Vacation Destination of the Month- October 2009

The destination of the month for October 2009 is Maine. Trees changing colors and gourmet food make Maine the perfect fall destination. October brings cool and pleasant weather to the North East of the United States. Unless someone has traveled to Maine they usually do not know how wonderful the dining experiences can be in Portland, Maine. My husband and I had one of the best meals we have EVER eaten at a small restaurant in Portland called Vignola (check out www.vignolamaine.com). We started with a wine flight and cheese platter from their immense selection of international cheeses. After the cheese we moved on to a delightful heirloom tomato salad (all locally grown of course) and then on to the main courses which are rotating based on the freshest local produce and an seasonal selections by the chef. To top it off we enjoyed a warm apple crisp with a rich Hungarian dessert wine. Overall an amazing dining experience that we would recommend to anyone searching for dining excellence. Just remember that everything in Portland closes early so make sure to get seated and order before 9:30pm. If you are in a pinch Sebago is one of the only places in downtown Portland that is open "late night" and they serve a large selection of food including a great lobster quesadilla.

For accommodations in Portland, I recommend the Pomegranate Inn, a member of the Select Registry of distinguished inns of North America. This bed and breakfast is quaint and very well decorated, each room is themed and features eclectic furnishings and brightly colored murals or wall paper in every room. The Pomegranate Inn is very cozy with only eight rooms so make sure to reserve early at www.pomegranateinn.com where you can choose your room or suite and add on packages such as cheese plates, chocolate covered strawberries, and champagne. As if the rooms and rates were not good enough, the Inn features a gourmet breakfast for every guest of the inn with such delicacies as vegetable frittata, huevos rancheros and banana bread french toast (so yummy!). In the afternoon the inn features Intermezzo, an opportunity to meet other guests in the inn and enjoy appetizers and wine. Overall the Pomegranate Inn is a wonderful place to stay, centrally located with friendly staff and everything a tourist in Portland Maine would need.

Driving around Maine, either to the north or south of Portland you will find delightful towns with galleries, antique shops and restaurants galore. If you make it up to Camden be sure to enjoy clam chowder at Cappy's Chowder house.

If you have a few extra days be sure to book a trip on the Timberwind sailing out of the small harbor of Rockport, just south of Camden. The Schooner Timberwind is an all wooden sailing vessel built in 1931 that is now being used to give tourists and Mainers alike the experience of a lifetime. Sails range from 3-6 days so there is a schedule to fit everyone's needs. The crew is delightful and courteous, not to mention amazing at cooking on a wood burning stove, and Captain Bob is full of great stories. This is an authentic Maine excursion that should not be missed and of course it includes a true to form Maine lobster bake. Be sure to check out www.schoonertimberwind.com for the schedule and you will be booking with Becky another great staff member of the Timberwind who can answer all of your questions.

Maine has so much to offer and this blog explains just a bit of what there is to explore. If you have other Maine experiences and recommendations we would love to hear about your experiences. Please let us know what else you think should not be missed in Maine.

If you would like help booking your trip to Maine or organizing your itinerary for a trip that you have already booked please contact BellaMar Concierge, Inc. at bellamarconcierge@gmail.com.

San Diego- Go on vacation in your own backyard!

If you live in San Diego, don't forget you can go on vacation in your own backyard!

Many people travel thousands of miles to make San Diego their vacation destination. Only a select few of us are lucky enough to call it home!

This month's San Diego highlight is the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. With parks in San Diego and Escondido, one of the Zoo's parks is basically in your own backyard. This summer brings some exciting events and exhibits to the San Diego Zoo that you won't want to miss. Whether you are interested in a exciting day with the kids or a romantic evening stroll with that special someone the Zoo is full of options.

The San Diego Zoo has opened their newest exhibit, Elephant Odyssey. Zookeepers, members, and visitors alike are all very excited about the wide open exhibit for the elephants. The exhibit allows visitors to see the elephants in a more open and natural environment. Make sure to visit http://www.elephantodyssey.com for more information.

With summertime comes the ever exciting "Nighttime Zoo," where the San Diego Zoo is open from 9am to 9pm until September 7th. This exciting nighttime experience includes bands and special shows that are sure to thrill the whole family, or make an exciting date night, quick call the babysitter. To find out all of the details be sure to visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/nighttimezoo

The San Diego Zoo is not the only place with new and exciting activities. Check out the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park for the new "Flightline" experience, a zip line that will take you soaring over the Wild Animal Park. "Soar from a ridgetop along a cable as you glide approximately 2/3 of a mile over exotic animals and open exhibits, the picturesque San Pasqual Valley unfolding before you." The reservations for this exiting new experience are available online at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/calendar/wap_flightline.html Don't forget the most important part, your ticket purchase to the Flightline sponsors the conservation efforts of the California Condor.

Last but not least the Dino Mountain exhibit is at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park until September 7, 2009. This exhibit is an exiting look at the dinosuars, sure to be loved by children of all ages. Make sure to get your Dino Mountain passport and collect all 13 Dino Stamps. For more information visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/dinomountain

Best value tickets and membership options are available now on the San Diego Zoo's website http://www.sandiegozoo.org. This website makes ticket purchase a breeze and there is no waiting in line when you get to the park.

Let's go San Diego!

Vacation Destination of the Month- July 2009

This month's BellaMar Concierge, Inc. vacation destination is the Dominican Republic.

There are two major resort areas within the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana, they offer all of the amenities expected from a resort destination. Best of all, both areas are easily accessible with airports just outside of town, and can be reached from most major airports in the United States.

If you are looking to lounge on beautiful beaches the Dominican Republic is right for you. Many resorts offer all inclusive services, which not only include food and beverage, but also include non-motorized water toys like kayaks and sail boats. They have great restaurants, shopping and spas with oceanfront massage palapas.

For the more adventurous at heart the options are endless. Scuba diving, deep sea fishing, hiking, 4x4 tours, sunset cruises, and many other spectacular tours.

My personal favorite is the 27 Waterfalls Tour just outside of Puerto Plata. The tour begins by meeting your personal local guide and don your helmet and life jacket at the "27 Charcos Visitor Center." From the visitor's center you will cross a wide river and begin a rigorous 90 minute hike up a mountain and into the jungle. You know you have reached the river when you hear the roaring waterfall "number 27" and will soon see it on your left. During the next two hours you will spend your time jumping from rocks (up to 25' in height) into crystal clear pools surrounded by sandstone walls. If you are not interested in jumping from all 27 waterfalls you do the shorter tour first 7 waterfalls, which will still give you great exposure to the beautiful area.

A few recommendations:
-Get to the visitor's center early, we arrived at 7am and were the first couple on the hike
-Bring cash, the cost is about $8 for 1-7 waterfalls or $14 for 1-27 waterfalls
-Plan on wearing tennis shoes or tight fitting water socks, Crocs and flip-flops will not work on this tour
-Bring a waterproof camera, there is NO way you will not get wet, in some cases the only way down is to get in the water
-HAVE FUN! There is no other tour in the world like this!-For more information visit the website www.27charcos.com

For more information on travel to the Dominican Republic or for anywhere else in the world please visit our website at www.bellamarconcierge.com or email us at bellamarconcierge@gmail.com, Thanks and happy traveling