Mexico: The Tides Zihuatanejo Yoga Retreat

We just like saying: 'Zihuatanejo,' don't you? Makes us feel authentic. So here's a little yoga gem we uncovered from the boys and girls at Kor Hotel Group. In October, The Tides Zihuatanejo hosts its first Yoga Retreat where guests can get their very own custom-created wellness weekend. Fostering spiritual re-awakening and social companionship, celebrity instructor Tom Morley (of Exercise TV) will lead inspired asanas and sun salutations in one of the Mexico’s most seductive resorts.

The first in a series of 5-Day Yoga Retreats at The Tides Zihuatanejo, takes place: October 3 – 7, 2008.

"Yoga brings people together and I'm thrilled to be a part of Kor's first yoga retreat at The Tides,” says Tom Morley, the highly-respected instructor whose sessions draw the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Helen Hunt. For over 10 years, Morley has redefined the traditional approach to yoga by adapting the practice to individual preferences, drawing from styles like vinyasa and yin, breathing, meditation, partner yoga and dance to bring a vibrant sense of joy, humor and ease to his sessions.

Hugging the white sands of Zihuatanejo Bay's Playa la Ropa, The Tides Zihuatanejo is filled with tropical gardens, waterfalls and an expansive beachfront, the perfect serene locale for deepening personal practice and self-searching. Two-story, terracotta-tiled casitas and thatched palapa cabanas merge with the gardens and waterfalls that enfold them. Pst... suites include their own outdoor infinity pools. Two gourmet dining venues and three bars make The Tides’ elegance complete. In addition to an immersion in yoga, you can also opt for culinary classes with Executive Chef Paco Isordia, sailing, surfing, Scuba diving, ATV tours, jungle canopy rides, or cultural tours.


The Tides’ Yoga Retreat includes:

Four nights of accommodations include:

Two beachside yoga classes, am/pm daily (Private sessions available upon request)
Healthy gourmet meal plan (yoga breakfast bar and group choice of lunch or dinner)
One daily 60-minute restorative massage of choice at The Tides Spa
Closing night “Sense of the Night: Yoga Meets Dance” beach celebration, with DJ-spins including trance/dance, live percussionists, food and libations
Transfers to and from Zihuatanejo airport
lululemon gift bag

Superior Room, The Tides Zihuatanejo

Rates range from:
Superior Room - $2,100 single occupancy/$3,100 - double occupancy

Beach Suite - $3,500 single occupancy/$4,4000- double occupancy.
Rates exclude tax and service; package subject to availability.

So go get your OM on.
And grab a margarita for me while you're at it.

Reservations:
(866) 905-9560
www.thetidesresorts.com

Cambodia: From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Angkor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Part II of Jaunt Contributor, Victoria Yanakos', trip to South East Asia has landed her at the top of one of the world's most popular temple destinations... Angkor Wat. Now, if she could only figure out how to get down.

Fear of Heights
By Victoria Yanakos

Turns out I'm afraid of heights. Well, not so much "heights" as the falling very fast from them. I realized this about half way up the 70 or so "steps" to the top of one of the Angkor Wat temples.

It seemed like a good tactic for getting away from mobs of Japanese tour groups and their incessant picture taking (of which my climb - in a skirt- is now part of at least a few albums). Now at the top, apparently unmoved by my mid-way epiphany, I have a whole new perspective of the situation. I'm actually much higher than I realized, and the "steps" are only about 6" deep and covered in sand. This wasn't a problem going up, but add gravity and flip flops and the descent feels much less safe. So here I sit, writing a journal, reflecting on Cambodia, and slowing devising a plan to get down...

Even in comparison to other parts of SE Asia, Cambodia has an irrationality that is wholly its own. Tuk-Tuk (rickshaw) from the bus station to hostel, $3. Tuk-Tuk for the whole day? $5. Thousands of people trying to sell me pineapple, no one able to sell me bug spray. Whiskey Sour is a vodka drink. Happy Pizza is a drug (pot). "Local specialty" on the menu: tarantula. No safety regulations for anything (hence why I am now stuck at the top of one of the temples).

