Fort Bragg, California Boasts Some Of The World's Best Beaches

Seven Beautiful Beaches Just Minutes From The City's Downtown

FORT BRAGG, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 -- Are Fort Bragg beaches the best in the world? We think so.

Over a 12-mile stretch of Northern California's Mendocino Coast, our beaches offer more things to do, more rugged coastline, more hidden coves and sea caves, more interesting rocks, more birds, more clear water and more solitude than anyplace else we know of.

You can picnic, run, beach comb, explore tide pools, watch whales, go birding, ride horses, or photograph big waves … and even bigger sunsets. Three of our beaches are world renown for colorful frosted sea glass, tumbled into myriad fanciful shapes by majestic waves.

Although our beaches are enjoyed by surfers, abalone divers, sea kayakers, families, couples, adventure seekers, equestrians and pet lovers, you'll rarely see a crowd.

Fort Bragg also is proud to be the official "Gateway" to the California Coastal National Monument along the Mendocino Coast. Located off the 1,100 miles of California coastline, the California Coastal National Monument comprises more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles between Mexico and Oregon. All those beautiful rocks are home to sea lions, harbor seals, pelicans, gulls and abundant marine life.

In addition to our Coastal National Monument, here are seven great Fort Bragg beaches to explore:

• Ten Mile Beach
• Virgin Creek Beach
• Glass Beach
• Pudding Creek Beach
• Hare Creek Beach
• Jug Handle Beach
• Caspar Beach

Safety Reminder:
As with beaches everywhere, beware of possible hazards, including slippery rocks, crumbling cliffs, and sneaker waves (large waves that seemingly surge out of nowhere). Our clean clear waters are cold (52-54 degrees Fahrenheit) so wetsuits are essential for swimming, surfing, or diving. Keeping children (and dogs) out of the water during big surf days is just good commonsense.

"Be Swept Away by the Beauty Not By the Waves" – Mendocino Coast Water Safety Coalition

SOURCE City of Fort Bragg Promotion Committee

I Need a Vacation!

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 28, 2012 -- Think about that headline, if only for just a second.

Now, ask yourself a question: How many times do you hear that phrase in any given week?

Chances are you hear it a lot. You hear it around the office water cooler, you hear it at the dinner table, you hear it as you pick up the kids from school, at the 19th hole after a round of golf and you hear it (from that little voice inside your head) after clearing your 118th email of the day. Fact is, you hear it almost every time you socially integrate and it's not accidental.

Let's be realistic; we live in a pressure cooker of a world. Forget about the normal responsibilities that come with day-to-day living. The information intensity that our society has experienced (over a relatively short period of time) has rendered many of us to monitoring at least 4 channels of information daily. Social Media, Professional Social Media, business emails, personal emails, voice mails, text messaging, land lines, newspapers, magazines, blogs - just pick your 4 favorites and feel free to add snail mail and faxes to the list.

Is it any wonder we could all use a vacation? Take heart, gentle readers, because there's never been a better time to start planning your next, much needed, vacation.

Circle your calendars because National Plan A Vacation Week is right around the corner, March 18th - 24th: http://www.planavacationweek.com .

This powerful and broad-reaching initiative will showcase a world of vacation options with something for everyone's tastes, budget and time constraints. From American Discoveries to Extraordinary Europe; Family Fun, Pacific Paradises, Tropical Adventures, Viva Mexico and Occasions for Amazement, National Plan A Vacation Week promises to bring value for your dollar and things far more important.

Those things are re-connecting with family, loved ones and friends or just going solo on a sojourn of self-discovery. It's about rejuvenation, revitalization and experiencing the things that enrich our lives, our souls.

It's about making memories - the kind of memories that last longer than your hard drive after it's fried and your picture folder goes to cyber sanitation heaven. It's about taking care of you.

When it comes to planning a getaway there's nobody better to turn to than a Professional Travel Agent. Like lawyers, accountants and hairdressers/barbers, you want to find a good one and hang on for dear life. While their demise was trumpeted by many (all of the pundits, as it happens, had no fundamental understanding of their role, skill sets and value) Professional Agents have adapted, are thriving and generating more business than ever before.

Professional Agents have endured because they add value. They have the expertise, the skill sets and an appreciation for not only what to do, where to go and what to see. They can offer counsel on the things that an individual who isn't a Travel Professional would never know - the types of things that could quite possibly result in a less than great experience.

Remember - Without a Travel Agent, You're on Your Own.

National Plan A Vacation Week would even suggest that you look at a Professional Travel Agent as your personal GPS on the highway to vacation happiness.

