Summer 1 Edition - 2015 Natural Bridge Caverns - New Braunfels Texas

Natural Bridge Caverns

to a Friend

Pass

Accommodations bull Attractions bull Events bull Destinations

Call an for your

Hotel Guide pecial rate

22ndAnniverary

Grapevine Texas Los Angeles Virginia Beach

A Texas Treasure

2 wwwthehotelguidecom

About the CoverExperience one of Texasrsquo true treasures in Natural Bridge Caverns A perfect family destination in this Summer (Photo Courtesy of Natural Bridge Caverns)

The Surin Phuket

Texas Swimming Holes 8

Natural Bridge Caverns 10

Grapevine Summer Events 12

Lone Star Court 14

Texas Aquriums 16

Fun in Port Arthur Texas 18

Mansion at Judges Hill - Austin TX 22

Table of Contents

wwwthehotelguidecom 3

Destinations 27

Los Angeles Museums 28

Phoenician Resort - Scottsdale AZ 30

Virginia Beach VA 32

Sonoma County Summer 34

Experiences 36

Surin Phuket 37

37

888

EXPLORE SAN ANTONIOWITH A HOP ON HOP OFF CITY TOUR

The Alamo - MAIN BOARDING POINT

The River Walk

The San Antonio Museum of Art

The Pearl Brewery Complex

The San Fernando Cathedral

The Spanish Governorrsquos Palace

Tower of the Americas

LONDON STYLE DOUBLE DECKERS

Tel 210 224 8687

12 BusStops

Including

San Antonio Page Advertindd 1 03032015 163300

4 wwwthehotelguidecom

beautifulmagical

memorablewwwriosanantoniocom

River Taxi bull Private Charters bull Special Events

Ride the Rio

riosanantonio

(210) 244-5700(800) 417-4139

Connect ShareEngage

Edward R LeosPublisher

Jennifer LeosAssociate Publisher

Christa ThompsonSenior Travel Writer

Katherine Belarmino

Nicole ConnollyDr Cacinda Maloney

Callie SummerlinMichelle Tijerina

Travel Writers

Daniel LeosIllustrator

Deanna BarrettCarla Ferrer

Margo Gonzalez HuckabayChriselda Pacheco

Contributors

Contact InformationThe Hotel GuidePO Box 592418

San Antonio TX 78259Toll-free

(877) HTL-GDE1phone (210) 857-2003infothehotelguidecomwwwthehotelguidecom

Special Thanks tobull Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

bull Denver Convention amp Visitorrsquos Bureaubull Texas Department of Tourism

bull Texas Department of Transportationbull Texas Hotel and Lodging Association

bull Texas Travel Industry Associationbull Las Vegas CVB

bull Austin CVBbull Tyler CVB

bullGalvestonCVBbull Houston CVB

bull Corpus Christi CVBbull New Braunfels CVB

bull El Paso CVBbull Lubbock CVB

bull Granbury CVBbull San Antonio CVB

ummer is upon us and that means itrsquos

time to get some traveling into your schedule Well have no fear we have a myriad of great things for you and the family For starters Tex-as is hopping with some incredible sites to see and things to do Ready to head underground Natu-ral Bridge Caverns is the perfect family destination offering a cool experi-ence Donrsquot forget that Texas has some of the nicest spots to swim and tackle the Texas heat Want that water park experience Head on over to Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels Galveston or South Padre Island In the Alamo City then check-ing out Splashtown San Antonio is a must Los Angeles also beckons the art lover to check out some of the new museums and upgrades going on in the City of Angels Beach calling your name Visit Virgina Beach and get whisked away with a variety of things to do Heck read our article and you can get the localrsquos insight Scottsdale may be heating up in the Summer but the Phoenician Resort is a cool resort to be at Live it up by the pool sip a cold beverage or partake in their world-class spa Either way your life can not get any better than that For great story ideas or to be a part of our ldquoExpe-riencesrdquo section send me a personal e-mail by clicking here Looking for great hotel deals Remember that you can book all of your travel from our website or by simply clicking here Happy Travels

S

wwwthehotelguidecom 5

A Word FromThe Publisher

We are all unique shouldnrsquot your nutrition be too Itrsquos simple Go on-line to wwwIDLife2com and take our FREE HIPAA-compliant Health Assessment Then receive YOUR customized nutrition plan

bull Pharmaceutical-Grade bull Organic bull Non-GMO bull Casein Free bull Lactose Free bull Soy Free bull Gluten Free

Customized NutritionOfficial Partners

San Antonio

Lose Weight bull Increase Energy bull Sleep Better bull Relieve Stress bull Maximize Workouts

TAKE CONTROL OF

YOUR HEALTH

wwwIDLife2com

IDLife InvestorCelebrity TrainerJEN WIDERSTROM

HEALTHASSESSMENT

FREE

6 wwwthehotelguidecom

Texas

TEXAS

wwwthehotelguidecom 7

TEXAS

8 wwwthehotelguidecom

TEXAS

rsquom floating on my back in the emerald waters of Hamilton

Pool watching drop-lets cascade from the cliff overhang above Around me families splash in shallow wa-ters College students gather atop mas-sive rocks inside the interior walls of the cavelike structure But I keep floating Hamilton Pool Irsquove heard about this place for years but today marks my first trip to the natural pool that lies just 30 minutes west of Austin During peak times visi-tors wait for up to two hours to enter this pristine place which is part of a federal preserve and thus is regulated to ensure balance between our enjoyment of it and the health of the plants and wildlife A bit of idling (plus a $15 vehicle admission fee) seems a fair price to pay for play in Hamilton Poolrsquos ethereal waters which are well worth the wait There are mossy stones plants growing upside down from the domed roof and trails to exploremdashboth from the parking lot to Hamilton Pool and along its interior rim And itrsquos not the Hill Countryrsquos only gem Krause Springs Farther north is Krause Springs This 115-acre prop-erty is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been privately owned by the Krause family for more than 50 years The generous family pioneered improvementsmdasha lovely man-made pool overlooking the springs stone picnic tables and gazebos and a butterfly gardenmdashbuilding many structures by hand Below these resting points sits the main attraction two conjoined swimming holes With massive cypress trees waterfalls tumbling over fern-covered granite and a rope swing Krause Springs is an awesome spot for river-lovers Those wanting an overnight stay can pitch a tent in the campground or hook up an RV in designated spaces Day-trippers can end their journey with BBQ in Spice-wood where Opiersquos and Itrsquos All Good are two of the

