If you’ve never been to Indianapolis before, you know it’s located in the Midwest, have heard of the Indy 500, and know the source of their NFL pride, the Colts. Beyond that, Indy doesn’t get much press, and is largely an unsung hero in the repertoire of must-see cities. Typically, its flashier next-door neighbor, Chicago, gets all the glory, but really, who needs all that traffic, congestion and headache? Indy’s just as fun and frenetic, a city that’s on the rise, in the midst of reinventing and redefining itself to play host to the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI this February and rebranding its image as a destination location city.

The first thing you notice about Indy is the hospitality. In true Midwest fashion, the people greet you with a hearty “Hello!” and make direct eye contact at the check-out, displays that would easily rankle any native New Jerseyian to inherently suspect foul play and impending bodily harm. And, somewhat eerily, the residents all seem to share similar physical traits, akin to characters in “Children of the Corn”: piercing blue eyes, shiny, clear skin, tall in stature. It’s as if the city is one big extended family reunion, without the creepy uncle lurking near the beer cooler.

They’ll ask you if you like the Colts; even if you don’t, it’s wise to say “Yes.”  The fans are loyal, the fealty palpable: during the weather report on the local television news, Peyton Manning’s name is typically sprinkled in for no tangible reason: “Fair and pleasant today, partly sunny with light winds, highs in the upper 60s, and wishing Peyton well on his recovery from surgery.” Regardless the fact that the Colts won’t actually play in the Super Bowl this year—their season record is abysmal—the city is gearing up to host the big Bowl this February and is pulling out all the stops to polish the downtown area in preparation for the anticipated 150,000 visitors or more for the game, resulting in added revenue of nearly $300 million for the city.

Some of the refurbishments include a facelift for Miss Indiana, the sword-wielding, torch-bearing, 19,300-pound bronzed beauty perched above the 284-foot Soldier and Sailor’s Monument in the heart of downtown’s Monument Circle. To encourage more foot and bike traffic, the construction of the 8-mile Cultural Trail was initiated, a meandering path that encircles Indy’s five official cultural districts along the route, punctuated by large-scale pieces of original artwork, lush landscaping, and distinctive lighting. Visitors who don’t want to walk (or bike) but still want a taste of the downtown area might consider a Segway tour in and around White River State Park, a 250-acre urban green space featuring eight museums, concert venues, a zoo and the picturesque central canal, reminiscent of the San Antonio River walk.

If the Cultural Trail leaves you wanting more art, check out the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the nation’s seventh largest museum featuring more than 50,000 works with an impressive array of original art from a variety of cultures and periods throughout history, including Neoimpressionist paintings by Georges Seurat and preeminent works of Pont-Aven paintings by Paul Gauguin. In addition to the permanent installations, several national and international traveling exhibitions are featured in the museum throughout the year. Elsewhere on the grounds, Robert Indiana’s famous “Love” sculpture sits out front, known for its signature block lettering and a popular spot for photo junkies and amorous lovebirds. Escape the everyday crowd at the 100-acre Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, an urban oasis where visitors stroll through modern sculpture parks with installations integrated into the woodlands, wetlands, lakes and meadows—the largest contemporary art park in the country.

While in town, it’s practically law to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, a near spiritual experience for race car enthusiasts and even those less speedway-inclined. Billed “the greatest spectacle in racing” and the world’s largest spectator sporting facility at 253 acres, the 2.5 mile-long oval track at the IMS features four distinct turns and straightaways with nine-degree banked turns; racers reach speeds upwards of 200 miles per hour, inside an oval that’s big enough to fit Yankee Stadium, the Roman Colosseum, Vatican City, Churchill Downs and the Rose Bowl snug inside. Its size is deceiving small from the roadway, but once inside, you appreciate the sheer enormity of the place: hidden alleyways, tons of garages, enormous parking fields, medical bunkers, not to mention the grandstand itself, with 250,000 permanent seats, that, if dismantled and laid end-to-end, would stretch nearly 100 miles.

