Nova Scotia Tourism Launches ‘iLove Nova Scotia’ Contest
Posted July 22, 2009 , add a comment) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (July 10, 2009). Nova Scotia Tourism announces the “iLove Nova Scotia” Video Contest giving travelers and residents alike the opportunity to show others what they love most about the ocean province.
Entrant videos will be shown on the Nova Scotia Tourism website, with the Grand Prize winner decided by popular vote. The iLove Nova Scotia Grand Prize is a custom built Nova Scotia dream vacation worth $15,000 that includes travel and accommodations plus allowances to enjoy fine Nova Scotia entertainment, tours, attractions and events.
The contest entry period opened on Monday, July 6, 2009 and closes on August 31, 2009 and is open to everyone, residents as well as visitors and anyone who has ever wanted to experience Nova Scotia’s charm and beauty firsthand. From its picturesque ocean coastline, to the dramatic cliffs of Cape Breton, to the charm of its hundreds of fishing and country villages, to the unique hospitality of its port cities, the contest welcomes video submissions of all sites and experiences.
Contest submissions are made simply by uploading videos to the iLove Nova Scotia Contest entry page where users can find complete rules and regulations. This is also where users vote for their favourite videos and can email the page to a friend or share with their social networks.
The iLove Nova Scotia contest will also be promoted throughout Nova Scotia’s Visitor Information Centres (VIC), which will be equipped with cameras to record “iLove Nova Scotia” stories from visitors and upload on site.
Information about Nova Scotia travel and tourism can be found on Nova Scotia’s Official Tourism Website .
First All-Inclusive Staycation Package in Atlantic Canada
Posted , add a comment) July 10, 2009 - West Bay, Nova Scotia. As many Maritimers are facing tight travel budgets this summer, they are seeking vacations close to home. Dundee Resort is making it easier for vacationers to get the most out of their hard-earned dollars by introducing the first all Inclusive Staycation Package in Atlantic Canada.
Florida, Cuba, Mexico and other sunshine destinations are popular for their all-inclusive packages, which you do not generally see in Atlantic Canada. However, Dundee Resort on Cape Breton Island has just introduced an all-inclusive package to give tourists an easy economical staycation in Nova Scotia.
“Times are tough but everyone needs a getaway. For a very affordable price, this package gives visitors access to all resort amenities-it’s everything you need to have a great time, said Scott MacAulay, Owner of Dundee Resort. “By getting creative and developing an all-inclusive package, we are introducing an ideal spot for a staycation. This is the first of its kind, that I am aware of, in Atlantic Canada”, he added. Dundee Resort is located 20 minutes from Port Hawkesbury on the Bras d’Or Lakes. With an 18-hole championship golf course and a supervised children’s program, Dundee is the perfect place to getaway on Cape Breton Island. Dundee also has an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, spa and a fully equipped water adventure centre where kids of all ages can have fun on the lake. Dundee offers spacious hotel rooms and one and two bedroom efficiency cottages.
Hossegor Beach, Southern France
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Surfer outside the Rock Food Cafe. http://www.flickr.com/photos/13956632@N00/3320027370/
Part pastoral, part Baywatch, Hossegor is an interesting mix of Basque history, Landais, and now modern day surf culture. Set among stone cottages, old growth pines and Le Lac d’Hossegor, the town has recently become one of the premiere surfing locations in Europe, boasting such well-known breaks as Seignosse, Gravi?re, La Nord, Capbreton, and La Piste. Throughout the summer months Hossegor supports a thriving nightlife, centered at La Plage Centrale. And every September, the town hosts the Quicksilver Pro France surfing competition, attracting pros and fans the world over.
Kelly Slater, world surfing championship 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25933559@N04/2886647269/
I haven’t been to Hossegor since before the Euro, which tells you just how very long it’s been. But I’m planning on going back, even if it looks a bit like home. It’s my home en fran?ais, ma maison, et c’est si belle.
Bolinas Beach, West Marin, California
Posted , add a commentIt is fitting that I write about Bolinas Beach right before the 4th of July. After all, throughout high school I spent every 4th of July there at the beach, drinking beer during the day and dodging bottle rockets at night. Perhaps best known for its residents who supposedly tear down road signs along Highway 1 so that outsiders cannot find their way* toward the town affectionately called Bo Bo, Bolinas is not for the faint of beach lovers.