For a country that has endured such devastation, oppression, torture, and is in a perpetual quest for genuine rebirth, it is no wonder that things in Cambodia may feel a little off. But the people are warm and laid back and the country beautiful, even amid the lingering scars of war.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

PHNOM PENH PENSIONS/HOSTELS

OKAY Guesthouse
#3BE, R# 258, S/K Chaktomuk, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
okay.2001@hotmail.com
Tel: 855-12 300 804
Clean, very helpful staff, predictable hot water (for Cambodia budget lodging this is saying a lot!)
$5-$15

Sunday Guesthouse
Tel: 211623
97PH 141
Very helpful, friendly English speaking staff, good deal for the price
$5-$17

PHNOM PENH RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, ETC.

Camory Cookie Boutique
#167 Sisowath Quay
sales@camoryfoods.com
www.camoryfoods.com
Amazing cookies! Proceeds go to Cambodian orphanages

Amara Spa
Corner of Sisowath Quay and Street 110
spa@hotelcara.com
Great drinks and cafe outside, posh spa inside

Chow
At the Quay along Sisowath
www.chowcambodia.com
Chic bar, modern vibe, smokers welcome

Kmer Saravan
No. 16Eo, St Sotheraros (3)
vuthy_vann@yahoo.com
Best Kmer food I've had! Try the curry dishes and banana flower salad - wonderful!

Happy Herb Pizza
#345 St Preah Sisowath
Tel: 023 362 349
It is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Make sure to specify if you want your pizza Not Happy, Happy, or Very Happy.

SIEM REAP HOTELS (the town serving Angkor Wat Temples)
FCC Hotel, Siem Reap
If you're looking to splurge:

The FCC properties in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are design-driven and luxurious.
www.fcccambodia.com

The Hotel De La Paix
The perfect place to indulge in a weekend of decadence or even just a mixed drink at the sexy bar downstairs.
http://www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com/index.php
$330 - $750/night


For budget-conscious digs:

Shadow of Angkor Guesthouse
Tel: 964774
353 Pokambor Ave
shadowofangkor@hotmail.com
This is where I stayed. A great location overlooking the river

Or check out these websites for more guesthouse/backpacking suggestions:

www.canbypublications.com
www.travelfish.org

THINGS TO DO - SIEM REAP

Le Tigre De Papier Cooking School
letigredepapier@hotmail.com
Bar St
Courses $12
A great way to get in touch with the culture, courses include a trip to the market

Kmer Kitchen Restaurant
The Alley
Tel 964154
Visited by Mick Jagger and with one of the best pumpkin coconut soups on the globe, this place should definitely be part of your visit to Siem Reap

Of course, while in Siem Reap, the main attraction is the Temple of Angkor Wat. They sell 1-day, 3-day and 1 week passes. Don't bother with a tour, hire a tuk-tuk for about $10-$15 a day, buy a book, and go at your own pace.

Next stop... well, when I was originally writing this, it was "land" but now? Looks like it's Hong Kong, baby.

Vancouver Island, Canada: Free Spirit Spheres!

We don't know why, but we're always strangely drawn to capsules, pods, and spheres. And, just to prove we're not alone...







Welcome to the world of Free Spirit Spheres!







Set amid the tall trees of Vancouver Island's rainforest, it's, you guessed it, a tree house for adults. Jaunt says, 'Finalmente.' Built with an un-tamed vision of nature and engineering, you'll feel like an Ewok swinging from the canopy and crawling from your tree sphere at dusk.

Handcrafted spheres are suspended like pendants from a web of rope and, as their website says, "They occupy a truly unique place in the world while providing a habitat for the un-tamed spirit that exists in all of us."

So just how un-tamed are you? If you really want to make a statement, you can purchase a pod or components to build your own. Recommended uses include: Healing, meditation, photography, leisure and game watching.

Spheres, Eve and Eryn, are available for overnight rental and promise a truly unique, jungle experience. Approximately 30km north of Parksville on Vancouver Island along the Inland Island Hwy (#19), near Qualicum Bay. The acreage is on private property close to Horne Lake Caves, Georgia Strait and Mount Washington.

