Guidebook America Travel Newsletter

February 12, 2010

Guidebook America: With 10,000 pages of  travel information, and an exclusive Travel Directory with over 15,000 Travel listings Throughout America!   

Attention U.S. Travel Businesses
List or Advertise Your US Travel Business/Organization
Be featured in our weekly newsletter!

In This Issue:

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Calling all Skiers, Snowboarders, and Winter Birds to Santa Fe!

Sedona, Arizona
Sedona International Film Festival Returns!

Ketchikan, Alaska
Experience the Black Bear Inn - Ketchikan's finest.

Bar Harbor, Maine
Travel Planning Advice for Coastal Maine First-Timers.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Calling all Skiers, Snowboarders, and Winter Birds to Santa Fe, NM!

We’ve been blanketed with a bushel of snow and this just may be our best winter season yet! If you love skiing, snowboarding or just the winter environment now’s the time to visit. Hotel Plaza Real is one block from the turn off to Ski Santa Fe and with our fabulous rate, there’s no excuse not to load up your friends or family and enjoy the beautiful winters in Santa Fe!

Right now take advantage of an $84 nightly rate Sunday – Thursday or a $94 nightly rate Friday’s and Saturday’s plus enjoy 2 specialty cocktails at Jesse’s Lounge for each night of your stay! Upgrade your room to a Junior Suite for just $20 more!

Not a fabulous skier or snowboarder, but you try? We get it. Why not add a master level in-room massage from Sage Spa of Santa Fe?
Visit our Spa Services page for a listing of services offered. Pamper yourself and relax knowing that you’re in great hands!

Hotel Plaza Real is a lovely 56-room boutique hotel that’s situated just off the historic Santa Fe Plaza. Each guestroom is adorned with handcrafted furnishings and a luxurious and comfortable plush bedding package. Don’t let the winter chill keep you in, New Mexico weather is famous for welcoming all four seasons in a single day so by all means enjoy some of the wonderful attractions that are just walking distance from the hotel like the State Capitol, The Palace of the Governors, the new New Mexico History Museum, the striking St. Francis Cathedral, and the Loretto Chapel, which houses the Miraculous Spiral Staircase.

Come to Santa Fe this Winter, it’s an adventure for the mind, body, and soul.

Visit www.SantaFeHotelPlazaReal.com for more information.

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona International Film Festival Returns!

With themes ranging from inspirational stories about overcoming loss to an impressive list of documentaries short listed for Academy Award consideration to several films submitted for Best Foreign Language consideration and three films produced by Arizonans, the 2010 Sedona International Film Festival will screen a highly diverse lineup of 140 films from Feb. 21-28 at three locations.
"There are a number of films that deal with loss and healing so beautifully and aesthetically that really touch your heart," said Sedona Film Festival Executive Director Pat Schweiss. "But the range of films we have this year is so compelling, it's difficult not to get excited about every category including our new Family Series. There are some remarkably creative people out there."

Films will be screened at Harkins Theatre, 2081 W. Highway 89A in Sedona, at The Rouge Theatre, above Red's Restaurant across the street from the Harkins Theatres, and at Studio Live, a specially designed space a half-block from the theatres.

Festival week opens on Sunday, Feb. 21 and Monday, Feb. 22 with the annual Festival Kick-Off Preview Nights and receptions at Reds Restaurant. The Festival officially begins Tuesday, Feb. 23 with a full day of screenings, Quinn's latest film and the Opening Night Party. The Festival's popular Gala and VIP Tribute will be held on Friday, Feb. 26 at the Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa. The awards brunch is scheduled Sunday, Feb. 28 at L'Auberge de Sedona. The rest of the week's schedule will be announced soon.

For more information please visit: SedonaFilmFestival.com.

Ketchikan, Alaska

Experience the Black Bear Inn - Ketchikan's finest.

Located just north of town!  Whether you are looking for a romantic Bed and Breakfast Getaway or an outstanding Vacation Rental, the Black Bear Inn is perfect. It is set up to accommodate large families, business groups, fishing parties, or wedding guests. You can rent all four bedrooms in the main house, the one-bedroom luxury apartment, the two bedroom cabin, or one bedroom with private bath in the main house. The entire property can accommodate up to 16 people and is open year-round.

In 2010, the Black Bear is offering a Women's Escape to Alaska Trip. An inexpensive 4 night retreat that gives women a taste of Alaskan life. It is a chance to experience nature first-hand, learn new skills, take a break from the stress of everyday routines, and enrich and reinvigorate one's life.

Women's 2010 Escape to Alaska Trip

Cost is based on 8 or 9 participants. Groups requires a minimum of 6 with a minimal price increase.

Retreat includes:

Pick two of the following: Zipp line, misty fjords catamaran trip, deadliest catch crab fishermen's tour, or float plane trip.

Pick one of the following: full day of salt water fishing, or half day of river fly fishing and half day of salt water fishing.

  - Wilderness mountain hike
  - Naturalist rain forest walk
  - Learn to smoke fish
  - Totem and native heritage tour
  - Local shopping
  - Massage
  - All meals
  - All transportation after arriving in Ketchikan

Groups may come any time between late May and mid September. The Inn is closed to all other guests when retreat groups are here.

Housing: $135 per person per night x 4 = $540
Activities: $1000 per person
Meals: $280 per person
Total: $1820 per person + air.

Visit www.stayinalaska.com  for more information or to make reservations

Bar Harbor, Maine
Bass Cottage Inn

Travel Planning Advice for Coastal Maine First-Timers
by Jeff Anderholm, Innkeeper, Bass Cottage Inn

If you really want to sample the stunning beauty and diversity of the Maine coast, allow yourselves 7-10 days and don't rush. So many people on their first visit to Bar Harbor and Acadia only plan on one day...what can you really see?? Here's my advice --

Bar Harbor / Bass Cottage Inn (3-4 days) -- start here and work your way down the rocky coast. Spend a couple of loosely-structured days in Acadia National Park. Get out on the water with a whale watch or kayak excursion. Poke around Mount Desert Island and see the quiet villages and lighthouses. Be sure to have 3 great dinners and the ultimate lobsterbake experience.

Camden/Rockland (1-2 days) -- not as much to do here as in Bar Harbor, but definitely worth a visit. Camden has a lovely harbor and quaint shops. Rockland has the Farnsworth Museum with its extensive Wyeth collection as well as nearby Owl's Head Transportation Museum (planes, trains and automobiles!).

Kennebunkport/Ogunquit (3-4 days) -- southern Maine (often referred to as "Northern Massachusetts" by wise-buy downeasters) has a dramatically different coastline (wide sandy beaches) and quaint villages. You can actually swim in the ocean down there. Who knew? Some of the Northeast's best restaurants are to be found in K'port, Ogunquit and nearby Portland's "Old Port" district.

www.basscottage.com

Add Your Travel Related Business to the Guidebook America U.S. Travel Directory
and/or
Advertise at Guidebook America