This amazing Alaskan property is truly one of a kind. From its imported stone exterior to the stately Mahogany built-ins with hand carved details, no expense was spared in the design and execution of this exemplary retreat. The stately entry has a 4 story custom limestone and mahogany staircase, Schonbeck and Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and Bizazza tile inlays into marble with Jerusalem limestone floors. The main and carriage house boast 4 full kitchens, including the main chef’s kitchen, and comes with 25 appliances, 2 islands, and 3 full preparation areas.

The elegant flowing design gives an airy feel to the grand space. The extensive Mahogany trimmed windows enhance the unsurpassed view of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife refuge, which makes up the estates back yard. The property unfolds on four floors, three of which stand on their own with their own kitchens, laundry rooms, and private baths. They are all accessible by spiral staircase or Otis elevator for ease and convenience. The entire estate features state-of-the-art-security, Crestron computer controlled lighting and operating systems. The endless pool and 2 custom tiled spas provide relaxation and recreation.

Care to enjoy a movie or find the right bottle of wine? Just step inside your own theater or climate controlled wine room. Each unique feature of this magnificent estate must be seen in person to fully appreciate.

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For information please contact Charlie Whitlock

Charlie Whitlock

Coldwell Banker Best Properties

Phone: (907) 562-7653

Fax: (907) 250-5556

A favorite among American travelers for its accessibility and beautiful beaches, Puerto Rico is fast becoming one of the Caribbean’s top golf destinations as well. By Brian McCallen, Photograph by Joann Dost

When Columbus singled out Puerto Rico for its beauty, golf had already been established as a favorite pastime in Europe. These many centuries later, Puerto Rico, a U.S. commonwealth where English is widely spoken, has reasserted itself as one of the Carib-bean’s top golf destinations.

You don’t need a passport to enter Puerto Rico, but you will need your A game at two brilliantly revived courses—plus one striking newcomer—that combine to offer visiting players and savvy investors plenty of options east and west of San Juan.

Beachfront Suite at Dorado Beach

Dorado Beach Resort and Club Conceived by Laurance S. Rockefeller in the late 1950s as a back-to-nature playground for the well-to-do, Dorado Beach, located 45 minutes west of San Juan, was one of the first full-fledged golf resorts in the Caribbean. A visionary developer and conservationist who saw an opportunity to build a recreational “Great Park” in the tropics, Rockefeller hired Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the dean of the trade, to build a pair of courses on a 1,400-acre plantation on the island’s lush north coast.

More than 50 years after Rockefeller transported 150 friends (each one a millionaire) to the resort’s gala opening, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who as a teenager had toured the course during construction, has returned to direct a $6.2 million restoration of Dorado’s East Course. “It’s a treat for me at this point in my career to have the opportunity to refresh some of my father’s most notable work,” Jones says. “The restoration…has enhanced the natural beauty, playing conditions, and flexibility that my father had originally envisioned.”

Working from his dad’s original notes and sketches, Jones set about rediscovering a course that had fallen into ruin. After an extensive tree-pruning program thinned out the layout’s jungle-lined corridors, the Atlantic Ocean became visible from 15 of the 18 holes. Numerous lost features were revealed during the cleanup, from specimen trees to water hazards.

Reopened in November 2011, the East Course, a veritable museum of the senior Jones’s work, is now better than when it was ranked among the best courses in the islands. The runway-style tees have been restored, the elevated greens rebuilt, the sculpted bunkers restyled, and the fairways widened and resurfaced. In 2012, Jones, Jr. will return to touch up Dorado’s West Course, a shorter, sportier version of the East Course. Visitors can also access the property’s Pineapple and Sugarcane courses (formerly the North and South courses at Cerromar Beach, respectively).

In December 2012, the resort will unveil a new Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the site of Rockefeller’s original beachfront hotel. More intimate and luxurious than a typical Ritz-Carlton, the Dorado Beach Reserve, designed according to LEED Silver standards, will feature 115 rooms spread across 50 acres and a mile of beachfront. The resort will include Spa Botanico, a new Beach Club, a Wind and Wave Center headed by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment, and celebrity chef restaurants. The 11-mile Rockefeller Nature Trail, Watermill water park, and fitness and wellness center are already in place.

The resort’s real estate offerings are led by the Ritz-Carlton Reserve West Beach Residences, a limited series of two- to four-bedroom oceanfront condos. These units range from 2,204 to 4,140 square feet and are priced from $2.5 million.

Dorado Beach East is a well-established residential neighborhood with custom homes priced from $1.2 million.

Until the new hotel opens, accommodations are available at the Plantation Resort Residences, its spacious three- and four-bedroom condos overlooking fairways, mountains, and ocean. These units, available in four different floor plans, are available starting at $830,000.

Beach front swimming pool at the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort

Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club Fronting a two-mile crescent of sandy beach adjacent to El Yunque, the only rain forest in the U.S. National Park System, Bahia Beach Resort is a master-planned, 483-acre community with a 139-room St. Regis hotel on site. Occupying a former coconut plantation, Bahia Beach is dotted with 100-foot palms and fringed by thick stands of almond, sea grape, and flamboyant trees. Colorful songbirds and iguanas inhabit the surrounding forest.

Tucked away on the island’s northeast coast 30 minutes from San Juan, Bahia Beach is anchored by its enticing Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course. On a preexisting public course that was no match for its superb location, Jones and his team superimposed an entirely new design on the site.

Water is a strong component on this subtly contoured layout—nearly every hole skirts a lagoon, challenging players to sacrifice power for accuracy. A typical hole at Bahia Beach has water on the left, thick jungle to the right, and a slim fairway pinched by upswept bunkers in the landing area. The slick, undulating greens are well protected by sand and water. Five sets of tees offer plenty of options. The key to enjoying the course is selecting the correct markers for your ability level.

Opened to acclaim in 2008, the golf course reaches its pinnacle at the final three holes, each of which is flanked to the right by the ocean. The 17th, a long par 3 that plays to a green perched above the beach, is a stunner, as is the home hole, a dazzling par 4 straddled by a lagoon and the sea. Jones, a true aesthete, created a greenside bunker at the 18th that is an extension of the beach. Players can tally their scores in the club’s open-air beachfront clubhouse.

The well-appointed accommodations at the St. Regis feature spectacular views of the sea or rain forest from their private terraces. In addition to its 24-hour butler service, the St. Regis, opened in November 2010, offers a Remede Spa and Fitness Center, three restaurants (including Fern, a splendid Jean-Georges Vongerichten dining establishment), transportation in a chauffeured Bentley, and other extras.

Bahia Beach has a variety of residential properties available. On a private island within the community are 26 branded St. Regis estate homes set on half-acre to 1.5-acre lots. The approximate starting price for these homes, which range from 6,000 to 10,000 square feet in size, is $3.6 million. Las Cabanas, a group of oceanview townhomes, comprises two-story, three-bedroom residences, each with a small studio, four baths, and a terrace. Prices range from $2,150,000 to $2,750,000. The 29 units at Las Ventanas, ranging in size from 1,680 square feet in Ventanas I ($745,000) to 3,300 square feet for a Penthouse in Ventanas II ($2.4 million), are within walking distance of the beach. Lastly, Las Verandas offers 90 two- and three-bedroom villas ranging in price from $700,000 to $1,641,500.

The green on Royal Isabela's first hole

Royal Isabela Seventy-five miles west of San Juan in Puerto Rico’s northwest corner is Royal Isabela, one of the most spectacular new golf courses to debut in the Caribbean in many years. Developed by brothers and former tennis stars Charlie and Stanley Pasarell, this one-of-a-kind layout sprawls across rolling tableland 200 feet above the frothy Atlantic Ocean.