View of finish line at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

However, the true essence of the Indy 500 can only be experienced on race day: the pungent smell of burning oil, the growling din of screaming engines eating the track, the roar of the crowd cheering on their favorite driver, the electric anticipation of the checkered flag signaling victory for the lucky winner. Plus, there’s beer, and lots of it—approximately 14,000 gallons or more are poured on race day—to keep your engines going throughout the day. Arrive a day or so before the race and a make a pit-stop at the Hall of Fame Museum, featuring some of the most eclectic and diversified collections of antique and classic automobiles and racing cars in the world. Opened in 1956 and now a National Historic Landmark, the museum features 75 vehicles on display at any given time, with the winning Indy 500 race cars lined up in chronological order to see how the cars have evolved over the years. Visitors can sit in a mock Indy race car for photo ops, and pose in front of the famed Borg-Warner trophy, the sterling silver icon awarded to the winner each year and casted with replica busts of each race winner over the years, or browse the replica old-time garage, a step back in time with vintage signs, tools, photos and hardware.

Standard fare at the track is hot dogs and burgers, but step outside the oval you start hearing tales of the legendary shrimp cocktail that put Indy on the culinary map. Harry & Izzy’s restaurant, located in the bustling area of downtown’s Illinois Street, is a casually elegant throwback to the days of Prohibition in a comfortable, lush environment. A sister restaurant to the renowned St. Elmo’s Steak House, Harry & Izzy’s is co-owned by Peyton Manning and draws a big lunchtime suited crowd and serves as the perfect hideout for signature cocktails and wines at the upstairs circular bar. For dinner, grab a cozy table for two near the floor-to-ceiling windows and start with the world famous appetizer, the St. Elmo shrimp cocktail, a spicy concoction of oversized shrimp and tangy Worcestershire sauce, perfectly complemented by a juicy wedge of lemon and side of crispy crackers.  For the main course, try the Izzy-style New York strip, rolled in cracked peppercorn and pan-seared and served in an orange brandy butter sauce, and the grilled yellow fin tuna with rice and soy cilantro ginger sauce.

Borg-Warner trophy on display at Motor Speedway Hall of Fame

A growing trend in Indy’s dining scene is the farm-to-table movement, proving the Midwest still holds its might in fresh foods. A rising star on the culinary menu is R Bistro, offering contemporary American cuisine in a rustic, intimate setting (only 17 tables; call ahead for reservations), located in the heart of downtown’s eclectic art district on Mass Ave. Executive chef and owner Regina Mehallick brings her passion for flavor and local ingredients to each and every dish; veggies picked that morning are used in the salads and entrees that night. The menu changes weekly and reflects seasonal varieties; this fall, featured dishes include stuffed leg of lamb with red garnet sweet potatoes in a red wine sauce, and Cornish game hens with sweet potato risotto and cranberry sauce. Make sure to leave room for dessert.

For after-dinner libations, there’s nothing better than the new Libertine Liquor Bar on East Washington Street, where the bartenders are true mixologists, not beer slingers, and don proper vests, ties and caps, lending a youthful newsboy vibe from behind the bar. Named for its untamed, innovative, and uncompromising spirit, The Libertine is easy sophistication meets old-time saloon, greeting you with words from Walt Whitman scrawled on the foyer walls upon entrance to whet your prose (“Pioneers! O Pioneers!/Come, my tan-faced children/follow well in order…”). The drink menu is creatively crafted as are the drinks; the cocktail listing reads like a flier from a gypsy circus passing through town (“Snake oils, fortifieds and palatable bitters”). Bottles of Absinthe are properly housed in vintage atomized spritzers, and choice drinks dance in mystical blue flame. Preferred drinks include the Chartreuse Smash (green Chartreuse, yellow Chartreuse, lemon and mint), or Pimm’s Cup (Pimm’s No. 1, Bluecoat gin, cucumber, lemon and Redd’s ginger brew).

Tasting bar at New Day Meadery

If you’re into home brewing, check out New Day Meadery in the historic Fountain Square Cultural District for quality hard ciders and honey wines. Former bee keepers turned mead makers, owners Brett Canaday and Tia Agnew started making mead in 2001 as way to combine their love of gardening, bee keeping and good food.  The hobby soon turned into a flourishing business with an emphasis on using nothing but fresh, locally grown and harvested fruit and honey to make quality mead. Quantities are seasonal and limited due to the freshness of each batch, so check back often to see what’s on the menu, and bring your “growler” (bottle) in for a refill. Worth a taste: The Free Thinker, a floral and fruity honey wine with a hint of spice, and the semi-sweet Plum Honey Wine, featuring top notes of bing cherry and plum with undertones of cinnamon and fig.