Now get out and make some memories - and while you're at it, have the time of your life!

SOURCE National Plan A Vacation Week

Free '101 Tips for Women Travelers' Booklet by Harriet Lewis Now Available

BOSTON, Feb. 27, 2012 -- Traveling solo and feeling a bit self-conscious about eating alone? Grab a stool at the bar – and order your meal there. The bartender will usually try to make you feel at home, strike up a conversation, and often engage others at the counter to join in. This tip, tip #59, is just one of 101 helpful travel tips in a free new booklet, "101 Tips for Women Travelers," by Harriet Lewis, global traveler and vice chair of Grand Circle Corporation, which provides international vacations to Americans over 50 through its brands Overseas Adventure Travel, Grand Circle Cruise Line, and Grand Circle Travel.

101 Tips for Women is chock-full of unique and practical tips to make travel easy, enriching, and fun. It's another resource designed to offer the industry's best service and value to female travelers, including those traveling solo. Last year, 70,000 of Grand Circle's 110,000 travelers were women, with 27,000 of them traveling as solos. "By the time women turn 60, most of us have raised children, juggled family and career, and worked hard to keep everyone—spouse, kids, and boss happy. Now, it's our time, and many of us are choosing to travel. We're on a quest to learn, engage, and have fun."

Harriet knows what she's talking about – she has traveled to more than 100 countries in her lifetime to date, and many more are on her bucket list, yet to visit. "Women travel differently than men do, and this book, compiled with tips from our female travelers, staff, and guides, offers both the novice and seasoned female traveler innovative ways to get the ease of travel, cultural interaction, and insider's perspective they seek when they head overseas."

"101 Tips for Women Travelers" is a 126-page, 5"x 7" booklet designed to fit in a woman's purse. Tips featured include ideas on trip preparation, packing, money, transportation, health, beauty, security and safety, traveling solo, food and drink, etiquette and social tips, and more. There's a handy reference section with a foreign phrase guide, international size chart, time zones, conversion chart, packing essentials, and more. Chapter headings inspire with anecdotes about some of history's most remarkable women travelers, such as the Queen of Sheba, Cleopatra, and Amelia Earhart in addition to less well-known, but equally fascinating, female travelers throughout history.

For a complimentary copy of "101 Tips", please call 1-800-248-3737 or visit www.gct.com/travel-tips .

About Grand Circle Corporation
Overseas Adventure Travel, Grand Circle Cruise Line, and Grand Circle Travel are part of Grand Circle Corporation, the leader in international travel, adventure and discovery for Americans aged 50 and older. Since its establishment in 1958, the company has served more than 2 million travelers by offering more than 80 river cruises, small group experiences by land and sea, and escorted and extended stay vacations. Since 1992, the non-profit Grand Circle Foundation has donated or pledged more than $91M to some 300 humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations worldwide. The company is headquartered in Boston, Mass. and has 33 offices worldwide.

SOURCE Grand Circle Corporation

Best Western International Launches Facebook Booking Capability

Travelers Can Now Book Room Nights at More Than 4,000 Hotels Directly Through the Largest Social Network in the World

PHOENIX, Feb. 24, 2012  -- As part of Best Western International's continued dedication to engaging with its customers via social media, today the chain unveiled a new booking capability that allows travelers to reserve hotel rooms on Best Western's Facebook page. With more than 4,100 hotels in over 100 countries and territories, Best Western is the first major international hotel chain with this capability.

This new Facebook booking capacity is the latest step in allowing travelers to book a Best Western hotel wherever they are on the web. The Facebook booking platform, built in tandem with mobile and multichannel platform company, Usablenet, delivers Best Western's private and secure hotel reservation system to Facebook's more than 800 million active users. Best Western's 248,000-and-growing Facebook fans now can plan their next hotel stay conveniently and safety.

"More than ever, Best Western's customers are integrating social media into every part of their personal and professional lives," said Dorothy Dowling, Best Western's senior vice president of marketing and sales. "It's imperative that we answer the call from our customers to make it easy to research, book and share travel experiences through their preferred channels."

A pioneer among lodging brands to embrace top social networks, Best Western has been active in the space since 2006. The company continues to invest in social media to gather guest feedback, promote Best Western Rewards initiatives, leverage key partnerships like AAA/CAA and Harley-Davison, and improve customer engagement.

Best Western also launched a Best Western Rewards mobile site last year to allow the 13 million Best Western Rewards® members to manage their profiles, review their balances and redeem points for travel and merchandise – all from their smartphones. The Best Western Rewards mobile site is a complement to the brand's primary mobile site – www.BestWestern2Go.com -- and the free "Best Western to Go" application for iPad, iPhone and Android. The mobile sites and application allow travelers to find and book reservations at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide.