The centerpiece of a 426-acre resort community, the course is marked by sharp elevation changes, limestone outcrops, and natural sand dunes. Broad clifftop fairways and sod-faced bunkers create a multitude of strategies for each shot, as do the brisk trade winds. “Tropical Scotland” is how Stanley describes the course, adding, “If the Open Championship ever leaves the British Isles, this could be the venue.” At full stretch—7,667 yards, par 73—Royal Isabela is one tough coconut, though staggered sets of forward tees offer graduated challenges to higher handicappers.

Observant players will detect a sense of naturalness at Royal Isabela. During the construction phase, the majority of the shaping was done by hand, reflecting the developers’ desire to tread lightly on the land. Natural lakes were integrated into the design of the course, as were deep chasms that call for death-or-glory shots. Conceived as a sustainable development, more than 20,000 native trees and indigenous plants were propagated and grown in on-site nurseries, using seeds and cuttings gathered on the property.

Aided by David Pfaff, a former Pete Dye associate, the Pasarells let the existing landforms dictate the course routing. “It’s an unbelievable piece of land,” says Charlie. “We spent years walking the property until we uncovered a golf course.” Recognizing that resort golf should, above all, be fun, the Pasarells built plenty of entertainment into their design. For example, there’s an infinity-edge green that appears to float on the distant sea, an atoll-like island green, plus a clifftop double green that serves the 12th and 14th holes. There’s also a quirky original feature: The sixth hole, with two separate fairways and two separate greens, can be played either as a par 4 or a par 5. (The brothers couldn’t agree and so they built both options.)

In April 2012, Royal Isabela will unveil a lodge with 20 guest casitas. Additional amenities will include a clubhouse, restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts, and a spa and fitness center. The property also has an organic farm, 27 miles of hiking trails, and world-class surfing.

Royal Isabela’s home sites, ranging in size from one to two acres, are spaced around the golf course and overlook the ocean. Lots start at $2 million. Each Fairway Villa provides over 1,500 square feet of living space and features two master suites, a covered terrace, and a plunge pool. Villas start at $1 million.

A weekend home on New York’s Fire Island gets a thoughtful makeover, bringing the island’s coveted seascape into full view from nearly every stylish nook and cranny. By Anna Kasabian, Photographs by  Christopher Weil

When you’ve got waterfront property on the dreamy lick of land known as Fire Island, a popular escape for city dwellers in New York, the relationship you create with your home and that endless ocean view is really what it’s all about. “And when we create that perfect harmony of home and place, as we did here, we call it ‘oceantricity,’” says R. Scott Bromley of Manhattan’s Bromley Caldari Architects. Bromley and his business partner, Jerry Caldari, get kudos from their clients for achieving that perfect harmony with their simple, thoughtful architectural solutions. In the case of this Fire Island home, those solutions took a charming, if slightly dated, little getaway and stripped away all of the barriers between it and the magnificent light and intoxicating views of sand, sea grass, and water that surround it. The answer was as simple and pure as the setting—glass goes up and walls come down.

Bromley Caldari Architects gave the Fire Island home a fresh new look

The homeowners—Susan, Pamela, and their daughter, Lea—could not be happier with the results. They make the pilgrimage from their year-round home in TriBeCa every weekend from May through October, and then intermittently through the first of every new year. “Basically, when we are away from our house, we experience withdrawal,” Susan says.

When the couple first went to look at it when it was for sale, upon entering the front gate they saw the house, but it was the cutout of the breezeway—basically a hole in the middle of the house—that caught their attention. “It is an amazing view that leads you to the ocean,” Susan says, “ …like a pathway to serenity.” She notes, too, that she and Pamela love the simplicity of this little beach box of a house.

“It’s not too big and it’s not too small,” she says. “It’s sleek, modern, and functional, but most of all, we love that it opens to the ocean from every room; you can get stereo sound of the ocean everywhere here.”

When it was time to find an architect to work with, they turned to Bromley’s firm. “I heard amazing things about [Bromley], and [those things] turned out to be understatements,” Susan says.

The couple’s goal was to preserve the integrity of the original vision for the structure but also to bring in more light. “We wanted to see the ocean from every southern window, even if we were sitting down,” she says.

The firm accomplished all of this by introducing larger window surfaces, removing what Bromley characterizes as “a lugubrious deep soffit,” and transforming a tiny three-foot balcony into more comfortable, usable space by doubling its width.

“It was an interesting-looking home, but it did not give you access to the water views,” Bromley says. “There were 10-foot ceilings, but then little slits for windows.”

There are two bedrooms on the lower level, which now maximizes beach views. The main living space, including a reconfigured, updated kitchen and bath and a master bedroom and living room, comprise the upper level. The two floors are joined by an open spiral staircase.

With the lower-level bedrooms a mere 10 feet wide, Bromley created the illusion of expanded space by building out a bay window in each. Now, when you bed down for an afternoon post-beach nap, the sky, sand, and rolling foam are framed in the view.

The original architect for the vintage ‘60s house, Bromley explains, was the New York firm Bates Masi Architects. “[Principal] Harry [Bates] is the original upside-down architect, known for putting the bedrooms on the lower level to capture views,” Bromley says. Inside rooms got a bit of a makeover, one that updated with sensitivity to a lifestyle that cherished the casualness planted so firmly in the bones of the place.

Kitchens interior

The plan for updating the kitchen was tied to opening views, as well as improving views and space in the master bath. Ultimately, the two rooms were reconfigured so as to also expand the bathroom and put the shower and deep tub center stage so that occupants could enjoy the beach view. A place for the shy and inhibited? Not so much.

The multi-toned green glass tiles were the homeowners’ choice. “They sometimes winter in St. Bart’s, and this earthy combination reminds them of how the deep green-blue waves lighten up just as they hit the shoreline,” Bromley says. “Before we joined the tiles together, we chopped the squares so the pattern would look more organic,” he adds.

In the new layout, the kitchen, which had taken up a big square of the second-level space, became a smaller, compact, more functional galley workspace. It is open to the dining area and the living room, and those all-important views in the frame left to right, room to room.

To accommodate the limited square footage, and to avoid having a door swinging into the space, pocket doors were installed to segregate the five-foot-wide bathroom from the adjacent space. Other updating details included a new knotty pine floor, the addition of a multi-colored slate floor in the foyer, refurbishing the backyard swimming pool, and re-siding the house in cedar.

“We used stacked panels for the siding and attached them with screws placed in a pattern,” Bromley says, adding that the technique lent a bit of texture and visual interest to the frame.

The house will weather well with the sun, sand, and four seasons, blending more and more into the beach scene as time passes. And inside, this family will continue to clock the short season of summer days with visiting friends—Bromley among them—and simple goals, like beach walks and picnics in the sand.

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50 Top Luxury Real Estate Markets in the USA: Carmel, CA

Actor-director Clint Eastwood once was the mayor of Carmel. Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, two of the most innovative and influential 20th century American photographers lived here. Each of these men are considered true masters in their own right and faithfully represent the rich artistic history that is at the core of Carmel-by the Sea, the center point of  California’s North Central Coast.

Over the years, the natural beauty of the area has inspired poets, writers, painters, and architects alike. Mike Canning, who represents Carmel’s legendary Butterfly House, says, “It is one of only 5 true oceanfront properties in Carmel.  The home, designed by Frank Wynkoop, is anchored directly into the rocky shoreline and has panoramic views from Point Lobos to Pebble Beach. Captivating Carmel residents and tourists for decades, this oceanfront architectural landmark exceeds unique”.

