Certain travel destinations are made for winter. Lillehammer in Norway, the home of the 1994 Winter Olympics and the home for the upcoming 2016 Youth Olympic Games is one of those. Hence at least for us in Europe, Lillehammer goes hand in hand with ski-jumping, cross-country skiing, ice-hockey and downhill skiing. However, this small Norwegian town and its surroundings are also perfect for summer adventures.

What would you like to do in Lillehammer this summer?

Lillehammer for Adrenaline Junkies

Downhill biking. When the snow melts off the Hafjell mountain just fifteen kilometres north of Lillehammer, bikes come out and the season for downhill biking is about to begin. The trails range from beginner to expert level and Hafjell Bike Park has been the host to the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup since 2012. In 2014 the elite of the bike world will again gather in Hafjell as the centre will be the host for the 2014 Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships. Age limit 10 years.

Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge track. Love speed? The 4-seater wheel-bobs can gather speed up to 100 km per hour and will definitely get your adrenaline running. The age limit is 10 years when accompanied by an adult and 12 years without.

Rafting. White water enthusiasts need to travel only 100 kilometres north of Lillehammer to get to the rafting and kayaking mecca of Sjoa. Sjoa was chosen by Rapid Media as the international white water town (or village) in 2013. Currently there are four operators offering rafting trips on the Sjoa and Otta rivers ranging from family trips on the more tranquil Otta river, to half-day and day trips on different sections on the Sjoa. And while there, why not also try riverboarding or canyoning?

Lillehammer for Outdoor Lovers

Hiking & trail running. The rolling mountains of the Lillehammer region are perfect for quick hikes and runs on the region’s trails, or longer overnight camping adventures off the beaten path. Besides camping, you can also stay in one of the many DNT (the Norwegian Trekking Association) cabins. See more details for trail suggestions, cabin locations and prices on the DNT website.

Mountain and road biking. If you don’t want to only go downhill, the region is also perfect for mountain and road biking. The small tracks and mountain roads take you through breathtaking scenery, while the asphalted roads on the valley floor are busy with competitive bike trainers in the summer season.

Birken. Worth the mention, and participation are the annual Birken events which gather thousands of sports enthusiasts to Lillehammer. You can choose from Birkebeinerrennet, a 54-kilometre ski competition, Birkebeinerløpet, a 21-km run or Birkebeinerrittet, 94.6-km bike race. Or you could do them all!

Lillehammer for Families

Lillehammer is the perfect spot for family holidays. Besides taking the kids outdoors, there are several attractions and activities targeted for the smaller family members. Here are my favourites.

• Lilleputthammer – for the little ones. Lilleputthammer is essentially Lillehammer in miniature size with activities both indoors and outdoors for the small ones, suitable for kids from 1-8 years old.
• Lekeland – for the rainy days. Located right next to Lilleputthammer, Lekeland is a great escape if the weather turns sour. Filled with a maize of slides, steps and small suspension bridges, this indoor playpark will keep the kids busy for hours! There are separate areas for different age groups starting from under 1 year olds.
• Hunderfossen Family Park – Norwegian folklore themed amusement park for kids and adults alike. The park has a great collection of indoor and outdoor rides and an exciting waterpark. Only drawback is that certain rides only describe the folklore in Norwegian. Have a look at my visit to Hundrefossen in Destination Unknown.
• Barnes Gård – animal park, my all-time favourite. Spend a day with goats, puppies, bunnies and other farm and domestic animals. The kids (and adults) can feed and pet most of the animals in the idyllic “farm” atmosphere and even the very smallest ones (I first visited with a 8-month old) seem to enjoy the experience.

Other Things to See and Do in Lillehammer

There is a whole host of non-sporty activities in the area as well, and here are just some of them. For more ideas and inspiration see the Lillehammer tourism board website or you can also ask for more details from me and I would be happy to help!

• Maihaugen – an open air museum with 200 old and new buildings, exhibitions, cafes and plenty of activities, especially in the summer time.
• Lillehammer Art Museum – great place to cool down in the summer heat (or escape from the rain), the museum has changing exhibitions, cafe and a small shop.
• Park Cafe’n – best spot in Lillehammer for a sunny lunch or a cozy evening meal.
• Atelier Kakao – cozy little cafe on the Storgata, the main pedestrian street in the town. Worth a stop!