I favorite establish-ments Wimberley To the south of Austin yoursquoll find Wimberley a quaint Hill Country town known for its community of artists andmdashyou guessed itmdashits swimming holes The first Jacobrsquos Well measures 12 feet in diameter but the relatively small opening doesnrsquot dissuade swimmers

from cliff jumping Lighter colors surrounding the hole morph into dark hues that correspond to depth Jacobrsquos Well descends 30-ish feet I visited on a fall day after the end of swimming season so I checked out the well visually then hiked the trails surrounding its northern edge Because Jacobrsquos Well is the smallest of the swim-ming holes mentioned here Irsquod recommend arriving early at this spot before venturing to Blue Hole later in the day Blue Hole Regional Park Blue Hole Regional Park is stunning there isnrsquot a lit-eral swimming hole but rather a winding river like what you see at Krause Springs The water is a lovely shade thanks to Jacobrsquos Well (Cypress Creekrsquos main water source) and the limestone bluffs above Blue Hole (rain-water filters through the rockrsquos holes causing lightening of color) In addition to swimming Blue Hole offers a modern pavilion a sprawling lawn and amenities that include picnic tables (some with fire pits) basketball and volleyball courts and 35 miles of trails Barton Springs When Irsquom in the mood for exploring Austinrsquos city lim-its I hit up Barton Springs Barton Springs is as Austin as it gets The popular destination is located in Zilker Park (home to the cityrsquos annual ACL Music Festival) and is known for its year-round temperature of 68 to 70 de-grees courtesy of spring-fed water coursing through the Edwards Aquifer Grassy knolls slope down to the wa-terway where adults and kids splash float and swim

Texas Swimming HolesExperience the Wet Wonders

wwwthehotelguidecom 9

TEXAS

On A Whole New Level

MORE TO EXPLORE

Imagine a place that towers overhead even though itrsquos deep underground A place filled with delicate formations of solid stone formed by single splashes of water A place thatrsquos eons old but feels brand new every time you see it From giant chambers that echo with mystery to passages with discovery around every bend come see what makes Natural Bridge Cavernshellip Naturally AMAZING

NaturalBridgeCavernscom bull 210-651-6101

22748_NBC_Hotel_Guide_May_2015_ad_v1indd 1 52215 949 AM

10 wwwthehotelguidecom

pickPublisherrsquos

TEXAS

fascinating trip awaits guests of NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS the

largest show cave in Texas What makes the Discovery Tour so awe-inspiring The caverns located in the Texas Hill Country and minutes from San Antonio contain cave formations that are centuries in the making and still growing today In March of 1960 four college students from St Maryrsquos University in San Antonio obtained permission to explore the area Lured by an amazing 60-foot limestone bridge and a large sinkhole the explorers made numer-ous attempts to find the large underground passages they theorized were there On their fourth expedition Orion Knox Jr felt a cool draft from a rubble-filled crawlway Such air currents often indi-cate the presence of addition-al rooms or passages Upon clearing this 60-foot crawlway the explorers made their way through two miles of vast cavern passage before returning to the sur-face to tell the landowners of their amazing discovery The discoverers knew immediately what an astonishing find they had made and the land owners decided to develop the first frac12 mile the most spectacular part of the caverns for the enjoyment of guests from around the world Natural Bridge Cavernsrsquo Discovery Tour was devel-oped with two main goals in mind preservation of the cavern system and comfort of its guests The result is one of the worldrsquos premier show caverns The Discovery was opened to the public on July 3 1964 and dedicated by Texas Governor John B Con-nelly as a ldquoJewel in the crown of Texasrsquo attractionsrdquo Natural Bridge Caverns has also been designated a State Historical Site and a Registered National Natural Landmark

A

Guided Tours Your guided tour which takes approximately 75 minutes will take you through vast underground rooms Discover Sherwood Forest the Castle of the White Gi-ants and the Hall of the Mountain King a room the size of a football field Amazing delicate crystalline formations and gigan-tic stone monuments fill these beautiful underground chambers Since Natural Bridge Caverns opened to the public hundreds of thousands of guests from all over the world have enjoyed the Discovery Tour You are invited to see this spectacular natural wonder too For more information visit Natural Bridge Caverns online at wwwnaturalbridgecavernscom

Texasrsquo Largest Underground AdventureNatural Bridge Caverns

wwwthehotelguidecom 11

TEXAS

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elebrate Grapevinersquos 7th Annual SummerBlast Memorial Day week-end through Labor Day Grapevinersquos

SummerBlast features fun for the whole fam-ily including waterparks fireworks interac-tive exhibits outdoor activities shoppingand more Here are some of the top SummerBlast high-lights your family can enjoy all season longFriday Night Fireworks Over Lake Grapevine Blast off for fireworks fun every Fridaynight as the skies light up over Lake Grape-vine The Friday Night Fireworks show be-gins at 930 pm and last approximately 12 minutes This weekly show can be viewed on the rooftop of the parking garage at Gaylord Texan Resort featuring a DJ music and plenty of viewing space as well as Oak Grove Parkrsquos soccer field parking lot and Rockledge Park For even more fundownload the music that accompanies the show at wwwGrapevineTexasUSAcomMusic And donrsquot miss the 33 rd Annual July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza This exciting extended fireworks show is set to patriotic music and is the perfect way to celebrate Americarsquos birthday Follow the Yellow Brick Road to ldquoThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozrdquo at the Grapevine Tower Gallery Follow the yellow brick road and step into the pages of an interactive exhibition open in Grapevinersquos Tower Gallery featuring the book ldquoThe Wonderful Wizard of Ozrdquo by L Frank Baum with the artwork of WW Denslow Per-fect for children 2 ndash 12 years of age visitors will feel like theyrsquore walking through a storybook as they learn about science art and history against the backdrop of the first American fairy tale The exhibition is free and will be open Monday ndash Friday 8 am ndash 530 pm Saturday 10 am ndash 630 pm and Sunday 12 pm ndash 5 pm 636 SMain St Through August 21 Meet Dorothy and All Her Friends at Gaylord Texan Resortrsquos SummerFest If your little ones are fans of Doro-thy and all her friends see Gaylord Texan Resort take the Oz adventure to new heights All summer long hotel guests will be entertained with beautiful balloon displays in the hotelrsquos enclosed glass-domed atrium and the op-portunity to see Oz characters throughout the resort Special Wizard of Oz activities will include the Aahz Kids Craft Corner family movie nights at Lower Texan Station Oohs amp Oz Atrium Art Tour the Last Treasure

C

of Oz Scavenger Hunt and more And donrsquot miss your chance to enjoy Paradise Springs Gaylord Texan Re-sortrsquos 10-acre water park reserved for hotel guests For more information visit wwwGaylordTexancom Now ndash September 7 Splash Up Some Fun at Great Wolf Lodge Experience even more water fun at Great Wolf Lodgersquos 80000 square foot water park the only indoor waterpark in North Texas Enjoy the slides rides lazy river and more at this exciting family-friendly resort Play MagiQuest or visit Scooops the perfect spa for kids With plenty of dining options to choose from including the Loose Moose Cottage and the new Lodge Wood Fired Grill therersquos something for everyone Sip the Fruit of the Vine This Summertime Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the wineries along Grapevinersquos Urban Wine Trail Enjoy the beautiful summer days or romantic summer nights as you discover the different va-rietals along with the ambiance of the unique wineries This summer purchase the Sip amp Savor Passport $50 per person at the Grapevine Convention ampVisitors Bureau 636 S Main St or at wwwGrapevine-TexasUSAcom and receive three tastes atparticipating wineries now ndash September 7 And while yoursquore strolling along the Urban Wine Trail donrsquot miss your chance to enjoy world-class art spectacular shop-