The best-kept secret for a comfortable stay while visiting Indy is 14 West Restaurant and Suites, hidden in plain sight in the heart of the downtown area near the convention center. Known more for its restaurant of the same name (perfect lobster mac & cheese, with generous chunks of lobster swimming in brie and parmesan), the all-suites hotel features queen and king suites with full kitchens and fridge, washer/dryers, flat screen TV, WiFi, and comfy beds with goose down duvets. The 2,500 square-foot penthouse suite, which takes up the entire fourth floor, has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a sauna, and Jacuzzi—typically reserved for celebrities and dignitaries while in town. Complete the experience by booking a massage or facial at the new Evan Todd Salon and Spa Conrad, at home in the luxury digs at the Conrad right down the way from 14 West. Services incorporate the balance of beauty and well-being using all-natural signature Aveda products.

Robert Indiana's infamous sculpture out front Indianapolis Museum of Art

Special thanks to the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association; Chris Gahl, vice president of marketing and communications; senior communications manager Morgan Greenlee; and marketing and communications coordinator, Evan Strange,  for hosting media writer, Gayle McCarthy.

The art of jerk—pork, chicken, fish—begins with quality meat (or fish), but the secret’s in the spice. Most restaurants hold dear their recipes for spicy rubs, and Scotchies is no exception, except this intrepid journalist dug deep to discover a key rub ingredient: Scotch bonnet pepper, or Caribbean red pepper, a distant cousin of the habañero. It’s got kick, the kind of spice that hits you between the eyes after you think, That wasn’t so bad.

Grilled pork and chicken at Scotchies

Of course, the coals play an important part too, and getting them to the exact temperature before grilling the meat is key. The grill masters at Scotchies use an open-pit grill featuring scrap tin roof material, strips of felled wood (sweetwood and pimento), and a time-tested method of burning two sets of wood for every set of meat cooked. Typically, most meats take about two-and-a-half hours to cook, on average.

The perfect complement? An ice-cold Red Stripe to wash down the tasty jerk goodness. Jamaican me hungry, mon.

Ice cold goodness

Hurricane Irene was no match for this sunny Caribbean isle, filled with white sand beaches, glistening waters, sun-drenched skies and enough rum to make the world a better place—not to mention the Red Stripe.

Save yourself the hassle and go all-inclusive: it’s one-stop shopping for relaxation with no worry that you’ll run up a high tab at the end. (Who needs that added pressure on vacation?)

Stellar sunset, RIU style

Check out Montego Bay’s RIU:  picture-perfect sunsets, all-you-can-eat-and drink buffets, a campus-sized pool, state-of-the-art gym and spa, daily activities and entertainment, and in-room bar.  Round out the day with daily activities and entertainment, and your Caribbean’s complete.

As they say in Jamaica, “Once you go, you know.”

Pour your own, in room

Not so for twenty-nine-year old Jaeger Mah, a blogger based in the Vancouver area who recently—and willingly— won a contest to stay overnight for eighty evenings at the Vancouver International Airport.

Mah competed against 96 other entries in the “Live@YVR” (Vancouver’s airport code) contest to celebrate the airport’s 80^th anniversary. His video entry was the most popular, and Mah was declared the official winner with 4,128 votes.

While a guest at YVR, Mah will take a behind-the-scenes look at the mysteries of airport life, from tracking down missing and lost luggage to exclusive access to unauthorized locations.

He won’t be sleeping on the airport floor, though. His new home away from home will be at the upscale Fairmont Vancouver International Hotel, with floor-to-ceiling views of the runway from his comfy suite.

Even with the nice digs, it’s no walk in the park: Mah has to endure 12 straight weeks of consuming airport food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, not to exceed $50 per day on meals.

Mah’s airport adventure begins August 17^th.

But another Colorado emerges during the summer months, a bi-polar state whose winter persona sheds its thick layers to uncover a lighter, brighter side, filled with lush hiking paths, terminally blue skies, and vibrant carpets of wildflowers—yes, actual flowers—that you’d never think would have the chance to bloom after weeks of relentless sub-zero winters.

