Arkansas is a natural for outdoor activities. With magnificent mountain ranges, millions of acres of national forests, 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,000 miles of streams and rivers, few states in mid-America can equal her great outdoors. Famous for unparalleled fishing opportunities, the state also offers a wide variety of canoeing and kayaking options.  The Natural State has more than 1,500 miles of trails for horseback riding, bicycling and ATV riding. Visit Arkansas.com to request your free Arkansas Vacation Planning Kit.

Stay
The Henderson Park Inn is one of the most romantic Bed and Breakfasts in the area.  Perfectly perched adjacent to the Henderson Beach State Park and directly on a quiet stretch of beach, this New England-styled bed and breakfast features Victorian-inspired furnishings and large veranda with impressive views of the Gulf of Mexico. You feel like you’re visiting grandma’s as you enter the quaint lobby; complimentary soft drinks, water, cookies and candy bars await.  Just a few steps away is an expansive deck where you will find incredible sunsets and happy hour drink specials daily from 4:30 – 5:30 PM.

Breakfast is complimentary; although dinner isn’t included, it should be included in your plans.

Shrimp and grits do not appear on many upscale menus, so when you see them, you should try them.  Seafood is the stand out at celebrity chef Tim Creehan’s Beach Walk. Try the sushi grade tuna – served with baby spinach and a soy ginger sauce.

Discover
On the sandy beaches of Okaloosa Island, one marine biologist’s dream has lived on since 1955.  Florida’s oldest Marine Park has been educating generations as it plays host to Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, tropical black-foot penguins, loggerhead sea turtles, harbor and gray seals, American alligators, nurse and lemon shark, tropical fish aquariums and more than 14 fascinating Gulf-edged exhibits.  The three bottlenose dolphins were trained by the original trainer of “Flipper.”

Improve
Acclaimed for its sporting collection of great golf escapes, this area tees up an incredible 1,080 holes.  Get down to basics at the Emerald Bay Golf Club and Medicus Golf Institute.  Learn the components of every golf swing and discover “Key Alignments” every successful golfer must overcome to master the game.

Unwind
Round out your adventure at the BoatHouse Oyster Bar.  It’s right on the water and right on the money for entertainment.  Featuring live music nightly and beer with breakfast, you’ll request the beloved honkey-tonk tune “Redneck Mother” before the night is through.  The oysters rock – raw and baked – and the Cheeseburger in Paradise helps stave off tomorrow’s hangover.  Here’s a tip:  arrive early; revelers don’t give up their seats too often.

Essentials
Henderson Park Inn, 2700 Scenic Highway 98, (850) 269-8646; www.hendersonparkinn.com
Beach Walk (850) 650-7100; www.beachwalkdestin.com
Florida’s Gulfarium Marine Show Aquarium (850) 243-9046; www.gulfarium.com
Medicus Golf Institute, (330) 225-5949; www.medicusgolfinstitute.com
Boathouse Oyster Bar, (850) 837-3645

photo by Laurette Veres

In less than an hour, you can be lounging in a tropical paradise with flowing waterfalls and frozen umbrella drinks while the kids zoom down winding waterslides. The resort’s signature Forest Oasis Waterscape™ is the complete experience with underwater music and marine murals, plus, live-bands, dive-in movies and gooey s’mores at dusk.

Land lovers can relax at The Spa with nature-inspired spa treatments, whirlpools and a eucalyptus steam room. Or, hit the links on 36-holes of championship golf at The Oaks and Panther Trail™ courses. For tennis, there are 21 indoor and outdoor courts with hard and clay court surfaces.

Want more? The Woodlands Town Center is the hub of activity featuring one-of-a-kind shopping, dining and entertainment. Visit Jaded, a boutique owned by WWE diva Torrie Wilson or sip on a glass of wine at Crush Wine Lounge overlooking The Fountains at Waterway Square with its choreographed water show. You can also rent a kayak at Riva Row Boat House for a leisurely afternoon on Lake Woodlands.

photo courtesy The Woodlands Resort

Downtown Darling
Vibe: Indulge at the Silk Road-inspired Sè Spa featuring treatments from Southeast Asia, India, Northern Africa and Japan.  The journey begins in the relaxation lounge with signature martinis as you await your therapist.  Then, a great twist for privacy fanatics and the celebrity in all of us, you are led to an individual suite where you change clothes and receive treatments.