Grapevine TexasBe a Part of the Cityrsquos 7th Annual ldquoSummer Blastrdquo

TEXAS

wwwthehotelguidecom 13

ping and distinctive diningalong Grapevinersquos His-toric Main StreetBuild Up Some Water Fun at LEGOLANDreg Discovery Center Geared towards children ages three to 10 LEGOLANDreg Discovery Centerrsquos Pirate Beach fea-tures 30 interactive gad-gets pumping and spray-ing thousands of gallons of water Structured after a shipwrecked pirate vesselPirate Beachrsquos central feature is a play-ground where kids can navigate through water jets and fountains squirt cannons and splash down water slides Looming at the top of the 20-foot-tallmast is a 50-gallon bucket poised to dump water on guests every few minutes

Throughout Pirate Beach guests will also encounter 12 interactive LEGOreg themed models and a soft play area that include pirates cannons treasure chests palm trees and sand castles Located at Grapevine Mills Explore the Mysterious World of the Rainforest Adventure Experience SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquariumrsquos all-new Rainforest Adventure that takes guests to the lush environment of the worldrsquos rainforests to encounter brand new species to SEA LIFE including crocodilespiranha anaconda and more The five-gallery display re-places the freshwater lakes exhibit and spotlights a vari-ety of animals native to exotic locations from around the world Unique features include a piranha walk-through tunnel a domed pop-up tank in the middle of the ana-conda cave and redesigned touch tanks with fish and invertebrates Located at Grapevine Mills Opens July2015 Capture the Great Train Robbers on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Travel back in time on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad These 1920s Victorian-style coaches will transport riders of all ages on this celebrated rail-road every Friday Saturday and Sunday all summer long And beginning Saturday now through Labor Day weekend donrsquot miss the Great Train Robberies on Sat-urdays and Sundays as your little deputies can help

capture the notorious outlaws that stop the train The Grapevine to the Stockyards train departs Grapevine at 1 pm with an expected return of 545 pm Round trip tickets are $16 for touring class and $26 for first class Families will also enjoy the Friday Fun Trains These one hour excursions depart the Cotton Belt Depot at 10 am and return at 11 am Tickets are $8 for children and $10 for adults 705 S Main St Save Big at Grapevine Mills Shop til you drop at the 17 million square feet of shopping fun known as Grapevine Mills With more than 180 store to explore yoursquoll find favorites such as Neiman Marcus Last Call Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th Michael Kors Abercrombie amp Fitch Outlet Coach Vera Bradley Ann Taylor Loft Banana Republic Outlet Bed Bath and Beyond Forever 21 Francescarsquos Puma Luggage Factory OrsquoNeill NIKE Factory Store and coming soon Converse and The Limited Outlet Also at Grapevine Mills enjoy the AMC Grapevine Mills 30 Dine-In Theatres LEGOLANDreg Dis-covery Center SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium andRainforest Cafeacute Pick up your free coupon book at Guest Services worth hundreds of dollars in savings Enjoy sizzling summer savings during the Grapevine Mills 4th of July Super Sale Weekend July 3-5 Grapevine Mills is conveniently located off State Highway 121 and Grape-vine Mills Parkway just two miles north of DFW Interna-tional Airport Sail Away on Lake Grapevine Set sail on a variety of water fun activities at the 8000 acre Lake Grapevine Test your sailing skills with Black Watch Sailing Charters Hummingbird Sailing LLC Lake Grapevine Cruises Tranquil Sails or Waterway Adventures Create your own water adventure with jet skis pontoon boats and more at Silver Lake Marina 2500 Fairway Dr Stop by Bass Pro Shops to get all your equipment licenses and more for a day of fishing fun on Lake Grapevine Cool Off With Hot Tunes from Main Street LIVE This summer enjoy some of the hottest local talent in North Texas at Main Street LIVE From classic country to fa-vorites from the 50s 60s 70s and even a few 80s this group of professional entertainers will have you dancing in the aisles all summer long The summer show schedule includes The Party June 13 and 27 Country Songs of Summer July 4 11 and 18 Sounds of the 1950s Au-gust 1 8 and 15 and Country Music Legends Septem-ber 5 Palace Theatre 300 S Main St Solve the Mystery at the Texas Star Dinner Theater Greedy Granbury Green the townrsquos big shot banker has been bumped off and Marshal Jim Courtright may need a crystal ball to figure out whorsquos done it Could it be Dusty Muddwater the fastidiously clean and direc-tionally challenged prospector with gold in his future Or was it Tatyana the self-proclaimed Queen of the Gypsies who read more than Mr Greenrsquos palms Then therersquos Clarice Green wife of the dearly departed who may have taken her horse training skills a bit too far Or maybe Mortimer

14 wwwthehotelguidecom

new upscale retro-inspired motor court concept is coming to Austin courtesy of the Valencia Group Nostalgia will meet modern at the Lone Star

Court with an aesthetic thatrsquos authentically Austin and Texas Hill Country from the art in the rooms to the unique outdoor environment According to Doyle Graham Jr President and CEO of the Valencia Group ldquoThis is the most exciting new concept in the hotel industry Lone Star Court will be a 21st century re-interpretation of the nostalgic motor court At the same time it will capture the essence of Austin and the Texas Hill Country it will be one of a kind and totally unique to Texasrsquo capital cityrdquoTrue Texas Lone Star Court will have 123 retro-inspired guest rooms with high-tech amenities True to Austin Lone Star Court will feature live music by an outdoor fire pit a dipping pool reminiscent of Hill Country swimming holes and an on-site food trailer court Lone Star Court will draw business as well as leisure travelers to its unique ldquoranch-techrdquo property and the res-taurant and bar will be a destination for Austi-nites as well as visitorsA Place to Meet The property will have approximately 2000 square feet of interior meeting space an outdoor covered pa-vilion of 1600 square feet and an adjacent open air lawn that adds 1800 square feet to the total available meeting space The Valencia Group Lone Star Court is a new concept created by Valencia Group a Houston-based company known for its luxury independent Hotel Valencias in San Antonio and San

A Jose the Hotel Sorella CITYCENTRE in Houston and re-cently Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Why the Vintage Concept

During the early days of auto tourism beginning in the mid 1940s road-side campsites led entrepreneurs to create quaint cabin-like places for travelers to stay Simple cottage camps began to evolve into more sophis-ticated full-service motor courts and the number of motels in Ameri-

ca tripled to more than 60000 by the 1960s The new more modern motor courts along great American highways featured ldquoair cooled by refrigera-tionrdquo television coin-operated radios tiled bathrooms

easy chairs and Serta Per-fect Sleepers After decades of boom-ing business mom-and-pop motels began to disappear in 1956 with the Federal-Aid Highway Act that funded construction of the interstate highway system With little means to move their facili-ties or re-route traffic these gems of the road gave way to corporate chains staking their claims along the new highways Lone Star Court will take visitors back to the heyday of the roadside motor court ex-

perience where guests can discover an era of authentic Americana along with modern amenities and the excite-ment of Austin More InformationTo find out more about Lone Star Court visit them online at wwwlonestarcourtcom

