LEGOLAND, Florida: Family Sweepstakes!

Parents and kiddies! Check this contest out. You’ll probably have decent odds too as I’m not sure how widely reported it is. Atlantic® brand luggage, part of the Travelpro® family of brands and a market leader in affordable, lightweight family luggage since 1919, is having a sweepstakes to “Win a Vacation to the Grand Opening of LEGOLAND Florida”. The sweeps begins September 19 and ends October 31st so you have just the right amount of time to win. Another great treat? LEGOLAND Florida is a state-of-the-art 150-acre family theme park that opens on October 15th so you’ll get there right when it’s brand spankin new.  Located in Winter Haven, Florida, the new theme park offers more than 50 rides, shows and attractions geared for families with children ages 2-12. Here’s what you get:

A 4-Day LEGOLAND Florida Vacation including:

•       (4) Four, 2-Day Admissions to LEGOLAND Florida

•       (4) Four days and (3) Three nights at a LEGOLAND Florida Bed and Brick property

•       (4) Four day rental car

•       Exclusive behind the scenes tour with a LEGO Master Builder

•       (4) Four admissions to the Fantasy of Flight Biplane

•       (4) Four admissions to the Bok Tower Gardens

•       (4) Air Boat admissions

•       (1)LEGOLAND Florida gift bag

•       A 2-piece set of Atlantic Luggage

Enter here to enter and good luck!

http://atlanticluggage.com/legoland/?utm_source=blogs&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=legoland

Responsible Tourism, Media, and… Humanitarian Aid

We just love a symbiotic relationship. PB & J, BLT’s, Mac ‘n Cheese. Things that go well together just make life so much better, don’t you think? To that end, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Lonely Planet, the world’s leading travel publisher, today announced the launch of a partnership that will provide vital information to responders in humanitarian emergencies. A bit about the OCHA: The OCHA mobilizes and coordinates emergency humanitarian efforts around the globe, deploying the first international responders on the ground so staff from a variety of UN agencies and government and non-governmental organizations can provide humanitarian aid.

Usually deploying within 24 hours of a disaster, now they will be able to readily use Lonely Planet’s up-to-the-minute information to better help them familiarize themselves with the country’s geography and infrastructure, learn more about the country’s history and cultural background, and get essential basic information they should know before traveling.

“Lonely Planet’s expert content makes it easier for humanitarian workers to hit the ground running in unfamiliar environments,” said Gwi-Yeop Son, Director of Corporate Programmes at OCHA. “We value Lonely Planet’s commitment to provide accurate and up-to-the-minute information for our teams on the ground.”

The partnership has also started in time to coincide with the celebration of the UN’s World Tourism Day on September 27th, 2011. World Tourism Day, for those not aware, intends to foster awareness of the role of tourism within the international community and demonstrates how responsible tourism positively affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. Right up our alley. For more information about the UNOCHA or Lonely Planet, see below:

www.unocha.org

www.lonelyplanet.com

Que Rica… Colombia!

El Penol Lake near Medellin - Colombia

Colombia is a destination ready for discovery. From its beautiful landscapes, rich heritage, cosmopolitan cities, and mouthwatering cuisine, Colombia is rumored to be THE next hot destination in Latin America. Listed below are the top reasons to fall in love with the passion of Colombia, and a million reasons for wanting to stay. So what inspires you?

• Coasts: As a destination where the sand is caressed by two oceans, Colombia’s privileged location allows its visitors to enjoy over 2,900 km of coasts on two oceans and the Caribbean Sea. Talk about the ultimate beach vacation! Long, tranquil beaches between jungles and the sea line most of the Pacific coast, while the Caribbean coast contains wide beach beaches, large resort complexes, and various shops and restaurants. Make sure to experience the country’s diving adventures. Go to the depth of Colombia’s colorful seas. Bordered by both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, there is a world that is designed for the delight of divers under the sea. The famous Seaflower Biopsphere Reserve around the Island of Providencia contains the world’s third largest reef park, and is a global haven for spotting the sea’s shiny starfish, crabs, angelfish, corals, sponges and various other species in strange shapes and vibrant colors.

Colombia Coffee Farmer (c) Neil Palmer - CIAT

• Coffee: Recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2011, Colombia’s Coffee Triangle is known for producing the world’s best coffee. Let the aroma and the taste of coffee surround you, while getting to know the beauty of the key regions. Keeping in tradition with its diverse culture and landscapes, Colombia pays tributes to its roots by containing food that is a mixture of Indian, Spanish, African and Arabic cuisines. Every region is has its own gastronomy, related to its natural resources. Delight in the ocean’s bountiful harvest in the Caribbean region; Savor the meats, potatoes, beans and corn in the Andean region; Enjoy the Pacific Coast’s abundance of rice, lentils, and rice; and appreciate the veal, manioc and various fishes in the Orinoco River region.

