Travel
Top Spas
August 17, 2010 by OceanHome · 4 Comments
These 15 oceanfront oases, from Maui to the Maldives, employ local ingredients and age-old techniques to offer an array of services that are guaranteed to detox and de-stress. By Lisa Rogak
Peter Island Resort & Spa, British Virgin Islands
Shoulder Season Savvy
August 17, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
Off-peak travel can mean real steals, fewer crowds, and more personalized service. By Diane M. Byrne Read more
Scrub Island Resort
August 17, 2010 by OceanHome · 2 Comments
More than 60 islands make up the bucolic paradise that is the British Virgin Islands. Located just a short boat ride away from Tortola—the largest and most populous of the BVIs—is Scrub Island, a new resort, spa, and villa complex that provides guests with attentive, caring service and all the amenities that count: a spa, three restaurants, and villas with private infinity pools.
Though bustling Tortola is just across the bay, chances are good that once you arrive at Scrub Island, the most strenuous activity you’ll manage is to lounge on your private balcony, watching the yachts glide into the 53-slip marina that fronts the resort. Or you could watch the light dance on Camano Island, directly opposite the bay. Should a burst of energy overcome you, the dive shop can arrange scuba and snorkeling excursions, or you can just head for the outdoor lounge overlooking the marina.
Scrub Island’s three restaurants range from the casually elegant at Caravela to barbecue at One Shoe Beach Bar & Grill, a stone’s throw up the path to a beach so pristine and uncharted that you might as well claim it as your very own private refuge.
Interior design throughout the resort is graceful, understated, and thoughtful. For instance, no matter where you stand in your suite, you’ll have a view of the water, even from the bath. Come winter, whales use the 70-foot channel as their highway. 877-890-7444; scrubisland.com. —Lisa Rogak
Exploring the BVIs: Three more must-stay resorts.
Peter Island Resort
This private island resort offers oceanview rooms and beachfront suites, but the crowning glory here is the hilltop Hawk’s Nest. The villa features 3,626 square feet of space (that’s just the interior) that includes nanny’s quarters, a library, and a gym. Outdoor space includes a waterfall/grotto and an infinity-edge pool that gives way to arresting sea views below. 800-346-4451, peterislandresort.com.
Guana Island
The privately owned 850-acre isle is home to only a handful of beach houses and villas. The Cottage is the only house on the island’s North Beach, while Jost House reigns as villa supreme. Can’t make up your mind? Come with 35 of your closest friends and call the entire island your own. 800-544-8262, guana.com.
Biras Creek Resort
This Relais & Chateaux resort comprises 31 suites on a 140-acre peninsula on Virgin Gorda’s North Sound. Activities include kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, and the like; however, the best R&R to be had here is with a Decléor treatment at the spa. 877.883.0756, biras.com. —Lindsay Lambert
Virgin Territory
August 16, 2010 by OceanHome · 3 Comments
Rugged natural beauty, diverse culture, and distinctive cuisine draw sun-loving sophisticates to St. Croix.
Vacation at Viceroy Anguilla
This summer is sure to set some hearts aflutter in the Caribbean, as Viceroy Anguilla, which made its hotly anticipated debut late in 2009, prepares to unveil its third and final phase of development. With the latest round of additions to include two new dining outlets and pools, meeting rooms, and an expanded spa, all of which complete the resort’s already extensive top-shelf amenities, Viceroy is well on its way to cementing its place among the island’s top properties.
This is no small feat, given that neighboring resorts on Anguilla’s tony west end include Cap Juluca, CuisinArt, Temenos, and Malliouhana resorts, all with their own A-list offerings.
Viceroy Anguilla (the company’s first real estate development in the Caribbean) attracts the chic and the jet-set with its 35-acre lush beachfront setting and its sleek, sexy style. California-based destination design firm WATG is responsible for the resort’s crisp, clean construction, which allows its ocean setting to take center stage. Bradford McNamee, the firm’s vice president and lead architect on the Viceroy project, has given credit to that “striking interrelationship of the buildings and the landscape”—more specifically, Meads Bay and Barnes Bay—for setting the Viceroy apart from its Caribbean competitors.