Lone Star CourtAustinrsquos Authentic Americana

TEXAS

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he typical Lone Star legend includes horses cattle and rattlesnakes but with 600

miles of coastline that opens onto the Gulf of Mexico Texas also is celebrated for its sea turtles dolphins wading birds and other coastal companionsmdashfrom amber-jack to zooplankton Downtown Aquarium The Downtown Aquarium in Houston was just a ten-minute drive from home so we started there The six-acre aquarium com-plex was hatched from a ldquomash-uprdquo of two city landmarksmdashFire Station No 1 and the Central Waterworks Building The result is a wonderfully watery home to more than 200 species from Texas and around the world The exhibits are divided into different environments so we saw octopi and eels in a sunken shipwreck red-bellied piranhas and puffer fish in the rainforest and several scary-big sharks in the Gulf of Mexico Speaking of sharks one of our favorite attractions was the Shark Voyage a train ride that took us into a glass tunnel The light at the end of that tunnel brought us into a 200000-gallon tank containing a dozen or so of these razor-toothed beauties swimming all around us It was a bit surprising to find animals that were real ldquofish out of waterrdquo at an aquarium two white tigers Rare and endangered in their native home of India these extraordinary animals were brought to this custom-designed enclosure as part of an extensive conservation program Forgoing the sea-themed amusement park outside we had a seafood lunch at the Aquarium restaurant watching a continuous parade of our entreacuteersquos distant relatives swim by in a tank in the middle of the dining roomSea Center Texas About 45 minutes south of Houston is Lake Jackson home to Sea Center Texas It didnrsquot take long to figure out that this wasnrsquot just your average aquarium There was a redfish hatcherymdashthe largest in the worldmdashand a 600-foot boardwalk that took us on an adventure through the wetlands After picking up a nature checklist at the visitor center we strolled along the boardwalk checking off

T

Texas AquariumsSealife on Exhibit

the boxes for green tree frogs dragonflies turtles and a variety of birdsmdashducks ospreys pelicans and hummingbirds along with migratory species like egrets and blue herons We were bummed that we didnrsquot get to see the pink-plumed flat-nosed roseate spoonbill but admittedly relieved that we didnrsquot see one of the alligators that are native to the wetlands Back at the visitor center we wandered through aquariums representing the different Texas habitats The Coral Reef had sea cucumbersmdashone look and it was obvious where the name

came frommdashand numerous little ldquoNemosrdquo The offshore tank was home to the big fishmdashsharks tarpon gray snapper and moray eelmdashin a 50000-gallon pond At the Touch Tank schoolchildren were loudly dar-ing one another to touch a large skittering blue crab At the quieter end of the 20-foot pool we found the sea anemones One gentle poke and the animal closed its feathery appendages around my offending fingerTexas State Aquarium That same finger and the one next to it were crossed in hopes that the three-hour drive down to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi would be worth it And it absolutely positively 100 was Where to begin In addition to the touch pools and six aquariums of colorful darting fish there was the Flower Gardens exhibit a replica of a real coral reef located far out in the Gulf about 300 miles out the aquariumrsquos back door Porcupine fish cow-nose sting-raysmdashthe name was totally aproposmdashand sleek barracu-das mingled among the coral until a scuba diver sank to the bottom with snacks At that point it was every fish for himself One amazing experience here flowed into the next At Otter Creek there were several adorable North American river otters that were native Texans like me They did me proud executing a number of amusing tricks with their trainer We met Bo a ten-foot American alligator at Swamp Tales and watched lumbering sea turtles become graceful ballerinas as they moved from land to sea at Tortuga Cay

TEXAS

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TEXAS

oaring bridges spanning scenic waterways lead to

outdoor adventure filled with birding fishing and wildlife Port Arthur unites land and sea in Southeast Texas where our motto is ldquolaissez les bons temps roulerrdquo That translates to ldquolet the good times rollrdquo and itrsquos our attitude for welcoming tourists to the shores of Lake SabineTons of Water Nearby Port Arthur offers wetlands and Gulf beach-es salt and fresh water fishing and a comfortable year-round climate that is perfect to enjoy Sea Rim State Park a completely natural beach Experi-ence our strong Cajun and other cultural influ-ences through cuisine and musicLots to Do Catch the excitement at the Zachary Breaux Jazz Festival and the Buu Mon Lotus and Bamboo Festival Museum of the Gulf Coastrsquos Jurassic to Joplin experience includes a replica of Janis Joplinrsquos psychedelic Porsche and tributes to The Big Bop-per Jimmy Johnson Robert Rauschenberg Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine and Queen of Peace Shrine amp Gar-dens highlight our faith trail Local Attractions Museum of the Gulf Coast -Janis Joplin Jimmy Johnson and The Big Bopper are in music and sports hall of fame here Visit a replica of Joplinrsquos psychedelic Porsche the largest indoor mural of the southwest the original Sa-bine Lighthouse lens a Robert Rauschenberg art gallery regional history and glass and shell collection are high-lights Visit themuseumofthegulfcoastcom Pompeiian Villa - Barbed-wire King Isaac Ellwood built this pink stucco mansion in 1900 The grandiose home is a replica of a Pompeiian home of 79 AD with a three-sided courtyard and antiques Hundreds of Santa

Sfigures adorn the man-sion at ChristmasNature Abounds Port Arthur offers wetlands and Gulf beaches salt and fresh water fishing and a comfortable year-round climate that is perfect to enjoy Sea Rim State Park a completely natu-ral beach Visit Sea Rim State Parkrsquos West Dune Boardwalk or Gambusia Nature Trail Sail or fish on Sabine Lake Bird Sabine Woods The Mc-faddin National Wildlife Refuge and the nearby TexasPoint National Wildlife Refuge Wersquore a nature loverrsquos paradise Larryrsquos French Market and Cajun Restaurant Legendary through-out Southeast Texas for its Cajun and Creole dishes Larryrsquos French Market and Cajun

Restaurant is the place to come hungry and ready for zesty taste sensation Try house specialties such a spicy crawfish etouffee chicken and sausage gumbo boiled seafood boudain or fried offerings such as alligator or frog leg The dance floor comes alive with sounds of swamp pop Cajun and zydeco music Thursday through Saturday Visit larrysfrenchmarketcom The arearsquos distinctive Cajun flavor both musical and culinary is on full display at Larryrsquos French Market and Cajun Restaurant The feel good rhythms of live zydeco music and a large dance floor will prove irresistible to most Larryrsquos draws a wide range of patrons and offers a glimpse of authentic Cajun culture from its delectable food to its joyous life-affirming music Get moving to live music on the dance floor and get your mouth set for gumbo boudain and crawfish Visit larrysfrenchmarketcom

Port Arthur TexasTexas Hospitality Meets Cajun Charm

continued on page 20wwwthehotelguidecom 19

TEXAS

20 wwwthehotelguidecom

TEXAS

Our Lady of Guadalupe Visit Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Shrine which reflects the Hispanic Culture of the region An inspiring 17-foot-tall bronze statue rests atop stones brought from Mount Tepeyac in Mexico City where the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego Other Area Attractions Shangri La Botanical Gardens is a world-class outdoor showplace that con-nects nature lovers with birds bayous herbs and butterflies Visit Shangri La and rekindle your sense of wonder Explore the welcome center museum 252 acres of botanical gardens Gift Shop amp Cafeacute Visit shangrilagar-denscom Gator Country Beloved and feared alligators are Texasrsquo most fascinating na-tive creatures GC is home to about 200 gators including Big Al the largest gator in captivity at 13ft long and topping 1000 lbs Hold a baby gator at this wildlife adventure park that is also home to crocodiles turtles and snakes Visit gatorrescuecom