Treatment: The Indian Head Massage cures insomnia and headaches.  Oil poured strategically across your forehead is followed by deep scalp and shoulder massages.
Noteworthy:  Private suites contain steam showers.

Shoreline Sweetheart
Vibe: The small, charming L’Auberge Del Mar spa has everything you need for relaxing. The décor is throwback-beachy, think petticoats and bathing caps amid blue and white walls and furniture.

Treatment: You barely feel the Amazonian Escape’s red coral sugar rub, yet it’s rough enough to brush away dead skin.  Once exfoliated, you are enveloped in energizing sweet cream made from cocoa beans, seaweed and guarana.  (Read: you are covered in chocolate.)  A massage is the final touch.

Noteworthy: The outdoor sitting area with three onyx colored fountains is a tranquil escape.

Country Club Chic
Vibe: The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn’s landscaping makes even the most wound-up business person relax.  Spa director Michelle Schlekewey loves it when stressed-out cell phone toting clients leave relaxed and carefree. Indoor and outdoor relaxation areas are really relaxing; steam, nooks, crannies, Jacuzzi and saline pool make this a spa where you can spend the entire day.

Treatment:  The Spa-ing around the world program features treatments from, you guessed it, around the world. Choose from Asian, Latin, Mediterranean or tropical islands experiences.

Noteworthy: Saline pools have many benefits over chlorine.

Historical Significance
Vibe: If it’s been a couple years since you’ve visited the Hotel del Coronado, it’s time to schedule your return.  Always pushing the envelope, while respecting history, The Del continues to evolve.  Three years ago, the new spa was unveiled.

Treatment: Soothing massage combined with continuous steam opens your pores in The Classic European Facial.  Light exfoliation is followed by a deep conditioning mask and massage.

Noteworthy: The Del’s unparalleled oceanfront location is perfect for yoga on the beach.

Dine
No trip to La Jolla is complete without at least a drink at George’s at the Cove, one of San Diego’s most beloved restaurants.  Offering chic, modern dining with gorgeous views of La Jolla Cove and the Pacific Ocean, lunch is light and refreshing.

Noteworthy: Ceviche-style shrimp cocktail.
Dinner at Café Chloe in the East Village offers cozy cuisine that incorporates local produce, all-natural meats and sustainable seafood.  The Saturday evening H Texas visited, there were fresh tulips on the table; custard du jour was chantrelle and smoked brie.

Cucina Urbana, one of San Diego’s hottest new restaurants, boasts modern Italian food in a casual, come-as-you-are setting.  The restaurant is built and furnished with raw, sustainable materials from reclaimed local sources. Tables don’t match, reclaimed wood adorns the walls and a variety of used light fixtures hang from the ceiling. Wine is available at retail prices plus a $7 corkage fee.

Noteworthy: All entrees under $20.

Stay
Staying at Sè San Diego is cool. This new 184-room luxury downtown hotel offers ultra-chic, world-class amenities, and cutting-edge design.  Hundreds of unique finishes and art installations create extra-sensory experiences. The lobby, spa and even the elevator are visually appealing.

Essentials
The Se San Diego, 1047 Fifth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101, (619)515-3000
sesandiego.com
L’Auberge Del Mar, laubergedelmar.com
The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn
ranchobernardoinn.com
Spa at The Del; hoteldel.com
George’s at the Cove  georgesatthecove.com
Cafe Chloe cafechloe.com
Cucina Urbana, 505 Laurel, San Diego
(619) 239-2222; sdurbankitchen.com

photo courtesy The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn

Known primarily for its Four Seasons resort and private villas– the first Four Seasons unveiled in Mexico-Punta Mita is becoming much more than a vacation getaway.  The area, encompassing ten miles of Pacific Coast, is now a significant resort community, offering a range of homes to suit nearly every budget.

Prices in certain communities start around $400,000 and go up to $25 million for the most exclusive oceanfront homes.  Non-qualified financing on a range of products with 30% down means that the resort development is appealing to a broad range of potential buyers, and is selling out fast.