All Images: Lillehammer Turist AS

For me, fascination of a place lies within its history. Europe is an endless playground in discovering history and culture. I think the best way to take everything out of traveling is to explore old towns with beautiful streets and ancient buildings. I seek to find the most idyllic places, away from the touristic spots and get the feeling of authentic, local lifestyle.

I love many places but by far, Italy is definitely on my top list.
Living in a villa on a hill in Tuscany, the sunsets from our kitchen window were breathtakingly beautiful.
In Rome, I could sense the history in each street and hill, overlooking the light colored silhouette of the city.

When I got a chance to participate a tour organized to a fishing village near Rimini, I did not hesitate for long. I got the familiar feeling of Italy already on the train ride from Bologna to Cesenatico, watching the countryside and idyllic houses flash by.

The canal floating through old town and surroundings are really beautiful. It has been claimed that Leonardo da Vinci himself designed the canal. Buildings have the most sympathetic shades of pastels. The riverside is full of restaurants to enjoy a local fishmeal or stop by for a gelato. We spent the days riding with bicycles by the kilometers long beach, stopping to sip an espresso to the cozy cafes and wonder around the historic blocks of the Old Town. Must to-do is also a cruise on the sea on a hug, ancient sailing boat, which we got to enjoy with 30 bloggers around the globe.

For me, traveling is always an escape from routines back home – living in the moment and soaking up the most of the foreign culture and habits. Still, I strive to maintain healthy lifestyle while traveling – I don’t believe in restricting anything in my diet. I want to try the local cuisine, but naturally, prefer it as local and fresh as possible. In Italy, I loved to start my mornings with fresh fruit. Because we were active during the day (which is often the case while traveling) I didn’t, however, stress over eating pasta and bread during the rest of the day. If you ask me, laid-back attitude to some extent is never a bad thing. I admire the Italian women who have free way of thinking regarding food and still manage to look healthy and gorgeous. (Of course, I went straight back to normal diet back home including the green smoothies :)

Cesenatico is at its best during the warmest months of summer, when you want to escape the heat of the cities and spend a few days lying on the endless beach, do some exercise and enjoy delicious food. The exercise opportunities in Cesenatico are unique. Tennis and beach volley courts are located centrally and a lot of arranged classes are arranged for everyone to take part of. The surroundings themselves make you want to be active – cycle, walk and run at the seashore.

The fastest way to get to Cesenatico is to come by train from Rimini or Bologna. I flew to Bologna and took the opportunity to explore this beautiful city for a day as well. This way I got to enjoy both the beautiful fishing village Cesenatico by the coast and also to explore the heart of Northern Italy, Bologna. I heard that also Rimini is beautiful and worth visiting. Also, the amazingly beautiful sovereign state San Marino is less than an hour drive away. I’m sad I did not have time to visit this state that is claimed to be the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world. A destination on my bucket list for sure!

Top 5 reasons why to go to Cesenatico:
1.      Perfect escape destination for enjoying the atmosphere of a historic fishing village by the sea
2.      Delicious food – here you can find fresh fish, authentic Italian espresso and the perfect gelato
3.       Laidback attitude – forget schedules and plans and go with the flow
4.   Activities –find a organized class or independently explore the city for example by bike
5. Location – perfect few night stop for Italy exploring trip

I know, it’s not like I could catch you often thinking of what local business, the best cookies in Halifax and Go Daddy have in common. However, today I would like you to think of all of those local small businesses you have discovered. Maybe they are in your hometown, maybe you found them on your travels, but you for sure didn’t discover them online. Why? Because they are not online yet.

On my trip to Canada last month I was walking around Halifax, Nova Scotia with my new blogger friend Nathalia Molina of Como Viaja, and we were looking for a nice coffee shop to sit down for an afternoon coffee. I’m a Finn, and Nathalia is Brazilian, and let’s just say that Finns and Brazilians take coffee seriously – Finland is the most coffee drinking nation in the world, and Brazil is the most coffee producing country in the world. I tried finding coffee shops online, and we also asked the locals where to go. Tim Horton was on the top of the list, and Starbucks was a popular answer too. We were determined to walk around Halifax until we’d find the perfect local coffee shop.

It was Nathalia that found it first. Mugs etc. at 1335 Barrington Street. We stepped in and the two things immediately caught our attention – the smell of amazing cookies and the smile of the owner welcoming us in. Now, this was the type of coffee shop we would like to sit in and talk.