The Spindletop Gusher spurred the largest oil boom in the USA Visit the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Mu-seum and relive the past in the reconstructed boomtown

complete with oil derricks shops busi-nesses and a replica gusher that blows water hundreds of feet into the air Visit spindltoporg Swamp Tours Cruise the Blue Elbow Swamp in 22-passenger air-boats Day and night tours avail-able Great group discounts Visit air-boatridesinccom

Port Arthur Hotels The city has a myriad of hotels to choose from includ-ing The Holiday Inn Park Central The Holiday Inn Express The Hampton Inn

and Suites La Quinta Inn and Suites Best Inn and Suites and Comfort Inn and SuitesAs well the Jack Brooks Regional Air-port is serviced by Ameri-can Airlines via American EagleAlligator Wedding Shh Save the Date Surprise your group with Port Arthur Texasrsquo Alliga-tor Wedding Ceremony and Cajun Dining Experi-ence at Beau Reve (Beau-tiful Dream) fine dining restaurant More InfoFor more information on Port Arthur visit www

VisitPortArthurTxcom ore-mail Callie Summerlin

Director of Sales at409-985-7822

Calliepoartharthurtexascom

wwwthehotelguidecom 21

TEXAS

22 wwwthehotelguidecom

he Mansion at Judgesrsquo Hill has a history as storied as the city it dwells in

Originally built in 1900 the Mansion was a wedding gift to Goodall amp Ella Wooten by Thomas Dudley Wooten one of the found-ers of the University of Texas The two both had a passion for life and they used the Mansion as a fountain of new ideas In fact in 1929 they hired Neiman Marcus at a cost of $10000 (todayrsquos esti-mate of $1 million) to re-decorate the home Since its inception this grand venue has combined the elegance of its historical roots with the vi-brancy of its futureldquoFluffy Not Stuffyrdquo At the Mansion you are whisked away to a timeless era with the hint of today Each room in this fabulous boutique hotel is different uniquely-appointed with an inviting appeal All the rooms have a personality all their own Even the bathrooms have texture and color to give it more style and panache Amenities in these incredible accommodations include 310 thread count Egyptian cotton linens hypo-allergenic down and duvets and pillows complimentary LrsquoOccitane and Gilchrist amp Soames custom bath products private stocked honor bar complimentary wireless amp high-speed internet access cable television and dvd players Additionally there is twice daily housekeeping services Food for Thought The Mansion has its own dining room that boasts a five-star chef and an impeccable array of delica-cies Here you will find an exquisite blend of Internation-al Modern and Classic Cuisines The food is always fresh and the plates are designed to allow you to experience many tastes all in one meal

T

Mansion at Judgersquos Hill

The

1900 Lounge is open everyday from 4 pm - 11 pm and features stunning carved wood accents intimate tables vivid draperies and the attentive and friendly atmo-

sphere the Mansion has come to be known for Here you can enjoy a delicious martini tempting frozen margarita or a glass of wine from our selections Special Events and More The Mansion offers groups the perfect backdrop for their events Regardless of the formality tastes or budget they can weave a tapestry of simple elegance into any function Whether itrsquos a busi-ness meeting wedding reception or conference they can create the right atmosphere for you and your guests The venue can accommo-date up to 250 people

Contact Us For more information on this world-class boutique hotel visit them online at wwwjudgeshillcom or call (512) 495-1800

Elegance in the Texas Capital

wwwthehotelguidecom 23

5 Hotels within 50 MilesWErsquoVE GOT HOUSTON KEMAH AND GALVESTON ISLAND TX COVERED

7132281520innattheballparkcom

2813349880kemahboardwalkinncom

4097441500sanluisresortcom

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4097405300holidayinnresortscom

galveston-bch

24 wwwthehotelguidecom

TEXAS

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Join todaywwwttiaorg

destinations

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os Angeles will welcome a spec-tacular new mu-seum of contem-

porary art September 20 when The Broad opens on Grand Avenue in Downtown The $140-million museum designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro creates a 120000 square-foot three-level facility with 50000 square feet of gallery space plus a lecture hall public lobby with display space and a museum shop Upon entering the lobby visitors will travel up a 105-foot escalator through the second-floor concrete vault and enter the third-floor gallery which features 23-foot ceilings and 318 skylights that filter in diffused sunlight through the buildingrsquos exterior exoskeleton (aka ldquothe veilrdquo) The museum will offer free general admission to all The Broadrsquos inaugural exhibition is entirely focused on the renowned contemporary art collection of Eli and Edythe Broad Organized in a roughly chronological timeline the exhibition will begin with Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg in the 50s and continue to the heart of the collection 60s Pop Art by Andy Warhol Ed Ruscha and Roy Lichtenstein The exhibition concludes with 70s and 80s works by Keith Haring Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jeff KoonsIncredible Public Plaza Located directly south of the museum a 24000 square-foot public plaza features 100-year-old Barouni olive trees an open lawn and enhanced landscaping and improvements along Grand Avenue On the western end of the plaza restaurateur Bill Chait is developing a free-standing restaurant featuring chef Timothy Holling-sworth former chef de cuisine at The French Laundry in Napa Valley

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 2015 with a re-markable exhibition of 50 works from numerous private collections Since its inception in 1965 the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and ge-ography in addition to representing LArsquos uniquely diverse population Today LACMA is the largest art museum in the west-ern United States with a collection that includes over 120000 objects dating from antiquity to the present encompassing the geographic world and nearly the en-tire history of art The works - including an early Double Marilyn by Andy Warhol - are gifts that have been promised to LACMA The exhibition will include several works from the collection of billionaire philanthropist A Jerrold Perenchio who recently announced his agree-ment to bequest the most significant works of his collec-tion to LACMA The distinguished collection includes paintings by Claude Monet LACMArsquos first painting by Edouard Manet Pablo Picassorsquos early drawing Tecircte (Head of

