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Since 2003, Club Sportiva has offered the Exotic Car Experience, which grants everyone their God-given right to drive an Aston Martin past lustful gazes in California. It’s true: the world’s greatest sports cars (and Bentleys and Aston Martins) are just waiting to be driven through California Wine Country or down the coast. Choose your class of car — including Lamborghinis, Porsches and more — and set off on the weekend drive of a lifetime. Here’s five reasons why you should say yes, and press…. the petal to the metal, duh.

1 Chilling in Carmel Valley
Carmel Valley has some of the most beautiful stretches of road in the United States (and some of the most beautiful residents, naturally). So if you’re embarking on one of the most legendary drives in the world…you should really be driving one of the most impressive cars. Club Sportiva has been making that ambition a reality for drivers since 2003, with an eye toward bringing luxurious autos to a mass audience.
 

 2 Getting to pretend you’re a celeb in a Cribs-worthy ride. 
The power of a serious engine revving is no joking matter. I think it’s safe to say I caught the bug at Skip Barber and am now a full blown car-a-holic. With three classes of cars to choose from, there’s something for everyone —  the Connoisseur Collection, the Elite Collection and the Enthusiast Collection. Details: Porsche 550 Spyder Replica, Lotus Elite, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Ferrari F430 Coupe, to name a few….

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I hate waking up in the morning, but the Bronx Zoo has figured out a way to get me out of bed. The Zoo keepers just opened registration for an Overnight Safari package, which comes with a real, sea lion wake-up alarm in the morning. It’s BYOT (tent etc.), likely to sell-out (June dates booked) and around $150 bucks (worth it). If only that sea lion would make me breakfast in the morning. 

After the safari is the after-party and after the party…. 

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oundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it.

Photographer. @Joao Canziani. 
He captured my attention on the pages of Travel & Leisure with transporting photos from Manaus to Manhattan. His photos are emotional, poignant, beautiful and well, sexy. But I guess that’s not surprising …. he’s Peruvian by birth, Canadian by bred and a womanizer by fate. Inspired by Helmut Newton and Nadav Kander, named as one of PDN’s 30 Young Photographers to Watch and on my “let’s grab a drink” list, Canziani’s got his lens pointed in the right direction. Oh, and he tumblrs. Dreamy. 

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Here at Jetsetter, we’re all about making dreams come true. Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp gives groupies the ultimate opportunity to channel their inner Aerosmith. Over the course of 4 days you’ll jam with legendary rock stars like Tommy Lee and Lita Ford, write and record an original song and play live on stage at a major concert. 

One lucky tweeter will win a guitar signed by signed by Slash, Vince Neil, Jack Bruce, Nicko McBrain & Roger Daltrey… Just tweet @Jetsetterdotcom #BeaBetterJetsetter win a guitar signed by Slash….

Kick this year off right by making plans that force you to stick with your resolutions (for real this time) the best way we know how — by turning them into vacations. Whether you’re vowing to get fit, spend quality time with loved ones, master a new skill or simply do something good, we’ve got a trip that makes it happen. From a destination spa in Utah’s high desert to a volunteering trip in Vietnam, here are a dozen ways to break out of the New Year’s rut in 2011.

Get Fit & Feel Great, Learn Something New, Spend More Time With Family and Pay it Forward on Jetsetter.com!

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Dear Santa, 

Don’t tell me if I’ve been naughty, don’t tell me if I’ve been nice. Let’s be honest, we ALL know that answer to that. The only thing I need to know… is how to get my hands on these rockin’ gifts.

Art, for the sake of obsession… Royal #3 UltraChrome print with hand-painted acrylic gloss, drymounted onto 2’ deep birch wood by NOT A GALLERY’s Creative Direction, Justin Belmont. I know, that’s sexy. 

There’s clearly someone (aka Luxirare) out there who is smarter than me… because this is bloody brilliant. Camera bag, meet my handbag. Handbag, meet my camera bag. And to top it all off, its freakin’ furry. Meow. 

A good notebook never goes out of style. And Jasper + Black’s Archie Grand collection offers 120 pages of high quality paper to soak up your secrets. My picks: Photographers I Met And Liked, Travelers I Met And Liked… and of course, Capitalists. 