And that’s exactly what we did. In fact, the owner of Mugs etc, Margo, joined us. We discussed about the importance of using social media to bring visitors to her new coffee shop – Mugs had been open for 5 days when we found it by luck! Margo immediately checked out Foursquare and even added a little promo for those who check-in when stopping for coffee. She does amazing job engaging with her customers in the store and I know she can do the same on Twitter as well. Margo is for a great start for marketing her business also online, that’s for sure. I’m also sure the word will spread and everyone will soon hear about the best cookies in Halifax, but frankly… it wouldn’t hurt to see pictures of those crunchy-sweet-yet-so-healthy-looking-cookies on the Mugs etc. website and read about the catering service Margo also offers. Except I couldn’t find the website.

There are so many local small businesses, who don’t have a strong online presence yet, and yet investing a little bit of time and money to creating an online presence can be crucial for getting new customers.

Go Daddy No WebSitis Contest for small businesses

Go Daddy is hosting a contest for small businesses who don’t own a website yet. Ten small businesses will win a 1-year .COM, .NET or .ORG domain registration and a 1-year Premium Website Builder plan, plus special assistance building their site. You can help your local small business for nominating them, and if the business you nominate wins, we’ll enhance the size of your wallet too — with a $50 Visa gift card. Check out the contest.

I personally have been a Go Daddy customer for over 7 years, and I keep going back for them for all of my domain name needs (I own about 60 different domain names), because they are inexpensive and it’s easy to track everything on their website.

Know a small business that suffers from No WebSitis? You can nominate them to enter the contest or vote for your favorite. Ten local small businesses will win a website from Go Daddy and you could win a $50 Visa Gift for nominating them.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Go Daddy. The opinions and text are all mine.

Many of you may already have your vacation plans mapped out, but others of you may still be searching for the perfect place to spend a few days with your family this summer. I thought now would be a great time to revisit a few mountain resorts in the Blue Ridge Mountains, all visited by me within the year. I’ve seen the rooms. I’ve eaten in the dining rooms, and I’ve tested out the services. These beautiful resorts/inns are located in three unique destinations, but they all have one common denominator: LUXURY.

The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia

The Homestead Resort is a yearround resort but is breathtakingly beautiful in the summertime. Sports enthusiasts will love the two championship golf courses, horseback opportunities and carriage rides, a world-class shooting club, fly fishing with Orvis-endorsed instructors, miles of scenic hiking trails, indoor and outdoor pools, falconry and much more. Those like me, who love to take it easy, will adore the brand new family pool, with a lazy river and water slides, not to mention the great poolside bar service.

This summer, the resort will also debut the new Canyon Ranch Spa Club, which will elevate the historic tradition of “taking to the waters” to the next level of luxury. A signature feature will be Aquavana®, an exclusive European-inspired oasis with experiential rains, herbal laconium, the Chill and aromatic steam focused on the ancient concept of “healing by water.” Adults will also be able to relax in the spa garden pool. The Canyon Ranch Spa Club will also offer spa services to children ages 5 and up.

The Homestead has 483 guest rooms decorated in traditional Southern décor. I stayed in a preferred junior suite with a sitting area, and it was perfect for my family. With this being a historic property, I do recommend splurging a little on your room because some rooms can be small.

My only complaint about the Homestead Resort is that I didn’t stay long enough. Meeting other families nightly by the fire pit and roasting s’mores is a resort highlight. Be sure to stop into Martha’s Market for some homemade ice cream, and enjoy it on the genteel porch.

There’s not much in the little town of Hot Springs, Virginia, except for the amenities of the resort and the historic Jefferson Pools. There are a few restaurants and shops off property, but you’ll be dining mostly on property, so you might want to consider purchasing the dining plan with your room. I think it would be a cost-saver because the resort does add up in food costs. And remember to pack your country club best. The resort does maintain the tradition of a dress code, and jackets are preferred in the more formal main dining room in the evening.

The Homestead is about 90 minutes from Roanoke, Virginia , three hours from Richmond, Virginia, and four hours from Washington, D.C.

The Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, N.C.

The Old Edwards Inn and Spa, a beautiful, European-style resort, is located in the posh mountain town of Highlands, North Carolina, where upscale dining and shopping abound. The Inn was recently named the No. 4 Top Resort in America for Best Service by Travel and Leisure in its June 2013 issue. Rankings are based on reader votes collected in the Travel and Leisure World’s Best Awards survey. Considering the fact that I visited this resort when my entire family became ill, I have to agree that the staff is top-notch when it comes to service.

