Is Biking The New Running?

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

We’re starting to really see a trend – a demand for vacations that feature a bicycling component and while May is National Bike Month, we’re seeing trips for cycling enthusiasts pop up from Nantucket to New Zealand.  Adventure travelers are now seeking an endurance challenge that long-distance cycling provides; it’s no longer just about a quick-fix adrenaline rush.  Others enjoy biking as a way to stay fit on a vacation while exploring the destination. (Is it perhaps the death of the hotel fitness center?) By riding through a locale, travelers have the opportunity to meet new people, feel the fresh air, see the scenery, and venture off the beaten path.

Be it a Bhutan trek or a brewery tour, itineraries exist to suit all interests.

Here are some to inspire you!

1)      Cycle from Mountains to Monasteries

To fully engage with the Kingdom of Bhutan, its people, culture, and landscapes, there are few better ways than by bike.  One can bike the 350 miles between COMO’s two Bhutan properties, Uma Punakha and Uma Paro.  Highlights include the first designated mountain biking trail in Bhutan, a descent from the highest road pass in the country, a roundtrip ride in the magical Phobjikha valley, and cultural rides in the Paro, Punakha, and Haa Valleys.

Bike & Brew in Nantucket

2)      Bike and Brew on Nantucket

For bikers and beer enthusiasts, The White Elephant Village and The Wauwinet offer a “Bike and Brew” package for two that includes a two-night stay in a one bedroom residence overlooking the stunning Nantucket Bay, bike rental, tour of the local Cisco brewery, and a picnic to go.

3)      Heli-Bike in New Zealand 

Bikers at the Matakauri Lodge in Queenstown, New Zealand, can ride on the same trails as the world’s top mountain bikers by heli-biking.  Guests are flown to the mountains above Queenstown and are given the freedom to ride down at their own pace.

4)      6,000 Acres of Bike Trails on The Farm

While Queenstown caters to the thrill-seeking crowd, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in the Hawke’s Bay of New Zealand offers three diverse trails across 6,000 acres of sheep farm, coastline, wetland, and wineries.

5)      Mountain Bike Treasure Hunt

Explore The New Forest, the original hunting ground of William the Conqueror, by taking part in a treasure hunt.  Chewton Glen in Hampshire, England, offers themed treasure hunts for teams of up to eight people, all armed with mission packs containing clues, photo challenges, digital cameras, and maps.  Treasure hunt themes include “The Olympic Challenge” and “The Italian Job.”

6)      Aquabiking: St. Barth’s Answer to Spinning

Sibarth, the trend-setting villa rental company on St. Barth, is now leading the latest fitness trend, aquabiking.  The underwater fitness equipment tones muscles with minimal joint strain.  Instructor Jean Marc Outil leads in-villa and pool sessions that involve a series of cycling rhythms set to his specially selected tunes.

Sibarth’s Aquabiking

7)      Bike Valet in Napa

Napa Valley visitors can experience miles of vineyards from the seat of a bike rather than through the window of a car.  Many Napa Valley hotels such as Solage Calistoga, Bardessono, Auberge du Soleil, and Villagio Inn offer complimentary bicycle rentals to guests, and some area resorts, restaurants, and other venues offer a bicycle valet service so that biking does not hinder the ability to shop along the way.  Many tour operators offer organized packages and guided bicycle excursions that include pick-up and delivery of wine purchases.

8)      Biking Adventure by Day, Casinos and Musical Performances by Night

Crystal Cruises offers offshore biking excursions, available for different age groups and skill levels, that feature historical monuments and famous restaurants.  New for 2013 is the “Montenegro Bicycle Discovery.”  Guests on this trek ride through olive groves with backdrop views of the Adriatic Sea and the bays of Herceg Novi and Tivat.  Along the way, bikers enjoy lunch at a restaurant with local specialties and panoramic bay views.

Bike Paris? Oui.