For more information on Best Western, please visit www.bestwestern.com and to book a room on Facebook visit www.facebook.com/bestwestern.

ABOUT BEST WESTERN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Best Western International, Inc. is THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HOTEL FAMILY®, providing marketing, reservations and operational support to over 4,100* BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® and BEST WESTERN PREMIER® hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Each Best Western-branded hotel is independently owned and operated. Now celebrating 66 years of hospitality, Best Western has grown into an iconic brand that hosts hundreds of thousands of guests each night.

Equally committed to the business and leisure traveler, Best Western has embarked on a mission to lead the hotel industry in customer care. World Vision is the charity of choice for Best Western in building the world's biggest family, with our hotels and staff sponsoring children in need around the globe. Our partnerships with AAA/CAA, racecar driver Michael Waltrip, and Harley-Davidson® help guests make the most of every trip. For the fastest way to a free night globally, join Best Western Rewards®.

SOURCE Best Western International

Third Annual Manhattan Cocktail Classic Prepares to Host Thousands of Festival Goers for Five Days of Cocktails, Culture & Pure Fun

**Tickets go on sale March 15**

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2012 -- The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, New York City's annual five-day celebration of cocktails and culture, is gearing up to ignite the city once again for the third annual festival, taking place May 11 to 15, 2012. Anticipating over 10,000 attendees and attracting top-tier mixologists from around the globe, this decadent, booze-fueled flurry of nearly 100 parties, pairings, tastings, and educational events is not to be missed. Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 15 at noon ET.

The soon-to-be-revealed festival calendar includes some ambitious additions on deck for 2012, in addition to the flagship events and activities that have defined the Classic to date. The now-legendary opening night Gala will once again take over The New York Public Library, filling its storied halls with over 3,500 well-heeled guests, over 40,000 hand-crafted cocktails, and more merriment, mischief, and mayhem than ever before. Tickets will remain at the same $150 price point as last year.

And, just as in years past, the days will be filled with a plethora of more intimate educational events: seminars, tastings, cocktail demos, culinary pairings – all taking place in some of New York City's greatest bars and restaurants, mainly in Manhattan, but also in Brooklyn, Queens, and even Staten Island. Tickets to these events will range in price from $25 to $125.

But for festival-goers looking for something on a par with the opening night Gala to fill their Saturday night dance card, the latest addition to the Classic calendar is perhaps the most titillating. On Saturday, May 12 from 9pm to 1am, The Classic Night Out will take over the Meatpacking District in lower Manhattan, bringing six city blocks to life with dozens upon dozens of events: pop-up cocktail bars in fashion retail meccas; spontaneous speakeasies in spas and salons; rollicking live music in the cobblestone streets – all as part of one night, one ticket, and one truly unforgettable experience.

"Cocktail culture has deep roots in the fashion world, and it's going to be terrific fun to bring that theme to life through the Classic Night Out," says Lesley Townsend, the festival's founder and director. "Beyond that, it's just been so amazing to witness an entire neighborhood come together around one of our events. With this much positive energy and community support, it's bound to be a truly incredible evening." Indeed, with the city's most glamorous neighborhood as its backdrop (and at only $100 per ticket), the Classic Night Out is poised to be the most glittering "blocktail" party New York City has ever seen.

Other marquee events are slated for Sunday and Monday nights, including an aperitivo cocktail competition sponsored by Campari and the USBG, and a most notable (and rather "spirited") performance of Sleep No More sponsored by Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The final new addition to the 2012 festival is an enormous expansion of the industry-oriented programming. While the Classic has been a destination event for hospitality industry professionals from the get-go, this year the festival is establishing a proper five-day "Industry Invitational" running parallel to the public events. Hosted at the Andaz 5th Avenue Hotel directly across from The New York Public Library, the Invitational will be open to hospitality industry professionals and media, and will comprise a diverse calendar of events and activities: lectures, panel discussions, technology demos, networking opportunities, exclusive tastings, cocktail competitions, and a preview of the Classic Bar Show. Requests for trade credentials are now being accepted; please visit the www.manhattancocktailclassic.com for more information.