According to Peter Butler, “Some of California’s finest architect-designed homes can be found in the Carmel-Pebble Beach area.  The homes are beautiful here and the lifestyle is casual, yet cosmopolitan. You can get just about anywhere in the area in 15 minutes. People live here because they choose to, not because they have to. As a second home market, properties tend to hold their values because there is a finite supply and a strong demand”.

Judie Profeta says, “One of the most enchanting aspects of the area is the diversity of people, topography and the compactness of the area. Highly accomplished people live here; they have come to Carmel, to Monterey or Pebble beach to relax and live the life they have worked very hard for.  The natural beauty is stunning. Cultural events are also plentiful, such as theatre, the famous Monterey Jazz Festival, the Bach Festival, and Concours d’Elegance, the world renowned auto show that features classic cars”.

For those who seek the seclusion of a rural retreat, there are two magnificent master planned communities just a few miles outside of town:  Tehama (above Carmel) and Monterra (above Monterey). According to Mike Jashinski, who specializes in selling property in these exclusive enclaves, “Tehama is a Native American word that means ‘abundance of nature’. Guided by Clint Eastwood’s vision of sustainable development, Tehama has preserved more than 85% of its land as pristine open space. With gated private access to its 2000 acres of rolling hill country, residents of just 90 estate lots, ranging from 4 to 17 acres can enjoy a social-fitness membership (fitness center, tennis, swimming and dining, included with purchase) and private membership (by invitation only) at the Tehama Golf Club, featuring an 18 hole championship course designed by Jay Moorish”.

Tim Allen, who specializes in oceanfront and ocean view homes, explains that “Carmel and Pebble Beach are natural second home or retirement home markets for nearby Silicon Valley residents as well as for San Franciscans who are only 120 miles away. Our world class golf is a major draw”. Pebble Beach Golf Links is the most famous course in the Western United States, and the only course which has ever beaten Pine Valley Golf Club for the top spot in Golf Digest’s biennial list of America’s 100 greatest.

Judy Midgely adds, “The Links at Spanish Bay evokes the original Scottish concept for the game of golf that was established over 500 years ago. The Monterey coastline is very rugged like the natural beauty of Scotland. Every evening the bagpiper closes the course in true Scottish tradition. It is pleasant to sit on your front porch and just listen even if you are not playing golf”.

Molly McGee says, “The town of Carmel has a very special charm. Every day seems like a vacation. The shopping, art galleries, and the food and wine scene here is terrific. Carmel is an amazing place to meet people from all over the world.”

*Source: napaconsultants.com/

Mexico’s Baja Peninsula offers unabashed luxury in a setting of natural grandeur.

Jutting out into the aquamarine junction of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, the southern capes of the Baja Peninsula, or “Los Cabos,” have long served as the West Coast’s answer to the distant Caribbean and the even more remote Pacific islands. Since tourism began here in the late ‘70s, the scramble for the 20-mile corridor between the towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas inevitably spawned gimmicky hotels and tawdry motels. However, it also brought some of the most lavish, show-stopping resorts, aptly fit for their regular Hollywood A-list clientele and the global elite with a desert-meets-the-sea romantic vibe. Indeed, magnificent resorts like the One&Only Palmilla and Las Ventanas al Paraíso rank among the globe’s finest, earning Los Cabos a spot high atop the list of the world’s most luxurious locales.

Villa Cortez beachfront pool Casita Master Suite at One&Only Palmilla

One&Only Palmilla

Designed as an intimate beachfront hacienda for the mid-20th century’s rising rich and famous, One&Only Palmilla once attracted the likes of John Wayne, Lucille Ball, and Bing Crosby. Over time, improved infrastructure in the Baja Peninsula catalyzed expansions, but the resort’s original ethos—an unapologetic, decadent respite from reality—remains unchanged. Nowadays, the 250-acre One&Only Palmilla redefines the concept of barefoot luxury with sumptuous accommodations and exalted outlets at the tip of the Palmilla master-planned community.

An ambassador of South of the Border luxury, One&Only Palmilla exudes a true sense of place. The contemporary incarnations of the original accommodations take the form of 12 traditional casas boasting a total of 173 rooms and suites that range from large to palatial. All face the ocean, are outfitted with sprawling terraces and patios, and offer the brand’s signature butler service. Lively, eclectic Mexican design abounds, right down to the last detail, while massive wooden doors and room partitions, intricately studded and bursting with character, reflect the Colonial farm style typical of San Miguel de Allende. One-of-a-kind rustic floor tiles complement the understated tapestries, hand-embroidered cloths, and colorful linens.

One&Only Palmilla’s ample acreage separates the more family-centric north from the more adults-driven south. That’s not to say that these regions are mutually exclusive or that any age will forgo frivolity and fun on the hilltop; simply put, One&Only Palmilla champions the best of both worlds.

Vacationing families gravitate toward the resort’s central and northern reaches, where the rocky outcrops give way to placid beaches. Nestled in dense foliage and teeming with towering palm trees, this vast expanse includes half of the resort’s lavish casas, the principal pool and connecting children’s pool, the unique “Mexiterranean” Agua Restaurant & Bar, and an ESPA spa. Lining the southern rim of the property, 16 units with private oceanfront infinity pools and three dozen junior suites cater to couples seeking honeymoon-style romance. At the multi-tiered, adults-only Vista Pool & Bar, complimentary foot massages, ginger margaritas, homemade sorbets, and towel fluffing are all on the menu. Come nightfall, a mesmerizing fire pit illuminates and creates idyllic ambience for good conversation and stargazing. A stone’s throw away, Suviche Lounge buzzes with the sweet sounds of live music and the chatter of margarita-merry patrons, while the neighboring Market restaurant doles out Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s award-winning French-Asian cuisine, peppered with regional Mexican spices and ingredients.

Between January and March, mammoth gray whales arrive at this coastal refuge to give birth and rear their young. They are often visible with the naked eye, though in-room telescopes bring them up close and personal. One&Only Palmilla is a year-round habitat for relaxation and uninterrupted bliss for both the affluent family and the starry-eyed romantic.

Oceanview suite at Las Ventanas al Paraíso

Las Ventanas al Paraíso

There’s no case of getting lost in translation for Las Ventanas al Paraíso. These “windows to paradise” overlook a stunning panorama of desert and sea that embodies our contemporary definition of “paradise.” Comprising 11 whitewashed, low-rise buildings that are enveloped by diverse cacti and framed by the most brilliant blue skies, Las Ventanas imparts an ambience of far-and-away storybook romance.

The resort impresses from the onset, with an expansive alfresco lobby opposite the rising tides, hovering over an enclave of inspirational architecture. The artisan floors are composed of contrasting stones, beautifully arranged along the labyrinthine walkways, while the ceilings are bound by traditional dried latilla sticks. Bare branches from the Baja desert come to life with hand-blown red and pink glass ornaments, complementing the color-splashed desert foliage. Freestanding rectangular stairs intersect reflection ponds, leading toward sea-level amenities and outlets like the resort’s fine-dining restaurant or the more casual Mexican-inspired Sea Grill. Seven distinctive pools offer varying degrees of privacy, and a warm and smiling staff surprise at every turn, eager to deliver stellar service.

Las Ventanas’s 71 suites perfectly balance elements of luxury with regional authenticity. Its understated interiors pay homage to the flavors of Mexico’s 32 diverse states, cast ashore on a seaside desert. Even the recent spa expansion showcases a multi-faceted example of Mexican craftsmanship, with ornamental glasswork from Oaxaca embellishing an outdoor traditional Bajan palapa that serves as the spa’s relaxation area.