Down the mountain

“Have you mountain biked before?” Dave, the instructor, asked us. We, a group of writers/riders, were on assignment to cover (and experience) the annual the annual Crankworx Colorado Freeride Mountain Bike Festival in Winter Park, featuring the best free-ride mountain bikers from around the world competing in a weekend of slope-style, downhill, dual slalom and cross country events. We were decked out in heavy-duty biking gear—helmet, chest plates, knee guards—and looked like a rogue squad of Storm Troopers, helplessly lost in a forest, far from the Death Star.

Everyone in the group nodded yes, except me.

Mad air at Crankworx slope-style finals

“I’ve been mountain biking, but only on flat trails,” I said. Kansas-flat trails, adorned with strategically-placed, manicured rocks buffed daily by park rangers.

Dave looked at me. I could tell his mental gears were spinning, already anticipating CPR and related rescue techniques he’d used on dilettantes like me.

“So, you’ve never done this,” he said, pointing up to the lift, hoisting riders and their bikes up into the clouds.

I stared at his helmet, adorned with images of bare-breasted women clutching double-neck guitars, and suddenly felt petrified, like a kid who’s just realized his mother is no longer at his side in the department store. I wanted nothing more than to go back to my room, have a good cry, and sleep til morning.

I had to save face. “I know how to bike,” I said, matter-of-factly, my dignity waning.

“Not like this,” he replied.

*****

I’ve come to learn that there are two kinds of mountain biking: the kind where you hop on your polished Cannondale and go for a spin over a series of bumpy rocks on a relatively flat course near your house and come home feeling refreshed and outdoorsy, and the other kind, the Real Deal kind, where you heave your bike onto a ski lift, ride to the top of a mountain, and proceed to bargain with God that if you get down in one piece from the mountain, you’ll proceed to do whatever it is you haven’t been doing—church, more time with the kids, whatever—after you enjoy a nice, long rest and a tall, frosty beverage.

A new respect has emerged for the brave few who’ve had a chance at descending thousands of vertical feet on a bike. It takes balance, and lots of it, and a willingness to accept and confront the frailty of life head on, and one thing no one ever told me: you never really sit. The seat is there as fodder; you’re standing the whole time, balancing your weight on the pedals in a precarious dance of flat feet to dropped heels, bent elbows, and eyes focused on the curve ahead, never directly in front of your wheel. Sage advice if you don’t want to flip ass-over-handlebars and land in a tree.

The author, right, with fellow Troopers Jenny Willden and Hal Amen

Dave, the former pro biker, kept drilling into our heads the importance of injuring the bike before injuring yourself, and the need to “Eye the turn” over and over again, and yet, in a nonsensical display of altitude-induced delusion or simple ignorance, I decided to test his expertise and avert my gaze directly above my wheel at one point during a dicey turn. (I tend to challenge authority.) Just then, a meteoric boulder placed itself under my front wheel. Panicking, I fishtailed through the turn with my feet on the ground, a hail-Mary, Fred Flintstone scramble to save life and limb. (It worked, and no one saw. Bonus.)

We made it back to base camp, descending roughly 1,7000 vertical feet with no broken bones or equipment—triple bonus—and rewarded ourselves by biking fast and reckless through the village base camp, albeit on flat terrain.

Off the mountain

If mountain biking is too much reality for your TV show, there are tons of other outdoor activities to enjoy: the Alpine Slide at Winter Park Resort (Colorado’s longest slide, with two tracks: beginner and advanced—with speeds up to 35 mph); white water rafting from nearby Kremmling down the Colorado River, from mild to wild rides; guided horseback ridingthrough forested trails and meadows along the Fraser River; or self-guided hikes at nearby Creekside/Flume Tr

The Alpine Slide at Winter Park Resort

ail along the scenic St. Louis Creek, where we caught sight of “moose movement” in the nearby brush.

Save the date!

Next year’s Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival is scheduled for July 5-8, 2012 at Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado.

Special thanks to Gaylene Ore of Ore Communications, Kristyna Nedele of the Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Mistalynn Lee of Winter Park Resort, for their hospitality in hosting HTG at Crankworx. 

Photos by Gayle McCarthy.

But it’s better when an airline does it for you.

Just ask Tom Stuker, the real-life “Up In the Air” traveler based on George Clooney’s character who reached the ten million mile mark in United’s Mileage Plus program, the first person ever to attain such status and receive the Titanium United Mileage Plus card.

