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On The Water With Seven Crown

Imagine yourself at the helm, captain of your own pirate ship in search of vacation bounty. Your Beauty at your side, maybe some hearties on the sun deck and some ice cold booty in the treasure/ice chest. Fresh air in your face, blue sky above, a few lines trolling off starboard for something sweet to grill for lunch. Avast! Time to drop anchor and walk the plank for a cool swim (no crocodiles in sight). OK, so pirates were and are bad people – it’s still fun to make-believe and that is exactly the point. Houseboating offers that rare luxury of clock-free recreation in beautiful outdoor settings, encouraging your mind to play. Seven Crown Resorts is the West’s leading houseboat source, with a fleet of vessels available at Lake Shasta, the California Delta, Lake Mead and Lake Mohave For toll-free reservations, call (800) 752-9669; more information at www.SevenCrown.com. (*)

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Tahoe's Thunderbird Recalls Golden Age

Blue and majestic, Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States and the tenth deepest in the world, with an average depth of 1,000 ft. The lake is about 22 miles long, l2 miles wide, with 72 miles of shoreline and a surface area of 191 square miles. With the California/Nevada state line running through it, contemporary Lake Tahoe has a dual and sometimes dueling personality, divided between extreme scenic beauty and casino gaming. But somehow the two co-exist. A Tahoe can’t miss activity is a tour of the historic Thunderbird Lodge. An eccentric San Francisco real estate magnate, George Whittell, built the Tudor Revival summer estate between 1936 and 1939.. Whittell's activities at his estate are legendary, including colorful parties and high-stakes gambling in the card house. The eccentric Whittell collected a veritable zoo of wild animals that made guest appearances at the Thunderbird Lodge each summer. Today, the Thunderbird Lodge is open for guided tours from May through October by shuttle, by catamaran or via Whittell’s legendary speedboat, the Thunderbird. Enamored of the lines of his DC-2 aircraft, also named Thunderbird, Whittell requested famed naval architect John L. Hacker to design the hull and cockpit of his new speedboat to look like the fuselage of his personal airplane. Fashioned of triple-planked mahogany and brushed stainless steel, the Thunderbird was completed at a cost of $87,000 (more than $3 million in today's dollars). The yacht is berthed in its original boathouse at the Thunderbird Lodge. See www.thunderbirdlodge.org for tour reservations and more.

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Paso Wine Festival Weekend Set for May 19-21

California’s San Luis Obispo County has two distinct wine grape growing regions – Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo – featuring more than 200 vineyards and 80 tasting rooms. Paso Robles produces wines of great distinction along the Central Coast. It’s California’s fastest growing wine region and largest geographic appellation. The area is unique in that it is situated between the towering Los Padres National Forest on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other – a microclimate providing ideal conditions for making premium and ultra premium wines. The Paso Robles Wine Region's long, warm summers and chalk and limestone hillsides play an important role in creating its distinct vintages. Paso Robles is known for its big, ripe Zinfandels, bold Cabernets and a bountiful crop of velvety-smooth Merlots. The 24th annual Paso Robles Wine Festival is slated for the weekend of May 19-21, 2006. Special weekend events and promotions at dozens of Paso Robles Wine Country wineries include winemaker dinners, tours, barrel tastings, vineyard tours, seminars, dances and more. The main event takes place on Saturday – the Paso Robles Wine Festival is one of the largest outdoor wine tasting events in the country, taking place in the heart of Paso Robles, the downtown city park. Winemakers from throughout the region will come together for this unlimited wine tasting event among the shade of Paso’s historic oak trees. Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting, complemented by music, games and sunshine in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. The $50 ticket includes unlimited tasting and a commemorative crystal glass. Designated driver tickets also available. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. (Next issue, we’ll tour San Luis Obispo wineries.)

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Luxury Link Announces World's Best Hotels

Luxury Link, the luxury travel web site (www.luxurylink.com) has announced its 2006 World's Best Hotel Award winners. Fifty properties throughout the world received the new honor. Selected by a panel of Luxury Link travel editors and Luxury Link VIP users, candidates were judged on service, facilities, location, uniqueness of property and overall levels of luxury. Award winners include:

Amandari; Bali, Indonesia
Ana Mandara Resort; Nha Trang, Vietnam
Bellagio; Las Vegas
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort; Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Charleston Place; Charleston, South Carolina
Fairmont Kea Lani; Maui, Hawaii
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai;, Kona, Hawaii
Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris; Paris
Halekulani; Honolulu, Hawaii
Hotel Bel-Air; Los Angeles
Hotel Danieli; Venice, Italy
Huka Lodge; Taupo, New Zealand
Las Mañanitas; Cuernavaca, Mexico
The Little Nell; Aspen, Colorado
Lizard Island; Queensland, Australia
The Lodge at Pebble Beach; Pebble Beach, California
Mala Mala Main Camp; South Africa
The Peninsula New York
The Ritz-Carlton; San Francisco
The Observatory; Sydney, Australia
The Oriental, Bangkok; Thailand
The Peninsula Hong Kong; Kowloon

Founded in 1997, Luxury Link, LLC is a leading provider of luxury travel on the web, including research, special offers, and travel auctions, updated daily. Gannett Company, Inc. (NYSE: GCI) holds a minority interest in the Company. For the complete list of 2006 World’s Best Hotels Award winners, see www.luxurylink.com.

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