It’s hard to believe that in just a few days, we will be saying good-bye to July and heading into the final month of summer with Labor Day weekend just around the corner. By now, we hope you’ve had time to do some of things you had planned when summer first started. But, if not, there’s still time to plan a trip and make the most of the rest of summertime. And, it just so happens that Turner PR knows the best destinations to check out thanks to our great clients, located in some of the coolest destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Caribbean.

Whether you want to stay state-side or head south of the border, we have a few suggestions for that last minute summer escape.

In Colorado, you can check out the upcoming Perseids meteor shower in Estes Park. The Estes Park Memorial Observatory is the perfect place to star-gaze away from the city lights and see the meteors up-close. Over Labor Day weekend, Estes will be hosting their annual Arts & Crafts Show. More than 100 booths will feature a variety of art, including paintings and drawings, jewelry, metal work, clothing, gourmet pantry items, wood carvings, pottery, glass and more.

In the beautiful mountain town of Telluride, the 37th Annual Film Festival will take place September 3-6. Staying true to the spirit of film-making, this Festival is intended for pure indulgence and enjoyment of films. The program is kept secret and isn’t released until just before the Festival kicks off, a great way to watch the movies without bias.

Haven’t had a chance to stick your toes in the sand? Then, head to Mexico’s Riviera Maya for a last minute trip. Over Labor Day Weekend, on September 4th the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is presenting a Latin salsa and jazz concert in the Riviera Maya’s gorgeous seaside village of Tulum. The concert will feature a selection of renowned Latin salsa and jazz artists including Araya-Orta Latin Jazz Quartet, Eddie Palmieri and India.

For the adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts out there, be sure to check out the awesome Weekend Getaways offered by REI Adventures. No matter where you are located in the U.S., a Weekend Getaway is nearby. Whether you want to learn to rock climb in New Hampshire, Virginia or North Carolina, kayak in Washington’s San Juan Islands or Wyoming’s Yellowstone Lakes, backpack in Shenandoah, hike in Vermont or summit a peak in California, REI has the ideal trip for you. Many Weekend Getaways still have space available but make sure to book soon before they fill up!

It’s not too late to take a break and have a real summer vacation with family and friends…now get out there and have some fun!

With the World Cup, U.S. Open, Comic-Con, SXSW and countless other events and brands developing promotions with location services, we’re calling 2010 the “Year of the Check-in.”  From iPad, to Blackberry, to Droid, and everything in between, we’re more connected to our friends and neighborhoods than ever before. If you’re having a hard time determining which geolocation app is for you, below is our cheat sheet to finding the best downloads for deals, badges, pins and even finding a new TV show.

FourSquare
Easily seen as the leader in location apps, FourSquare’s more than two million users have helped skyrocket this startup into application super stardom. Encouraged by the opportunity to win badges by checking in multiple times at designated locations, as well as by area specials offered by local businesses, FourSquare focuses on building community and encouraging repeat business. Though the app encourages checking in to earn points throughout the day, partnerships with media giants like the New York Times, Bravo, and CNN have overshadowed the original purpose of participating in a game to earn points against other users .

GoWalla
Though GoWalla’s network is small at fewer than 500,000 users, this app has become a heavy hitter in the world of geolocation partnerships and promotions, working with brands such as Nike and Paul Frank. Users can check in, create a network of friends, share tips and earn pins to add to their GoWalla virtual passport. Once embraced mostly by California iPhone users, as of July, this app is now available on Blackberry and is increasing its reach beyond the West Coast.

Loopt
The original geolocation service for mobile devices, Loopt now boasts 4 million users since its launch in 2005. With variants like LooptPulse and LooptMix, the application allows users not only to track and contact friends, but almost recommend venues and locations, and even meet new friends. Rather than earning pins or badges, the new LooptStar now integrates brand rewards in the form of discounts and free music.

Others to watch:
MyTown
With more than 2.5 million users, this app for iPhone and Facebook is a combination of FourSquare and Farmville, creating a Monopoly-esque game where along with check-ins, players purchase property and collect rent.

