CURATED Magazine by Exclusive Resorts • Spring/Summer 2016

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> In Focus

Heavy Medal With insider access to the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, snag a front row seat to watch the world’s most ambitious athletes and explore a city that’s passionate about play. More than 10,500 athletes from a record-setting number of countries will descend upon Rio de Janeiro this August for the 2016 Summer Games. As such, adrenaline-infused spectating will also take top billing. For the first time in Club history, Exclusive Resorts is bringing Members to the Summer Games (August 18-23). Itinerary highlights include the gold medal game of men’s soccer and Closing Ceremonies. Yet, this isn’t solely a sports experience. Stay at the five-star Hotel Santa Teresa, take a half-day private excursion to Rio’s Corcovado and iconic Christ the Redeemer (pictured here), and enjoy plenty of down time to work on your tan at Copacabana Beach. The trip closes with a farewell, multicourse wine dinner at Restaurant Tereze, which will showcase a menu personally created by Chef Phillipe Moulin. Given that Rio is the first South American city to host the Summer Games, Brazil will be in top shape, too, with special events and celebrations staged around the country.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/2016-Summer-Games



M A G A Z I N E

72 Artist David Parise on set with his favorite travel companions, Ken and Barbie.

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IN FOCUS

10 LETTER FROM THE CEO 12 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

40 AUSTIN CHIC Hit this hipster scene in

Alvaro Cerezo has answered the silent beck-andcall of the world’s last untrammeled islands.

style, with music as your muse. Neiman Marcus’ Austin stylist, Lauren Gemillion, curates a fashionable Southern escape.

32 MISSION CONTROL SharpHeels founder and CEO Ashley Poulin reveals how travel, making time for you, and revamping relationships is the ticket to professional freedom.

42 PAR FOR THE COURSE Tee time never looked so good with top-of-the-line golf accessories and greens-inspired men’s looks.

ARBITER

33 VIEW FINDER Philippe Bourguignon, co-chairman of Exclusive Resorts and advisor to World View® Enterprises, Inc., taps space travel as the next frontier.

43 TICKET TO RIDE Classic cars take center stage at Barrett-Jackson’s 45th anniversary auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, fueling retro auto trends for discerning collectors.

23 WANDER MUST As more road warriors,

34 INSIDER’S GUIDE: MIAMI Carlos

44 ROCK STARS Ibiza bound? Spain’s

jetsetters, and soul searchers hit the road, the transformative power of travel is being celebrated by global leaders as key to health and happiness.

Fernandez-Shaw, Exclusive Resorts Chief Concierge at 1 Hotel South Beach, lists top haunts and happenings for a stylish Florida sojourn.

45 A CUT ABOVE New York–based bespoke jewelry designer, Maria Canale, turns a teenage love into a calling.

14 WAVE RUNNER Entrepreneur. Visionary. Philanthropist. All in a day’s work for Steve Case, who now adds author to a prescient career.

BESPOKE

14 CONTRIBUTORS 16 FATHOM Insider access to the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro; A road trip and customized itinerary through the peaks of Patagonia.

26 ALL ROADS LEAD NORTH For one

pioneering influencer, the path decidedly taken has made all the difference. 28 REM-EDY Arianna Huffington’s The Sleep

Revolution explores how our dream machine can spark your most healthy and productive year yet.

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30 ESCAPE HATCH Docastaway founder

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37 HEAR ME ROAR Temple St. Clair’s Haute Couture Collection marries fine jewels and mythical creatures, all brought to life by an iconic Florentine chiseler. 38 NAUT-Y + NICE! Barneys New York

Creative Ambassador-at-Large, Simon Doonan, swoons for yacht-inspired summer fashion, plus Barton + Gray’s Pulitzer Pride and Fratelli Rossetti’s boat shoe.

legendary nightlife calls for colorful knockouts.

46 RANCH REDUX Gain insider access to the The Ranch 4.0, a four-day immersion based on the acclaimed The Ranch Malibu. 47 CLASS RULES For devoted NYC and Los Angeles locals and visitors, Taryn Toomey’s ‘the class’ workout forges peace through strength. 48 CALIFORNIA DREAMING A new part-

nership with Exclusive Resorts features wellness retreats at the iconic Cal-a-Vie, a San Diego haven that marries health, elevated travel, and inspiration.


contents

58 Travel to London’s Quilon restaurant, one of the top Indian restaurants in Europe.

50 GUT CHECK The latest skincare soldiers are powerful

probiotics. In an exclusive interview, celebrity gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj reveals tips of the trade and her new beauty line. 52 BONDING BLISS Escape to the Cayman Islands with Exclusive Resorts Members Holly Cao, Bob Hellman, and their 3-year-old boys, Carter and Tucker.

SAVOR 55 ROLL CALL With summer on tap, sunset soirées in

New York City are fueled by tasty Maine lobsters and of-themoment rosés. 56 WHEN IN ROME…MANGIA Andrew Sessa reveals the

top five places to eat in the Italian capital right now—and what to order while there—according to expert local foodie and cookbook author Katie Parla. 58 FOOD ENVY Globe-Trot to these iconic restaurants and discover local dishes that celebrate authentic cultures and cuisine. 60 TOP TOQUE Celebrity chef and Exclusive Resorts Member, Geoff Tracy, dishes on D.C.’s culinary clout, his new book on children’s health, Baby Love, and menu musts when flying through Dulles International. 62 #TEQUILA: TRIED + TRENDING Just who is the mastermind behind the margarita? Spirit-savvy writer Mark Ellwood muses on the makings of a summer fave, while also unveiling an Austin mezcalaria with serious street cred. 64 SAY, SYRAH...Wine expert Ted Loos hails the increasingly popular and resilient red wine grape, which is fast becoming the star of Santa Barbara’s sumptuous wine region. 66 NAPA’S NEXT FACTOR With three new Exclusive

Resorts villas at The Carneros Inn, vineyard hop with Janice O’Leary to wine country’s oh-so-tasty standouts.

CULTURED 69 POSH PENINSULA New Member access to eight

Peninsula Hotels worldwide means Asia’s enticing culture and cuisine is now just a passport stamp away. 72 HAVE DOLLS, WILL TRAVEL Photographer David

Parise turns nostalgia on its head and inspires wanderlust with a collection of colorful, cheeky snapshots of vintage Barbie and Ken dolls. 74 COLONIAL CHARM, BIG CITY CRED In-the-know

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travelers to Mexico have discovered the San Miguel de Allende Art Scene, rich in both inspiration and up-and-coming artists. 76 PAYING IT FORWARD Inspired by travel, Exclusive

Jeep to Tierra Patagonia Hotel + Spa during the new nine-day Patagonia Adventure.

Resorts Members launch game-changing foundations and literacy programs in Africa and Costa Rica. 78 GIFT GUIDE Event designer and luxury lifestyle expert

Jung Lee, owner of FETE and Jung Lee NY, simplifies the art of home, gift, and wedding registry etiquette. CURATED

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> Contents FEATURES 82

THE CALL OF COSTA

On the hunt for the Rio Celeste waterfall, howler monkeys, sublime seafood, and inspired locals, discover why Exclusive Resorts’ flagship development, Peninsula Papagayo, is considered a Central American gem. By Erin Lentz Photography by Stefanie Michejda 92

EUROPE: A FAMILY AFFAIR

Sightseeing with a child in tow means still finding the hot new thing while also planning kid-friendly city itineraries. Learn how, the two are quite compatible in Europe’s coveted locales. Story by Ondine Cohane 98

WILD AT HEART

National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, and writer Peter McBride recently trekked nearly 700 miles through the Grand Canyon to document the hidden wilderness between the rim and the river. In this exclusive photo essay, McBride captures the transcendental power of the world’s most majestic arteries, which ultimately connect us all. Story and Photography by Peter McBride 108 A PERFECT 10

A tried and trending hit list of where to go next, including Arctic Svalbard, Sri Lanka, Scotland, New Zealand, Nevis, Europe, and more. Story by Jen Murphy

WHAT’S NEW: EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL Our expanded portfolio now includes Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys, Escapes, and Adventures to top destinations. What’s on your 2016 hit list?

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130 JUST BACK FROM Exclusive Resorts Members share

insider tips from their latest escapes. 132 BUCKET LIST Just back from Uganda, Skift President

and Exclusive Resorts Board Member Carolyn Kremins checks off gorilla tracking, an impenetrable forest, and a hyena on the hunt.

Discover the charm of kid-friendly Berlin with writer Ondine Cohane.

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ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHER STEFANIE MICHEJDA CAPTURES THE GRAND ENTRY TO EXCLUSIVE RESORTS’ PENINSULA PAPAGAYO IN COSTA RICA.

CURATED

Photo by alexsl

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CURATED. exclusiveresorts.com DIGITALWANDERLUST Visit our new digital edition for interactive features, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes travel videos.

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SOCIALSTUDIES Facebook.com/exclusiveresorts Twitter.com/exclusiveresrts Instagram.com/exclusiveresrts Pinterest.com/exclusiveresrts YouTube.com/exclusiveresortsclub Linkedin.com/exclusive-resorts

44 Globally inspired jewels by DANIELLE VILLEGAS are the latest rock stars.

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M A G A Z I N E

EDITORIAL

EDITOR IN CHIEF Erin Lentz

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karrie Sims

PHOTO DIRECTOR Stefanie Michejda EDITOR AT LARGE Jennifer Murphy COPY EDITOR Christine Benedetti CONTRIBUTING FASHION EDITOR Karen Larrain EXCLUSIVE RESORTS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Cathy Ross SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, SALES & MARKETING JP Lind VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING Hayden Mugford DIRECTOR, CONTENT MARKETING Caitlin Austin MANAGER, BRAND MARKETING Justin Parnell MARKETING COORDINATOR Lauren Bowie ADVERTISING SALES

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Elizabeth Kellick; elizabeth@curated-mag.com GLOBAL SALES DIRECTOR Erin Haraway; eharaway@curated-mag.com U.S. SALES, MIDWEST Kristy North Farrey; kristy@curated-mag.com CONTRIBUTORS

Holly Cao, Ondine Cohane, Dan Dunn, Simon Doonan, Mark Ellwood, Carlos Fernandez-Shaw, Lauren Gremillion, Nandita Kahnna, Carolyn Kremins, Karen Larrain, Jung Lee, Ted Loos, Peter McBride, Stefanie Michejda, Heidi Mitchell, Jen Murphy, Jennie Nunn, Janice O’Leary, Ashley Poulin, Sandra Ramani, Andrew Sessa, Rob Story

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

Queries must be submitted with self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Publisher is not responsible or liable for return or safekeeping of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photographs, or other materials. info@curated-mag.com ©2015 TAG Media. CURATED Magazine is published two times a year. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this publication without publisher’s permission is strictly prohibited. For copies, customer service, or to exhibit or distribute at a business, please inquire at info@curated-mag.com. TAG Media 300 E. Hyman Ave. Suite 200, Aspen, CO, 81611 Exclusive Resorts Management LLC Headquarters 1515 Arapahoe Street
Tower 3, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202 For membership information and opportunities, call: United States: 844.541.2714; Europe: +44(0)20 7101 7911; International: 303.226.4900 Advertisement herein for any product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Exclusive Resorts, LLC or its affiliates.

Club membership is subject to terms and conditions of club membership agreement. Different terms and conditions apply to different purchases. Reservations for specific days, destinations and events subject to availability. Experience Collection vacations, certain services, amenities and other member benefits may require additional fees, may have limited availability and are subject to additional terms and conditions. Magazine content is for informational purposes only; the club disclaims any warranty or representation of any kind; stories do not constitute the club’s endorsement of any cause or program. See exclusiveresorts.com for more information. Exclusive Resorts and the Exclusive Resorts flower logo are registered trademarks of Exclusive Resorts, LLC. ©2016, Exclusive Resorts, LLC. All rights reserved.

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> Letter from the CEO

Cathy Ross in 2010 at Sea Island, Georgia, with (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) son Carson, her husband Vic, father Roger, and son Collin.

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s I sifted through my family photos preparing to write this letter, I was reminded how much Exclusive Resorts has become a part of my family history. It feels strange—almost wrong—to admit that as the CEO of a travel company, it’s challenging to find time for vacation. But it’s the truth. As a result, the trips I’m able to take with my family and the memories made are all the more meaningful. Our very first family vacation with Exclusive Resorts was in 2005 to Real del Mar, Mexico, after two years of nonstop work travel to get the Club launched. It was so relaxing and peaceful, and I remember thinking, “This is why we’re working so hard. To bring this same feeling to our Members.” Two years later we returned to Real del Mar with new friends. At the time, we had only known each other briefly. Today—10 years later—our families remain tightly bound together. In 2004 there was a mother-son trip to Vail for two days of mountain biking. Since that adventure, my 19-year-old son, Carson, and I, still bike together in Winter Park. It’s become our “thing”—precious time together for bonding and fun. In 2010, after watching my mom lose her battle with cancer, I took my father to Sea Island. He was exhausted and I was worried about him. The memories we made on this vacation are some of my most treasured moments. Crying. Laughing. During the last night we watched the sunset. Bagpipes were playing in

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the background. It was then—during that peaceful moment—that I knew my mom was at peace, too. Sea Island will forever be a special place for me because I know she was there with us. The photo (pictured above) I have of my father and boys at this moment is priceless—and would not have been possible without ER. For some, a bucket list trip is cruising through Antarctica or skydiving in New Zealand. For me, it was a bit simpler, yet no less impactful—a cruise in 2013 with Exclusive Resorts through the Caribbean on our own private yacht. I felt completely at peace. Disconnected from schedules and phone calls, our days consisted of jet skiing and barefoot beachfront dinners. Within these pages, my hope is that you are reminded of what makes travel most worthwhile. The journey, of course, is paramount, but ultimately it’s those family members or friends who travel with you—or new friends discovered along the way—that can turn a trip into a treasured memory. Travel well.

CATHY ROSS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EXCLUSIVE RESORTS


the

American West, exclusively yours.

For the first time ever Exclusive Resorts members can now use their days for Airstream travel with Airstream 2 Go. Fully outfitted, luxuriously equipped, and complete with a GM Tahoe or Yukon, several custom, all-inclusive itineraries have been crafted to provide the road trip of a lifetime. To begin planning your exclusive journey through the American West, please visit www.exclusiveresorts.com/airstream2go.

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> Letter from the Editor

(FROM LEFT) Behind the scenes with photographer Stefanie Michejda; my impromptu salsa lesson at Exclusive Resorts’ Peninsula Papagayo. Creative Director Karrie Sims scouts the Rio Celeste River.

I

took my first “overseas” trip at age 5. It was an epic journey, about a 1/4-mile in length, traversing all the way from my childhood driveway to the end of our cul-de-sac. I told my Mom I wanted to walk to China, so, playing to my whimsy, she helped pack a lunchbox with socks and snacks and sent me on my way, snapping a Polaroid. That memory remains. Though I didn’t really travel anywhere, it was the anticipation, the ritual of preparation, and the possibility—though only imagined—that felt magical. Fastforward several decades, and as a travel writer and editor, half the fun in globetrotting still lies in the anticipation and potential of the journey ahead. Within these pages, we celebrate the transformative power of travel. Whether via interviews with Steve Case, Arianna Huffington, Docastaway founder Alvaro Cerezo, or a bucket list trip to Uganda with ER Board Member Carolyn Kremins, an underlying theme to their travels is connectivity, whether to oneself or others. While producing this issue’s cover story in Peninsula Papagayo Costa Rica (“The Call of Costa,” page 82), I spoke with Exclusive Resorts CEO Cathy Ross and acclaimed architect Wayne Johnson, both of whom walked the peninsula predevelopment, machete-ing their way through the jungle and envisioning what is now ER’s brilliant flagship destination. They

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stressed the importance of creating something spectacular while honoring the local landscape and Costa Rican culture. As I ziplined through dwarf forests, bathed in thermal mud, dined on local cuisine, and hiked to the most spectacular waterfall I may ever lay eyes on, I was constantly reminded of the country’s culture—embraced in their mantra, pura vida, the “pure life.” A local greeted me with the saying while we passed each other on the way to the Rio Celeste Waterfall, and when I formally asked our bartender, Alex, at Peninsula Papagayo what it meant to him, his reply was simple. “You know,” he said, “real.” When travel is at its best, real connection and authentic cultures are discovered. And whether envisioned by ER’s executive team or teased in our Top 10 Places to Go Next (page 108), the power of authentic travel is what we strive to bring you within these pages. Here’s to new discoveries!

ERIN LENTZ elentz@curated-mag.com


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> Contributors

Dan Dunn

Ondine Cohane Ondine Cohane, who takes us to Europe with her son, Jacopo, (page 92) is a contributing editor at Conde Nast Traveler. Eating great food, drinking excellent wine, discovering small hotels, and exploring far-flung destinations are all part of the job. Ondine writes for The New York Times travel section as well as Lonny, Details, and more, and is currently working on a memoir. MOST MEMORABLE INTERVIEW:

Abdi Assadi, an acupuncturist and healer. NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT:

Cashmere blanket. TRAVEL HIT LIST: Maldives I WRITE BEST WHEN: I’m sitting in a little cafe in Pienza, Italy, nursing a tea or glass of local wine.

Dan Dunn, who writes about vintage autos “Ticket to Ride” (page 43) is an author, TV and radio personality, and awardwinning journalist whose work has appeared in Playboy, GQ and the Los Angeles Times. His latest book, American Wino: A Tale of Reds, Whites and One Man’s Blues (HarperCollins) was released on April 5th. DREAM RIDE: 1966 Shelby

427 Cobra. BUCKET LIST TRIP: A bucket

factory. HAPPIEST WHEN: I’m cruising on the open road listening to music at high volume.

Mark Ellwood Mark Ellwood reveals savvy spirits in “#Tequila” (page 62) and has lived out of a suitcase for most of his adult life. He writes for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Condé Nast Traveler, where he is a contributing editor. He’s interviewed the world’s oldest supermodel (she’s 75 and counting), trekked to a $10 billion art island in rural Japan that looked like a Bond villain’s lair (he brought his own white cat), and spent a weekend in an all-psychic town (and yes, they did know he was coming, because he called). Mark is the author of Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World, which explores our culture’s snowballing obsession with deals and discounts, from Prada to Primark.

INTERVIEW WISH LIST: Bono, any

good friend of Bono’s, anyone who’s ever met Bono.

SPIRIT OF CHOICE: A cheeky Bombay Sapphire as the perfect base for a negroni. BUCKET LIST TRIP: Buenos Aires. After spending chunks of my childhood in Italy, I’m intrigued to find out how strong the Italian influence might be down there. HAPPIEST WHEN: All plants around me are in pots, and I’m safely in manmade, concrete-lined heaven. Anything which involves mud isn’t for me.

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Ted Loos Nandita Khanna Nandita Khanna, who catches up with artist David Parise in “Have Dolls, Will Travel” (page 72) is a New York-based fashion and style writer. Previously an editor at Departures and Town & Country, she refined her tastes for California Kings and Pratesi linens during her early days as an assistant at Conde Nast Traveler. MOST FABULOUS FASHION MOMENT: Meeting the designer Tom

Ford, who, before he even asked my name, whispered in my ear that I had beautiful ankles (the one, and only time I’ve received that compliment, for sure). FAVORITE ARTIST: Cy Twombly BUCKET LIST TRIP: Marrakesh, Morocco. I still can’t believe I’ve not visited Majorelle Garden. NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT: A silk sleep mask. I’m an excellent napper, especially on flights.

Ted Loos unveils top vinos in “Say, Syrah” (page 64). He’s based in New York City and the Hudson Valley, and is the wine and spirits contributor for Travel + Leisure. He writes frequently for The New York Times about the arts and also contributes to WSJ magazine, Departures and many other publications. FAVORITE SYRAH: Chapoutier

Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage. TOP FOODIE FIND: Alter restaurant

in Miami. BUCKET LIST TRIP: Antarctica INTERVIEW WISH LIST: The

Obamas; Woody Allen.

Sandra Ramani Sandra Ramani discovers the latest health and wellness trends in “California Dreaming” (page 48) and “Class Rules” (page 47) and has been covering travel, wellness, and lifestyle topics for more than 16 years, working with Travel + Leisure, Robb Report, WORTH, Organic Spa, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Premier Traveler, among others. The author of Day Trips from Dallas-Fort Worth, now in its second edition, Sandra has lived in England, France, and Italy, and is currently based in New York City. TRAVEL HIT LIST: I’ve been to over 100 countries and counting, but Lebanon has topped my wish list for a while, for the history, culture, and food and wine scenes. TOP SPA VISIT: During 2015, the new wine-themed El Santuario at LeDomaine, in Spain’s Duero River region. TOP WELLNESS DISCOVERY: Bhutan’s traditional farmhouse baths—in which you soak in mineral stone-and-herb-infused water, in big wooden tubs—were simple, surprising, and unforgettable. FAVORITE FOODIE FIND: Shaya, Chef Alon Shaya’s modern Israeli spot in New Orleans.

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> Fathom

Journey to the tip of South America on an Exclusive Resorts road trip and discover a wild stretch of land that offers an unworldly natural bounty. BY JEN MURPHY 16

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Photo by Gerad Coles

patagonia or bust!


(OPPOSITE PAGE) The majestic Torres del Paine National Park. CLOCKWISE FROM (LEFT) Succulent lamb from The Singular Patagonia; pool with a view at Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa; a curious guanaco; aqua adventure; jeeping in Torres del Paine National Park.

P

atagonia is one of the wildest places on earth. A destination that traditionally has demanded roughing it, you can now navigate the spectacular natural landscapes of Argentina and Chile in style and comfort. As part of its expanded Experience Collection, Exclusive Resorts has partnered with Quasar Expeditions to offer eight-night, nine-day Jeep Journeys across Patagonia. Independent travelers can do the driving and hire a local guide for select excursions. Or sit back, sightsee, and allow Quasar to provide a driver and guide. Here’s what nine days of adventure looks like:

PATAGONIA ROAD TRIP *Sample itinerary.

DAY 1

I couldn’t imagine a better place to shake off my jet lag than The Singular Patagonia. The 57-room hotel is an oasis of calm, set on a remote coastal stretch of Puerto Bories. Huge windows soak in magical views of green fjords and snow-capped peaks. We feast on king crab and Magellan lamb paired with Chilean wines, then head to bed early. DAY 2

The sun pours into our room, illuminating the peaks of the Balmaceda Mountains across the Ultima Esperanza fjord. After breakfast we sail through fjords, past colonies of blue-eyed cormorants and sea lions. When we arrive at the otherworldly Balmaceda Glacier, our guide pours us all glasses of whiskey, chilled with glacier ice, of course.

DAY 3

Our GPS navigates us across the border to Argentina. The three-hour drive to the pioneer town of El Calafate takes in rugged landscapes and estancias. At Estancia Anita, one of the oldest ranches in the region, we watch gauchos gallop on horseback and shear sheep. DAY 4

Hostería Alta Vista feels more like a home than a hotel, and the 165,000-acre property is crisscrossed with trails for biking, hiking and riding. We channel our inner gauchos on a morning horseback ride through thick lenga forests with the Andes in the background. DAY 5

Today we drive deep into Glaciares National Park to see Perito Moreno Glacier. I marvel as a huge section of ice calves into the lake, creating a resounding roar. Our guide helps us strap on crampons and then we set out by boat and actually get to hike atop the glacier. I feel like a real explorer. DAY 6

We wake early and drive back over the border across rolling pampa en route to Torres del Paine National Park. Once inside the park, we spot a heard of llama-like animals called guanacos. Laguna Azul looks like something out of a Disney movie. Its waters radiate an electric blue hue and hundreds flamingos dance across the surface. We recover from a long day of exploring with massages at Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa.

DAY 7

The Park is our playground today. We stretch our legs with a hike up the French Valley, which many consider to be the most beautiful in the park. In the evening, we share a bottle of Carmenère and take in the distinctive violet-blue alpenglow that covers the Paine Towers at sunset. DAY 8

We paddle sea kayaks past ghostly blue glaciers and picnic at Glacier Grey before we return to the Singular for our final night. The chef convinces us to try grilled guanaco. Paired with another bottle of Carmenère, it’s just the right way to end to an epic adventure.

Road Warriors Hit the Highway with Airstream 2 Go Explore the American West with these additional ER road trips. Iconic Airstream trailers navigate five eight- to ten-day itineraries—including new Adventures to West Texas and Southern California. NEW Texas Two-Step: El Paso, Marfa + West Texas NEW SoCal Beachcomber: LA to San Diego CANYON COUNTRY Arizona + Lake Powell BIG SKY LOOP Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming CALIFORNIA CRUISING The Pacific Coast Highway * For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador exclusiveresorts.com/Airstream-2-Go

GO exclusiveresorts.com/quasar-jeep-patagonia CURATED

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> Fathom

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EGYPTIAN SPLENDOR Pharaohs, pyramids, and cruising the River Nile? All in a day’s play during this new Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey to the ancient wonders of an enchanted land.

By Kenneth Garrett / Getty Images

W

ith Exclusive Resorts’ new Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey to Cairo and the Nile,” navigating the inspired temples, tombs, monuments, and ruins of Egypt is the only beckon of the day. The trip kicks off at The Nile Ritz-Carlton®, Cairo, nestled between the Nile River and the bustling Tehrir Square. Following a welcome dinner, the first excursion is a guided outing to the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx. Members gain private access to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities before it opens to the public, where an Egyptologist will talk on the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts, some of which date back to 4000 BC. Next up is a visit to Aswan and the 19th-century Victorian Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel, which hugs the banks of the Nile. Egyptian culture is paired with incredible cuisine, including a catered feast aboard a felucca boat as it sails around Elephant Island. Walk Aswan’s famous market, visit the Unfinished Obelisk, or stroll through a Nubian village before boarding a privately-chartered Sanctuary Nile Adventurer Cruiser for a three-night cruise along the Nile to Luxor. While onboard this 32-cabin luxury ship with teak sundecks, glimpse the Temple of Philae, the Tombs of the Nobles, and the Kom Ombo Temple. Learn traditional belly dancing and take cooking classes before docking in Luxor, home to a third of the world’s monuments. Led by a private archaeologist, discover ongoing excavations projects in the West Bank and visit King Tut’s legendary tomb. The Journey wraps in Cairo with a tour of Islamic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. Spend a final night at the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza. Your inner Indiana Jones will thank you.

GO EGYPT: CAIRO AND THE NILE DAYS: 8 nights, 9 days DEPARTURE DATES: Jan 30; Feb 6; Nov 6 and 13, 2017 GROUP SIZE: 40-52 Members per itinerary exclusiveresorts.com/egypt-2017

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S E VAN B I Ç AKÇI

BA R N E YS.CO M

N E W YO R K

B OS TO N

CHICAGO

L AS VEGAS

LOS A N G ELES

SAN FR ANCISCO

F O R I N S I D E R FA S H I O N A C C E S S: T H E W I N D O W. B A R N E Y S .C O M

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CURATED CONVERSATIONS // ADVENTURE // TRAILBLAZERS // CONCIERGE CONFESSIONS

Wander Must AS MORE ROAD WARRIORS, JETSETTERS, AND SOUL-SEARCHERS HIT THE ROAD, THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF TRAVEL IS BEING CELEBRATED BY GLOBAL LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS AS KEY TO BOTH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. It’s often said travel is the best education, re-igniting our innate sense of curiosity, and connecting us with one another and new cultures. Each year, however, Americans fail to use 400 million vacation days. As such, Exclusive Resorts and global leaders are fighting back—CEOs, athletes, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs—touting vacation as the key to both personal and professional success. Within these pages, we’ll discuss how travel can reconnect your family and “recharge our sense of wonder,” with inspiring insights from media mogul Arianna Huffington and World View CEO Jane Poynter, whose company is leading the charge to space. We’ll also hear from several ER Members—so moved from their recent trips—that they’ve launched foundations and programs that are changing lives and transcending cross-cultural boundaries in remote corners of the globe. Ready to learn what it means to invest in the intangible, not the tangible? Let’s go...

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SEA ME The joy of vacationing, at its best when unplugged, barefoot, and curious.


> Curated Conversations

ENTREPRENEURS IN PARTICULAR CAN BE GUILTY OF KEEPING THEIR HEADS DOWN WHEN BUILDING THEIR COMPANIES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THEM, AND EVERYONE ELSE, TO TAKE A BREAK AND TRAVEL FOR THE NEW PERSPECTIVE. -Steve

Wave Runner Entrepreneur. Visionary. Philanthropist. All in a day’s work for Steve Case, majority owner of Exclusive Resorts, who now adds author to a prescient career.

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teve Case, it seems, works best while juggling several roles. His pioneering spirit impacts nearly all of our daily lives, considering his position in the digital age as co-founder of America Online in 1985. At the time, just three percent of Americans were online. Today it’s estimated that just 15 percent of Americans are not online, according to the Pew Research Center. And since witnessing the “first wave” of the digital era, Case now serves as the Chairman and CEO of Revolution LLC; Founder and Partner of Revolution Growth; Chairman of UP Global; and Chairman of the Case Foundation. And as co-chairman and majority owner of Exclusive Resorts since 2004, Case is at the forefront of the travel industry as well. In a recent blog, Case quotes F. Scott Fitzgerald, who once stated, “You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.” As such, Case explains the impetus to tell his story in his brand new book, The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future (Simon & Schuster). The title, he explains, “Was borrowed from Alvin Toffler, whose prescient 1980 book inspired me as a college student to devote my career to helping to usher in the digital age.” As such, Case explains how three waves in the digital era our defining not only our society, but also our future.