Bo Bo surfer. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cproppe/3184005582/
Legend has it that a woman rides her horse along the shorebreak, naked a la Lady Godiva. I have never seen it myself, but believe it nonetheless. One time a man at the beach asked me to take his picture, so I did. Before I could snap away he had taken off his pants (but not his shirt). I have seen fights in Bolinas, parades, festivals, drinking, surfing, swimming, beautiful artwork, I have heard poetry and music; I have taken a bottle rocket to the eye in Bolinas.
Artwork on the beach. http://www.flickr.com/photos/localleaflover/520883765/
I could describe the sand (white, sugary), the water (friendly but cold). I could describe the beach, the flora, the fauna, but who are we kidding? Bolinas is a beautiful beach but it is the people that make it what it is. Bolinas is artists, musicians, freaks, surfers, nudists, dogs running after waves and kids running after balls. Bolinas is a wonderful place to go. Special. If you can find it.
Possibly part of a parade, possibly not. http://www.flickr.com/photos/11114469@N00/223712234/
*Please note: the map on the link is incorrect. Like, incredibly incorrect. It will lead you to a beach between two tony towns. This is not Bolinas, but this is indicative of the humor of the town.
Orchid Resorts & Escapes Now Featured on LuxuryLink.com
Posted , add a comment) Los Angeles (July 2, 2009)- Luxury Link (www.luxurylink.com), the online luxury travel resource that offers high-end trips to destinations around the globe, announces its partnership with Orchid Resorts & Escapes (www.orchidworldwide.com) the boutique hotel brand representing unique and extraordinary properties. Orchid Resorts & Escapes properties include Dunton Hot Springs, Winvian and The Pitcher Inn (among many others…). They join Luxury Link’s esteemed portfolio of world-class hotels, resorts and tour companies in over 60 countries, gaining instant access to the sophisticated Luxury Link consumer.
History comes alive at Dunton Hot Springs. Located near Telluride, Colorado, this historic mining town has been restored and converted to an exclusive resort. Guests can choose from a range of activities including helicopter skiing and river rafting, or simply relax in the natural hot springs. While the hand-hewn log cabins create a rustic atmosphere, make no mistake, this resort is top quality from the exquisite cuisine to the holistic spa treatments. For the ultimate seclusion, guests can rent the entire town for themselves, making it the ideal venue for weddings or corporate retreats.
Set on 113 acres in Connecticut’s scenic Litchfield Hills, Winvian is the perfect place for a quiet getaway. The property includes eighteen private cottage accommodations, each providing a unique experience that is bound to enchant. There is the traditional grace of the Library Cottage and the creative comfort of the Artist Cottage. Or, for the more unconventional traveler, the Helicopter and Treehouse cottages stir the imagination. Winvian also brings new meaning to the term “pet friendly” with its Saddle Up Package offering room and board for guests as well as their equestrian companions.
The Pitcher Inn has been a scenic retreat for guests since the 1850s. Located in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains, it serves as an ideal base for a number of outdoor activities year-round. Each of the eleven guest rooms feature distinct designs but share a common Vermont theme. After a long day in the great outdoors, guests can satisfy their appetite with meals made from the freshest local and regional ingredients or sample a bottle from the award-winning Wine List.
“Orchid was formed as a way for me to bring together exceptional, yet whimsical properties whose unique nature fit the destination that they are in,” said founder Stacy Dreyfus. “I’m looking forward to working with Luxury Link and growing our business together.”
About Orchid Resorts & Escapes
Founded in 2007 by sales and marketing specialist Stacy Dreyfus, Orchid Resorts & Escapes is a luxury boutique hotel brand representing refreshing and extraordinary properties and destinations. Orchid properties ultimately create a unique place for a romantic hideaway, a special gathering, a refuge, an executive retreat or simply a place to breathe and relax.
About Luxury Link
Founded in 1997, LuxuryLink.com is the world’s premier online luxury travel resource. Showcasing more than 1000 extraordinary hotels and resorts, cruises, tours and villas in more than 60 countries, LuxuryLink.com provides unparalleled access to exclusive offers and insider tips for the sophisticated traveler. For more information, please visit www.luxurylink.com or call 1-888-2973299.