HONEYMOONS WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE... Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain

Are you dreaming of an island resort, that’s all-inclusive, yet one-of-a-kind?

Here's Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, St Lucia’s exclusive creations by Nick Troubetzkoy.

It’s passionate nature…

The architect’s dream was to marry foliage and flowers, perfumes and peaks, sea and bird song.

It’s classic simplicity…

The resort's intimate size ensures that your honeymoon will not be a mass market statistic on your arrival list but that there will be a genuine endeavour by management and staff to provide YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE with the holiday of a lifetime.

It’s remote…

The sign said, “2 miles, Anse Chastanet”, but the potholed dirt road, going straight up cliffs and around hairpin turns, forbidding you to take even a glimpse of the famous Pitons, let you know that you are headed for a decadently secret hideout.

It’s exclusive…

The guard announces your arrival at the understated entrance. You have no idea, that, in store for you, is an exquisitely decorated treehouse, with original oil art and world-renowned views, even from your bed! (Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain have the singular privilege of Piton views from guestrooms!)

It’s a pristine island playground…

The Soufrieire Marine Sanctuary is an acclaimed snorkel and dive spot. There’s also the Searenity, a 42’ sailboat for sundowner sails, and lots of jungle biking, rainforest crossing, zip-lining, and hiking on the 600-acre estate!

It’s the epitome of haute architecture….

When it comes to lodging, you have “arrived” at Jade Mountain’s Sanctuaries. With more than 2000 square feet completely open to the sky and scene, with 900 square-foot infinity pools right next to your bed that drop you (visually) into the sea, with a clever design that gives you complete exposure yet absolute privacy… Jade Mountain has been declared #1 in the Caribbean, and #3 in the World!

It’s all about peace, tranquility, and romance

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HONEYMOONS WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.... Sandals Luxury-Included Resorts

Savor your morning latte at the Parisian chocolate shop, then strike out on a guided scuba dive. Boat out to the private island for lunch at the Thai hut, followed by a little beach time. Take in a golf clinic, cool off in your private plunge pool, then be escorted to the sunset beach for your candlelit dinner-for-two. Choose from a live reggae band or some casino action, before retiring to the beach to sip champagne under the stars while the steel pannist performs,

AND NEVER TOUCH YOUR WALLET! IT’S ALL INCLUDED!

That is the magic of the Sandal’s philosophy, the “Luxury-Included” Resort for couples in love.

So why chose Sandals above the slew of All-inclusives out there?

Ø Everything’s TRULY included! Want green-fee-free golfing? Like to scuba dive, without tank charges? Looking for your favorite top-shelf mixed drink? Need a wheelchair? A babysitter? Want to dine at your favorite restaurant every night without keeping track? This is the place! No nickel-n-diming like other All-inclusives.

Ø It’s first class, all the way! Sandals has excelled by offering exclusive perks like English butler service, creating intimate dining nooks, designing bedrooms with luxurious linens, and cooperating with celebrity names like Preston Bailey, the Wedding Planner Extraordinaire, to add all the special touches.

Ø Spectacular settings! Whether abutting the historic Pigeon Island of St Lucia, the famous 7-mile Beach of Jamaica, or the stunning Grace Bay (named on Conde Naste’s Top 10 Beaches of the World) on Turks/Caicos, Sandals properties showcase some of the Caribbean’s prime real estate. Sandals is expert at manicuring beautiful landscapes with exquisite waterfall-ed pool sanctuaries, intimate hammock-beds-for-2, and breathtaking candlelit outdoor dinner venues!

Ø Stay-at-1, Play-at-3! You enjoy full reciprocity between Sandal’s resorts, via their complimentary shuttle. On St Lucia and Jamaica, you can stay at any one Sandals properties, and dine, beach, golf, and party at any of the others, as much as you like.

To hear more about the Sandals properties or get a brochure, email Melanie @ Melanie@ToughLoveTravel.com!

SQUEEZIN’ THE LAST DROPS OF SUMMER FUN!

Camp is done, and school’s still a month away. How will you squeeze the last fun out of this summer? Here’s how:

• Find a festival!

Ballooning! July 26- August 1. http://www.balloonfestnj.com/

Music and Arts! August 14-16. http://www.skylands.org/

Chowder! October 3-4. http://www.chowderfest.com/

• Visit Grounds For Sculpture! This 35-acre outdoor sculpture garden in Hamilton, NJ, inspired by Seward Johnson, is a great place to experience sculpture, meet resident artists, let the kids romp, and enjoy a cocktail and dinner at one of the on-site restaurants (The Gazebo is moderately priced and right on the lily pond… a gorgeous setting in the early evening. http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/dining.htm

• Grab a blanket under the stars! Try Sunday Night Movies on the Beach in Belmar: http://belmar.com/index.php?s=movies+on+the+beach Or outdoor Shakespeare in Madison: http://www.shakespearenj.org/

• Pick something! Berries abound in central jersey! Here is a directory of local spots to pick-you-own: http://www.pickyourown.org/NJcentral.htm#listings and if you’re feeling really ambitious, here’s a jam-making guide: http://www.pickyourown.org/jam.htm