Musuems and MoreL

LA

28 wwwthehotelguidecom

LA

wwwthehotelguidecom 29

Fernande) (1909) and Reneacute Magrittersquos seminal painting Les Liaisons dangereuses (1935)Hammer Museum Widely regarded as one of the worldrsquos leading cultural venues for emerging artists the Hammer Museum in Westwood celebrates its 25th anniversary in November The museum was founded in 1990 by Armand Hammer as a venue to exhibit his extensive art collection The Hammer houses a permanent collection with masterpieces by Rembrandt Van Gogh and Sargent as well as one of the worldrsquos finest collections of works on paper Admission to the museum and its public programs is always freeHuntington Library The Huntington Library Art Collections and Botani-cal Gardens in San Marino opened a new Education and Visitor Center in early 2015 The $68-million Ste-ven S Koblik Education and Visitor Center opened its northernmost section in mid-January where visitors can experience the new ticketing area coffee shop and a substantially expanded gift shop The rest of the Educa-tion and Visitor Center ndash including a new auditorium cafeacute classrooms meeting space orientation gallery and 65 acres of new gardens opened in April The project also includes the addition of more than 40000 square feet of underground storage space for The Huntingtonrsquos growing collections of rare historical research and other materialsA+D Architecture and Design Museum The A+D Architecture and Design Museum is moving from Museum Row to a new home in the Arts District of Downtown LA A+D continues to be the only museum in Los Angeles where continuous exhibits of architec-ture and design are on view The new A+D location is a 8000 square-foot one-story brick building located on East 4th Street at Colyton Street The relocation is scheduled for completion in summer 2015 The new Arts District location is a return to Downtown LA for the museum which opened in January 2001 in the landmark Bradbury Building The museumrsquos current location on Wilshire Boulevard is being replaced by the WilshireFairfax station as part of the Metro Purple Line expan-sionWende Museum The Wende Museum and Archive of the Cold

Warpreserves the cultural artifacts and personal histories of Cold War-era Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union to inform and inspire a broad understanding of the period and its enduring legacy The museumrsquos extraordinary col-lection of 100000 items contains artifacts personal his-tories and archival documents that record life expression and political developments during the Cold War period from 1945 to 1991 The wide-ranging collection includes design objects works on paper ceramics paintings sculptures posters furniture textiles films and books In 2015 the Wende will move to the former Culver City Armory tripling its exhibition galleries and adding to a mile-long cultural corridor with numerous permanent pub-lic art installations live music venues theaters and mu-seums The Armory property nearly spans an acre and includes open land that will be converted into a commu-nity gathering space A sculpture garden will eventually feature the museumrsquos 11 Berlin Wall segmentsItalian American Museum of Los Angeles Slated to open in 2015 the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA)is the only museum in Southern California dedicated to the Italian American experience IAMLA is located in the historic Italian Hall adjacent to Olvera Street in Downtown The now-restored Italian Hall was constructed in 1908 as a social and cultural center for the Italian community in what was then the core of LArsquos Little Italy The interactive museum documents the history and continuing contributions of Italian Americans with vintage photographs and memorabilia an oral history and research archive In addition to featuring exhibitions the museum will host events and cultural-edu-cational programmingContact For more information on Los Angeles visit them on-line at wwwDiscoverLosAngelescom

AZ

30 wwwthehotelguidecom

LIFE IS A COLLECTION OF EXPERIENCESLET US BE YOUR GUIDEthephoeniciancomoffers 800 888 8234

Capture the moment as well as the imagination With elegant accommodations award-winning cuisine a stunning golf course and a lavish spa The Phoenician

is where your highest expectations are met and always celebrated in style

copy2014 Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide Inc All Rights Reserved The Luxury Collection and its logo are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels amp Resorts Worldwide Inc or its affiliates

IL TERRAZZO

THE CENTRE FOR WELL-BEING

JampG STEAKHOUSE

RELISH BURGER BISTRO

wwwthehotelguidecom 31

AZ

ince it first opened its doors in 1988 The Phoeni-cian has set the standard for luxury and service in the Sonoran Desert The AAA Five Diamond resort is a visual masterpiece spanning 250

acres of lush gardens and dramatic desert terrain against the spectacular backdrop of Camelback Moun-tain in Scottsdale Arizona Tons to Offer Everyone But what truly sets The Phoenician apart is the re-markable diversity guests will find here allowing them to create the travel experience of their dreams Accom-modations range from luxurious guestrooms to resi-dential-style casitas Dining can be a casually elegant affair as found at the Italian-inspired Il Terrazzoas informal as a refreshing salad enjoyed poolside or as memorable as a romantic feast just for two under the stars The world-class recreational offerings of The Phoeni-cianrsquos golf tennis and spa facilities are balanced by the more unconventional pleasures of touring the resortrsquos fascinating Cactus Garden or exclusive $25 million art collection or feeding Koi at Necklace Lake LagoonSpacious Elegant Accommodations The Phoenician offers guests a choice of 643 spa-cious accommodations from guestrooms and luxurysuites to casitas with private entrances In the main resort building there are 450 beautifully decoratedguest rooms plus 12 luxury suites and two expansive 3000 square-foot presidential suites The intimate Canyon Suites nestled against Camel-back Mountain is a boutique resort within the resort offering guests enhanced signature services such as a personal wake-up call served with a choice of fresh-brewed tea or coffee in a sterling silver set a seasonal amenity presented by Executive Chef Paul Carterand a Canyon Ambassador to take care of the guestrsquos every desire The Canyon Suites features 20 guestrooms 38 luxury suites and two presidential suites as well as its own secluded ldquoedgelessrdquo pool and cabanas A short stroll from the main building adjacent to the Necklace Lake Lagoon the casitas include anadditional 119 guestrooms and suites offering doorstep parking and private entrances Award-Winning Dining The Phoenician offers seemingly endless dining op-tions that are as diverse as they are inspired Among the nine restaurants is Il Terrazzo featuring authentic American-Italian cuisine and JampG Steakhouse show-casing a bill of fare created by world-renowned Chef

S

Jean-Georges Vongerichten For a more casual experi-ence the charming Cafeacute and Ice Cream Parlor serves tempting treats and light meals in a family friendly atmosphere and the Oasis and Canyon Grills present a variety of poolside favorites while a complete lineup of signature burgers appetizers and desserts await at the Relish Burger Bistro For a more traditional experience relax to the rich temptations of Afternoon Tea in the Lobby Tea Court Another popular gathering spot the Thirsty Camel Lounge serves luxury spirits light fare and rarecigars with live piano or saxophone adding to the ambi-ence And for private dining The Praying Monkoffers an intimate Renaissance-inspired setting for small parties World-Class Leisure Pastimes At The Phoenician world-class recreational options abound The golf club offers 27 holes ofchampionship play on three nine-hole par 70 combina-tions designed by Homer Flint and Ted RobinsonSr while the 11-court Tennis Garden is the only resort facility in the Southwest to offer four playingsurfaces Guests in search of enlightenment can indulge in an array of pampering and rejuvenating spa treatments atthe 22000 square-foot Centre for Well-Being or learn about the resortrsquos many treasures ndash both naturaland cultural ndash with guided and self-guided tours of the two-acre Cactus Garden and The Phoenicianrsquos$25 million art collectionMore info Visit them online at wwwthephoeniciancom

