Soneva Kiri Invites You To Discover Koh Kood In Thailand

When looking for a unique experience for your next trip consider Soneva Kiri in Thailand. Those who book a stay in March of next year will receive complimentary experiences to discover the hidden secrets of the Thai island, Koh Kood.

While Koh Kood is Thailand's fourth largest, it is the least populated island, and home to the all-villa resort Soneva Kiri. With the new Secrets of Koh Kood offer, you'll receive complimentary experiences to explore as you immerse yourself in the culture of the island, which is home to more biodiversity than the entire island of Great Britain.

Soneva Kiri offers an unrivalled combination of luxury, an integral environmental approach, authentic Thai experiences and mouth-watering organic food. Soneva Kiri Resort comprises 36 vast pool villas on beach level, hillsides or cliff tops, all overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Available to rent or purchase, all have impossibly chic furnishings, personal electric buggies and impeccable service courtesy of Mr./Ms. Friday private butlers. Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, a home-made chocolate and ice cream parlour, a high-tech Observatory, a manta ray shaped children's Den and the spectacular Treetop Dining Pod.

Complimentary Experiences Include:

• Koh Kood Discovery Tour to see the highlights of the island
• A visit to Koh Rang National Marine Park including snorkeling and lunch
• Koh Kood Butterfly Quest with a local guide
• A Thai cooking class and market tour with Soneva Kiri's celebrated Chef Benz
• Stargazing with the resort's resident astronomer at the on-site state-of-the-art observatory

Plan Your Trip To Soneva Kiri 

To explore this and other experiences offer and book your trip with Soneva visit their website.

The Secrets of Koh Kood offer is only applicable for new bookings and is valid for stays at Soneva Kiri from March 1-31 in any villa category. All five experiences are available for guests during their stay and subject to availability, however only one experience can be arranged per day. The offer is applicable for individual bookings only and can be combined with other applicable promotions from Soneva.

Read More +

Crown Cruise Vacations Helps Travelers Plan A Magical Hawaii Vacation At Disney's Aulani Resort

A Hawaiian vacation awaits without hassle with the help of Crown Cruise Vacations. Their professional staff have the experience and knowledge to help you plan the Disney Vacation of your dreams at the Aulani Resort. And, their sharing five reasons to Consider a Disney Vacation Land Trip to Hawaii’s Aulani Resort:

1.The Ultimate Family Getaway

Walt Disney Imagineers worked hand in hand with locals to create Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. Inspired by the natural wonders and rich traditions of Hawaii, Aulani Resort is the ultimate family getaway—celebrating the beauty, history and welcoming spirit of the island. Aulani Resort is perfectly positioned on the beautiful beaches of Ko Olina on the leeward coast of Oahu.

2. Cultural Connection

“Aulani” means “messenger of a chief.” Here, you'll discover the legends of the Hawaiian Islands. Multiple pools, waterslides and a lazy river can be found between the two towers of Aulani.

3. Resort History

Aulani Resort opened in August 2011. A major expansion project was completed in fall 2013, offering families even more to enjoy!

4. Dining and Disney

Experience the vibrant setting of Aulani’s restaurant, Makahiki. Satisfy your appetite with fresh, local foods and international flavors with a buffet dinner or delightful Disney Character Breakfast. At dinner, join Aulani Resort's beloved "Uncle" and some favorite Disney Characters for a musical, story-filled Character Dining experience for the whole family!

5. Resort Highlights

The Aulani Resort Features:

• Rooms & Suites: 351 hotel rooms, including 16 suites
• Villas: 481 Disney Vacation Club units, including 19 Grand Villas
• Dining: 2 restaurants, 3 lounges and several quick-service dining venues
• Laniwai – A Disney Spa
• Fitness center
• Aunty's Beach House kids club
• Painted Sky Teen Spa teen spa
• Pools, waterslides and more
• More Disney Special Offerings Include Disney Vacation Special Offers:

Did You Know? - Disney has four cruise ships available that offers a immerrsive experience for the whole family or for anyone who loves the magic of a Disney vacation. And, Crown Cruise Vacations can help you with planning every step of your trip.