Tying in beautifully with the structure is the resort’s interior design scheme, the creation of Viceroy muse Kelly Wearstler. For the Anguilla property, Wearstler, who also conceptualized Viceroy properties in Miami, Santa Monica, and Palm Springs, as well as the Tides resort in South Beach, created a contemporary backdrop, keeping the mood mellow with apalette of creamy colors that recall the resort’s white sand surroundings. Texture- rich touches of metal, glass, wood, and stone serve as a tasteful tribute to Anguilla’s rugged, natural beauty.
As for inventory, Viceroy Anguilla consists of 166 private oceanfront villas, beachfront suites, and blufftop guest rooms, with views ranging from leafy gardens to pristine shoreline. Each unit has its own private pool, making much-sought-after privacy all too easy to come by here. Custom Sferra bed linens are among the resort’s plush soft goods, and, in some units, silver travertine outdoor showers are outfitted with rain showerheads and built-in benches. In select units, home-style amenities—full kitchens with premium appliances, cookware, and china; washer/dryers; wine chillers; warming drawers; and Nespresso espresso machines—make for easy living during an extended stay. Outdoor kitchens and covered outdoor diningareas in other units mean hours of alfresco entertaining.
Those who are likely most eager for the resort’s completion have invested in Viceroy on a more long-term basis by buying into its ownership program. Atpress time, 88 of the resort’s 134 available units have been sold, with $20 million in sales coming in 2010 alone. Prices for the remaining 46 units range from $950,000 to $9 million. Like the rest of the resort’s accommodations, the homes are fully furnished and feature Wearstler’s custom décor. Of course, privatepools and state-of-the-art residence technologies are standard issue, as well. 
A major draw for would-be owners at Viceroy Anguilla is having a home that is distinctive from the one next door, something that is not normally the case with resort living. Buyers can choose from four residence styles: Standalone Private Villas, which break down further into beachfront, blufftop, and ocean view options, are laid out in four- and five-bedroom configurations on one or two floors and feature up to five and a half baths. The most sprawling oceanfront villas, Pintail Villas 1 and 2 and Royal Tern Villas 3 and 4, top out at nearly 10,000 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor living space. Viceroy’s four two-story Townhomes, meanwhile, overlook Meads Bay from coral bluffs near the center of the resort. The three- and four-bedroom Townhomes total up to 6,500 square feet of living space. Viceroy’s single-story Beachfront Resort Residences, similar in style to apartments or condominiums, are positioned around a turquoise swimming pool adjacent to Meads Bay’s beach. The layouts range from studios to three bedrooms and comprise up to three and a half baths and 3,300 square feet, while the bluff top version of this pad can be purchased as a regular or deluxe studio or with one or two bedrooms. Viceroy Penthouses, the fourth and final option, boast three bedrooms and views stretching across the Caribbean Sea. All residence options at Viceroy Anguilla are outfitted with private plunge pools, Sony LCD high-definition flatscreen TVs with DVD players, custom lighting design, GE Monogram kitchen accessories, stacked washer/dryer units, and wireless Internet, to name a few amenities.
Like many of its counterparts in other Caribbean destinations, Viceroy Anguilla allows its owners the option to enter their residences into its Rental Management Program. The system offers homeowners effortless care as wellas the opportunity to turn their investments into another source of income.
“The biggest perk or privilege [of owning a home at Viceroy Anguilla], other than owning a piece of the finest resort in the Caribbean, was the Rental Management Program,” says one buyer, who, like many others here who own these exclusive island hideaways, favors anonymity. “I had always wanted to own [property] and spend time on an island with a premier resort and amenities like the Viceroy, but being able to put the residence back into an equitable rental program with a well-run company like Barnes Bay Development, which developed Viceroy Anguilla, made the decision easy, as I can recoup my maintenance on the property and potentially turn it into a positive cash flow situation.”
Despite similar island ownership opportunities cropping up all over the Caribbean, this owner says that while photographs of Viceroy Anguilla provided the first peek at luxury living here, it was a personal visit with the staff and management that sealed the deal when it came to choosing a place to buy. “I had been to the island, but never to the Viceroy, and was looking for a first-class resort with full amenities in the Caribbean,” the owner says. “By the pictures, it appeared to be the best. Upon staying at the resort and experiencing the fantastic staff and management and the quality of the residences and the location and its proximity to the beach, I fell in love with the place in a short amount of time.” 
Of life in general at Viceroy Anguilla, the buyer, who planned to close on a 2,200-square-foot town home by the end of May, says “Activity is kept to a minimum, with the daytime filled with getting sun on the amazing beach, and the nighttime consisting of enjoying oceanfront dining either at the Viceroy’s great restaurants or taking a car service to many of the island’s fine eating establishments.”
