What's New in Minneapolis

#MeetMinneapolis

Leisure travel and tourism news from the Bold North

Minneapolis visitors and residents are fully embracing the springtime with seasonal fun, festivals and enjoying the City by Nature's unique neighborhoods. With this Meet Minneapolis leisure travel round-up, explore Northeast Minneapolis, and plan your festival season as everything new is about getting outdoors, eating or both.

What's New in Illinois in 2018

From The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism www.enjoyillinois.com

Frank Lloyd Wright Trail – NEW
Introduced in May 2018, the new Frank Lloyd Wright Trail in Illinois is a self-guided architectural adventure featuring 13 Wright-designed buildings open to the public throughout Illinois.

Titanosaur Joins the Field Museum - SPRING 2018
As the Field Museum celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2018, the biggest dinosaur ever discovered – the Titanosaur – makes its debut in late Spring. It would take about 14 Titanosaurs to climb up Willis Tower.

Glamping in Kakadu - Flash Camp to operate at Cooinda over dry season

Flash Camp @ Kakadu will operate at Cooinda from June through to September

Kakadu is predicting a rise in 'happy campers' following the announcement that Flash Camp will return for a third season at the Cooinda Camping Ground from 16 June to 16 September 2018.

Set in beautifully shady grounds, 'Flash Camp @ Kakadu' offers bespoke bell tent accommodation in the heart of Kakadu National Park, ideal for those seeking an effortless camping experience while exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Listed wilderness.

Accommodation will include double and twin bell tents with spring-foam mattresses on pallet bases, quality bed linen, fresh towels, bamboo furniture, toiletries and Armadillo & Co rugs. Tents have power, lighting and a fan, though nights are usually mild throughout the "winter" season (18 – 20C).

Flash Camp tents can be configured especially for families, allowing two adjacent tents to be allocated for family groups and a communal Flash tent will be available for relaxing and enjoying complimentary tea and coffee.

Flash Camp guests have access to communal toilet and shower facilities, barbeques, as well as a restaurant, bar and pools at the adjoining Cooinda Lodge. A pop-up up Food Truck will operate throughout the peak season offering quality, inexpensive takeaway food such as Barra & Chips.

Cooinda is one of the most convenient bases for touring Kakadu, with Yellow Water Cruises and Spirit of Kakadu Adventure tours operating from Cooinda.  Warradjan Cultural Centre – a showcase for Kakadu's Indigenous culture and heritage – is just five minutes' drive from the campground, and major tourist sites like Nourlangie, Anbangbang, Twin Falls, Jim Jim and Gunlom all within an easy drive.

"Flash Camp is ideal for travellers who like the idea of camping but don't want to have to have to bring all the camping equipment with them, let alone put up the tent and then take it down," said Cooinda General Manager, Brett Skinner.

"It offers a harmonious balance of comfort and reconnection with nature, and is perfect for the season because there is rarely any rain and nights are mild. Last year Flash Camp proved very popular with families, couples and groups. We had people from all over the world opt for the Flash Camp over conventional accommodation once they saw how comfortable the tents were.

"It is really exciting to be able to offer a hassle-free, low-impact camping experience in the heart of one of Australia's most environmentally and culturally rich destinations."

Cooinda Camping Ground is located next to Yellow Water Billabong, thirty minutes from Jabiru and just over three hours' drive from Darwin.

'Flash Camp @ Kakadu' rates start at $140 per night. For more information and bookings, visit: http://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation or phone: (08) 8979 1500.

Kakadu Accommodation & Hotels - Kakadu Tourism - Kakadu www.kakadutourism.com

Gympie Music Muster returns to Queensland's Sunshine Coast Hinterland

#queensland

In its 37th year, the Gympie Music Muster presents a festival experience like no other. Across four massive days from the 23rd to 26th August, 2018, patrons will not only see some of Australia's most iconic blues and country stars perform live, but they will also have the opportunity to participate, collaborate with and learn from their favourite artists. With the introduction of educational workshops and more collaborative performances than ever before, the Muster has evolved into much more than just a music festival.

The Muster has been the scene of countless memories, friendships forming, musical mateships, and careers being launched; it is an institution on the Australian festival calendar and a legend among Queensland events. The Muster has something for everyone, from the tiniest tacker to the wisest veteran.


Headline performances on the Main Stage are always the centre of the party.

The Muster is steeped in tradition, however, this year heralds the entry of some brand new experiences to the program –

Colorado Springs New Adventures for 2018

Colorado Springs, home to more than 55 attractions and activities including Pikes Peak – America's Mountain and Garden of the Gods Park, Colorado Springs is sure to inspire an unforgettable visit. 

