Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport’s New Private Resort, Celebrates Fall Foliage

Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport’s new private resort, is celebrating the changing of the leaves with the Colors of Autumn package.  When booking two nights guests will receive a third evening complimentary.  The getaway highlights luxe accommodations in a private cottage, bakery baskets delivered to the cottage each morning, wine and cheese in-cottage upon arrival, and a $50 certificate towards dinner at one of three top Kennebunkport restaurants, including Pier 77, Bandaloop and Big Fish.  Rates per cottage for the three-night package are $790 mid-week (Sun. through Thurs. nights) and $990 weekends (Fri. through Sun. nights).  The package is valid from September 21 through November 1, 2008.

The first property of its kind to open in Kennebunkport, Hidden Pond opened its doors this past July and has been met with rave reviews.  Each of the 14 one- and two-bedroom designer cottages features Frette linens, fireplaces, flat screen TVs and Bose sound systems with Ipod docks, heated outdoor showers and a screened in porch with swinging daybeds, cozy blankets and spectacular views of the fall palette outside.  Additionally, each cottage is outfitted with a gourmet kitchen where private chefs will prepare in-cottage “Forest Clambakes.”

For a bit of pampering, Hidden Pond guests will delight in the resort’s tented spa featuring an array of massage and body treatments.  The property’s communal garden, though nearing the end of its growing season, will feature pumpkins, squash and other fall produce available for guests to pick, enjoy and take home.  The bicycle barn houses complimentary bikes to use for jaunts to Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport’s most scenic coastal area, located just a mile from Hidden Pond.  On cool fall evenings, guests can cozy up to the poolside fire pit, where bonfires are a nightly ritual, or snuggle by the fire inside the Clubhouse.

The guests-only resort was the creation of Tim Harrington and Juan Urtubey, residents of Kennebunkport and Miami, whose goal was to create a private retreat for those seeking high-end accommodations and personalized services in a relaxed and natural coastal setting.  Hidden Pond’s cottages were designed by 14 Maine-based interior designers. Their creations range from traditional to colorfully over-the-top from Lazy Days, featuring a bohemian-meets- nature-flair to Lucky’s retro, mod vibe to Sweet Fern’s East Indian touches.

Additional services and amenities available at Hidden Pond are a bright and airy work-out cottage featuring cardio equipment and weights, horse shoe and croquet lawns and water color classes taught by the resident artist.  The onsite concierge can arrange endless guest activities, including sailing and schooner outings, clamming excursions, dining reservations at Kennebunkport’s sought after spots and theater tickets, among others.

In May 2009, phase two of Hidden Pond will unveil an additional 27 cottages, a second swimming pool, full-service spa cottage and fine-dining restaurant.

What travelers hope to find on the Wandering Blogger

I’ve picked up the habit of posting the most popular search terms used to find my other blog, Migrant Blogger, and I think I’ll do it here. Wandering Blogger is finally picking up some momentum! Well, since launching, the most popular search term appears to consist of variations on “Cafe Mozart closed,” often including “Manhattan” or “New York” in the query. Yes, the restaurant did close, much to my chagrin (but not my father’s). The place lost its lease, which is why it shut down (to answer one search engine-based question).

For those of you looking for absinthe in Naples, FL, your SOL– at least if you’re looking for real absinthe. You can’t get it anywhere in the United States. But, if Naples, FL is on your mind, you might want to check out the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. I spent a weekend there and loved it. Learn more at TraderDaily.com or TripAdvisor. Gare du Nord, a train station in Paris, Albert Maes, and foreign street signs are popular as well.

Also, someone was looking for “Blue Lagoon Spa fucking.” I get it. The Blue Lagoon Spa is a great destination not far from Reykjavik, Iceland. I assume they frown upon sex in the lagoon, but I guess it’s worth a shot.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts Extends Its Presence to Los Cabos, Mexico

Raffles Cabo San Cristobal scheduled to open in 2011

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will manage a new resort at Mexico. Cabo San Cristobal is located along Mexico’s coastline, about a 2-½-hour flight from Los Angeles, and features stunning scenery, pristine beaches and exceptional weather all year long. 