The historic Old Edwards Inn and Spa has deep hospitality roots—the property opened in 1878 as Central House, Highlands’ first boarding house. In the last eight years there have been nearly $100 million in renovations, adding new pools, shops, restaurants, and upgraded accommodations. It has also put out the welcome mat for families, and is opening the new Falls Cottages this month with a brand new children’s pool and freestanding fireplace. With eight restaurants and cafes on site, you can easily stay for a week and never tire of your dining choices, plus the cute town of Highlands has lots of options, too. Be sure to stop in Sweet Treats Ice Cream and Deli for a gourmet sandwich and The Ugly Dog Public House for some live music and a drink. Madison’s Restaurants, the Inn’s signature farm-to-table restaurant, is also a must.

Every room at the Inn is absolutely stunning.  The bathrooms have heated tile floors.  Need I say more? The falls cottages and other suites would be best for families. Rooms in the main historic Inn are smaller and are perfect for couples. Every guest will enjoy the complimentary butler’s pantry in the main Inn building.

Old Edwards Inn and Spa is a special destination, and the spa is the most beautiful I have visited. And if you’re a golfer, you’ll be happy, too. The waterfalls around Highlands, N.C., will have you in awe, too. My only complaint about the Inn is that I wish it were closer to my hometown of Raleigh. If that were true, you possibly could find me there every weekend.

Highlands is about two hours from Atlanta, Georgia, one hour from Asheville, N.C., and 3 ½ hours from Charlotte, N.C.

The Inn on Biltmore in Asheville, N.C.

Asheville, North Carolina, is one of my favorite cities to visit. Bustling with outdoor cafes, art galleries, live music, breweries, culture, and lots of nature, it’s sometimes referred to as the “Paris of the South,” and, of course, the city has its own mansion that would rival the Palace of Versailles. Nothing could also be more enchanting than actually to stay on the Biltmore Estate at the Inn on Biltmore.

This luxury Inn has it all: a spa, an outdoor pool overlooking the Biltmore Estate, afternoon tea, and its own outdoor nature adventure center, which is just a complimentary van ride away. For beautiful gardens, wine tours, behind-the-scenes tours of the Biltmore Estate or even a canoe trip down the French Broad River, guests can experience unlimited fun while staying on the Estate.

I adore the library at the Inn on Biltmore, and it’s the perfect place to enjoy a casual meal or drink. Sitting on the veranda during the summer is absolute perfection and a wonderful al-fresco dining experience.
Rooms are luxurious with a king bed or two double beds. If you are going with your family, consider spreading out a little bit and take advantage of the 50 percent off a connecting room special this summer. If you are staying longer than a weekend, I think you would like the extra space. Kids also get free Estate admission this summer, too with a paying adult.

When in downtown Asheville,  be sure to dine at a new favorite restaurant of mine, The Early Girl Eatery. Asheville is approximately 3 ½ hours from Atlanta, Georgia, four hours from Raleigh, N.C., and just over two hours from Charlotte, N.C.

All photos taken by Hinessightblog.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post, but I visited all of these resorts within the past year on media visits with a combination of special media rates and complimentary rates. As always, opinions of the resorts are my own, and your experience or room may vary.

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Last week I revisited an adventure of a lifetime here on Skimbaco: Kayaking through the Grand Canyon, and I wanted to continue with the same destination just a little more.

If you have dreamed of experiencing the Canyon by water but don’t have the necessary skills, there is nothing to worry. Grand Canyon is easily accessible by water for non-kayakers and non-rafters also by joining a commercial operator’s rafting trip.

This “How-To” guide is here to get you started. The commercial operators and the National Park Service can help you with all your questions and they have a wealth of information on their websites too, but if you are wondering whether this could be something for you, you can at least get an idea what to expect.

What to expect? Adventure of a lifetime. Getting up with the sun, laying down with the sunset. Camping on sandy beaches. Dramatic scenery. Amazing views blending with the stories of the long history of the Canyon. Unforgettable hikes. Calm sections of the river, where you can sit back (or paddle for bit of fitness!) and daydream, and wild rapids where the chilly cold water definitely wakes you up from the daydreaming!

When to go on a raft trip to Grand Canyon? Commercial rafting trips normally run between April and October, depending on the operator. Make sure to book well in advance as popular dates can fill up over a year ahead. If you want to organise your own trip, you need to apply for a noncommercial river permit from the National Park Service.