The Phoenician ResortLuxury in ScottsdalepickPublisherrsquo

s

VA

32 wwwthehotelguidecom

VA

wwwthehotelguidecom 33

ll too often travelers merely scratch

the surface when exploring a new destination visiting the most popular restaurants or staying at a recognizable brand-name hotel Those with a serious case of wanderlust however find themselves craving the authentic off-the-beaten-path experiences that truly echo an arearsquos sense of place Itrsquos Virginia Beachrsquos local rhythms flavors and culture that make up its soul and inspires locals and visitors alike to ldquolive the liferdquo in unexpected and authentic waysTravel Like a Local Fans of farmersrsquo markets can take their love of fresh locally grown greens one step further by harvesting and hauling them themselves from one of the Pungo farming communityrsquos 16 You-Pick Farms Bring a basket and peruse the fields of strawberries kale blueberries blackberries cantaloupe and other produce for the perfect bushel of veggies Additionally any gentleman looking to score points with his special lady can let her pick her own bouquet from one of the arearsquos You-Pick flower fields Host a crab boil for two and catch your own dinner in the waters around Virginia Beach which are crawling with blue crab Soak a crab pot in any inlet for approximately 48 hours and yoursquore likely to haul up between five to eight crabs Localsrsquo tip use raw chicken as bait

A

Virgina Beach

First Landing State Park is the mecca for outdoor fitness enthusiasts in Virginia Beach which has been consistently named one of Americarsquos fittest cities The park boasts 19 miles of trails winding through seven ecosystems including beaches swamps and Spanish moss-cloaked forests Hike over the marshes and through the woods then cap your excursion with a waterfront picnic on one of the parkrsquos sandy beachesTie Up and Eat Imagine kayaking standup paddle-boarding or boating through a national wildlife refuge or snaking inlets to get to a favorite dockside seafood restaurant for a crab boil whole-hog BBQ and live music Virginia Beach residents call that a typical Saturday and favor four dockside restaurants in particular Bubbarsquos Seafood Restaurant amp Crabhouse The Shellfish Company Chickrsquos Oyster Bar and Blue Petersquos In addition to more than 35 miles of oceanfront and dockside restaurants Virginia

Off-The-Beaten PathBeach also has eight marinas and hundreds of miles of waterways meandering through the city and wildlife parks that can be explored by boat There are also protected beaches such as Chickrsquos Beach located inside the Chesapeake Bay and First Landing State Park located up the Lynnhaven River where boaters can anchor or beach their boats right on the sandHidden Gems Sun worshippers looking for secluded sands can head south to Sandbridge Beach a favorite among locals trying to avoid the seasonal tourists Reserve one of the vacation rental homes and spend the afternoons exploring the directly adjacent Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Pungo farming community or take a quick 20-minute drive to the resort area or Town Center for dining and shopping Trek through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to find False Cape State Park a refuge extending from Virginia Beach to the North Carolina border that is only accessible by foot or boat Pitch a tent at one of the primitive campsites in the heart of nature untouched by humans While getting there can be a bit of a hike outdoor enthusiasts will be rewarded by incredible wildlife sightingsThe Back Deck a local watering hole serving strong libations and fresh seafood provides a stunning view of the Lynnhaven Inlet and is located ndash literally ndash on the back deck of The Shellfish Company where owners unload the fresh catch from their private fishing fleet dailyMade in Virginia Beach Surf champion Philip Goold and partner Adam Roth a photographer and graphic designer are the skilled artisans behind First Landing Woodworks hand-making heirloom quality products and furniture Most products are made from their signature black walnut including their

furniture which is distinguished by the preservation of the treersquos natural color and living edgeThe gift shop at the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum sells a unique type of Americana folk art and hand- carved wildfowl decoys Seasoned decoy carvers from around Southeast Virginia demonstrate the age-old art of decoy-carving some using the tools and methods of the old-style

carvers of Back Bay and Currituck Sound Their work as well as genuine antiques can be purchased in the museum gift shop Tasharsquos Own makes their all natural handcrafted goat milk soaps on a 30-acre farm in Virginia Beachrsquos Pungo farming community The primary ingredient comes from the herd of Nubian dairy goats which

produce milk high in butterfat who roam freely with ponies sheep and cattle grazing on grasses herbs and nutrient-dense alfalfa The goatsrsquo diet leads to enzyme-rich milk that is combined with all natural mineral oils and honey from their own farm-raised honey bees to create soap that balances skin ph and moisturizes without the use of chemical additives Visitors who prefer locally made keepsakes over souvenir key chains can opt for an artisan shop like The Creative Wedge a local favorite that prides itself on offering only local artisanal food and crafts such as unique handmade jewelry farmstead cheese charcuterie local honey jams Virginia wine and craft beer Virginia Beach native Austin Saunders started Austin Custom Surfboards out of his parentsrsquo garage when he was just 16-years-old and now handcrafts surfboards in his 4000-square-foot factory Austin and his team sculpt glass and paint each of their 11 surfboard models by hand before shipping the practical works of art up and down the East Coast and even California Surfers can order premade boards online or request custom designs direct from Austin Custom Surfboards Info wwwVisitVirginiaBeachcom

34 wwwthehotelguidecom wwwthehotelguidecom 35

CA CA

nown as one of Americarsquos premier wine and culinary destinations Sonoma Coun-ty is offering travelers and locals alike a variety of festivals concerts wine tast-

ings and more this summer showcasing some of the leading offerings from the regionBelow is a sampling of upcoming events taking place in Wine Country through SeptemberBroadway Under The Stars in Jack London State ParkJune 19 ndash September 13Transcendence Theatre Companyrsquos Broadway Under the Stars is an award-winning series of Broadway-inspired concerts that feature talent from the New York and Hollywood stages and screen Each evening begins with picnicking on the great lawn alongside the parkrsquos sprawl-ing vineyards The concert will also offer local pours from numerous Sonoma County wineries food from local vendors and pre-show music This yearrsquos shows include Oh What a Night Fantastical Family Night Rhythm of Life and Gala Celebration For more information visit wwwtranscendencetheatreorg

Gay Wine WeekendJune 19 ndash 21Out In The Vineyard will host its Annual Gay Wine Weekend in June a three-day festival where guests can enjoy premier wine tasting excursions music and danc-ing VIP receptions champagne brunches wine auctions and a Twilight T-Dance that benefits Face to Face So-noma Countyrsquos AIDS Network MacArthur Place Inn amp Spa will return as the host hotel for 2015 and will be of-fering visitors special Gay Wine Weekend Rates Guest rooms start at $299 per night and $399 per room per night for suites with a two-night minimum stay For more information wwwoutinthevineyardcom

25th Annual Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon ClassicJune 20 ndash 21Balloons of all shapes and colors will launch from Keiser Park in Windsor at this annual event celebrating its 25th anniversary this year The main launch will take place at 630 am on June 20 and June 21 and will have around 30 balloons The launch will be followed by tethered rides food and craft booths and a kidsrsquo play land until

Sonoma County

1100 am Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for chil-dren For more information visit wwwschabcorg

Cotati Jazz FestivalJune 21KJZY 937 presents the 35th Annual Jazz Festival throughout downtown Cotati from 1200 pm to 600 pm on Sunday June 21 The festival will feature numer-ous jazz ensembles including Dave Haskell Group and Charged Particles The festival also will offer free dance lessons and booths with food wine and more Admis-sion is free to the public For more information and the band listings visit wwwcotatijazzcom

Matanzas Creek Winery Days of Wine and LavenderJune 27Matanzas Creek Winery presents the 19th Annual Days of Wine and Lavender event where guests can savor the vineyardrsquos specialty wines and vibrant gardens of purple lavender The event will be held from 1200 pm to 400 pm and will include live music seminars with