Stuker, a Chicago-based consultant for the automotive industry, was met Saturday at Chicago O’Hare’s International Airport by several United officials and presented with a framed certificate of his Ten Million Mile flight status as well as a picture of the plane, a Boeing 747-400 aircraft, named in his honor.

An avid flier, Stuker travels extensively for both business and pleasure and has flown on 6,000 United flights since 1982. He’s travelled to Hawaii 80 times and says he gets “antsy” if he goes a week without being on a plane.

Some of the many insider perks Stuker receives from United include a dedicated phone line for booking flights, exclusive tables at swank restaurants, flying first class, specially prepared picnic lunches featuring his favorite brownies, holding the plane for him when he’s running late, and other “undisclosed” benefits, such as a basement full of the finest champagne around.

Who says customer service doesn’t exist anymore?

SANDPEARL RESORT www.sandpearl.com*www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFlorida

Facebook users who “like” Sandpearl and post a photo of themselves on property (tagging Sandpearl Resort in their photo), receive 25% off an Ice Cream pedicure at the Spa. (Must be booked on Social Media Day, but can be redeemed on a future date.)

SAN JUAN MARRIOTT www.marriottsanjuan.com* www.facebook.com/sanjuanmarriott @sanjuanmarriott

Keep an eye on the San Juan Marriott’s Facebook page and Twitter feeds for offers throughout the day. The resort will be posting and sharing special “Social Media Day Only” offers such as free upgrades, complimentary drinks and value-added amenities.

ARUBA MARRIOTT RESORT & STELLARIS CASINO www.arubamarriott.com @arubamarriott

Follow @ArubaMarriott on Twitter and on June 30th, tweet the message: “Tweet me with a trip to @ArubaMarriott #SMDay” for an entry in to a drawing for a 3 night/4 day stay for two.

MARRIOTT COSTA RICA COLLECTION www.marriott.com/costarica* www.facebook.com/marriottcostarica

Post a photo of something you find beautiful in Costa Rica (for example, a sunset, a scarlet macaw, zip lining, etc.) Then get your friends to “like” your photo and the photo with the most likes at the end of the day (midnight, EST) will win a free night at your choice of any of the four Costa Rica Resorts.

ST. KITTS MARRIOTT RESORT

www.stkittsmarriott.com * www.facebook.com/stkittsmarriott

On June 30th, visit St. Kitts Marriott’s Facebook page where you can answer the question posted in their status: “Which one of your friends is the most glued to his/her social networks?”  Submit your answer on the resort’s Facebook wall and tag your socially addicted friend to receive a voucher for a 40% discount off a spa treatment at the Emerald Mist Spa.

JW MARRIOTT CANCUN RESORT & SPA  www.jwmarriottcancun.com*www.facebook.com/JWMarriottCancun

and CASA MAGNA MARRIOTT CANCUN RESORT www.casamagnacancun.com * www.facebook.com/casamagnacancun

Facebook users who tag themselves in a specified property photo (which will be announced on the resorts’ Facebook pages) on Social Media Day will be entered to win a three night stay at the resort. Winners will be drawn at random.

The Westin Playa Bonita

Let’s face it: Costa Rica is so, like, yesterday. Sure, Costa Rica is beautiful, exotic and a paradise for avid zip liners, but just like scrunchies and Members Only jackets, all good things must come to an end. Call us prescient, but we’re hedging our bets and going all-in for the Republic of Panama—or just Panama, if you’re tweeting— as the next big destination location.

Why? Because our Magic 8 Ball told us. Also, it has everything you want in a tropical destination: great weather, white sand beaches, sparkling blue waters, and awesome waves for surfing. It’s safe (read: not Mexico), clean, and close, and an affordable getaway if you’re working within a set budget. Plus, it beats a Staycation and you finally get to use your rusty high school Spanish in real-life scenarios. ¡Qué bueno!

When you go, plan a trip around the grand opening of the much anticipated Westin Playa Bonita, the first of its kind to open in Panama. The hotel, touted as a contemporary luxury oasis, is situated on the Pacific Ocean along a pristine, mile-long stretch of golden sand on Playa Bonita (or “pretty beach,” for our non-native speakers) surrounded by a lush tropical rainforest.