Plan Your Getaway With Crown Cruise Vacations

With the help of Crown Cruise Vacations you can save up to 25% on rooms at Walt Disney World, and up to 20% on Premium Rooms at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel. The sophisticated cruise and travel specialists at Crown Cruise Vacations provide exclusive offers, exceptional value and unparalleled service. They can assist with experienced cruise information and bookings.

To learn more about Disney vacations, the abundance of land vacations, cruise sailings and other offers, please contact a travel specialist at Crown Cruise Vacations at 1-877-283-1114 (toll-free USA/Canada) +1-609-945-9801 (direct-dial) or visit http://www.crowncruisevacations.com.

Read More +

Fun Fall Adventures To Enjoy In Alton

Alton, Illinois is the perfect place to visit as fall spreads a colorful blanket of colors across the country side. From fresh picks at local orchards to exploring horseback riding or hiking the more than 15 nature trails to uncovering the mysteries of the most haunted small town in the USA, Alton is a great fall trip destination!

Apple orchards add to the region’s fall fun lineup. On a trip to a local orchard you can sample the freshest apple cider and bite into the richest apple pie around. Hunt  the most perfect apples in the more than a dozen area orchards. Many orchards have weekend music, children’s play and haunted houses, along with hayrides and pumpkin patches to delight visitors.

Along with fun fall festivals are the authentic haunted houses and other spooky activities to thrill your senses. The Alton area has been called “the most haunted small town in the USA” by Fate magazine, a publication that has been reporting paranormal activity for more than 40 years. Tours of the frightening residences and haunted locations are available with experience tour guides in the spring, summer and fall.

A popular way to experience the changes of fall is by horseback riding or hiking the more than 15 nature trails highlighting the wildlife and plants in the area. A walk is transformed into a fulfilling nature lesson with some trails providing interpretative stations along the way. Saddle up at Pere Marquette State Park for an adventurous horseback ride. Bring along your camera to catch the beautiful monarch butterflies that migrate to the region and flock to the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge in Grafton. They dance from each blossom to the next along the Gilbert Lake Trail.

Plan Your Trip To Alton, Illinois

Of course, the best way to discover the endless opportunities for fun and recreation in the Alton area is to order a current copy of the Visitor's Guide and Calendar of Events by visiting the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. They can also help you plan a trip designed around the activities and attractions as well!

Read More +

Join Us As We Rediscover The Great Smoky Mountains

The warmth and hospitality found in Gatlinburg, and region of the Great Smoky Mountains makes you feel like a friend returning home. And, the region is thriving, and welcomes you to rediscover their giving spirit, the natural beauty, and heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains!

Read More +

Catch Monroeville At The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distilleries

While visiting friends in Gatlinburg recently we discovered the foot stomping, and spirited tunes played by Monroeville at The Holler at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery. They play at two locations, so you can catch them in Pigeon Forge at The Island, or in Gatlinburg throughout October.

Monroeville’s blending of traditional acoustic instruments creates lively, toe-tapping grooves that put a smile on your face. Ask anyone who was there at The Holler in Gatlinburg and they'll tell you they had a great time when the guys took the stage. Young and old, everyone loved their music, which was evident by the children dancing alongside their parents. Capturing the spirit of the moment was an older gentleman who had on white tap shoes, and danced his heart out throughout the evening.

What a great location for free concerts - you can sample a tasty selection of moonshine at the Old Smoky Mountain Distillery, and hang around for the show. Be warned - move your feet - lose your seat. We watched from above, and when Monroeville paused for break and a couple left someone was right there to claim the empty rocking chairs.

It was amazing to learn of the local connection Monroeville has with our home state of Indiana - they took their name in honor of Bill Monroe. Bluegrass fans know that they'll find some of the best music around at the Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, Bean Blossom Blues Festival, and others held at the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground in Brown County, Indiana.