• Have fun on the river! Tube from Point Pleasant (PA side) http://www.rivercountry.net/, stroll river towns, have a campfire at Bull’s Island (north of Stockton) and even pitch a tent for the night if you’re inspired http://www.dandrcanal.com/camping.html, join a guided whitewater canoe trip on the Northern Delaware http://www.kittatinny.com/, or hang out on the wing dam by Lambertville at sunset (with a disposable hibachi and some marinated chicken and a cooler of cold drinks, you’re all set) http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3876556

• Go on a Lighthouse Lark! Follow these special structures and their history along the Jersey shore, Here’s a map to help plan your route: http://www.lighthousefriends.com/nj.html and end your day at Barnegat Light, with a sunset sail out onto Barnegat Bay. (if you go on Wednesdays, you can be on the Fireworks Sail!) http://seacaptain.hypermart.net

• Cheer at the Races! Check out thoroughbreds at Monmouth: http://www.monmouthpark.com/ (click on Racing tab for calendar). Or harness-racing at Freehold, starting August 12th: http://www.freeholdraceway.com/

• Visit the Liberty Science Center! In Jersey City, the IMAX is featuring “Wild Oceans”, “Sea Monsters”, and Jane Goodall’s “Wild Chimpanzees”. http://www.lsc.org/lsc/visit/directions

• Learn something! Pick something you’ve always wanted to try, and take a class:

Surfing! http://www.surfingshipbottom.com/

Pottery! http://www.cassellpottery.com/Lessons.htm

Cooking! http://www.westfieldtoday.com/classicthyme (they do 3-hour team-building cooking events! Perfect for a family!)

Kayaking! http://www.kayakeast.com

• Catch something! Go crabbing: Here’re lots of easy spots, right from the dock; http://www.scottsbt.com/misc/crabbing/crabbingspots.htm Go fishing: Try http://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/, or on Long Beach Island, the Miss Beach Haven “party” boat: http://www.missbeachhaven.com/

• Make a day of it at the Shore! Check out Seaside Heights: http://www.discoverourtown.com/NJ/SeasideHeights/Shopping/121037.html You can visit the nature center at Island Beach State Park, picnic, stroll the boardwalk, and then play at the amusement park on the way home. Arrange a banana boat ride as a special surprise! (Island Beach Park fills up on hot days, so get there early!)

• Hike! The shady, streamside paths of the Delaware Water Gap are a welcome shelter from summer’s heat, and Sunfish Pond makes a great lunch stop! http://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/hiking-nj.htm

• Go to Liberty State Park, ferry across to Manhattan, and Bike Tour! At Bike the Big Apple, they’ll set up custom tours for you, give you guides and bikes, and even help you to their starting point! http://bikethebigapple.com/calendar.html

• Canoe! Explore the cranberry bogs and deep into the pine barrens, http://pineypower.com/canoetrip/canoe_trip.htm or even cruise along one of the local canals closer to home in Griggstown and Princeton, http://www.canoenj.com/. Here’s state-wide directory, http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/outdoors/Canoeing/index.php (remember the sunscreen and hat, a cooler of iced drinks, and dry shorts for the ride home!)

• Go to the Ballpark!

The Trenton Thunder http://www.trentonthunder.com/ or the Lakewood BlueClaws, by the shore http://www.blueclaws.com/ or even a pre- season Giants Football scrimmage, http://www.giantsfootballblog.com/category/2009-pre-season/

• Ferry between Camden and Philly! The Camden Aquarium http://www.adventureaquarium.com/index.cfm, has special exhibits on sharks, touch tanks, creatures of the Caribbean, penguins and seals, and even exotic bird feeding… then ferry over to Philly for a cheesesteak on South Street! For ferry info: http://www.riverlinkferry.org/

• Be a Farmhand! At Howell Living History Farm, kids and parents can harvest honey, plant and water crops, weigh pigs, and learn about farm life as it was on this historic property: http://www.howellfarm.org/information/information.htm

• See how many different ethnic foods you can eat in one day/week! New Jersey is a wealth of ethnic boros, so map out a course and go for it!

Cuban food in Union City: http://www.havanarestaurant.net/

Portuguese food in Newark’s Ironbound section: http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/2006/05/21/nj-dining-newarks-ironbound/

Italian: DeLorenzo’s Tomato Pies (Chambersburg) is a Winner! Only open Thursday – Sunday.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46874-d485590-Reviews-De_Lorenzo_s_Tomato_Pies-Trenton_New_Jersey.html

Greek: Try Mythos, in Glen Rock. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/639738

Irish in Kearny: They’re more than haggis! Argyle Fish& Chips.

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/01/new-jersey-dispatch-robert-burns-day-haggis-argyle-stewarts-kearny.html

West Indian: Real Jamaican Jerk, in Somerset. http://www.realjamaicanjerk.com/

Amish: New serving location at Trenton’s Farmer’s Market! http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2009/07/amish_set_up_shop_at_trenton_f.html

GET OUT AND MAKE SOME MEMORIES FOR SUMMER '09!