There is some truth to the notion that guests could easily plan a stay at Viceroy entirely based on a schedule of meals at the resort’s five restaurants. Signature eatery Cobà is a destination unto itself, where diners enjoy a menu of fresh seafood prepared with Asian influences among stunning sea views at the convergence of Meads and Barnes bays. The theme of freshly caught seafood and locally grown fruits and vegetables continues at the Viceroy’s remaining restaurants, which include Aleta (known for its seasonal selections), the Sunset Lounge (cocktails and light bites that change daily or seasonally), Bamboo Bar & Grill (set to open later this year), and The Half Shell (a laid-back spot that serves gourmet bento boxes for guests on the go). Even in its restaurants, the Viceroy’s ocean views and natural setting continue to be the focus, and guests are given every opportunity to enjoy the resort’s dining options in proximity to its landscape, be it while dining on finer fare at a table overlooking Meads Bay and Barnes Bay at sunset, snacking on a chaise lounge directly on the beach, or toasting friends and family on a poolside patio.
That’s not to say, of course, that adventure doesn’t exist for those who seek it. In fact, Viceroy Anguilla relies on the services of its own Sea Centre to arrange excursions for guests that include day-long fishing, scuba, or snorkel outings, or even a jaunt to a nearby deserted island. The resort also employs a team of knowledgeable travel guides who are always at the ready to create a customized itinerary for guests with interest in the island’s history and culture. Teens and children are entertained through the Viceroy’s Kids’ Club, Teen Activities, and Families at Play programs, giving parents and kids the option to enjoy time on their own, together, or both. Our pick for the most anticipated event of the summer for resort guests and owners is the expansion and completion of The Spa at Viceroy Anguilla. The facility currently occupies a two-story villa overlooking the Caribbean Sea, where guests can indulge in services that promote “whole-person health” through what insiders here call “curated wellness experiences founded on the fundamental principles of balance, breath, and beauty.” Although the spa’s aim is to increase awareness of healthful living practices and encourage personal development, there’s plenty of opportunity for pure indulgence, as well. The spa boasts a menu of lavish massages, facials, and nail care (an array of extra services includes everything from LED light therapy to lash tinting), most of which guests can enjoy in one of its individual or couple’s treatment rooms or even in the privacy of their own accommodations. 
Continuing with its theme of wholeperson health and well being, the Spa at Viceroy Anguilla also houses a fitness center that offers exercise, meditation, cooking, or healthy lifestyle programs, which provide insight through classes, presentations, and excursions. The facility is also equipped with Technogym cardio, strength and Kinesis equipment, and a yoga/Pilates studio, and offers private fitness training for the most effective workout. But even with all of these activities to choose from, some might argue that just a stay at this world-class Caribbean retreat is enough to set your heart racing. —Lindsay Lambert
Opened: December 2009. Accommodations: 166 villas, suites, and guest rooms. Beach front:
3,200 feet of beach frontage along Meads Bay and Barnes Bay. Phase III: To be completed
summer 2010. For ownership opportunities: Philip Day, 800-357-1930. Website: www. viceroyhotelsandresorts.com. Peak season: Christmas/New Year’s, President’s Day, Easter, and Passover. Tips for booking: Call 888-622-4567 and be sure to ask for a villa specialist.
Gloria Estefan’s Vero Beach Escape
June 21, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
Pop star Gloria Estefan has been a music maven for decades. Now, the Miami denizen and her husband, Emilio, are making music in the resort business. Their latest hit is Costa d’Este Beach Resort, the Estefan’s oceanfront hotel in Vero Beach.
The intimate $50 million luxury resort that opened two years ago features 94 stylish rooms, including four suites, the gourmet Cuban-fusion Oriente restaurant and lounge, the al fresco Cabana Bar, a European-style spa, an infinity-edge pool, and a fitness room—all of which are reflective of the simple yet elegant styles and tastes of the Estefans themselves. For instance, general manager Awilda Rivera notes that a beautiful orchid, Gloria’s favorite flower, can be found on a beaded curtain that is illuminated each night. Yet that’s just one of her personal touches at Costa d’Este, a “home away from home” for the couple, when they’re not relaxing at their nearby home in Vero Beach.