9)      Bike like a Local in Paris

Pavillon des Lettres and Pavillon de la Reine make it easy for guests to take advantage of the many bike routes throughout Paris with their complimentary bike service.  Parisians have long been infatuated with biking.  It has grown even more popular since the city implemented its bike-sharing service that provides 20,000 bikes and 1,800 stands that are available twenty-four hours a day.  Join the groups of fashionable Parisian cyclists on a ride along the Seine or through the Marais.

10)   Biking Globe Trekkers Choose Park Hyatt

Spin the globe and land at one of the 31 Park Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide.  The Park Hyatt Bicycle Valet Program invites guests to uncover the city’s best sites with the use of a bicycle and the following amenities, a lock, helmet, lights, pump, kickstand, bottled water, and biking maps.  From Beaver Creek to Sydney, bikers can explore their natural surroundings and find a shady spot to enjoy a gourmet picnic basket provided by Park Hyatt.

Fun Fact: According to a study in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal, just FIVE minutes of exercise in a green space can improve mood and self-esteem.

Wonderful Skin? Look No Further Than Organic Skincare Line: SeabuckWonders

I’ll be honest. At one point in my adult life, my skin looked like Britney Spears’ skin after a fast food bender. I think it had something to do with wearing too much make-up and eating too many carbs. It took a few years (and my husband’s wise words) to figure out the simple fact that less is more. Once I stopped wearing all that cover-up to cover-up my skin, it healed and looked better than ever. I also decided then to switch to healthier beauty products. Now, I try out a slew of different products and this recent product right here was one of my favorites.

Light, natural, and full of Omegas,  SeabuckWonders, a source for personal care products made from the Himalayan sea buckthorn berry, is also known as the Dr. Oz ‘miracle berry’, because the robust superfruit is packed full of powerful antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids and the entire family of Omegas (3, 6, 9 AND the rare Omega 7) to enhance daily health and beauty.

What’s more?

SeabuckWonders is offering the first and ONLY full line of products made with 100% USDA Certified Organic Himalayan Sea Buckthorn. Products contain the highest concentration of sea buckthorn and Omega-7 for better results and come in an assortment of body lotion, supplements, facial cleanser, seed and berry oils, hydrating serums and creams.

SeabuckWonders products are also made of sea buckthorn oils only from the Tibetan Plateau. This is where high altitude, strong ultraviolet radiation, severe cold, scorching heat, and dry and barren soil have equipped the remarkable sea buckthorn plant with an extraordinary bio-defense mechanism that breeds substantial life-giving nutrients for enhancing health and beauty.  The Tibetan local green environment makes their sea buckthorn oils amazingly pure, naturally boosting the content of essential fatty acids and Vitamin E over other varieties, and the supercritical fluid extraction process in one of the most advanced facilities makes their sea buckthorn oils the best in quality. The fact that their products are certified organic is also a win win!

Facial Cream:  $19.97

Facial Cleanser:  $16.97

Deep Hydrating Serum:  $34.97

Body Lotion (winner of Delicious Living Beauty & Body Awards 2013):  $14.97

Berry Oil:  $15.97

Seed Oil:  $32.97

Omega-7 Complete:  $29.97

http://www.seabuckwonders.com/

Eco-Costa Rica: The Sanctuary at Two Rivers

Morning Yoga at The Sanctuary at Two River

Sanctuary at Two Rivers is calling you…. OMmmmm. In addition to spending our youth in the jungles and rivers of Costa Rica, a friend of ours recently moved to that glorious land and it brought to mind all of the amazing natural health & wellness retreats currently available.  There’s little better than a yoga retreat and eco-vacation located on a private luxury-modern eco-estate hidden in the wildness of Costa Rica. Imagine journeying with a group or friend to 40 pure and luxurious acres of breathtaking jungle, contemplative gardens, and invigorating water preserved for each person to commune with nature, practice yoga, meditate, and find balance.

Did you picture yourself there?

