Monthly Archives: August 2010

Spotlight: Cabo San Lucas Vacation Rentals

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Villa Montecristo in Quivira Private Residence Club

Villa Montecristo in Quivira Private Residence Club

Have you had the opportunity to experience Baja California in style? Check out these deluxe villas located in Cabo San Lucas!

Casa Luca De Pedregal

Casa Luca De Pedregal

The “Casa Luca De Pedregal” Villa is a private and exclusive luxury property in the guard-gated community of Pedregal, showcasing expansive 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It is a custom designed Tuscan villa, with no expense spared in design, construction, landscaping and impeccable furnishings. Step foot in the dramatic Italian-styled entrance hall and marvel at the huge entertainment area, custom-designed staircases, private library, fully equipped gym, massage room with steam shower and sauna, and expansive living and dining areas leading out to the infinity pool and Jacuzzi spa. Step outside the gourmet state-of-the-art kitchen and enjoy lunch with panoramic views of Baja and the Pacific.

The “Villa Montecristo In Quivira Private Residence Club” is located in the Montecristo Estates, next to the Pedregal in Quivira. This spacious “Hacienda-Style” villa . It is built on and into the highest peak on the southern-Baja, and boasts its own private swimming pool in the villa, a BBQ on deck, plus indoor & outdoor jacuzzis. Constructed with gorgeous marble, granite, cantera and mahogany, this Villa brings you all of the comforts of home with a luxurious twist. You will have access to all the Quivira has to offer: the European Health Spa, 7 pools with swim-up bars, kid-pools and jacuzzis, championship golf courses, in addition to shopping and fine dining. Venture to Cabo; there is a free shuttle every hour leaving Quivira!

Casa Contenta Vacation Villa

Casa Contenta Vacation Villa

The “Casa Contenta Vacation Villa” is an ultra-deluxe architectural marvel, not to mention the former private residence of past Cabo San Lucas Mayor, Carlos Cota. One of the Villa’s many distinct features is the authentic display of artisan crafted artwork from Mexico, along with indigenous art collected from countries all around the globe. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows and doors bring the spectacular, unobstructed views of Land’s End, Medano Bay and the Sea of Cortez. Step onto the shady pool level terrace and you’ll find the views expand to include the desert, the town of Cabo San Lucas and the Sierra Laguna Mountains. Seek refuge in the luscious garden, or use the lower decks and hammocks to read in private. Cool off with a dip in the pool or work on your tan, reclining in one of many padded chaise lounges with umbrellas waiting for you poolside.

Sunsets from the rooftop terrace are nothing short of spectacular. Honeymooners and Groups love this special terrace, because the fire pit, lounge chairs and gas tiki-torches make this a great spot for an impromptu social hour or evening star-gazing.

Casa Contenta is perfect for quick and easy access to the exciting nightlife that Baja California has to offer, in addition to sport fishing, golfing (guests staying at Casa Contenta will receive a 50% discount at the Dye Cabo San Lucas Country Club, only a mile away!), a wide variety of restaurants, bars, shopping and good old people watching. Casa Contenta looks down on Medano Bay and Medano Beach, the safest swimming beach in Cabo and only minutes away.

Take advantage of the current special booking incentives, and not only will you read of Baja’s stunningly spectacular views and lavish villas, you’ll experience the real deal!

The California Surf Project

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The California Surf Project

The California Surf Project

“Random Observation No. 3463: It’s illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon!”

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to quit your job, pack your boards, and surf your way down the California coast?   Though it may sound like a daydream, The California Surf Project is a fully photographed travel diary of two surfers who decided to take the 50 day journey of a lifetime.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

Dan Malloy - timeless

Dan Malloy – timeless

“These guys gave us a bushel of apples and a sandwich — I think they thought we were homeless.”

The adventure unfolds through the eyes of two passionate individuals: Eric Soderquist, a professional surfer, artist and world traveler whom resides and surfs in Shell Beach, CA, and Chris Burkard, also an accomplished central California native whose photography has appeared in over 35 international publications.

“A grown man crawled up the beach vomiting:  a sign we shouldn’t have gone out.”

Feel like you are along for the ride as you follow Soderquist and Burkard as they trek along Highway 1 from the Oregon border to the Tijuana Sloughs in their increasingly broken-down Volkswagen bus.  While discovering everything that our Golden State’s legendary coastline has to offer, they treat the reader to their observations of world around them, and their musings of the road behind and in front of them.

“This wave will give you all the speed in the world to launch as high as you want — the only problem is finding the road to get there.”