Colombia's Amazon (c) Jill Robinson

• Nature: In a land where the earth breathes, The Amazon is the traditional destination of scientist and scholars who want to learn to talk with nature. Containing the world’s second longest river the largest tropical jungle on the planet, Colombia’s shares the Amazon Rainforest with Brazil and Peru. Enjoy the fauna and flora of the jungle by zipping between trees, or hiking along the forest various jungle paths. 90 percent of Colombia is Nature, while 10 percent of Colombia’s territory is protected by nature reserves– including 37 national parks, 12 fauna and flora sanctuaries, two natural reserves, and one parkway—11,000,000 hectares that encompass beautiful scenery, a variety of climate and soils, floras and fauna, and 230 civil society natural reserves. Talk about Biodiversity! Colombia contains the world’s largest collection of amphibians, butterflies and flowers. It also holds the title of containing the world’s second highest number of bird species (containing 1,865 bird species). From June to November the country turns into the homes of hundreds of bird, whale, and marine turtle species that visit the Colombian Pacific coast to mate, feed, and take rest on their migratory journey.

Cartagena

• Vibrant Cities: Colombians are festive by nature, and always seek opportunities to celebrate their cultural heritage. From the colorful Barranquilla Carnival every February and Medellin Flower Fair every August, to the much acclaimed Cali Fair, there is always a reason to celebrate. Colombians take pride in the rich cultural life contained within their cities walls. From cosmopolitan Cartagena, modern Bogota, passionate Cali and progressive Medellin, each one of  Colombia’s cities offers its guests something different and unique. Known for their warm and friendly spirit, the people of Colombia are ready to open their arms to the whole world. Seeking to show the world its true face, Colombia’s passion for developing its global status in the world is the ultimate driving force for their authentic energy and dynamic spirit.

There’s even more to be discovered in person. With a booming tourism sector, Colombia is ready for you.

www.colombia.travel

Baja, Mexico: A Vacation Retreat With Adventure

Rancho Pescadero

As a part of our work with the Mexico Tourism Board, we recently had the opportunity to visit La Paz, Mexico and we didn’t want to leave. The cleanliness of the area, the beauty of the people, the brilliant water, the food (Buffalo BBQ in La Paz), the ice cream, the colorful fish, snorkeling in Mexico with sea lions… we could go on and on we loved La Paz, Mexico so much. In fact, we’re already playing with the idea of a retirement home in Baja. Therefore, in addition to all the other great locations and openings around the world that we like to inform our readers about, we wanted to share some Baja, Mexico news.

A contact of ours recently informed us of this sweet resort: Rancho Pescadero, a stellar destination for total relaxation which adventurous pursuits in a laid back luxury resort environment just an hour north of Cabo. From surfing one of the top local breaks to hiking the Sierra Laguna Mountains, Rancho Pescadero gives guests the perfect place to enjoy all that Baja has to offer, by arranging day trips to the Sea of Cortez for a chance to snorkel, book surfing lessons, or plan a fishing trip with a local panguero.

The Beach in front of Rancho Pescadero

With access to two miles of secluded white-sand beach and two swimming pools, the property’s “best gym is the outdoors”. Guests have free use of an ample supply of surfboards, boogie boards, fishing equipment and bicycles. In addition to beach walks, ocean swims and surfing workouts, guests can also enjoy daily complimentary yoga classes.

Rancho Pescadero's Sexy Pool

One of the most popular activities is whale shark watching at Espirtu Santo Island (this is where we snorkeled and it’s one of the most amazing snorkeling sights we’ve ever laid eyes on). Guests can explore the amazing Marine National Park while interacting with whale sharks and swimming with sea lions in the lagoons of the Magdalena Bay. Other activities include scenic waterfall walks, ATV tours and the once-in-a-lifetime experience for thrill seekers to explore wide open Baja by going open road racing.

Rancho Pescadero Room

After an activity-filled day, Rancho Pescadero then provides all of the ingredients needed to relax and rejuvenate: a treatment at The Tres Hermanas Spa, creative Mexican cuisine, or simply lounging poolside with a hand crafted cocktail. You really can’t go wrong, it’s so right.

Rates range from $185-425/night

www.ranchopescadero.com

Rancho Pescadero is also on Facebook