GoMiso
With only 12,000 users, this app for iPhone may have a small network, but also has the most potential. Not limited to larger urban areas, GoMiso is the check-in game for TV lovers. Currently running a large Tour de France promotion, GoMiso allows users to check in to TV, films, and web series, and earn badges along the way. User numbers may be small, but there are already promotions with TNT, FOX, and Digg.

Google Latitude
http://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html
Similar to Loopt, Google Latitude may not be one of the most talked about apps, but as with all things Google, the numbers are impressive. More than 3 million users use the online and mobile app (which runs through Google Maps) to track and contact their friends, thanks to integration with GTalk.

More Resources:
ReadWriteWeb

Mashable

GeekSugar

Last week, our team hosted a great group of travel and real estate writers from the New York Post, Islands, Unique Homes and Caribbean Living in the British Virgin Islands, where they got to know our clients, Biras Creek Resort, North Sound Yacht Club and Oil Nut Bay. We took in the sights, had a few local libations and learned all about what it means to vacation and live like a Caribbean islander. Now that we’re experts, we’re sharing our top five things to do in BVI, all tried-and-true by your Turner PR team and our fellow explorers.

1)    Enjoy the local cuisine. Preferably aboard a 130-ft megayacht like the one David V. Johnson, owner/developer of Oil Nut Bay, North Sound Yacht Club and Biras Creek Resort, invited us aboard for breakfast one morning. If you can’t make that happen, we suggest indulging in several of the local favorite: Painkillers, delicious drinks made with rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice and nutmeg. They’ll make you forget all about that megayacht.

2)    Have a motorboating (this still makes us giggle) race through the renowned boating waters of the North Sound surrounding Virgin Gorda; we took out the complimentary Boston Whalers provided for guests of Biras Creek Resort. Afterwards, the loser buys Painkillers for all at one of the many cool island bars in the vicinity. Our favorite? The Fat Virgin, for both drinks and world famous conch fritters.

3)    Go spelunking at The Baths, one of the great natural wonders of the world. While known for its exceptional snorkeling, it also features magnificent caves and grottos. Just take our word and pay close attention to where you came from (there are plenty of signs leading you in, but strangely, none out!). We got lost and were forced to blame the whole situation on Eddy, our male tour guide, a.k.a.  guest from Islands, because aren’t men supposed to have a better internal compass for these sorts of things?

4)    Enjoy (read: harass) the local wildlife. We trailed an eagle ray and sea turtle while snorkeling at The Baths, tracked iguanas, hermit crabs and conch at Biras Creek Resort, and spotlighted sea urchins, lobster, sea cucumbers and loads of fish from Biras’ glass bottom boat.

5)    Exercise your inner-adventurer. We went sea kayaking, boating, snorkeling and hiking all in one day. We also enjoyed biking around Biras’ expansive grounds (fun, but we’re curious where the expression, “It’s just like riding a bike” came from. Riding a bike for the first time in five years is hard!). Don’t be afraid to try something new – we went paddle boarding, and then tried our hand at surfing. We didn’t get far, but we had a blast. We think the “belongers” (those who hail from the islands) would be proud.

With the 4th of July quickly approaching sometimes it is hard not to think about the typical all American-activities like bbq, watching fireworks, going to parades, and entertaining by the pool. After living on the East Coast and in Colorado I feel like I have done everything I can possibly think of for the Fourth- from escaping to the beach to attending what seems like a decade of ordinary Fourth of July gatherings full of food, drink, and everything red, white, and blue.

But no matter if you want to stay close to home in Denver or venture to a new destination in Colorado, here are few alternative ideas for the day and night that would add a spark to anyone’s Fourth of July weekend this year! (And some of them are free!)

Be outdoorsy! Being a Colorado resident does not necessarily mean that you frequent the mountains. So this Fourth of July weekend, experienced camper or not- go camping! Traveling to sites like Clear Creek County, El Dorado Canyon State Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park are all great excuses to get away from novelty parties in the city.