Rates: $125-$175/night

Free Spirit Spheres
Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada
Tel (250) 757-9445
Cell (250) 951-9420
Email: tom@freespiritspheres.com

www.freespiritspheres.com

Vietnam: A Note From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Today, one of our favorite Jaunt Contributors, Victoria Yanakos, says, 'Good Morning, Vietnam.'

"Where are you from?" in Vietnamese, 'tá» cái³tc bạn Ä' translates to mean: "from what water do you come." Inspired by this beautiful sentiment I spent the past few days sailing on Ha Long Bay and enjoying a respite from the city.

Swimming in the bath-like water, drinking with the locals, bruising most of my lower body jumping off the cliffs (note: no correlation to the Mekong whiskey, I just couldn't figure out how to fall that far and get my feet to go in first), and sleeping out on the water... perfection.

Another Vietnamese sentiment I picked up this week is "same same." For instance, I ordered yogurt for breakfast, she brought me pork. The explanation : "Oh no, no yogurt, I make you pork. Same same." How do you even argue with this? Public buses are another culprit.

Me: You go to Ngo Hyen st?

Bus Driver: Yeah, yeah, Ngo Hyen Street

20 minutes later, many km's away from Ngo Hyen Street, I'm in front of a handicraft shop that appears to be owned by the bus driver's brother.

Bus Driver: No Ngo Hyen St. Here, same same.

One final thought on Hanoi before I leave this wonderful city: crossing the street. Or rather crossing the death gauntlet of hundreds of motorbikes who yield to no one. Having refined my skill for this in India, and taking a cue from the locals, the basic protocol is to confidently step out into traffic with a deep-rooted belief that the bikers will stop. A. they don't and B. this only works if the streets aren't flooded - which they were last night. Suffice it to say, I survived a rather comical collision soaking wet but otherwise only minorly scathed.
Hanoi, Vietnam

As a solo traveler in this country, everything has this spectacular way of feeling like a free for all. It's rather wonderful never knowing exactly what you're in for. I subscribe to a travel philosophy that organized tours (at least for me) are never the most genuine way to experience a culture or a country, however, never has this been a more challenging theory to live than in the Mekong Delta.

As it turns out the jungles and canals are significantly more expansive, and difficult to navigate, than you might expect.

Arriving by bus to My Tho, the most trafficked of the four islands that make up the Delta, I was feeling good I could do this on my own and not have to spend the day with a bunch of westerners with an "English" tour guide (read: if you stop paying attention to him for even a moment, the English starts to sound suspiciously like Vietnamese). Many of the boats at the harbor are already commissioned by tour companies, and, as such, inevitably chaotic, making stow-away status relatively easy.

The idea was to take the boat to Ben Tre- another of the islands, then bail for more genuine travel. I'm not sure where we landed, but after wondering around dense jungle for the better part of the afternoon, I thought that perhaps a row down the canals might give me some orientation. I was able to convince (read: pay) one of the local workers by the water to lend me his boat - but only briefly I assured him. After getting myself thoroughly lost and soaking wet from the short but intense monsoon rain, I was relieved to see the owner of the boat calling to me from the shore. Without discussion, he summoned his son (I assume) to come row the boat on my behalf. Humbling? Yes. Necessary? Immensely.
Mekong Delta, Vietnam

He took me all the way back to My Tho where I boarded a public bus back to Saigon. Perhaps, in retrospect, a tour would have been a more efficient way to explore the Mekong Delta, but when you're traveling - and lost in foreign waters - the experience is all that matters, right?

Even being an eternal optimist you can only be propositioned so many times (every two feet in Vietnam - and this is not an exaggeration) before suspicion becomes your instinct of choice. The form of solicitation though has an entertainment value that far exceeds any hassle, and as such joins my list of all things wonderful in SE Asia. Aside from the ubiquitous moto taxis (of which there are 100's on each block) that never miss a single foreigner to offer a ride, ("where you going ma'am. I give you good price.") some of the other more discrete "sales people" are far more creative with their pitches. "T shirt, T shirt, cocaine?" is my favorite to date.