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Case


IN A RECENT BLOG YOU MENTION YOUR “AHA” MOMENT FOR THE BOOK, ONE YOU HAD A YEAR AGO. WHAT TRIGGERED IT?

The moment came when I was reflecting back on the conversations I’ve had over the past few years with hundreds of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and corporate leaders in dozens of cities  around the country— many of them through our Rise of the Rest bus tour and Startup America efforts. I realized some big trends were gathering momentum, and much of what I was seeing, hearing and sensing was deja vu, reminding me of the early days of the Internet. I wanted to write a playbook for the future to help guide the next generation of entrepreneurs. YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH AOL AND THE FOUNDING OF THE INTERNET 30 YEARS AGO AS THE FIRST WAVE; THE SECOND WAVE BEING THE LAST 15 YEARS, WHERE COMPANIES HAVE BUILT ON TOP OF THE INTERNET, SUCH AS SEARCH AND SOCIAL; AND NOW, THE THIRD WAVE, WHERE THE INTERNET WILL BE PERVASIVELY INTEGRATED INTO OUR LIVES. WHAT MOST EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE THIRD WAVE?

The most exciting— but also daunting—thing about the Third Wave is the prospect of significant disruption to some of the largest industries in the world like education, health, food, transportation, and energy that make up a significant portion of our economy. These are industries that, for the most part, have yet to be significantly transformed by the Internet, but we’re already seeing some of these changes taking hold, and the impact on our daily lives will be seismic. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT POSES THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO THE THIRD WAVE?

The possibilities in the Third Wave are limitless, but the challenges will be multifaceted. Success will require what I call the three Ps: investment in strategic partnerships between startups, corporations, and government; an understanding of the important role that public policy will play at the local, regional, and national level; and perseverance on the part of entrepreneurs, as building companies in the Third Wave will take patience and time. WHAT ARE THREE UNMISTAKABLE QUALITIES IN A GAME-CHANGING ENTREPRENEUR DURING THE THIRD WAVE?

In addition to embracing the three Ps, successful Third Wave entrepreneurs will be driven by opportunities to create great companies that also make the world a better place. Impact investing and structures like B Corporations will play a big role in the Third Wave. Successful Third Wave entrepreneurs will embrace diversity—geographic, gender, and ethnicity—and there will be a growing realization that the world’s most successful companies can be started and built by people of all backgrounds from all places. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY IN PENNING YOUR FIRST BOOK?

I realized the possibilities in the next wave are limitless, but the challenges will be complex and

success will require a different kind of playbook then we’ve ever seen. In the Third Wave, the Internet will touch everything and transform our everyday life. WHAT WERE THE MOST IMPACTFUL TRENDS DISCOVERED WITH YOUR RISE OF THE REST BUS TOUR, AND STARTUP AMERICA?

After traveling the country as chair of the Startup America Partnership, and more recently during our Rise of the Rest bus tour that has (to date) taken us to 19 American cities in “off-the-beaten path,” emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems like Detroit, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Nashville, I’ve seen a few key trends emerge. First, entrepreneurs in these regions are innovating in ways specific to the economic heritage of their region. Places like Nashville are building new, innovative startups coming out of their rich healthcare industry, Pittsburgh is leveraging its strong engineering culture and nearby Carnegie Mellon to develop its own unique place in the “Maker” movement. Rise of the Rest cities are also home to companies that care deeply about improving the communities around them, such as Shinola in Detroit, which has brought manufacturing jobs back to the city, or Revolution Foods, which seeks not only to improve how kids eat in schools and at home, but is also creating new jobs in the communities it serves.

with my friends and family trying to experience something together. HOW HAS TRAVEL STRENGTHENED THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH YOUR OWN FAMILY?

WITH THE THIRD WAVE, MANY INDUSTRIES WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED. WHAT DO YOU FORESEE AS THE BIGGEST POTENTIAL CHANGE FOR THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY? FIRST THERE WAS THE MOBILE CHECK-IN AND NOW A ROBOT BELLMAN—WHAT’S NEXT?

It has allowed me to share experiences with the people I care about most. It gives us a common bond and memories that we will be able to share for years to come.

In our very connected and mobile society I expect the travel industry will be able to deliver a higher level of smart services that travelers are increasingly demanding. I think this new level of customization will lead to more authentic engagement with travelers that can connect them more personally to their experience.

IN ALL OF YOUR TRAVELS, IS THERE ONE SPECIFIC TRIP OR EXPERIENCE ABROAD THAT HAS MOST IMPACTED YOU?

DO YOU BELIEVE THE HUMAN SERVICE EXPERIENCE WILL BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO THE LUXURY CONSUMER AS RESORTS ARE INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR CUSTOMER JOURNEY—FROM BOOKING TO CHECKING IN?

The personal touch of human service at brands like Exclusive Resorts will continue to be incredibly important and strongly desired by travelers. However, the increased ability to arm your staff with data and information specific to each customer using technology will make every interaction more meaningful during their stay. YOU RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A ROAD TRIP WITH EXCLUSIVE RESORTS IN AN AIRSTREAM TRAILER THAT REQUIRED YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO REALLY DISCONNECT. WHY IS IT STILL IMPORTANT TO FIND TIME TO UNPLUG?

I love technology, social media and email, but unplugging for a set amount of time can allow me to be present in a situation and focus on what’s important in that moment without distraction. I think this is especially important when I am

It sounds cliché, but my experience on the Rise of the Rest road trips has had the most significant impact on me. I’ve been beyond inspired by the civic leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, students, corporate executives and many others I’ve met who are building incredible businesses and supporting the growth of emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems all throughout the country. HOW DOES TRAVEL BEST INFORM ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

I think traveling takes you outside of your comfort zone and allows you to have a new perspective on how other people and cultures live, which is important when you are an entrepreneur building a startup and hiring your staff. Entrepreneurs in particular can be guilty of keeping their heads down when building their companies for obvious reasons, but it’s important for them, and everyone else, to take a break and travel for the break and new perspective. The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future is published by Simon & Schuster and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks.

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> Curated Conversations

All Roads Lead North For pioneering influencer Doug Holladay, the path decidedly taken has made all the difference. BY HEIDI MITCHELL

Philippe Bourguignon, co-chairman of Exclusive Resorts, speaking at a "non-obvious" dinner in NYC earlier this year.

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orget Groucho Marx’s famous line, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” PathNorth is one club that even the most connected of influencers are anxious to join. Perhaps that’s because it’s not exactly a club. Created by serial rainmaker Doug Holladay (ex-Goldman, ex-White House, current private equity fund partner and Georgetown professor), the virtual collective of PathNorth hand picks global influencers, and then takes them on journeys outside their comfort zones to discuss the Big Questions. This might entail venturing to Wimbledon with tennis legend Stan Smith, followed by a meal prepared and presented in the dark by blind chefs and waiters, and another meal, this time served inside a prison, to talk about overcoming odds. Or it may consist of taking 15 powerbroker members to a Franciscan monastery, where talking is banned— for three days.

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Every month, PathNorth hosts an experience: small salons; “convenings” of select groups; “non-obvious” dinners during which guests have three minutes to convince tablemates that their idea is the best, then present it to the whole room; conferences with panel discussions, like the one Holladay led with the Navy Seal who gave the order to take out Osama bin Laden. “But we didn’t talk about that,” he explains. “We talked about other stuff, like, ‘How have you navigated the past 10 years of your life while being mostly separated from your family?’” The nebulous group of roughly 213 members also travels together to such far-flung destinations as Cuba, Patagonia, and Africa. They meet. Connect. Talk about life’s tough issues. What they don’t do? Network. “That is the word I revile the most,” says Holladay, who is a partner at Park Avenue Equity when he’s not cooking up the next deep-ocean excursion from an aircraft carrier with his PathNorth


Candidly Speaking

“IT’S EASY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR NET WORTH AND YOUR PORTFOLIO. BUT WE OFTEN DON’T HAVE THE LANGUAGE TO SPEAK ABOUT TRULY IMPORTANT MATTERS: RAISING GOOD KIDS, A FEELING OF ISOLATION, THE NEED TO GIVE BACK. PATHNORTH IS ABOUT MAKING THE JOURNEY TOWARD MEANING.”-Doug Holladay

The PathNorth Salon Series ignites meaningful conversation and connection. DAY AT ROSE HILL FARM RAPPANHANNOCK, VIRGINIA MAY 21 Hosts: John and Billings Cay Celebrate spring’s arrival at PathNorth members John and Billings Cays’ beautiful 18th-century Rose Hill Plantation. A stimulating conversation will complement lunch, followed by a tour with architect Frederick Ecker II, who led the renovation of both Jefferson’s Monticello and the Cays’ plantation

peers. “Networking makes relationships a commodity. We want people to feel like they are in a safe space where they can connect to others in a meaningful way, work on stuff that matters, and develop a spiritual core related to any belief or worldview. And it’s a lot about telling our stories.” PathNorth, too, begins with a story. During the Great Recession, Holladay, now 69, witnessed many friends being vilified in the media for their wealth, without anywhere to turn to delve into deeper issues and contribute to society beyond the enterprise. “I thought, this is not good for your family, or our country, or yourself,” he recalls. He had been interviewed by veteran journalist Gail Sheehy for her book, Pathfinders, and began reading up on trends related to successful men. He learned that the average length of time a man lives after retirement is 14-18 months. “Why is that? For men especially, our sense of self is so tied up with our work,” says Holladay. “Inc. Magazine did a study that found that about a third of CEOs feel like they have no one to trust and risk making poor decisions. And if you are isolated, you come unraveled. I realized leaders needed a place to go to talk about deep questions and connect to one another.” So he called upon Steve Case (co-founder of AOL, chairman and CEO of the investment firm Revolution, and majority owner and co-chairman of Exclusive Resorts), Ben DuPont (founder of yet2Ventures and yet2.com), and some other influential friends, and began that difficult conversation that leaders needed to have. “Einstein said that not everything that can be measured matters and not everything that matters can be measured,” the Oxford graduate notes. In other words, “it’s easy to talk about your net worth and

your portfolio. But we often don’t have the language to speak about truly important matters: raising good kids, a feeling of isolation, the need to give back. PathNorth is about making the journey toward meaning.” PathNorth’s own trajectory has since attracted trailblazing supporters. Club members include Glenn Youngkin, co-founder of the Carlyle Group; Peter Buffett, son of Warren; Bill Mayer, chairman of the Aspen Institute; and John Tyson of Tyson Foods. The club is diverse and open to all faiths. There are such women as Deborah Waller, CEO of Jockey, Deanna Mulligan, CEO of Guardian Life, and Jean Case, National Geographic’s first female chairman. It’s akin to the six-degrees-of-separation theory, applied to business leaders and heavy thinkers. “Everyone comes as a referral, so it grows organically,” says Holladay. “We’ve never really turned people away. PathNorth is so personal, it’s really self-selecting.” Philippe Bourguignon, co-chairman of Exclusive Resorts and legacy Member of PathNorth, believes so deeply in Holladay’s philosophy that he’s created a partnership between the two organizations, providing Club Members with access to PathNorth’s invitationonly salon series. “Just as Exclusive Resorts is focused on creating authentic vacations that enrich the lives of our Members, PathNorth provides its members with the opportunity to meet extraordinary people and share inspiring stories that prompt self-reflection,” he says. In the coming months, both groups will cross-pollinate people and ideas at key events—expect to bump into Bourguignon at one of this year’s PathNorth salons. He adds, “I would encourage every Exclusive Resorts Member to attend one of the upcoming events to further broaden their perspective on the world.”-pathnorth.com

estate and grounds. NAVY EMBARK EXPERIENCE NORFOLK, VIRGINA JULY Host: Secretary John Dalton Former Secretary of the Navy and PathNorth Board member John Dalton has arranged for members to stay overnight onboard an aircraft carrier. This experience includes an in-port tour of an active submarine, a dinner with high-ranking military personnel, and a flight out to the carrier on a V-22 Osprey. ASPEN COLORADO SALON AUGUST 12 Host: Ken Hamlet Reminiscent of a 17th- and 18th-century French tradition, the John C. Whitehead Salon Series on meaning and civility convenes like-minded leaders in an intimate setting. To RSVP to a PathNorth event, contact Melanie Horsford at 202.467.2079 or mhorsford@pathnorth.com and identify yourself as an ER Member.

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A 2015 SURVEY SHOWED THAT 71 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SLEEP WITH OR NEXT TO THEIR SMARTPHONES. -Arianna

Huffington

REM-edy Arianna Huffington’s The Sleep Revolution explores how our dream machine can spark your most healthy and productive year yet. Herewith, the author explains how restful sleep and unplugged vacationing can pack a transformative punch. BY ERIN LENTZ SLEEP IS SOMETHING MOST CONSIDER PERSONAL, THEIR OWN SOLO ENDEAVOR EVERY NIGHT. YET IN THE SLEEP REVOLUTION YOU EXPLAIN IT’S ONE OF HUMANITY’S GREAT UNIFIERS. HOW SO?

Sleep is universal. It binds us to one another, to our ancestors, to our past, and to the future. No matter who we are or where we are in the world and in our lives, we share a common need for sleep. WHY WRITE A BOOK SPECIFICALLY ON SLEEP, AND WHY NOW?

The idea grew out of my most recent book, Thrive, which was about how to bring more well-being, wisdom, wonder, and giving into our lives. And sleep was just one element of that. But as I went around talking about Thrive, it was the topic of sleep everybody wanted to discuss. Everywhere I went, I’d hear versions of, “I don’t remember the last time I was not tired.” So I realized the role of sleep in our lives needed a fuller exploration. Right now our 28

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relationship with sleep is in crisis. The evidence is all around us. There’s a collective delusion that overwork and burnout are the price we must pay in order to succeed. The method (or cheat code) we use isn’t a mystery: feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day, we look for something to cut. And sleep is an easy target. Up against this unforgiving definition of success, sleep doesn’t stand a chance. WHAT IS THE SINGLE-MOST CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO TODAY’S INCREASING SOCIETAL SLEEP DEFICIT?

Our busy technology-soaked lives are one aspect, but I think the main factor is how we think about sleep. In much of our culture, especially in the workplace, going without sleep is considered a badge of honor. Yet since the effects of sleeplessness are largely the same as those of being drunk, when we get behind the wheel of a car without enough sleep, we are engaging in behavior that’s dangerous to both ourselves and others.

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> Curated Conversations


WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL SLEEP PATTERN?

I have a specific time at night when I regularly turn off my devices—and gently escort them out of my bedroom. I also love a cup of hot decaf tea before bed, and when I feel too wired to sleep, my panacea is a hot bath. But most of all, getting more sleep was a result of changing how I prioritized it. I used to take it for granted, until I collapsed from exhaustion. Then I started taking it more seriously—because I had to—and my more sleep-friendly personal habits followed from there. WE ARE LIVING IN A CONSTANT PLUGGED-IN STATE. HOW IS THIS IMPACTING US?

We know that blue light, the sort given off by our ubiquitous electronic devices, is especially good at suppressing melatonin, which makes it especially bad for our sleep. Staring at a blue-light-radiating device before you go to bed can serve as “an alert

No one is expected to check work email and respond after hours, over the weekend, or while they’re on vacation. But in spite of this, as we all know, it’s very common for people to go on vacation and put up an out-of-office message, but still respond to incoming emails – often seconds after the sender receives an out-of-office email! Why? Because we are addicted, and because once we see an email, we feel obligated to answer it. So, inspired by the German auto company Daimler, we decided to create a tech solution that would eliminate the temptation. With our new vacation email tool, all emails sent to you during your time off will be automatically deleted (or archived, if you prefer). The sender gets an auto response asking them to resend their message when you’re back or to contact someone you designate if it is urgent.

20 years, people will look back on the sleeping pill era as we now look back on the acceptance of cigarette smoking,” Jerome Siegel, director of UCLA’s Center for Sleep Research, told me. And for good reason. One study showed that the use of benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Restoril), usually taken for anxiety or as a sleep aid, increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 32 percent after being used for three to six months. Taking these drugs for more than six months raises the risk by 84 percent. IF COMMUNITY LEADERS WERE BENEFITING FROM MORE, AND RESTFUL, SLEEP, HOW COULD IT TRANSFORM OUR CULTURE?

It’s already transforming our culture. We have a

TRAVEL RECHARGES OUR SENSE OF WONDER, AND INCREASINGLY YOU CAN EVEN GET A GREAT NIGHT’S SLEEP WHILE DOING IT.

stimulus that will frustrate your body’s ability to go to sleep later,” said George Brainard, a circadianrhythm researcher and neurologist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. “When you turn it off, it doesn’t mean that instantly the alerting effects go away. There’s an underlying biology that’s stimulated.” Our relationship with our devices is still in that honeymoon phase where we just can’t get enough of each other. We’re not yet at the stage where we’re comfortable being apart for a few hours or taking separate vacations. In fact, a 2015 survey showed that 71 percent of Americans sleep with or next to their smartphones. HOW HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED YOUR FINDINGS ON SLEEP AND MINDFUL LIVING INTO YOUR BUSINESS CULTURE AT HUFFINGTON POST?

Since the news is nonstop, there is definitely the temptation for editors, reporters, and engineers to try to match the 24-hour news cycle. But we do a lot to prevent burnout. We have two nap rooms in our newsroom. In our New York offices we host meditation, breathing, and yoga classes throughout the week, while our new D.C. offices have dedicated meditation, yoga, and nap rooms.

HOW DO DIET AND EXERCISE MOST PLAY A ROLE IN THE SLEEP REVOLUTION?

We can’t really eat our way to better sleep, but we can eat our way to bad sleep. With food and drink, it’s more a matter of what to avoid than what to take in. The obvious and all-too-common obstacle to a healthy sleep diet is going between caffeine and sugar all day so we end up tired but wired at night. And there’s plenty of science confirming the direct relationship between exercise and sleep. A study from Bellarmine University and Oregon State University found that “regular physical activity may serve as a non-pharmaceutical alternative to improve sleep,” at least for those who meet the basic recommended guidelines of 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise. THOSE LITTLE PILLS OF PROMISED SLEEP! HOW ARE SLEEPING PILLS A TEMPORARY BAND-AID WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS REPERCUSSIONS?

In the U.S., more than 55 million prescriptions for sleeping pills were written in 2014, with sales topping $1 billion. A 2013 CDC report stated that 9 million Americans—4 percent of all adults—use prescription sleeping pills. “In

growing number of leaders in every field realizing that well-rested employees are better employees. In sports, in schools, in medicine, and in the workplace, sleep is finally beginning to claw its way back to the place of respect and reverence it deserves. But that has to start with changing how we think about sleep, and no longer incentivizing sleep deprivation by equating it with dedication and success. HOW IS TRAVEL CRUCIAL IN RE-BOOTING + RECHARGING?

Of all the evidence of the sleep revolution, there may be no better example than the intensifying competition among hotels to see which hotel brand can deliver the best sleep experience. Travel recharges our sense of wonder, and increasingly you can even get a great night’s sleep while doing it. WHAT TRAVEL DESTINATION CURRENTLY TOPS YOUR BUCKET LIST?

My bed. I’m going there tonight! -huffingtonpost.com CURATED

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> Adventure

escape hatch Docastaway founder Alvaro Cerezo answers the beck-and-call of unplugged travel with escapes to the world’s last untrammeled islands. BY JEN MURPHY

A birds-eye view of Amparo Island. OPPOSITE PAGE: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Docastaway owner Alvaro Cerezo sharpens his survival skiils; A guest enjoys happy hour; the majestic Blue Lagoon; bonfire beach cooking, al freso style.

Alvaro Cerezo, a free-spirited Spaniard with an insatiable sense of wanderlust, spent years exploring the globe. His unique travel company, Docastaway (“Do Castaway”), includes a portfolio of remote, unspoiled islands perfect for the traveler who really wants to get away from it all. The perpetually sun-kissed entrepreneur tells us why everyone should want to be stranded on a desert island.

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA TO CREATE A TRAVEL BUSINESS AROUND DESERTED ISLAND ESCAPES? I was always a castaway myself. Every year since I was 19 I would pick a new island to strand myself on and I’d see if I could survive off the land and sea. I spent one month on an island in India. I thought it was fun and realized other people might enjoy the simplicity of island living, too. HOW DO YOU FIND THE ISLANDS IN YOUR PORTFOLIO? Finding the places is easy. You just need to go explore. I’ve taken over 400 travelers to around 30 islands throughout Polynesia, the Philippines, Melanesia, Indonesia and the Caribbean.

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The hard part is working with the people who live around these islands. Their education is usually very low, they don’t understand Western standards and they really have a hard time understanding the castaway concept. I need their cooperation to ensure the islands stay deserted. They don’t understand how people can enjoy being alone. WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT DESERT ISLAND? Isolation. When I first launched I didn’t know exactly what clients wanted. When I was on an island for months I liked when fishermen passed by because they’d bring me fish. But my clients only stay a few days, maybe two weeks. They want to be completely alone.


“My clients only stay a few days, maybe two weeks. They want to be completely alone.” – ALVARO CEREZO

YOUR PRICES ARE QUITE AFFORDABLE, RANGING FROM $85 TO $415 A DAY. WHO IS THE IDEAL CASTAWAY? If you think about real castaways from the past, they weren’t castaways by choice. Social status didn’t matter. If you were rich or if you were poor, you could still end up shipwrecked on an island. I wanted to stay true to that. We get all types of people, from backpackers and millionaires to adventurous honeymooners and solo people who want to come test their survival skills. YOUR PORTFOLIO IS BROKEN INTO TWO CATEGORIES: COMFORT MODE AND ADVENTURE MODE. WHY GIVE TWO OPTIONS? First and foremost, I wanted Docastaway to be a company that helps people escape civilization. Some people want to really see if they can survive being stranded on an island. They want to test themselves. These are special people. Maybe a little crazy. Most people don’t want to suffer during their holidays. They want the comforts of modern life. They want food, shelter and, bug spray.

Photos Courtesy of Docastaway

ADVENTURE MODE SOUNDS LIKE SURVIVOR. IS THERE ANY DANGER INVOLVED? The biggest threat is having a coconut fall on your head or being caught in a current in the ocean. It’s really hard to starve. These islands are full of coconuts and crabs. We leave people with a cookpot, a few bottles of water and a machete. It’s easy to make a bamboo lean-to for shelter. Many of our islands are close to the mainland where we have a team standing by in case of an emergency. HOW DO YOU KEEP THESE ISLANDS SECRET? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE START POSTING INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK PHOTOS OF THEIR TRIPS? Clients have to sign a contract that they won’t publically post photos on social media. Sometimes they write nice reviews on Yelp or TripAdvisor and we have to take them down. If we start sharing the locations of our islands, backpackers will show up, and we'll need to take the island out of the portfolio. People go to places like Thailand expecting to find paradise and it feels just like California or Spain. There are very few places where you can

really be alone. I think that is something that will become more and more valuable with time. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ISLAND? My favorite islands aren’t on the website. They’re just for me.

Off The Grid Unplug and reboot with these Exclusive Resorts destinations and experiences. The Ranch Malibu • Miraval Resort + Spa India Soul-Stirring Retreat • Bali Yachting in The Bahamas • St. John Yellowstone National Park + The Grand Tetons Peru + The Amazon • Antarctica

GO exclusiveresorts.com/experience-collection

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> Trailblazers Meet Me There

Start-Up Savvy Ashley Poulin left a Fortune 100 company to leverage her entrepreneurial spirit and empower others.

STOP THE

GUILT. GIVE YOURSELF TIME OFF. ENGAGE WITH OTHERS. REFLECT ON WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED. -ASHLEY POULIN

Mission Control SharpHeels founder and CEO Ashley Poulin reveals how travel, making time for you, and revamping relationships is the ticket to professional freedom. An Austin-based digital platform for professional women, SharpHeels is on a mission to empower those with career in mind. Via a dynamic online community, the company features inspired content by women from various industries and backgrounds. An avid traveler, Poulin divulges how taking time for you, rewarding yourself, and reconnecting with family and friends is key to both happiness and success.

W

hen people ask me to describe myself, I usually respond with a simple “corporate marketing leader turned entrepreneur.” After almost a decade in the corporate world, I left it all behind to launch a start-up—a business idea that compelled me to leave a position that I loved and had excelled at—to venture into the world of entrepreneurship. As a marketing executive at a Fortune 100 company, I worked nights, weekends, holidays and even spent an entire year taking midnight calls to Singapore on top of my 12 hours at the office. But though I was passionate, driven, and worked around the clock, I still eked out time for happy-hour cocktails with friends or an occasional weekend getaway (skiing, winery tours, a football weekend with my alma mater). In short, I never really disconnected, but still got away. However, as an entrepreneur, the end is never truly in sight. There’s always more work to do—a never-ending list of activities,

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and seemingly not enough time, money or resources to tackle it all. Plus, as a business owner, it all rests on my shoulders—a big change from corporate life. I’ve discovered (aside from being on a continuous roller-coaster) that the largest consequence is guilt. Every minute I spend on myself is time away from work. Money spent on myself or someone else is money I could have spent on the business. I balance the guilt on one shoulder with reminders on the other from such women as Arianna Huffington, who frequently talks of launching The Huffington Post and working to the point of exhaustion. Erin Callan, the former CFO of Lehman Brothers before the Wall Street giant collapsed, speaks in her latest memoir of the dangers of “leaning too far.” As such, they remind me of the potential consequences of pushing myself too hard. Given the risk of burnout, I’ve prioritized to take better care of myself. I force myself to exercise, eat, sleep, and see my friends and family when I’m able to peel myself away. Yet I can’t turn off the voice in my head that keeps reminding me of all the work I have to do, and then continuously adding items to my to-do list. I’ve accepted that the voice will never cease. It’s what made me successful as a marketing leader, and what will make me successful as an entrepreneur. But the guilt I can choose to ignore! -sharpheels.com

A White House report revealed that 46 percent of Americans said their job “sometimes or often” interfered with their family life. Here, Poulin shares her pointers for balance and success: LOSE THE GUILT Guilt is a selfreflected feeling. Choose to focus on positive emotions instead. Be proud of your accomplishments and excited about the amazing journey ahead. MAKE DAILY TIME FOR YOU Small efforts on a daily basis will feel far less daunting than something more time consuming or expensive and will have substantial benefits. Exercise, naps, meditation, and eating healthy are extremely important and small steps toward focusing on you. Consider winding down your day with a non-work book or television show that makes you laugh. Go out to lunch every day, even if you pack it and eat it in a park or dedicate lunch as your friend catch-up time (and ask your friends not to ask you about work). DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP You can’t do everything, so seek out people and companies that can help you, especially in your personal life. Don’t have time to cook? There are new meal delivery services popping up in every city, with healthy, delicious options. Want to vacation, but keep putting it off? Sign up with a vacation service that can do everything for you and pre-book your perfect getaway. USE ALL OF YOUR VACATION DAYS Don’t waste a single vacation day. Experiencing new cultures, awe-inspiring scenery, and meeting new people feed the soul and enhance your creativity. Not to mention after taking a mental break from work, you’ll return to the office rested, energized, and ready to hit the ground running. If you’ve used all of your vacation time, push the limits on working remote! RECONNECT WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOST HOBBIES Your family and friends are the foundation for your successful journey. When you emerge from your “work tunnel” and realize you have the time and resources to spend with friends and family, prioritize reconnecting and restoring relationships.


