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Drink Up at These Five Upcoming US Wine Festivals

Summer is the best time to kick back with a glass of wine—heck, even a bottle of wine. There's just something about pairing a great pour with the warm weather. Luckily, there's a slew of wine festivals that will give you the chance to get boozy alfresco with some of the best bottles in the world.

Prepare to get buzzed at these five upcoming wine festivals.

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Travel Contests / Movie Set Travel / Just Go With It / Maui Travel / Island Travel / Hawaii Travel / Hotels / Jennifer Aniston / Adam Sandler / → All Tags

'Just Go With It' like Jennifer Aniston to Win Maui Trips and a Kajillion Hilton Points

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston share the big screen for the first time this weekend in Just Go With It, about a guy who pretends he is married to meet woman and then recruits a co-worker to pretend she's his ex-wife after he meets a woman he actually cares about.

If you're wondering what convinced Jennifer Aniston to star in one of Adam Sandler's movies, there is an explanation: they filmed the movie for seven weeks in Maui. The cast and crew enjoyed all of the perks of the Grand Wailea (like spa services, on-site golf, luxury suites and beach access) while filming (and living) at the resort last spring.

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Visit Clint Eastwood's Version of the 'Hereafter' in Maui

Today, Clint Eastwood's Hereafter opens nationwide and critics are already raving about the movie. But, rather than thinking about the film's focus, which is, well, death, we'd rather think about its amazing locations like Paris, London, San Francisco and especially, Maui.

The movie's griping opening sequence, in which a tsunami hits an island and wipes out a busy marketplace, was filmed on Front St in Lahaina, Maui. According to the movie's location manager, Lahaina was perfect for the scene because, "Front Street's proximity to the water and the architecture of its buildings help supply a look that will require much less transformation towards this goal than other locations which were under consideration."

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Wedding Travel / Maui Travel / Hawaii Travel / New Year's Travel / Destination Weddings / → All Tags

Where To Elope For January 01, 2010: Aloha, Maui

If one of your resolutions is to elope on New Year's Day, but you're looking for something a little more romantic than getting hitched at a Vegas drive-through window, take a flight now to Maui.

Flying there is the hardest step to tying the knot. All you have to do is head to a marriage license agent with your soon-to-be spouse, show proof of age and plunk down $60. There isn't a waiting period and no blood tests are needed. You can save time by downloading a marriage license application here and having it filled out when you visit the agent. Just be sure to call the local agent to make an appointment so that you can get hitched on January 1 without any issue.

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Rental Cars / Enterprise / Hawaii Travel / Oahu Travel / Maui Travel / Green Travel / Hybrids / → All Tags

Happy Anniversary Hawaii: Here's Some New Hybrid Rental Cars

Last week was the Aloha State’s birthday as the islands officially commemorated its fiftieth anniversary of statehood. State leaders usually downplay celebrations as some Hawaii residents aren’t too thrilled about how the island chain was admitting into the union. We don’t want to get into the debate, but there are still some who demand independence from the United States.

Although not an official birthday present—they couldn’t find that much wrapping paper—Enterprise Rent-A-Car is gifting the island with some new hybrid rental cars. The chain teamed up with Governor Linda Lingle to announce that four locations are becoming hybrid branches. There will be three on Oahu and one on Maui to answer your green car dreams during your vacation.

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Celeb Travel / Chris Noth / Maui Travel / → All Tags

What Recession? Travel: Family Man Chris Noth In Hawaii

A chicken in every pot and a Hawaiian shirt in every cabana: "Sex and the City" heartthrob Chris Noth imparts to his son the joys of slightly off-peak vacations.

After a summer slump, Hawaii isn't doing much better in tourism going into the fall--but the rest of the country has dropped to meet it. Why feel the thrill of clambering around a live volcano or riding your first wave when you can watch the CNBC anchors' eyes bug out after another bank collapses?

Hmm, maybe we should take our curmudgeonly selves island-ward?

Related Stories:
· Tower Terror Travel: Hawaii Air Traffic Control Goes Dark [Jaunted]
· Trends: Whither Hawaii? [NYP]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]

Celeb Travel / Maui Travel / Owen Wilson / → All Tags

Still On Vacation Travel: Owen Wilson Moves From Beach To Beach

We're all about equal time here on Jaunted, so here's a beach shot for the ladies: Owen Wilson relaxes on a Malibu beach before he moves to the cold, uninviting state of... Hawaii? Wait, what?

It's true! Apparently deciding that 300 days of good weather aren't enough, Wilson decided to up the ante and buy a house in Maui near celeb pal Woody Harrelson whom he went to visit earlier this month. Vacation all year long!

And meanwhile back in the real world, Labor Day is the last hurrah for weekenders everywhere. Harrumph, maybe we should move to Maui: Is there solar-powered WiFi?

Related Stories:
· Celeb Isolation Travel: Woody To The Wilderness [Jaunted]
· Airport Photo Shoot: Owen Wilson Carries On His Hats [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Celebitchy]

Celeb Travel / Ashley Tisdale / High School Musical / Maui Travel / Fishing / → All Tags

Ashley Tisdale Fishes for Family Memories

It's good to know that despite her "High School Musical" fame, Ashley Tisdale is still happy to go on family outings. She must've been glad to be there this weekend when father Mike Tisdale caught a 480-pound marlin off the coast of Maui last week.