According to Gary Pepin, Vice President of Sales for Punta Mita Properties, private single-family villas that would cost over five million dollars in Los Cabos, Hawaii and the Bahamas can be purchased for significantly less than half in Punta Mita.

“The value for dollar is significant for American homebuyers seeking a 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th vacation home.  And since Punta Mita is so convenient to Texas, the opportunities make sense.”

Residential options at Punta Mita range from Mexican-designed luxury condominiums and villas to exclusive private homes and estates.

For Texans looking for an ease-free vacation getaway, the Four Seasons resort, private residence club, and private villas offers several restaurants, top notch service from experienced hotel personnel, a sexy stretch of white sand beach, and some of the best cuisine in the area.  For weddings or honeymoons, ask the concierge to arrange a sunset cocktail on top of “The Rock.”

The Four Seasons has a great fitness center, a large freeform pool, as well as an adult pool complex.  Don’t miss the bento box sushi at the adult pool bar.

A beach sports center offers kayaks for guests, snorkeling equipment, and anything else you need, including complimentary bottled water, sunscreen, books, newspapers and magazines for all your beach reading.

Punta Mita’s newest resort is the St. Regis, styled around the concept of “barefoot elegance.”  The guest rooms feel like a luxury private oasis, as each one boasts its own terrace, Remede bath amenities, and both indoor and outdoor showers.  The bathrooms are opulent, as is the décor. The setting is both serene and dynamic.  Wireless Internet is actually strong enough throughout the entire property so that you can Google to your heart’s desire while sitting in a beachside lounge chair with a laptop – making it effortless for guests who need to combine both work and play.

The St. Regis offers the newest spa in the area, and romantic guest rooms that you won’t want to leave.  Don’t miss the chef’s five course tasting menu at Carolina, or the fresh catch of the day at Sea breeze.  Special Mexican wines to try include small vintners that cannot be found in Texas, such as the red wine named Jala.

Puerto Vallarta is a short hop away, as is the neighboring arts community of Sayulita.

Punta Mita is fast becoming one of the world’s most famous golf destinations, and was recently voted the #1 Golf Resort in North America by readers of “Conde Nast.”  The newly opened Bahia course, compliments the famed Pacifico course-both Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses, including Punta Mita’s most original landmark, the “Tail of the Whale,” the world’s only natural island green.

essentials:

For vacation ownership options in Punta Mita:

U.S. toll free:  (888) 647-0979

Email:  info@puntamitaproperties.net.

www.puntamita.com

For the Four Seasons:

(800) 819-5053

www.fourseasons.com/puntamita

For the St. Regis:

(877) 250-8871

www.starwoodhotels.com

The other stars are Almond’s Smuggler’s Cove and Morgan Bay all-inclusive resorts. These recently refurbished properties offer everything fun in the sun.

Smuggler’s Cove is a secluded village-style resort smothered in lush tropical gardens. Guests can take romantic strolls along an exclusive moonlit beach or among the dimly lit gardens and pool areas. The nearby Morgan Bay resort property is a bit more traditional offering the same excellent all-inclusive amenities.

The many on-site restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine and ranges from casual to elegant dining. The can’t-miss place to eat is The Great House located in the adjacent plantation house near Smuggler’s Cove. Sitting atop a hill, The Great House offers a romantic setting as you bathe in sunsets, soft music and a sample the succulence of superior St. Lucian cuisine.

If you’re into exploring the island, then you won’t be disappointed. A half-day boat ride along the island’s west side and you’ll encounter St. Lucia’s beauty marks, the Pitons. Once a part of the rim of a great volcano, the two towering peaks are all that remains.

Next stop, Sulfur Springs to venture into the volcano. It’s one of few drive-in volcanoes in the world which makes this an easy adventure for all types of travelers. The scent of tropical plant life takes a back seat to the overpowering odor of sulfur bubbling up from the earth’s belly.

St. Lucia is known for many crops but probably best known for their sugar and cocoa bean production. Visit Soufriere’s Fond Doux Estate and you’ll witness cocoa bean processing first hand…or feet. Steve, a budding plant worker, says that 90 percent of their processed cocoa beans make their way to Hershey, Pennsylvania for candy production.