“There’s a warm sense of style without being overwhelmed and flavors of South Beach without all the hustle of Miami,” Rivera adds. “Everything is very clean, streamlined, and clutter-free. When you pull up, there’s a sense of arrival in its simplicity, whether it’s the waterfall, the sounds of the ocean, or the Nag Champa incense in your room.”
The Estefans have actually been involved in the hotel and restaurant business since the early 1990s, starting with their first Cuban restaurant, Larios on the Beach on Ocean Drive in South Beach. Soon after, they acquired the Cardozo Hotel in Miami. Today, the Cuban couple has seven restaurants and three hotels. The design scheme for Costa d’Este Beach Resort is centered on various organic geometrical expressions, namely the circle. Drawing inspiration from sunrises, bubbles, and nesting sea turtles, Todd Tragash and Isabel Saavedra-Tragash of Miami-based STA Architecture successfully created a chic oasis that celebrates nature and heavily reflects the Estefan’s old Miami personality. Gloria and Emilio who were personally involved in all aspects of the design process, previously worked with STA on their Vero Beach home and Miami Beach corporate headquarters. “Costa d’Este reflects the laid-back vibe and environmental consciousness of Vero Beach,” Emilio says. “It’s one of the main reasons we first fell in love with the community.” Rates start at $249 per room. 877-562- 9919, costadeste.com.
THE AGENDA
LIFTOFF If you’ve never seen a rocket blast off from its launch pad, now’s your chance. If the weather holds, head up to the Kennedy Space Center on July 30 where NASA’s Atlas V rocket will launch a new satellite. 866-737-5235, kennedyspacecenter.com.
ONE LOVE What better way to take in a warm summer night on the ocean than at Captain Hiram’s in Vero Beach with reggae star Beres Hammond? Sink your toes in the sand and feel the vibe on July 21. 772-589-4345, hirams.com.
MANATEE MARVELS Hop in a kayak on August 30 and paddle near Round Island in the waters of Island River Lagoon where you’ll be able to spot manatees and dolphins as they swim right up next to you. 772-466-1600 ext. 3333, manateecenter.com.
EXPLORING VERO BEACH
Three more must-stay resorts. Vero Beach Hotel & Spa This intimate beachfront hotel is surrounded by spectacular ocean views and pristine beaches. The West-Indies-style décor is accentuated by an outdoor pool deck and open-air bar, as well as 113 rooms and suites. Be sure to book spa services in the private treatment rooms. 866-602-8376, verobeachhotelandspa.com. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort Book a master suite here with an in-room whirlpool tub and then plan on taking a wine class while the kids swim in the gigantic pool. 772-234-2000, dvc.disney.go.com. Surf Club Hotel If you can’t leave home without Fido and you’re looking for something more low-key, this place is the call. Oceanview suites come with a wet bar. 800-227-8615, surfclubverobeach.com.
— By Scott Kauffman
Capella Pedregal, Mexico
Scroll through the images of the Capella Pedregal Residences, situated on a beautiful private stretch of beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and you’ll swear someone is playing with Photoshop at your expense.
Here you’ll find a mountainous backdrop, white sand shores, the deep blue Pacific stretching endlessly to the west, and structures that resemble a modern-day Mayan paradise. A boater’s or sport fisherman’s dream, this community offers its own yacht club, direct access (by boat, through a 300-meter rock tunnel) to Cab San Lucas Marina, and a variety of vessels and ocean excursions. Other amenities include fine dining, a spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, concierge, and more. Shared-ownership residences start at $460,000 and full-ownership homes start at $2.9 million. capellapedregal.com
By Bryon Rivers
Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas
Known as one of the best beaches in the Bahamas, if not the world, Harbor Island’s Pink Sands Beach gets its unique color from shells of the foraminifera, an amoeba that is abundant in the area’s waters.
Of course, the biology behind this natural wonder probably won’t be the first thing on your mind as you dip your toes in the placid waters of Harbor Island.