Six Senses opens first city hotel in Singapore - Six Senses Duxton

The brand's first city hotel brings sustainable, community-focused luxury hospitality to Singapore

 

 

Six Senses Duxton, the first city hotel from acclaimed hospitality and wellness company Six Senses, is now open at 83 Duxton Road in historic Tanjong Pagar in the Chinatown area of Singapore. Along with sister hotel Six Senses Maxwell opening later this year, Six Senses Duxton seeks to engage with the surrounding neighborhood and provide a new level of sustainability practiced in Singapore.

"Six Senses Duxton aims not only to deliver a five-star luxury hotel experience, but to actively improve the surrounding neighbourhood and natural environment as we do so," says Six Senses Chief Executive Officer Neil Jacobs. "Singapore has been my home for almost 20 years, specifically the colourful enclave of Tanjong Pagar. Together with our team, I am delighted to bring our unique new urban Six Senses experience to life in Singapore, and for us to enrich and be enriched by the Duxton and Maxwell communities."
 
In addition to infusing a touch of local culture and quirkiness into each property, Six Senses is known for its commitment to authenticity, community, and sustainability. Six Senses Duxton was originally a row of traditional shophouses, re-designed and re-utilized to harmoniously blend the shophouse aesthetic with the comfort of a modern hotel. As a conservation project, Six Senses Duxton has received the Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award.

"We look forward to welcoming you to experience a hotel that is truly different from the inside out.  Numerous processes and procedures are in place to ensure that we truly 'walk the walk' in terms of adhering to our commitments to sustainability and conservation," says General Manager Murray Aitken. "We are focused on the creation and operation of self-sustaining hotels that are supportive of social equity and leave a legacy for future generations."

Six Senses Duxton and Six Senses Maxwell are focused on enhancing social and economic benefits to neighbouring communities. Six Senses supports Singapore entrepreneurs by looking to local suppliers before a search for any product or service is expanded regionally. From in-room minibar items to restaurant ingredients to hotel operating supplies, priority has always been to source and partner locally.  In this spirit, exclusive partnerships within the community will be announced in the coming months, giving Six Senses guests additional access to unique local experiences and extending the brand's reach into the surrounding community.


OPENING OFFER

Guests can enjoy an exclusive opening offer of 15% savings on the Best Available Rate when booking online through Six Senses' website. Offer includes welcome amenities and unlimited WiFi access.

Terms & Conditions: Valid for stays until 30 June 2018. The offer is applicable for all room and suite categories.

 

World's first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner touches down in Australia

Singapore Airlines flight SQ223 touched down in Perth today at 14:21pm marking the world's first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner flight to Australia.

Perth has become just the second destination in the world, behind Osaka Japan, to welcome the newest member of the Dreamliner family for regular scheduled services.

Singapore Airlines' Regional Vice President South West Pacific, Mr Philip Goh, said the deployment of the 787-10 to Perth, the first Australian city to welcome the new Dreamliner, is a testament to the Airline's longstanding connection to the city.

"Perth was the very first destination we operated to in Australia more than 50 years ago," Mr Goh said.

"Today we mark another fantastic milestone with the arrival of the 787-10 further emphasising our commitment to this wonderful city.

"With the arrival of the 787-10 we are not only providing our West Australian customers the latest in aircraft technology but also our newest regional cabin products, which I am sure will delight our customers."

Passengers travelling on the inaugural flight from of Perth today, 7 May, to Singapore were treated to pleasant surprises at check-in and boarding. A string quartet from the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO), an organisation proudly supported by Singapore Airlines for the past six years, entertained customers who were also served light refreshments.  Premium passengers in the Airline's SilverKris Lounge enjoyed a magical atmosphere, thanks to a harpist from WASO.

From Tuesday 8 May onwards, the 787-10 will be deployed to operate SQ215 departing Singapore at 18:45 and arriving in Perth at 23:55, before turning around and operating as SQ216 departing Perth at 01:10 and arriving in Singapore at 06:35.

The new 787-10s are configured with 337 seats across two classes, featuring 36 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout and 301 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 layout. The new seating configuration represents an almost 5% increase in overall weekly seat capacity to Perth.

The new cabin products feature full-flat beds in Business Class, with a staggered forward-facing layout providing direct aisle access for all customers. The ergonomically-designed Economy Class seats feature contoured backrests and six-way adjustable headrests to provide greater comfort and neck support. All customers will enjoy the latest in personalised in-flight entertainment through myKrisWorld.

The Airline's 787-10s will be used on flights of up to eight hours duration, with more destinations to be added as additional aircraft are received.

Singapore Airlines is the largest customer for the 787-10, with firm orders for 49 of the aircraft. The Airline is investing US$350 million to install the new medium-haul cabin products on the first 20 787-10 aircraft.

Facebook.com/SingaporeAir