Kauai’s Shipwreck Beach on Keoniloa Bay is one of the largest expanses of beach in the Poipu area. The eastern portion of Poipu Kai Resort fronts Shipwreck Beach. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa is immediately adjacent to Poipu Kai Resort and also fronts Shipwreck Beach.

Shipwreck Beach, also known as Keoniloa Beach. The first name was given to this strip of sand due to an old shipwreck found there, which no longer exists. Swimming at this beach is never a good idea because the currents and the surf are really strong.

However, Shipwreck Beach is a favorite among surfers, boogie boarders, windsurfers, and body surfers at the eastern end where the waves are good for these activities. A green flag means the water is safe, although it’s a joke that a green flag has never been put up despite the safe conditions that do occur from time to time.

If you like taking risks, or having a lot of fun, then jump off the Makawehi Point. It’s a cliff that is fun to jump off of into the ocean below although it might not be the best idea and accidents can happen. If you have seen the movie Six Days/Seven Nights then you saw the stunt doubles for Ann Heche an Harrison Ford jumping off this cliff.

Let it rain! That’s what tennis fans and Wimbledon All England Club officials can now be heard heard uttering. It doesn’t matter anymore because Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court now has a new retractable roof.

Last month, the All England Club tested its new retractable roof over the Centre Court at Wimbledon. This historical and world famous arena has offered tennis fans some of the most dramatic duels in tennis history.

The addition of this retractable roof has to be one of the biggest changes in Wimbledon’s long history.

The Wimbledon Centre Court retractable roof covers roughly a 246 feet area. It takes only about 10 minutes to close. Construction of the retractable roof took 3 years, and is part of an overall $146 million renovation to the Center Court Stadium.

Wimbledon’s retractable roof is the centerpiece of upgrades to Centre Court that include increasing seating from 13,800 to 15,000, and providing more stairs and lifts.

The new retractable roof will allow all-weather play at the venerable Wimbledon facility, just outside of London, England. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tennis event that is still played on grass. Because of the challenging British weather, Wimbledon is consistently plagued by rain delays.

The retractable roof, which is described by the Wimbledon club as a folding fabric concertina type, will provide a non-slippery playing environment in both the open and closed positions.

An important element of the roof design, is to allow natural light to reach the lush green grass. An airflow system will remove condensation from within the stadium to provide a comfortable environment for spectators and players alike, when the retractable roof is closed.

The world’s economy may be in shambles, but in some corners of the art world …. it is thriving. Center stage is Venice’s Punta della Dogana.

In Venice Italy, a large art exhibition is now on view in two historic buildings. June marked the opening of a new museum in Venice, dedicated to contemporary art, at Punta della Dogana.

Punta della Doganais a historic complex that was built back in the 17h century. Many years ago, it once served as a the Venetian Republic Customs House, but recently redesigned by famous architect Tadao Ando.

Punta della Doganais was envisioned as a single artistic journey. The exhibition presents approximately 300 works of art from French magnate, Francois Pinalut’s art collection.

The collection is presented as dialogues between artists of various generations, of various artistic forms of expression and sensibilities.

Included are a variety of artists such as contemporary art luminaries Jeff Koons, Sigmar Polke, Rudolf Stingel, Cindy Sherman and Richard Price. Also participating are new emerging talents and artists who have been unjustly ignored by the art World.

This event marks the second year in a row that the personal art collection of the Francois Pinault. Pinault is well known as the man behind the Gucci Group – which is the luxury conglomerate that includes such luxury brands as Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney.

Last year, Francois Pinault’s collection was displayed at the Palazzo Grassi. This year, the Punta della Dogana is proud to host his collection again.

The Punta della Dogana is located at the center of the Venice lagoon on the Grand Canal – across from Piazza San Marco and San Giorgio Island.

Edinburgh Castle is the most famous, most frequently visited castle in Scotland, and really worth the steep entrance fee.

Edinburgh Castle was built in the 7th century and sits high on Castle rock, which is a 437 feet high chunk of black, basalt rock. Years past this rock was once a volcano.

Three sides of mighty Edinburgh Castle  are surrounded by sheer volcanic cliffs.  To the east, is a long, cobbled road named the “Royal Mile”.

The first record of the Edinburgh Castle being used as an actual royal residence, occurred sometime in the 11th century when Margaret, the wife of Malcolm III died there, after hearing about her husband’s death at Alnwick in 1093.

In the past, Edinburgh Castle was used for keeping valuable royal treasures and records. Kings frequently lived in it. But when William the Lion was captured at Alnwick in 1174, Edinburgh was one of a number of castles handed over to Henry II of England.

Today, dominating the inner city of Edinburgh is the most popular national monument in Scotland. A trip to Edinburgh Castle affords visitors a magnificent view of the city.

A classic drawbridge lowers over a dried-out moat from the broad Esplanade where the famous Military Tattoo is held every August.