Due in part to its extensively manicured grounds, Las Ventanas exudes a constant spa-like placidity. Here, the few interruptions to guests’ R&R usually occur poolside or beachside with hourly offerings of homemade sorbets, water coolers, and other thirst-quenching delights. Perhaps you’ll wake up from a post-massage, sun-kissed snooze to a distant horn signaling the presence of whales in the area. Like One&Only Palmilla, Las Ventanas al Paraíso is a superb spot for witnessing the renowned gray whale migration, one of nature’s most majestic sights.

Highlights Los Cabos With all the shameless pampering you’re bound to experience at One&Only and Las Ventanas, heading off site can seem like a ridiculous idea. But if you can manage to break away, here are a few can’t-miss activities in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Art Walk Exposition On Thursday evenings, the wildly popular Art District in San Jose del Cabo comes to life as dozens of galleries offer patrons complimentary wine and insight into their fabulous displays and works by Mexican and international artists and artisans. Land’s End Think of Los Cabos and a vision of Land’s End quickly comes to mind. This impressive cluster of rock formations, including the famous Arch of Poseidon, appears on nearly every postcard of Los Cabos. During high tide, panga boats (dinghies), from either the Marina or from El Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, offer rides to the Arch. Better yet, during low tide, intrepid travelers can get there by foot by way of Lover’s Beach. Whale Watching From January to March, gray whales rule the Cabo coastline. Around 6,000 whales come here annually to birth their young. While it’s exciting to view the whales from the coastline, the full gamut of boat tours—from zodiacs to sail boats—offer an even more exciting way to immerse yourself in their world.

*More luxurious images from Luxe Cabos

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You’re headed back to the Beach House for a Christmas or New Year’s Eve bash. The decorations are set, the guest list is made, the food is prepared and now all you have to do is wait for friends and family to arrive, right?

Maybe not. If you haven’t considered the safety of your home, yourself and your guests for your upcoming holiday party, there’s still time to take the measures to make sure everyone stays safe and happy this holiday season!

1) Home Security

If your get-away home is typically unoccupied, passers by will notice that you’re now hosting a large shindig, meaning that you’ve probably brought valuables, money and gadgets. Parties are a surprisingly easy time for burglars to sneak in due to the amount of noise and distractions. They can sneak in and out unnoticed, taking your valuables with them. Be sure that your home security system is activated while you’re home and away for ’round the clock safety.

2) Fire Prevention

The holidays are everyone’s favorite time to cover every flat surface in something fiery.  Between Christmas Cookie scented candles, fireplaces, incense and all those wires for the lights, fire hazards are abundant during the holidays. Never leave candles unattended, or anywhere within reach of small children or pets. Watch the number of wires you use and don’t run them under any rugs. Check your smoke detectors to be sure they’re in working order, keep a screen in front of the fireplace, and be sure your fire extinguisher is handy and fully functional.

3) Food Safety

Everyone loves those holiday cheese balls infused with wine and covered in shaved nuts, but they can only last so long. If you host a long party, keep in mind that your favorite cheese ball—along with other perishable items—won’t last forever. Portion perishables in smaller sections and only leave one section out at a time to keep the bulk of the food chilled.

4) Stow Away Valuables

Not to say you don’t trust your houseguests, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you allow guests to bring friends, the friend could bring a friend (who could bring a friend) and you never know who ends up treading through your house. Keep your most valuable items stored away, or even locked to ensure their safety all night long.

5) Watch the Guest List

Keeping in line with the above suggestion, opening up your house for a party means that you’ll have people coming through all night, especially for New Year’s Eve parties. Keep an eye on who’s in and out of your house, or specify that guests only bring one friend. Have a few close friends keep an eye out as well for any partygoers that don’t seem attached to a group. Also be sure that your guests haven’t had too much to drink before leaving. Keep the keys in a bowl, and have someone in charge of checking them back out once the guest shows that he or she is not intoxicated.

Staying safe this holiday season will make your get together(s) much more fun! Don’t neglect the importance of safety and you’ll have peace of mind while you enjoy time with friends and family!

Celebrating the holidays with a beach party is like getting the best of both worlds. Growing up on the east coast, the holidays always meant snow and cold weather outside with the family celebrating indoors. Now that we’re all older, we usually travel south to my parents’ winter home for the holidays. Instead of worrying about snow, I get the chance to plan outdoor parties and activities. Here are a few things that may help you throw a holiday beach party that everyone will remember.

Good Eats

No matter where you celebrate the holidays this year, having good food around is important. Be sure to stock up on the family favorites and to introduce some new recipes you have been working on or want to try out. It’s always a good idea to start cooking before the day of the party to avoid getting stressed and pressed for time when guests start showing up. Wall ovens are a brilliant way to save time on preparing food. Pre-making your dips and desserts the night before and then using the dual oven will save time on the day of the party. It’s smart to have some things prepared to snack on while the main course is finishing up. Be sure to have a mix of vegetables, fruits and meats to make sure everyone will be able to enjoy the meal, even the vegetarians and picky eaters out of the bunch.

Drink and be Merry

Any good beach party (or any other party) should have a nice variety of drinks. Since it is the holidays you can use that to make some different holiday themed cocktails. I don’t know about you but I need to have some eggnog for the holidays. There are many different mixed drink recipes available that include eggnog that you can make to impress your guests.

Decorations

Throwing a beach holiday party for guests is a new experience for me so I want to add some traditional things to the party. I found some instructions on how to create a wreath out of palm leaves. I’m planning on putting some of them around the tables we have set up on the beach and have carols playing. I’m making a playlist with both new and traditional songs on it since a holiday beach party is a new way for me to celebrate the traditional holidays (new to me at least).

Party Games

Since we are celebrating on the beach I think it’s only right that we have a volleyball net set up. That’s always a fun game to play and you can involve a big group of people or it can be played with only a few people. I’ll have a football out there for the guys to toss around and maybe a deck of cards and some board games.

How do you prepare for your holiday beach party?

Holly Watson is a dedicated runner, yoga enthusiast, and loves the beach. She is a writer who enjoys blogging on behalf of Sears and other valuable brands she uses.

On Martha’s Vineyard, one family constructs a distinctively modern house that also pays homage to the island’s historic farmhouses and reflects its natural beauty. Photographs by Brian Vanden Brink

The first concept for this island retreat focused on recalling the architectural elements of the historic farmhouses so common to the landscape of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. But as the drawings and sketches surfaced, new, more unusual ideas began to take shape. Phil Regan, a principal at Hutker Architects, recalls the open, light-filled, and more contemporary layout that evolved for this Vineyard home. Perched atop Squibnocket Hill, the structure would eventually be built to feature 180-degree views of the Atlantic.

Vineyard home dsigned by Hutker Architects

“With each round, we loosened the layout up, and soon the farmhouse went away,” Regan says. “[The homeowners] were a bit nervous at first, but we told them we could pay homage to what is in the area, and when they got inside, they could have a bit of a surprise.”

Brainstorming ideas for the building of the Chilmark home was a meeting of open minds, as the homeowners had worked with Regan years earlier when his firm built the family’s summer home on the beach in Aquinnah. Like the earlier project, this one involved taking down an old structure to build a new one. The owners were pleased with the outcome of their Aquinnah residence, but as time passed and the family grew, the 1,500-square-foot home became impractical. The search began for a new plot of land that would meet the family’s need for more space , and this non-beachfront property fit the bill.

The final layout here would take advantage of the land’s multiple water views, including the ponds and shorelines. But the plans went beyond that to capture, room by room, the distinct and special experiences that come with island life—the spectacular sunsets, the prevailing breezes, and the warm glow of morning light.

One of the first tasks, though, was to take down the old ranch that occupied that coveted spot. “The existing ranch did not take advantage of the views, and when we saw it, we imagined what could be here,” Regan says.