Perfect Summer GetawayK

industry experts food and wine pairings Lavender Barn tours and showcased pieces of art from local artists The winery will also be offering the first tastings of new release Matanzas Creek 2014 Sauvignon Blancs Tickets are $90 for wine club members and $110 for the general public For more information visit wwwmatanzascreekcom

Russian River Valley PassportJune 27 ndash 28More than 30 wineries throughout the Russian River Val-ley will participate in the annual ldquoRussian River Valley Passportrdquo weekend Guests will be able to sample limited edition or early release wines while discovering some of the regionrsquos most celebrated wineries and hidden gems A Saturday night VIP barbecue will allow a limited num-ber of ticket holders to mingle with the winemakers and growers over fresh local summer fare Tickets start at $55 for the weekend For more information wwwrrvworgrrv-passport

Dancing Under the Stars at Francis Ford Coppola WineryEvery other Saturday June 27 ndash September 12Francis Ford Coppola Winery invites visitors to spend Saturday nights at the vineyard for a lively evening of wine and food with Salsa or Swing danc-ing under the stars Dance lessons in the outdoor performance pavilion will be available from 600 ndash 700 pm and live music will follow until 1000 pm General admission tickets are $3000 per person for Salsa and $2000 per person for Swing Additional tickets for Wine Family members are available Guests must be 21 and over For more information and the band listings visit wwwFrancisFordCoppolaWinerycom Live at Juilliard - Summer Concert SeriesEvery Sunday July 5 ndash August 9Now celebrating its 22nd season this free concert series brings top Bay Area bands to Santa Rosa for an evening of live outdoor entertainment Acts range from country to rock and a mix of genres in between The concert series takes place on Sunday evenings in July and August in downtown Santa Rosarsquos Juilliard Park Guests can pack a picnic or purchase food at the event All concerts are 500 pm to 700 pm For more information visit wwwsrcityorg

4th Annual Bacigalupi VineyardDesignate TastingJuly 18The Bacigalupi Vineyard is welcoming guests for an eve-ning of special vineyard designate wines food pairings by local favorites Bay Laurel Catering and The Oyster Girls live music and a silent auction Multiple wineries will be in attendance pouring wines exclusively from the Bacigalupi Vineyards The event will be held from 400 pm to 700 pm at the Bacigalupi Vineyards Tasting Room Tickets are $85 for members and $100 for guests All proceeds will be donated to the non-profit organiza-tion The Guardsmen For more information visit wwwbacigalupivineyardscom

8th Annual Petaluma Music FestivalJuly 31 ndash Aug 1The Petaluma Music Festival will feature music by 14 bands on three stages including a Friday concert and VIP dinner featuring Big Bad Voodoo Daddy The fes-tival will take place at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds Gourmet food trucks will have a range of local cuisine

for sale Lagunitas Brewing Com-pany and Sonoma County wines will also be sold at the event Admission ranges from $35 to $190 All proceeds benefit the music education pro-grams of all Peta-luma area public schools For more information visit wwwpetalumamu-sicfestivalorg

Sonoma Wine Country WeekendSept 4 ndash 6This highly-anticipated weekend is Sonoma Countyrsquos signature event and one of the top-three national char-ity wine events named by Wine Spectator magazine The event brings together over 200 of Sonomarsquos top winemakers and growers along with a collection of the arearsquos best chefs Since its inception Sonoma Wine Country Weekend has raised over $16 million for chari-ties that benefit students children farm workers and people in need in the local community The weekend in-cludes exclusive lunches and dinners at an array of win-ery properties followed by the Sonoma Harvest Auction on Sunday Tickets range from $85 to $500 For more information visit wwwsonomawinecountryweekendcom

36 wwwthehotelguidecom wwwthehotelguidecom 37

Experiences Experiences

experiencesith exquisite design and re-gal elegance

the Surin Phuket lies in the midst of a lush emerald tropical hillside Nestled along a powdered white sand cove on the Andaman Sea the tranquil serenity is second to none The one and two bedroom hill-side cottages and beachfront suites are perfect for couples families and small groups Each is decorated in sophisticated style with plush amenities generous space and contemporary ame-nitiesDining Galore The resort boasts four restaurants extending exquisite international cuisines ensuring something for every palette The Lomtalay Thai Restaurant overlooks the pool and the beach In the morning itrsquos where guests enjoy an impressive breakfast buffet But each evening the Restaurant transforms into a refined Thai restaurant that serves authentic freshly prepared local delicacies The sunset is the best way to end the day The Sunset Cafeacute serves an all day casual menu consisting of Asian and International cuisine Close to both the pool and beach guests can enjoy light snacks healthy selections or a juicy burger and fries With seating both outside and inside the tropical setting is a wonderful place to relax over a leisurely lunch or snack Unwind and bond with friends or meet new ones at The Beach Bar During the day the staff is happy to serve snacks and drinks right to your sun lounger The huge bar and tables scattered in the sand are a great place to enjoy a break from the sun and a cocktail At sunset enjoy happy hour with

The Surin Phuket

a menu of delicious drinks The totally relaxed atmosphere invites friendliness and itrsquos not uncom-mon to see total strangers chatting and laughing The ever-attentive staff is happy to play with the kids in the sand giving par-ents a chance to reconnect Spa Time There is no bet-ter way to forget

the stresses of life than to have them eased away by expert hands with a wonderfully calming spa treatment The Surin Spa offers a long menu of holistic treatments surrounded by natural tranquil-ity Guests can enjoy his or her private cottages or a couplersquos massage with expert masseurs whose knowledgeable hands carry you into pure bliss No visit to the resort is complete without a spa treat-ment The Surin offers guest a variety of onsite activi-ties for those who want to do more than unplug and soak in the sun They have a fully equipped gym Boutique a wide range of water sports and two tennis courts with floodlights for night matches For those who like to relax while playing a round of golf the staff happily organizes trips to one of the five international standard golf courses on Phuket isalnd There is literally something for every-one at the resort Highly Recommended I highly recommend The Surin Phuket for wed-dings anniversaries or a romantic getaway Itrsquos also perfect for families or a couplersquos getawayFor more information or to book a stay Tel +66 76 316 400 +66 76 621 580 ndash 2 wwwthesurinphuketcom

W

Experience Pure Blissby Marie wwwSeriouslyTravelcom

TEXAS OIL amp GAS

MAGAZINE

TEXAS OIL amp GAS

PROFESSIONALSNETWORK

3615858651 or 8326163670wwwTexasOilGasMagazinecom wwwOilGasNetworkingGroupcom

benefits of advertising amp membership

What Makes TOG the Bestbull Market Planning Advicebull Cost Effective Options for all Business Sizesbull Ad Design Consultationbull Help Reaching Your Target Marketbull Ad Placement Optionsbull Web Integration Strategiesbull Outbound Newslettersbull Social Media Connectionsbull Online Archive for Extended Ad Presencebull Strong Support through Coaching amp Mentoring Programsbull Print amp Digital Connectionbull Discounted Events Conferences Networking Opportunitiesbull Synergy Education Coaching Empowerment Growth

38 wwwthehotelguidecom

Experiences