Santa wouldn’t dare to bring me a gift and leave my baby Nikon empty handed. This holiday season, she’s getting suited up like Barney Stintson with Camera Amror which is heat stable up to 42- degrees Fahrenheit and 100% shock absorbent. Translation: she’ll be ready for the 2011 festival season. And I’ll be rocking these adorable Camera Lens Bracelets.

I’ve been living in Nikon nirvana these past few months. And then my friends at SPREADHouse had to bring me back to reality. While my D90 has been the perfect boy-toy, I’m a fickle gal, and someone else has caught my attention. Hello, D7000. Hello 16.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor, 6 fps continuous shooting and Full. 1080p HD Movies. Amen. 

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Let’s just say it: The best gifts are gifts of experience. Period. Be it snowboarding the best trails in Japan or cruising on a yacht to Dubai, crossing an adventure off your bucket list is a gift worth getting. So in honor of a Very Jetset Holiday, here are my must-have moments. 

Tis’ the season to make our members smile…

1. The unparalleled rush of adrenaline you’ll get from driving more than 100 mph in someone else’s car at Skip Barber Racing School in Atlanta, Palm Beach & Laguna Seca.For 35 years, Skip Barber has operated a fully integrated system of racing and driving schools on more than 20 of the most prestigious tracks in North America. Whether you’re a wannabe professional racer, a sports car enthusiast or just an everyday driver in need of some help, the inspiring instructors at Skip Barber Racing Schools will teach you how to take on the road in some of the world’s most high-performance vehicles. Check out our video…

2. The unimaginable feeling of watching a five ton African Elephant stomp towards you on the refreshingly down-to-earth Kenyan adventure with Extraordinary Journeys. Let’s not forget the personal moments you’ll share with iconic Maasai and Samburu warrior guides as you track down the Big Five. 

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oundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it

Safari. Shamwari Game Reserve.

The guestbook at the 49,000-acre Shamwari Game Reserve boasts a review from Brad Pitt: “The people are as fantastic as the animals majestic. Enjoyed the food chain. Many thanks.” Celebrity clients aside, Shamwari is famous for being one of South Africa’s most successful private conservation initiatives, a shining example of how responsible tourism can make a difference. This combination of romantic eco-tourism and conservation is what makes a Shamwari stay so special. Booking into one of the five-star lodges feels positively philanthropic. After all, if you’re going to invest in a safari, why not help out a feline friend or pachyderm family in the process?

Do yourself (and someone else) a favor and head to Shamwari with Jetsetter.com

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oundup of my favorite things this week…. follow it, don’t judge it.

Experience. Safari Surf School.
Channel your inner surfer with this escape at a remote coastal retreat along the Pacific in Nosara, Costa Rica (about 155 miles west of San Jose). Stay at the Balinese-inspired luxury hotel L’acqua Viva Resort & Spa and get twice-daily surfing lessons from a local shredder, yoga classes, an ATV rental, massages and more. Known for its wellness vibe and jungle surroundings, Nosara is a true surfers haven, too. The beach here is perfect for learning with shallow water and consistently curling swells. It’s Costa Rica’s pura vida — the pure life — defined.

Shoot the curl at Safari Surf School on Jetsetter.com!

Concept. Swoosh Experiences.
When you are Nike, you just do it. There’s absolutely no point being timid or ordinary. You blaze trails, create trends and draw attention – which is exactly what they’re thinking at The Cool Hunter: Access. This global agency is creating some seriously killer concepts to help spread the swoosh (as if they need help…): a swoosh-shaped Nike Extreme Toboggan Ride – a toboggan slide shaped like the swoosh, and of course, the toboggans themselves are shaped like swooshes too,  a Swoosh Slide and Hot Air Balloon… just to name a few low-key thoughts.

Event. Hester Street Fair.
Hester Street Fair, located in a beautiful park setting, was once home to New York City’s largest and oldest pushcart markets. At the turn of the century, Hester Street was the site of the busiest outdoor market in New York City: 

“There is hardly a square foot of ground in Hester Street that is not covered with people during the day. The whole place seems to be in a state of perpetual motion, and the occasional visitor is apt to have a feeling of giddiness.” NY Times, July 27, 1895.