While Regan says the firm does not usually advocate constructing a home on top of a hill, it designed this one with a series of hipped roof volumes and flat roof connectors. So, in essence, Regan’s team created smaller architectural forms that represent different sections of the home.

“It hunkers down and doesn’t draw the eye to the form from the beach,” Regan says. “Now, when you drive by, it feels comfortable; the low roof and the natural shingles blend it into the land.”
Project manager James Moffatt notes that the home’s strategic style is an example of how architects and builders can succeed at merging contemporary with traditional in what they deem the new regional vernacular.

“In its own way, it is like the farmstead that grew over time,” Regan says. “The layout style gave us the opportunity to make a number of different circulation paths, each with a distinct mood. Different ceiling heights added to the creation of a hierarchy of experiences.”

An elliptical stone gesture that recalls the sugar mills of the West Indies, a place the family has fond memories of exploring, was integrated as well. The architecture firm worked from photos of authentic sugar mills, designing and building a modern interpretation using Virginia ledge stone. The piece became the outside wall to the powder room but, more importantly, functions as a stone beacon of sorts, leading all who come to the front door.

“Today, as you approach the home, you park in a court [that is] 12 feet lower [than the house], so [you have to] move up the landscape to get to the house, and you are drawn to this ellipse,” Regan says.

Inside the house, detailing is clean and modern and is warmed with walnut-stained oak floors. Ceilings echo a Caribbean motif; the furnishings were the choice of the owners and sit quietly in the background.

The main house has four bedrooms with a master suite on the main floor; three bedrooms and two baths are on the lower level. The kitchen and dining room are one large space, which merges with the living room.

The use of teak, Western red cedar, and copper present a weathered look that is fitting to the earth-tone surroundings. In addition, there is a thoughtful restoration of the grounds with the replanting of indigenous plants. A lap pool adds a new stroke of blue to the views, and a guest house—a replica of the main house—accommodates additional visitors, likely a common issue for the owners of such a special home.

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On California’s Newport Coast, the Palladian-style Pelican Hill resort is a golfer’s dream, but its world-class amenities, eye-popping architecture, and breathtaking setting will win the hearts and minds of just about anyone.

In the hit 1970s television series “Gilligan’s Island,” the comical cave scenes featuring Gilligan’s shipwrecked passengers of the S.S. Minnow were shot in Newport Beach, California. Even the theme song’s famous phrase, “… a three-hour tour…,” was sung as the Minnow headed out to sea with Newport Bay’s rock jetties in the backdrop.

Now knowing where Gilligan and the gang were actually “stranded,” devotees of the show might not feel quite as bad for the millionaire and his wife after all.

The Palladian-style Pelican Hill Resort overlooks the Pacific Ocean

Rest assured, though, that if there’s one place in which an off-course crew should ever wish to be shipwrecked, it’s Newport Beach. These days, however, rather than be stuck in Gilligan’s caves, well-heeled travelers and their “crews” would likely prefer to set up camp at Newport’s palatial Resort at Pelican Hill. And that applies whether they’re travelling with the entire family, their golf buddies, or their own “Loveys” on a romantic getaway.

Pelican Hill, a 504-acre Palladian-styled resort situated high above a stretch of this swanky Southern California coastline, has it all. The first-class golf club, highlighted by two completely new oceanview courses redesigned by acclaimed golf course architect Tom Fazio and a brand new 44,000-square-foot clubhouse and golf academy, is just the start. There’s also a top-rated 23,000-square-foot spa facility, highly acclaimed dining led by the signature Andrea Ristorante, and 328 luxurious resort accommodations that range in size from 847 square feet for oceanview “bungalows” to 3,628 square feet for exquisite three-bedroom oceanview villa residences that feature around-the-clock butlers, and a private 10,000-square-foot Villa Clubhouse built in the truest Tuscan-themed style and architecture.

Upon your arrival at Pelican Hill’s large herringbone-patterned auto plaza, you’re likely to find Bentleys and Benzes parked. Make your way through the grand lobby and look out past the Roman-inspired Coliseum Pool—the largest circular pool in the world—and see the stunning vistas of the blue Pacific Ocean, you’ll realize you’re truly somewhere special. Indeed, the neighboring Pelican Hill communities are recognized for having some of the priciest real estate in America, where hillside homes can start at $10 million.

One of the main reasons Pelican Hill is so desirable and exclusive is its near-perfect location and overall setting. Situated along a stretch that locals call Newport Coast, Pelican Hill is a remarkable resort. It overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is just a 15-minute drive from the heart of Southern California’s chic Newport Beach and neighboring Newport Harbor—the largest small-yacht harbor in the world with an estimated 16,000-plus boats. Head another 20 minutes in the opposite direction and you’re in the lovely little village of Laguna Beach, a charming surf- and arts-oriented town with numerous boutiques and restaurants.

Meanwhile, just a short distance away from Pelican Hill is the historic 2,791-acre Crystal Cove State Park, a 3.5-mile stretch of craggy coastline framed by sandy covers, popular tide pools, and a marine park. This is a great place to take the family and have a leisurely day at the beach, enjoying dramatic rock formations and 80-foot bluffs lapped by the famous Southern California surf. One favorite stop is the Beachcomber Café, where one can enjoy a casual coastal breakfast or tasty fish tacos and organic burgers for lunch. Featuring “Old California” ambiance, the Beachcomber is part of a historic district of 46 beach cottages that date to the 1920s and 1950s.

The 46 beach cottages, which have been featured in many films and are included on the National Register of Historic Places, are being or have already been restored by California State Parks. The cottages are owned by The Irvine Company, which also owns the Resort at Pelican Hill.

Like the rest of the Resort at Pelican Hill, the oceanview golf courses coexist in perfect harmony with the coastal California landscape. The Ocean North and Ocean South courses offer 36 outstanding championship holes recreated by Fazio, who designed the original courses 20 years ago. The two completely rebuilt courses (both opened in November 2007, a year before the 304-unit resort debuted to the public) offer two distinctly different playing experiences with one common characteristic: stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from nearly every vantage point, as well as Newport’s Balboa Island and Long Beach Harbour in the distance.

With resort green fees starting at $235, which includes forecaddies, or private gold memberships that start at $10,000 for unlimited golf, Pelican Hill arguably is one of the best values for high-end golf anywhere in the state of California. Of the resort’s two layouts, the Ocean South Course is the top choice, what with three rare oceanfront holes— Nos. 11-13—situated alongside the precious Newport Coast. The back-to-back par 3s—Nos. 12 and 13—that feature Crystal Cove State Beach on the left and $30 million estates on the right are two of the main highlights. Although notable, these two holes are by no means Pelican Hill’s signature holes. On the front nine, there’s another great stretch of holes, starting with No. 4, a 142-yard downhill par 3 that features spectacular ocean and Crystal Cove State Beach vistas behind an elevated teebox.

Then, after loosening up the nerves with that first par 3, Pelican Hill sends duffers up a long steep path to the most exciting drive of the day: a 359-yard par 4 shot over a massive canyon, eventually ending up on a dogleg fairway down to a nicely framed green with—yet again—that same beautiful ocean in the background.

If only Gilligan, Skipper, and the gang had Pelican Hill Resort as an option, perhaps the shipwrecked Minnow might not have been such an unfortunate experience after all.

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Surrounded by the jewel-tone waters of the South Pacific, the five archipelagos that make up French Polynesia have inspired the works of authors and artists for decades. Today, the islands’ rustic yet pristine beaches, centuries-old traditions, and hospitable inhabitants draw travelers from around the world in search of their own storybook stay.

