| Today's Travel News |
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| · Wednesday, August 20, 2003 · |
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Napa Valley, Part II
The best way to top a day of winery touring (see yesterday's Where To Go Next) is with a meal at The French Laundry, one of the hottest restaurants in the country. Set in a rustic 1890s stone house, originally a saloon, then a residence, even a brothel, and, before it became a restaurant, a real French steam laundry, it's owned by Chef Thomas Keller who has won numerous awards, including the James Beard Foundation's prestigious Outstanding Chef award, the highest honor given to an American chef. Keller, called "America's best chef" by Time Magazine, served as an apprentice in the kitchens of some of France's best chefs before opening a restaurant in New York and then Napa. Each evening The French Laundry offers a $135 chef's tasting menu, a $115 five-course prix fixe menu with choices and a vegetarian menu at $115. Choose any one - there are no wrong choices here. The contemporary American cuisine with definite French influences is exquisite. But be forewarned. You must make a reservation here exactly two months prior to the day you want to dine. No sooner. Certainly no later. Within minutes of opening the advance reservation book, all 17 tables are filled, reservations are closed and the phone only rings busy.
After a full day of wine and food, you'll want a relaxing place to spend the night. There are a number of country-style inns in the wine country. One very private and romantic place is the Auberge du Soleil, a member of Relais & Chateau. Literally perched on the slopes of a hill, the French-accented inn has 50 simple yet elegantly furnished rooms and suites with terra cotta tiled floors, big fluffy pillows on Frette-linened king-size beds, oversized towels and tubs (with candles), plus fireplaces and refrigerators stocked with wine and cheese. French doors lead to a private terrace with beautiful hillside views. There's also a spa specializing in therapeutic massages - even one done by four hands! A fine timber-ceilinged restaurant has a dining terrace with incredible views. This is a place for tranquility and rejuvenation - bringing children is discouraged. Romance comes at a price though. Rooms start at $550 per night for a king to $3,500 for a private cottage. Another great choice is the Villagio Inn & Spa, which shares the 23-acre estate with its sister properties, the 80-room Vintage Inn and Vintage 1870, an upscale specialty shop complex. Reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, the AAA Four-Diamond resort offers 112 guest rooms, a fitness center and a spa. Rooms ($210 - $1,000 per night) have wood-burning fireplaces and views of the dense vineyards, rich gardens and fountains spouting outside. Rates include a daily champagne breakfast. For an early morning pleasure, consider seeing the wine country from a new perspective - high in the air in a hot air balloon. There are several companies offering sunrise flights followed by the traditional apres flight champagne brunch. Try Napa Valley Balloons, the company that The Today Show used when they were broadcasting from Napa. Or the 22-year-old Balloons Above the Valley. Flights are usually around $185, although this company offers their flights at $165 if you book through their website. For more info:
- Judi Janofsky and Rich Steck 
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· destinations Funjet Vacations adds new service to Mexico from Denver via Frontier Airlines. This will enhance Funjet Vacations' current Mexico service, making it more flexible and convenient than ever for Denver customers to vacation to premier destinations in Mexico. For More... · transportation Delta Air Lines launches an airport redesign at Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport to enhance the travel experience for customers and significantly reduce airport wait times. Delta is introducing new customer service roles that interact more with customers, and additional self-service technology to speed customers through the airport and reduce hassles. For More... Effective immediately, American Airlines customers with nonrefundable tickets that allow changes will have a full year from the date their original ticket was issued to reschedule without losing the value of their tickets, provided they cancel their reservations prior to scheduled departure time. For More... Delta Air Lines announces that its cargo division, Delta Air Logistics, has won a Quest for Quality Award from Logistics Management magazine. The award was based on a survey of 20,000 shippers who subscribe to Logistics Management. For More... Delta Connection will offer customers an additional nonstop regional jet flight between Wilmington, N.C., and Atlanta beginning October 1. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines will operate the new flight. For More... Continued growth in ridership, market share, seat availability, services, and frequency of departures in the second full year of operation of France's newest high-speed rail line, TGV Mediterranee, is reported by Rail Europe Group, leading distributor of European rail travel and subsidiary of the French National Railroads. For More... · tours/cruises Pacific Delight Tours is featuring air-inclusive rates starting at $499 per person, double occupancy, on three-night/five-day, single-city packages to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing for new bookings made by September 15, and travel between September 3 and March 31. For More... Under a new partnership between Cunard Line and Marquis Jet, travellers now have the option to purchase private air transportation in connection with itineraries offered aboard the new Queen Mary 2 - the longest, tallest, widest and most expensive luxury liner ever built. For More... 11thHourVacations.com, a Web site for last minute travel bargains, reaches a milestone of more than 4 million packages and 900 destinations, delivering the most extensive database of travel packages on the Web. For More... · recreation/adventure Golfers can take advantage of a value-laden package at Half Moon Bay Golf Links's two championship courses as The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay and Half Moon Bay Golf Links have partnered to offer a "Winter Golf Getaway." The package includes one-night deluxe accommodations and two rounds of golf on either the Ocean Course or the Old Course for only $429 per night. For More... Beginning October 18, more than 500,000 hunters will make their way to Colorado's wilderness, home to the largest elk herd in North America. Travelers who don't wish to hunt for their dinner can take advantage of several restaurants around the state that specialize in preparing wild game. For More... · events Live musical performances will serve as the soundtrack to the joys of gracious living, fine art, and the reunion of the Brettonian singers at The Mount Washington Hotel & Resort August 24 through September 1. For More... To showcase California's bounty and the exceptional ways it is now being prepared, a select group of San Diego chefs will gather on Sunday, October 12 to "Celebrate the Craft." This first-time festival will feature representatives from across California's culinary spectrum gathering to demonstrate, discuss, showcase and taste the vast array of premium food products available throughout the state. For More... · accommodations Guests can put their powers of deduction to the test with the special Murder Mystery Package at Reid's Palace in Madeira this autumn. All aspiring sleuths are invited to join in the Murder Mystery Dinners being held on November 21, 26 and 28. For More... Funjet Vacations is giving travelers the opportunity to experience first class accommodations and savings at one of the finest hotels in Las Vegas. Now through September 18, save 20 percent on hotel stays at the Bellagio. For More... |
| Produced by Judi Janofsky, Rich Steck and the Golf Press Association |