Pink Sands Resort, a sheltered and sumptuous destination tucked away in the tropical gardens just off the beach, is now offering a limited number of lots for private ownership, priced between $700,000 and $1.5 million. Amenities include a freshwater swimming pool, massage service, tennis courts, a beachfront bar, a boutique, a library, a business center, and more. pinksandsresort.com
By Bryon Rivers
Playa Coson, Dominican Republic
Though most associate a stay in the Dominican Republic with the resorts at Punta Cana, one of the island’s best-kept secrets is becoming a destination (and real estate opportunity) of choice for those in the know. Las Terranas, a small village on the northwestern portion of the island, boasts some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, and Playa Coson may just be the Holy Grail. Endless stretches of sand and palm trees slope gently toward deep turquoise water and offer as much seclusion as one could ever imagine. Activities include fishing, hiking, diving, and whale watching, while restaurants and shops await in town. A new highway and airport have also made the journey here safer and more convenient. Current real estate opportunities include everything from villas on the sand (where $2.6 million will get you the house of your dreams) to hillside condos to vast expanses of open, available land. lasterrenasrealestate.com
- By Byron Rivers
Hovercrafts, Yachts and Cigars
June 17, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
Future Perfect – Forget private planes and get a flying hovercraft instead. Better yet, build your own. Universal Hovercraft offers build kits for its 18SPW, a “hoverwing” that allows you to stay suspended a few inches above the ground or water or take the high road and glide 10 feet above it all. The company says the components take 250 to 275 hours to assemble, but the time investment is rewarded once you’re in hovercraft mode. The 18SPW, measuring 18 feet, can take you and five friends shooting over land or water at a top speed of 75 mph, all while eight inches above the surface. When you add the wings and related accessories— which the company says takes 20 minutes to assemble and adds five feet to the length—you can rise above sand dunes, rocks, and whatever else gets in your way. You can also enjoy 180-degree turns and a 55- to 60-mph minimum flying speed. Landing involves gradually slowing down, leveling the wings, and gently lowering onto land or sea. (Note: only two to three people can fit inside in flight mode, due to the need to rearrange interior components.) A joystick operates the rudders, elevator, and throttle. A quiet four-blade lift fan provides air to the bag skirt, which raises and lowers the hovercraft. Kits range from $5,200 (no engine) to $28,000 (partially built for you with an engine). hovercraft.com.
Yacht Watch – Some yachts can go boldly where others can’t. That’s the case with Arieto Primo, a ruggedly handsome 145- footer that was originally built as a tugboat and then converted over two years into a luxury cruiser. Step inside and you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time: wood paneling envelops every room, lending charming warmth to the salon and the staterooms. There’s also a spa featuring aromatherapy, as well as a Turkish bath. The yacht is available for charter in Greece, Turkey, and Croatia this summer; $150,000 during low-season periods and $163,500 for high-season periods. 011-41-91 690 0065. floatinglife.ch.
The Envy Liney Humidors - A collection of humidors with Hunters and Frankau cigars. the details: Designs include a Cuban flag, Partagas cigar factory, and the London skyline. $7,900-$44,000, davidlinleyfurniture.com.
—By Diane M. Byrne
New Resorts on Grand Cayman Island
June 17, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
As part of the British West Indies, Grand Cayman is at once more Western and more developed than other islands in the region because of its great infrastructure, thanks to international banking community investments in the 1960s. Between Seven Mile Beach and the nightlife of Georgetown, visitors have a wide variety of attractions for a great vacation—or for a second home.
Despite cutbacks on other Caribbean islands due to the economy, Grand Cayman has been forging full-steam ahead in the last few years with a full roster of new 
luxury developments. Within Dragon Bay at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman, you’ll find The Deckhouses, which are comprised of 19 private waterfront properties (with five bedrooms each), while Secret Harbour will replicate an exclusive maritime community when it breaks ground early this summer.
The belle of the ball is Camana Bay, a 500-acre mixed-use community in West Bay. The focal point is the 75-foot high Observation Tower, with an interior mosaic deep sea scene designed with Venetian glass tiles, giving visitors a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of Grand Cayman.
TREND WATCH, FACEBOOK IT – If the seemingly unending search for the best hotel has you pulling out your hair, fear no more. TravelMuse, the online tool that allows you to store all of your online fact finding missions in one place, recently launched a new Travel Planner, an application that takes your Facebook friends’ comments about your trip and saves them in your TravelMuse trip folder. There is also the “Ask Friends” feature that allows you to ask for specific advice. Requests are posted to your wall and comments are put back into your trip folder. travelmuse.com.
The Essentials GRAND CAYMAN
1. WHERE TO STAY – The Cotton Tree Cottages opened in the summer of 2009 and features four 1,600-square-foot two-bedroom plantation- style beachfront cottages. 345-943- 0700, caymancotton tree.com. Located right on Seven Mile Beach, the Ritz-Carlton provides guests with oceanfront luxury. 345-943-9000, ritz carlton.com.