While at the Estate you can sample the local cuisine at their restaurant. If you feel you’d like to stay the night, the former plantation house is a B & B as well. Lionita makes her daily rounds picking fresh flowers used to adorn each secluded garden guest house.

Visitors to St. Lucia will spontaneously slip into seaside submission. Whether you like to simply sunbathe on a beach or zip– line your way across a jungle, you’ll quickly understand why the locals say ‘every day is Saturday on the island’.

Disney-esque Grounds

Shiny marble floors, frescoed ceilings, millions of gallons of aquariums, a lazy river and miles of pristine beach create enough visual stimulation to warrant walking tours. That’s right, if your cruise ship docks at Paradise Island, walking tours of the Atlantis are a shore excursion. This facility has crowd control down to a science with directional paths, a shuttle bus and friendly staff at every turn. Like the Magic Kingdom, Atlantis is a destination.

Vegas-esque Pool

Craving adult stimulation? Houston beauty queens Brooke Daniels and Crystal Stewart have both spun at Atlantis’ adult-only pool, Cain at the Cove. Reminiscent of the hottest clubs in Vegas it features guest DJs, floating sunbathing deck and girls who clearly don’t eat; some topless.

New York-esque Dining

Dinner reservations are a must at the Atlantis’ see-and-be-seen restaurants. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the world’s leader in innovative Japanese cuisine, is in the center of the action near the casino. Nobu rocks through the evening with full service sushi bar or complete dining room experience.

You may or may not see Bobby Flay in the kitchen at Mesa Grill, but you will benefit from his unique dishes served only at the Atlantis. The Bahamian Spiced Chicken Skewers and Cracked Conch Salad are stand-outs.

Orlando-esque Water Park

All are welcome to partake in the Aquaventure. With twenty million gallons of water, this on-site 141-acre water slide offers hours of floating entertainment. Water slides, rapids and tubes provide ample opportunity to splash around in the sun.

Hollywood-esque Entertainment

The Atlantis is full of surprises. While we visited, so did the cast of “Ugly Betty.” Episode four was filmed on the property and they hosted a red carpet season premier party; we were the first to view the show. Judith Light, America Ferrera and Adam Rodriguez were just some of the celebs upping the celebrity quotient.

Hawiian-esque Activities

Marine life here is what you see on diving and snorkeling expeditions, but you don’t have to dive or snorkel. You simply walk through the aquariums. In a building called The Dig, you can get up close and personal with spiny and slipper lobster, lionfish, spotted scorpion fish, and long-spine urchin.

New Orleans-esque Heart

The largest animal hospital and rescue center in the Caribbean is located at Dolphin Cay. The tour takes you behind the scenes to introduce you to Sea Lions rescued from a New Orleans’ aquarium following Hurricane Katrina.

Direct flights to the Bahamas are seasonal on Continental airlines. For information log on to www.Atlantis.com

The resort is built into a hill that sits atop the portion of the Colorado River known as Lake Austin. The main office resembles a country farmhouse with big windows and distressed furniture. The feeling is comfortable – like visiting your best friend’s lake house. Many of the rooms have been recently updated.

The LakeHouse Spa

Always pushing the envelope, the LakeHouse Spa continues to evolve. New this season is the results-driven treatments menu. Lynne Vertrees, the Spa Director and Director of Treatment Development has added 10 new facials to the menu. Working with everything from the CoffeeBerry, a powerful antioxidant, blueberry extract and medical-grade Proxylane, the new menu items promote healthy collagen, reverse sagging and leave skin visibly firmer and more radiant.

For celebrity treatment, Feng Shui Beauty pioneer Billy Yamaguchi is on-site once a month for total beauty consultations.

This international celebrity stylist has created harmonizing looks for A-list celebrities as well as sports stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Brooke Shields and Kate Moss. Now he’s less than three hours away.

Puts the sizzle back in train travel

When I was first invited to participate in a week of Canadian train travel, I rolled my eyes and thought, “ugh.” Train travel. Wasn’t that for backpackers sweeping across the broad European continent? Did train travel have any place in North America as a tourist attraction?