Raffles Cabo San Cristobal will be spread over 80 acres of beachfront property, offering guests breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.  The resort will feature 130 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, each one exuding the luxury and residential charm that Raffles is renowned for, and a range of exquisite dining and bar options for celebrated dining.

State-of-the-art meeting facilities will make Raffles Cabo San Cristobal a splendid destination for executive retreats and corporate incentive programs.  Travelers seeking an enchanting spa experience can look forward to pampering treatments at a spacious RafflesAmrita Spa, a signature component at all Raffles hotels and resorts.

Raffles Cabo San Cristobal will have a wide selection of leisure activities, including golf, scuba-diving, snorkeling, romantic sunset cruises, as well as some of the best sports fishing in the world.  The resort is a short drive from the town of Cabo San Lucas, which is renowned for offering spectacular whale-watching opportunities when massive gray whales from the Bering Sea in Alaska return to the warm waters of Southern Baja California.  The area also plays host to some of the world’s most prominent sport fishing events, including Bisbee’s Black & Blue Fishing Tournament and the Los Cabos Offshore Fishing Tournament. 

Raffles Cabo San Cristobal is a short distance from Los Cabos International Airport, which is served by several international airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines offering flights from North American gateway cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City.

Said Albert Maes, Managing Director, Cabo San Cristobal Resorts, “The name Raffles enjoys tremendous recognition within the niche luxury segment and we are very pleased to be introducing this prestigious brand to Mexico.  We look forward to working with Raffles Hotels & Resorts on this project.”

Diana Ee-Tan, President, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, commented, “Los Cabos is one of the fastest growing resort destinations in Mexico, favored by affluent travelers.  We are delighted to be part of this growth and are extremely gratified Raffles has been entrusted with managing this luxurious resort in this renowned leisure destination.”

Women Wild about Wine at Tides Inn

A Weekend Getaway for Girlfriends Celebrating Friendship and Virginia Wine Month

This Chesapeake Bay weekend getaway for women who are wild about wine celebrates the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine month this October. Guests will enjoy exclusive access to Virginia wineries on a self-guided tour of the Northern Neck Wine trail, complete with a Chesapeake regional picnic lunch. There’s also plenty of time for catching up and relaxing back at the peaceful setting of the waterfront inn with mani-pedis over wine, and activities such as tennis, golf, boating and nearby antiquing and historical attractions.

The two-night Women Wild About Wine Package includes:
- Friday and Saturday night accommodation in a Vista Suite, double occupancy
- Scrumptious breakfast for two
- Two manicures and two pedicures accompanied by a Virginia wine of your choice, selected from the six wineries on the self-guided itinerary
- Picnic basket lunch for the Saturday self-guided tour of six Virginia wineries located near the Inn (basket is yours to keep): Athena Vineyards, Belle Mount Vineyards, Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Crest Vineyard & Winery, Vault Field Vineyards, and White Fences Vineyard & Winery. Tastings at each winery included
- Bottle of wine from each of the six wineries presented at each respective winery
- Two “Women Wild about Wine” logo shirts

Two-night package for two people, based on double occupancy, is $335 per person, per night, plus tax. Valid for Friday-Saturday weekends through November 15, 2008.

These vineyards are part of the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace appellation and enjoy a climate similar to that of Bordeaux, France. The weather is moderated by the Chesapeake Bay and the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, allowing the region to grow exceptional wine grapes in well-drained, sandy loam soil. Gently rolling hills are planted with American hybrid and grafted European vines, offering breathtaking views and award-winning wines.