If you are not in the mood for camping, but still want to get a way from the city try heading up to any popular winter ski destination, which have summer activities that are just as fun as their winter ones! Stop by Vail to get your sports fix and watch elite college men and women duke it out in the 2010 annual Vail Lacrosse Shootout. If you have time for a longer trek, you can head over to Aspen for an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration including a free evening concert, or drive up to Steamboat for their Fourth of July Cowboys’ Round-Up Days and enjoy a taste of the wild west with their pro rodeo and cattle drive. Even Estes Park has great activities for this popular holiday weekend including a Classic Car show and Arabian horse show.

Although Red Rocks is a popular summer hot spot, what would be a better night than the Fourth of July to enjoy this venue? Even though the ticket may cost more than what you would usually pay for some 4th festivities, tailgating and being able to see nearly every fire works show in Denver thanks to Red Rock’s outrageous views will definitely be worth it! This year the Blue’s Traveler’s with Rebelution are set to play.

And even if you want to stay close to home this year for the Fourth, you can still avoid the masses of red, white, and blue and check out events in and around Denver. To kick off the weekend journey to the Denver Zoo, where they will be hosting a “zoo-li-cious” ice cream social for zoo members and their guests. At this event you can walk around the zoo, ice cream in hand, while learning more about global conservation efforts in effect for each animal. But if free ice cream and animals just aren’t your thing than head over to the Creek Arts Festival. This, being one of my favorite events for the summer, showcases visual, culinary and performing arts of local artists in the streets of Cherry Creek North.

But just in case you still want to stick to something inherently American, there are fireworks throughout Denver and surrounding areas that will take place all the way through the Holiday Weekend. Happy Independence Day Colorado!

Last week Turner PR took eight journalist to Mexico’s pristine Riviera Maya for a Scuba press trip hosted by our client, the Riviera Maya Destination Marketing Office. Check out this video from our friends, the Scuba Diver Girls (www.scubadivergirls.com). Who says you can’t have a blast while working?

Scuba Diver Girls Visit Riviera Maya- Dive 1

There a lot of things that are great about summer: warm weather, BBQ’s, wearing flip-flops, shedding your pale winter skin and New Belgium’s Skinny Dip beer, to name a few. But vacations and all the great sporting events that take place during the summer months are two things that definitely top my list. Fortunately, if you’re a sports junkie like me, you can incorporate seeing your favorite competition played out in some of the best destination vacation travel spots.

You can head to Paris to see the second major tennis tournament of the year, the French Open. This year, many fans started off the day cheering for top doubles players, the American Bryan Brothers, and French sensation Gael Monfils before hitting up the Eiffel Tower and devouring freshly baked croissants. If you’re headed to France during the month of July, you can check out the Tour de France running from the 3rd to the 25th. The Tour starts and ends in Paris but stages are held throughout the entire country. Pick your favorite location and coordinate the dates to watch the race, remember not to blink too much though, or else you might miss the cyclists whizzing by at over 33 mph.

Other European hotspots for sports include London for the Wimbledon tennis tournament taking place June 21st  to July 4th or the PGA’s British Open in coastal Fife, Scotland, running from July 15th -18th.

If you’re staying stateside, check out the NBA finals in Los Angeles and Boston (this year) throughout the month of June. Or take a trip to a famed ballpark (the hotdogs at Wrigley Field in Chicago are said to be unmatched by any other). If golf’s your thing, you can plan a sun-filled trip to Pebble Beach, California for this year’s U.S. Open Jun. 17th-20th. Better yet, visit your Aunt Betty in Wisconsin and head up to Whistling Straits for the PGA Championship Aug.12th-15th. Want to visit NYC? Book a trip Aug. 30th – Sept. 12th and watch the world’s best tennis players duke it out at the U.S. Open.