I’d done my time on trains, I thought. I was younger then. I remember not being able to sleep in my cramped quarters heading to Prague. I also recall not understanding the schedule in Antwerp. So, the idea of spending a week traversing from Vancouver to Jasper aboard VIA RAIL (Amtrak in Canada) didn’t appeal to my travel sensibilities.
I enjoyed vacations with great food, and more importantly, a good night’s sleep.

You can imagine my surprise when I discovered the enchanting Canadian countryside … best seen via train.

VIA RAIL tours originate in Vancouver, and I recommend spending at least a day shopping at the public market, taking in the views of the mountains, and tasting the cuisine of this enterprising Canadian city.

For lunch try Nu Naked + Casual Cuisine, one of Canada’s buzz-worthy new restaurants. The runaway favorite on this quaint restaurant’s menu is the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich – popular due to its simplicity. If you’re an oyster lover, you must try the fried oyster shooter, – the plastic syringe accompanying this dish is filled with locally brewed beer. For dinner, Italian Kitchen is one of the hottest tickets in town.

The Silver and Blue class, the luxury class, has a private waiting area with coffee and free Internet access just inside the Pacific Central Building. Once on board the train, the champagne toast sets a celebratory tone. The glass-roof car offers a serene way to see the Canadian Rockies as the mountains loom overhead. I could spend hours here. After all, the train travels on high mountain rails and affords the types of sights not seen by passing motorists.

Here the food is good. Darn good. The stuffed filet was so tasty, I toured the kitchen. Imagine my surprise to find the chef prepping the next meal. Nothing frozen here.

Rock yourself to sleep
The sleeper room has plenty of space and a private toilet – quite an upgrade from my college days. Once you adjourn to your quarters, the lull of the train puts you right to sleep as you head to Jasper.

Enjoy the Charm of Jasper
Stay
The steam rises up from the pool to slightly mask my view of Lake Mildred and the Canadian Rockies in the Athabasca Valley. The outdoor heated pool is 90 degrees at the Jasper Park Lodge and I’m the only person in it.

This is just one of many ways to feel close to nature on these sprawling hotel grounds. Everyone hangs out in the lobby, which is decorated with wrought iron chandeliers, plush couches, and a fireplace and full bar. The understated rooms resemble log cabins and are connected by a scenic walkway surrounding the lake. Each suite has plush beds and panoramic windows facing the mountains. Talk about a room with a view.

Dine
From après ski in the lobby to dinner in Moose’s Nook Northern Grill, the lodge offers something for everyone. A local delicacy, bison tenderloin wrapped with boar bacon is served with horseradish mash, wild mushrooms and a tarragon merlot jus. And, if you can stand more red meat, the lamb chops are delectable.

You feel so at home at the lodge, you won’t want to leave; but you’re in the Jasper National Park, so venture you must.

Hike
This national park is uniquely Canadian. A Maligne Canyon hike is a special treat you must see with your own eyes to truly appreciate. I ventured out in nineteen below for this canyon crawling adventure. As you hike into the canyon, the guide takes you through geology 101 attempting to give some explanation for the marvel before you. The water in the creek looks like ice but is not frozen. That’s right, it’s nineteen below, and I see flowing water. I find out the source is an active natural spring.

Ski Marmot Basin
Marmot basin offers 1500 acres of ski-able Rocky Mountain terrain. A new activity has been added to snowboarding and telemarking: ski biking. If you don’t want to commit to skiing, it offers a quick way to get up the mountain and see the sights.

My first ski bike lesson went well. You sit on a bike with your feet on the ground where pedals would normally be. This gives you instant balance because the mini-skis attached to your ski boots act like training wheels. Your next mission: head up the lift. If you have a bad knee, this is the way to go as little pressure is applied. On the other hand, you are not working as hard as you do while skiing, and purists may miss the exhilaration.

Look out for deer, elk and moose, as they wander through town on a regular basis. This remote sleepy mountain town doesn’t have an airport, so hop the train to Edmonton for international connections. The ride out of Jasper provides you with another captivating view of the Canadian Rockies.