View Finder

I M

ost anyone who witnessed man first walk on the moon remembers exactly where he or she was when it happened. For Philippe Bourguignon, who was 21 at the time, the moment rocketed a serious passion for space technology and research. “We had to work very late one night,” he recalls. “It was the summer of 1969, and we watched a man walk on the moon at our office. It was then that I realized the frontier of travel could extend into space.” Over the ensuing decades, Bourguignon became increasingly interested in the private space community. I first interviewed Philippe Bourguignon in 2001, when the Frenchman helmed the all-inclusive travel juggernaut, Club Med. We met at the grand opening of the French Alps resort Serre Chevalier, where he touted Club Med guest amenities. Fast-forward 15 years, and Bourguignon—now a veteran of the travel industry—has advanced from all-you-can eat French fare to the new frontier of space tourism. Bourguignon recently joined World View® Enterprises, Inc. as an advisor, working with Chief Technology Officer Taber MacCallum and Chief Executive Officer Jane Poynter. An innovative aeronautics company based in Tucson, Arizona, World View aims to take guests, by 2017, to the edge of space via a high-tech balloon. If they succeed, voyagers will gently ascend 20 miles into the stratosphere. Poynter explains, “There’s no high-Gs, but you will have a bar!” In other words, don’t expect hair-raising gravity pulls, but instead, perhaps a champagne toast. In contrast to Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk—who are focused on launching short 20-minute rocket flights for well-heeled private citizens—Bourguignon wants the experience to linger. “I don’t think a space trip should be an amusement park ride,” says the man who rescued Euro Disney in the 1990s. “I’m not saying a rocket is bad. It’s just not the trip that I want to make. To me, one of the primal joys of travel is to journey through the transitions. Like moving from Paris, through the city, to the exurban woods.” As such, World View will employ a balloon—made of featherweight composite barely a molecule thicker than Saran wrap—that expands to the size of a football stadium in order to lift a 9,000-pound capsule that holds six passengers and two crew. Passengers will leisurely drift upward for two

Philippe Bourguignon, co-chairman of Exclusive Resorts and advisor to World View® Enterprises, Inc., taps space travel as the next frontier. BY ROB STORY

hours, one third of the way to outer space, where they will witness Earth suspended in blackness. The four-hour round trip, which starts at $75,000 per voyager, is a much different experience than several minutes of face-melting in a rocket ship. Besides, says Bourguignon, “It’ll take a lot of time to get rockets safe for normal human beings. World View’s concept already is,” referring to the company’s preliminary classification approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. “The capsule will be just like a modern jet—a pressurized cabin requiring no special gear or clothing. There’s a slow elevation into the sky without noise. There’s a serenity around our method. To move slowly in a world that goes too fast.” Though born in France, Bourguignon was raised from age 2 to 17 in Morocco, where his father worked for Caterpillar Afrique. “My parents thought it was important to experience different cultures, so they put us in public school in Casablanca, with Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, and Catholic students. I loved this. We could have discussions about anything and everything.” Intent on seeing the world, Bourguignon pursued a career in travel, landing a job at the French hotel giant, Accor, for whom he developed Sofitel and Novotel hotels in America (he still resides primarily in Washington, D.C.). Then came Euro Disney, Club Med, and posts as co-chief executive officer of the Davos-based World Economic Forum and CEO of Miraval Resort and Spa. In July 2011, Bourguignon was tapped as CEO of Exclusive Resorts. He now serves as its executive co-chairman, in addition to being vice-chairman of Revolution Growth. In 1996, Bourguignon set a record for racing yachts across the English Channel. He has been named a Chevalier in France’s Legion of Honor. He owes much to his continued ability to see the world. “Travel means everything to me,” he smiles. “I still find inspiration in everything I encounter along the way. Travel keeps me dreaming. It makes me feel young. If you think you’ve seen all you need to see, it means you take yourself too seriously, and you will get old quickly.”-worldview.space CURATED

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> Concierge Confessions GO Experience our four new threebedroom residences at the 1 Hotel South Beach. exclusiveresorts.com/Miami

Insider’s Guide: Miami Carlos Fernandez-Shaw, Exclusive Resorts' chief concierge at 1 Hotel South Beach, lists top haunts and happenings for a stylish Florida sojourn.

ART SCENE The Pérez Art Museum Miami relocated to downtown’s Museum Park. This sleek waterfront museum features modern and contemporary international artwork and educational activities. Lunch at Verdi Restaurant, with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay.

LOCAL FLAVOR Ola Restaurant Pan-Latin, Spanish and Caribbean flavors, with incredible ceviche (don’t miss the Hamachi Nikkei) and mojitos.

Bass Museum of Art Just steps from your residence, the Bass features curated shows and private collections, with a great lawn and a sculpture park that leads to the beach.

Juvia Set atop a designer parking garage in a sleek space, this rooftop restaurant has vibrant South Beach energy, Miami Beach views, and an eclectic menu.

COCKTAIL CULTURE The Bar at the Edition Hotel has bespoke cocktails by tenured barmen. Dine at the Edition’s Matador Room. DID YOU KNOW? Miami is the only major U.S. city founded by a woman! American businesswoman Julia Tuttle, known as the “Mother of Miami,” founded the city in 1896. She was the original owner of the land upon which Miami was built. ONLY IN SOUTH BEACH Art Basel is staged every year during the first week of December. The contemporary art is as notable as visiting art enthusiasts. With pop-up galleries and museums throughout the city, it’s Miami at its cultural peak.

Zuma at EPIC Miami Modern Japanese cuisine in the heart of downtown and great weekend brunch. Havana 1957 in Espanola Way has the best Cuban sandwich in Miami.

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) The rooftop at Juvia; South Beach Wine and Food Festival; Water Fantaseas; The Setai scene; the Bass Museum

The Bar & Courtyard at the Setai Hotel An elegant but relaxed spot to enjoy cocktails and Asian small plates. DJs spin lounge music from 8 p.m. until midnight Wednesday through Sunday. The Rooftop Bar at 1 Hotel South Beach Amazing city views from our rooftop bar on the 18th floor. Great anytime of day, but I really enjoy sunsetstunning!

South Beach Wine and Food Festival, held annually in February, is the event to attend for fabulous food, wine, cocktails, sunshine, and celebrity chefs! Tickets sell out fast so plan well in advance.

CHILD’S PLAY The Miami Seaquarium is fun for the whole family. In addition to marine mammals, it houses fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, reptiles, and manatees. Kids can even swim with the dolphins. Jungle Island is a zoological park in Watson Island, with animal shows and exhibits in a lush tropical environment. Kids will learn about lemurs, orangutans, tigers, monkeys, and a liger (offspring of a male lion and a female tiger). 34

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JUST ADD WATER Exploring Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean aboard a high performance Zodia RIB Boat is a must. Ocean Force Adventures captains narrate the history of the city and its mansions. For a more luxurious tour, charter a Water Fantaseas powerboat or sailing yacht. SPA SCENE The spa at 1 Hotel South Beach is soon expanding from four to 10 treatment rooms, and moving to a new locale on property. My pick is the Blue Eucalyptus Treatment which blends aromatherapy and a deep tissue massage.


travel

adventure

go

T A G M E D I A AS P E N .CO M


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BESPOKE STYLE // DRIVEN // JEWELRY // HEALTH + WELLNESS // BEAUTY // FAMILY TIES

Temple St. Clair’s The Lion, one of five rings as Super Heroes in her Wings of Desire Haute Couture Collection.

Hear MeRoar Temple St. Clair’s Haute Couture Collection marries fine jewels and mythical creatures, all brought to life by an iconic Florentine chiseler. As part of Italian designer Temple St. Clair Carr’s fabulous “Wings of Desire” collection, five rings representing five creatures, including this whimsical and brilliant lion, create her dazzling Super Heroes depiction. The little lion is in good company with fellow “Hero” stars, which include a swan, a Pegasus, a hippocamp (the mythical horse-fish that led Poseidon’s chariot), and a winged gazelle. Mining her art history studies and imagination, she gave the lion “wings in the style of ancient Etruscan reliefs.” The ringed pedestals are further brought to life with iconic gems—the highest quality rubies, emeralds, and blue and yellow sapphires. All have been set with microscopic fine-tuning by a master setter in Florence. Additionally, St. Clair Carr, who was recently awarded the 2016 GEM Award for Jewelry Design, employed a historical Florentine chiseler—a dying traditional art—to give the creatures just the right might. “Super Heroes” is presented in five limited edition and numbered sets. -templestclair.com

GO Live out your Italian fantasies in our two-bedroom apartment overlooking the famed Arno River in Florence. exclusiveresorts.com/florence


> Style

Experience The Bahamas at your own pace during a week on the Club’s new private yacht Acqua. See page 124.

Naut-y + Nice!

VALENTINO Cape Gown ($7,690) SIMON SAYS: “A yacht

Barneys New York Creative Ambassador-at-Large, Simon Doonan, swoons for yacht-inspired spring and summer fashion.

is a dreamy place where fantasy rules. With that in mind, wear a full-length Dietrich gown to a casual lunch.” #sunprotection

All items available at barneys.com and select Barneys New York stores.

SAINT LAURENT Studded Double Buckle Espadrille Sandals ($595) SIMON SAYS: “If a biker jacket and an espadrille had a baby, these are great for schlepping round the local sights when you finally drop anchor.” GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Cruel Summer Double-Zip Sneakers ($1,175) SIMON SAYS: “You cannot wear spike heels on the deck of a boat (naughty!), so you need an entrance-making sneaker.”

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These Shoes Were Made for Yachting…. FINN Starburst Pendant Necklace ($3,900) SIMON SAYS: “Swimming whilst wearing your jewels is very Monte Carlo circa 1960. Give it a whirl. Pile them on!”

TEMPTATION POSITANO Fringed Minidress ($620) SIMON SAYS: “A white Eurofabulous cover-up also doubles as a nightie and evening dress.”

There’s a boat shoe, and then the boat shoe, namely the original Fratelli Rossetti Yacht loafer. The iconic brand is re-introducing its game changer—in 1970 Renzo Rossetti replaced the leather lining in his moccasins with fabric, and voilà, no socks needed—to the U.S. market. Sold in brilliant summer colors they can also be customized for yacht owners and crew. $330; —fratellirossetti.com

#minimalpacking

JIN SOON CHARME ($18) SIMON SAYS: “Your toes are constantly on display in any nautical situation. Make sure they are spesh and presh.”

Pulitzer Pride: Barton + Gray Offers Fashionable Fun It’s not every day one finds a yacht bedecked in Lilly Pulitzer, yet members of the touted Barton & Gray Mariner’s Club can now ride a Hinckley in true beach-y fashion. Barton & Gray, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer, has collaborated with Pulitzer on a stylish ocean vessel that can be spied from Palm Beach to Nantucket. What’s more, the brand has just announced two new ports of call in the Bahamas (Nassau and Harbor Island) and Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Ready. Set. Sail. —bartonandgray.com

MANSUR GAVRIEL Mini Mini Bucket Bag ($475) SIMON SAYS: “A mini bucket bag is de rigeur for your sunblock and phone. And if the ship starts sinking you can bail water with your Bucket bag. Geddit?”

ARNAQUE One-Piece ($420) SIMON SAYS: “Dare NILI LOTAN Lace-Up V-Neck

to be different. Wear

Sweater ($875)

a one-piece.”

SIMON SAYS: “When I think yacht, I think pirate, as in a swashbuckling sweater from Nili Lotan.”

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> Style

Austin Chic Hit this hipster scene in style, with music as your muse. Neiman Marcus’ Austin stylist, Lauren Gremillion, curates a fashionable Southern escape.

OLIVER PEOPLES Gwynne Lens-in-Lens Mirror Sunglasses ($435)

HELEN KAMINSKI Jordyn Raffia Sun Hat ($295) REBECCA TAYLOR Ella Sleeveless Floral Tea-Length Dress ($895)

All products available at Neiman Marcus; neimanmarcus.com

Lauren Gremillion

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CHLOE HUDSON Stud Leather Mini Saddle Bag ($1,990)

Lauren’s Photo By Brio Yiapan

JIMMY CHOO Nico Platform Wedge Sandal ($625)


ARMENTA Midnight Black Diamond Bar Necklace ($1,290)

MIMI So Wonderland Pave Diamond Stinger Drop Earrings ($6,800)

ZADIG & VOLTAIRE Emile Sequin Open-Front Vest ($400)

ZADIG & VOLTAIRE Short-Sleeve Rock & Roll Linen Tee ($100)

SAINT LAURENT Monogram Small Fringe Crossbody Bag ($2,150)

RAG & BONE Bengal Striped Capri Jeans ($185)

TAI BAROQUE Pearl Cord Bracelet ($170)

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Biala Spike Leather Red Sole Pump ($995)

GO Visit page 126 for more information on the Club’s 4-day Escape to Austin, Texas. CURATED

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> Style

Visit one of the Club’s seven residences at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. with access to a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course.

Surf the Turf

Par for the Course

Tee time never looked so good with top-of-the-line golf accessories and greens-inspired men’s looks. BY KAREN LARRAIN

BROOKS BROTHERS Hercules Golf Master with Black Dial and Green Numerals ($7,500). brooksbrothers.com

PRADA Travel Pouch, Golf Kit, and Keychains (All prices available upon request); prada.com

LACOSTE SPORT Gabardine Golf Vest ($165); lacoste.com

BROOKS BROTHERS Golf Club Tie Bar ($78). brooksbrothers.com

Laird Hamilton’s new GolfBoard lends playful panache—and a core workout, too— to going green. If there’s one man on the planet who’d up the fun factor in golf, it’s big-wave surfer and selfproclaimed adrenaline junkie Laird Hamilton. His latest boy toy (ladies, it’s just as much fun for you, too) fuses the form and function of surfing and snowboarding with the GolfBoard. Fueled by an enviro-friendly lithium battery, it preserves the tradition of the game while, according to its designers, having less impact on the turf (due to smaller surface area and minimal tread design). And for today’s time-starved exec, it shaves down time on the course—the average GolfBoard round clocks in at 2 hours and 37 minutes. But perhaps even more notable is traversing the greens in smooth style, as it can be increased in speed to reflect, or slow down, your own adrenaline meter. -GolfBoard.com

GO Discover the acclaimed golf course at Kiawah Island. Visit exclusiveresorts.com/kiawah-island


Ticket to Ride

Driven

Classic cars took center stage at Barrett-Jackson’s 45th anniversary auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, fueling retro auto trends for discerning collectors. BY DAN DUNN

I

n 1971, a pair of gear-heads named Tom Barrett and Russ Jackson parlayed their shared passion for four-speed manual transmissions and classic coupes into a business, holding a collectible car auction in, of all places, the Arizona desert. It was a risky gambit, to be sure, but it’s safe to say they’ve gotten a lot of mileage from the idea. Barrett-Jackson’s 45th anniversary event took place in Scottsdale in January, kicking off the 2016 classic car auction season. Attendees included Jay Leno, Burt Reynolds, and director Michael Bay, but the real stars of the eight-day event were the vehicles. Nearly 1,500 cars sold for an eye-popping total of $102 million. Among the big-ticket rides purchased were a rare Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach that sold for a record $1.76 million; a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Smokey and the Bandit promo car for $550,000; and a 1947 TalbotLago T-26 Worblaufen Cabriolet that netted a cool $715,000. Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction is a harbinger of buying trends. Extravagant purchases like the Spyder Weissach will always demand headlines, but serious collectors pay attention to what’s happening in the broader section of the market. This year in Arizona, the biggest growth occurred in two categories that, until recently, weren’t highly coveted by collectors: high-performance supercars and 1980s muscle cars. “I attribute much of this growth to the younger collectors, the Gen Xers, coming in and buying these cars, which were popular when they were kids,” says Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson. “They’re buying these vehicles both stock and resto-mod. These are cars that people are buying to drive.”

During the 45th annual 2016 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale car auction, the 1947 Talbot-Lago T-26 Worblaufen Cabriolet sold for $715,000.

Vintage trucks were also hot this year. A pair of Dodge Power Wagons from 1944 and 1962 sold for $187,000 each. Derived from the Dodge 3/4ton WC-series World War II military trucks, the Power Wagon was the first civilian 4×4. Corvettes, always an attractive segment, continued to hold their own. One of the most sought-after models in the brand’s storied history, an Elkhart Green 1972 Chevrolet Corvette ZRi, sold for $192,500. But as Jackson points out, the bulk of the Vette fans in Scottsdale gravitated towards more affordable models. “The middle part of the market—comprised of the cars that people can actually use, drive and have fun with—are going up in value,” says Jackson. “I think that’s very healthy because it’s an indicator that we’re bringing more people into the hobby.” Jackson’s been in the game a long time, and strongly believes there’s never been a better time to be a classic car enthusiast. In addition to BarrettJackson’s auctions, which are also held in Connecticut (June 23-25), and Las Vegas (Oct. 13-15), there are vintage races, road rallies, and hot rod events happening all across the country. His personal favorites include Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach (Aug. 21) and the nationwide goldRush Rally (May 13-21). “Oh, and I’m in the Watkins Glen race this year,” he adds exuberantly. “I’m racing vintage Trans Ams on the tracks they were first raced on, which is pretty cool.” -barrett-jackson.com

GO With 16 residences at The Rocks Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, save the date for vintage car finds at the 2017 Barrett- Jackson auction, held Jan. 14-22, 2017. exclusiveresorts.com/scottsdale

<


> Jewelry

A brilliant Ibiza dusk and Exclusive Resorts’ Villa La Solana’s chic outdoor living area (BELOW).

DANIELLE VILLEGAS, 18k gold, tourmalines, golden and pink sapphires, and peridot. ($15,250); bergdorfgoodman.com

Rock Stars

BULGARI High Jewelry necklace in pink gold with pear shaped fancy color sapphires, round brilliant cut diamonds, and pavé diamonds. (Price available upon request); bulgari.com

Ibiza bound? Spain’s legendary nightlife calls for colorful knockouts. BY KAREN LARRAIN

DIOR FINE JEWELRY Precieuses Rose Bracelet in pink gold, diamonds, rubies and pink sapphires. (Price available upon request); dior.com

TIFFANY bracelet from the Tiffany Blue Book 2015, The Art of the Sea. ($195,000); tiffany.com

CARTIER Caresse D’Orchidées earrings in 18k rose gold, pink sapphires, and diamond, ($2,800); cartier.us

MUNNU BY GEM PALACE multicolor tourmaline bird earrings in 22k gold. (Price available upon request); munnuthegempalace.com

H.STERN Rock Season Cuff in 18k rose gold with diamonds. ($150,400); hstern.net DAVID WEBB Aries Ring featuring white-and-red enamel and sculpted 18k gold ($10,900); davidwebb.com

GO visit exclusiveresorts.com/Ibiza-Spain


A Cut Above New York–based bespoke jewelry designer Maria Canale turns a teenage love into a calling, and creates lasting impressions and memories along the way. BY JENNIE NUNN

G

rowing up in Tenafly, New Jersey, Maria Canale solidified a lifelong career path as a jewelry designer when she was 20. “I was always into creating art,” says Canale, who first landed an apprenticeship with a local Armenian master jeweler, Ara Kherlopian, when she was in high school. “At first, I saw it as a way to quit piano lessons, and what girl doesn’t love the thought of making jewelry? I would go there once or twice a week after school, and do things like form pieces by hand, and learn to solder and file.” A few years later, Canale’s father realized her after-school job was becoming a full-blown passion, and took her to Gamzon Bros, Inc., a supply store in New York. “I was like a kid in a candy store, and I still remember that day,” recalls Canale. “I got a jeweler’s bench, a torch, and a saw blade, and I set up shop in our basement and worked through high school.” Canale studied metal smithing at the School for American Craftsmen at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), spent a year studying at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and later worked for Gloria Vanderbilt from 1981-1982, where she designed fashion baubles spanning silver and gold earrings and necklaces. From there, she quickly realized she wanted to specialize in high-end jewelry, more specifically, bespoke diamond pieces and colored stones. “It was something I

I’LL BE 55 THIS YEAR, AND IF YOU TOLD ME AT 25 THAT I WOULD FEEL MORE CREATIVE NOW THAN I DID THEN, I WOULDN’T BELIEVE IT. -MARIA CANALE always gravitated towards,” says Canale. After traveling to locales such as Germany, Paris, and Milan, Canale began working for Tiffany & Co., under the guidance of former design director John Loring. Soon after, she launched her Fireworks line—large, sunburst-like-shaped brooches with diamonds and bold, colored stones such as red Paraiba tourmalines—for the company. “It was probably one of my biggest signature collections for them. At the time I was nervous and thought, ‘They are making how many of these?’ But, they were really incredible, and every socialite had them.” Canale has since conceived everything from an intricate, floral bib necklace for a private client, made of blush-and-peach-hued padparadscha sapphires from Sri Lanka, to the Maria Canale Collection for DeBeers at Neiman Marcus, featuring Forevermark diamonds including the Jubilee, with gold-and-yellow diamonds, and the geometric-inspired Pyramide, a nod to the 1930s and 1940s with black onyx. “It’s the first time I’ve used my name, and I’ve always just loved what I do,” says Canale, who admits she is constantly drawing, and has renderings all over her New York apartment. “I love creating things and then seeing the end results of someone wearing it. Nobody really needs jewelry, but it always really celebrates something, and everyone has some memory from it. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know I’m providing joy to people.” The newly engaged mother of two isn’t showing any glimpse of relinquishing her accomplished career. “I’ll be 55 this year, and if you told me at 25 that I would feel more creative now than I did then, I wouldn’t believe it,” says Canale. “I feel really fortunate. People ask me, ‘Maria, when are you going to retire?’ I hope I can keep doing it for a very long time.” -mariacanale.com.

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) Jewelry designer Maria Canale; a bespoke diamond; romancing the stone; the makings of haute design.


Jump Start

(FROM LEFT) The Ranch Daily meal delivery program launches this summer, serving nutritionally balanced prepared meals; guests find their center at The Ranch 4.0; the serene setting of The Four Seasons Westlake Village.

The applauded wellness program by The Ranch Malibu is now offered to Members at The Ranch 4.0, an abbreviated, four-day fitness and health reboot at The Four Seasons Westlake Village.

W

e all have virtuous dreams of a week-long detox at an ashram in India or a two-week boot camp in Tulum. But vacation days are few and far between, and that beach escape to Miami or girls getaway to Paris often wins out over our healthminded fantasies. Now, the acclaimed fitness retreat, The Ranch Malibu , makes it virtually immpossible not to make time to reboot your system with The Ranch 4.0. This new, four-day version of The Ranch’s much-lauded week-long program is offerered Thursday to Monday and was designed for time-crunched guests who want to jump-start a healthier lifestyle. Similar to the week-long program, guests spend eight hours a day undergoing rigorous exercise, including four hours of morning hikes and afternoon exercises, yoga, and stretches. The four-day program is hosted at the luxe Four Seasons Westlake Village, where guests can relax and recharge in tranquil SoCal surroundings. Weary muscles are rewarded with massages and organic, vegetarian meals fuel guests through the intense daily workouts. Cooking classes and other educational components make it easy for guests to integrate healthy habits into their daily life once they leave.

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Four days may not seem like enough time to make notable, sustained changes, but The Ranch has partnered with the acclaimed California Health & Longevity Institute, lauded for its qualified experts and seamless integration of evidence-based medicine into customized health and wellness programs. Unique to the four-day program is the use of cuttingedge technology, including the Bod Pod and V02 tests, which help Ranch experts tailor a nutrition and exercise program to each individual guest. Participants wanting to go one step further can pay an additional cost for an Integrative Lifestyle Physical and have medical staff at the Institute execute diagnostic testing, lab analysis and a medical interview. In a long weekend, you’ll boost your metabolism, gain endurance, and tone your body under the safe, supervision of experts and in a beautiful, gardenfilled spa setting. Taking charge of your health has never felt so indulgent.

GO Members can use four of their ER Plan days to attend The Ranch 4.0. Pricing is

all-inclusive, based on single occupancy.

exclusiveresorts.com/the-ranch-at-live-oak

Photos Courtesy of The Ranch Malibu

> Health + Wellness


Health + Wellness

Class rules For devoted NYC and Los Angeles locals and visitors, Taryn Toomey’s ‘the class’ workout forges peace through strength. BY SANDRA RAMANI

W

orkouts are often described as transformative, energizing, or challenging; yet it’s rare to see one that lists “cathartic” among its attributes. For Taryn Toomey, creator of New York City’s white-hot “the class,” spurring inner change and emotional release is as important as sculpting a well-shaped posterior (though that happens, too). A former Ralph Lauren executive, Toomey was an avid yoga practitioner that had trained in the fastidious Alison West program, which focuses on proper alignment. But she was missing an oomph from those slower-moving workouts—something she has since described as a “beat the floor” fire that encourages “peace through strength.” So after several trips to Peru, where she worked with shamans and learned traditional practices, she crafted “the class,” a 75-minute, muscle-pounding, mat-based session that melds elements of yoga, boot camp , athleticism, alignment, and a “clear your space” philosophy that looks to fatigue muscles, then shake out any emotional and physical baggage (note the lowercase spelling of the class, too—done as an indication of humility). What started as a word-of-mouth, waiting list-only workout in 2013 has grown a phenomenon that’s drawing celebrities, supermodels, and fitness-focused Manhattan moms to Toomey’s Tribeca studio; she’s since trained two more instructors to help with the demand, and launched a pop-up in Los Angeles, with plans to expand to additional cities. -theclasswithtt.com.

Photo Courtesy of The Class

After a successful fashion career, Taryn Toomey has developed a legion of fans in New York City and Los Angeles with her cathartic mind-body “class” program.

GO Visit: exclusiveresorts.com/new-york

<


> Health + Wellness

Exclusive Resorts adds the iconic Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, a San Diego haven that marries health, elevated travel, and inspiration, to the Club’s portfolio. BY SANDRA RAMANI

FROM TOP: Cal-a-Vie graces rolling hills just north of San Diego; lavish rooms feature enviable soaking tubs; choose from more than 150 fitness classes, including aqua spinning in the Olympic sized saltwater pool.

GO visit exclusiveresorts.com/cal-a-vie-health-spa

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Photos Courtesy of Cal-a-Vie

W

hen entrepreneurs John and Terri Havens first purchased Cal-a-Vie Health Spa more than 16 years ago, the term “destination spa” had a different connotation—and a very different clientele. Opened in 1986, the facility, which graces 200 lush acres 45 minutes north of San Diego, had been operating mainly as a weight-loss center, helping a primarily female crowd (including Hollywood starlets and agents’ wives) shed a few pounds through a deprivation-style regime. “Destination spas back then were often known as ‘fat farms,’” recalls Terri Havens. “It didn’t matter what it looked like, or what the experience was like. And if men came with their wives, it was to play golf next door.” Since then, however, wellness has become both mainstream and more luxurious, as both men and women are now looking to focus on their health and on living a balanced lifestyle, while still enjoying beautiful settings, five-star service, and all the comforts of high-end travel. The Havens turned Cal-a-Vie into just such a place, earning countless awards along the way. And now, a new partnership with Exclusive Resorts allows Members access to four- or seven-night Cal-a-Vie wellness retreats, minus any per diem fees, so they can enjoy the magic of this idyllic getaway. Since purchasing Cal-a-Vie, the self-proclaimed Francophile Havens have imbued it with European charm, filling the guest rooms with antiques, residential-quality decor, and plush amenities (like Frette linens and custom bath products), and adding new elements to the property yearly, from an antique column-lined pool and outdoor pizza oven to a centuries-old French fireplace in the communal lounge. “We aren’t owned by a corporation, so we can spend what we want,” laughs Havens. “There are no savings in the rooms!” The couple has also elevated the service levels, employing five staff members for every guest, and offer atypical spa perks like WiFi (though there are no TVs in the rooms). The addition of a 450-year-old chapel and 400-year-old orangery—both from France—have helped make the setting a favorite for weddings and corporate events, too.


Cal-a-Vie’s core is still wellness, though Havens stresses that the experience is like an “unintimidating adult summer camp” that is as intense or relaxing as you want it to be. Upon arrival, an expert team interviews each guest to help determine their goals and focus; a customized program is then put together to send each client along their own path. As Havens notes, guests range from regulars who stay “once a year for a tune up, or to lose 5 pounds,” to mothers and daughters, couples, and a large number of solo travelers all looking to recharge. “There is a big feeling of camaraderie here, so everyone feels welcome and comfortable,” she says, adding that they also host a large number of “high-powered guests who check in to clear their heads—and often say they come up with their best ideas here.” (Note that only 32 guests are accommodated at a time, and two weeks a month are reserved for women only.) Mornings typically jumpstart with a hike or walk through the surrounding hills, vineyards, and lavender fields, followed by a choice of the 150 available fitness classes, including kickboxing, yoga, Zumba, and aqua-spinning or water volleyball in the Olympic-sized saltwater pool, all led by attentive personal trainers. The afternoon is reserved for spa treatments, performed using products from Phytomer, Yonka, or the custom vinotherapy line, while evenings might include meditation, tipfilled talks by nutritionists or acupuncturists, cooking classes, or sessions with visiting experts. (Cal-a-Vie regularly offers theme weeks focusing on such topics as cuisine, teens, or senior health, or on unique experiences, like this year’s clinic with tennis legend Pam Shriver.)

IT’S A SENSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM THAT RE-TEACHES GUESTS ABOUT MODERATION AND BALANCE—NOT DEPRIVATION—SO THEY CAN CONTINUE THIS LIFESTYLE WHEN THEY GO HOME.

FROM TOP: Spa treatments are anchored in a custom vinotherapy line; healthful cuisine is inspired by the property’s 10-acre farm; Exclusive Resorts Members can now access Cal-a-Vie’s chic California ambiance.

- TERRI HAVENS Throughout the day, guests dine on tasty, healthful meals and snacks made from fresh ingredients, including organic fruit and vegetables from the property’s 10-acre farm. Unlike at many spas, coffee is available upon request, as are glasses of Chateau Cala-Vie wine, made with grapes from their own vineyards. It’s all about creating what Havens describes as a “sensible, sustainable program that re-teaches guests about moderation and balance—not deprivation—so they can continue this lifestyle when they go home.” So while you might not be surrounded by vineyard views or have outdoor Jacuzzis and fireplaces back home, the lessons learned at Cala-Vie will “arm you to make better choices and decisions”—one of which will surely be to return. -cal-a-vie.com

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> Beauty

Gut check The latest skincare soldiers are powerful probiotics. In an exclusive interview, celebrity gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj reveals tips of the trade and her new beauty line. BY ERIN LENTZ

Chances are you’ve glimpsed Dr. Roshini Raj—and her flawless skin—on national television. A Today Show contributor, regular expert on The Dr. Oz Show, and Good Day New York medical correspondent, Dr. Raj’s expertise as an internist (she’s an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine and an attending physician at NYU Langone Medical Center) launched her crusade in wrangling gut health and its millions of microscopic belly bugs to literally transform skin from the inside out. She co-founded Tula, Inc., in 2014, applying her medical expertise in launching a patented probiotic technology for the skin. In between family ski runs in Aspen, Colo., this 44-year-old mother, doctor, and entrepreneur explains her a-ha moment, and how belly bugs are skin-tastic allies. 50

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HOW DID YOU FIRST MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PROBIOTICS AND SKINCARE?