Last but not least, who can forget the greatest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup? Every four years, I camp out in front of my television for an entire month and watch the 32 best soccer teams from around the globe fight for bragging rights and title of the world’s number one team. The tourney takes place in nine host cities throughout South Africa starting June 11th and lasting through July 11th, but America’s first game is the 12th against England. Prepare for bloodthirsty fans running down the street of your local pub with their nation’s flag tied around them like a cape. And if you so choose to partake in this activity, I promise not to judge.

Someone asked me the other day what my advice would be for novice campers. Everyone knows a tent and sleeping bag go on the list, but what is something that those without much experience might overlook, yet is vital to a safe and fun camping trip? Three ideas immediately came to mind:

1)    Sleeping Pad – Unless you enjoy the feel of the hard, cold and wet ground against your body, enhanced by rocks and twigs sticking into your back…you’re going to need one of these. Not only does a sleeping pad provide as-close-to-a-bed-as-you’re-gonna-get comfort, but it can actually keep you up to 10 degrees warmer while you sleep since it separates you from the cold earth. I fancy this one from REI since it’s 3.5 inches thick (read: as-close-to-a-bed-as-you’re-gonna-get).

2)    Head Lamp – The woods get dark much quicker than you think. One minute you’re setting up camp in broad daylight, and 5 minutes later it’s pitch black out there. A good light is absolutely necessary for camping, and while some might think a flashlight is sufficient, it actually makes pitching a tent or setting up a campfire pretty painful, as you only have one free hand. Hence, a hands-free head lamp is your best bet. Check out the wide selection offered at REI.

3)    Bug Repellent – You will curse yourself for forgetting to pack bug spray as soon as night falls. Mosquitoes will (and have) ruin a perfectly tranquil night at camp. This recommendation I truly take to heart, as I myself forgot the bug spray one fateful camping trip, and was punished on Monday morning by waking up to approximately 70 mosquito bites on each of my legs. I recommend steering clear of both mosquitoes and harmful chemicals with an organic or natural repellent, such as Herbal Armor’s Insect Repellent.

…happy camping season!

Having recently packed my bags and made the big move from Brisbane, Australia, to New York City, I am still coming to terms with the difference in lifestyle here. I had prepared myself for a few differences – I knew that I wouldn’t be living by the beach, watching cricket, or having barbecues every weekend. But little did I know that I was about to enter a world completely foreign to me; basic things like getting dressed, getting around town, or grocery shopping have become a whole new experience. Many things that you may find mundane, I find funny and exciting. On this note, I thought I would share some of my New York musings.

1.    I hardly ever know what I’m ordering at a restaurant (or buying at the grocery store, for that matter). Not only have I been confused about turkey ham, buffalo wings, and potato bread; but thanks to some bad influences, I have also learned about cheese fries, sliders, Flipz, Peeps, and Twizzlers. I have had to ask strangers in the grocery store the difference between 1%, 2% and low fat milk (they are always very friendly), and I wonder how many different types of cheese one store could possibly stock.

2.    The Slang here is completely different.  Australian slang is basically a bunch of ridiculous metaphors, but American slang (from what I gather) consists of words that I know from home, but used in a totally different context. My favorite so far is how the girls at Turner use the term ‘Just Kidding’ – when I would use ‘Don’t worry about it” (for me just kidding is usually what you say only after making a joke).

3.    The weather in New York is totally unpredictable. I have learned not to leave my apartment without sunglasses (to shield my eyes from the dirt and leaves flying around in the wind), a jacket (because not matter how warm it looks through the window, you never can tell how cold it is until you’ve walked down the five flights of stairs and gotten outside, and by that stage there is no way I am going back up to get more clothes), and a scarf (this one is sometimes for warmth but more often than not is used to cover myself in the rain – after the crazy wind here breaking three umbrellas in five weeks, I’ve deemed them unworthy of further investment).

4.    BlackBerry phones and iPhones are invaluable items. Not only are they useful for keeping connected, my iPhone has been a godsend when trying to interpret anything. I have apps downloaded to convert kilograms into pounds, Celsius into Fahrenheit, and even a dictionary that converts Australian-English to American-English. On top of all of this I have a subway map (my favorite app) ready at all times.