Another successful tactic is the "start conversation under false pretenses, offer obscure service, then ask for money" approach. Sitting in the park yesterday apparently this landed me (and every other girl, and a few guys, in my hostel) a pedicure. Abate the somewhat painful service; it's nice to be able to help. Slightly derailed from Hanoi (don't fall asleep if you have to make a bus transfer), I enjoyed the past several days soaking up the insanity of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and exploring the canals and jungles of the nearby Mekong Delta. Moving on to Mu Ne, and writing from the sand outside my bungalow with waters from the South China Sea cooling my feet, Vietnam continues to amaze me.

HANOI HOTELS

Especen Hotel
28 Tho Xuong & 41 Ngo Huyen St, Hoan Kiem district Hanoi
Tel: 0.4.8244401
www.especen.vn

Good clean rooms, en suite bathroom, good location, $12- $20/night

City Gate Hotel
10 P Thanh Ha
8280817
www.citygatehotel.com
Warm friendly owners, very clean rooms
$10- $20/night

Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake

If you're looking for luxury, the Intercontinental just opened their new property built entirely over the serene waters of historic West Lake. InterContinental Hanoi Westlake is adjacent to the famous 800-year-old Golden Lotus Pagoda and the hotel features 359 guestrooms showcasing contemporary Vietnamese design at its best.
$200/night

www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/overview/hanhb

HANOI RESTAURANTS

Cha Ca La Vong
14 Cha Ca Street OR
107 Nguyen Trong To St
8.239 875
You will be the ONLY westerner here. Truly local, amazing "grilled fish" (which is the key note dish of northern Vietnam)

If you need a break from Vietnamese food...

FIVE bistro is predictable, comfortable and actually has good wine!

Five
5 Hang Be, Hanoi
049263761
info@so-nam.com

HO CHI MINH CITY HOTELS

Hotel127
83687612
madamcu@hcm.vnn.vn
127 D Cong Quynh
$12 - $25/night
Clean, friendly, lots of less typical amenities for budget accommodations, such as satellite TV and in room fridges

Guest House California
837 885
guesthousecalifornia-saigon@yahoo.com
Laid back, clean, rent moto bikes and bicycles on site

HO CHI MINH CITY RESTAURANTS

Quan an ngon
138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia
Quan Mot TP HO Chi Minh
825 7179
10 kitchens, every Viet food imaginable, very local and very good! Try the papaya salad and spring rolls. I hope you like pork, it's in almost everything.

Massage - HCMC
Try the spa at Hotel Liberty 4
265 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1 HCMC
8 364 556

For about $8 USD, you can get 60 min full body massage, 30 min foot massage, and unlimited access to jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room... and only minimal Karaoke. :)

Next stop? Cambodia!

Paradise Valley, Arizona: Find Your Sanctuary

Mercury is in Jaunt Magazine's 8th House - which also means - time to look inward. Since looking inward can be a little tough when you're busy slaving away in the City of Angles, sometimes, we think the best way to look inward is to look upward into the heavens for a little celestial guidance.

That's where the desert retreat comes into play. Astronomical offerings seem to be the latest and greatest summer travel trend at properties located near starry skies and sweeping vistas. So, whether you're watching the sun rise from the tumbling red rocks of Camelback Mountain or gazing up at the stars during a crisp desert night, it's time for a little reflection.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona recognized in 2006 as The Top Resort in the United States by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (and included on T + L's “T+ L 500” list), is inviting guests to celebrate extended summer hours... swanky Sonoran style.

Sanctuary’s Light & Harmony experience offers three distinct activities to experience the resort’s desert locale:

1. An invigorating “Camelback at Sunrise” guided morning hike up the northern slope of Camelback Mountain

2. An “Early to Rise” match of tennis on one of the resort’s five Deco-Turf championship courts

3. An evening of stargazing with a professional astronomer via Sanctuary’s high-powered telescope

You can pick and choose (and that's why we like it).