It’s very new. As a gastroenterologist, I’ve been prescribing probiotics for 10 years, and am a huge believer in how balancing the flora–the bacteria– in our intestines, can affect not only gut health, but overall health. There’s been an explosion of research in the field of probiotics—how it can affect obesity, immunity, even depression. TULA, YOUR SKINCARE LINE WHICH MEANS BALANCE IN SANSKRIT, IS BASED ON PROBIOTIC RESEARCH?

I was introduced to my co-founders, one of who is Ken Landis, cofounder of Bobbi Brown. When we met I was 41, and I was starting to think more about aging skin and what I could do personally, because I’m on TV a lot, with heavy makeup. I’ve always thought about empowering women to look their best, and feel confident and healthy. I found there was only the tip of the iceberg in dermatology research in the world of probiotics. Not just acne and rosacea but overall anti-aging, including collagen, and elastin–all these things that make our skin not just younger, but healthier. HOW CAN SKINCARE BE AFFECTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT?

It’s a great tie-in between internal health and external beauty. The more our GI system is in tact, the better we look and the better our skin looks. So we decided to make probiotics the cornerstone of every Tula product, and it’s really the first line, certainly in the U.S., that does so.

WHAT PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS SHOULD WE BE TAKING?

People are always asking me, ‘What probiotic should I take?’ It’s a confusing question, because many probiotic supplements aren’t well regulated, and it’s hard to compare. We know in general probiotics are good. Getting it by food, rather than going straight to a supplement, is important. So, yogurt (make sure it says live and active cultures), kaffir, miso, sauerkraut. Fermented foods are great. TIPS FOR SKINCARE WHILE TRAVELING?

The core is trying to maintain your routine as much as possible when you travel. With my patients, especially from a GI standpoint, when they travel everything goes haywire. When traveling, increase moisturizer. And maintaining water, fiber, and diet, affects overall health and skin, too. WHERE DO YOU MOST LOVE TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR FAMILY?

We love visiting Aspen. But I also love Turks and Caicos. And my bucket list includes St. Barts. WHAT’S NEXT?

I’m writing my second book and working on my own digital health show. I want to build Tula out, with many touchstones for both women and men, to make them healthier. If everything stayed the same, I’d be perfectly blessed, but I am someone who’s always looking at the next thing. -tula.com

HOW IS YOUR PROBIOTIC TECHNOLOGY SIMILAR TO A “SMOOTHIE” FOR THE SKIN?

We use elements of dairy, but also other super foods—antioxidants, Omega 6 fatty acids from flax seeds, turmeric. All of these ingredients are great internally, but topically they have great benefits as well. Just like in our gut, the probiotics help make sure the gut lining is in tact, and that the bad molecules don’t pass into your bloodstream and cause inflammation and autoimmune triggers. In the same way, our skin is exposed to so many environmental stressors and triggers, the probiotic helps dampen that response and has a calming, soothing effect on the skin. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INGESTING PROBIOTICS, AND APPLYING IT TOPICALLY?

There’s good research on the internal benefits. Ingesting it is good for your skin, but studies have shown that applying it topically, directly to the skin, is much more effective. WHAT’S THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING TO DO FOR YOUR SKIN?

We have an SPF line coming soon. And though it’s maybe a boring answer, it’s true. SPF is important. Part of the reason we talk about Tula and balance is we want to talk about how you’re living your life, which affects overall health. Adequate sleep is extremely important to skin, as is what you’re eating–fruits and vegetables, water. Exercise is not only great for your body, but gets more blood flow to your skin. And stress can hugely affect skin. We hope Tula grows into a lifestyle brand, not just skincare. (OPPOSITE PAGE) Tula’s antioxidant and probiotic ingredients call on such natural super foods as blueberry and turmeric; Doctor on a mission, Roshini Raj. (THIS PAGE) Tula, sanskrit for balance, also comes in on-the-go travel packs. GOIn search of health + wellness escapes? Explore our expanding wellness programs at The Ranch Malibu and The Ranch 4.0, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, and Miraval Resort and Spa. exclusiveresorts.com/residence-collection

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> Family Ties

Bonding Bliss

ABOVE: One of 15 redesigned Exclusive Resorts’ residences at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, which overlooks a GregNorman designed golf course. RIGHT: Carter and Tucker, a.k.a. The2Woodies.

Sun, sand, and twins? Check. Travel to the Cayman Islands on a work trip turned family fun with Exclusive Resorts Members Holly Cao, Bob Hellman, and their 3-year-old boys, Carter and Tucker. BY HOLLY CAO

M

y husband Bob and I travel regularly for work. Over the last few years we’ve started to view select work trips as potential opportunity for family fun. One of our top work-family travel experiences was a recent visit to the Grand Cayman Islands. Bob was scheduled for a three-day conference at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, and the boys were excited to “go to work” on a plane with Daddy. Staying in an Exclusive Resorts residence versus the conference hotel allowed for dedicated family time. Our routine? We’d make breakfast at the residence with groceries stocked by our concierge prior to packing up pool gear and driving to the 7-Mile

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Beach in golf carts. We’d spend time with Bob before his conference. Ironically, with the hustle and bustle of two working and traveling parents, kids’ school, and activity schedules back home, our work getaway helped coordinate consistent quality time. We were able to slow down and cherish the simple joys of daily life at our home away from home. Carter and Tucker experienced several “firsts,” including a dip in the Caribbean, golf-cart rides, a three-hour tasting menu at Blue by Eric Ripert, and a close encounter with 200-pound sea turtles. They also glimpsed stingrays and tasted conch fritters. Ultimately, our twins continue to be transformed by the unique power of travel.


On the Move Better parenting is made simple with these top time savers. We know you barely have time to plan lunch, let alone a vacation. That's why Exclusive Resorts gets to know your family so they can plan a custom vacation just for you. Their on-site Personal Concierge arranges everything from airport transfers and rental cars to daytime excursions and dinner reservations. Here are a few other brands making parenting easier, and more fun, too. HAPPY MEALS. With chefdesigned recipes from such companies as Plated and the new Ranch Daily from the team at The Ranch Malibu, healthful meals are delivered right to your door. As such, Moms can decrease prep time, and increase quality time. -plated.com; -theranchdaily.com

EAT CRACKED CONCH Pre turtle farm visit, we lunched at the Cracked Conch, located within walking distance from the resort. -crackedconch.com.ky BLUE BY ERIC RIPERT A great children’s menu. The boys sat through a three-hour meal. -ritzcarlton.com

WORD WARRIOR. Reading with your children is the ultimate bond. With this book-a-month subscription, literature is a no-fuss constant. -giftlit.com

MICHAEL’S GENUINE FOOD AND DRINK Ah, the locally grown okra–the biggest we’ve ever seen! -michaelsgenuine.com ORTANIQUE One of our favorite local meals. Try the West Indian bouillabaisse, jerked chicken penne pasta, and all of the desserts. -ortaniquerestaurants.com

SKIP THE LINES. Buy the Family Essentials Bundle from honest.com, where stocking up on bath and beauty necessities is hassle- and worry-free, with non-toxic ingredients, too. -honest.com

SHOP THE CAMANA BAY TOWN CENTRE Ideal to walk around, shop, and eat. And the location of the aforementioned Michael’s Genuine and Ortanique. TURTLE FARM The gift shop is a hidden gem. We found locally made handbags, island outfits and Woody cars for the boys, artisan soaps, and rum-infused coffee beans. -turtle.ky

TOY STORY. This toy rental company may be a mom’s new best friend. Akin to an online toy library, the adventurer membership offers unlimited access to the coolest new toys. -pley.com

Woodie photos by Holly Cao

EXPLORE THE RITZ-CARLTON, GRAND CAYMAN BEACH Nothing compares to this ocean, where the water is pure aqua blue along the 7-Mile Beach. -ritzcarlton.com GO BY GOLF CART Keep your golf cart packed and ready to go! It’s the only way. TURTLE FARM The boys got to pet a turtle. View 200- to 600-pound turtles in one place. -turtle.ky

GO exclusiveresorts.com/grand-cayman

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THE DISH // TOP TOQUE // SHAKEN & STIRRED // VINE ART // RESORT REPORT

Roll Call

With summer on tap, sunset soirées in New York City are fueled by tasty Maine lobsters and of-the-moment rosés.

iStock.com

The Northeast may be known for outdoor adventure and quaint New England charm, yet come summer, foodies flock to New York and Maine in search of a culinary obsession: fresh lobster. For many seafood connoisseurs, the celebrated crustaceans are best served as simple, and simply delicious, lobster rolls. Though certainly a heated debate, many New York City locals hail father-son team Jeff and Luke Holden as kings of the roll. Luke’s Lobster, located in the East Village and helmed by Luke and Ben Conniff, sources buns from Maine’s Country Kitchen. Lobsters are decidedly from Maine, too, with Luke’s father, Jeff, to thank, who taps local fishermen. Their approach is simple, with a proprietary herb blend that makes their roll a knockout. Feeling fancy? Chef Sepp Stoner from the oft-hyped Polo Bar serves his on a brioche bun, delicately dressed in parsley, tarragon, and chive. And for wine lovers, nothing screams summer quite like rosé. One of the most buzzed about rosé menus can be found at Reynard NYC. Located at the Wythe Hotel and part of Andrew Tarlow’s Brooklyn restaurant group, Francofiles rejoice. Bon Appetit! GO Empire State of Mind? Visit exclusiveresorts.com/new-york


> The Dish

When in Rome…MANGIA Andrew Sessa reveals the top five places to eat in the Italian capital right now—and what to order while there—according to expert local foodie and cookbook author Katie Parla. Upon moving to Rome a few years ago, I was shocked (and disappointed) by how easy it was to get a bad meal in the Eternal City. Wasn’t this Italy, I wondered, land of fresh-not-frozen, highly seasonal ingredients and endearing mamas toiling in the kitchen to create perfect, no-frills plates that please the palate? Wasn’t this the country where the Slow Food movement launched? Where the idea of the locavore existed long before the word even did? Yes and no, I learned. In a city as visitorpacked as Rome, it’s easy to get a death-warmedover reheated pizza, a soggy panino or a plate of overcooked insipid pasta at a tourist joint masquerading as an authentic spot. And even at many of Rome’s best restaurants, you need careful guidance to make sure you order the right things off the menu. I was at a loss. But then I met Katie Parla. A Yale-educated, New Jersey native who’s spent the last 14 years living in Rome, Parla’s become one of the city’s most sought-after, English-language foodies, with a much-read blog, serious Twitter and Instagram followings, and an in-person guiding business that’s raved about. She’s become a gastronomic Rome go-to for everyone from Mario Batali to Mark Bittman, Andrew Zimmern to Alice Waters, all of whom trust her advice and appreciate her willingness to tell it like it is, whether tearing down a longtime institution or building up a talented newbie. Now comes her new cookbook Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City (Clarkson Potter; $30), with a foreword by Batali himself, for which she culled and adapted the best recipes for local dishes both classic and contemporary from her favorite chefs, bakers, and barkeeps. It’s a tour de force of kitchen inspiration, but at the same time, a carefully curated guidebook to Rome’s best eateries. Herewith, Parla offers advice on where to eat in the Italian capital right now, and what to order while there.

IL SANLORENZO

Why Go: Although just 15 miles from the sea,

Rome offers cuisine that’s largely meat based, and good seafood spots are few and far between. This restaurant, however, “works with fishermen from the nearby Pontine Islands,” explains Parla, “so everything served in the palatial dining rooms is the freshest catch in town.” What to Get: Parla goes for the crudi (raw

starters), a parade of carpaccio, oysters and shellfish, followed by spaghetti with clams (“alle vongole”) or with sea urchin or razor clams, depending on what’s seasonally available. -Via dei Chiavari 4/5, +39 06 686 5097; ilsanlorenzo.it SALUMERIA ROSCIOLI

Why Go: Part delicatessen, part restaurant, part wine bar, it plates some of Rome’s top traditional pasta dishes, using only the best ingredients. The Roscioli brothers’ culinary empire also includes a bakery and just-opened pastry shop, both nearby. What to Get: “The classic pastas—gricia, carbonara

and butter and parmigiano Reggiano—are best,” promises Parla. “The secondi [mains] are forgettable, but you shouldn’t have room for them anyway after starting with burrata, mozzarella, prosciutto, mortadella and butter and anchovies.” -Via dei Giubbonari 21, +39 06 687 5287; salumeriaroscioli.com L’ARCANGELO

Why Go: Chef Arcangelo Dandini, says Parla, “merges simple, humble roots with intellectual and elegant notions of gastronomy,” creating renderings of Roman comfort foods that “become incredibly light expressions of local flavors.”

What to Get: Parla heads here Thursdays for

unbelievably cloud-like potato gnocchi with tomato, guanciale (cured pork jowl) and Pecorino Romano. She says his coda alla vaccinara (braised oxtail), influenced by a Papal recipe, is rich and deep, and she always starts with the supplizio, which pairs two fried croquettes with almond brittle. -Via Giuseppe Gioachino Belli, 59, +39 06 321 0992; larcangelo.com AL MORO

Why Go: “A few hundred feet from the Trevi Fountain, the Romagnoli family has been serving seasonal Roman classics since the early 1920s,” reports Parla. It’s a favorite of local power players of all stripes, political and otherwise, and in-theknow visitors, too. What to Get: During the fall season, Parla goes for

mushroom and truffle dishes, while come spring, braised artichokes abound. “A year-round favorite,” she says, “is spaghetti al moro, the house twist on carbonara, featuring spaghetti tossed with eggs guanciale and chili.” -Vicolo Delle Bollette 13, +39 06 678 3495; ristorantealmororoma.eu TERRE E DOMUS (aka ENOTECA PROVINCIA ROMANA)

Why Go: This restaurant and wine bar—sponsored by the County of Rome, and celebrating local produce, meat, cheese and fish—is the rare delicious, well-sourced spot near the Roman Forum and right next to the Imperial Fora, making it Parla’s favorite for a lunch break while exploring the ancient monuments. Tables by the windows have the best views of the 100-foot-tall Trajan’s Column. What to Get: She suggests the amatriciana (pasta

tossed with guanciale and tomato sauce) and seasonal vegetable sides like spring’s vignarola (a fava, pea and artichoke stew) or winter’s puntarelle (Catalonian chicory), dressed with a garlic-anchovy sauce. - Foro Traiano 82, +39 06 6994 0273.

Escape to the Eternal City Live la dolce vita at the Club’s new gorgeous three-bedroom residence in Rome. Exquisite European design, en suite baths, private sitting areas, and a covered loggia overlooking immaculate gardens? Check. It may be tough to leave the Club’s three-bedroom Villa Parioli, but once you do, the historic city center is just a walk away, as are fashionable finds in the Parioli neighborhood. The Vatican awaits, too. GO exclusiveresorts.com/rome-italy

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Katie Parla Photo By Rick Poon, Sea Urchin Photo By Katie Parla, Tasting Rome Cover Courtesy of Publisher, Octopus Photo By Katie Parla

iStock.com/Bukki88

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Eat your way through The Eternal City; Foodie favorite, Katie Parla; Fresh clams courtesy of Il San Lorenzo; Parla’s new cookbook; octopus from Terre e Domus.

KATIE PARLA HAS BECOME A GASTRONOMIC ROME GO-TO FOR EVERYONE FROM MARIO BATALI TO MARK BITTMAN, ANDREW ZIMMERN TO ALICE WATERS. CURATED

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> The Dish

FoodEnvy

Summer flavors make for brilliant, French-inspired cuisine at Chicago’s Tru restaurant.

Globe-trot to these iconic restaurants and discover local dishes that celebrate authentic cultures and cuisine. Some travelers may hunt for sun and surf, while others search for great food and wine. Whether looking for a wine-paired, Michelin-star meal or margaritas and the catch of the day, these international hot spots will surely tickle the taste buds.

BEACHCRAFT AT 1 HOTEL SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI

FARM AT THE CARNEROS INN, NAPA

This new restaurant from Top Chef star Tom Colicchio of NYC’s Craft restaurant is the epitome of beach dining. Seafood dishes and vegetables take center stage, while a raw bar features the freshest oysters, crab claws, and lobster. -1hotels.com

The ultimate wine country dining experience, Farm offers decadent tasting menus featuring ingredients picked from within a 150-mile radius of the property, and often straight from the Inn’s own garden. Standout dishes include the Santa Barbara sea urchin with seaweed pesto, and roasted baby beets with marinated blackberries and burrata. -farmatthecarnerosinn.com

Curtis Cooke, the executive chef at this acclaimed health spa, believes that the foundation for a healthy, happy life begins with food. For each meal, Cooke creates a “potager to plate” experience, sourcing vegetables straight from an onsite garden and letting flavors dictate each dish. -cal-a-vie.com BLUE BY ERIC RIPERT, GRAND CAYMAN

Masterful seafood chef Eric Ripert, of NYC’s famed Le Bernardin restaurant, helms this fine dining restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Choose from six- and seven-course tasting menus (wine pairings optional) that feature exquisite seafood in creative preparations. -ritzcarlton.com LA VOILE AT LA RÉSERVE, RAMATUELLE, FRANCE

Michelin-star chef Eric Canino oversees this refined Mediterranean restaurant, which features multiple tasting menus alongside a la carte options. Don’t miss his roasted langoustine and the farmhouse lamb with artichoke à la barigoule and truffle tapenade. -laareserve-ramatuelle.com QUILION AT 51 BUCKINGHAM GATE, LONDON

London is known for having some of the best Indian restaurants outside of India. At the top of the list is Quilion, a Michelin-awarded fine dining spot focused on southwest, coastal Indian cuisine. The menu explores the flavors of Goa and Kerala in dishes like curry leaf and lentil crusted fish and pink pepper chili prawn. -quilon.co.uk

COCINA DEL MAR AT ESPERANZA RESORT, LOS CABOS, MEXICO

The three- and four-course menus at Cocina del Mar reflect the Baja peninsula’s best product from both land and sea. The dining room’s stunning views overlooking the Pacific complement the seafood-focused menus of Baja shrimp with morels and lobster bisque and sea bass with trumpet mushrooms and parsnip puree. -esperanza.aubergeresorts.com ALAIN DUCASSE AT PLAZA ATHÉNÉE, PARIS

An Exclusive Resorts partner, Alain Ducasse ranks amongst the world’s mosttalented chefs. ER Members receive preferred reservations and VIP seating at his acclaimed restaurants, including his eponymous three-star Michelin space in the Plaza Athénée hotel. VIP status means guests are whisked across the dining room into the private room in the kitchen called The Aquarium for a memorable meal of haute French fare. -alain-ducasse.com TRU, CHICAGO

One of America’s top foodie cities, Chicago often sets the culinary trends the rest of the country follows. A pioneer amongst the city’s fine dining scene, Tru raised the bar when it comes to prix-fixe menus with luxe French-inspired dishes like abalone in ginger bouillon and sweet onion tart with black winter truffle. -trurestaurant.com GO Want to travel to top tables? Visit our full Vacation Collection menu at exclusiveresorts.com/vacation-collection

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Photo By Anjali Pinto

CAL-A-VIE HEALTH SPA, CALIFORNIA


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> Top Toque

Kitchen Confidential Celebrity chef and Exclusive Resorts Member, Geoff Tracy, dishes on D.C.’s culinary clout, his new book on children’s health, Baby Love, and menu musts when flying through Dulles International.

YOU’VE WATCHED THE D.C. FOOD SCENE EVOLVE. WHY CHOOSE D.C. FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO OF SIX RESTAURANTS? D.C. has become an

amazing culinary destination. I’ve seen a lot of growth and change for the best in my 15 years of owning restaurants. D.C. has become my home—I’ve been here for almost 24 years. It’s a vibrant and unique city unlike any other in the world. ESCAPE Weekend in Washington D.C. visit: exclusiveresorts.com/Washington-DC

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AT GEORGETOWN YOU STUDIED THEOLOGY—A BIG LEAP FROM THAT TO THE FOOD INDUSTRY. WHAT PROMPTED THE PIVOT? I studied world

religions at the oldest department at Georgetown University. I found the topic engaging, and it provided insight into people and cultures across the planet. Understanding what people think and believe is important if we all want to inhabit this planet peacefully. I never saw the major or my four years at Georgetown as “training” for a career, but rather as time to learn about an array of engaging topics. And plus, in 1995, god.com wasn’t hiring, so I went to work in restaurants! YOU GRADUATED TOP OF YOUR CLASS AT THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA AND OPENED TWO RESTAURANTS PRIOR TO AGE 30. KEY TO SUCCESS IN TODAY’S CELEBRITY-CHEF OBSESSED FOOD CULTURE?

Whether a hot dog stand or Michelin-rated restaurant, you have to have a great product, and your team has to be happy. Unhappy people make lousy restaurant people. And you have to run a well-organized business. Margins are too tight to forget this is a for-profit business.

Photos Courtesy of ChefGeoff.com

A

Georgetown grad with a penchant for pasta and theology, chef Geoff Tracy has fast become a maverick in Washington D.C.’s fastpaced food scene. Whether serving politicos or 4-year-olds, Tracy also fuels a serious passion for travel with celebrity wife, CBS This Morning co-host Norah O’Donnell, and their three children. Recently back from an Exclusive Resorts trip to Real del Mar, Mexico, Tracy explains how breaking bread can transcend cultural diversity.


YOU RECENTLY PUBLISHED THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, BABY LOVE. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST THREAT TO CHILDREN’S HEALTH?

Table Talk

Obesity is the biggest threat to America’s health. Baby Love was designed to get babies and parents going in the right direction and thinking fresh and nutritious from the start.

CHEFS THAT INSPIRE YOU? Locally, I’m always impressed by chef Jeff Black and chef Jeff Heineman. I also have a special place in my heart for the late Marcella Hazan, who I cooked with in my 20s at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic.

THE MOST REWARDING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

The day I opened the door to my first restaurant, Chef Geoff ’s, and greeted my first guest. I was 27 and had basically scraped together a green team to join me. We had a very rag tag restaurant to offer. I had almost no money. But we made it happen with passion and hard work. And our guests respected what we did. They knew we weren’t the most polished operation, but they appreciated our hospitality and drive. It gave the restaurant an authentic soul, which still exists.

INGREDIENT CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH? All my guests could answer this… bacon. FIRST THING YOU ORDER WHEN ON VACATION? Easy. A local cocktail. FOOD DESTINATION YOU’D MOST LIKE TO VISIT AND HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED YET. Tokyo, Japan. FAVORITE STYLE OF COOKING PICKED UP FROM TRAVELING? Tuscany’s simple and perfect Cacio e Pepe.

AS A FOODIE, WHAT HAS BEEN A CULINARY HIGHLIGHT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE RESORTS VACATION? The papaya and

TOP 5 CULINARY ESCAPES? Santa Fe, New Mexico; New York, New York; Paris, France; Tuscany, Italy; Washington, D.C.

other fruits in Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica. I also was really impressed with the cooking while in Anguilla.

YOUR DON’T-MISS D.C. FOODIE FILE, COMPLIMENTS OF THE CHEF.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU AT YOUR NEW RESTAURANT AT WASHINGTON DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?

> My former chef Johnny

Monis’ restaurant Komi has incredible grilled goat.

The bacon cheeseburger–we sell almost 500 per day! The Honey sriracha wings are a tasty treat, too. Try a Chef Geoff ’s daily chardonnay or cabernet, from the next up-and-coming wine region, Bulgaria.

> Pizza at Two Amy’s or

Pizzeria Paradiso. Both have heavenly dough. > Late night, raw bar happy

hour at Old Ebbit Grill (I worked there at 22). Say hi to friend and longtime general manager David Moran.

YOU’VE INFLUENCED A GENERATION OF NEW CHEFS AND RESTAURATEURS IN WASHINGTON D.C. WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR LEGACY AMONG TODAY’S CHEFS IS?

I’m honored and proud every time a person on my team “ups and quits” to go on to start their own business. I hope I inspire people to “up and quit” and jump off the entrepreneurial cliff. It makes for an interesting life. -chefgeoff.com

> Visit Chef Nora Pouillon

at Restaurant Nora. She started the organic revolution in the ‘70s. > A trip to the original Chef

(OPPOSITE) The chef in front of his original restaurant; a signature steak taco dish; Tyson’s the bar at Chef Geoff’s wrangles a see-and-be-seen crowd; handcrafted asparagus and morel ravioli.

Geoff’s on New Mexico Avenue, of course! For patio dining, madras curry chicken, and happy hour with one of my burgers and a supermug–the best deal in town.

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> Shaken + Stirred

#Tequila: Tried+Trending THE MUDDLED HISTORY OF THE MARGARITA

Even in the field of cocktail history, one that is rather, ahem, muddled, the origins of the margarita are especially contested. One thing is certain – the margarita is a relatively recent addition to the cocktail canon, as it remains unmentioned in the recipe Bibles that form the backbone of today’s bar lists, such as Jerry Thomas’ Bartenders Guide from 1862 or the 1930s Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock. Some say it was mixed for Rita Hayworth as a namesake treat, others that it was invented for forgotten Golden Era movie star Marjorie King by a Tijuana bartender since she was handily allergic to every spirit but tequila. There’s even a legend that it was invented by a Puebla bartender for his girlfriend, Margarita (no word on whether she went on to any kind of film career). Spirits guru Paul Pacault, though, says the likeliest source of the cocktail we sip today was the Daisy, or Margarita, a drink served at Mexican race tracks a century ago; it consisted of tequila, lime, and sugar. When Margaret Sames, a Texan socialite with a home in Acapulco, encountered the drink in the 1940s, she tweaked the recipe by adding triple sec. It was delicious enough, and Sames social enough, to quickly gain widespread popularity. 62

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Certainly, Remy Cointreau believed this story: Until her recent death, she received a stipend from the French firm to ensure, when asked the ideal recipe, she always specified Cointreau as the only triple sec to use. JOVEN ALONG

Tequila connoisseurs will be familiar with three major categories of the Mexican national spirit – blanco, or silver, reposado, and añejo, each officially designated by tequila’s regulating body via various factors, such as age. There is another traditional category, though, which remained largely overlooked during the cocktail revivalism of the 1990s and 2000s: joven. And with good reason– joven was the umbrella term under which cheap tequilas bolstered with added flavors were often grouped in recent times (think hangover-guaranteed swill synonymous with spring break). It’s misleading, though, as traditionally joven tequilas were artful blends; they balanced reposado-style smoky aging with a blanco-like fresh green taste. The joven category is being reclaimed by a pair of high-end tequilas which return to its artisanal (agave) roots, taking top-notch, un-aged tequila, painstakingly

Bertha Gonzales-Nieves portrait Courtesy of Casa Dragones, Casa Dragones bottle shot Courtesy of, Tobalá Mezcalaria Photo By Brian Flannery

Just who is the mastermind behind the margarita? Spirit-savvy writer Mark Ellwood muses on the makings of a summer fave, while also unveiling an Austin mezcalaria with serious street cred.


(OPPOSITE PAGE) Unico’s sassy spirit; the mighty, and storied, margarita; Casa Dragones co-owner and rare female maestra tequilera, Bertha Gonzales-Nieva; Casa Dragones’ other mastermind is MTV co-creator Bob Pittman; An Austin must-visit: Tobalá mezcalaria.

flavoring it with a unique blend of aged tequila, and then filtering the result in charcoal to produce a clear liquid. It looks like a blanco, but tastes like a reposado. Casa Dragones is co-owned by Bertha Gonzales-Nieves, a rare female maestra tequilera and MTV co-creator Bob Pittman; each $300 bottle of Bertha’s joven is hand-etched in Mexico City, using traditional techniques. The other joven-boosting brand is the widely distributed Milagro, which branched into the limited edition Unico ($300) joven. Only 1,500 bottles of this custom blend were produced by master distiller Pedro Juarez 18 months ago; few precious bottles remain. -casadragones.com; milagro.com

is intended to correct that perception. Indeed, it claims to be the only venue stateside dedicated entirely to the liquor (there’s not a drop of tequila on offer here). The 30-person room has rough hewn décor intended to evoke an old Mexican drinking den, and serves the 50 or so mezcal varieties on the menu in traditional ways: Sip it either from clay bowls known as copitas or the veladora glass, a tumbler with a wide opening to allow the aroma to open up while drinking. Manager Sean Skvarka recommends two high-end standouts. He calls

Some say it was mixed up for Rita Hayworth as a namesake treat, others that it was invented for forgotten Golden Era movie star Marjorie King by a Tijuana bartender. AMERICA’S ONLY MEZCALERIA

Inside a 1917 building that once housed a grimy biker joint sits one of Austin’s most intriguing hidden bars: Tobalá. Dedicated to serving Mexico’s second best-known spirit, mezcal, Tobalá is part of the infamous Whisler’s, which has helped put Austin’s trending East Side on the map. Hidebound by fewer regulations than tequila, mezcal can be made from any agave plant in any locale, rather than just blue agave in Jalisco state—the smoky liquor is often dismissed as firewater, but Tobalá, a temple to the finest small-batch mezcals,

La Venenosa Raicilla “crazy tasting–it smells like blue cheese but tastes like black cherries,” while the priciest snifter on his list is the $40-per-measure Del Maguey Ibérico. Made in homage to pechuga, a traditional mezcal method that uses a chicken breast to infuse flavor, it opts instead for Spanish jamon Iberico. The haunches of ham are then suspended within a copper pot during distillation. “All the fats and juices drip down into the mezcal,” he raves. “It gives a rich, briny, salty, almost meaty flavor.” Mezcaleria Tobala, 1816 E 6th St., Austin. 512.480.0781; whislersatx.com

Escape Austin, Texas: Immersed in Music

Spend three nights at The Driskill Hotel and take a private tour led by a local musician. Discover the best shows at iconic clubs, dive bars and a classic honky-tonk that’ll get you in the rockin’ Austin spirit. Visit page 126.