Jewel tones surround the Hilton Bora Bora Nui

With a surface area larger than that of Europe, Tahiti’s 118 islands scattered over the Pacific Ocean are a bastion of majesty, mystery, and beauty. The Tahitian Islands are made up of five diverse archipelagos, known collectively as French Polynesia, and teem with verdant panoramas, shallow atolls, blue lagoons, and fascinating subcultures. They have provided fodder for literary dreams and realities since the dawn of the 19th century, when tales of magical islands surfacing out of the blue reached.

However, it was the novels of Pulitzer-Prize winner James Michener, perfectly timed with a global rise in luxury tourism circa early 1970s, that put Tahiti’s islands on the map. Michener’s descriptions of an unmatched natural splendor were read around the world; it was just a matter of time until hoteliers would choose nearby Bora Bora as the poster child of tropical luxury tourism.

Flash forward to 2012: The treasured island of Tahiti’s easternmost archipelago, Bora Bora is often considered an earthly paradise.  Over the past 40 years, high-end resorts have risen over Bora Bora’s lush pockets of land and crystalline lagoons, striving to create hotels that match the beauty of Michener’s prose. Here, overwater bungalows revolutionized the travel market with the romance of private suites straddling the ocean floor, and their mystique spread to other islands like Moorea, Tahaa, and even Manihi in the Tuamoto archipelago.

Bejeweled Bora Bora The Pacific’s most renowned island, Bora Bora, lives up to its reputation as the global mainstay of exclusivity and romance. The luxury experience begins upon arrival at the quaint Bora Bora airport, where glamorous hotel boats float at the ready, eager to whisk visitors to their world-class resorts.

At the center of the island, iconic Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia tower over the surrounding lagoon and small sandy islets, or motus, that enclose the lagoon. Bora Bora’s eastern motus house the majority of French Polynesia’s luxe newcomers, like the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, and the reinvented Le Meridien Bora Bora. Each of these show-stopping resorts flaunts a unique version of barefoot luxury, doling out superlative views of the island’s colossal mountains from the ensuite plunge pools, hammocks, and terraces of overwater bungalows. Beyond the honeymoon and destination wedding markets, these newcomers also showcase a wealth of intergenerational offerings for the affluent family, with the full gamut of water sports, kids’ clubs, family pools, and special additions, like Le Meridien’s Turtle Sanctuary.

West of the main island on palm-fringed Motu Toopua, the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort and Spa ranges over land and sea with hillside villas and an assortment of overwater sanctuaries. Though Mount Otemanu does not stand in direct view of the property, the Hilton’s isolated motu, distanced from other hotels and Bora Bora’s populated interiors, is a blessing for those seeking a true Robinson Crusoe experience.

The hillside villas are equally marvelous. Forgoing the ultra-modern motif, these tiered villas showcase craftsmanship and tradition, adorned with old tapas (pieces of decorated barkcloth) from the Marquesa Islands, symbolic carvings on furnishings and door handles, and mother of pearl chandeliers. High on the hilltops, the azure panoramas change with the rise and fall of the sun, like a natural work of art. The spa is located up in these hilltops, with several outdoor treatment rooms, including the trademark “one million dollar view” massage spot.

It’s the excitement and appeal of the overwater suite that, for most, fuels the long journey to Bora Bora. This is true more so for none other than the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa’s two double-story presidential villas, which are three-bedroom, two-bath thatched-roof mansions with glass floors. There is nothing modest about the entry-level overwater bungalow at the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa. Aligned as three separate clusters, the resort’s suites are spaced to maintain privacy and the integrity of the ocean views.

If cabin fever strikes after days of sunbathing, relaxing, and snorkeling, the complimentary boat shuttle to the island’s interior leaves several times daily. Better yet, Hilton’s even more secluded private motu is available for a picnic or a day of adventure, where you can take the Robinson Crusoe fantasy to an entirely new dimension.

The Hilton Bora Bora Nui's infinity pool melts into the sea

Magnificent Moorea A vast mountain chain engulfed by crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life, Moorea recalls Hawaii’s most dramatic landscapes. Still relatively untainted by tourism, Moorea remains an island where grocery stores and modern facilities exist, but most islanders still feast on the daily catch and the ripest fruits from their backyards.

Moorea is easily explored by car and bus, allowing visitors to access the mountains for jaw-dropping panoramas of the land, sea, and sky, as well as more clandestine island treasures, like juice stands selling fresh squeezed papaya and pineapple juices and simple roadside fish markets. Though accommodations are not quite as over the top as those on Bora Bora, the understated luxury of the Hilton Moorea Lagoon and Spa impresses even the most finicky high-end travelers.

The 106-room Hilton Moorea Lagoon and Spa boasts garden suites and guestrooms, and overwater bungalows, recently renovated to reflect a modern French Polynesian design.  The redesigned suites feature handcrafted dark wood furnishings, glass floor panels that peek out over the lagoon reef, contemporary technological necessities like iPod docking stations, and regal bathrooms. All of the resort’s overwater bungalows offer the same sensational layout, though they feature different views.

Though the resort offers a principal swimming pool and garden suites are equipped with their own plunge pools, the Hilton’s surrounding lagoon also serves as a private swimming pool for guests. Those residing in the overwater bungalows can directly jump from their balconies into the crystalline waters for a refreshing dip or for some fabulous snorkeling along the biodiverse reef.

When hunger calls, three restaurants are located within the resort, including the crepe station, which doubles as the sunset bar. Come early evening, the black tip reef sharks congregate near this area, providing an eyeful for the curious. The breakfast buffet in the main dining room is an idyllic opportunity to sample local delicacies like poisson cru (raw tuna marinated in coconut milk and lime), fresh fruit breads, and diverse homemade preserves blended with coconut and pineapple compotes. Try to coordinate your stay so that it falls on a Tuesday, when the staff combines a dinner feast with an all-out authentic Polynesian extravaganza of fire-twirling, booty-shaking, and coconut-pounding fun.

Coastline from the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa

This Way to Polynesian Paradise Los Angeles and Honolulu serve as the United States’ major gateways to French Polynesia. Here’s everything else you need to know to get you on your way.

All international flights land at Tahiti Faa’a International Airport near Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, on the island of Tahiti. The two U.S. gateways to French Polynesia are Los Angeles (on Air Tahiti Nui) and Honolulu (on Hawaiian Airlines). Once in Tahiti, Air Tahiti offers a wealth of regularly scheduled connecting services to its more renowned or more remote islands. Most travel agents and online ticketing websites can book tickets through to your final destination. Those connecting to Moorea can easily take a 30-minute ferry on the Aremiti V from Tahiti instead of a connecting flight.

As French Polynesia’s big-city equivalent, Tahiti has fallen victim to unfortunate realities like traffic, crime, and pollution. Unless time is no object, most visitors bypass Tahiti proper en route to the more attractive islands. That said, upscale hotels options do exist for those whose flight schedules mandate an overnight stay or for those looking to penetrate the modern-day incarnation of Tahitian culture. Your best bets include: Le Meridien Tahiti, nestled over one of the island’s few white-sand beaches, and the Manava Suites Resort, boasting the island’s largest infinity pool.

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Johnny McElree hanging out in paradise

Johnny McElree was exhausted. He and his family had been driving for days across the Midwest, his father pursuing a new career in California. The land was flat, the weather hot and dry, and Johnny, a boy of merely four-years-old, was getting stir crazy. They’d passed through farmland and desert with nothing but the hope of a new opportunity on the horizon.

When they hit the California border, Johnny’s eyes had never been wider. A palm tree stood taller than anything he’d ever seen, its fronds swaying in the wind and casting a distinct shadow on the land. “It was just like the movies,” he says. “At that moment, I knew I was destined to live somewhere tropical.” That day Johnny dreamed of a life in paradise and, thanks to his drive to succeed, he wakes up in it every day.