Today, the Hester Street Fair focuses on curated local goods, vintage garb and food. Suchin Pak (um, love her) and brother Suyhun, Adam Zeller, and architect Ron Castellano are behind the event… and to top it all off, NYMag. and Grub Street will be there to make sure their guests are well fed. 

Be there or be square - Hester Street Fair opens this Saturday from 10 - 6pm!  

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Escape to Shape’s getaways serve up equal parts culture, fitness and pure, unadulterated downtime. During the Escape to Bali, you’ll stay in a meticulously appointed antique bungalow colony, where — between your asanas and spa sessions — you’ll feast on the likes of coconut crepes, grilled bananas and snapper with mango chutney. But however arresting the views are (they consist primarily of impossibly green terraced rice paddies), you’ll need to break free of their hold at least occasionally: the beach is just 10 minutes away, and temples, villages and Hindu holy mountains only slightly farther afield. Just in case you’re dreaming of somewhere other than your desk today… so dream big with Jetsetter.. 

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oundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it.

Blog. Standard Culture.
Citadels of Chic. The Gold Standard. Even un hotel en Technicolor. The Standard Hotels have been called a lot of things, but never once “boring.” Hotel provocateur Andre Balazs has upped the anti on what makes a hotel ‘cool’… and they’re telling it to us straight with the new Standard Culture blog. Expect insider info on entertainment, music, food and events, editorial-type photography and downloadable tunes (my personal fav) and videos. Now to enter the temple of all things sexy, all you have to go is log on.

@Stan D’arde (the anonymous voice for The Standard Hotel group) will let you right in.

Hike. Machu Picchu.
Deep in south central Peru the dramatic Andes Mountains house some of the most impressive archaeological and cultural links to the ancient world. During a nine-day journey, Bio Bio Expeditions guides intrepid travelers through the majesty and mystery of pre-Columbian America. Hike the Inca Trail, marvel at Machu Picchu and mountain-bike through the Sacred Valley during this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Just make sure you bring someone you like, it’s gonna be a bumpy hike.

Take your adventure to new heights with Machu Pichu on Jetsetter.com!

Music. @Oh Land.
The other day my sister handed me a CD. Yes, an actual CD. I thought she was kidding. But after forcing me to press play (wait, there’s a spot in my computer for discs like this?) I was convinced. CD’s are the way to go when it’s the CD of Oh Land. What is there to say? She’s freakin’ cute as a button (Missoni just snagged her for an ad campaign); wildly talented (a former ballerina and offspring of musically inclined parents); and a recently landed Brooklynite (New York’s shiny new toy). In the vein of @NeonIndian, Oh Land finds her special sound through the use of a homemade one-woman-band music box topped with balloon video projections. Yeah that’s the best I can do to explain it. But with thumping, melodic sounds, transcendental vocals and somehow-still-catchy lyrics, Oh land may just be the next Electro-pop Princess… just don’t expect to see her wearing a crown around town.

Travel through the land of Oh Land here.  Break The Chain,  Sun of a Gun, & White Nights are currently on my repeat ad nauseam list. 

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oundup of my favorite things this week… follow it, don’t judge it. 

Music. @HoodieAllen.

Ok, I was a cheerleader in High School - I only lasted through the first football game. I mean, they asked me to smile and scream. I thought they were joking. But 21-year old New York based rapper and songwriter has made a Pep Rally I can cheer for. The not-your-typical-hip-hopper samples a diverse array of artists and sounds from UK pop singers (Marina & The Diamonds) to indie rock staples and upstarts (Two Door Cinema Club). Purveyor of summertime anthems, candid storyteller, provider of feel-good jams and witty punch line thrower… the only questions I need to ask – do you like Monkeys? And are you single? DM Me (wink)

Bounce to the beats – and channel your inner band geek with Pep Rally. 
#Nowplaying: Party at The Beach House & Look At What We Started 

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