How long does a rafting trip take? The trips take anywhere from one to twenty-one days depending on whether you travel by motorised or oar rafts (or kayaks), and whether you embark on the full journey from Lee’s Ferry to Lake Mead, or enjoy shorter segments of the river. The most exciting and wild white water can be found in the Lower Canyon with rapids such as Laval Falls, Hermit, Granite and Crystal. Besides rafting/kayaking, you can also do small hikes up the side creeks and if you have the time, these are highly recommendable.

Who is the trip suitable for? The longer the trip, the better fitness is required but you don’t need to be an athlete to do the full trip. Enquire from the commercial operator for a suitable option for you. On our 14-day trip both mine and my husband’s parents who are in their early 60’s came along and they mainly paddled the paddle raft with taking some short sections easy on the motorised raft.

What do you need to bring along? Your outfitter of choice will provide you with a complete list of clothing and equipment you need, but you will definitely need to pack light! Some of the absolute essentials include protection from the sun, thermal layers, good water bottle, small waterproof daypack and waterproof rain-gear. I would also not travel to the Canyon without a camera with extra batteries and memory cards.

How do I stay clean? As you will be wild-camping while on the trip, the only way to wash is in the Colorado River, or in one of the smaller side creeks. While you can use soap in the main river, use of any detergents is prohibited in the side streams. Forget beauty products, my skin has never had such a glow as after the “non treatment” (sun lotion and evening moisturiser only) weeks on the Canyon.

How much does it cost? As the cost varies hugely depending on the type of the trip and operator, it is best to check the commercial operators’ websites.

I hope this gave you bit of an idea what to expect and what the trip requires, now the next step is to find your outfitter of choice and start preparing for you own adventure on the Canyon!

All images: Gene17Kayaking

On this Grand Canyon trip I was working for Gene17Kayaking, an international white water coaching and guiding company, who had teamed up with local operator Hatch River Expeditions for the logistics in and out of the Canyon. I highly recommend both operators, Gene17Kayaking is organising their next trip in 2014 (suitable for both kayakers and non-kayakers) and Hatch River Expeditions runs regular trips all through the season.

I feel the heat as our group arrives to Tenganan Pegringsingan village in Bali, Indonesia. I’m sweating the moment I get off the air-conditioned van, but the locals are just laughing at me, it’s not even a hot day for the local measurement. As I walk through the Tenganan village gate to the Bali Aga village compound known for its Gamelan selunding music and geringsing double ikat textiles, I see the first village people, already all set up with their fabric and Balinese map stalls waiting for the tourist shopping day to start. They will be manning their booths most of the day, with no cold wet towels as their disposal, of which I had already gotten accustomed to love at the luxurious Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran hotel, where I was staying. The village is known for the double ikat fabrics, but another popular souvenir from Tenganan village are the Balinese maps. The maps are hand-drawn into bamboo leaves with burnt macadamia nut as ink, and I see the first demonstration how to do this within five minutes from arriving. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard about Tenganan village, and I was hesitant intruding their peaceful village, but I felt immediately like a welcomed guest in this small Bali Aga village.

Bali Aga village means a village that still hold the origin traditions and rules of ancient Balinese and the people living in the village are “Bali Aga,” the original Balinese people. The houses are designed the traditional way, the village people still hold the traditional religious ritual ceremonies, and live the ancient Balinese lifestyle of using every means to keep their lifestyle pure and clean. The Tenganese people who move out of the village are not welcomed back, nor are their spouses if the village people get married to outsiders. Only Bali Aga people are allowed to live here, meaning only those people who were born in this village, and there are around 400 people still living in this small village, which is an hour a ride away from the international airport in Bali.

Roosters, dogs and even holy cows roam free in the village, although some of the roosters are also in bamboo-cages, some spray-painted in different colors for cockfights. Our tourist guide explains that cockfighting is over thousand-year-old Balinese tradition in Balinese Hinduism, and part of religious rituals to expel evil spirits. The cockfighting sounds like a mixture of religious ceremony, bloody wrestling match (but note that gambling has been illegal in Bali since 1981, but it doesn’t mean that gambling isn’t part of the cockfighting’s allure nowadays) and an art form. The roosters are painted in bright colors and play an important role when roosters are matched for fights. I found learning about the details of cockfights both fascinating and gross at the same time. One thing is for sure though – you can’t visit Bali without seeing the roosters or chickens, either roaming free, or in large bamboo-cages.