As the sun warms the day, you can cool off in Sanctuary’s infinity-edge pool (the largest of its kind in Arizona) or relax in the Sanctuary Spa with a Signature Summer spa treatment. Named 2008 “Most Excellent Spa Hotel” by Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, the Sanctuary staff recommends indulging yourself in a Rosemary Citron Body Scrub, which combines a mineral-rich sea salt infused with rosemary, lemon and mint or an Aloe Skin Quencher Body Wrap, combining the soothing comfort of an aloe moisturizer with calming effects of lavender mist after a long hot day in the desert sun.

Sanctuary Infinity Pool, Night

And sunsets in Paradise Valley, well, they're paradise. And we should know, we lived there. Magentas, pinks, baby blues, purples, and plenty of orange. Ricky Lee spoke about them for a reason. Take in the Arizona desert views, contemplate existence, and then have a cocktail at Edge, Sanctuary’s new outdoor bar. The next step in the path to personal growth is always having an honest look within. We hear the Chamomile Breeze, a mixture of gin, honey, and lemon steeped with loose chamomile tea leaves, is a top-notch way to do it.

Finish it off with dinner at their restaurant, Elements, where Chef Beau Macmillan (whose Kobe beef beat out Iron Chef Bobby Flay on The Food Network), whips up seasonal delicacies like slow-roasted kurobuta pork with cilantro pesto, pickled melon & cashew salad, steamed little neck clams with green onion, dashi broth & crispy lob chong or grilled hawaiian opa with cumin, pine nut cous cous, jalapeno, mango and crab.

An evolved menu where desert, island, mediterranean, and asian cultures unite.

Take in the stars for dessert.











Sanctuary’s 'Light & Harmony' experience includes:

* Two (2) nights in a Mountain Vista Casita or Spa Casita
* Breakfast for two daily
* Choice of an activity, per couple/per stay:
* Guided hike on Camelback Mountain
* "Early to Rise" tennis instruction
* Sanctuary Stargazing by moonlight
* Choice of one Sanctuary Summer Signature Spa Treatments (60-minute)
* One dinner in Elements for two

The two-night Light & Harmony experience is through Sept. 12, 2008. $652 for single occupancy/ $1,093 for double.

A little about Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain: One of the country’s most lauded luxury resorts, Sanctuary is a striking boutique property, internationally acclaimed for contemporary design, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and the native desert history. Condé Nast Traveler's “Gold List” and a “Reader’s Choice” winner since it's opening in 2002.

So it may not be budget, but it is beautiful.

www.SanctuaryAZ.com
1-800-245-2051

Stay tuned next week for the very first in a 3 part series on:
Where to go, What to do, and Where to Shop in Tokyo and Kyoto.

Siyanora, sweetcheeks.

South Africa: #1 Game Reserve in the World

If you haven't seen the incredible footage at Kruger National Park, we recommend visiting Youtube after your little tete-a-tete with Jaunt Magazine.

Why?

Because plenty of amazing survival instincts abound.
And we're all about survival of the fittest (not counting those who amend nature with 'the knife').

Speaking of which, now's the time to give a shout out to Travel + Leisure's #1 in The World.

South Africa's:
Singita Sabi Sand.

Giraffes, lions, zebras, elephants. We're really not sure what more you need, but, perhaps, 45 immaculately designed environmentally friendly lodges deep in the African bush?


Singita Ebony and Singita Boulders are located in the Sabi Sands reserve known for prolific wildlife, while Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni in Kruger National Park, close to the Mozambique border, offer more of the same and stunning wilderness.

We could go on and on about realizing what life has to offer, conservation, the beauty of Africa, the homeland of every single one of us, but instead we'll give you this.

A glass and wood cabin at Sweni Lodge for river views, 4 restaurants, 4 bars, and wine tasting in the 14,000-bottle cellar at Boulders Lodge.

5 star Africa.