2. WHERE TO EAT - Chef Keith Griffin presides over Bacchus, a classic Italian restaurant in Georgetown. Don’t leave without trying the apple pie. 345-949-5747, bacchus.ky. Abacus is the see and-be-seen dining place in Camana Bay with a seafood-predominant menu that impresses. 345-623-8282, abacus.ky.
3. WHAT TO DO - Swim with the stingrays at Stingray City. stingraycitytrips.com. Or head out to Joel Walton’s Plantation House organic farm to see where the chefs on Grand Cayman get their produce. 345-925-1408, plantationhouse.blogspot.com.
— By Lisa Rogak
Globe-Trotter Luggage
June 17, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
Luxury British luggage designer Globe-Trotter recently teamed up with fashion designer Erdem Moralioglu to bring his latest print, “Sendai,” to the company’s chic Centenary edition of luggage, including the 13-inch, hand-crafted vanity case in new “taxi cab” yellow (shown here) with black leather detail. The case is very lightweight and durable thanks to a patented material called Vulcan Fibre that dates back to the 1850s. Inside, the case is lined in fine silk twill for a stylish and stark effect with the modern floral Japanese inspired design in black and white tones. There is also a leather framed mirror,a removable tray, and a combination lock. Centenary vanity case, $690, globetrotterltd.com.
—By Melissa Boudreau
Poipu Beach, Hawaii
Poipu Beach consistently gets top billing on many “best beaches” lists with good reason. It’s on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, but that’s really just the beginning.
The Poipu Beach area encompasses three picturesque miles of crescent-shaped sandy beaches and gorgeous reef and rock formations, including the cliffs at Shipwreck Beach, site of the famed plunge that Anne Heche and Harrison Ford took in the movie Six Days, Seven Nights.
Snorkeling, surfing, whale spotting, or just lounging in the sun are the preferred activities, but with golf courses, spas, and shopping nearby, even a day away from the beach is still a pretty good time.
Home prices range from $1.5 to $5.7 million. poipubeach.org
By Bryon Rivers
Kiawah Island Beach, South Carolina
June 17, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
Twenty-one miles south of Charleston, South Carolina is the barrier island of Kiawah, which lays claim to a beautiful 10-mile stretch of undisturbed natural beach and dunes. Just feet from the shoreline is the prestigious Kiawah Island Club, a private club with two renowned 18-hole courses—one designed by Tom Fazio, the other by Tom Watson—and memberships restricted to only those who own property on the island. There are also five more courses open to the public. Not to be outdone, the club’s tennis quotient was voted “#1 In the World” by tennisresortsonline.com.
Lots are available from $250,000 to $5.9 million, and homes range from $255,000 to $14 million. Options when not whacking a ball with a racket or club are dining at nearly a dozen restaurants, getting pampered at The Sanctuary Spa, or taking a kayak or walking tour. kiawahisland.com
By Byron Rivers
Palm Beach, Florida
On a map, it’s but a sliver of land between Lake Worth and the Atlantic, but when it comes to luxurious coastal living, there are few places more iconic than Palm Beach.
From the yachts lining the Intracoastal Waterway to oceanfront mansions along North Ocean Blvd. to the legendary boutiques of Worth Avenue and its endless parties and galas, the 10 square miles known simply as “the island” seem to have it all.
For the sports-minded, there’s the golf and tennis clubs, including those of the iconic Breakers Hotel. Water and beach lovers can take advantage of the warm cerulean ocean (think boating, surfing, scuba, and more), which boasts an average temperature of 75 degrees.
****************************************************
While $10 million will buy you a dream home with every amenity, $30 million or more will ensure your status as a serious South Florida real estate mogul. sothebyshomes.com/palmbeach
By Bryon Rivers
La Jolla Shores, California
It’s hard to imagine a more quintessential California beach experience than La Jolla Shores. Bookended by golden-hued cliffs, this one-mile stretch of sand has it all. Surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba are all just a 100-yard dash away, and for those with young children, the tide pools of La Jolla Cove are a perfect place to view crabs, starfish, and other marine life.
