Feel like an adventure roadtrip in New Zealand?

New Zealand tourism operator KEA is now offering discounted adventures in the company’s campervans and motorhomes.

Travelers can rent a 2 berth high-top campervan or a 4 berth motorhome for seven days at special rates.

Says KEA:

“With the weather warming up and the last of the snow melting off the top of New Zealand’s magical mountain tops, there is no better time to take a few days off for an adventure in a campervan or motorhome.”

Locally manufactured, the vehicles are outfitted with comforts and features including full entertainment system with HD compatible flat screen televisions and DVD players.

Each vehicle uses solar panels to keep its auxiliary batteries charged so travelers can park in more remote locations.

For more info, visit the KEA site.

Image courtesy of KEA

Mary Roberson, The Living Forest, Oil on canvas, 78 x 48 inches.

The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole is now holding its Western Visions event.

Until September 26, 2010, the museum will showcase 1,000+ works on display and for sale.

Some 150 top artists will contribute sculpture, painting, prints, photography, jewelry, sketches, and textiles for the museum fundraiser.

The event includes:

• A hands-on plein air sketching workshop on the National Elk Refuge featuring artist and Idaho painter Mary Roberson;

• A museum gallery walk and evening program featuring artist and UK sculptor Simon Gudgeon;

• Photography and Sketch Shows & Sales;

• West Artist Party;

• the Jewelry & Artisan Luncheon and

• Miniatures and More Show & Sale.

Image courtesy of the National Museum of Wildlife Art

Are you traveling in New Zealand or Australia now?  New Zealand has announced reduced economy fares and new inflight product options for flights between New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

The new “Seats to Suit” options provide product choice of Seat, Seat + Bag, The Works and Works Deluxe.

Says John Whittaker, spokesperson, Air New Zealand:

“The four new ‘Seats to Suit’ options enable us to tailor each flight to our passengers’ needs. Customers can even choose one option for their outbound flight and another option for their return.”

For more info, visit the Air New Zealand site.

Image courtesy of Air New Zealand

A dog enjoys the sights and smells of the Colorado High Country. Photo credit: Wojciech Gajda for Fotolia.com.

Are you a dog lover and mountain traveler?  Then you and your pet will feel at home at dog-friendly Antlers at Vail.

The Rockies condominiums and conference center even welcomes dogs with a bottomless bowl of dog biscuits in the front lobby.

Antlers at Vail.

Says Rob LeVine, general manager and owner of Magpie, a 15-year-old dog of ‘mixed’ descent:

“We recognize that many people consider their dogs to be full-fledged members of the family. We offer dedicated rooms just for pet owners, and our staff is always happy to recommend canine-friendly activities in the area.”

In and around the Vail Valley, the hotel says the area offers lots of pet-friendly hiking trails.

Ania Savage, author of “Best Hikes with Dogs: Colorado”,  recommends a scenic half-day hike to Wheeler Lakes for “dog frolicking and a picnic lunch.”

She suggests a”strenuous-yet-satisfying” hike at Pitkin Lake where dogs can “romp and roll” among the summer grasses and wildflowers.

Right now, Antlers is offering special discounts of 25% off on autumn lodging from September 7 through November 17, 2010.

For more info, visit the Antlers site.

Images of Antlers at Vail

Fancy a fall cottage holiday?  If you’re living or traveling in Britain, then look at country house hotel Cottage in the Wood in Worcestershire.

Throughout September and October, the hotel is featuring special 3-nights-for-2 “Awesome Autumn Breaks”.

On a wooded hillside in the Malvern Hills, the 30-bedroom Cottage in the Wood offers views across the Severn Valley.   Directly from the hotel grounds, guests can walk onto the Malvern Hills.

The special “Awesome Autumn Breaks” includes a full three-course a la carte dinner on two nights and three nights’ accommodation and full English breakfast.

For more info, visit the hotel site.

Image courtesy of Cottage in the Wood

New tropical alcohol and drug free resort Sober Haven Bali has opened for people in recovery.