Kruger National Park
27-21/683-3424
www.singita.com

Once you get your game on, don't you dare forget to give a little back. Here are a few sites for conservation and volunteer travel in South Africa to round out your life-changing trip.

www.i-to-i.com/south-africa

www.volunteertravel.com/southafrica.html

www.caresa-lesotho.org.za

Hamba kahle.
That's goodbye in Zulu to you.

California Wine Country: The Russian River Road Less Travelled

Ah, that tender little fruit of the vine. How she struggles to bear the sweetest fruit... we adore her spirit so.

Every so often, those of us at Jaunt like to think of ourselves as Plato's humble followers, fantasizing our future only to realize our full potential. We strive to live an all-organic life where what comes into our minds and bodies also radiates from us. Whether that means food, wine, wild ideas of pure love, or the quest to achieve our soul's most absolute beauty and truth - we are lovers, not fighters. Which is also why we're here and not practicing law. Though noble it may be. We *might* even go so far as to proclaim to our lover, just like Philostratus, "Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine, Or leave a kiss within the cup, And I'll not ask for wine," but we're not that enlightened... yet. After all, we want the kiss AND the cup, and if you know anything about Greek symposiums, we're pretty sure they involved a little bit of both. But wine country... it sure does make us dream of a small, intimate group of chiseled Athenians (in white togas) slowing feeding us grapes as they fan us with giant palm leaves.

You too?

(sort of like this - only not a cartoon)

So, we're back from the 4th of July holiday, feeling amorous, in love with the vine, and better than ever. There's something in the air that feels good right now and what's the best thing to do when that happens? Enjoy it while it lasts. That means two things: good wine and the open road. Not at the same time, of course, but here's what's on our agenda.

You comin'?

The Russian River Valley aka. The (Wine) Road Less Travelled. For those unfamiliar, that's Northwest Sonoma County, home to 150 wineries and 50 lodgings, just 50 miles north of the Golden Gate.

Mill Creek Winery, Russian River Valley

We're saving our tasty wine picks for another in-depth profile on our favorite Pinots from Paso and the always alluring Viogniers of France and Sonoma (like the newly released Thumbprint Cellars 2007/Preston Vineyards), but first, here's a perfect 3-day tasting adventure that our friends at the Russian River Valley put together for their favorite traveling winos. Whoops. Did we say winos? We meant wine aficionados.

Now start packing.

Day 1
Alexander Valley

10:00 Field Stone Winery
Sure it's early to taste, but that's what you do in wine country. Just don't leave without trying their port!

11:00 Hanna Winery
Mediterranean architecture with a tasting room high on a knoll offering spectacular views of the valley.

12:00 Jimtown Store
The perfect local wine country lunch - sit out in the back patio with it's grape arbors to keep you cool.

1:00 Hawkes
Leave your car at Jimtown and stroll next door to meet Jake and Laura Hawkes new tasting room.

2:30 Downtown Healdsburg
For an afternoon of window shopping and more tasting if you'd like. Quaint shops - bookstores, Powell's Candy Shoppe, Season's in the Vineyards housewares and more... plus 12 wine tasting rooms surrounding the historic town square.

5:00 Cocktails at Barndiva - sit out in the back patio and enjoy the beautiful weather.

6:00 Back to your room for some (ahem...) R & R

8:00 Dinner at any number of highly acclaimed restaurants like:

Cyrus
Madrona Manor
Manzanita
Zin

Day 2
Dry Creek Valley

10:00 Mauritson
A family with a long tradition of winegrowing in the Dry Creek Valley. We like those family stories and so will you.

11:00 Pedroncelli
Another longtime winemaking family - celebrating their 77th year. Sounds lucky, doesn't it?

12:00 Dry Creek General Store
Not to be missed. Get a lunch to go, then picnic just down the road at...

12:30 Passalacqua Winery
Fantastic views of the valley from their picnic area with outstanding wines.

2:00 Ferrari- Carano
Spectacular setting, beautiful gardens, and variety of tasting levels depending on your interest.

4:00 Relax back at your hotel then see where you can find some live music, possibly the Hotel Healdsburg, Palette Arts Café, Madrona Manor or Barndiva.