The ability to turn dreams into reality became the foundation of Johnny’s career in real estate. He saw a chance to use his business expertise and passion for paradise to help other professionals and families achieve their own dreams of success. Whether they’re buying or selling, Johnny is focused on his clients’ goals and determined to deliver the results they deserve.

If you’re looking to move to the Kohala Coast or sell your current home for maximum profit, contact Johnny today. He’s a professional who sold his business and moved his family to an entirely new area in order to give them a better life. When it comes to your needs, he covers every detail and creates a strategy that will make the process smooth and seamless.

When you’re ready to buy a new home or sell your property for the best return, make sure you have a real estate professional who understands your goals. Johnny McElree believes there’s nothing better than living on the Kohala Coast and helping others achieve their real estate dreams. Contact Johnny today and live your dreams.

21 All Islands Waikoloa

PO BOX 384600 | 68-1145

Waikoloa Road Suite 204

Waikoloa, HI 96738

(808)443-6288, Johnny@JohnnyMcElree.com

Karen Sugarman, of Karen Sugarman Designs

Styles come and go, but ocean-inspired jewelery has been one trend that has stayed around for years. It is common to see women, children, even men wearing themed pieces during the day or for a fine evening out. With holidays right around the corner there is no better opportunity to splurge on your loved ones and give them gifts from the sea, and Karen Sugarman Designs has some of the best pieces for that.

Karen Sugarman Designs is a handcrafted couture jewelry line with a twist. The collection features one-of-a-kind pieces including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, all individually designed with unique gemstones, pearls, vintage beads, and antique pendants. The line incorporates a variety of styles, assorted color palettes, and seasonal themes, allowing for versatility and designs that look stunning with everything from blue jeans to ball gowns. Considered “bridge” jewelry, a category between fine and costume jewelry, Karen Sugarman Designs utilizes sterling silver or 24K vermeil (gold plated silver) as the metal basis for all of its pieces, thus eliminating most jewelry allergies. Precious and semi-precious stones such as diamonds, amethyst, citrine, turquoise, jade, topaz, freshwater pearls, garnet and others, along with antique adornments and Czech and vintage beads complete each design. Her sea-inspired pieces incorporate shells, pearls, and nautical images such as mermaids, seahorses and ships. Each item is carefully crafted with numerous elements to create an one-of-a-kind piece.

To reserve your custom jewelry design, please contact:

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Annie's Giant Clam Shell, perfect for a table-top finish.

While diving in the Java Sea, Annie came across a giant clam shell. Her enduring fascination with its strong yet delicate form inspired Annie to create the Giant Clam Shell. The Ultramarine color and transparency of this piece remind her of the cerulean sea on the day that she found the inspirational shell. Annie has attempted to capture the unique asymmetrical form of a clam shell, as well as the wonderful texture along its fluted spines. Limited to just 500 pieces, each piece is numbered and signed by the artist. Giant Clam Shell (16 ½” x 21” x 14 ¾”) is made from handmade glass from California. Call 800-347-6133 or visit www.annieglass.com/clam

CUIXMALA

Cuixmala was created by Sir James Goldsmith as a family retreat on a grand scale. Not only is the estate the setting for several family homes but it is also a vast nature reserve of over 25,000 acres protecting a rare type of habitat which is home to a variety of endangered species including the jaguar. In addition to the the nature reserve are organic farms which provide most of the food served at Cuixmala. Today, Cuixmala is maintained as a private estate with members of the Goldsmith family still in residence, the difference being that they now accept a small group of visitors.

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LA LOMA

The jewel of Cuixmala. A fantasy palace set on a wide swath of unspoiled beach all within a vast private nature reserve. Exotic animals graze in the distance, lagoons are home to crocodiles and thousands of birds. An exotic destination like no other. The house’s cool white interiors float above a vast expanse of azure sea. The panoramic views, soaring ceilings, and quiet fountain courtyards blend to create a fantasy hideaway. The master suite, a suite of unparalleled proportions, is palatial in scope with its own living terrace with splash pool size jacuzzi and an ocean view bathroom. There are three additional deluxe bedroom suites in the main house plus living rooms, dining room, library, media room and office, complemented by three palapa covered ocean view terraces for outdoor living and dining. There are also six extremely private guest bungalows sprinkled within a tropical garden. The staff includes, butlers, waiters, chefs, maids, laundress, gardeners, pool men, concierge and security. Staying at La Loma is more like staying at the house of a rich friend rather than any type of hotel experience with highly personalized service.

THE SUITES & BUNGALOWS

Most of the time La Loma is rented out in its entirety either by VIP/Celebrity types looking for an ultra private holiday retreat or by people staging a very special event such as a wedding or 40th birthday bash, but at other times one is able to stay in a suite or one of the coveted bungalows as an individual guest enjoying all the amenities and services of this palatial house.

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NATURE

Nothing defines Cuixmala more that the nature experiences which it offers. Evenings can begin gliding across a crocodile lagoon in an electric boat as thousands of birds return to the surrounding mangroves. By day there is horseback riding through herds of zebra and antelope or mountain biking through areas populated by wild boar, coati mundi and rare miniature deer. Ocean kayaks enable you to spot giant sea turtles a testament to the success of the turtle protection program at Cuixmala that has restored the once endangered sea turtle population. Guests can actually assist the biologists in releasing baby turtles back to the sea.

DINING

Almost everything served at Cuixmala is produced either by their organic farms or at their organic ranch in the Mexican highlands. Seafood is caught daily off the shores of the estate. The dining at La Loma is refined with a mix of classic Mexican and international flavors. Also on the property is a ranchero style restaurant at Casa Gomez specializing in regional cuisine. Those dining experiences are augmented by magical dinners on the beach with candles and bonfires, or elaborate picnics at one of the private beaches or under shade trees on the sweeping lawn near the stables, replete of course with waiters.

OVERVIEW

Accommodation Cuixmala offers accommodation at La Loma as well as three smaller private villas on the estate. There are also a cluster of casitas (1 to 3 bedrooms) small houses which share a pool, clubhouse and restaurant.

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Activities Three private beaches, totally over three miles of beach, ocean kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, excursions to small islands in Chamela Bay which are bird sanctuaries, boat rides on the crocodile lagoon, mountain biking, hiking, bird watching, eco adventure, horseback riding, tennis, yoga, massage and participating in the turtle protection program. Cuixmala has its own grass landing strip.

Contact: reservations@cuixmala.com, Phone: 52-312-316-0300, MX: 01800-590-3845, US: 1866-516-2611, UK: 0808-101-3780

Radio-controlled Challenger

Playing with toy sailboats is not the 8-year-old leisure activity it used to be. If you want to give the gift of sailing, become the captain of your own boat without getting on an actual boat, or visually learn the techniques and skills behind sailing with a radio control then Challenger Model Yachts is for you. Whether it is a gift for a loved one or yourself, Challenger Model Yachts brings the joy of sailing into your hands.

The radio controlled Challenger is a gorgeous fifty-seven inch long carbon fiber racing model sailboat, which packs into an eleven-inch high aluminum carrying case, just slightly larger than a golf bag and comes with a high quality marine radio controller and stand. Although built for ocean sailing conditions, it is also very much at home in a harbor or city pond. The boat can go from the case to the water in about ten minutes and its large size gives it the handling qualities of a true International America’s Cup Class yacht.