We’ve seen bands at the Bill Monroe Music Park, and with Monroeville’s soulful melodies led by GRAMMY® nominated producer and engineer, Matt Munsey,  would rock the park with their unique Bluegrass style. They love the music. Listen to their music online, and you can tell whether they're playing country and bluegrass or laying down the blues - the music is what matters. And, that's what the world needs more of - music that is natural, and comes from the heart that reaches beyond boundaries and unites us!


Learn More And Order Monroeville’s Albums 

Visit the Monroeville website to learn more about the band, upcoming concert dates and locations, as well as order their albums. Or, check out their Face Book and YouTube pages.

Read More +

Getaways At The Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg

Located on River Road, the Hilton Garden Inn is just around the corner from the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This made it easy to plan our visit to the park while enjoying a hearty breakfast cooked the way we like it at the Garden Grille. It was a buffet, and all you can eat - there was plenty of good food to pick from - more than we could eat.

The Hilton Garden Inn has a spacious lobby, so there was plenty of room to eat breakfast and talk with folks in town for the Fall Rod Run Car Show in Pigeon Forge. We all agreed that the staff at the Hilton Garden Inn were very helpful, especially when it came to directions to avoid traffic. If you've been here during peak seasons you know traffic can be challenging. They also have complimentary parking!

One suggestion the Hilton staff had was using the Trolley that is just a short walk away. They were right - it is an affordable way to get around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. And, the Trolley makes is easy to get around to area festivals like the Fall Rod Run Car Show, and visit some of the exciting attractions like WonderWorks, Ober Gatlinburg, and Dollywood. 

After visiting Dollywood, and other sites it was nice to come back and relax in our cozy room. There are 118 spacious guest rooms and suites with amenities that include complimentary WiFi access, a refrigerator that is great for snacks and drinks, along with a microwave, and coffeemaker. The Gatlinburg Convention Center is within walking distance, and for those in town on business there is an over-sized work desk with a comfortable chair, in addition to a 24-hour Business Center.

Did You Know? - Hilton Garden Inn is the first in LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Certified hotel in Tennessee, which means it has several environmentally friendly features like the indoor chemical-free saltwater pool and whirlpool.

Another advantage to staying at the Hilton Garden Inn is we could walk to local restaurants like The Park Grill. If you want a taste of the Great Smoky Mountains, The Park Grill is the ideal place for locally sourced selections like their fresh Fresh Mountain Rainbow Trout or Hickory Grilled Moonshine Chicken. Speaking of moonshine, after dinner we walked a few blocks to the Old Smoky Mountain Distillery to sample some moonshine, and we enjoyed a free concert featuring Monroeville. 

Our stay at the Hilton Garden Inn was memorable, they have a wonderful staff, and with perfect location in Gatlinburg, we were able to enjoy everything we wanted to see on this trip. We look forward to coming back soon because there's so much more than we imagined to experience in the Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains!

Plan Your Stay At The Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg, TN

With the Hilton Honors program you can also save with a Guaranteed Discount on your trip. Members can enjoy late check-out, and earn points on other trips or airline and rail miles. To explore rates and current packages available at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gatlinburg visit their website. 

Read More +

Five Reasons To Visit WonderWorks

WonderWorks is one of those places that is fun for everyone. We spent hours exploring this Indoor Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge. There are activities  that spark your creativity, some that make you laugh, and others that make you curious to figure out how they do that. Really, what a better way to engage our imaginations than to give us a place where not everything is as it appears - or - is it? When it comes to reasons to visit WonderWorks we have a long list, and have  selected our top five:

1. Everywhere you turn you'll discover something unexpected and interesting to experience. One example is the art you'll find like the Parrot portrait that test your perception of the world around you.

2. There are so many things to do around every corner. You can try wall climbing, climb to new height, or lying on a Bed of Nails. How about trying to create the biggest bubble? You can do that and so much more at WonderWorks.

(Credits: WonderWorks)

3. There's always something new to see and do at WonderWorks because they have changing exhibits. And, in early October, WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge will present a new NASA exhibit that let's your imaginations take off to the stars. The exhibit will feature scaled models of spacecraft and a virtual reality experience of NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System, and much more. 