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> Vine Art

Say, Syrah...

Photo By Ampelos Vineyard

Wine expert Ted Loos hails the increasingly popular and resilient red wine grape, which is fast becoming the star of Santa Barbara’s sumptuous wine region.

Ever since the film Sideways—which famously featured Paul Giamatti dissing merlot, praising pinot noir and swigging from a spit bucket—the image of Santa Barbara wine country has been well etched as a beautiful wine destination, conveniently close to Los Angeles and full of adventurous options. All of which were true then and remain true now.

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But the picture has changed considerably in the dozen years since the movie came out. Formerly considered mainly a home for chardonnay and pinot noir, Santa Barbara’s six unique AVAs (wine speak for American Viticultural Appellations) are increasingly excelling at syrah, one of the world’s most important and mysterious red wine grapes. The mystery comes in its changeability. Syrah can be grown successfully in many different places, with different sides of its personality coming out depending on climate in geography. In the Rhône Valley of France, it’s peppery and full of dark blackberry tastes and elegant tannins; in Australia, under its alias shiraz, it’s rich and generously jammy.

examples from the whole region. Very bright and light on its feet, it’s powered by a terrific, nimble acidity, with a lovely floral nose and flavors of dried black fruit. Without a doubt, there’s a vein of European elegance running through this wine. But Westerly is hardly the only game in town. Dierberg Vineyard Syrah Dierberg Vineyard 2013 ($65), made in the Sta. Rita Hills, has a wonderful grown-up raspberry taste, silky texture, and a lovely balance. Just enough California sunshine comes through the classic syrah profile. Ampelos Cellars Syrah Ampelos Vineyard 2011 ($34), another Sta. Rita Hills wine, has a nose of sophisticated, toasty oak—but it’s not over the top with wood. This wine

Ampelos Cellars Syrah Ampelos Vineyard 2011 $34

“At its best, Syrah from Santa Barbara is bright,

round, but not overwhelmed by ripeness so that the varietal typicity is skewed, and the tannins aren’t too blunt.” - Adam Henkel

So far in the United States, Washington state has had the most luck with the grape, but Santa Barbara is challenging that mantle—fiercely. “Syrah is the one coming up, for sure,” says Adam Henkel of Westerly Wines, a versatile winery located in Happy Canyon (and with that name, how could they go wrong?). “The old guard around here is more pinot noir and chardonnay.” Santa Barbara’s valleys are unique in terms of geography: They run east-west, rather than north-south, as is the norm in California. That puts Pacific Ocean breezes on a direct path with grapes, allowing for very cool nights after hot days. As it happens, that’s ideal for a lot of grapes, including syrah. “At its best, syrah from Santa Barbara is bright, round, but not overwhelmed by ripeness so that the varietal typicity is skewed, and the tannins aren’t too blunt,” says Henkel. He means that it still tastes like syrah. That is certainly the case with Westerly Wines Syrah Cote Blonde Happy Canyon 2012 ($45), one of the best

needs a bit of time, to smooth out the deep, black fruit tastes and to integrate the oak. It’s ambitious, and you’ll be rewarded by putting it in your cellar for a couple years. The Santa Maria Valley producer Qupé is all about Rhône varietals, and they have certainly proved they know what they are doing across the board. Qupé Syrah Bien Nacido Hillside Estate 2010 ($40) artfully combines an expansiveness fueled by ripe fruit, tempered by a real finesse—it’s only 13.5 percent alcohol, which is retrained indeed in terms of California wine. Bacon, smoky black pepper, and blackberry flavors are all in evidence, and they are well knit together. Other top producers of Santa Barbara syrah include Rusack Vineyards, Stolpman Vineyards, Andrew Murray Vineyards, Melville Vineyards & Winery and Beckmen Vineyards, all making very different and appealing styles. Give one a try—it may not knock you Sideways, but you’ll likely get a straight-up great example of one of the world’s most important red grapes.

Westerly Wines Syrah Cote Blonde Happy Canyon 2012 $45

Dierberg Vineyard Syrah Dierberg Vineyard 2013 $65

> Cheers! Santa Barbara Member Wine Event, with Airstream 2 Go WHEN: May 19-22 + Oct 6-9, 2016 ON THE ITINERARY: Presqu’ile Vineyard & Winery, Sunstone, Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Foxen Vineyard & Winery, Bien Nacido Vineyards, and more 411: Contact your Club Ambassador for further details GO exclusiveresorts.com/wine-event-2016

Qupé Syrah Bien Nacido Hillside Estate 2010 $40


> Resort Report

Napa’s Next Factor At the Club’s new residences at The Carneros Inn, vineyard hopping to wine country’s top standouts is oh-so-tasty. BY JANICE O’LEARY

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ocated just outside the town of Napa and only 15 minutes from Sonoma, this 27-acre resort is perfectly situated for exploring both regions. Upon arrival to the Inn, wind your way past adorable bungalows, a small mom-and-pop grocery cum deli, and a restaurant. Once at the chic lobby, a glass of wine and keys to your temporary castle await, as does a glimpse to the spa and an Olympic-size pool overlooking the symmetric rows of grapevines. The resort’s signature orange bicycles are parked out back, a fun (and safe, if sipping) way to navigate the property’s enticing surroundings. A private, gated area marks the group of Exclusive Resorts homes, each with its own driveway and entrance. Light-infused villas have two beautifully appointed master suites with en suite bathrooms (and radiant heated floor tiles), a gourmet kitchen that opens to a stylish living room, and a media room with a pullout couch for family or friends. Walls of windows and sliding doors bring the outside in. The homes are quintessential Napa entertainers, with outdoor living and designer patio seating, a firepit, barbecue, and chaise lounges. An added bonus is the secluded sundeck, located off the second floor and glimpsing the yard and patio tableau. A short walk through a private gate takes guests to the Boon Fly Café, a must-try for breakfast. Opt for the counter, truly the best seat in the house. The restaurant is beloved for its made-to-order warm doughnut holes, served in a rustic tin bucket and worth every bite. Hashbrowns here are made by hand, and if coveting the bread that anchors your egg-in-a-hole, find it (and the region’s best English muffins) at Model Bakery in St. Helena. And if you

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can’t get enough of the gourmet doughnuts, stock up at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, where they bake a different flavor every weekend in the summer (think lemon meringue brioche, yum!). TASTING NOTES

Snag a stylish Carneros Inn bicycle and pedal to Domaine Carneros to taste some bubbly or explore the property’s surrounding countryside. Then visit some of the smaller production wineries. Napa Valley’s Odette, located in the Stag’s Leap district touts up-and-coming winemaker Jeff Owens. The 2012 vintage, his first as head winemaker, received a 100-point rating. Also hit the exclusive Spring Mountain, which accepts tastings and tours only by appointment. The extensive botanical gardens add a floral note to the property’s hillside rows. Well known for the Estate cabernet sauvignons, also try cult favorite Elivette. This blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and merlot begs for a second glass. Darioush is another standout for cabernet sauvignon, yet its shiraz and merlot are equally as excellent. Most surprising to Napa red drinkers is the quality of Darioush’s viognier. The ultimate crowd pleaser, it’s arguably the best Viognier in the country and one of the top three in the world (plan to take home more than one). Just down Silverado Trail from Darioush is Staglin Family Vineyard, another respected star of Napa. Private appointments should be booked a few weeks out during high season. In Sonoma, chardonnay and pinot noir fans must visit Kistler, but should also consider Bremmer Family wines, helmed by Kistler’s former winemaker


and a vineyard on the rise. Toast your Sonoma Valley standouts with an exquisite meal at the Farmhouse Inn, which features fabulous wine pairings, and a menu prepared by Michelin-starred Executive Chef Steve Litke.

Premier Crew Customized wine country itineraries, courtesy of Darioush Vineyards. While it’s become de rigeur for most wineries to offer reservation services, Darioush’s concierge team follows the model of a boutique hotel, creating one-of-a-kind Napa Valley itineraries with access to small-production vineyards or off-the-radar wineries not open to the public. Additionally, they’ll lasso top tables at some of the region’s hottest dining spots. Darioush Vineyards hospitality director Marc Moynier gives the inside track.

ON THE MENU

Fortunately for foodies, the quality of dining in wine country matches the quality of its wines. The famous French Laundry opens a brand new kitchen his summer. Designed on the model of the Louvre—marrying a grand dame with a modern showpiece—the kitchen will be the IM Pei pyramid of the restaurant. Expect enticing changes to the wine list from new sommelier Eric Austin. Also hit local favorite Ciccio, which is supposedly chef Thomas Keller’s favorite spot to dine when not at his own venues. Owned by a longtime Napa family originally from Italy, this Yountville hot spot serves up the best chicken parmigiano and a memorable brickoven-roasted cauliflower dish. They also feature the only Negroni menu around. And just down Washington Street from Ciccio’s, check out Kollar’s Chocolates, located across the street from Bouchon Bakery. Spy owner Chris Kollar in the shop’s open kitchen and taste his fennel pollen dark chocolate truffles. He sometimes offers private chocolate making classes, which are well worth booking if you can snag a reservation. Even casual dining has gotten a recent boost in Napa, especially local take-out, which is ideal for cozy nights back in-residence at The Carneros Inn. Get Ad Hoc’s famous fried chicken without making a reservation by ordering it from Addendum, the pop-up shack behind the restaurant. And to skip the lines at Gott’s, call ahead to place your order, and then grab a patio table. Two newcomers to the culinary scene are Ninebark, a downtown Napa haunt helmed by twoMichelin-starred chef Matthew Lightner, and The Charter Oak in St. Helena, which is being launched by the culinary team at Meadowood and slated to open late this summer. Cheers!

HOW DO YOU GAIN ACCESS TO THESE REVERED WINERIES? Our concierge team spends eight weeks every year exploring both Napa and Sonoma to meet the winemakers and chefs, taste their wines and cuisine, and establish strong relationships.

(OPPOSITE) The Carneros Inn pool is the perfect respite between wine tastings; (FROM TOP) Residences with a view; palate pleasers-fresh jalapeño margaritas; an inside glimpse to Exclusive Resorts’ new Napa residences.

ARE THERE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERVICE? We offer this service for free to our First Offering members (membership is free, with a commitment to purchase only one wine a year from Darioush’s limited production). The only costs to customers are the tasting fees or the bottles of wine they discover and must bring home! HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD YOU BOOK? Ideally we need two to three weeks, but during harvest season, the earlier the better. Keep in mind that reservations at the French Laundry must be booked two months in advance. ANY OTHER BENEFITS TO DARIOUSH’S FIRST OFFERING MEMBERSHIP? Members have the chance to order our wines before anyone else does. And most of our wines sell out in two months and can be hard to find outside of Napa. And when members visit, we offer them an exclusive tasting lounge. -darioush.com

GO Visit exclusiveresorts.com/napa


Young Voyagers’ Camp Set sail on a great adventure with Exclusive Resorts Exclusive Resorts’ second annual summer camp for kids and teens redefines the traditional sleep-away summer adventure. Hosted on luxury catamarans, Young Voyagers’ Camp 2016 features week-long, sea-faring adventures to the Caribbean and takes campers ages 12-16 to the islands of St. Martin, Saba, Statia and Tintamarre.

Advanced: July 30 - August 7, 2016 Beginner: July 31 - August 7, 2016 ExclusiveResorts.com • 844.260.0338 Photo: ©Broadreach Terms and conditions apply. See www.exclusiveresorts.com for more information. Exclusive Resorts and the Exclusive Resorts flower logo are registered trademarks of Exclusive Resorts, LLC. ©2016, Exclusive Resorts, LLC. All rights reserved.

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CULTURED RESORT REPORT // ART OF TRAVEL// GIFT OF TRAVEL // EYE ON DESIGN

Posh Peninsula With Peninsula Hotels joining the Club’s global vacation portfolio, Asia’s enticing culture and cuisine is now just a passport stamp away.

TIMELESS TOKYO The posh lobby at The Peninsula Tokyo fuses traditional design with modern musings.

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> Resort Report

A

lways a coveted locale, Asia tops most any discerning traveler’s wish list. Exclusive Resorts has recently announced an expanded partnership with five-star hospitality brand Peninsula Hotels, giving Members access to premium accommodations at the brand’s award-winning hotels around the globe. The Peninsula Academy—which glamorously ducks the velvet rope in a diverse portfolio of cities—gives insider access to culture, cuisine, and local movers and shakers. Given these unique opportunities, your flight tracker to Asia may soon take top priority.

The Peninsula Hong Kong

THE PENINSULA HONG KONG THE UNESCO GEOPARK HELICOPTER TOUR: AN UNPARALLELED GEOLOGICAL JOURNEY

Glimpse a bird’s-eye view of the UNESCO Hong Kong. Led by an expert guide, learn the history and unique characteristics of this geological wonder, located in the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region. A LITTLE PASTRY CHEF’S ADVENTURE: The Peninsula Beijing

MAGICAL CHILDREN’S COOKING CLASSES

Staged for children between 4 and 10, this two-hour class is held in The Peninsula’s world-class kitchen. Aspiring pastry chefs work on culinary style with the masters. “Candy Wonderland” is the theme, yet classes can also be customized. THE PENINSULA BEIJING A GLIMPSE OF THE ROYAL PAST: BESPOKE TEA CEREMONY

Explore the Shu Fang Zhai Temple on a private tour, followed by a Tea Ceremony with Huang Ting’s tea master. Learn of tea varieties while dishes are paired with each course. A WALK THROUGH BEIJING’S PAST: RICKSHAW THROUGH A HUTONG NEIGHBORHOOD

A Peninsula Page boy will lead you to the hutongs around the Hou Hai district. Explore the nooks and crannies of old Beijing by rickshaw and discover traditional Chinese life and architecture from a private guide. The Peninsula Shanghai

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The Peninsula Tokyo

THE PENINSULA SHANGHAI MODERN SHANGHAI CHIC: MEET FASHION DESIGNER LU KUN

Following a traditional Shanghai breakfast of Chinese crepes and steamed sticky rice with pork and vegetables, travel in the hotel’s Rolls-Royce Phantom to Lu Kun’s studio in Hongkou district. Lu Kun will speak to the modern history of Shanghai and its trendy fashion scene while unveiling new haute couture lines. ART IN FOCUS: A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE SHANGHAI MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

A morning or evening tour, gain exclusive access to the MOCA Shanghai, located in People’s Park. 
The deputy curator of Shanghai MOCA will reveal the philosophy behind Shanghai’s first independent, not-for-profit contemporary art institution. Get a sneak peek of current exhibitions while revisiting past shows, including retrospectives by Dior, Chanel, Ferragamo and Pixar, and solo exhibitions by Chinese artist Tan Wei and Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. THE PENINSULA TOKYO FURIN MAKING: JAPANESE WIND CHIMES FOR KIDS

The Peninsula Hong Kong

Kids ride in a MINI Cooper S Clubman to learn the traditional craft of glass-blowing and painting, specifically by the Shinohara family. Traveling tykes will leave with a personalized original furin wind chime. BEST-LOVED JAPANESE FOOD: TEMPURA AND SUSHI MASTER CLASS

Whisk away to the Tsukiji fish market via a Rolls-Royce Phantom and choose, with a chef, which fish you’d like to prepare. Learn the art of making tempura, followed by sushi lessons. Chef Kojima teaches nigiri and maki wraps techniques, both staples among Japanses dinner parties.

GO Visit exclusiveresorts.com/peninsula-hotels

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> Art of Travel

Photos Courtesy of David Parise

Have Dolls, Will Travel Photographer David Parise turns nostalgia on its head and inspires wanderlust with a collection of colorful, cheeky snapshots of vintage Barbie and Ken dolls. BY NANDITA KAHNNA

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avid Parise recalls the exact moment that launched his photography career: “My wife and I moved to Miami in 2000. We were selling her artwork on Lincoln Road when I came across a book on Barbie’s 50th anniversary,” he says. I took one look at the vintage fashion on its pages and thought the Barbie dolls from the ‘60s were a perfect match to Miami’s slick Art Deco architecture.” From then on, he started photographing the dolls in various witty poses, from formal portraits in their black-tie finest at the Fontainbleau to candid frames outside the Sagamore Hotel. He hasn’t looked back since. For Parise, who grew up in Cedarhurst, New York, on Long Island, collecting dolls wasn’t exactly his thing—but fashion was. “Donna Karan is from my hometown,” he says. “Fashion has always had an influence in my life.” And while he never formally studied photography, he played around with his dad’s Polaroid growing up, capturing neighborhood kids at play. He’s an avid admirer of photographer Slim Aarons, famous for documenting the rich and famous. “No one captured that lifestyle of the ‘60s better than he did,” Parise explains. In a way, whether color, composition or pursuit of the good life, Parise’s work has faint echoes of Aarons’—aspirational in its depictions of beautiful places and people at leisure, but with a nostalgic twist. “I have memories of my childhood and old ads from the ‘50s and ‘60s that I try to recreate,” he says of his creative approach. One of his favorite works, “Girls Smoking by the Pool,” was inspired by childhood summers spent at a beach club with his mom and sister.

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Most of his work is shot on location, including the beaches of Miami. “If there are people in the far background,” he says, “it actually makes the photos more fun.” But when he’s featuring the dolls against hotel backdrops, he employs Photoshop, explaining, “you get the best perspective this way.” He has an old-school, miniature Barbie kitchen from the ‘60s—original furniture included—that cameos in such works as “Split Milk” and “Snacktime.” Barbie and Ken have traveled with Parise to New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. Next? They have their sights on a Europe trip, Parise says. Racking up passport stamps aside, Parise keeps his work fresh by continually adding to his robust collection of dolls. “I have about 25, but drawers full of clothing and accessories,” he admits. “The zippers, the buckles, and the stitching on the dolls’ outfits—I had no idea the level of craftsmanship that went into the clothing back then.” Occasionally he’ll prop source an item for a shoot, like a pack of Kool cigarettes in “Girls Smoking by the Pool.” “You see, Barbie never smoked—or at least she never told anyone she did,” he quips. It’s with this same good-natured sense of humor that Parise hits the streets of New York with his artwork. It’s not uncommon to see him outside the new Whitney Museum on Gansevoort Street, or in Union Square. “It has been incredibly rewarding,” he says. “There’s nothing like selling art that makes people smile and laugh in one of the busiest cities of the world.”-barbieandkenphotos.com.


“I TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE VINTAGE FASHION ON ITS PAGES AND THOUGHT THE BARBIE DOLLS FROM THE ‘60S WERE A PERFECT MATCH TO MIAMI’S SLICK ART DECO ARCHITECTURE.” - DAVID PARISE

> (OPPOSITE) Globetrotters Barbie and Ken hit Miami Beach; (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) Hot in Hawaii; perfect in Paris; girlfriend’s guide to unplugging; lazy pool time; vintage chic in Central Park; David Parise, behind the lens.

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Colonial Charm, Big City Cred In-the-know travelers to Mexico have discovered the San Miguel de Allende art scene, rich in both inspiration and up-and-coming artists. BY JEN MURPHY

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exico City may claim an art world spotlight, with such cultural heavyweights as Museo Jumex and Museo de Arte Moderno. But in-the-know travelers to Mexico in search of a more intimate, yet equally diverse art experience flock to San Miguel de Allende. Post World War II, many soldiers took advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled in San Miguel’s art schools. A vibrant arts community slowly emerged, with studios and galleries popping up on the cobblestone streets. Today, edgy modern artisans and artists have transformed this once sleepy UNESCO World Heritage City located in Mexico’s interior.

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At the heart of the arts scene is Fabrica La Aurora, a beautiful art and design center housed in a former turnof-the century textile factory. Founded in 2004, this arts hub houses more than 40 galleries, studios, and antiques shops alongside old textile machines and hydraulic turbines. Highlights include La Buhardilla, considered one of the most important antiques stores in Mexico, and Cerro Blanco Joyería, where modernist jeweler Pepe Cerroblanco crafts statement pieces with clean lines and daring design. The center’s main attraction, however, is its workshops, where visitors can watch artists weave, sculpt, and blow glass. For a

El Rapto de Europa” painting by Alejandro Rivera; Fabrica La Aurora courtesy of Fabrica La Aurora; David Alfaro Siqueiros mural photo by Nando Silver; Hotel Matilda photo by Jed Graeber

> Art of Travel


(OPPOSITE) Artist Alejandro Rivera’s work was recently purchased for Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art; (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) Fabrica La Aurora art and design center; a mural painted by David Alfaro Siqueiros; the artful lobby of Hotel Matilda

hands-on art experience, visit El Nigromante. In addition to housing a school, museum, and artists’ galleries, this fine arts institute also offers classes in photography, painting, sculpture, music, and traditional Mexican dance. Collectors should visit the studio of Alejandro Rivera, a young, up-and-coming artist who recently had two pieces purchased for the permanent collection of Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art. Those with more traditional tastes won’t want to miss Galeria Atotonilco. Set on eight acres, just five miles north of San Miguel, Atotonilco houses Mexico’s largest collection of folk art. One reason so many travelers fall in love with San Miguel is that art experiences can be found everywhere, not solely found in museums and galleries. Murals painted by David Alfaro Siqueiros—one of Mexico’s top muralists— can be viewed in Escuela de Bellas Artes cultural center, an art school in a former

convent located just two blocks from the busy Jardín. Additionally, the works of painter Peter Leventhal are displayed in the cellars of Dos Buhos Vineyard, a boutique winery located just outside the city. Even San Miguel’s hotels double as art galleries. The lobby of the boutique Hotel Matilda is filled with avant-garde paintings by emerging and established artists, while the outdoor corridor at the Rosewood San Miguel displays a collection of Pop-Surreal prints by Pedro Friedeberg. As if further entice is needed, The Rosewood also houses the best rooftop in town and a tequila bar with more than 120 tequilas and 20 mezcals. For a tiny pueblo, San Miguel’s got cosmopolitan credentials but still retains colonial charm. Perhaps that’s why so many artists continue to find inspiration here.

Adventure>San Miguel 5 nights, 6 days WHEN: Through December 20, 2016 ON THE ITINERARY: Discover the Colonial cities of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. Stay at the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende and visit art hub Fabrica La Aurora and Dos Buhos Winery. Take a guided market tour, private cooking class, and a tequila tasting. 411: Contact your Vacation Ambassador for further details. GO exclusiveresorts.com/san-miguel-de-allende

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> Gift of Travel

Paying it Forward

Inspired by travel, Exclusive Resorts Members launch game-changing foundations and literacy programs in Africa and Costa Rica. BY CHRISTINE BENEDETTI

(LEFT) The impact of World Reader Kindles in Africa; Students at the Santa Rita School near Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo.

WORLD READER IN AFRICA When Denise Hall and her daughter, Anna, traveled to Kenya in 2014 with Exclusive Resorts, it wasn’t the safari or the luxury treatment they remember most. Instead, it was an underserved African school they visited. “This is the highlight of our trip, even though we’d seen leopards and cheetahs, taken hot air balloon rides, and had breakfast in the middle of the beautiful fields,” says Denise. The Enkereri School, located just five miles from their five-star Olonana Lodge on the Maasai/Mara National Reserve, is off the grid, and while it immediately struck the Halls with its destitute learning conditions, the lingering memories triggered them to take action once they returned home to southern California. Annie, who is 18 now, recalls asking to read with the children, and being handed one book—on identifying and treating AIDS.

SANTA RITA SCHOOL IN COSTA RICA The Lasseters, of Fort Worth, Texas, had a similar experience. When they traveled to Costa Rica with Exclusive Resorts in 2009, Jennifer Lasseter, a teacher, asked to stop at one of the schools near the resort where they were staying. “The things we take for granted here,” she says, “they don’t have.” Markers, construction paper, and basic teaching materials are some of those items. Jennifer and her husband, Donny, started a conversation with Costa Rica-based Exclusive Resorts concierge Ronald Sánchez Batista about ways they could help the Santa Rita school. Among improvements they’ve already made are air conditioning, a security fence, and entirely new classrooms and roofs. “We now make a point to go to Costa Rica at least once a year,” says Donny. “The kids know us now. It’s been a rewarding place to be, and it feels like home.” Another family took note of the Lasseter’s actions, and added bathrooms

“WE NOW MAKE A POINT TO GO TO COSTA RICA AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. THE KIDS KNOW US NOW. IT’S BEEN A REWARDING PLACE TO BE, AND IT FEELS LIKE HOME.” - Donny Lasseter “There wasn’t another book. I asked and there was one book in the entire school,” she says. “That didn’t sit well with me and it led me to search for a solution.” She immediately started to research ways to shuttle more books into the school and quickly found World Reader, a nonprofit that provides e-books to people in low-income countries through Kindle. Two years later she has raised nearly $80,000 to get Kindles into 12 African schools, and her journey is just beginning. As she prepares for college next year, this experience has rerouted her career goals; she now wants to study international business or eco-tourism. “It’s changed the course of her life,” says Denise. And it’s inspiring other Exclusive Resorts Members who are also traveling to the region. People regularly visit Enkereri and are impressed by Annie’s work there, says Denise, and that’s waterfalled into more donations, in addition to other families helping to expand the program into new regions of Africa. 76

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for the school. What started as an adventure trip has turned into an ongoing relationship with the school officials and students. “These are our friends,” says Donny, “and it’s a lifetime deal for us.” Ultimately, they’re hoping to find a way to bridge Jennifer’s school in Texas with the one in Costa Rica, giving students on both sides more global exposure. And if additional people are inspired to “pay it forward” along the way, that’s another benefit. For both the Halls and Lasseters, travel is a way to see the world, although they probably didn’t know they’d be bringing so much of it home. GO To get involved with World Reader in Africa, visit fundraise.worldreader.org; to support Costa Rica’s Santa Rita School, please email jenniferlassetter40@gmail.com


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> Eye on Design

gift Guide With wedding season in full swing, expert Jung Lee, owner of FÊTE and Jung Lee NY, simplifies the art of home, gift, and wedding registry etiquette. WEDDING REGISTRY DOS + DON’TS: DO RESIST THE RUSH TO REGISTER. Approach your registry as a cohesive collection of products that reflect your style as a couple and will be used all the time. Register for items to pass down to the next generation. Items have significance when families share in them together and a history is built. You’ll want your gifts to be with you for the long term—unique, quality pieces that speak to who you both are and what your lives are about. DO REGISTER AT A STORE THAT LETS YOU HOLD ITEMS. This creates flexibility when it comes to what products you receive and when you are ready to receive them. Since each gift is really credit, you can decide to exchange certain gifts before they’ve been sent to you, making it easier to control which you ultimately end up with. DO MIX AND MATCH YOUR DINNERWARE: Select four place settings each of four different patterns, which give you 16 sets in total. You don’t have to commit to just one style. Mix and match. Inject variety into your dinnerware. An assorted and layered tabletop is far more interesting and visually captivating! DO GET SOMETHING CUSTOMIZED: I love customizing flatware for a registry. Monograms and motifs can be etched on each piece of flatware, a symbol that celebrates when you began your life together and reflects who you are as a couple.

DO GET CREATIVE: Items on your registry should be used in multiple ways. A footed glass isn’t just for drinks; it can also serve as a vase for a single stem or a vessel for cheese sticks when entertaining. A great registry service can help you sort various ways to use registry items. DON’T BE SCARED TO ASK FOR HELP: Register somewhere that offers real design assistance, ideally with someone who shares your sensibility. This is a special opportunity; make the most of it by working with someone who understands your home décor vision and lifestyle. DON’T SAVE CHINA FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS: Beautiful china should be used every day! Nothing is too precious. Every single one of your registry items should be accessible all the time. Plus, I believe the more you use something; the more you’ll cherish and treasure it. DON’T TAKE THE “PAINT BY NUMBERS” APPROACH: Get something that testifies to you both. What would you like when you’re having an important meal together? What’s at your table during the holidays? If you love having a good steak regularly, get a set of quality steak knives! You can’t go wrong if you put yourselves at the center of your registry. -jungleeny.com

Lee’s Top Home + Gift Registry Items TRAYS. Best when you have two to three that nest. It looks great and is functional for all your entertaining needs. SMALL CANAPE PLATES AND BOWLS. Perfect for cocktail and dessert parties. BARWARE. Shaker, ice bucket, bar utensils, and all sorts of glasses—highball, double old fashion, wine, and sparkling wine glasses. STATEMENT DECORATIVE PIECE. I have a bunny bench and a peacock that I love. SCENTED CANDLES that reflect you and the season. Scents are essential in creating a home. NICE LIQUID SOAP, lotion and hand towels (for guests and you!). CLOTH COCKTAIL AND DINNER NAPKINS (disposable ones don’t belong in your home). Mydrap sells ones that are well priced, can be disposable, but can be washed 50 times. GREAT COLLECTION OF BOWLS AND PLATES. Ones to use on a daily basis but also special enough to live on your formal dining table. PLACEMATS AND COASTERS. While they should be coordinated, they should not all match! CANDLE STICKS, HURRICANES AND VOTIVES. I love candlelight.