Ikat

The small ikat fabric shops have concrete floors, and a simple hanging light bulb and the light from small glassless windows are the only source of light for the somewhat dim rooms, where even on the warmest days the Tenganan village women weave the traditional Balinese double Ikat fabric.

Double Ikat is a technique in which both warp and the weft are dyed with a specific pattern prior to stringing on the loom, and in Indonesia it is only made in Tenganan. Double Ikat weaving requires a lot of skill for precise patterns to be woven and is considered the premiere form of Ikat. Many of the patterns still done today are hundreds of years old, and the Balinese women weaving them take pride for mastering the ancient skill of double Ikat. These double Ikat fabrics have high spiritual significance and in Tenganan they are still worn for specific religious ceremonies.

The dye-process alone can take weeks, and the colors for the natural dyes come from local plants and is an art form itself. Macadamia nut makes hues of yellow and brown, root bark for red, indigo blue from taum grass and black from mixing indigo from taum grass with red. The list goes on. Only women are allowed to weave the double Ikat, and the Tengenan village had several Ikat shops, where women were sitting on the floor, weaving the precious textiles. I asked the women how long they were able to sit down on the floor at the time, and many said around 2-3 hours per day, and their days would be filled with many other parts of the process than just the weaving. Large double Ikat fabrics can take up to five years to finish.

The village has several Ikat shops, and I saw Ikat weavers’ children play in the backrooms, or run around the village having fun, and I couldn’t think that in many ways these were work-at-home moms, just like me. Except I always work alone at home, but these women stopped working during the day (for a lunch perhaps) and gathered together in the middle of the village for their “water cooler” talk.

One of the women (pictured above) asked what I did. I said I write for my website, and in my mind I was thinking how busy my life was trying to manage an online business, and how I longed for simpler life, like hers.

She took me by surprise by saying

Your life sounds nice, no stress. You can just write and be home with your children. I feel like I never have enough hours in the day, so many processes to do to finish one Ikat. It takes years to finish one.

I laughed and said I guess running out of hours in a day is an universal problem we women all have, no matter what we do or where we live. And just like how you feel about the temperature of the day in Bali was all about what you compared it with; the stress levels we have and the worries we have in life are always relative to what we compare it with. Not to even mention that we never really know what it is to live in somebody else’s shoes and on the end of the day… our own shoes are the only ones that really matter.

Disclosure: my trip to Bali was sponsored, but all of my opinions are my own.

My three favorite things to do in my leisure time as a resident of Sonoma Valley, California are hiking, wine tasting and picnicking. There is one place in the Sonoma Wine Country where I can do all three at one location.

Bartholomew Park Winery in Sonoma offers miles of hiking trails on their 37-acre winery property, located in the heart of the 400-acre Bartholomew Memorial Park.

When you first arrive at Bartholomew Park Winery, known as ‘Bart Park’ to locals, you will see a detailed map with a list of guidelines to follow while visiting this free of charge park. Take a look at the map first and decide where you’d like to hike.

You have a few choices as the hills behind the winery in the Mayacamas Mountain range have several miles of marked hiking trails, some sections even have handy stairs!

On the trails, expect to see a variety of indigenous California vegetation like Oak, Manzanita, Madrone, and Redwood trees along with fields of spring wildflowers, a few ponds and streams. Bring a camera along and be watchful for poison oak, pictured below right, which is seen frequently on the trails.

Buena Vista Winery, founded in 1857, is California’s oldest commercial winery, is visible from the trail through the trees. You may want to wine taste there after you’re visit to Bartholomew Park.

The trail passes Buena Vista Winery then winds down a large hill and into an expansive park. Large trees, a fountain, picnic tables and a gazebo can all be found in the scenic park. It’s an ideal place to take a rest during your hike.

Continuting toward the winery, you will come upon a stately white villa perched on a hill surrounded by mature trees, vineyards and manicured lawns. It’s a replica of Count Agoston Haraszthy’s mansion that was built in the 1860′s, destroyed by fire around the turn of the century, then re-built by Antonia Bartholomew in 1987.

Haraszthy, a Hungarian-American traveler, writer, winemaker, and pioneer, is credited with being the “Father of California Viticulture” as well as the founder of California’s first winery, Buena Vista.

