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Westin Kids Club Halifax.jpgThis summer, relax in Halifax while the kids have the time of their lives. The Westin Nova Scotian is offering great rates on fun-filled family vacations with the Westin Nova Scotian Kids Club Package. It's got everything kids need to have a wonderful time, from a special Westin Kids Club Workout to carnival games and summertime crafts to movies complete with pizza and popcorn. Upon arrival, you'll be met by a Westin Kids Club Ambassador who will offer a warm welcome to the harbor-front hotel and explain all the activities in store. The summer kids club is run by a talented team and is spearheaded by the former leader of a local Boys & Girls club, so everything is top-notch and designed for a safe, fun, and memorable experience for the whole family. Visit here for more information - including a complete list of activities - and book your Halifax family vacation today.

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Dining in the Dark, Wherever You Are

Friday August 20, 2010

If dining by candlelight is more romantic than eating in a fully lit room, imagine how romantic dining in the dark must be! Uh, right. Actually, there are several restaurants scattered around the world that give diners a taste of what it's like to eat blind. Rather than a romantic thing, it's meant to show how much your other senses come into play when your eyes are out of the picture.

The trend started in Zurich, Switzerland, at Blindekuh, where much of the staff is blind and you enter the pitch-black dining room in a conga line behind your server, so as not to bump into anything. Dinner is accompanied by an unseen a cappella group. make your way there from the Sheraton Zurich Neues Schloss.

Blindkuh inspired Montreal's O.NOIR, a couple blocks from Le Meridien Versailles, remains a popular date night destination and boasts the biggest menu of those I've come across.

After watching the sunset in Santa Monica, head over to the stylish Opaque, a few minutes from the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica. Not everyone loves the experience - or the prices -- but many love the sensory deprivation experience. And this may be the only restaurant in LA where you won't see a single cell phone.

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Sheraton Newfoundland.jpgLooking for a last-minute summer vacation idea? St. John's, Newfoundland is the perfect destination for a late-season getaway, and right now you can enjoy great rates on stays in one of the city's finest hotels. The Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland is offering rates of just CAD $109 for stays from August 21 - September 8, 2010. Simply arrive any day of the week except Wednesday for a three night stay and you can enjoy more vacation for less, with plenty of time to take in attractions like The Rooms cultural space, the Cape Spear Lighthouse, and the shops and pubs of George Street. There's plenty to enjoy in the hotel as well, from its flexible meeting space and health club to its indoor swimming pool, perfect for relaxing after a day of sightseeing. Dinner at the Cabot Club Dining Room involves fresh regional cuisine and views of St. John's Harbor, while Bivver Lounge is the perfect spot to unwind with friends and family and plan your next day's adventures. There are only 109 rooms available at this rate, so book your getaway online or call 1-866-716-8101 and mention rate code LASTMIN1.

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Theatre on the Edge in Edmonton, Canada

Thursday August 12, 2010

Edinburgh, Scotland isn't the only city starting with "E" with a fringe theatre festival in August. The 29th annual Edmonton International Fringe Festival in Edmonton, Canada begins this week and runs through August 22.

The festival is the second largest in the world, after Edinburgh, and this year will feature more than 1,200 performances of 230 shows in traditional theaters and just about any other available space, including but not limited to bars, churches, bookstores and even "the old shed just south of the railroad tracks." Shows range in complexity and style from full staged productions to single performers busking on the street, and tickets range from $14 down to whatever change you can spare. The Westin Edmonton makes an excellent home base as you explore the cutting edge of theatre.

Not familiar with fringe theatre? That's OK, it's easy to learn. The festival even offers a free "first-time fringer program" at the festival's Internet Cafe and Wine Bar, explaining everything you need to know and giving you access to a coupon for three shows for just $30.

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Whistler 2.jpgThe Westin Resorts SPG Twitter Contest ended the week in grand style, with ten quick-thinking followers of @SPGinsider winning tickets to a future Live Nation event by tweeting the correct answer to the final trivia question. The week-long contest concluded with the question, "Name two of Westin's resorts across North America where you can go from heli-skiing to snowboarding to après-ski." It wasn't long before the Westin trivia experts out there let their voices be heard, correctly tweeting The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain, The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth, The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler, The Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain, and Le Westin Resort & Spa, Tremblant, Quebec. All five are idyllic four-season resorts, with activities ranging from golf, tennis, and mountain-biking, to some of the finest downhill and cross-country skiing on the planet. And the action only heats up as the sun goes down. At The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler (pictured), for example, after a day of adventures, you can enjoy a relaxing dinner at the Aubergine Grill, a 150-seat show kitchen restaurant, followed by cocktails in the FireRock lounge. Keep up with all the latest news - as well as future contests - by following @SPGinsider on Twitter.