4. They make science interesting! They take Forensic Science and present it in a way that makes us want to stop and learn more. From the science behind finger printing to reconstruction of a face, WonderWorks makes learning a hands-on experience that is hard to forget.

5. It's just fun! Where else will you find a giant Wonder Brite or Pac Man game? They have a place to play games with tokens and get a bit to eat. There's also space for parties. And there is a all new show called Wonders of Magic with magician, Terry Evanswood. 

We hope you have as much fun as we did!

 Plan Your Visit To WonderWorks 

WonderWorks has several locations, including one in Orlando, Panama City Beach, Myrtle Beach, Syracuse and West Nyack, NY. To explore locations, current exhibits, activities, shows, and buy your ticket to WonderWorks visit their website.

Read More +

Enjoy Tastings And Free Concerts At Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery

Bourbon has become a popular spirit being distilled across the country, and like wineries, they offer entertaining and educational tours. We've toured the Evan Williams Distillery in Louisville and sampled their variety of Kentucky Bourbon. And on our recent trip to Tennessee we discovered the first licensed distillery in the state, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery.

Did You Know? - The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg, at the "The Holler", is the most visited distillery America!

The Holler has a great location along the Parkway in Gatlinburg - just around the corner from the Hilton Garden Inn, where we stayed. It's close to all the attractions like the Ober Gatlinburg, shops, and dining options, and there's actually another location just down the street from The Holler that offers more tasty flavors of moonshine to sample - and there are so many of them. Plus, there's another location at The Island in Pigeon Forge, and each location of the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery has its own unique style and samples to try. 

What makes Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg a must see on your trip is the experience. Their staff is treated like family and it shows in the way you're greeted - with the warmth and hospitality of the Smoky's.

On the day of our visit the first thing we noticed was the smell of the moonshine fermenting. Everything is right there - you can see the corn mash - and the air is filled with an earthy scent. Take a tour of the distillery, and you'll learn this spirit was created from corn by the light of the moon - Moonshine - which allowed them to see anyone coming, and avoid being caught by the local law. In fact, you could say that the family recipe used to create Ole Smoky Moonshine is as old as the hills.

After your tour you can sample some of the Ole Smoky Moonshine. This is the fun part. The friendly and knowledgeable folks, like Red, who are in charge of your moonshine tastings are defiantly  entertaining. We were all laughing as he shared the history of moonshine, a few tips for recipes, along with some hilarious jokes.

We couldn't believe how many different flavors of moonshine there were to sample. There's the Original and Blue Flame that were some of our favorites. They’ve also created some splendid moonshine with fruit like their Apple Pie Moonshine that is delicious as well as Mulberry, and Peach, which is popular in Georgia. We also loved the Mountain Java that is perfect for adding to coffee, and Some Beach Moonshine - a smooth coconut shine, and perfect for mixed drinks or on the rocks. And, there is a Mango Habanero Whiskey that has a kick. 

If you check out the Ole Smoky Moonshine website you'll find recipes for mixing up all kinds of delicious drinks like a Moonshine Margarita, or Mocha Almond that includes: 

    3 oz. Ole Smoky® Mountain Java Moonshine

    .5 oz. Half & Half

    1 oz. Amaretto 

Mix up in a glass, pour over ice, and enjoy! (There are some great recipes for the holidays too!) 

Along with all the flavors moonshine and whiskey you can also bring home a taste of the Great Smoky Mountains by selecting from a assortment of tasty jams, sauces, peppers, or try some Smoky Mountain Taffy Logs. 

From sampling moonshine to free concerts with artists like Monroeville, you're certain to have a memorable time when you visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg!

Plan Your Tasting Adventure At The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery In Gatlinburg

The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery at The Holler is located at 903 Parkway in Gatlinburg. It won't be hard to find because you can smell the moonshine fermenting as you come around the corner. To explore their extensive collection of moonshine and whiskey available visit the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery website. For a tasty selection of recipes to try for your next party use this link. Ole Smoky Moonshine is sold across the nation and beyond, so look for it in your local liquor store as well if you cannot make the trip down to their Smoky Mountains Tennessee locations.

Read More +