About Tides Inn
The intimate 106-room Tides Inn, set on its own waterfront peninsula in the charming town of Irvington on Virginia’s Northern Neck, has been a Chesapeake Bay tradition for over 60 years. A preferred mid-Atlantic getaway for couples, families and small groups, the resort features luxury accommodations furnished in British colonial style and dedicated state-of-the-art conference facilities certified by IACC. The resort’s signature fine dining restaurant, the Chesapeake Club, serves seasonal regional Chesapeake Bay cuisine. Additional amenities include a full service spa; an award-winning 60-slip marina that accommodates boats up to 125 feet; a professional sailing school and an array of outdoor recreation, including championship golf, tennis, croquet and volleyball.

For more information, please visit www.tidesinn.com.

Answers to Your Search Term Questions

I take a look at the search terms used to find the Wandering Blogger. It helps give me a sense of what interests you. Looking at yesterday’s and today’s activity, it looks like a few of my readers are looking for answers. Just in case you didn’t find them before, I’ll make them explicit now.

Today, someone wanted to learn about the “JetBlue Customer Commitment Team”. Interesting. If there is such a group, I’m pretty sure they’re just as ineffective as everyone else at JetBlue. This airline seems committed to stranding people in airports, and that’s about it. So, if you have a choice between JetBlue and any other airline, take the latter.

Speaking of JetBlue, it appears to be my most popular search term. Readers have hunted for the following:

• JetBlue diverted
• JetBlue Newark delays 2008
• JetBlue flight cancellations August 17

Some of those were pretty specific. I guess someone else got screwed by JetBlue …

One reader wants to know how long it takes to get from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon resort in Iceland. It’s about 45 minutes by bus, though you can probably get there a bit faster if you rent a car. I absolutely loved my trip to Blue Lagoon, so check out my blog entry on it.

For the reader who wants to know what to pack for a trip to Nice, France in August: it gets hot. I’d go with shorts and short-sleeved shirts. Yes, you’ll stand out as an American, but live with it. They’d have figured it out from the cowboy hat anyway. Definitely pack a bathing suit, but keep in mind that the beaches are different in southern France. Instead of having sand, they have smoth stones. They won’t hurt your feet, but it makes building castles a tad more difficult.

A few stragglers:

Internext Hollywood 2008 was probably for someone looking for pictures of hotties rather than coverage of my amazing panel on the adult economy. One would-be traveler is interested in the “Grand Spa at Tabacon,” and another has an interest in North Korea’s 2009 Mass Games. Well, he should know that Arirang will not be held next year, so it’s 2008 or 2012. Act now.

Of course, if you ever run out of travel ideas, you can always check out my column at TraderDaily.com >>

New Travel Article: Ritz-Carlton, Naples, FL

Remember that trip I took to an undisclosed location in Florida a few weeks back? It was to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, FL. Now that the article has been posted on TraderDaily.com’s travel section, I can finally talk about it! I have to admit, it was among the best hotel experiences I have had (and keep in mind that I spent several years logging 40+ weeks on the road).

I am so happy that I can finally tell you guys how much I loved that place. You’ll read all about it on TraderDaily.com, but I do want to rave about the spa there for a sec. It was nothing short of heavenly. I seriously felt like my hands and feet were going to float away. If there is ever a reason to go to Florida, this is it.

Check out the review at TraderDaily.com >>

All is well in Fla

I had a busy day, and now I’m back on my balcony enjoying a cigar and relaxing a bit. Since I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep last night (thanks to JetBlue), I’ve been dragging, though I did get a boost of adrenaline for the interviews I got to conduct this afternoon. I’m looking forward to an upscale dinner in a few hours. I’m getting pretty hungry. Breakfast was fantastic, but lunch was Spartan given the day’s agenda. The experience, though, was certainly worth it.

Right now, I’m looking at the putting green and a couple of guys trying to make the “short game” work. They aren’t seeing a whole lot of success. The putz putts. Pretty funny, at least for the time and place.