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she665wn.37819.jpgOttawa comes alive in the summer, with sidewalk cafes, open-air galleries, and music along the Rideau Canal, and if you've ever considered visiting for a weekend, here's a great opportunity. Now through September 6, 2010 you can enjoy 109 rooms for $109 for weekend stays in the biggest summer sale yet. It's a simple as that, book today and take advantage of this great rate for weekend stays in the heart of the Canadian capital throughout the summer. Explore the majestic buildings on Parliament Hill, go for a hike or bike ride in Gatineau Park, or check out the latest exhibits at the National Gallery of Canada. And you'll find plenty to keep you busy at the hotel as well, from a heated indoor pool and sauna to its 24-hour fitness center, with everything you need to stay in shape on the road. Hungry? Grab a sandwich or salad at the casual European-style Carleton Grill, or indulge in a cocktail and some light fare at Sasha's Bar, located in the lobby library. Whatever your plans for Ottawa, you've got to act fast, because rooms are limited and rates won't last long. Book your Ottawa summer weekend getaway online or call 1-866-716-8101 and mention rate code LASTMIN1.

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LeWestinMontreal.jpgThe 454 guest rooms, sleek 23-story tower, and three historic restored buildings that comprise Le Westin Montreal are sanctuaries of renewal, complete with thoughtful amenities to enhance your experience on the property as well as in the city at large. Montreal's newest hotel is located between Old Montreal and the business district, an ideal junction between work, play, shopping, dining, and nightlife. In between, the city is at your beck and call, whether enjoying the summer weather in Jean Drapeau Park, learning about eco-action at the Biosphere, or browsing the area's discerning boutiques and art galleries. The stunning Gazette restaurant, which offers a taste of contemporary Quebec cuisine, and the perfect-for-a-nightcap Reporter Lounge will keep you satiated and bubbly at your home away from home.

In celebration of its first anniversary, Le Westin Montreal is presenting its best deal of the year. Bring your family or friends and take advantage of a savings of almost $100 per night. The anniversary rate starts at CAD $179 and includes breakfast for up to two adults and two kids under age 12 (value CAD $69.50) and complimentary parking (value CAD $27). This offer is valid for arrivals all days of the week, for stays through August 27, 2010. View this and our other Montreal hotel deals online, or call 1-866-716-8101 and reference promo code MDS to reserve. Hurry as availability is limited.

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Beyond Imaginings.jpgToronto's Harbourfront Centre cultural facility is celebrating Ontario's Greenbelt - the largest of its kind in the world - with perspectives on it by eight different Canadian artists. Beyond Imaginings: Eight Artists Encounter Ontario's Greenbelt presents 72 large-scale photographs that document the exploration and enjoyment of this amazing space. Each artist assessed one of three aspects of the Greenbelt's 1.8 million acres, Working the Land, Natural Beauty, and the People of the Greenbelt, and the results are enlightening, enchanting, and beautiful. Becky Comber's photos of the park's forests (pictured), for example, have a vibrancy and depth that make them seem almost three-dimensional. Keesic Douglas, meanwhile, provides perspectives from the water, the bow of his boat visible in every shot. And Meera Margaret Singh captures the essence of the people along the trail, portraying faces both rugged and kind, mirroring the landscape itself. Starwood has hotels throughout the Toronto area, including the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto.

[image via Harbourfront Centre]

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Le Westin Tremblant.jpgSummer is spectacular in Canada, and so are the rates at Starwood properties across the country. With the Go Canada offer, you can save up to 35% on summer travel to more than fifty destinations from Nova Scotia to British Columbia to Saskatchewan. Fans of sunsets over the water might check into the Westin Grand, Vancouver, an all-suite hotel at the crossroads of trendy Yaletown and Robson Streets. Located in the heart of Canada's cultural and financial capital, Le Méridien King Edward in Toronto is perfect for those seeking the ultimate cosmopolitan experience, with a century-long tradition of classic hospitality and modern sensibility. And for outdoorsy types who still want their luxuries, there's Le Westin Resort & Spa, Tremblant, Quebec (pictured). This four-season resort is an ideal summer getaway, with nearby golf, hiking trails, and water sports as well as a full-service spa and a variety of fine dining restaurants. The offer is good for stays through September 6, 2010, and the sale ends at midnight on July 1. Go Canada this summer and save up to 35% on summer travel.

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Westin Bayshore Vancouver Room Photo.jpgStill glowing from the Winter Olympics, Vancouver is one of this summer's hottest travel destinations, and if you've never experienced British Columbia's biggest city, here's a great opportunity. The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next eight weeks. Located by 1,000-acre Stanley Park and just minutes from central Vancouver, this luxurious destination offers the best of both worlds. Fans of outdoor adventures can take their pick, from kayaking in the bay to walking, cycling, or inline skating on an 8.8 kilometer seawall that encircles the park. When you've worn yourself out having fun, retreat to the hotel for some serious pampering. Float in the indoor and outdoor pool, sweat it out in the fitness center's steam room and sauna, or indulge in an in-room massage treatment, just perfect for making sore muscles feel better. Dining is a pleasure at Currents at Bayshore restaurant, which serves fresh regional and local cuisine in an intimate atmosphere with views of Coal Harbor and the North Shore Mountains. And there's nothing better to end the day than a cocktail at Seawall Bar & Grill, where you can clink glasses with your friends and reflect on your adventures. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest destinations.

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Starwood Preferred Guests can now stay updated on the latest travel trends. A core group of experts – including Starwood employees and SPG members – provide updates on unique and noteworthy travel experiences around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at exciting Starwood travel destinations and receive daily articles using TheLobby.com widget for your blog, desktop or web page.
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