Shop >>

FÊTE is located at 15 East 32nd Street in Manhattan, a short and scenic ride from Exclusive Resorts’ Park Avenue and Trump International apartments.

Save China for Special Occasions Beautiful china should be used every day! Nothing is too precious. Every single one of your registry items should be accessible all the time.

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RAYNAUD Mineral Gold Porcelain Bread and Butter Plate ($50)

EICHHOLTZ West End Tray ($325)

RL HOME Vanderbilt Mixologist Box, Limited Edition of 100. ($4,995)

ICHENDORF Cilindro Double Walled Medium Olive Oil Cruet ($25)

COSTES Products Scented Candle Brown ($75)

SKULTUNA Medium Karui Tray ($200)

LORENA Chandelier ($175)

CHRISTOFLE Vertigo Ice Bucket ($710)

ORLEANS High Ball Glasses, Set of 6 ($205)

ROBERT KUO Rabbit Bench ($7,200) CURATED

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©2014 Abercrombie & Kent, USA, LLC CST #2007274-20

abercrombiekent.com

Discover the World on an A&K Tailor Made Journey Abercrombie & Kent’s Tailor Made journeys take just you and your family on a privately guided adventure wherever you want to go — with support from 52 local offices in over 100 countries, the possibilities are endless. Contact your Exclusive Ambassador to create an A&K journey built exclusively around the things you want to see and do together.

after an introduction from our private guide, we were invited to join the locals on their way to market.

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2016

Spring summer IN THIS ISSUE >

THE CALL OF COSTA: Peninsula Papagayo EUROPE: A Family Affair WILD AT HEART: Wilderness & Water

photo by Stefanie Michejda

TOP TEN: Where To Go Next

(LEFT) At Peninsula Papagayo’s Poro Poro Clubhouse with Exclusive Resorts’ talented culinary team.

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callof COSTA the

ON THE HUNT FOR THE

RIO CELESTE WATERFALL, HOWLER MONKEYS, SUBLIME

SEAFOOD, AND INSPIRED LOCALS, ERIN LENTZ DISCOVERS WHY EXCLUSIVE RESORTS’ FLAGSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PENINSULA

PAPAGAYO, IS CONSIDERED A CENTRAL AMERICAN GEM.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEFANIE MICHEJDA 82

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(OPPOSITE) The mighty Rio Celeste Waterfall, located along a 4.5-mile trail in Tenorio National Park. Fresh tuna tataki, courtesy of Peninsula Papagayo Executive Chef Nicolas Devenelle.

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“I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT ACROSS ACRES OF VACANT LAND, UP TO OUR WAISTS IN BRUSH, TRYING TO VISUALIZE WHAT OUR RESIDENCES WOULD LOOK LIKE. WE HAD TO WALK THROUGH THE PROPERTY WITH A MACHETE, CUTTING THROUGH THE JUNGLE.” - CATHY ROSS asks Alex. It’s barbecue night at the Poro Poro Clubhouse at Exclusive Resorts’ flagship destination, Peninsula Papagayo. As the Costa Rican bartender flashes a smile—a dare, rather—he shakes up pineapple-jalapeño margaritas to the beat of a local ska band. Poncho, a white-faced monkey (and Poro Poro regular), eyes me too, as if echoing Alex’s challenge. I give in, and less than two hours post wheels-down at Liberia airport, I find myself awkwardly attempting to salsa under a canopy of Guanacaste trees and a brilliant crescent moon. And just like that, my dance with this country’s natural playground begins. Costa Rica has an authentic rhythm. One defined by cheerful locals and volcanic wonders that tango with ethereal waterfalls and 1,000-plus animal and bird species. There’s a tangible admiration for the sea and water, be it the lure of surf breaks in Tamarindo, deep-sea fishing, or hiking to the electric-blue Rio Celeste Waterfall in Tenorio Volcano National Park. This powerful punch of nature, married with a colorful culture, is just what the Exclusive Resorts’ executive team discovered on their initial visit to the idyllic peninsula more than a decade ago. Put simply, there’s some magic to this land. The following morning, I awake to my first Costa Rican sunrise. As the sun peeks over the peninsula and Culebra Bay, I sip local coffee on our outdoor terrace. A curious iguana sunbathes on a rock near the house, while a howler monkey noshes on a mango in the dense canopy above. I’m reminded of this country’s famous motto, Pura Vida, which celebrates a deep respect for nature and a peaceful, simple approach to life.

“you salsa?”

THE FOUNDING OF A FLAGSHIP Upon arrival to the Club’s private gated community, which hugs 30 acres on the south side of Peninsula Papagayo and 23 miles of rugged coastline, it’s quickly apparent why so many ER Members tap this property as a favorite. The entry, lined by magnificent palm trees and a discreet front drive, instills a sense of grandeur and calm. An undulating road to 17 spectacular four-bedroom villas and the Poro Poro Clubhouse dips and bends, with hints of the bay and

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the Pacific teased along the way. The night of my arrival, I’m greeted by our personal concierge Ronald Sánchez Batista, who checks me into Jicaro No. 14, a stunning, 3,905-square foot, two-story residence perched high in the jungle with an infinity plunge pool reminiscent of a five-star Robinson Crusoe fantasy. We tour the development via golf cart—Members’ preferred mode of transport—and come to a stop at the aforementioned restaurant, abuzz with families, vacationing couples, and a boisterous girls’ getaway. Developed in 2004 by Exclusive Resorts’ development team, including current CEO Cathy Ross, this flagship, $70 million property remains the gem of the Club’s portfolio. Yet developing this piece of paradise, while full of promise, posed its challenges. “I remember looking out across acres of vacant land, up to our waists in brush, trying to visualize with our architects what our residences would look like,” Ross recalls. “We had to walk through the property with a machete, cutting through the jungle.” With no utilities or roads, the team was first tasked with building an infrastructure. As such, Wayne Johnson, then Director of Architecture at Exclusive Resorts, contracted a team of talented locals: developer Ecodesorrollo/CMS, architect Zurcher Arquitectos, and Fusion Design. Johnson and team took great lengths to ensure the Club’s development blended with the peninsula’s natural surroundings. “There was an effort to locally source to the greatest extent possible, and to be part of the landscape,” Johnson says, noting the homes’ interior reed roofs. “All of the artwork is by local artisans, and the majority of furniture is custom-built in Honduras. We kept the interior colors muted, so the jungle and ocean views become the art. We had two floor plans, which we mirrored, and then created two roof styles—the armadillo and the butterfly. This resulted in eight variations of homes, and it feels like all are unique.” “There was so much thought that went into the homes,” says Ross. “We wanted them to be perfect for our Members. That meant creating expansive porches with lots of seating, spacious dining rooms with open-air kitchens perfect for cooking classes, and kid-friendly floor plans that still provided plenty of privacy for couples traveling together.” At the heart of the property remain Ricardo Lopez, General Manager, and Executive Chef Nicolas Devenelle. Both have been at the property since its inception. Lopez has created such a genuine rapport with Members, and staff, that most nights you’ll find him visiting with guests at the restaurant, asking how their day has been and giving local tips for the following one. His leadership has been vital to the property’s success, as has Chef Devenelle’s culinary expertise. Born in Champagne, France, Chef Devenelle’s love of cooking was fostered at an early age by his grandmother, and after several positions with various Four Seasons resorts, he launched ER’s culinary program in Costa Rica. Members repeatedly remark that his cuisine is a top reason for return visits.


(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) Peninsula Papagayo hugs Culebra Bay; Shrimp Hole owners Gosia Iwaszko and Sasha Nash at their Tamarindo restaurant; tackling one of five zip lines during Rio Perdido’s Canyon Adventure; Witch’s Surf Camp founder Joe Walsh with Volcano Brewing Company head brewer and surfer Nikki Hurren.

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“We have Members that have been to Papagayo 20 times,” Ross adds. “It’s like going to their second home. The staff all knows them. Other Members enjoy the flagship because they can go to a rugged destination like Costa Rica yet find all the luxury and service you could ever want or need. The whole development is owned by Exclusive Resorts, so when they’re going to the Members-only Clubhouse there’s that sense of community, surrounded by like-minded travelers.” RAINFOREST OR BUST: TENORIO VOLCANO + THE RIO CELESTE RIVER Though it’s tempting to spend our stay lounging poolside, we have a waterfall in the jungle to find. Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Rio Celeste River and Waterfall are every bit worth the two-hour drive from ER headquarters. Rent a four-wheel drive vehicle (or hire a guide with one), as the journey, while beautiful, gets increasingly rough— potholes pepper the final eight miles along a steep dirt road. As we slowly bump and prod our way there—past dogs, chickens and a field of orchids (there’s more than 1,400 species in Costa Rica)—the Tenorio Volcano and tiny village of Rio Celeste come into view. We meet our local naturalist, Christian, and begin our adventure through the rainforest. Owls, snakes, and rare birds line the 4.5-mile trail, while an excited couple from Spain shares iPhone evidence of a tapir, an elusive yet friendly South American species that looks like a pig-horse with a trunk.

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Our guide reminds us that Costa Rica has the world’s largest number of species per 10,000 square miles: 615, in fact, according to Lonely Planet. The small country, comparable in size to West Virginia, is part of a narrow strip of land that separates two continents and the globe’s two largest oceans. It’s a geographical goldmine, with a tectonic history. This violence under Costa Rica’s terra firma only punctuates its beauty—a kaleidoscope of tropical landscapes, including 12,000 plant species, and a floral biodiversity unlike any other place on Earth. As we climb, we pass couples, local families with kids, and a group of ER Members from Texas. The sound of rushing water increases and our pace quickens with anticipation. The final steps that lead to the deafening roar of the Rio Celeste Waterfall is a reward of epic magnitude. Boom! Its pool a shade of turquoise so surprising that several minutes of silence ensue between us and a handful of onlookers, including a professional Danish photographer who is framing this spiritual space for an outdoor magazine. I’m determined to capture the moment on my iPhone, yet to no avail. You simply have to feel the Celeste’s spray tickle your face; the dazzling waterfall a brilliant reminder that nature is in charge. We toast the day’s discovery with dinner at Ostra, located at the newly opened Andaz Resort, a short drive from Exclusive Resorts’ homebase. A ceviche bar features the local catch of the day: octopus, finished in coconut milk, fresh lime, peppers, and jalapeño. Though an Andaz nightcap is tempting, we tuck in early as Ronald has booked us for a morning jaunt to another nearby jungle.


MUD BATHS, ZIPLINING + RIVER TUBING Developed on playful terrain, the 600-acre Rio Perdido resort and thermal experience is located in Bagaces (an hour-and-a-half drive from Papagayo, in Guanacaste). Nestled among the canopy of a dwarf forest and located on a raised peninsula formed by the convergence of the Rio Blanco and the Rio Perdido (the “lost” river), the resort is uber-conscious of its environment, celebrated via sustainable design and a menu of non-stop adventure. One can spa, zipline, hike, mountain bike, go river tubing, and soak in thermal hot springs, all on the same property. We decide to pack in as much as possible in one afternoon, kick-started by the Rio Perdido Canyon Adventure—an adrenaline-infused zipline through magnificent slot canyons and Espavel trees with canopy heights of 160 feet. Led by experienced local guides, we fly through the rainforest with plenty of hoots and hollers, tackling five ziplines of varying lengths, 15 platforms, and a 50-foot Tarzan swing. As if this weren’t enough, we then float the Rio Perdido via inflatable blue tubes. Perfect family fun, our river rousing makes us all feel like kids again, as we bob, weave, and splash while also marveling at the river walls and the silence of the slot canyon. Post lunch we paint each other with volcanic mud and soak in the thermal hot springs. Your skin, though smelling of sulfur, will thank you. The mud detoxifies and softens—a natural Costa Rican boost after a day of action-packed adventure.

SURF’S UP: THE TOWN OF TAMARINDO Most any serious surfer will hail Robert August and the 1960s surf documentary The Endless Summer as a slight obsession. Its sequel followed surf legends August and Mike Hynson around the globe, including to the tiny Costa Rican town of Tamarindo and perfect breaks at nearby Witch’s Rock. An obsessed surfer from California named Joe Walsh was so inspired by the scene that in 1998, at age 19, he packed his boards, girlfriend (now wife), and father into a school bus and drove to Tamarindo. He never left, and built Witch’s Rock Surf Camp—a boutique, beachfront surf resort and camp that has grown from two to 100 employees. “When I moved down here, the first thing I did was buy a boat and drive people to Witch’s Rock. It started off being a surf tour outfitter company and we grew into instruction. There’s a selection of breaks here from beginner to advanced.” And born from a personal necessity for better beer post surf sessions, in 2011 he launched Volcano Brewing Company with head brewer and British surfer Nikki Hurren. Bringing it all full circle, when we meet Joe and Nikki to sample their suds (the Hasselhopp IPA is dee-lish) at Joe’s El Vaquero Brewpub, Robert August is just a few tables over. A former Tamarindo local himself—which only furthered the town’s surf cred—he currently resides back in California but still shapes boards and leads seminars at Witch’s Surf Camp. For non-surfers, the town of Tamarindo shadows a 1.5 mile-stretch of beach, its downtown packed with local boutiques, galleries, and, we (OPPOSITE) Happy hour, aka sunset, in Tamarindo; a local cowboy struts along Tamarindo Beach. (BELOW) Kata Kis, the owner of Papaya con Leche boutique; surf legend Robert August shapes his vehicle of choice at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp.

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YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO FEEL THE CELESTE’S SPRAY TICKLE YOUR FACE; THE DAZZLING WATERFALL A BRILLIANT REMINDER THAT

NATURE IS IN CHARGE.

Monkeying around on a river tube outing at Rio Perdido and the real deal (OPPOSITE), local resident and white-faced monkey, Poncho, who can often be spied near the Member’s Clubhouse.

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happily discover, one of the smallest restaurants in the world. At just 32 square feet (not including the deck), The Shrimp Hole, launched by husband-and-wife duo and London transplants Sasha Nash and Gosia Iwaszko, is tiny by design yet big in flavor. Expect just three charming outdoor tables, groovy music and even groovier food. The menu, locally sourced and inspired by the growing global food truck scene, is simple—main dishes are shrimp, and more shrimp, finished in various sauces (the El Clasico—shrimp finished in butter, garlic, lime, and dill, is a must, as is the Captain’s Lemonade, with ginger and vodka). After lunch we shop at Papaya Con Leche and meet owner Kata Kis, a beautiful former ballet dancer from Hungary who moved to Tamarindo on a whim. “I started the business on the beach. My daughter was two years old then and I used to craft matching bathing suits for us. Eighteen years later, I’m still in business.” A talented seamstress who has an eye for custom-fitting suits to all body types, she also has a line of signature wedge sandals inspired by the laces of ballet shoes, sold with interchangeable, bikini-fabric straps in different colors and patterns—a chic, all-in-one travel shoe. That evening, the Tamarindo sunset is on fire. The beach is packed with locals and tourists, iPhones at the ready, anxiously awaiting the brilliant orange curtsy over the ocean. As if on cue, three weathered Guanacaste cowboys traverse the beach on horseback, a reminder of Costa Rica’s simpler, and slower, approach to living. Back at Joe’s restaurant, a local reggae band warms up. We say goodbye to Joe, and as we wind our way back to Exclusive Resorts’ Peninsula Papagayo for our final night, a full moon dips over Culebra Bay. Conversation quickly turns to when we’ll be back. Pura Vida has us hooked.

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Scene + Heard • Ostra Restaurant at Andaz Costa Rica; papagayo.andaz.hyatt.com • Tenorio Volcano National Park + Rio Celeste River; visitcostarica.com • Rio Perdido Thermal Canyon and Springs; rioperdido.com • Witch’s Rock Surf Camp + Volcano Brewing Company; witchsrocksurfcamp.com • Shrimp Hole; shrimphole.com • Papaya Con Leche Boutique; papayaconleche.com


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(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP)The Poro Poro Clubhouse’s signature pericote cocktail; Tamarindo’s surfing obsession; modeling a local swimsuit from Papaya con Leche inside the gorgeous interiors of Jicaro No. 14; outdoor infinity pools and expansive patios at Exclusive Resort’s 17 homes at Peninsula Papagayo are complemented by incredible jungle and ocean views.

EXCLUSIVE RESORTS’ PENINSULA PAPAGAYO, COSTA RICA AUTHENTIC COSTA RICAN CHARM • The 30-acre, $70 million development features 17 expansive, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath, residences, ranging from 3,765 to 4,030 square feet.

A shuttle takes Members to the neighboring Playa Prieta Beach Club, a 38,000-square-foot open-air hideaway with fitness center, large pool, two restaurants, and outdoor learning activities for children.

• Home sites reflect Costa Rica’s natural environment, with dynamic indoor-outdoor living spaces, chef-grade kitchens, and access to the Exclusive Resorts’ Poro Poro Clubhouse, a five-minute golf cart ride away.

Members enjoy breakfast service daily and can dine at the Poro Poro Clubhouse, Playa Prieta, the Four Seasons Resort, or have a private chef cook in-residence.

• Jicaro homes are perched high on the cliffs, while Venado homes are conveniently located near the Poro Poro Clubhouse, nestled in natural foliage. FIVE-STAR AMENITIES Exclusive Resorts’ Poro Poro Clubhouse features an 80-foot infinity pool, 65-seat restaurant led by Executive Chef Nicolas Devenelle, outdoor bar, and private beach access. GO exclusiveresorts.com/peninsula-papagayo

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All in-residence spa services are conducted by Aquam Spa. Or relax at the neighboring 16,000-square-foot spa at the Four Seasons, or the new Onda Spa at the Andaz Resort. Guests have access to an on-site gym at the Poro Poro Clubhouse, the Peninsula Papagayo Tennis Complex and Golf Club, surfing, sailing and scuba diving. Test your swing at the neighboring Arnold Palmer-designed golf course.


(ABOVE) Each 4 bedroom, 4,5 bath residence brings the outdoors in; gourmet kitchens feature plenty of space for dinner parties or private chef dinners.

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As a travel writer who concentrates on top restaurants and of-the-moment destinations, sight-seeing with a child in tow meant still finding the hot new thing while also planning kid-friendly city itineraries. Ondine Cohane learned that, in fact, the two were quite compatible.

Photo By: Letizia Maccarini / Getty Images

europe a family affair


KEY CODE

A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FOR EUROPEAN FAMILY FUN.

london

LONDON SEE Tate Modern tate.org.uk Royal Academy of Arts royalacademy.org.uk The Science Museum sciencemuseum.org.uk Natural History Museum nhm.ac.uk Hyde Park royalparks.org.uk Regent’s Park zsl.org Princess Diana Memorial royalparks.org.uk EAT Borough Market boroughmarket.org.uk London Fields’ Broadway Market broadway market.co.uk Cat & Mutton catandmutton. com River Café rivercafe.co.uk Wolsely thewolseley.com Pizza East pizzaeast.com

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) London’s famed Elizabeth Tower, a.k.a Big Ben; Cat + Mutton dishes tasty pints and a kid’s menu; gooey goods from Pizza East; urban inspired child’s play

London. Paris. Florence. Berlin. Geneva. When contemplating these urban locales, their appeal as family-friendly destinations might not first jump to mind. But as a generation of traveling hipsters navigate destinations with young kids in tow—along with stylish locals who want to be part of a vibrant culture while keeping things child friendly—these cities have become even more appealing for visitors with families. Navigating these destinations with my son, Jacopo, who just turned 6, reveals a deeper layer of experience—a sense of wide-eyed newness and perspective that accentuates the kind of wonder we want to feel while on holiday.

London

London proved a perfect case in point—a city I have visited at least twice a year since my son was born. Rather than creating an unwelcoming environment for children at major museums or chic new restaurants, London’s institutions and eateries have family-friendly elements that introduce kids, at an early age, to art and cuisine. The Tate Modern, for example, is full of families looking for both an art fix and a huge main hall space where children can run (there is usually a cool site-specific installation) or indulge in a menu of free, kid-specific activities. At the recent Ai Weiwei blockbuster exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts, my London friends’ Instagram feeds were filled with cute pictures of their kids moving through various pieces and playing among the Legos that the artist asked them to bring along. Meanwhile, the ground floor of the Science Museum, with its IMAX theater and a flight simulator, provides hours of entertainment for my son, as does the Natural History Museum, with its beloved T-Rex (they even arrange sleepovers). I lived in London for several years while growing up, and have fond

PARIS SEE Jardin de Luxembourg en.parisinfo.com Jardin des Tuileries en.parisinfo.com Bois de Vincennes parisianist.com

memories of feeding the ducks in Hyde Park and going to the zoo at Regent’s Park (founded in 1828, it is the world’s oldest). Now I can take my son to see these spots, too. Britain’s capital is blessed with ample green spaces and kids’ areas. Such playgrounds as the Princess Diana Memorial (based on Peter Pan), with its pirate ship and tepees, raise the bar on how play areas can be creatively conceived. And London’s food scene—almost laughable a decade or so ago—has become one of the most cosmopolitan, and delicious, in the world. The food markets celebrate the incredible ethnic and product diversity that’s now prevalent in the city. I love going to Borough Market with my son and tasting from such vendors as Gelateria 3bis. The London Fields’ Broadway Market is a favorite when visiting friends in North London—the mix of 20-something hipsters hunting for classic vinyl alongside couples with a stroller searching for the perfect cheese melds perfectly. Don’t miss a pint at the Cat & Mutton after; they have a kids’ menu too. I also have happy memories of sunny summer days (yes, they do happen) spent outside at the River Café, which overlooks the Thames, with a crisp glass of white wine and perfectly grilled orata (sea bass) while my son played on the grass. Don’t miss cozy breakfasts and lunches at the Wolsely off Green Park, with its leather banquettes and Viennesestyle hot dogs (I prefer the oyster plate). And Pizza East in Notting Hill is the hot new ticket in town, with yummy mummies and their adorable tots lining up for pizza and avocado on toast.

EAT Boulangerie Pichard parisbymouth.com Fauchon fauchon.com Le Bistro Paul Bert parisbymouth.com Chez Georges bonappetit.com Chateaubriand lechateaubriand.net Frenchie frenchie-restaurant.com Café Deux Magots lesdeuxmagots.fr Angelina angelina-paris.fr

FLORENCE SEE Todo Modo todomodo.org Strozzi Museum palazzostrozzi.org EAT Vivoli vivoli.it Carapina carapina.it Dolce e Dolcezza (Piazza Cesare Beccaria, 8r) Santo Bevitore ilsantobevitore.com

BERLIN SEE Gleisdreieck gruen-berlin.de/ gleisdreieck Vanille & Marille vanille-marille.de/ Griebnitzsee-Station potsdam-per-pedales.com

GENEVA SEE Geneve Plage wake.ch EAT Le Petit Lac lepetitlac.ch

GO Visit our five chic London residences . exclusiveresorts.com/london

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paris

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) Paris’s grande dame, the Eiffel Tower; Cafe Chateaubriand in the City of Light; Jardin des Tuileries's ferris wheel; the gardens of Jardin de Luxembourg; kid-friendly cuisine at Chez George (OPPOSITE) Tables at Top Le Petit Lac; Geneva’s waterfront charm: a scenic Gstaad; Members now have access to La Resere Geneve Park.

Paris

Before traveling to Paris, read Paris to the Moon by the New Yorker’s Adam Gopnik. This beautifully written book about Gopknik’s experience of moving to the City of Light with his young family captures so many aspects of the French capital, as well as the challenges and highlights of living in a new country (and navigating a different language) with little kids. “The romance of your child’s childhood may be the last romance you can give up,” he writes. It is true. In Paris, romance of every kind abounds. Of a romantic sort, yes, but also the idea of discovering the city together between child and parents. Taking my son Jacopo for a pony ride in the Jardin de Luxembourg, for example, watching him gaze up at the Eiffel Tower, eating the perfectly buttery croissant at Boulangerie Pichard or sampling an ice cream at Fauchon reminded me of my luck to be in this sublimely beautiful city, and of the unique opportunity to see it again through a child’s eyes. It’s true that Parisians can sometimes be incredibly rude to travelers. In fact, it’s almost laughable (surely the way I say café au lait can’t be that hard to understand!). But, if you can find humor in it, then you start to see just how many attractions there are for kids here, even if the general citizenry might act like they don’t even register the enfants in tow. Let’s start with the parks: In addition to the Jardin de Luxembourg, with its famous puppet show, carousel, and one of the city’s best playgrounds, the Jardin des Tuileries is an

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absolute favorite. With an action-oriented playground (think hanging ropes and a vertical ladder best suited for 6-year-olds and up), the park also has a carnival area and wonderful Ferris wheel. In the midst of all the activity, parents can contemplate one of the world’s most beautiful gardens. Meanwhile, the Bois de Vincennes is where Parisian families head on sunny summer weekends for a jaunt on one of the rowboats, only 10 euros an hour to rent. I have happy recollections of discovering steak frites with my parents at a little brasserie tucked away in the 5th arrondissement. At the time I thought, this is where real French fries are from! When we take Jacopo to dine out— even top restaurants have well-priced set menus, particularly at lunch—we take him to spots like Le Bistro Paul Bert and Chez Georges. When we have a babysitter, it’s Chateaubriand or Frenchie, if we can get a hard-to-secure reservation (luckily they have a to-go option now, too). And we never miss a family breakfast at Café Deux Magots and a hot chocolate at Angelina.

GO Our expanded portfolio now incudes five new Paris residences. exclusiveresorts.com/paris


Paris: iStock.com/Pyrosky, Ferris wheel: iStock.com/sunnycircle, Geneva: iStock.com/VYCHEGZHANINA, Luxembourg Garden: iStock.com/Vitaly Edush, Gstaad: iStock.com/vorasak

GENEVA

Geneva

Arguably not as hip as London and Berlin, Geneva remains a family-friendly destination. One of the city’s most fun activities is a wakeboard lesson from Geneve Plage. Test your skills at the iconic Wake Board Centre, which offers excellent summer camps. Another outdoorsy must is a hike on Mont-Saleve. If in the mood for the more leisurely five-minute gondola ride, once at the top, walk, mountain bike, and have lunch at the summit, taking in the spectacular views of Geneva below. Free city bikes are provided in Geneva; circle the city’s legendary lake, stopping for fish at one of the lakeside restaurants— the local “filets de perches” (perch fillets) and crispy French fries are a must at spots like Le Petit Lac. And if you have time for a side trip, the train ride to Gstaad is one of the world’s most beautiful routes. GO Members can now book stays at the La Reserve in Geneva. lareserve.ch/fr/

TYKES + DOLOMITES? MOST DEFINITELY… Tucked into the upper corner of a country notoriously packed with beautiful and well-trodden sights, the Italian Alps region known as the Dolomites somehow manages to stay just off Italy’s mass tourism radar. It’s hard to believe, considering the spectacular offerings: snow-capped mountains resembling Lord of the Rings backdrops, Bavarian-style villages plucked from fairy tales and some of the most innovative cuisine in a country that prides itself on knowing how to eat. Less known is how family friendly it is, especially for active kids. Straddling the area above Venice and Milan, beneath some of the most photogenic and diverse mountains in the world, the area is an incredible summer hiking and biking spot and a winter wonderland in colder months. The particular mix of old and new, high and unassuming, traditional and surprisingly modern, makes the Dolomites one of the globe’s most compelling and family-fun destinations. Connecting the quartz-filled rugged mountain passes is a series of hiking trails and ski runs along the vast Dolomite ski network, which stretches more than 850 miles. Wood huts, or rifugi, are distinctly alpine country restaurants (often with simple rooms to sleep), serving hearty and remarkably delicious and locally sourced ingredients, including such Michelin-starred restaurants as St. Hubertus in the Rosa Alpina hotel. Pretty villages abound, including San Cassiano. Anchored by a slender-towered church and ringed by orchards and pastureland, it’s one of the most picturesque, while Cortina d’ Ampezzo—once host to the Winter Olympics—celebrates the area’s glitzier side. GO visit exclusiveresorts.com/the-dolomites CURATED

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(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) Berlin’s inspired architecture; wheels of choice; kid-friendly Kolle 37 park; Berlin’s hipster scene; Vanille & Marille’s cream of the crop (OPPOSITE) Florence’s Todo Modo bookstore; the commanding Duomo; downtown’s Piazza della Repubblica; new Exclusive Resorts residence in Florence; the scrumptious Santo Bevitore restaurant.