Santa Monica, circus music, and the flying fish

Santa Monica, circus music, and the flying fish

The California Surf Project paints a vivid experience of their incredible adventures catching perfect (and not-so-perfect) surf, sharing campfires with complete strangers, and rigging the bus with makeshift Duct tape repairs.  The book spans over 200 gorgeous photographs, chronicled with soulful text and a professionally produced DVD.

“Dry sand blowing like a desert.  Heat waves on the horizon.  Must be winter in California.”

If you’ve ever been curious about the liberating experience of west coast surf culture, grab yourself a copy of this book!

Big Sur postcard or just another average turnout along Hwy 1?

Big Sur postcard or just another average turnout along Hwy 1?

Check out the Project’s website, read about these talented and accomplished guys, and take a look at their gallery of stunning photos!

Spotlight: Bluefields Bay Jamaican Seaside Villas

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15% OFF Adult Rates When you Book Through Beachhouse.com!
(you must mention “Beachhouse.com” when you make your reservation to receive discount. Offer valid for stays before November 1, 2010)

Imagine boarding an airplane, taking a scenic helicopter transfer and reaching Bluefields Bay, Jamaica, in time for a refreshing beach swim followed by sunset cocktails and a gorgeous candlelit dinner.  Located 34 miles south of Montego Bay and less than an hour from Negril, Bluefields Bay whisks you away from the hustle-and-bustle of urban life, with mesmerizing vistas of sugar cane fields, mountain ranges and vibrant blue sea.  For a luxurious, yet authentic Jamaican experience, consider planning your stay at Bluefields Bay Jamaican Seaside Villas.

Villa San Michele

Villa San Michele

Villas:
Whatever they may be, Bluefields Bay has the vacation property to suit your needs.  Milestone Cottage, dramatically perched 30 feet above the Caribbean Sea, has spectacular panoramic sunset views and is the perfect spot for a secluded romantic getaway.  In addition to its fabulous vistas and private terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Cottonwood Cottage features a king-size, four-poster canopy bed, an exotic marble shower that opens out to the tropical garden and sea view, and a new infinity-edge swimming pool with whirlpool jets. Mullion Cove boasts rich mahogany furnishings, with silver, crystal and fine china, in addition to a private seaside patio with staircase directly into the sea and hammocks set in a luscious grove of trees.  San Michele is not only beautifully decorated, but also features a private island, reached by footbridge, with a pool pavilion, lounge chairs and hammocks, freshwater shower, stereo system and bar.  The majestic Hermitage is always a favorite, with its impeccable attention to detail in furnishings and phenomenal views from every room.   Each of these five distinctive villas offers exquisite hideaways to relax by the sea, stocked with beverages and included service too.

The Hermitage

The Hermitage

All Inclusive:
Your all-inclusive stay provides the highest level of service, and includes a full staff of cooks, waiters, chambermaids, drivers and nannies, as well as meals, liquor, beverages, airport transfers, sports equipment, clubhouse/beach use, and night-lit tennis courts.   Each villa has a headman who ensures that all aspects of your vacation are smooth and “irie”, and who also meets with his guests daily to plan menus, timing, and location for meals.  Shopping, cooking, and cleaning are taken care of by the staff, with meals and drinks catered to guest wishes.

Activities:
Whether you’d like to stay close to home, or venture out and about, Bluefields Bay provides endless entertainment.   Mingle with company at the Manager’s Cocktail Party every Monday, or over Jerk Chicken Lunch held Wednesdays at The Treehouse.   Hold a match on the night-lit, competition-sized Laykold tennis court, or hike the Bluefields Mountain with expansive landscape views.   Catch Tuna, Kingfish, Mahi-mahi, Snapper and Marlin while deep-sea fishing, and your chef will prepare it for dinner!  Discover a rich world of tropical fish, coral, rays, and much more while snorkeling in Moor Reed or South Coast. Paradise Plantation offers horseback trail excursions across Sweet River for stunning vistas of tropical foliage, the coastline and mountains.  Chukka Caribbean Adventures offers a 2.5 hour long breathtaking canopy tour via zip line, mixing amazing views of flora and fauna with an exhilarating adrenaline rush.   Don’t forget to pack your clubs- Jamaica is home to Negril Hills Golf

Milestone Cottage

Milestone Cottage

Course and Tryall Golf & Country Club, which hosted the Johnnie Walker Open for many years.   Explore YS Falls, boat up the Black River for crocodile-watching, or visit Treasure Beach, Appleton Estate’s Rum Bottling Plant, and Negril, among other popular locales.   Return home in the peak of health after enjoying Bluefield’s spa services, which include massage, scrubs, wraps, manicures, pedicures and cornrow braiding.

