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To provide hoteliers and travelers with a new way to give back during tough economic times, The OCeanfront coastal resort collection has partnered with Denver-based non-profit marketing agency Resort 2 Kindness, to execute a “Getaway 2 Give” program. Beginning August 15, travelers can choose from a two-night bed-and-breakfast package at any participating Orange County resort; 10 percent of proceeds will be donated to Oceana, Special Olympics Southern California, Make-A-Wish Orange County, and Lupus LA.

The participating OCeanfront hotels include: Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort; Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa; The Balboa Bay Club & Resort; Montage Laguna Beach; Surf & Sand Resort; The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; and Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa. In addition, guests who purchase a Getaway 2 Give package will receive VIP treatment at nearby South Coast Plaza, Orange County’s world-class shopping destination; visitors who show proof of package purchase to the Concierge will receive complimentary valet parking and an Access Pass to the plaza’s VIP Lounge.

“Getaway 2 Give is a win-win-win for travelers, the charities, and our resort members. Visitors to The OCeanfront win knowing their vacation dollars really count double — for both charity and an incredible travel experience. And the resorts benefit from the ability to offer great rates during the slower fall and winter months, as well as benefiting local organizations that support our communities.” –Blaise Bartell, The OCeanfront Chairman

Getaway 2 Give packages can be booked at http://www.TheOCeanfrontCA.com beginning August 15. Rates vary by property; booking subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply; see website for details. Travel must occur between September 13, 2010 and December 31, 2010.

The Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle®, a Southern and Central California wine tasting tour company, today announced its consistent number one ranking with TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index for Things to Do in Temecula, Santa Barbara, and Paso Robles. The company ranked number 1 out of 33 attractions in Temecula, 1 out of 62 attractions in Santa Barbara, and 1 out of 33 attractions in Paso Robles, respectively.

Companies like TripAdvisor™ provide unbiased reviews, articles, recommendations and opinions on companies like The Grapeline. Some of the previous Grapeline guests using TripAdvisor made comments like, “This Grapeline Wine tour was the most FUN that I have had in years” or “Santa Barbara wine tour that’s not like a tour” or “Would definitely use Grapeline again in the future.” The comments made on Web sites like TripAdvisor.com are posted by independent parties who have had first-hand experience with the company they review.

“We are very excited to see how well we are ranking with TripAdvisor, particularly since we put so much emphasis into providing our guests with top notch service every time they visit wine country with us. This number one ranking in the three largest cities we serve is quite an honor,” says Kim Kelliher, co-owner and current Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. “We believe independent review sites like TripAdvisor allow prospective guests to get an accurate picture of the great service they can expect on a Grapeline tour.”

The Grapeline has been providing tours in wine country since 2002, providing guests a safe and unique way to experience wine country. They offer tours seven days a week ranging from public tours to private charters. The all-inclusive “Vineyard Picnic Tour” is their most popular tour, offering wine tasting at four wineries and a picnic lunch.

About The Grapeline

Established in 2002, The Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle® offers wine tasting tours throughout Southern and Central California including Temecula Valley, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles. Serving individuals interested in a full day of wine tasting, as well as private groups desiring chartered wine country events, the company operates 7 days a week, 362 days per year, and serves about 1,800 guests per month. Headquartered in Temecula, California, The Grapeline is a privately held corporation and was named by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce as the 2005 Sterling Business of the Year. For more information visit www.gogrape.com or call (888) 894-6379.

The Cruise Guide Network launched a new guide to cruises from Los Angeles today. LosAngelesCruiseGuide.com is a free online guide that offers the complete schedule of cruises, ship information, photos and reviews. It is the most comprehensive guide to cruises from the busy ports of Los Angeles, California.

Los Angeles Cruise Guide even provides information on the port’s cruise terminals, and leads to hotels that are close to the terminals.

To celebrate the start of the new Guide, CruiseGuideNetwork.com is highlighting four cruises from Los Angeles in its weekly round-up of cruise deals. The bargains include a 16-night South America cruise, 14-day Panama Canal cruise, 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise, and a 14-day Hawaii cruise. These cruise deals are priced from just $63 per night per person.

Ships sail year-round from Los Angeles to Mexico, Hawaii, South America, Alaska, through the Panama Canal, and around the world. Eleven cruise lines offer voyages to fit any budget.

Cruise Guide Network’s “one stop shop” approach to cruise port information has made it famous among cruise lovers and has helped many thousands of travelers find their dream vacation. LosAngelesCruiseGuide.com is the 19th website in the Cruise Guide Network, which includes leading online guides to cruises from New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and New Orleans. All of the sites provide unbiased information in an easy to use format.

Internationally renowned as a mecca for wine and food, Napa has now established itself as a cultural destination with the launch of Napa ARTwalk, an outdoor sculpture exhibition in Downtown Napa. The new ARTwalk emphasizes Downtown Napa’s reputation as a walking town with more than 20 wine tasting rooms, 50 restaurants, unique retail stores, spas, live entertainment, historic walking tours, art galleries, river recreation, bicycling and more all within a two-mile area.

Focusing on the theme, “Celebrating the Napa River,” the inaugural exhibition is on display in public areas throughout Downtown Napa until May 2011, when a new exhibition of sculptures will be installed.

Artists from five Western states were invited to apply and a jury of arts professionals selected ten to participate in the inaugural exhibition. Napa ARTwalk’s 2010 artists include: Riis Burwell (Santa Rosa, CA), Nicky Falkenhayn (Portland, OR), Stephen Fitz-Gerald (Santa Rosa, CA), John King (Eureka, CA), Adrian Litman (Newark, CA), John Luebtow (Chatsworth, CA), Terrence Martin (West Sacramento, CA), Eric Powell (Berkeley, CA), Ann Shelby Valentine (Calistoga, CA) and Carlos Zamora (Oakland, CA).

An exhibition brochure and map is available at several locations throughout downtown including the Napa Valley Visitors’ Center or may be downloaded at www.NapaARTwalk.org. Visitors are invited to take the self-guided Napa ARTwalk tour along First Street and the Napa River, and explore and interact with the sculpture exhibition on their own time, hearing audio commentary about each of the ten pieces on display through a new breakthrough in Smart Phone technology. With a single download of a free Smart Phone application, visitors can “scan” cards next to each sculpture and hear an audio explanation of the work directly through their cellular phones.

During the 11-month program, the public will have the opportunity to vote on its favorite sculpture work by marking the ballot on the map and dropping it in one of the 10 ballot boxes conveniently located along the walking route.

The goal of Napa ARTwalk is to expand public art in Napa and add to the cultural landscape of the city by showcasing innovative sculpture. The exhibition will rotate annually, with a new theme each year and expanded locations as feasible. The program is jointly sponsored by Arts Council Napa Valley and the City of Napa’s Redevelopment Agency and helps fulfill Arts Council Napa Valley’s Community Cultural Plan to “Build Effective Awareness of the Arts” and “Establish Effective Arts Public Policies.”

“The Napa ARTwalk helps build a stronger sense of community downtown and provides another reason to explore the area,” said Craig Smith, executive director of the Napa Downtown Association. “This exhibition encourages people to walk around Downtown Napa and see everything we have to offer, including the river which is this year’s theme,” he added. “We are always looking at ways to enhance our downtown, and public art is a key component to the revitalization of any downtown area.”

For more information on this year’s ARTwalk exhibition, please visit www.NapaARTwalk.org or call 707-257-2117. For more information about Downtown Napa, please visit: www.napadowntown.com or call 707-257-0322.