I’m smoking a good cigar right now, the Taino maduro. It fits the weather. Putting back a Nicaraguan stick in this weather would kill me. The heat is the major culprit. I step outside and feel like I’m baking. It’s worth it, though, as everything else related to this trip is top-notch.

I can’t wait for dinner!

The Blue Lagoon: Pure Relaxation

I normally don’t like to relax. Seriously, it’s not my thing. Whether I’m writing, smoking, walking, reading or yelling at a civil servant, I always have to be doing something. Often, I like having a few irons in the fire, for example, yelling at a civil servant while pacing and smoking my pipe. That’s a cool mental image that I offer to you free of charge.

The Blue Lagoon, more than an hour outside Reykjavik, doesn’t provide civil servants, smoking dens or anger triggers. The sole purpose of this destination is to help you unwind. So, I wasn’t sure how I’d handle it. I’ve only been truly relaxed once in my life– October 1999. I was on a beach in Carmel, CA for a few hours while out west on business. For some reason, that particular spot on that day did it. But, my life was so packed with stress at that time, that I had the need to truly relax.

I’m in a better place now, so I didn’t expect Iceland’s Blue Lagoon to work wonders, but I figured it would be a nice break from the norm. It was. Laura and I were there for several hours, and I was not looking at my watch the whole time.

The Blue Lagoon is a tourist spot, and one look at it explains why. The geothermal pool is a deep blue, and it is surrounded by moss-dotted volcanic rock. Hell, just to look at it would have been worth the hour-long bus ride at the hands of one of the world’s worst drivers (I’m talking about Icelanders in general, now). But, why sniff when you can taste, right? I hopped in.

The water is packed with all kinds of minerals. Having studied philosophy in college, I really could give a shit about geological minutiae; I’m not into details. But, I do understand that the minerals in the lagoon are supposed to be good for your skin. It felt nice, so I agree with the experts.

The black volcanic rock sand at the bottom of the lagoon was wild– to see and touch. The water is so blue tat you can’t see the bottom. I learned about the sand only because I grabbed a fistful. I was just curious; I wanted to know what was under my feet.

Further out in the lagoon, the texture of the bottom became different, slimy. Instead of volcanic sand, it’s some kind of silica mud. This same mud is offered in buckets around the lagoon. You’re supposed to smear it on your face and wait five to 10 minutes. I guess people are more likely to smear bucket mud on their faces than bottom mud. I chose bucket mud– twice. After a while, it tingles, even burns a little.

The water is advertised to be warm. I guess this is true, but “warm” varies. Remember, it’s around 55 degrees above the water. Some spots are mild, others hot and still others are pipin’. I like my water scalding. There were a few pockets that worked, but they would shift after a while.

It’s a strange feeling to be hot until you stand. Above the water, the air was chilly. Repeated blasts of wind added intensity to the cold and made small waves in the lagoon. It rained a little, and the gusts mixed rain with water picked up from the surface to shove in my face. But, from the neck down, it was perfect. I learned to walk in something of a squat. Thus, I could move around the lagoon without getting cold … until it occurred to me to swim. To make the common sense breach worse, I used to be a competitive swimmer. I worked as a lifeguard in high school and college. So, why would it occur to me to move around in water by swimming? Duh …

As the Blue Lagoon became crowded, I saw the funniest scene in Iceland. Hundreds of people were navigating the waters with only their heads above water. Bodiless heads seemed to float around as if powered by will alone. It was absolutely hilarious.

I was one of those heads.

Leaving the water was a problem. consider the situation. You’re enjoying the warm embrace of the Blue Lagoon. You watch someone stand. Then, he climbs the stars at a run and darts straight to the door. The first time I left the water, I was one of these morons. It sucked. The second time, though, I found a better approach. Inside the door is a small thermal pool. It has a door to the outdoor water, so you can enter and exit the building through the water. It isn’t as warm as the water outside, but it allows a smoother transition.