (www.austinadventures.com/) enjoys a legacy spanning more than four decades of engaging travelers on small group trips to the world’s best destinations for active travel. With another record-setting summer winding down, the company turns its focus on the fall and upcoming winter seasons and recommends seven best-in-class adventures on seven continents.

Since inception, Austin Adventures founder, president and trip visionary, Dan Austin, had the goal of spanning the globe with world-class adventure itineraries for the intrepid traveler. This was finally accomplished in 2015 with the addition of Asia and small ship river cruising in Vietnam and Cambodia (departures offered December through April).

“While it’s hard to beat summer in Montana, my favorite time to travel is in the fall when the crowds thin out and you get the feeling you have a special place all to yourself,” shared Austin. “We put our collective heads together and have come up with a list of trips to either be taken in the fall when conditions are ideal or booked now before space disappears for prime-time winter travel.”

Italy’s active travel leader, Dolomite Mountains s.r.l., introduces Lake Garda multisport adventure

For Immediate Release

DOLOMITES, Italy, July 30, 2015 – Italy’s largest lake, surrounded by steep glaciers, is the setting for Lake Garda Multisport Adventure recently launched by Italy’s active leader in guided and self-guided mountain travel, Dolomite Mountains s.r.l.
  Think northern Italy’s Trentino region, a short drive from Milan, Verona or Venice. Here in the last Ice Age glaciers carved out Lake Garda, surrounded by vertical limestone walls and medieval castle towers, a near-mythical landscape today enjoyed by merry-makers year-round at the resort town of Riva del Garda where Dolomite Mountains’ guests lodge while adventuring over and around this clear blue water.

Visitors will tackle a via ferrata ascent high above Lake Garda, experience the adrenaline rush of canyoneering through narrow passageways and caves, sliding through rocks carved by water over eons, and mountain bike to a glacial lake. Swimming and water sports are also included.

A world’s first: Wild Planet Adventures now offers wildlife eco-tours in fabled “Lost World” of Borneo

SAUSALITO, CA, Aug. 4, 2015 – Award-winning wildlife travel expert Wild Planet Adventures (http://www.wildplanetadventures.com/) announces a world’s first for travel companies. They have been granted special access to lead wildlife eco-tours in the remote Maliau Basin Conservation Area, famously known as The Lost World of Borneo. Located on the strait of Sabah, the region encompasses Malaysia’s easternmost state on the island of Borneo.
  The Lost World of Borneo is one of three areas left in Borneo that encompass the last stands of the oldest rainforest on earth. Its geography – a basin surrounded by steep cliffs – has never been fully explored. Another of these areas, the Danum Valley, is also included in Wild Planet’s signature “Weird & Wonderful Wildlife Eco-tour” available in 12-and 16-day itineraries, the latter including an exclusive wildlife expedition into The Lost World of Borneo. 

Starwood Preferred Guest members gain the advantage with exclusive access to the U.S. Open through SPG Moments

SPG Members to sit courtside at biggest matchups, tour the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium and more

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 14, 2015 – As a leader in loyalty, Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®), is serving up premier tennis experiences with the launch of its 2015 US Open SPG Moments.

SPG members get access like no other to the US Open with experiences including SPG Luxury Suites, courtside seats to exciting matches, behind-the-scenes tours of Arthur Ashe Stadium, and much more. Starting today, members will have the chance to bid their coveted Starpoints® for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities every tennis fan would love.

“Our US Open SPG Moments are some of the most highly-anticipated packages of the year for our members, and we take a lot of pride in securing the best tennis experiences possible. This year we’re giving our members even more for their loyalty,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Commercial Services for Starwood.

 “Not only do our members get to watch some of the greatest moments in the sport from the SPG Luxury Suite or courtside seats, they get exclusive access to the US Open that they won’t find anywhere else.”