The Sanctuary

Good.

This tropical paradise hosts private retreats or family gatherings of up to 14 people and incorporates a true eco-conscious lifestyle that includes 100% off-the-grid living; modern tree-house accommodations; a contemplative Yoga Center; organic gourmet vegetarian cuisine; pure drinking water (right from the source); no urban or suburban noise pollution; a infusion of yoga, meditation, wellness & spiritual healing; adventurous nature-based and local community excursions; and is located only 1,000 yards from the Pacific Ocean.

Did we mention the delicious organic fare?

Price ranges are $1400-$1800 depending on hi or low season and whether it is an in-house retreat or a teacher bringing students.

So get your Pura Vida Om on.

http://thesanctuarycostarica.com/

Sonoma’s Latest on the Restaurant Scene: zazu kitchen + farm

zazu… a charming but cramped diner housed in a (purportedly) former chicken coop, with a kitchen barely big enough to cook in.  Located in Sonoma County wine country, it’s the life-work of Next Iron Chef contestant Duskie Estes and husband, salumi artisan John Stewart.  Yes, you read that correctly… salumi artisan. Despite the challenges inherent in the original zazu, Duskie and John have earned tons of awards and recognition for their food and their food ethics (King and Queen of Pork at Aspen, multiple appearances on The Next Iron Chef, named a Michelin good value spot).

 

Well, now the couple has a new restaurant on the way, zazu kitchen + farm in the town of Sebastopol, and we see this culinary couple and their evolution as one that thinking eaters will embrace. Their new digs will be located at The Barlow, an old apple cannery in Sebastopol now being revived as the first business community in the U.S. to connect people with not only the finest Sonoma County products and the inspired people who make them, but also directly with the act of food production itself, all in one place. In Duskie’s words, The Barlow will be a sanctuary for “makers” including brewers, wineries, a coffee roaster, butcher and baker, a craft distiller, cheesemakers, farmers, and fishmongers.  Handmade soaps and candles will be crafted onsite, and bocce ball courts and fire pits will invite the community to gather to share food, wine, art, and time together.

 

One of the coolest parts about the new zazu?  Diners interested in the farm-to-table experience are invited to pick some of their own organic ingredients before dinner, in what Duskie calls “U-PICK”. Duskie’s and John’s farm-to-table ethos will play out as families and friends play a starring role in the creation of their own meal.

zazu kitchen + farm will feature Duskie’s dream kitchen, where she and John can both work in the same place at the same time, making zazu’s farm-to-table plates and John’s Black Pig bacon and salumi, plus their famous gelati.  The new restaurant will also feature a full bar offering farm-artisan cocktails and signature snacks like chicharrone peanut butter cups and black pig bacon caramel corn. They had me at bacon and caramel.

 

Another positive thing to note?

 

Duskie and John are chefs and ethical butchers, who champion the humane treatment of the animals they butcher and the meat they serve in their restaurant, insisting on using the whole animal “snout to tail,” including the cheaper cuts which nevertheless emerge from their kitchen as authentically gourmet. Duskie and John are as fun and playful as they are passionate about food, family and farming.

 

http://www.zazurestaurant.com/

Green Travel: How the Industry is Changing

This week, we have guest contributor, Sam Marquit, independent green contractor and home renovation/remodeling expert in New York, as well as co-author of the book, Fair Marquit Value, to inform our green gods and goddesses about the ever-changing world of green hospitality. He makes it a point to share with his readers a day in the life of sustainable building, and forecasting the possible application and implementation of new green building materials and technologies is just one small part of his efforts to reduce everyone’s carbon footprint.