Founded by Brian H, Sober Haven Bali, whose motto is “Eat Pray Play”, is not a treatment centre.

The resort is a “safe cultural, spiritual, gourmet and temptation-free vacation resort” for people in recovery and 12-step programs.

All staff, from the tour guides to the surf instructors, are members of 12-step programs themselves.

On the West Coast of the island, Sober Haven Bali is situated in the village of Seminyak.

The resort features varied comfortable accommodation with tour packages including activities like surfing, biking, yoga and hiking volcanoes.  Its Eat, Pray, Love tour retraces Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey on the island.

Resort chefs prepare menus focused on organic and sustainable meals made from locally grown food and wild-caught seafood.

Images courtesy of Sober Haven Bali

The Scottish Highlands.

Scottish Highlands hotel The Lovat is launching a new running and fitness break, November 12 to 14, 2010.

At the southern tip of Loch Ness, The Lovat has designed the package for people who want to work on their fitness and endurance in an outdoor environment and learn about diet and nutrition.

Personal trainers John Macnamara and Lesley Laird, from Glasgow-based fitness firm Functional PT, will work with participants.

The two-night break is geared towards the regular runner.  Outdoor endurance running sessions will be combined with educational seminars to yoga sessions.

Says The Lovat’s Caroline Gregory:

“It is important for people to have variety in their training and everyone is continually looking for something that is a little bit different.  The Lovat has unrivaled access to the great outdoors – within two minutes of leaving the hotel you can be in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hills, trees and fresh air – it is truly invigorating.”

The fitness and running weekend will include two nights accommodation in a twin room, breakfast, dinner, brunch and fitness sessions.

Image courtesy of The Lovat

Climbers, Lake Louise. Photo credit: Banff Lake Louise Tourism

Are you living or traveling in the Canadian Rockies?

If you’re a festival goer, you’ll want to check out the new Lake Louise Fall Festival, September 1 to 30, 2010.

The event will highlight Banff National Park’s outdoor heritage during its 125th anniversary celebration.

The festival will include:

• Self-guided fall hikes outlined in the Parks Canada self-guided map and Banff125 Top Trails Guide;

• Guided hikes from one hour to a full day;

• Interpretive programs on topics ranging from wildlife management to grizzly bears;

• Free exhibition of  Swiss Guides – Shaping Mountain Culture in Western Canada and

• Selected dining experiences of chef-prepared, fresh, local fall seasonal fare.

For more info, visit BanffLakeLouise.com.

Snowshoe Adventures. Photo credit: Mike Edmonson

Planning your next snowshoeing adventure?

If you’re living or traveling in Australia, think about the Snowy Mountains, one of the country’s largest national park with the highest mountains.

This mountain area has New South Wales’ major ski resorts and some of the best cross country skiing areas in the world, on its Main Range and Jugungal Wilderness Area.

In Thredbo Village, boutique hotel The Denman Hotel & Spa and K7 Adventures are offering  outdoor snow adventure packages.

There are four, different 3-night Snow Adventure packages and snowshoe lessons for couples, families and small groups.

All-season specialist K7 Adventures offers Snowy Mountains’ adventure tours, winter snow shoeing, ski touring and nordic skiing through the Kosciuszko Cross Country Ski School.

Asia specialist Bamboo Travel has launched two new exotic China tours in the south west province of Yunnan.

“The Burma Road & Tropics of Yunnan” tour will explore the historic town of Tengchong in the western corner of Yunnan province.  Located on the old Southwestern Silk Route, this area is known for volcanoes, hot springs and volcanic lakes.

The tour will feature a visit to the Gaoligong Mountains Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its biodiversity.

The “Yunnan’s Passage to Shangri-la”tour will travel overland from Yunnan’s capital Kunming to the fabled land of Shangri-La then to Deqin.  In the corner of China bordering Eastern Tibet, travelers will see Buddhist holy mountain Kawa Karpo, one of the most sacred mountains in the Himalayas.

Image courtesy of Bamboo Travel