Essentials

www.viarail.ca, www.viarail.ca Nu Naked + Casual Cuisine, Jasper Park Lodge; www.fairmont.com

Capella Hotels and Resorts— following up on its successful hotel launch in Telluride, Colorado and Ixtapa, Mexico— has recently unveiled its latest luxury escape in Cabo San Lucas.

The Capella San Pedregal is the first luxury hotel within walking distance to the town of Cabo, and the resort itself is a feat of architectural accomplishment of man over nature.

Imagine entering a one thousand foot tunnel dredged through a mountain and lit with torches beckoning you to your own private luxe escape.  The dramatic entryway leads to a breathtaking scene – Cabo’s first luxury hotel located on the Pacific beach next to Land’s End.
Boasting several infinity pools, tasteful swim-up bars, and an al fresco restaurant with a prime cliffside location amid the rocks and crashing waves below, Capella Pedregal is an enchanting newcomer to Cabo’s luxury resort scene.

The new Auriga Spa is the finest in Cabo, with fresh herb foot massages prefacing each treatment.  The massage treatment rooms are set amidst cascading streams of water, which add to the spa’s therapeutic appeal.  The resort offers special spa rooms for guests interested in indulging in a soothing, total relaxation vacation.

The service is friendly, without being in-your-face.  Ask for a tequila lesson in the tasting room from Alejandro and Jose, the resident sommelier and bartender.  Service staff do much to please, often delivering fresh-made guacamole and ice-cold Mexican Cerveza in the afternoons.  Don’t miss the lobster tacos at lunch, and the artful amuse bouche the Chef surprises guests with prior to each meal.  The breakfast buffet includes fresh baked breads, cheeses and croissants, as well as a range of top-notch Mexican specialities.

Each room comes with a private assistant who arranges the excursions Cabo is famous for:  whale watching occurs right outside the windows during prime season, fishing expeditions, and of course, golfing and spa appointments.
A private yacht is available for those wishing to cruise the shore, and for groups.

Capella Pedregal is a blissful setting for weddings, honeymoons, couples in need of a romantic escape, and also families with children.

For those Texans with a more vested interest in Cabo vacations, check out the Capella Residence Club on-site which offers large scale floorplans, separate swimming and beach club facilities, a resident majordomo/ personal assistant, and one of the best locations on the entire peninsula.

At night, the scene is serene, sexy, and contemplative.  The entire hotel is lit by torches, and streaming water runs in smooth lines across the outdoor reception area.

Capella Pedregal deftly integrates a vacation for everyone:  for couples seeking a romantic escape, the resort offers several infinity pools with expansive views of the Pacific beyond.  When you’re staying at Capella San Pedregal, you feel like the property exists in its own private space.  With a mountain rising up behind you, a private, torch-lit tunnel for hotel guests only, and a strip of beach with views rivaling those of any in Cabo, there is no reason to leave the property at all.

Capella offers the best location around:  walking distance to the town, or a five minute taxi ride to Squid Row and Cabo’s other famed nightlife attractions.

With its superb service staff, unrivaled location, and unique design, Capella Pedregal firmly joins the ranks of the top luxury contenders in Cabo.

Essentials

CAPELLA PEDREGAL
Cabo San Lucas
Mexico
877-247-6688
(US Toll Free)

www.capellapedregal.com
www.capellacabo.com

CABO RESTAURANT BUZZ:

Hot New Sushi and Tequila Bar Opens at Las Ventanas

For a modern spin on sushi, check out the sizzling new sushi and tequila bar concept at Las Ventanas.  The sushi is prepared with a deft nod toward contemporary cuisine and the tequila bar is stocked with the finest 100 percent agave tequila in Mexico including Las Ventanas’ own brand.

Or, for those of you yearning for a taste of Provence, check out the alfresco dining scene at one of the sexiest pools in Cabo.  Chef Fabrice Guisset, who hails from France, prepares superb fresh ceviches, not to mention a trio of grilled octopus, lobster and sea bass which deserves all the accolades it has received.

Las Ventanas offers a remarkable list of wine, tequila, champagne, and liquor rivaling those of the best restaurants in the South of France.  Taste the range of Calvados, Grappa, champagne, and for dessert, trust Cabo’s best French chef to take care of you.

Essentials

www.lasventanas.com