The Palazzo Resort & Casino

Before I was a commercial contractor, I was an independent contractor and worked on various projects. Some of which involved green building materials and newer technology to save on resources. I enjoy learning about all kinds of new ways to prevent waste. I’m incredibly happy that many businesses in the travel industry have also adopted some ways to conserve energy and resources. It’s about more than being LEED certified in my opinion. Many businesses in America are turning towards eco-friendly travel. However, in Asia, responsible tourism is wildly celebrated. For example, the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards present awards for categories like cultural awareness, community development, wildlife conservation and more. Businesses can land big honors for doing things in their local communities and protecting local animals from harm. That’s something that we can do more adopt in America as well.

Many hotels in big cities have turned towards eco-friendly tourism. Las Vegas is one of the most popular tourist destinations in America with over 120,000 hotel rooms. Just last year, 40,000,000 travelers went to Las Vegas. That means there is a ton of business in this city but there can also be a lot of waste. The Palazzo Resort is just one of the many hotels in Las Vegas that has changed their policies and facilities to be more accommodating of our planet. In fact, this hotel won the award for “Most Eco-Friendly Hotel in America” because of its reusable waste program and self-sustaining facilities. In this instance, it’s easy to see how this hotel can market itself as a more responsible business and gain more recognition for its eco-friendly practices. Other hotels have also adopted similar policies to increase awareness for green technology in the travel industry. 

The Ink48 Rooftop Bar

The Big Apple offers hundreds of different hotels, many of which have eco-friendly products and even some self-sustaining programs. The ink48 Hotel offers a program called Earthcare. Members get together to talk about ways that we can affect change in our local communities as well as on a global scale. It’s about protecting the planet for future generations and ensuring our survival but also that there is awareness of the responsible tourism campaign. With eco-friendly travel gaining new ground each year, it’s important that businesses update their facilities and also think about the future. I’m happy to be apart of this effort and hope that I can continue to contribute to the campaign.

Healthy Recycled Bottles for You and Your Baby

Traveling without exposing yourself to toxin-laden plastics or contributing to the massive waste problem created by bottled water can often be a difficult challenge. We should know. We love our Bobble, but we also love a good stainless steel option. And, although we don’t yet have little ones of our own, our contributors do, which is why we wanted to tell our peeps about Pura bottles. Pura bottles are a toxin-free, durable and cost-effective alternative to buying bottled water or using petroleum-based (i.e. plastic) reusable bottles. Unlike other options on the market, stainless steel is much more durable than plastic, glass or aluminum bottles because steel bottles do not shatter or crack and are much more puncture resistant. The bottles are made from 60% recycled steel and are 100% recyclable at end of life, not that you’ll ever need to as they carry a lifetime warranty in line with the company’s ‘One Life, One Bottle’ mantra.

Not only healthy for the planet, Pura Stainless bottles are one of the safest options on the planet as the ONLY 100% plastic free bottle on the global market. Bottles are made from food-grade stainless steel which, unlike other materials, does not leach harmful chemicals, does not require chemical linings and is resistant to corrosion and staining. Even tops are 100% plastic and BPA free – made of stainless steel and medical grade silicon. Available in adult water bottles as well as a baby bottle line (see photo above) for those traveling with little ones.

Retails for $15.99-$17.99

www.purastainless.com

All Nippon Airways Innovative New Website: Let’s Do Japan!

For Nippon Lovers like me, you have to check out All Nippon Airways (ANA) awesome new website. Yes, Japan’s leading airline has just launched an innovative new site called “Let’s Do Japan” (www.letsdojapan.com), which lets visitors create their own Japanese manga personality while they learn helpful tips about Japanese culture and trends. A quirky little intro to the culture before you set your sights on sushi and kabuki, the clean design and tongue-in-cheek style is enough to make anyone with a pulse and a smile want to book a ticket ASAP. And, if you are a true Japanophile and anime enthusiast, you also don’t want to miss, Manganizer.

Visitors can immerse themselves in their own story through Manganizer, or discover other helpful tips and interesting facts about Japan and Japanese culture through 360 Japan, another fun, high-tech glimpse into what to expect when you visit Japan for the first time or the tenth. Who wouldn’t want to be the hero of their own manga-style story?