For listings, prior to visiting the area, check out:

www.healdsburgmenues.com

8:00 Casual Dinner
Healdsburg Bar and Grill - the BEST hamburger or flat bread pizza in wine country - and a great local wine list.

Day 3
Russian River Valley

One easy tour is to simply find your way to Olivet Road and visit the wineries all on the road. Stop in the morning and get a boxed lunch at:

Oakville Grocery
Big John’s Market or Ansteads

10:00 DeLoach Vineyards
Learn about their bio-dynamic farming and visit their gardens.

11:00 Sunce Winery
Meet the owners Janae and Frane as you taste your way through their varied wines.

12:00 Hook and Ladder
Former SF firefighter Cecil DeLoach now has a new winery.

1:00 Harvest Moon Winery
Find out about the different wine and olive oil classes they offer... as you plan your next trip! Sit in the back and enjoy your boxed lunch and sip your favorite Harvest Moon wine.

2:00 Time to head back to the airport...
If time permits, stop at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center and tour their culinary gardens, perennial gardens or demonstration vineyard.

Now really... who needs toga-wearing grape feeders, when you have Jaunt Magazine?

Or, better yet, why can't you have both?

www.wineroad.com

A Carefree Spa Retreat: The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, AZ

Feeling Carefree? It's in the stars. As we amp up for our next spa wellness retreat, we caught wind of an all new four-day/three-night 'Carefree Spa Getaway' package at The Boulders’ Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Arizona and knew we'd have to throw caution to that wind and give ourselves a little 'us' time. Enveloping guests in a holistic experience that claims to be 'nothing less than life changing,' the package includes astrology, hikes, rock climbing clinics, cooking classes, spa treatments AND meditation, all designed to tune the body, inspire the spirit, and open up that precious mind. Phew. We could use somma that. It also draws emphasis on the power of the universe -- something we're always down to delve into. Available only once a month, during, you guessed it... the Full Moon.
The 2008 dates are:

June 19-22
July 17-20
August 14-17
September 18-21

The Carefree Spa Getaway package includes:

• Daily morning group hike in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert
• Unlimited fitness classes and a Professional Fitness Assessment
• Three 50-minute spa services (choice of massage, wrap, facial, scrub
• Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, Golden Door Spa Tea and dinner)
• Daily lectures on nutrition, health, fitness, wellness and astrology
• Interactive Cooking Demonstration
• Group activities such as Labyrinth Walks, Yoga/Meditation in the Organic Garden, and Boulder Rock Climb
• Welcome gift and nightly turndown gifts that include a “Carefree Companion” with a personalized daily agenda, pedometer & walking program encouraging 10,000 steps a day, a fitness class schedule, and recommended reading guide.

Gastrological Dinners (a combination of gastronomy & astrology), are also planned during the Fall & Spring Equinox and Summer/Winter Solstice. An evening of celestial wonder in the resort’s Organic Garden, guests get to experience a gourmet dinner under the night sky with renowned astrologer, Tom McMullen, who explains the symbolic language of Astrology, the movement of the constellations, and how the planets influence our lives.

We love this exclusive desert hideaway and The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders for many reasons. The main one being that Arizona is a land filled with a spirited past. Not to mention the fact that the spa drew it's inspiration from the ancient Honjin inns of Japan where weary travelers sought sanctuary. Incorporating elements of feng shui and the Zen-like ambiance of the original Golden Door while staying true to the Native American influences of The Boulders, it has a labyrinth, a Tipi for guided meditation, an affirmation rock for individual guest reflection, fitness center, mind, body and movement studios, a café and sweeping views of the 12-million-year-old boulder piles, along with Black Mountain.

What else?
160 guest casitas, 55 one-three bedroom villas, 7 restaurants and a lounge, 2 championship Jay Morrish-designed golf courses, and 8 tennis courts (including three classic clay and five premier cushion courts).

Only 12 guests will be accepted each month.

So really, if you're not going to listen to us, listen to Uranus.
(Sorry, we couldn't resist)

Rates start at $1,399 per person or $1,199 double occupancy.

www.TheBoulders.com