As you approach the main entrance to the Edinburgh Castle, it is flanked by bronze statues of famous people. Legendary William Wallace. Wallace, the main character in the 1995 movie “Braveheart” starring Mel Gibson, led the Scottish resistance against Edward I. William Wallace was later executed in London. The other bronze statue is of Robert the Bruce. Bruce is Scotland’s national hero, and is fame arose from defeat of the English under Edward II at Bannockburn.

Some of the major sites to see at Edinburgh Castle are: Argyll’s Tower, Crown Square Scottish National War Memorial, French Prisons, Great Hall, Mons Meg Cannon, National War Museum of Scotland, One O’Clock Salute, Royal Palace, and St Margaret’s Chapel.

CLICK HERE for more information about the Edinburgh Castle.

So Italy is a bit too far away – don’t worry.  You can still get the traditional Italian experience of a Venetian gondola ride right here in Las Vegas.

There are even private gondolas available for sixty dollars that allow you to traverse the Venice-inspired waterways with just you and a friend.  As elegant and romantic as a true Venetian gondola ride, this has become one of the many required stops on any trip to Vegas.

The gondola rides are offered solely, as you would expect, at The Venetian.  But the interconnectedness of the city makes visiting a simple jaunt, whether from nearby hotels such as Treasure Island and The Mirage, or a mere cab or tram ride down the strip.  Everyone is invited to take in the passion and wonder that has been transplanted from Italy and left to remain here, just steps from the casino floor.

If you want to ride in the gondolas at The Venetian in Las Vegas, you can choose between indoor and outdoor rides.  The indoor ride is the more popular, whisking you through the mall that is attached to the hotel, decorated with facades, bridges and other monuments that resemble the green canals of Venice.

Called the Grand Canal, the lilting voices of the gondoliers carry throughout the mall, many of whom were trained in Italy by the masters.  Gondolas at the Venetian Las Vegas are just about everywhere – it’s definitely the main selling point of the famous hotel.  Source: Destination 360

Ritz Hotel – Paris

Located in romantic Paris France, the luxury Ritz Hotel is pure elegance. A synonym for elegance and perfection it is the oldest Ritz Hotel in the world. The Ritz Hotel in Paris, the “city of love” offers visitors a pure luxury hotel experience.

Tradition, prestige and a legendary past set the Ritz Paris apart from other palace hotels. In 1898, Cesar Ritz created an exclusive luxury hotel where comfort, gastronomy, and service were accorded the highest priority.

Located on the Place Vendôme, in the heart of Paris, you will be within walking distance to many historical Paris monuments, fashionable shopping areas and wonderful restaurants.

There is no denying that Paris, the City of Light is supremely stylish, and there’s no better way to experience Paris in style a memorable stay at the Hotel Ritz Paris. This legendary Paris hotel is the perfect home base for any “Best Of” European vacation.

The Ritz Hotel has long been a playground of royalty and the rich since César Ritz turned Duc de Lauzun’s palace into a hotel in 1898.  Millions of dollars in upgrades have been invested since Mohamed Al Fayed bought The Ritz in 1979.

The rooms were redesigned yet remain traditional French and decadent with Italian silk satin sheets. But they also include luxury features such Wi-Fi and plasma TVs with Bose sound.

Service at the Ritz Hotel Paris is flawless yet unpretentious and indulgences are everywhere, from the 100,000-bottle wine cellar with rare bottles from the Grand Crus to the spa, beauty salon and lavish pool with mosaics and frescoes.

The Ritz Hotel is located in the heart of Paris and is only a brief walk from classic Paris monuments such as the Louvre, Notre Dame and others sites that make Paris so special.

The Ritz Hotel Paris offers the highest standards of service and the best of luxury French style. The hotel has 103 superbly appointed rooms and 56 suites, each with their own decor and special allure.

Of all the Parisian palaces, the Ritz Health Club offers the biggest in-house swimming pool. It includes fantastic Roman-style decor plus a six hole putting green.  All this is just part of an impressive range of facilities and well being treatments the Ritz offers to guests.

Hotel Ritz
15, Place Vendôme
Paris, France

Prive Nightclub is a new nightclub on the Las Vegas strip. Prive Nightclub opened just before New Years Eve 2008 and is located inside the Planet Hollywood Casino.

Prive Nightclub boasts a 350 sq. ft Brazilian Cherry Wood dance floor, surrounded by Greek Theatre influenced design complete with grand sofas to lounge upon, and 3 elevated levels.

Directly across from Privé Nightclub you’ll find The Living room, modeled after the popular cigar lounges of times past complete with plush leather sofas, beautiful burgundy drapery, Persian rugs, and granite bar.

Prive Nightclub Las Vegas is owned by the famous OPM Group, is a unique transplant from the exalted Miami club scene into the luxury of Las Vegas. Prive is one of a prodigious family of nightclubs including Mansion, SET, and Opium Garden.