The sponsor line-up for 2012 is equally impressive. Confirmed media partners for 2012 include AskMen, Beverage Media Group, Edible Manhattan, Brooklyn, & East End, Esquire, Flavorpill, Grubwithus, Imbibe, Marie Claire, RentTheRunway.com, TastingTable.com, THRILLIST, and UrbanDaddy (with several others pending the time of this release). Confirmed spirits and drinks brand sponsors include: 10 Cane Rum, A. de Fussigny Cognac, Absolut, Angostura Bitters, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, Barritt's Ginger Beer, Berentzen Liqueur, BlackBeard Spiced Rum, Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Cacao Prieto, Caliche Rum, Campari, Castle Brands, Celtic Honey Liqueur, Chartreuse, Cointreau, Dancing Pines Distillery, Death's Door Spirits, Denizen Rum, Diageo, Diplimatico, DonQ Rum, Dutch's Spirits, El Dorardo Rum, EuroWineGate, FAIR. Spirits, Fee Brothers, Finger Lakes Distilling, Flip Flop, G'Vine Gin, Glace Luxury Ice, Gosling's Rum, Hendrick's Gin, Jack From Brooklyn, Jefferson's Bourbon, Kanon Vodka, Laird's Applejack, Lillet, Maker's Mark, Mandarin Napoleon, Martini, Mercy, Molinari, Nolet's Silver Dry Gin, Oxley Gin, Pallini Limoncello, Patron, Perrier, Pierre Ferrand, Pisco Chile, Pisco Porton, Plymouth Gin, Ramazzotti Amaro, Sailor Jerry, St-Germain, Tanqueray, Tanteo Spirits, The Bitter End, The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Truvia, Van Gogh Vodka, Vitamix, White Pike Whiskey, Wild Hibiscus Flower Company, and William Grant & Sons (with many others pending at the time of this release).

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please email sponsors@manhattancocktailclassic.com to request sponsorship information and pricing.

The full calendar of festival events, including both public events and trade programming, will be posted to the festival website on March 15. For more information about the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, or to register for press credentials please visit www.manhattancocktailclassic.com.

LIKE us on Facebook: facebook.com/ManhattanCocktailClassic and Follow us on Twitter @cocktailclassic; join the conversation using #MCC2012.

SOURCE Manhattan Cocktail Classic

Former Cruise Ship Officer M.L. Meier Reveals What Cruise Lines Don't Want You to Know

MIAMI, Feb. 6, 2012 -- Due to his concern over lapses in safety measures, M.L. Meier predicted three years ago that a disaster like the Costa Concordia was only a matter of time.

"Before I boarded ship, I'd held an executive position with Hilton International Hotels, and there was better training in the hotel industry than on that ship," he said. For example, the ship's safety training was conducted in English with no visuals for a crew that consisted mostly of non-English speakers. That meant that they had no idea what their duties were in the case of an "Abandon Ship" order.

"I've been a boater all my life, so I know how important it is to know what to do," said Meier. "But my superiors felt that because the ship had underwater sonar, GPS and automatic water-tight doors, it could never sink. Unfortunately, that mentality is industrywide."

Additionally, the ship began its voyage in "code red" due to an outbreak of Norwalk virus, a highly contagious cause of gastroenteritis. "The ship's doctor told the passengers it was sea sickness, and the rest of us were under orders not to discuss it in front of passengers or on phone calls," said Meier.

Meier jumped ship before his contract was up, but the experience was so disturbing that he decided to write about it. As he researched the cruise lines, he learned of cases of people who had disappeared or been raped aboard cruise ships. "I also found out that traveling under flags of convenience enables the ships to dodge criminal investigations if the incidents occur in international waters," he said.

"The cruise industry needs reforms because they're putting people's lives at risk," Meier continued. "It'd be more expensive but I think people will pay more to be safe."

Meier's recommendations include the following:

• All employees should know enough English to be able to understand training.
• New crew members should be trained before joining a ship and have ongoing training once aboard.
• Safety training should be comprehensive so all crew members know their duties in an emergency.
• Passengers should receive emergency procedure presentations just as they do when they fly.

Meier is presenting his findings in a novel titled "The Cruise" (http://thecruisenovel.com), currently in final editing. Meier is currently seeking publishing for the novel.

Schlitterbahn Announces New Year-Round Indoor Waterpark Hotel Located on South Padre Island, Texas!

New beachfront resort includes lodging, retail, restaurants, year-round indoor waterpark and special access to the summertime Schlitterbahn Beach outdoor waterpark.

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, Feb. 2, 2012 -- Schlitterbahn, respected worldwide for ground-breaking water-based entertainment destinations, announces plans for a new 221 room, year-round entertainment resort destination ­­- Schlitterbahn Beach Resort, South Padre Island, Texas.