As a family friendly destination, children are welcomed at Bluefields.   Kids will love building sandcastles on the shoreline, taking nature walks, swimming, sea-kayaking and snorkeling at the beach and in the pools with our beach staff and nannies.   Nurturing nannies will read and tell stories, give baths, plan child-friendly meals, launder clothes, clean rooms, and put children to bed so that parents can enjoy a worry-free vacation.

It’s time you enjoyed the best Jamaica has to offer; leave “tourism” behind and treat yourself and loved ones to a week in this flourishing tropical oasis.

Bluefields Bay

Come Party with Us and Adopt a Shark!

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ShowcaseJoin Beachhouse.com at The Great Shark Affair, a special public awareness event demonstrating the effects of our actions on our oceans, coastlines, bays, reef systems, and the blue eco-systems. Enjoy delicious gourmet food and beverages while learning about sharks & our oceans, bidding on auction items and playing “Shark Jeopardy”!

header-adoptasharkYou should also check out AdoptAShark.com is a fun way to make a difference, learn about the ocean ecosystem, and get involved in conservation. Not only can you actively contribute to their preservation, you can actually track and name your own real, living shark!

Why protect sharks? Sharks are an essential part of the ocean’s food chain, and they are currently threatened by overfishing, finning and bycatch. They are needed to maintain balance by preying on sick and weak animals, preventing the spread of disease and keeping population sizes in check. These creatures seem to have an ability to resist cancers and other diseases, and further research may yield lasting benefits to all humans.

Croix

adopt "Croix" today!

Your Adopt a Shark donation is used to purchase new tags for continued research on the movement and behavior of sharks. You will learn about and be able to see tracking maps of your shark, depending on when and how the shark was tagged. If your tag is “live”, each day you can come back to our website to see where your shark is, and if any new information has been posted about your shark. Satellite track can show movement of your shark for 3-6 months! In addition, you will also receive a Shark Adoption Kit, including an Adoption Certificate, a picture of your shark, an Adoptashark T-shirt, information about your shark, and lots of fun stickers and activities!

What can else can you do to help? Avoid shark products, make responsible seafood choices, keep our beaches and oceans clean, write your government representatives to protect sharks, and spread the word to raise awareness!

Click HERE to adopt a shark now, or find them on Twitter & Facebook!


Click here to Adopt a Shark – Powered by SharkBreak.com

Spotlight: Kona, Hawaii

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Kailua BayKailua-Kona, often referenced as simply “Kona”, is an infamously beautiful tropical getaway located along the shoreline of Kailua Bay and up the southern slope of Hualālai volcano.  Reputed for the region’s bold Kona coffee beans, which are cultivated on the slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts, this exotic Hawaiian destination is also hosts popular events such as the annual Ironman World Championship Triathlon and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.

Stay at one of the island’s gems, The Dolphin House, located in the exclusive, gated and security-guarded community of Kona Bay Estates!   The Dolphin House is situated directly on the deep sapphire blue waters of Kona Bay and is just steps away from a private sandy beach (not to mention within walking distance to tennis and town!).  This stunning oceanfront home, known as “Ka Naia” in Hawaiian, is an upscale 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath home that boasts an atrium entry with cathedral ceilings, skylights, large living room, family room, convenient indoor/outdoor dining, and a game room with a fully equipped bar.  Take a dip in the heated swimming pool and splash under the spectacular pool waterfall!

The Dolphin House, Kona Bay Estates, Kona, Hawaii

The Dolphin House, Kona Bay Estates, Kona, Hawaii

A short oceanfront stroll leads you to a sandy, reef-protected beach cove lagoon, great for swimming, snorkeling, and playing in the sand.  Tide pools offer great exploration for children and teens, and can be found scattered along the lava rock shelf.  Enjoy nature’s marine creatures and catch a glimpse of turtles, dolphins, and whales!

The Big Island of Hawaii offers a myriad of activities for every age.  Exciting and exotic island activities include visiting the Kona Coffee Farms, Botanical Garden Tours, Sunset Dinner Cruises, Parasailing, Whale Watching, Hawaiian Luaus, Horseback Riding, Submarine Rides, Snorkeling and Volcano Viewing, just to name a few!   Take one look at this slice of paradise and you will instantly fall in love with The Dolphin House!