The Challenger includes a carbon fiber hull, manufactured in Germany by the makers of Mercedes and BMW race car parts and fittings in titanium, chromed brass and stainless steel, these radio controlled models are far and away the finest ready to sail model yachts in the world. A novice can sail the Challenger right out of the box and will learn the principals of sailing by observing the boat, water and wind at a distance. Expert sailors can enjoy the full scale skills and tactics of racing the Challenger Model, and it is not uncommon that many large boat owners keep a couple aboard.

If you are looking for more of a challenge than some leisure sailing around the ocean or in a harbor there are numerous model sailboat regattas that take place all over the world. Three have been at the world famous Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St Moritz. Other venues have included the Chateau De Dâmpierre just outside Paris, the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs and a private ranch in Cody Wyoming. If you are really looking to getting involved in the model sailing community then the “Ski Sail Weekend” held in Gstaad, Switzerland is for you. Each winter many international competitors come to represent their home yacht clubs and to show off their Challenger Yachts skills, of course

When we talk about racing, we are not waiting for boats to lap a pond or simply stay afloat in the ocean. Challenger Yachts are a one design class so it takes pure skill and a little luck to win in any competition. This forces captains to use strategic methods battling through wind, rough water, and other elements to achieve glory.

On the other hand if you are looking for relaxation, just going for a sail is marvelously peaceful. Once the boat’s in the water out on a journey, you are in its world. It is a real sailboat, just a small one. It is also a wonderful activity to do with friends, children or grandchildren, and then of course it is not really about the boats at all.

To learn more about these amazing model yachts, visit www.modelyachts.com

Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island

Maybe the life of a businessman and celebrity is complicated enough, but when Sir Richard Branson is ready to relax in his home, he wants things simple.

Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Virgin Records and 400 other companies, is a soft-spoken, unassuming man in private, says Rusty Henderson, partner in electronics integration company Think Simple Limited.

Branson’s home is simple as well. His main residence, located on Necker Island, the 74-acre private paradise he owns in the Caribbean, is just three rooms (or rather three small buildings): a bedroom, kitchen and living/entertaining space –called the Temple Room– with adjoining spa and swimming pool.

It’s true that the setting is extraordinary. Branson can watch the sun rise over the Atlantic and the sun set into the Caribbean from the Temple Room. Though roofed, the space is open to the breezes and provides almost 360-degree views of the island and oceans.

Just over a year ago Henderson installed new audio/video systems in the residence. “Our main concern was to make sure everything was incredibly easy to use,” he explains. Branson can choose a movie or TV station, bring up music from an iPod or play a DVD. He also has Internet connections in each living area. “The thing he uses the most is the TV,” Henderson adds.  “He lives off the news and world events.”

A harsh environment

Though Branson’s entertainment systems are simple, making them work was anything but. “The Caribbean environment is very harsh,” Henderson explains. “You can think of Necker Island as a boat that doesn’t move.” Because the island’s salty air is highly corrosive, exposed surfaces and all connections had to be marinised, a process where a barrier material is applied to keep out the salt air.

The second problem was absorbing power variations and possible power interruptions. Necker Island produces its own electricity through two large generators. When power is switched from one source to another, or if the generators have any problem, the resulting sags, spikes and surges can have a very damaging effect on electronics. For that reason, Think Simple deployed a series of uninterruptible power supplies, which use batteries to filter the power and make sure it’s perfectly consistent. These intelligent devices are also able to shut down components when not in use, reducing power consumption and expense.

The biggest challenge was lightening, a danger of special importance in the Caribbean. The problem was illustrated quite graphically last August by a strike that destroyed the island’s largest structure.  “That was really sad and shocking,” Henderson says. The 15,000 square foot villa, originally built in 1984, had hosted a large number of celebrities and world leaders, for example the wedding of Google’s co-founder Larry Page. Completely destroyed by the fire, it will be rebuilt by Branson and the Virgin Group starting next year.

Because of the concern with lightening, Henderson says Think Simple avoided the use of copper cable whenever possible in Branson’s private house, transporting audio, video and Internet signals via non-conducive fiber optics.

Branson's pool-side lounge is perfect for relaxing.

Keeping things simple

The key to Branson’s entertainment system, according to Henderson, is the use of a control system from Crestron, the world’s leading provider of home automation systems. Think Simple installed two Crestron control processors and tied them into a Kaleidescape Movie Player, a DVD player, two Toshiba LED televisions (one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen), a multi-zone sound system with three iPod docks and a 55” SunBrite weather-proof TV for the Temple Room.

The Kaleidescape Movie Player stores Branson’s entire movie collection in a single device, with a very easy-to-use interface accessed through the Crestron processor. Sir Richard is able to operate the Movie Player and the other components using an RTI wand-style remote control, which Henderson chose for its extreme simplicity and reliability. Think Simple also installed Crestron Cameo Keypads in each room as an alternative, in-wall control for the music system.

Crestron components were also helpful in the harsh Caribbean environment. Henderson says he chose them because of the extreme reliability of the company’s products.

Since Branson likes his electronics out of sight when not in use, Think Simple hid loudspeakers in-wall or in discrete locations in the ceilings. They installed subwoofers under the floors, with the sound rising from grills not unlike air-conditioning vents.  Think Simple technicians installed the TV in the bedroom in a teak cabinet, from which it rises and swivels to an ideal viewing position at the touch of a button on the remote control. The pool, too, includes underwater speakers, so Branson and his guests can listen to music or the TV when swimming or soaking.

Henderson says it took an eight-man crew 28 days to install all the wiring and components, traveling from a temporary base on the nearby island of Virgin Gorda. “We hired two transport vessels to get the team to and from the island every day. The boats had to be pretty large as we had over 20 waterproof crates full of the equipment and tools required to undertake the installation.”

Branson, however, appreciated the effort. His short but sweet comment:  “This is absurdly good!”

Although Thanksgiving is the next holiday to approach us, it is never to early to start thinking about December and the perfect gift. In fact, many people try to start their shopping in late September in hopes to stay ahead of the madness that comes with every holiday season. Although chaos is inevitable, there is one item this year that will help shoppers boost their energy as they scour through stores and will also make for the perfect stocking stuffer.

O-Skinni's in Grapefruit

As we enter 2012, everything seems to have a faster pace. From how we work to how we spend our free time people are constantly on the go, and one of the hardest tasks while going through day-to-day life, is not crashing. Turning to energy drinks and coffee is an easy solution, but some people who watch their calorie and caffeine intake need another outlet. Oxygen Plus Inc (O+) has the answer.

Packaged as portable, skinny canisters, O+ is calorie free, caffeine free canned oxygen for anytime you need a lift. But how does it work if you are just inhaling oxygen? The lightweight (and stylish) oxygen canisters contain 95% pure oxygen, which is more than four times the amount in unpolluted, every-day air. O+ quickly boosts your blood oxygen level and feelings of increased vitality, alertness and energy quickly return. Think of it as a power yawn.

O+ has three different packaging options to choose from so you can buy the one that suites your lifestyle best. The O+ Mini and O+ Skinni cans are available in peppermint, natural or grapefruit flavor and the O+ Elevate Pack is a reusable shell which comes with one natural and one peppermint can. It is effortlessly portable, going wherever you go, in purse, pocket or backpack.Whether you are buying for a loved one or interested for yourself, all packages fit the lifestyles of a healthy and active person. If you are feeling sluggish due to recreational activities, work, traveling (on vacation to a tropical island?!) or getting through that holiday shopping, a couple hits of O+ will give you the extra boost you need.

These products can be seen at numerous prestigious hotels and luxury spas including W Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, Viceroy Hotel Group, Hyatt Regency Hotels, Canyon Ranch Spa, and Exhale Spas to name a few. However, you don’t have to go searching these hotels and spas to get your hands on O+, you can also purchase them online at www.oxygenplus.com.

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