Homes here range from $3 million for a property just a block from the water to $30 million for oceanfront bedroom bliss. Stepping away from the sand and surf, downtown La Jolla offers Girard Avenue, lined with boutiques, galleries, cafes, spas, and jewelry stores. Other nearby amenities include a golf course, a yacht club, and the renowned La Jolla Playhouse, founded by the legendary Gregory Peck, a La Jolla local. lajolla.com
By Bryon Rivers
For A Stress-Free Flying Experience…
June 17, 2010 by OceanHome · Leave a Comment
To say that Melanie Nayer is a frequent traveler is akin to saying Claude Monet liked to paint. She’s a travel writer and hotel reviewer who contributes to a number of publications, including the New York Daily News and Gadling.com, the world’s top travel blog. But more importantly, she’s sympathetic to travelers bemoaning the loss of free baggage check. “People are, quite frankly, ticked off at the airlines,” she says. But she also understands the industry’s stance. “Remember, at the end of the day, it’s a business, and they have to make money.” Even with the rising costs of checked luggage, Nayer says there are ways to manage both your money and stress.
Take advantage of frequent-flyer programs.“Frequent flyer status goes a long way,” Nayer says. The elite level on several airlines’ programs rewards you with free baggage checks.
Realize that airline baggage fees are cheaper than other options. Luggage shipping services, which pick up your bags from your home and deliver them to your hotel or other destination, are receiving a lot of attention because of consumers’ frustration. But some companies charge far more than the airlines do. “If you go back and look at the prices [from the airlines], you’re actually saving money,” Nayer explains. That’s not to say shipping is always a bad idea. She says it can be quite convenient for bulky sports equipment, like golf clubs, or other items you can live without for a
day or two before you board the plane.
Avoid overpacking. Nayer is adamant that most travelers taking a trip lasting up to a week can fit everything in a carry on. “Mix and match” is the key, she says.Pack one nice pair of pants and one nice shirt, for example, plus clothes that can be dressed up or down. Another tip: skip the extra outfit that you think you’ll need if you spill something on it. “Woolite has travel packs that I swear by,” Nayer says.
Buy hard-cased luggage. Soft luggage can expand, so that’s where many travelers run into trouble in trying to fit their items beneath the seat or in the overhead, Nayer explains.
Give yourself time to clear security. “Don’t assume you’re going to fly through,” she says. Taxis get stuck in traffic, plus random security checks can and do occur. If you’re pulled out of line, “Let them do their jobs,” Nayer says. Give kids checklists and make them responsible for placing their shoes, iPods, and other items in the X-ray buckets.
By Diane M. Byrne
Hualalai Beach, Hawaii
The Kohala Coast, on the Big Island of Hawaii, gets 340 days of sunshine per year. So the odds are in your favor, whether you wish to work on your tan or practice your short game. Open year round, the beach community of Hualalai offers the chance to do both. Comprised of nearly 400 villas, custom homes, and/or home sites ranging in price from $1.7 million to $29 million, Hualalai affords homeowners the chance to play at one of the stunning nearby golf courses, including the Jack Nicklaus Signature course, paddle an outrigger from the Canoe Club, head out into the surf, go scuba diving, or cast a line out and battle for your very own Awa, a prized Hawaiian game fish. hualalairealty.com
By Bryon Rivers
Samara Beach, Costa Rica
Samara Beach is known for its (relatively) gentle waves, family-friendly activities, and the rocky cliffs that form its northern and southern borders. Considered one of the safest beaches in Costa Rica, this crescent-shaped gem also boasts diving and snorkeling, surfing, and nearby fishing and boat tours. Just a six-minute drive from the beach is the in-development gated community of Parque Buena Vista, which will feature 25 sites set within the canopy of a private forest reserve. Priced around $1.2 million, estates are based on a Mexican rancho style and come with a palapa roof and a bright color palette. All estates include a guesthouse, infinity pool, and ocean views.samarabeach.com
By Byron Rivers
Sunset Beach, North Carolina
If the idea of getting away from it all is appealing, then so will be Ocean Ridge Plantation, located on the barrier island of Sunset Beach in North Carolina. Miles of sand dunes and beaches are just a walk or bike ride away in this private village. A veritable golfer’s paradise, Ocean Ridge is home to four award-winning courses, with a fifth set to open this fall. What’s even better is that the luxury homes here list for around $1.5 million and lower. Other amenities include a private beach club, spa and fitness center, fishing lake, nature trails and walking/biking paths, community gardens, swimming pools, and playgrounds. Shopping and fine dining opportunities are abundant in nearby Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. oceanridge.com
By Bryon Rivers