Located on the pristine beaches of the Gulf of Mexico at the former location of the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, this exciting new beachfront resort destination includes lodging, retail, restaurants, a year-round indoor / outdoor convertible Waterpark, new slides and rides and special access to the award-winning Schlitterbahn Beach outdoor Waterpark. The first phase of this project is scheduled to open summer of 2012.

Not only will hotel guests enjoy the new spacious upscale accommodations, but resort guests will also receive a variety of VIP amenities including unlimited use of the Waterpark for the duration of their stay, extended use of select park rides and attractions, beach access amenities, Wi-Fi and free onsite parking.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to develop our new upscale waterpark hotel concept right here on South Padre Island," explained Jeff Henry, principal for the Schlitterbahn Development Group. "Our team has been working on the creation and design of this world-class destination for more than two years and we are excited to be announcing this project today. Without the support and financial commitment of our partner, American National Insurance Company, and the local government, the realization of this dream could not have become a reality."

The Schlitterbahn Beach Resort is expected to entertain hundreds of thousands of guests per year and will create several hundred new jobs, providing an economic boost to the region.

Additional resort and attraction information, including new Waterpark technology, will be announced as the project's development continues.

As part of Schlitterbahn's ongoing commitment to the environment, this new resort includes the latest in energy and water saving technologies including compact fluorescent lights, LED technologies, low-flow fixtures and the constant capturing, filtering, sanitizing and recirculation of water through the new resort's rides and attractions.

Family-owned and operated, Schlitterbahn Waterparks has been a leader in family-friendly water-based entertainment since 1979. The company operates Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark, South Padre Island, TX, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, Galveston Island, TX, Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark, Kansas City, KS. and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark, New Braunfels, TX, all of which offer family amenities that include free parking and free inner tubes. Guests are also welcome to bring a family picnic basket, excluding alcohol and glass containers, into the parks.
For more information, contact Schlitterbahn Waterparks' corporate office in New Braunfels, Texas at 830.625.2351 or visit the parks' website at schlitterbahn.com.

GENERAL INFORMATION:956.772.7873
reservations@schlitterbahn.com
facebook.com/SchlitterbahnWaterpark

SOURCE Schlitterbahn

Travel Channel and Gaiam Release "Bizarre Foods Collection 5 Part 2" on DVD

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2012 -- Gaiam, Inc., a leading producer of lifestyle media, announces today the DVD release of Travel Channel's critically-acclaimed series Bizarre Foods Collection 5 Part 2 under its exclusive home video license agreement with Travel Channel.
  
Chef, writer and culinary explorer Andrew Zimmern is back for more exotic food adventures around the world. Andrew's palate is game for anything and everything, as he takes viewers on a journey across the globe experiencing distinctive cultures and traditional foods unlike anything Andrew has ever tasted before.

In Bizarre Foods Collection 5 Part 2 , Andrew visits ten destinations and introduces viewers to cuisines that only the strongest stomachs can digest. Andrew steps out of his comfort zone as he fishes for piranha in Suriname. While in Indonesia, Andrew explores both the culture and cuisine by drinking cobra blood and sampling water buffalo entrails. No matter where he is, you can be sure the guy with the iron stomach is ready to dish up the most unimaginable cuisines.

Also included in Collection 5 Part 2, are four bonus episodes taking Andrew to places where the motto is: if it swims, slithers or scampers, it's on the menu. While traveling to Vietnam, Taiwan, Alaska and Trinidad and Tobago, Andrew samples seven courses of snake, bees, curried iguana and reindeer pizza. Expect Andrew to sit down and take a bite of everything in front of him, regardless of how it smells.

This three-disc set has a run time of 602 minutes and an SRP of $24.98. Street date: February 7, 2012.

Bizarre Foods Collection 5 Part 2 will be available in stores and online wherever DVDs are sold.

TRAVEL CHANNEL (http://www.travelchannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their every day destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it's around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world's leading travel media brand, and is available in 96 million U.S. cable homes. Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, MD, and New York, NY. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

About GAIAM
Gaiam, Inc. (Nasdaq: GAIA) is a leading producer and marketer of lifestyle media and fitness accessories. With a wide distribution network that consists of 62,000 retail doors, 14,400 store within stores, 5,600 media category management locations, a digital distribution platform and more than 10 million direct customers, Gaiam is dedicated to providing solutions for healthy and eco-conscious living. The company dominates the health and wellness category and releases non-theatrical programming focused on family entertainment and conscious media. In addition, Gaiam has an exclusive licensing agreement with Discovery Communications and other licensing partners. For more information about Gaiam, please visit www.gaiam.com or call 1.800.869.3603.

SOURCE Gaiam, Inc.