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin has recently become one of Europe’s most dynamic and avant-garde cities, packed with contemporary art galleries and cutting-edge architecture, bustling bars, and a thriving underground music scene. Less well known, however, is how kid-friendly the German capital has become. Musicians, artists, and trendsetters have growing families, and neighborhoods like Prenzlauerberg are magnets for young hipster families with lots of jolly “Kindercafes,” playgrounds and beer gardens full with adjacent play areas. Kollwitzplatz and Helmholtzplatz are two other kiddie epicenters, specifically because these squares have playgrounds in the middle, so parents can alternate hanging out with the kids while the other wanders the square’s shops and cafes. Also near Kollwitzplatz is a wonderful space for young children—an oversized sandpit that has cages of cute bunnies, too. And for active types, “adventure parks” like Kolle 37, are all the rage, though it should be noted that some design aspects might cause more risk-adverse parents to adopt Germany’s laissez-faire attitude. The coolest new park debut is the Gleisdreieck, a former railway area abandoned after World War II that’s been reinvented into a sprawling green space full of playgrounds, a skate park, and areas designated for soccer and basketball. Treat the family to a delicious ice cream cone at nearby Vanille & Marille, a popular, all organic shop. One of the best ways to see the city, especially Potsdam, is by bike. Rent one at Griebnitzsee-Station. They also provide maps, kids bikes, child seats, and locks. GO Stay at our new Berlin retreat. exclusiveresorts.com/berlin

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SEABOURN CRUISE The Baltic and St. Petersburg DATES: July 14-22, 2017 DAYS: 8 nights, 9 days

Explore the jewels of northern Europe

GO

with a custom-designed itinerary during the optimal time of year to sail the Baltic Sea. An Exclusive Resortsonly itinerary includes overnights in

Copenhagen, Stockholm, and St. Petersburg. Explore opulent Russian palaces or dine on Seabourn’s touted cuisine. The Seabourn Quest is ideal for travelers who avoid typical cruises—the ship is intimate and ultra-luxurious; suites are large but the ports of call are not. Sight-see in top cities, sample fine wines with a dedicated sommelier, and lasso Instagram envy, thanks to tips via an on-board professional photographer.

GO visit exclusiveresorts.com/baltic-cruise-2017


florence

Florence

Italy is one of the most child-friendly countries on the planet. Kids are not just tolerated, they are completely doted upon. A decade ago, we moved to a small hill town in Tuscany, and my son’s life is idyllic (mine’s not so bad, either) because of how beloved children are in this culture. With that as a backdrop, cities like Florence—jam-packed with art and great food—are not just for adults, but wonderful destinations for families. Even if you have ridden carousels a plenty, the one in Florence’s Piazza della Reppublica stands out—a centuries-old icon known as La Giostra that hosts Italian and visiting bambinos. Watching the antique painted horses circle past the Renaissance buildings is simply perfect. The combination of pasta, pizza, and gelato (the sweet cold treat was invented in this city) means a tantrum distraction is always nearby. For ice-cream diversions, Vivoli is still a frontrunner, as is Carapina, a delicious gelatomaker that has an outpost near the Ponte Vecchio. I’m also in love with a place called Dolce e Dolcezza. Not only does it have wonderful espresso in an Art Deco setting, but also it serves fresh bombolone, an Italian doughnut filled with fresh whipped cream. Unmissable. Food wise, Florence is one of my favorite eating spots in Italy. There are plenty of local trattorias that don’t break the bank, have excellent food, and won’t

turn up their noses if you ask for a plate of pasta with oil and cheese for your little one. Case in point is Santo Bevitore, a wonderful restaurant where fashion designers frequent, but where the service and atmosphere remains warm. A bustling convivial vibe means that any outbursts go virtually unnoticed, and kids receive special attention here. Additionally, there are a number of spots that provide a little oasis when the pleasure of church visits or Renaissance masterpieces wear thin. The year-old Todo Modo, located close to the gorgeous piazza of Santa Maria Novella, is one of the most well-curated bookshops in Florence (with an impressive selection of books in English and guides to the city) and also stages theater performances. It’s chic café lures well-heeled locals who sip on fresh juices and local cheese-and-sausage plates while discussing the latest literary sensation. Best of all, however, is the large assortment of kids books and toys. Same goes for the bookshop at the Strozzi Museum. One parent can take in the excellent exhibits while the other looks at interactive games and books with junior. There are also impressive guided tours for children. GO Discover the culture of Florence. exclusiveresorts.com/florence

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WILD

at HEART National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, and writer Peter McBride recently trekked nearly 700 miles through the Grand Canyon to document the hidden wilderness between the rim and the river. Yet this water warrior has been the Lorax of the wilderness for decades, traveling to far-flung locales in search of water and play. In this exclusive photo essay, McBride captures the transcendental power of the world’s most majestic arteries, which ultimately connect us all. PHOTOGRAPHY AND NARRATIVE BY PETER MCBRIDE


“This is one of my favorite photos of the Grand Canyon because I shot this with my father, who was piloting a single-engine Cessna. He introduced me to aerial photography.”

“Wilderness is not a luxury, it is a necessity to the human spirit,”

stated Edward Abbey decades ago. Since the passing of this famous western American rabble-rouser, I’d add “survival” to the end of his line, which is touted among conservationists. The reason is simple. Those wild places on the map, the far-flung locales that often look black from outer space because the web of lights and roads haven’t infiltrated them yet, frequently create and sustain the magic ingredient for our survival: water.


Having recently walked hundreds of miles through one of America’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Grand Canyon, while on assignment for National Geographic, I’ve forged a new appreciation for the lifeblood that shapes our world and our bodies: water. And fresh water, particularly in the West, is most readily seen, enjoyed, and exploited in our rivers.

They are the arteries of our planet, yet so often ignored.

The Colorado River, as one example, no longer reaches the sea. Period. It dries up 100 miles north at the U.S.-Mexican border. Amazingly, this architect of the Grand Canyon ends in a whimper today—long before it kisses the sea—a beautiful dance it had previously claimed for more than five million years.

A river runs through it Visit exclusiveresorts.com/Grand-Canyon-Rafting


The Colorado “Running 1,450 miles across seven states and two countries, the Colorado River sustains not only nine national parks—those wild places adored by millions—but it also sources America’s salad bowl and is the foundation to a $26 billion recreation economy (named ‘the hardest working river in America’ on the Forbes Top 200 list). While many say this river, dubbed the American Nile, is the most loved, it is also the most litigated, thus forcing it to run dry before the ocean.” -raisetheriver.org; grandcanyontrust.org


I’ve become enamored by wild places around the globe and the water sources that feed them. My expeditions, Having witnessed this shocking reality firsthand,

assignments, and curiosity have taken me from my backyard in Colorado to Africa’s Nile, India’s Ganges and even to our majestic frozen desert of the south, Antarctica, which stores the vast majority of the planet’s fresh water.

Polar express Visit exclusiveresorts/linblad-antarctica


Antarctic Peninsula “The frozen world at the bottom of our globe is a kaleidoscope of hues, where you can glimpse every shade of white. It’s also our home’s cistern, storing over 60 percent of the world’s freshwater supply, neatly locked in the world’s largest ice sheet. As water shortages creep through more corners of the world, many are looking to Antarctica for solutions (some even proposing dragging icebergs north), but the logistical hurdles always point to a better solution: conserving what we have already, in our lakes and rivers.” -asoc.org; nationalgeographic.com


Unfortunately, the wild places around these flowing arteries are changing as rapidly as the rivers themselves. So the next you happen upon a river while traveling—whether in the wild or crossing one while motoring along a freeway—remember to slow down, take a look, and perhaps think about how we can tackle this issue together.

As Abbey reminds us, your spirit

could use a healthy view. That lifeline is critical to survival.

Cultural connection Visit exclusiveresorts.com/India


The Ganges “Considered a fluid representation of the divine by one billion Hindu, the Ganges is the world’s most sacred river. Yet it’s also one of the most contaminated, as 500 million people depend on it for survival and prayer. As more look to this 1,500-mile-long river—one that plummets four vertical miles across northern India, draining much of the Himalaya—for sustenance and spirituality, it may require more than prayer to endure what is asked of it.” -moef.nic.in; cseindia.org


Africa’s Botswana + Okavango Delta “From the arid hills of Kenya to the sprawling Okavango Delta in Botswana, water continues to shape cultures, wildlife, and landscapes. Yet its patterns are changing. For centuries, Mt. Kenya’s glaciers have naturally stored and released water supplies for Kenyan tribes, but nearly all 16 glaciers have receded and vanished, creating unpredictable flood and drought patterns downstream. The same ripple affects are appearing in other countries like Botswana, disrupting wildlife patterns and wilderness regions on many levels.” -lewa.org

Wilderness wanderlust? Visit exclusiveresorts.com/botswana-2017



A PERFECT

10 A TRIED-AND-TRENDING HIT LIST OF WHERE TO GO NEXT

It’s a great big world out there, so let us jumpstart your wanderlust with the experiences we deem most travel worthy. We’ve curated the foods to taste, wines to sip, people to meet, photos to snap, and the adventures you’ll talk about for years to come. From a float trip down one of Montana’s legendary fly-fishing rivers to a food crawl in Spain, these destinations guarantee Instagram-worthy moments that will leave friends with serious travel envy. BY JEN MURPHY


5 WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins, founder and director of the Expedition Photography program for Lindblad Expedition and National Geographic, shares secrets for capturing magazineworthy wilderness and wildlife photos. (Hopkins will be joining ER's Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey to the Galapagos in September 2016). 1. GET UP EARLY + STAY OUT LATE Most birds and animals are active early and late in the day. No matter where you are in the world, waking up the with sun or taking a walk at sunset with your camera will offer opportunities for pictures of local wildlife. 2. ZOOM TO GET CLOSE If you shoot with the big guns, like a digital SLR, consider a lens that zooms out to 300mm or 400mm. For something less expensive and lighter weight, consider one of the popular “Super-Zoom” cameras, like the Canon® PowerShot SX60, that have amazing range from wide-angle (21mm) to supertelephoto (1365 mm).

ARCTIC SVALBARD

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iStock.com

TAKE A NEW WILDLIFE SAFARI

Most people think an African safari is the ultimate wildlife experience. Yet they haven’t been to the Arctic. Svalbard, located far off the coast of Norway in the Arctic Circle, is the best place on the planet to view polar bears in their natural habitat. One of the Club's new Adventure offerings and held in partnership with ER and Linblad Expeditions, this trip features the ultimate in animal discovery. Lindblad Expeditions has been cruising this region for more than 30 years, and the ship’s team of naturalists typically see more than 150 bears a season. Guests can spot them hunting for seals or playing with cubs right off the deck of Lindblad’s148-passenger National Geographic Explorer. For a closer encounter, Zodiacs replace Jeeps for wildlife tracking adventures. Naturalists steer around icebergs in search of walrus, reindeer, the elusive arctic fox, and polar bears sunning on ice packs. Kayaks allow Members a water-level view of sea life, including fur seals, or they can paddle ashore and hike in the footsteps of polar explorers, passing remnants of trapper’s huts and whale bones. A photography instructor provides tips throughout the trip, ensuring your Facebook feed will look straight out of the pages of National Geographic.

3. USE BURST MODE Everyone wants that close up portrait of wildlife. However, the most engaging images are the ones that capture interaction between animals. Your chances for capturing the action will improve if you set your camera to burst mode, so that it will fire a fast series of shots when you press and hold the shutter button. 4. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE PHONE CAMERA Your iPhone® can capture great photos or videos of animals and their habitat. Use the panoramic function to capture a sense of place, like a sweeping view. Show wildlife in motion with a short video and keep it under 30 seconds so you don’t have to edit later. 5. BE IN THE MOMENT The photographer’s mantra is “Light, Composition, Moment,” but it’s the moment that trumps all. By being in the moment, the quest for making images enhances your travel experience.

ADVENTURE Experience ER’s 2017 Lindblad cruise to the Arctic. exclusiveresorts.com/lindblad-the-arctic CURATED

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Nashville's Top Tables Taste your way through the city’s classic and hot new restaurants.

THE CATBIRD SEAT A 22-seat, chef-driven restaurant that reinvents Southern classics with modern twists. Reserve well in advance. 1711 Division St., 615.810.8200; thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com

NASHVILLE EAT NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN AT PRINCE’S Nashville is one of America’s most buzzed about food cities, sharing top billing with Portland, Chicago, and New York. Nashville Hot Chicken, the dish that defines the city, is fast becoming a national phenomenon. The fiery fried chicken is so beloved that Nashville’s former mayor, Bill Purcell, started the annual Music City Chicken Festival to celebrate the dish. Dozens of hot chicken joints can be found throughout Nashville, but the original hot chicken experience can only be had at Prince’s Hot Chicken

Shack. Despite its dodgy location next to a nail salon in a nondescript strip mall in north Nashville, food pilgrims from around the globe make the trek to wait in line (and you will wait) at the holy grail of Nashville’s famed bird. Heat levels range from mild (advisable) to extra-hot (suicidal), and the chicken comes served with two slices of squishy white bread and kryptonite-green crinkled pickles. Your eyes will water, your brow will sweat, but something in the cayenne-spice mix makes you keep eating. 123 Ewing Dr., Nashville; 615.226.9942.

ARNOLD’S COUNTRY KITCHEN This no-frills Nashville institution has been serving home cooked “meat-n-three” platters for more than 30 years. 605 8th Ave. S., 615.256.4455, arnoldscountrykitchen.com HATTIE B’S HOT CHICKEN A tamer introduction to Nashville’s specialty dish, Hattie B’s offers five heat levels ranging from mild to shut the cluck up, plus local brews and homey sides like pimento-studded mac 'n cheese. 112 19th Ave. S., 615.678.4794; hattieb.com

RIGHT (PRINCES CHICKEN): Courtesty of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack

CITY HOUSE Chef Tandy Wilson’s menu has a distinctly Southern flavor, with inventive dishes like sour corn cake and white beans and catfish and grits with chard. 1222 4th Ave N., 615.726.5838; cityhousenashville.com

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ESCAPE Let ER show you the best of Nashville on a three-night Escape to music city with stops at the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. exclusiveresorts.com/nashville

24 HOURS IN MARFA STAY: An iconic, silver, 28-foot Airstream trailer—a mid-centurymodern capsule of cool that has been eliciting envy on American highways and parks since 1936. These hip trailers get hauled by GMC Yukon Denalis, luxury SUVs with seating for up to eight. Welcome to camping in style.

DRINK: DO YOUR THING Third-wave coffee served drip, pourover, or cold brew-style. 201 E. Dallas St.; doyourthing.us DO: BALLROOM MARFA Housed in a converted dance hall that dates to 1927, this nonprofit includes two galleries plus a 6,000-squarefoot courtyard showcasing local and international artists. 108 E. San Antonio St.; ballroommarfa.org SOUVENIR: FREDA Funky concept shop selling jewelry, art, prints, and accessories from Marfabased artists and artisans. 207 S. Highland Ave.; shop-freda.com

MARFA

TAKE A PRIVATE SUNRISE TOUR OF DONALD JUDD’S CHINATI FOUNDATION Marfa may seem like an unlikely stop on the art world circuit, but this tiny west Texas cultural hub was named the New York Times’ “52 Places to Go in 2016” list and is often talked about in the same sentences as Basel and Berlin. The late minimalist artist Donald Judd is largely responsible for putting the town of less than 2,000 people on the art map. In 1971, Judd loaded his truck

with art and drove from New York City to dusty Marfa, where he created huge, permanent outdoor installations in the high plains of the Chihuahua Desert. The artist gradually purchased 15 buildings, converting them to studios, libraries, and a residence. His most touted legacy may be the Chinati Foundation, a 340-acre contemporary art center comprised of 15 buildings.

The collection includes works by such artists as Dan Flavin, Richard Long, John Chamberlain and Judd. To truly experience the relationship between light, land, art and architecture, book a two-hour sunrise tour of Judd’s untitled installation of 100 aluminum boxes and 15 works in concrete—the pieces most affected by the light at varying times of day.

ADVENTURE E R’s e i g h t - d a y Te x a s T w o S te p t r i p w i t h Ai r s t r e a m 2 G o i n c l u d e s s to p s to v i s i t M a r fa’s a r t i s ts i n r e s i d e n c e . V i s i t p a g e 1 2 3 .

MARFA LEFT: Photo by Ann Collier, Photo and Art © Judd Foundation. Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

EAT: COCHINEAL This intimate, 30-seat restaurant also has an expansive courtyard. The nouveau Texas-inspired menu includes hits like chilaquiles and date pudding. 107 West San Antonio; cochinealmarfa.com


5 ESSENTIAL SRI LANKA EXPERIENCES Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as the finest island of its size in the world. Here are five natural and cultural wonders that continue to seduce travelers. 1. Visit DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its massive mural paintings and distinctive sculptures. 2. Sri Pada, known as the SACRED FOOTPRINT, is a rock formation near the summit of Adam’s Peak, which legend claims Buddha himself left. For thousands of years, pilgrims have trekked up the 5,000-step footpath to view the mysterious print.

SRI LANKA iStock.com/Meinzahn

STAY AT A TEA ESTATE

Sri Lanka has emerged from its civil war as one of the hottest travel destinations of 2016. Many tourists flock to the coast, but the hill country interiors provide a glimpse of the country’s colonial past and a stunning backdrop for trekking and biking. Ceylon Tea Trails, the country’s first Relais & Chateaux resort, has four colonial-era tea planter’s bungalows spread across Sri Lanka’s highaltitude tea region between Hatton and Castlereagh. Guests can choose to stay at one specific bungalow or bungalow-hop along the Tea Trail. Mornings start when your butler arrives with bedside tea service. During the day, visit a century-old tea factory, watch tea pluckers harvest buds, and partake in a tasting of different grades of Ceylon’s famed black brew. After navigating manicured tea gardens, soak in a green tea-infused bath at the spa, then indulge in a multi-course meal that might include mint tea-crusted lamb rump with grilled herb polenta.

3. THE GATHERING, an annual migration of hundreds of elephants to the ancient reservoir on the shores of Minneriya National Park. 4. The UNESCO World Heritage site, GALLE FORT, is one of the best-preserved examples of 17th-century colonial fortifications in the world. 5. REKAWA BEACH, on the uncrowded stretch of coast along the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka, welcomes hawksbill, green and leatherback turtles from April to September.

JOURNEY In 2017, ER will be offering a nine-night trip to Sri Lanka as part of its Experience Collection. Visit page 118.

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BEACH CRAWL Just 36 square miles, Nevis is one of the Caribbean’s smaller islands. But you won’t have any trouble finding an unspoiled stretch of sand. LOVER’S BEACH. This mile-long secluded beach offers loads of privacy and views of neighboring St. Kitts. NISBET BEACH. A palmlined stretch of white sand ideal for swimming and sunbathing. CADE’S BAY BEACH. Powder-soft sand beach with fast-breaking waves and views of Nevis Peak. PINNEY’S. The island’s most famous beach is beloved for its smooth, sugar-white sands and calm, shallow waters.

NEVIS

SCUBA DIVE SHIPWRECKS With 40 dive sites located 20 to 45 minutes from shore, Nevis is a diving paradise. One of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, this tiny island lies about two miles southeast of St. Kitts, across a shallow channel called The Narrows. Diving is diverse, with caves, mini-walls, ledges and deep holes teeming with tropical fish. The area is perhaps best known for its wrecks. More than 400 ships sank in the Narrows between 1493 and 1825. The HMS Solebay wrecked on the southwest coast of Nevis in 1782 during the Battle of Frigate Bay. Today, the remains, including encrusted cannons and large anchors, are scattered across the sandy bedrock off the coast of Charlestown. More recently, the MV River Taw, a 144-foot freighter, sank off the lee shores of St. Kitts in 1981. Divers can swim around the coral-encrusted wreck, which now houses angelfish, yellowtail snappers, squirrel fish, rays, and if you look closely, sea horses.

Escape to one of the Club’s new four-bedroom villas at Paradise Beach, Nevis—the latest destination to join the Club’s Residence Collection. exclusiveresorts.com/nevis 112STAY SPRING+SUMMER 2016 CURATED

iStock.com/Predrag Vuckovic

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OUALIE. A lively beach bar and restaurant make this a Nevis hotspot. Beach chairs and hammocks line the sand and palms offer natural shade.


Not-to-Miss Museums

LEFT: Courtesty of Astelena; RIGHT: Photo Courtesy of A Fuego Nero

San Sebastian’s culinary scene hogs the spotlight, but there’s a reason the city was named the 2016 European Capital of Culture.

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SAN TELMO MUSEUM The oldest museum in the Basque country is housed in a former convent and showcases a collection of sculptures, photography, funerary art, and paintings dating back to the early 19th century. Plaza Zuloaga, 1, Donostia, +34 943 48 15 80; santelmomuseoa.com

San SEBASTIAN

TAKE A TXIKITE—BASQUE FOR PINXTO BAR CRAWL San Sebastian is a culinary mecca. International super foodies flock here to dine at such gastronomic temples as Mugartiz and Arzak. But, if you want to eat like a local, head to the city’s pintxos bars. The Basque region’s famous bite-size tapas are served in humble bars throughout the city. The simple dish started out as a small piece of baguette topped with ingredients like anchovies and prawn and held together by a pinxto (spike). Parte Vieja, or Old Town, is home to a cluster of both

traditional and more inventive pintxos bars. Taste the local culture on an eating crawl, starting at Gandarias, an excellent introduction to old-school pinxtos with dishes like skewered grilled baby squid dressed in squid ink. Borda Berri’s chalkboard menu lists more modern takes on traditional pinxtos, like salted cod tacos. Make A Fuego Nero your last stop and order the pear and kalimotxo dessert, which reimagines the low-brow local cocktail of red wine and Coca-Cola.

THE CRISTÓBAL BALENCIAGA MUSEUM The master couturier was born just west of San Sebastian in the small town of Getaria. His hometown paid tribute to him by opening a museum, which holds some of his most iconic collections. Aldamar Parkea, 6, Getaria, +34 943 00 88 40; cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, BILBAO The avant-garde exterior of starchitect Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim outpost is enough to justify the 45-minute journey to Bilbao. Dedicate half a day to explore the collection, which focuses on postwar painting and sculpture in America and Europe. Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, Bilbao, +34 944 35 90 00; guggenheim-bilbao.es

STAY ER's 3- bedroom Casa del Carousel is ideally located near the city’s pinxto (Basque tapas) culture. exclusiveresorts.com/san-sebastian

SCOTLAND OUTDOOR MAVERICKS The exclusive Eden Club at Pittormie Castle in St. Andrews, Scotland, features distinctly Scottish experiences. 1. FALCONRY. The ancient art of hunting with birds of prey has deep roots in the Scottish Highlands. The Eden Club’s falconers pair Members with a peregrine falco, and then outfit them with gauntlets—large gloves that protect their hands from the birds’ talons— prior to hunting excursions in pristine valleys. 2. DEER STALKING. Channel your inner outdoorsman on a deer stalking adventure. A resident gillie, or stalker, accompanies Members as they seek out wild deer in the surrounding lowlands. 3. WHISKY TASTING. The head butler at Pittormie Castle doubles as a whisky expert and hosts private tastings by reservation.

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TEST YOUR GOLF GAME AT ST ANDREWS’ NEWLY RENOVATED HELL BUNKER

Known as the birthplace of golf, St. Andrews, Scotland, is the dream destination for golfers and boasts seven courses (with nearly 40 more just a short drive away). The Old Course at St. Andrews is indeed one of the oldest courses in the world, and tops the golf-fanatic bucket list. Follow in the footsteps of legends that have played this par 72 green. Of the course’s 112 bunkers, Hell Bunker on the 14th hole is one of its most iconic landmarks. It’s also the biggest bunker on the course, covering more than 300 square yards and sinking 6 1/2 feet deep. It’s captured the balls of many legendary golfers, among them Jack Nicklaus, who made a quintuple-bogey 10 on the hole during the 2000 Open Championship. The menacing bunker received a major facelift in 2015 in anticipation of last year’s return of the Open Championship. A new floor was covered with 60 tons of sand and less clay to aid in drainage. It also now features a state-of-the-art TV camera. The Eden Club’s expert golf concierge can set up tee times or arrange private instruction at the famed St. Andrews Links Golf Academy.

STAY T h e C l u b's f i v e , t w o - b e d r o o m r e s i d e n c e s a r e l o c a te d o n t h e h i s to r i c g r o u n d s o f P i tto r m i e C a s tl e a t t h e E d e n C l u b. e xc l u s i ve r e s o r t s . c o m /s t - a n d r e w s


New Zealander BRAD BUTTERWORTH is one of the winningest yachtsmen in America’s Cup history. Here he shares highlights from his esteemed sailing career. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO SAILING? Sailing is a sport you grow up with in New Zealand, just like rugby, cricket, and soccer. I started sailing at age 6 and loved the interaction with the elements.

New ZEALAND

SAIL AN AMERICA’S CUP BOAT IN AUCKLAND Sailing rivals rugby as the national pastime in New Zealand. Worldwide, Kiwis have forged a formidable reputation as skilled yachtsmen. Their track record in the America’s Cup, the world’s foremost yachting regatta and oldest trophy in sporting, underscores their domination at sea. The inner circle of the America’s Cup has long been elite athletes, talented navigators, and billionaire yacht owners, but now, mere mortals have a

chance to feel the thrill of flying atop the water in an authentic America’s Cup yacht. Find out what it takes to navigate one of these impressive race yachts during a two-hour sailing trip around Auckland Harbour. Members get to participate as crew, taking the helm and cranking grinders with the help of experienced sailors. Not only will you get a taste of New Zealand’s yachting culture, but you’ll enjoy top city views from the deck of the boat.

YOU’RE CONSIDERED ONE OF SAILING’S GREATS. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE RACE? Winning, and defending, the America’s Cup title with both Team New Zealand in 2000 and Alinghi in 2007. It was a dream come true for New Zealand. For the first time it was a real team effort from shore team to administration to boat builders and sailors. DURING THE LAST AMERICA’S CUP IN SAN FRANCISCO IN 2013 THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT MAKING THE SPORT MORE SPECTATOR FRIENDLY. DO YOU AGREE? It’s a great idea to make sailing more spectator friendly, but the America’s Cup should be the pinnacle of the sport and should have no real boundaries other than some rules on the boats that keep it fair. You don’t want the event looking like any other beach regatta.

Photo By Ronnie Macdonald

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WHAT’S THE PHYSICALITY INVOLVED IN SAILING? When the Cup was sailed in monohull ships, the crews were quite static in their positions. Now the sport is raced in multihull ships—the crews are moving 60 feet from side to side. I see the crews doing more weight training and getting fitter than ever before.

JOURNEY ER's adventure-filled nine-day Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey through NZ kicks off with a sailing experience in Auckland Harbour. Visit page 119.

TOP 3 WINERIES One of the world’s premier wine regions, Burgundy is dotted with castle-like châteaus, and it’s not uncommon for the winemaker to still greet you at the door. 1. DOMAINE JOSEPH DROUHIN, BEAUNE. This storied producer has been making terroir-driven pinot noir and chardonnay since 1880. 2. CHÂTEAU DE CHAMIREY, MERCUREY. Built in the 17th century, this gorgeous château recently added a new visitor center and tasting room. Tours can be complemented with a wine-paired lunch. 3. DOMAIN DROUHIN-LAROZE, GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN. Anchored by a 19th-century manor house, the 28-acre, family-run estate is known for its impressive line-up of grand cru holdings.

TOUR THE LEGENDARY CHÂTEAU DE POMMARD

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One of Burgundy’s most fairytale-like château, this 18th-century estate is considered a jewel of French heritage. The original château was built in the Regency style in 1726 by the secretary to King Louis XV, and hosted such famous guests as Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1802, a second empire-style château built from pink stone was added to the grounds. It’s easy to spend the better part of a day wandering the beautifully manicured gardens and buildings, including the old kitchen with its roasting spit and collection of copper pots. The estate’s farming and winemaking facilities now house a Wine and Vine Museum, filled with old winemaking equipment including an old wooden hooped wine vat and an enormous wine press that required the strength of 10 men. Yet not everything is historic. A contemporary art gallery has been added to the grounds and displays works by sculptor Christian Lapie and photographer Peter Lippmann. No tour would be complete without a tasting. The stone cellars of Château de Pommard hold 600 oak barrels stamped with the coat of arms of the Château as well as 300,000 bottles of its prized juice. Breathe in the smell of fermenting grapes as you explore the labyrinth of wine, then follow a wine advisor to a tasting room to sample the Grands Vins of Château de Pommard. The staff can arrange for bottles or cases of your favorite varietals to be shipped back home—the ultimate wine country souvenir.

ADVENTURE The Club's new Adventure through Burgundy, France, invites Members to explore one of the world's most famous wine regions aboard their own private barge. Visit page 125.

GRAPES: Courtesty of Domaine Joseph Drouhin, Beaune; CHÂTEAU DE POMMARD: Photo Courtesy of chateaudepommard.com

BURGUNDY


ADVENTURE CHECK LIST Big Sky Country offers endless opportunities for outdoor fun, from rafting to wrangling. 1. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the national parks. The Ranch at Rock Creek offers a bird’seye view of the iconic wilderness during a helicopter adventure above Yellowstone. 2. Whitewater raft the Class 3 rapids of the beautiful Clark Fork River, one of Montana’s biggest waterways. 3. Kayak the East Fork Reservoir and spot wildlife along the shore. 4. Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl and learn to wrangle, rope, and barrel race during an arena-riding lesson. 5. Recreate an authentic Montana bow-hunting experience at the Ranch’s hillside 3-D archery course.

iStock.com/alacatr

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MONTANA FISH THE BIG BLACKFOOT, FEATURED IN A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

Montana’s rivers lure avid anglers from around the globe with their rainbow, cutthroat, and bull trout. As such, the Ranch at Rock Creek, a luxury dude ranch in Philipsburg, Montana, is considered one of North America’s top fly-fishing destinations. The ranch claims four miles of private access, Blue Ribbon-certified waters stocked with seven species of fish, plus some of the country’s top guides, including fish whisperer Patrick Little. Stellar fishing experiences are just steps from your cabin, and the on-site Rod & Gun Club outfits guests with top-of-the-line waders, reels, and rods. Cast one of the five stocked ponds, take a float trip on Rock Creek, or experience a full-day, guided float trip along the fabled Bitterroot, Blackfoot, and upper Clark Fork rivers. The Big Blackfoot, located two hours northwest of the Ranch, had a starring role in A River Runs Through It. The Ranch’s 11-mile trip winds through the Box Canyon to Russell Gates, a particularly scenic section loaded with whopper trout.