Tisdale wasn't on the boat with her dad when he caught the fish, but she posed for a picture for the Lahaina News with the big catch. After the jump, the incriminating family photo that shows what Papa Tisdale caught off KuiKui Point.

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Hawaii Travel / Oahu Travel / Maui Travel / Hawaii Superferry / Ferry Travel / → All Tags

Is the Hawaii Superferry Finally Catching On?

After lots of drama, it seems that the Hawaii Superferry is finally catching on. Seats on the boat sold out on some trips over the Fourth of July weekend, and officials say ridership is on the rise. But is that because people genuinely enjoy it?

Doubtful, says Jeff from the Beat of Hawaii blog:

The best deal through September 30 for Oahu-Maui travel is the Superferry, which is $98 round trip. But you must book by August 4.

Hawaiian Airlines and go! are doing the same duopoly that Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines did for years. The average round trip is now back at about $200, which was what it was before go! entered and sometimes dropped prices to below $20 round trip.

Ah hah! So it's not really that people enjoy the Superferry any more than they like flying; it's simply the cheapest way to go island-to-island. We will give 'em some credit though: You can actually take liquids aboard the boat!

Related Stories:
· Superferry Ridership up [KHNL, via]
· Hawaii Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: eye of einstein]

Celeb Travel / Woody Harrelson / Hawaii Travel / Maui Travel / → All Tags

Celeb Isolation Travel: Woody to the Wilderness

That little taste of summer vacation you had this weekend just wasn't enough! You've just got to get away before that Croc tan line fades. That's what Woody Harrelson must have been thinking when he told a reporter he wants to do a 40-day fast on an uninhabited island--when he has time in his work schedule, of course.

Harrelson already lives on Maui but that isn't deserted enough for his swimming and surfing sojourn. Nor, apparently, did biking from Seattle to LA or winning this weekend's Cannes celebrity poker charity challenge do it for him: Nothing will work except a full fast:

I mean, I don't take it lightly. I know it's gonna be hard. But can you imagine? Eating nothing for 40 days? Swimming and surfing every day in a remote place? Where does the mind go?

He should know--he did a 38-day fast two years ago.

Give Woody a hand: What remote island, besides the one from "Lost," would be the perfect getaway for a fasting actor?

Related Stories:
· Woody Harrelson Likes Nothing More Than A Bit Of Yoga [Times Online UK]
· Celebrities Keep Flocking To Hotels For Affairs, Dinners And More [HotelChatter]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Celebitchy]

Hawaii Surf Schools / Hawaii Travel / Surfing / Maui Travel / Oahu Travel / → All Tags

Surfing in Hawaii :: Aloha Surfergirls

Aloha Surfergirls--yep, without the space--is a company that offers girls and women surfing lessons, both private and group, in four different locations--Los Angeles, San Diego, Costa Rica and Hawaii.

On Hawaii, the surf lesson locations are on Oahu and Maui. A nice touch? Wherever Aloha Surfergirls are surfing and teaching, they'll pick you up and drop you off:

One of our local team members will pick you up from your hotel and will bring you to the beach best suited for your surfing lesson. You will start with a half hour land lesson and then once you have all your techniques under your "bikini," we'll take you into the water for another fun and safe hour with the instructor. After your surf lesson you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Aloha Surfergirls can also conduct corporate events and themed parties like bachelorette and birthday parties so long as there are a minimum of 10 ladies.

Our only concern is how confusing the company's website is. For example, when you click on the Maui surf lessons, it says the surf lessons will take place on North or South Shore of Waikiki. That's on Oahu. So they could mean Maui's North Shore but it's not clear. We suggest calling Surfergirls at 858/427-0644 to avoid any confusion.

Related Stories:
· Aloha Surfergirls [Official Site]
· Hawaii Surf School Map [Jaunted]

It's Summer Somewhere / It's-Summer-Somewhere / Maui Travel / Hawaii Travel / Whale Watching / Active Travel / → All Tags

It's Summer Somewhere: Maui

As many of our readers (and, ahem, writers) battle winter temps, icy rain and dark afternoons this time of year, we thought we'd offer a little daily inspiration with our new "It's Summer Somewhere" series.

We'll kick things off with Maui, where today's high temperature is forecast to be a steamy 80 degrees. Head there this week and align your trip with the upcoming Surf & Sand 15K and 5K, next Sunday. Yep, that's right, you can go to the beach and still keep your resolution of staying fit. You'll have a week to rest up before the 9.3 mile run that's all been strategically arranged to take place downhill, ending in Lahaina with a big ol' luau.

Another awesome sight to take in right now in Maui is the annual winter migration of the humpback whales, who are making their trip from Alaska to Hawaii for their own winter getaways. Book a day trip on the ships of the Island Marine Institute, which have credentialed naturalists on board and live, underwater Whale Cams so passengers don't miss any of the action.

Aaaah, summer. It's only (officially) a mere five months away for most us--after we get back from Maui of course.

Related Stories:
· Visit Maui [Official Site]
· Surf & Sand 15K and 5K [Official Site]
· Island Marine Institute [Official Site]

[Photo: britche]