Well I’m sure as I continue on this journey; my list will continue to grow. As I ration the last of the Vegemite that I brought over, I can’t help but think about how much fun I’m having embracing these differences and soaking in all that this wonderful city has to offer!

With summer quickly approaching, it’s time to make sure that you have all of your summer events and activities penciled in on your calendars!  Being from Colorado, I have spent many summers exploring this Rocky Mountain state.  Whether you live or you’re planning a trip here, these are five top things you shouldn’t leave off your Colorado summer to do list:

1. Go to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater.  The views and acoustics at Red Rocks are unforgettable – this is a must!

2. Visit the Denver Zoo. Who doesn’t love a yearly visit to the Zoo? Denver’s Zoo is pretty impressive and offers shows and demonstrations during the summer.

3. Explore Estes Park. From kayaking and biking to hiking and climbing, Estes Park is an outdoor-lovers paradise!

4. Catch a Rockies game at Coors Field.  Winning or losing, the Colorado Rockies are a hit in the summer.  Beer, hot dogs, and sunshine make for a great afternoon at the ball park!

5. Patio Happy Hours. Need I explain?! My favorite spot: The Rio.

There actually is a right way to travel…and here it is…

As I sit here planning my upcoming trip to Portugal and Northern Spain, I peruse the guidebooks for the umpteenth time and try to recall the countless recommendations I’ve received from people I know who have been there.  But then I start thinking about what I really want to get out of this adventure.  And that’s when I decided to put the guidebook down and slowly back away.  Because what I want, is a truly authentic experience…

“Experiential Travel” has become an increasingly popular trend over the past few years, emerging as the new way (and the best way, in my opinion) to travel.  It’s no longer about simply going to a place and just seeing it.  It’s all about actually experiencing it.  This means stepping out of the ordinary (and perhaps your comfort zone) to go off the beaten track.  Think of every trip you go on as an adventure or exploration…not just a vacation, and discover the authenticity of the place you’re visiting.  A huge part of this is done by connecting with the destination and immersing yourself in the culture that surrounds you.  Oddly enough, the best way to travel is to not be a “tourist”.  (Note-to-self.)  And fortunately, nowadays, there are countless ways in which to do this.  (You just have to be willing.)

So, here are a few tips on how to create the experience you want:

1.     Talk to the locals.  The best way to create an authentic experience is to meet the people who live there.  Get their recommendations for where to eat, what to do and what to see.  Let your curiosity get the best of you and ask locals questions about their traditions and the heritage of the area.

2.     Be a “locavore”.  Eat at a restaurant that only locals eat at.  Sample the cuisine indigenous to the area or better yet, learn how to cook it.  Taste the wine from the region you’re in and discover how to pair it with the area’s traditional dish.  Essentially, turn off of Main Street and take the road less traveled.  You never know what you’ll find just around the corner.

3.     Choose your lodging wisely.  Why on earth would you travel to an exotic locale, only to stay in a hotel that looks like it could have been located anywhere in the world?  Instead, stay at a hotel that offers a true sense of place.   Where you stay throughout your travels, should capture the local flavor and reflect the destination that you’re in.  Seek out lodging that has intriguing architecture and inventive décor and, in turn, provides a unique experience.  Boutique hotels are a good way to go as they usually boast a great deal of character and often are a departure from the norm.  Although, to their credit, even several big name brand hotels have started to change their tune so that Brand X’s Hotel Barcelona, for example, is now quite different from Brand X’s Hotel Chicago.

4.     Learn by doing.  Engage in the local culture and customs and get to know the history of the area you’re visiting.  If you want to take a tour, hire a local guide.  Sure, go check out the typical “tourist-y” sites, but then ask them to show you everything else.  After all, won’t a local know the area best?  Learn the local language by taking a class.  Find out if there are any opportunities to volunteer in the area while you’re there.

Basically, what I’m saying is…step off the tour bus, put the guidebook down, and travel the right way.