At the end of the trail you will arrive at Bartholomew Park Winery where you can taste certified organic and estate wines. Cheeses, sausages and other picnic items are available in the tasting room. My husband and I found a quiet place to relax after our hike while enjoying our picnic and bottle of Bartholomew Park Sauvignon Blanc wine.

If you’re looking to get in touch with history and nature, take in a little exercise, and enjoy some quality California wine and a picnic, then Bart Park is your ideal place!

Bartholomew Park Winery

1000 Vineyard Lane

Sonoma, CA 95476

707.935.9511

www.BartPark.com

Haraszthy’s villa is open for tours on weekends from noon to 3:00 p.m.

B&O Play by Bang & Olufsen is launched two new headphones in June 2013 and the new B&O Play products should be available in US Bang & Olufsen stores in approximately July 2013. The two new models include the H3, and in-ear headphone for people in action, and the H6, a flexible over-ear headphone.  Both models allow the consumer to experience the state of the art sound technology that Bang & Olufsen is known for on the go.

Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, VP of B&O PLAY stated

A wide range of headphones on the market today compromise on quality and sound performance. In the making of BeoPlay H3 and H6, we’ve worked with professional sound technicians and studio musicians, to offer people a pristine sound experience in a package that is a delight to wear.

The H6 is designed around custom drivers that are perfectly angled to get the best distance and sound direction into the ears. In addition, it offers well balanced bass performance so you can enjoy music with heavy bass for extended periods of time. The H6 is lightweight with an aluminum construction, and is wrapped in the highest quality cowhide leather sourced from New Zealand. This leather will only get better with wear, similar to the handles of a Louis Vuitton bag. $399

The H3 features a custom designed driver and micro bass part for dynamic and balanced full tone sound. It is the ultimate in-ear headphone. The structure of the H3 is made of rigid aluminum which provides acoustic precision. The H3 is very lightweight. $249.

Bang & Olufsen hosted an exclusive VIP Launch party to preview the new models at the Mondrian SoHo in New York City. Being able to experience these first-hand, I can say that I am very excited for their release. The quality of both the sound and the construction was just amazing. As a lover of travel, having the perfect pair of headphones is very important to make those long flights more enjoyable. The lightweight design of both models makes these the perfect travel companion. In addition, the H6 features flexible over the ear part that contour to your shoulder if you fall asleep with them around your neck. Again, making them perfect for travel! Both models are expected to be available in the US in July 2013.

Photos: Bang & Olufsen, 5th Avenue Digital

Kauai, an island full of natural and rugged tropical beauty, sweet smelling flowers, fruity drinks, intense waves and miles of challenging hiking trails, is one of eight major islands that make up Hawaii’s archipelago. Kauai is fourth largest island in size and is known as the “Garden Isle” for its verdant, jungle-like landscape.

My husband and I stayed nearly two weeks on Kauai for my birthday a few months ago. We spent most of our trip on the North Shore of the island in the Princeville area. The North Shore is lush and scenic with green mountains and dramatic cliffs. Located on one of those cliffs is the St. Regis, Princeville, a luxury resort hotel where we enjoyed several nights.

St. Regis overlooks scenic Hanalei Bay and has elegant rooms, delectable food, a helpful and friendly staff and a gorgeous pool and beach area where we spent most of our time. Paddleboards, surfboards and snorkeling equipment are available for rent at the hotel’s pool area.

We didn’t spend every day at the pool or beach. One day, we drove out to Ke’e Beach to the Kalalau trail which leads to Hanakapi`ai beach, featured in the first photo. Once we arrived at the beach, we enjoyed a packed lunch amongst the stacked rocks, then hiked another two miles to the falls up the Hanakapi`ai river.

Once you get to the falls, be sure to take a swim in the lake below. A gorgeous but grueling and time-consuming hike, be sure to bring lots of water and wear comfortable hiking boots. This hike is not recommended for those who are not in good physical condition.

After a challenging hike, nourishment is needed! Thankfully, Kauai is a sushi lovers paradise. The seafood is the freshest of the fresh. Our favorite place to get sushi is Dolphin in Hanalei. We ate there several times on our trip. We just couldn’t get enough of their tasty and creative dishes!

The island of Kauai is chock full of birds and is particularly known for its wild chickens. You will see them everywhere you turn. You will also see lots of Nene, which resembles a Canada Goose and is the state bird of Hawaii.