ADVENTURE Escape to The Ranch at Rock Creek for a six-day all-inclusive experience that the whole family will enjoy. Visit page 128.

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W E ’ R E C R E AT I N G A

TRIBE with an entrepreneurial

vibe We share our rather lovely collections in partnership with entrepreneurial women who are not kidding around. We call them Ambassadors and together we are building something extraordinary.

H E A R O U R S T O R Y | W W W. I N D I A H I C K S . C O M / J O I N

SHOP www.indiahicks.com/rep/elizabethkellick

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+ JUST BACK FROM >> EXCLUSIVE RESORTS MEMBERS GIVE A PLAY-BY-PLAY OF INSPIRED VACATIONS

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEYS ADVENTURES + ESCAPES

119 An aerial view of the golf course at Cape Kidnappers, one of the many places Members will visit on the Club’s 8-night Once-in-aLifetime Journey to New Zealand in 2017.

What’s New at The Club

With more than 50 offerings in our Experience Collection—an expanded and playful portfolio of Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys, Member Events, Adventures and Escapes—globe-trotting with Exclusive Resorts, whether in search of bucket-list bragging rights or a quick city fix, has been taken to a whole new level. What’s on your travel hit list? Let us lead the way...

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> 2017 Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys

Sri Lanka

An emerging destination in world travel, the small island country of Sri Lanka offers an amazing range of experiences in close proximity. Explore ancient Buddhist archaeological sites, colonial tea plantations, wildlife sanctuaries, and age-old cities. Discover this lush land, where elephants roam freely, birding is a national pastime, and an awareness of our place in the environment pervades all aspects of life. ON THE ITINERARY* 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1-2: Arrival to Colombo. Welcome reception at the Wallawwa hotel. DAY 3-4: Travel to Sigirya and stay at the Jetwing Vil Uyana hotel. Over the next two days discover the Sigiriya rock fortress and Dambulla caves. Take a Minneriya elephant safari, visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and experience a sacred puja ceremony with traditional dress and customs. DAY 5-7: Take a majestic flight from Sigirya to Castlereigh Lake in Hatton and stay at the beautiful Ceylon Tea Estate. Experience Tea Trails estate bungalows and visit an inspiring local Teat Trust NGO school. Via a guide, experience a local tea plantation and explore a Hatton factory. DAY 8-9: Uncover the wonders of Weligama, with Cape Weligama Resort as your base. Lounge by the beach, dine on local seafood, visit the wondrous Galle Fort, and take a Sri Lankan spice cooking demonstration. DAY 10: Return to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, and also home to government and the nation’s major port. Enjoy a farewell event before returning home.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/sri-lanka-2017

COLOMBO > THE WALLAWWA HOTEL > SIGIRYA > CASTLEREIGH LAKE > CEYLON TEA ESTATE > WELIGAMA

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New Zealand

New Zealand has long topped any traveler’s wish list, given its abundance of

outdoor adventure and local cuisine and culture. Visit famous wineries, discover the world’s largest gannet colony, and take a private helicopter over Lake Wakatipu while glimpsing the rugged southern Alps.

ON THE ITINERARY* 9 DAYS/8 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1: Arrive Auckland. Stay at the SkyCity Grand Hotel, which features Auckland’s iconic Sky Tower. Then take the Auckland America’s Sailing Experience, where you’ll sail an America’s Cup 12-meter boat. Post sail; dine at Soul Bar & Bistro. DAY 2: Auckland and Waiheke Island. Visit Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant for a gourmet lunch and views of Auckland and Rangitoto Island. Then join Ecozip for a zipline adventure and return to Auckland by private helicopter. DAY 3: Fly Auckland to Napier. Spend two nights at Cape Kidnappers, a farm-inspired resort atop 6,000 rolling acres in Hawke’s Bay. Glimpse 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean and visit Elephant Hill Winery and Restaurant. DAY 4: Cape Kidnappers and Hawkes Bay Sightseeing. Choose from golf at Cape Kidnappers, join Gannet Safaris Overland to visit the world’s largest gannet colony, or unwind at Cape Kidnappers Spa. Meet a Maori elder and experience the unique Maori culture. DAY 5: Napier to Queenstown. Spend four nights at The Spire Queenstown, where you’ll dine at Rata by Josh Emett. DAY 6: Milford Sound and Dart River Adventure. Board a private helicopter and traverse Lake Wakatipu. Drift on a spectacular downstream journey on the Dart River and return to Glenorchy via a backcountry route. At night, dine at Rata by Josh Emett. DAY 7: Arrowtown to Gibbston Valley Bike. Private guides will lead you cycling down the beautiful banks of the Arrow River. Platters and wine await at Waitiri Vineyard. Visit Peregrine Winery for a wine tasting before arriving back to Queenstown for an evening at leisure. DAY 8: Queenstown with Local Guide. Customize your last day with a local guide, who can lead bungee jumping, gondola rides, rock climbing, off-road backcountry exploring, hiking, fly fishing, bike riding, cruising, remote picnics, shopping, or wine and food tasting. The trip finale is a five-course dinner at Botswana Butchery. DAY 9: Depart Queenstown and New Zealand. GO exclusiveresorts.com/new-zealand-2017

AUCKLAND > WAIHEKE ISLAND > NAPIER > CAPE KIDNAPPERS > QUEENSTOWN > MILFORD SOUND > ARROWTOWN

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> 2017 Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys

Botswana

Home to the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert , Botswana is an oasis for wildlife drawn to its waters amidst the desert sand. Explore southern Africa , from Johannesburg’s rich history to the true wilds of Africa. Tour the Okavango Delta via a traditional dugout canoe, walking safaris, and game drives in custom-built vehicles. The trip finale is an exhilarating, scenic 13-minute helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World . ON THE ITINERARY* 9 DAYS/8 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAYS 1-2: Johannesburg. Learn about the incredible history of South Africa on a private guided half-day tour to Soweto in Johannesburg, and then stop in at Nelson Mandela’s house. DAYS 3-5: Okavango Delta. Get your camera ready for two days of big game viewing in the Okavango Delta via walking tour, custom game drive vehicle, motorized boat, and mokoro (traditional dugout canoe). Snap pics of the “big five,” if you see them all. DAYS 6-8: Victoria Falls. View one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World during a guided hike, then from the air with a 13-minute helicopter ride. Enjoy the crashing water one final time during the farewell dinner on the helipad. DAY 9: Depart Victoria Falls for Johannesburg after a morning meal on your raised deck, spying the hippos one last time.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/botswana-2017

JOHANNESBURG > OKAVANGO DELTA > VICTORIA FALLS

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Baltic Cruise

This unique, Members’-only charter includes overnights in Copenhagen , Stockholm , and St. Petersburg . The Seabourn Sojourn is perfect for travelers who aren’t typical cruisers—the ship is intimate and ultra-luxurious, and suites are large but the ports of call are not. Sightsee, sample fine wines with our dedicated sommelier , and snap stellar photoss with the guidance of an onboard professional photographer. ON THE ITINERARY* 9 DAYS/8 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1: Stockholm. Stay at the new Scandic Haymarket in Stockholm, “the city that floats on water.” The city spans 14 islands linked by bridges with waterways leading in all directions. Visit the Vasa Museun, Gamla Stan, Skansen Open-Air Museum, and ABBA the museum. DAY 2-9: Seabourn Sojourn and Ports of Call. Tallin, Estonia: The capital of Estonia, Tallinn is just 53 miles across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki and midway between St. Petersburg and Stockholm. Old Town’s fortification walls, cobbled streets and 13th-century buildings make it one of the purest medieval towns in all of northern Europe. St. Petersburg: Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, the name St. Petersburg reflects imperial Russia. The city was the center of the lavish, social milieu immortalized by Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and Turgenev. Canals, rivers and low buildings remind one of Venice and art treasures are housed in the famous Hermitage Museum. Helsinki: The capital of Finland and “Daughter of the Baltic,” Helsinki is beautifully set on a peninsula surrounded by islands and is protected by fortifications at Suomenlinna. Visit its harbor, market square, and many spacious parks. The city’s Empire Center is one of Europe’s finest examples of neoclassical architecture. Copenhagen: The three most famous attractions in the city include the 100-year old amusement park Tivoli Gardens, the statue of The Little Mermaid, and the freetown of Christiania. Visit Amalienborg Palace (home to the royal family) and walk down the shopping street of Strøget.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/baltic-cruise-2017

STOCKHOLM > ST. PETERSBURG > HELSINKI > COPENHAGEN

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> 2017 Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys

Peru + the Amazon

Discover the wonders of enchanted Peru . In partnership with Abercrombie & Kent the Club’s Worldwide Travel Provider, your experience begins and ends in Lima, with pinch-me moments in Machu Picchu and Cusco along the way. The exclamation point to this experience? A three-day luxury cruise along the mighty Amazon River. Your Instagram followers will thank you.

ON THE ITINERARY* 9 DAYS/8 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1-2: Overnight at the Belmond Miraflores in Lima, Peru’s capital and largest city. After enjoying the property’s oceanfront views, take a scenic bike tour and visit the Larco Herrera Museum. DAY 3-5: Spend three nights in Cusco at the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas Hotel, which graces Cuscos’ main square. A day trip explores the city’s ruins. Ride the ultraluxury Hiram Bingham train to and from Machu Picchu. Take a city tour of Cusco, explore the well-preserved ruins of Sacsayhuaman, and visit the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo. DAY 6-9: The Aqua Amazon is headquarters. Cruise highlights include piranha fishing at Charo Lake, an exploration of the Yacapana Islands, dolphin sightings, a wildlife night safari, guided tour of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, visits to local villages, and the Manatee Rescue Center. Take daily wildlife excursions aboard a skiff—local naturalists will help spy indigenous wildlife.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/peru-2017

LIMA > CUSCO > MACHO PICCHU > THE AQUA AMAZON > CHARO LAKE > YACAPANA ISLANDS > PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE

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Experience Collection Adventures

>

Airstream 2Go

The Club’s unique partnership with Airstream 2 Go features travel ventures in fully outfitted, iconic Airstream trailers. Explore the natural wonders of the American West , including Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. With five incredible eight- to ten-day itineraries—including new escapes to west Texas and southern California —discover the gems of the U.S. during the road trip of a lifetime. * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. NEW: TEXAS TWO-STEP | 7 NIGHTS/8 DAYS* Channel your inner cowboy during this road trip through West Texas. Fly into El Paso and kick start your trip at Lucchese Boot Factory. Each trip receives a credit toward one free pair of Lucchese boots, shipped the next day to your Airstream. Gaze at the stars at McDonald Observatory, glimpse artists-in-residence at Marfa, and raft the Rio Grande. Camp at a private ranch or vineyard and at Maverick Ranch RV Park. This unique look at the Lone Star State will surely have you dancing a two-step. NEW: SOCAL BEACHCOMBER | 7 NIGHTS/8 DAYS Travel south on the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Diego and back. Take a ferry to Catalina Island, whale watch in La Jolla, and hit the waves at San Elijo State Beach. Rent bikes or hike through Crystal Cove State Park and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. And there’s plenty of beach time at Laguna Beach, Mission Bay, and Pacific Beach Pier. CANYON COUNTRY | 7 NIGHTS/8 DAYS Experience the striking desert of the Southwest on this road trip through Canyon Country. Venture to Antelope Canyon or one of Arizona’s other slot canyons and discover the open grandeur of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Visit Lake Powell, prior to the grand finale—the majestic Grand Canyon. BIG SKY LOOP | 9 NIGHTS/10 DAYS Discover Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming during this scenic Big Sky Loop. Starting in Bozeman, stop at Yellowstone National Park’s wondrous geysers. Experience Grand Teton National Park’s flora and fauna, with stops to fly-fish and play along the Snake River at Henry’s Fork in Big Sky Montana. Kayak, hike, raft, and ride horseback in the Gallatin National Forest before returning to Bozeman. CALIFORNIA CRUISING | 9 NIGHTS/10 DAYS Feel like a central California local during this trek along the California Coast. Explore Yosemite National Park, wander through Steinbeck’s coastal town of Monterey, hit the beach at Morro Bay, and end in scenic Santa Barbara. Travel down the Pacific Coast Highway, California’s most iconic roadway, and enjoy postcard-perfect views of the Pacific Ocean.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/airstream-2-go

EL PASO > LOS ANGELES > BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK > LAKE POWELL > BIG SKY LOOP > YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK > PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY

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> Experience Collection Adventures

Bahamas

Discover these beautiful islands aboard your private, 116-foot Broward “Acqua” yacht . A custom, eight-day itinerary features the best of the Exumas . The yacht navigates the Bahamas in true style, with indoor and outdoor lounges that beg for relaxation. Swim at East Beach , hike up Boo Boo Hill, visit Rachel Falls, and snorkel the famous Thunderball Grotto . With more than 700 islands, the Bahamas are protected by one of the world’s largest barrier reefs, with endless diving and water sports. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS *To customize your private itinerary, please contact your Vacation Ambassador. • Fly into and out of Lyndon Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas. Meet the captain and transfer to the yacht at Albany Marina. • While onboard, enjoy the yacht’s many amenities, including gourmet meals prepared by a private chef, snorkeling gear, wave runners, fishing gear, and more. • Visit Allen’s Cay Rock Iguana. Discover a subspecies of Bahamian iguana only found on Highbourne Cay. • Have your pre-arrival planner arrange a half-day fishing charter around Compass Cay, where waters are teeming with snapper, grouper, and tuna. The Acqua’s chef will grill your catch for dinner. • Snorkel the miniature wall dive called The Sea Aquarium, located just off O’Brien Cay. Waters are shallow and accessible only via your yacht’s tender—perfect for snorkeling. • Spend a day at Atlantis Resort & Casino. Kids can swim with the dolphins and enjoy the water park while adults play 18 holes of golf or a round of blackjack. GO exclusiveresorts.com/bahamas-yacht

NASSAU > ACQUA YACHT > EXUMAS > EAST BEACH > BOO BOO HILL 2> THUNDERBALL GROTTO > ALLEN’S CAY > COMPASS CAY > O’BRIEN CAY ACCOMMODATIONS: 4 RESIDENCES AT THE CARNEROS INN BEDROOMS: BATHS: 3.5 SQUARE FEET: 2,522

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Burgundy

France has a 750-mile network of rivers and canals. With our partner Belmond Afloat in France , travel and stay on the water while discovering France’s magnificent culture and landscape. Belmond offers five luxury vessels that range from the 100-foot, two-cabin Alouette to the 126-foot Napoleon, a six-cabin vessel that can accommodate up to twelve. Each barge navigates various sections of waterway along the beautiful Saone and Rhone Rivers or the Canal du Midi. A Le Cordon Bleu chef will craft gourmet meals from the markets you pass, and all barges are outfitted with high-end finishes, a sun deck with plunge pool, and a car and bikes for various shore excursions. ON THE ITINERARY* 7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS *Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. A couple can reserve just one cabin on a larger boat to share with other Belmond guests, or a bigger group (four to twelve) may reserve an entire barge. Contact your Ambassador about dates and number of people to accommodate. DAY 1: Paris and transfer to barge. Upon arrival into Paris, transfer by luxury vehicle or TGV to your barge’s departure point. Enjoy a champagne reception and meet the crew. Settle in, unpack, and as the barge departs, enjoy your first dining experience on board. DAY 2-5: Cruise. Visit. Explore. Relax on the sun deck while cruising past scenic towns and villages, and glimpse views of the French countryside.Take a guided walking tour and discover local villages, or experience legendary wine tasting. Explore a beautiful town’s market via bike, and meet back up with the barge farther along the river in the next town. Enjoy lunch on board as the barge moves to the next village. At night, dine on gourmet meals and sip nightcaps while stargazing on deck. DAY 6: Au Revoir! After breakfast, the crew bids you farewell before you disembark the barge for your onward travels or your return to Paris.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/aboard-a-luxury-barge

PARIS > BELMOND AFLOAT IN FRANCE > PARIS > SAONE AND RHONE RIVERS > THE CANAL DU MIDI

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> Experience Private Travel Collection Escapes

Austin

Austin has earned its Live Music Capital of

the World title, hosting two huge music festivals annually and staging live music at more than 200 venues every night of the week. This four-day Austin immersion celebrates the city’s eclectic downtown scene. Take a private tour with a local musician to iconic clubs, dive bars, and the classic honky-tonk. You’ll have enough downtime to discover the vibe of a town defined by the locals’ motto to “ Keep Austin Weird .”

ON THE ITINERARY* 4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1: Arrive in Austin. Upon arrival, a luxury vehicle will transfer you to The Driskill, a luxury hotel in the heart of the action. Discover the property’s unique history, built in 1886 as the showplace of cattle baron Jesse Driskill. DAY 2: The Capital of Live Music. Spend the day exploring Austin’s historic museums, architecture, and monuments, with only-in-Austin shopping along the way. Come sunset, strap on your cowboy boots and experience authentic Austin. Your tour guide, a local musician, will take you to three of the night’s top live shows. DAY 3: Unwind and Dine. After dancing at last night’s music crawl, relax and enjoy the bustling local food scene, which includes famous food-truck finds along the hip South Congress Avenue, and Stubbs Bar-B-Q. Post lunch, pamper yourself at the Driskill’s massage and fitness studio. DAY 4: Hurry back, y’all. Transfer provided to the airport for your departure from Austin.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/austin

THE DRISKILL > CAPITAL OF LIVE MUSIC > AUSTIN’S HISTORIC MUSEUMS > SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE > STUBBS BAR-B-Q

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Santa Fe

Santa Fe is steeped in history , melding Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American cultures, prevalent in the city’s architecture, food, art, and ambience. Discover where El Camino Real from Mexico City and the Old Santa Fe Trail from Missouri meet. Soak up the sun (all 320 days of it!) on this three-day getaway. Dine on delicious Southwestern cuisine, hike and bike, and museum- and gallery-hop in the third largest art market in the country. ON THE ITINERARY* 4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1: Upon arrival, a luxury vehicle will transfer you to the Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, where the stars and desert landscapes are spectacular. DAY 2: Discover Santa Fe’s storied history with a choice of three tours: • The Santa Fe City Tour highlights the vibrant mix of cultures in the nation’s oldest (400 years) and highest (7,200 feet) capital. Visit sites surrounding the Plaza. Tailored to personal curiosities, favorites include the State Capital, Barrio de Analco, San Miguel Mission, and the Cathedral Basilica de Francis. • Native American Cliff Dwellings Tour. A 30-minute drive across the Rio Grande river is the Bandelier National Monument. Discover petroglyphs and ancient dwellings from the 1400’s. Formed in volcanic ash, these pueblo shelters glimpse the Sangre de Christo, Jemez Mountains, and modern day Los Alamos. • Chimayo Spanish Cultural Tour. Explore Northern New Mexico’s storied wine region while motoring through lush valleys and villages just north of the resort. Chimayo Village reveals traditional Spanish Colonial culture and art. DAY 3: Relax at the Spa at Rancho Encantado, which features open-air treatments and is designed to reflect the sacred kiva rooms of the indigenous Pueblo Indians. DAY 4: Until next time! Transfer provided to the airport for your departure from Santa Fe.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/santa-fe

FOUR SEASONS RESORT RANCHO ENCANTADO > SANTA FE CITY TOUR > NATIVE AMERICAN CLIFF DWELLINGS > CHIMAYO SPANISH CULTURAL TOUR > SPA AT RANCHO

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> Experience Collection Escapes

Montana

Discover Western living at The Ranch at Rock Creek , a Relais & Chateaux property that hugs the John Long Mountains in Philipsburg, Montana. Spanning 6,600 acres near the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest and the AnacondaPintler Wilderness Area, this luxury guest ranch offers customized winter and summer experiences. Try fly-fishing , horseback riding, shooting and archery, or tackle a ropes course with expert guides. Take the kids mountain biking or geocaching in summer, and skiing in winter. Whatever your taste, this is alpine living at its height. ON THE ITINERARY* 6 DAYS/5 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1: Arrival to The Ranch at Rock Creek. Enjoy lunch and an introduction to available activities. Practice clay shooting followed by social hour in the Great Room and Chef’s Tasting Menu in the Granite Lodge. DAY 2: Fly-fishing and Horseback Riding. Take a fly-fishing casting lesson, and then it’s back to the ranch for lunch before a trail ride to Sage Brush Flats. Relax in the outdoor pool and hot tub before Ranch Night Dinner in the Granite Lodge. DAY 3: Get Competitive. Channel your inner athlete with a morning of ropes course challenges. Break for lunch and then get right back to it with downhill mountain biking. Enjoy a Dutch oven dinner outdoors on the Flagstone. DAY 4: Stagecoach Ride and Bonfire. Practice your fly-fishing with a post-breakfast session on Rock Creek. Take an independent wildlife hike before your afternoon Wells Fargo Stagecoach Ride and Chef’s Grill on the Flagstones. Stay up late, stoking the bonfire and toasting S’mores. DAY 5: Pistols and Bowling. Back in the saddle for a trail ride to Paradise Peak. After lunch, shoot pistols before social hour and dinner in the Granite Lodge. Then perfect your strike at bowling tournament in the Silver Dollar Saloon. DAY 6: Departure Day. Rise early for breakfast, spend the morning with 3-D Archery, and enjoy a last leisurely lunch.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/ranch-at-rock-creek

FLY-FISHING AND HORSEBACK RIDING > ROPES COURSE CHALLENGES > STAGECOACH RIDE > BONFIRE > PISTOLS AND BOWLING

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Montreal

The second-largest city in Canada, Montreal is a city of contradictions. Its architecture bridges past—the Notre-Dame Basilica has stood in Old Montreal since 1829—and present, with the Ritz-Carlton Montreal as the ideal headquarters to experience both. Though known for outdoor adventure, the city also has 250 theater and dance companies, while 90 festivals are staged year-round. Discover why this city is a gem of Canadian culture, cuisine, and history.

ON THE ITINERARY* 4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS * Sample. For complete day-by-day itineraries, contact your Vacation Ambassador. DAY 1: Arrival to Montreal. A luxury vehicle will transfer you to the Ritz-Carlton Montreal Hotel. Enjoy an evening at leisure, or toast your trip at the Dom Perignon Bar. DAY 2: Tour of the City. After breakfast, a private tour of Montreal will walk through time, starting in the heart of downtown. Walk through the underground pedestrian network to Old Montreal, the heart of the city. With stops at St. Catherine Street, Dorchester Square, Central Station, Notre-Dame Basilica, Champs-de-mars, and Bonsecours Market, this tour will illuminate the story of one of the greatest cities in the Americas. DAY 3: Day at Leisure. Visit the Spa St. James and treat yourself to some sweet and savory with the Ritz-Carlton’s legendary afternoon tea. DAY 4: Au Revoir! Transfer provided to the airport for your departure from Montreal.

GO exclusiveresorts.com/montreal

RITZ-CARLTON MONTREAL HOTEL > DOM PERIGNON BAR > OLD MONTREAL > NOTRE-DAME BASILICA > SPA ST. JAMES

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> Just Back From

Thailand Insider’s Guide

NAME: Dale & Tina Quigley HOMETOWN: Henderson, Nevada OCCUPATION/S: Tina, General Manager Regional Transportation Commission for Southern NV. Dale, Pilot for UPS MEMBERS SINCE: 2009 JUST BACK FROM: Our 20th anniversary trip to Thailand, an ER Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey ON THE ITINERARY: Real Del Mar Mexico, in June, for our annual trip with Tina’s family

WHY GO: Exotic getaway to explore a new culture and an excuse to hang out with that spouse you never see. All while traveling in that rock star-style that ER does so well! DON’T MISS: T he Patara Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai. WORTH A SPLURGE: A spa and massage at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai. WISH WE’D PACKED: Pants. We learned that the Buddha and T hai people are blissfully unaware of the stifling heat and some venues insisted we cover our legs. Yes you can buy the “$2 pants of shame” from the vendor at the temple, but these will not get you into Lebua Sky Bar for the world’s weakest drink (I might also add bring your own gin to add to world’s weakest drink). MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Playing, bathing, and getting to know the elephants at Patara Elephant Farm. We had so many spectacular experiences, but the best was bonding and the many laughs we had with our group. WHERE TO EAT + WHAT TO ORDER: Issaya in Bangkok. Get the chef’s tasting menu. T his is the restaurant created by “Iron Chef” Ian Kittichai, who you will meet and cook lunch with. BEST VIEWS: Lebua Sky Bar Bangkok, our room overlooking the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, Wat Phra temple in Chiang Mai, and the lounge bed facing the pool and rice paddy at the Four seasons Chiang Mai. Also, my beach chair at the Amanpuri Phuket. BEST SOUVENIR: Our new friends. FAVORITE ER DESTINATION OR EXPERIENCE: Galapagos Islands with our kids Aly and Aidan.

ACCOMMODATIONS > BANYANS AT BANGKOK, THAILAND > BEDROOMS: 2 > BATHROOMS: 2

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San Miguel De Allende Insider’s Guide We have had friends visit and they always came back with glowing remarks about the city. This is one of the few places I could have stayed longer than our allocated time. We got there Saturday afternoon and left Thursday, and even without beaches there was plenty to do. SAN MIGUEL IS: Casual, colorful, and inviting. APPEAL FACTOR OF ER’S ESCAPES: I don’t have a lot of time to plan. ER sets up every aspect of the trip for you, from the hotel suite or home to every detail of the itinerary. All we had to do was get on the plane. We just looked at the calendar, saw we had some free time and called ER. San Miguel is just a 90-minute f light from Houston so it was an easy trip. FOODIE FIND: The one we prepared during our private cooking lesson. The whole experience with Chef Ruben was memorable. We met the chef at his restaurant and he gave us each a basket. Then he took us on a 10-minute walk to an open market and told us which ingredients to gather—avocado, zucchini, and peppers. I wanted to try cactus so he took me to a vendor who prepared a sample. After we shopped we went back to the restaurant and cooked a meal. BEST DAY TRIP: Guanajuato. An hour’s drive through the countryside from San Miguel, the city is vibrant and historic with beautiful churches, sites, and too many town squares to count. TOP TIP: We went to Dos Buhos Vineyard, a really cool mom-and-pop operation. We loved it, and wanted to buy wine to take home, but they don’t take credit cards so bring cash. WHO GO:

NAME: Don and Tish Stricklin HOMETOWN: Austin, Texas MEMBERS SINCE: 2013 JUST BACK FROM: San Miguel de Allende NEXT ON THE ITINERARY: Castello Di Casole, Tuscany

ACCOMMODATIONS: THE ROSEWOOD SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE > DAYS: 5 NIGHTS, 6 DAYS > DATES: THROUGH DEC 20. 2016

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> Bucket List

Out of Africa

INSET: Carolyn Kremins (second from right) tackles the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a stop along Exclusive Resorts’ Journey to Uganda.

Just back from a Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey to Uganda, President of Online Travel News Hub, Skift, and Exclusive Resorts Board Member Carolyn Kremins checks off gorilla tracking, an impenetrable forest, and a hyena on the hunt. TOP TAKE-AWAY FROM TRIP:

Standing a foot away from gorillas living in the wild is a mind blowing experience, especially seeing firsthand how their behavior is so human like.

MOST PHOTO-WORTHY MOMENT: There

are so many, yet seeing a mother gorilla with her baby—born just the night prior—was amazing. We were the first to meet her baby. She cradled its head in her hands as it nursed, just like we do with our newborns.

NEVER THOUGHT I’D EXPERIENCE: I’ve been to Africa before, but never saw an actual hunt-and-kill. Right in front of us, a hyena went for a mom Copi and her baby. The story doesn’t end well for the baby, but when it was over, it was fascinating to see hundreds of Copi gather around the hyena and baby to pay their respects. BEST FOODIE FIND: Who

bananas?

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knew there were so many varieties of

SURPRISE FACTOR: I set out on the journey to see the gorillas, but ended up learning so much about the culture in Uganda and the people living there. We saw the hospitals, villages, spent time with pygmies and orphans—an eye-opening, rich experience. Touching in so many ways. IF YOU GO: Enjoy

a peaceful kayak on Crater Lake. A massage on the deck overlooking the mountains at sunset. And bring clothes and hiking boots with the intention to leave behind for the villagers. They are so appreciative for whatever you have to give.

We hiked 2.5 hours in, 2.5 hours out, up and down mountains in the rainforest of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (with machetes carving out paths), all for us to experience the gorillas. Wild!

BRAGGING RIGHTS:

GO exclusiveresorts.com/uganda CURATED


For a private tasting of the Carte Blanche portfolio while visiting one of Exclusive Resorts’ Sonoma properties or new Napa residences at The Carneros Inn, contact DJ Warner at dj@carteblanchewine.com

carteblanchewine.com

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