No expense was spared in the creation of this extravagant venue located in Renowned designer Francois Frossard designed the 12,000 square feet club to be uncontestable one of the best in Las Vegas.  Frossard’s expertise is reflected in Prive Nightclub’s polished atmosphere and ultra modern decoration, and it is clearly the perfect setting for an A-list style night out on the town.

Aviation buffs, in particular, will be intrigued by Charles A. Lindbergh’s simple grave. Lindbergh’s grave is covered with smooth pebbles and located beside the quiet Palapala Ho’omau Church.

The site isn’t easy to find, but it’s an apt resting place for a man who desired peace rather than the fanfare brought on by his pioneering crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

His marker gives only his name and dates (1902-1974), along with the first part of Psalm 139: “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea…”  Charles Lindbergh died on August 26, 1974.

Directions: The Palapala Ho’omau Church on Maui, Hawaii is located just 8 miles south of Hana on the ocean side of the highway. A small road just past Mile Marker #41 leads to the church.

The Flamingo Las Vegas has been around for over forty years, but still has classic hip style.

In a town where “classic” is a euphemism for “marked for implosion,” Flamingo Las Vegas, which was originally owned by Bugsy Siegel in 1946, has exuberantly remade itself and become the hippest hotel on the Strip.

With no signs of period kitsch, the new Go Rooms have shiny white vinyl headboards that stretch to the ceiling, white mid-century-style low cabinets, and green, chocolate, and pink accents—the Flamingo’s original colors. For the young and restless clientele, updates have been added where they count: MP3 docking stations, electronically controlled drapes, and 42-inch flat-screen TV’s.

Room to Book: The best suite deals in town are on the 27th and 28th floors, where rooms have the best views of the Strip. The 1,500-square-foot Go Metropolitan Suites come with four flat-panel HDTV’s, marble baths, a wet bar, and an incredible vista.

In Las Vegas, there is one must stop shopping destination that you must drive your luxury car rental to – the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops. There is valet parking at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops, so feel free to drop off your luxury car rental and shop to your heart’s content.

The Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops prided itself to be Las Vegas’ premier retail, dining and entertainment destination. It has been called “titan of the shopping world”, the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops offers the best selection of shops. From upscale to mid-scale, you will find them at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops.

Featuring over 160 boutiques and shops, there is a wide variety of the world’s well-known brands such as Versace, Gucci and Burberry to popular favorites Abercrombie and Fitch, Diesel and Banana Republic.

If you are an automobile fan, there is Exotic Cars, a two-tiered retailer with 34,000 square feet of showroom space. It houses more than 50 exotic cars and motorcycles with luxurious brands such as Porsche, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin.

There is also the remote-controlled racetrack, unique displays and a variety of merchandise such as apparel and model cars. Even though you cannot drive away one of the exotic cars on display, there is always your luxury car rental that will surely more than satisfy your needs.

The 175,000-square-foot, three-level addition to the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops includes an array of upscale shops and several new restaurants, as well as a spiral escalator – one of only two in the United States. With hundreds of stores, restaurants and attractions, there is plenty to do to keep you busy for an afternoon.

Weary shoppers can rest their feet at the fountains that offer hourly shows with its animatronic statues at Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops’ either end. There are further visual stimulation with ‘The Festival Fountain’ that depicts the feast of Bacchus and ‘The Lost City of Atlantis’ chronicles the great city’s fall.

Beautiful décor further enhances the experience at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops with the expansive stone-hewed walkway that divides the row of shops and a sky-colored ceiling overhead that gives the illusion of perpetual twilight. True to its name, there are ancient Roman architecture and sculptures to adorn the Forum Shops all around. Inside the front doors, visitors are greeted by a large reflecting pool, huge Roman statues and a beautiful glass domed ceiling.

To satisfy your hunger and fuel for more shopping, there are plenty high-class restaurants to cater to your need. For dessert, there is the Cheesecake Factory that is a sweet tooth’s dream. For a sophisticated evening out, check out Wolfgang Puck’s Club OPM, located above the restaurant, Chinois.

Whatever you want to do, the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas have it.

The Banyan Tree in Lahaina on Maui, is an amazing sight. In Maui’s tourist center of Lahaina stands the largest Banyan Tree in the United States.  Although most think it’s a forest of banyon tress, it’s actually a single Banyan Tree.

It fills Banyan Square.  Banyan trees come from Asia, but it would be hard to find anyone who has ever seen anything this size in either India or China, where the Banyans were not allowed such uncontrolled growth.

You’ll think you’ve seen trees until you come across this specimen! Indian in origin, it was originally planted in 1873 to commemorate Christianity’s foothold in town.

More than 125 years later, this mighty banyan rises 50 feet, has added 12 subsidiary trunks to its main support, and encompasses more than 2/3 of an acre.

It’s an ideal place to escape the hot tropical sun. Once you are under it, you’re likely to find craftspeople hawking their wares and artists selling their works.