After our stay on the north side of the island, we moved to the Grand Hyatt hotel in the popular resort area of Poipu, which is on the south shore. Arid and sunnie with slightly calmer waters, the southern end of Kauai is less wild and untamed, more developed.

An expansive hotel, Grand Hyatt Poipu offers guests a few pools to choose from, including a saltwater lagoon not far from the beach, several restaurants, a spa, boutiques and spacious and comfortable rooms.

During our stay, we rented a private cabana on the beach for a few hours. We felt as though we had the place to ourselves. My husband spent most of the day snorkeling and swimming in the ocean while I sunbathed and read on a lounge chair on the beach.  How decadent!

I admit that I didn’t pack very well for Kauai. It was hot with plenty of tropical humidity. The pants I brought along were more than uncomfortable. Light summery dresses and shorts were almost necessary!

The clothes I wore the most were those I bought while shopping on the island. There are a handful of women’s clothing boutiques in the town of Hanalei on the North Shore and the resorts in Poipu have lots of great tropical fashions available for purchase. If you forget something or you don’t want to wear those jeans that you wore on the plane ride over, shop for a couple of new dresses or a light cotton tunic you can wear as a swimsuit cover-up or with shorts.

One of the best parts about visiting Kauai is the taking in the nightly sunset. It’s never disappointing, and always colorful, dramatic and romantic!

It is probably needless to say that there is something magical about the Grand Canyon, as nearly five million people visit the Canyon, in a way or another, annually. Still, when you launch on the chilly waters of the Colorado River with the sun burning on your back from Lee’s Ferry in Arizona, you do get the feeling of being somewhere untouched and ancient.

There are many different ways to enjoy the Grand Canyon. There is no way of conquering it, but the beauty of the Canyon can be appreciated by water, foot, wheels or air. For me it was natural to explore the 300 kilometres (188 miles) of the Colorado River by kayaking and rafting it. For many of us white water kayakers out there this journey is something you want to do at least “once in a lifetime”. However, the Canyon is easily accessible by water for non-kayakers and non-rafters also by joining a commercial operator’s rafting trip.

Staying at the Cliff Dweller’s Lodge in Marble Canyon, Arizona, the night before the launch on the river, I already sensed the adventure ahead. The heat, the red rock that surrounded us, the dust. Scenes that I had only seen in movies and which got more and more beautiful by day during the 14-day journey on the river. It was almost bit too much to digest while there and I have flipped through the photos time and time again wondering if I really did this journey at all.

Being totally disconnected from the digital world: no mobile phone connection or laptops, was one of the best aspects of the trip. There was no chance for glorious Facebook status updates, no Instagram “look how amazing this place is!” images, no Emails to remind you of the work left behind. Just you and rest of your team getting up with the sunrise and following the slow course of the river, the river which at times grows into roaring rapids of powerful white water providing cold wake-up calls and reminding of its strength.

On most days we left our kayaks behind and ventured off the water on small hikes and easy climbs in the side canyons. The sweat of the efforts was quickly washed away by refreshing, clean showers under waterfalls, wiping away some of the stilt that had stuck to our skin and hair after a violent storm had turned the river from blue to red on one of the first days of the journey.

It is hard to imagine now what it would have been like to be there in 1869, when a Civil War veteran Major John Wesley Powell led the first expedition to explore the Canyon with no knowledge of what waited ahead. The Canyon that is now so well known and mapped out that you can easily follow your progress, kilometre by kilometre, on a waterproof Canyon Guide. Despite the luxuries of cheese and crackers prior dinners, and fresh produce even on the last day of the journey, it is easy to be pulled into the history of the Canyon region. And it is not only the history of the “first explorers”, but the history of the Native Americans who have intermittently occupied the Canyon for more than 10,000 years.

Now that I am back would I do it again? I don’t really know. Most places I have visited I long to return to. But the trip to the Canyon was so unique, so full of experiences that can not be repeated that it would not be the same. But, it wouldn’t have to be.

Stay tuned for the “How to” guide for rafting the Grand Canyon coming up soon on Skimbaco!

All images: Gene17Kayaking

On this Grand Canyon trip I was working for Gene17Kayaking, an international white water coaching and guiding company, who had teamed up with local operator Hatch River Expeditions for the logistics in and out of the Canyon. I highly recommend both operators, Gene17Kayaking is organising their next trip in 2014 (suitable for both kayakers and non-kayakers) and Hatch River Expeditions runs regular trips all through the season.