Slated for a grand opening this October, The Westin Playa Bonita will feature four bars, three infinity-edge pools, seven restaurants with cuisine ranging from Asian fusion to Latin steak house, and the largest meeting and banquet space—65,000 square feet— in Panama. Accommodations include 611 guest rooms, featuring 64 spacious suites and three deluxe Royale suites, all with ocean or tropical rainforest views.

Take in the views of the Pacific Ocean in the lobby’s floor-to-ceiling windows, or slip away to the chic, open-air VIP lounge on the 19^th floor for a panoramic view of the city skyline. While the hotel is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Panama City, it’s worlds away from the urban noise and nuisance.

If you’re more of a masochist and need more action than the beach can provide, sign up for this year’s Ironman. Scheduled for Sunday, February 12, 2012 in Panama City, the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Panama is expected to draw a large, pain-enduring crowd with athletes from all over the world. Athletes will swim 1.2 miles in the Pacific Ocean within the banks of the Panama Canal, then bike 56 miles across the Bridge of the Americas that connects Central and South America. Adding insult to injury, the Ironmen will then finish the day by running 13.1 miles through the Amador Causeway, a popular and scenic tourist area surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

Vacation, anyone?

Longboard Invitational

Home to all things surf, this internationally known spot is the mecca for anyone with a wetsuit and a need to ride some tasty waves in some seriously cold and unforgiving water. It’s the site for the annual Longboard Invitational, where the best of the beachers convene to compete for recognition of their skill, talent and tricked-out boards. Lots of blonde hair, bitchin’ bods, and beer, with a SoCal sense of brotherly love and comraderie.  Everyone cheers each other on, and profits from the event go to help local charities.  It’s all good, bro.

If you walk down a bit along the craggy cliffs of Steamer Lane, you’ll come across a small, hole-in-the-wall lighthouse that looks like a misplaced diorama figurine dropped near the water’s edge. It’s the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, home to the quaint Santa Cruz Surf Museum, operated by local area surfer legends that helped put Santa Cruz on the map for riding the riptides.

The O'Neill wetsuit

Inside, classic boards line the walls and ceiling, tracing the history of surfing from its introduction to the Pacific Coast region by three Hawaiian princes who surfed on redwood planks to modern, streamlined boards with fancy etchings and fins.

There’s a board with the outline of a shark bite in it from an attack back in the 70s, and the original—or supposed original—wetsuit designed and created by local legend one-eyed Jack O’Neill stands in homage to his ingenuity in keeping surfers in the ocean despite inhumane water temps. (He began by stuffing his trunks with flexible pieces of plastic PVC until a scientist friend introduced him to the miracle fabric, neoprene.) So if you wear a wetsuit, you have one-eyed Jack to thank. There’s not enough room to contain all the surfer stuff that’s been collected over the years—many items are warehoused in basements and storage facilities.

Vintage pictures line the walls, depicting young teenage boys posing with their boards, circa 1940. A few of the boys from the picture are still living in the area (now in their eighties and no longer surfing) and help run the volunteer effort that keeps the museum doors open.  The museum sells T-shirts, hats, magnets and, of course, the celebrated Sex Wax—“the best for your stick.”

The original Boys of Summer

David Copperfield’s very own idea of paradise.

Perhaps in the midst of a mid-life crisis, David Copperfield purchased a series of 11 islands in the Bahamas—roughly 85 miles southeast of Nassau—and transformed them into his idea of a perfect paradise called “The Islands of Copperfield Bay.”  One of the islands, Musha Cay, is now a private island resort open to tourists.

The remote island is replete with monkeys, swaying palm trees and postcard views of crystal waters and sugar sand beaches. Five villas can accommodate up to 24 guests and each villa is adorned with unique artifacts and antiques collected from around the world.

Paradise comes at a cost: The rate runs $37,500 a night to stay on Musha Cay, and there is a four night minimum. For those of you without a calculator, that’s $150,000 pre-tax, or your kid’s college education.

Granted, it’s an all-inclusive experience with impressive amenities, and once on the island, it’s yours for however long you stay. (David does not interact with his guests.) There’s an on-call, world-class chef who will whip up anything you want; Dave’s Drive-In outdoor movie theater showing nightly movies, featuring comfy chairs, cashmere throws and a candy bar with 20 different varieties of goodies to snack on; a beach-front gym; two Hobie Cat sailboats and Yamaha Jet Skis for your enjoyment; a helipad, should you decide to fly your own ‘copter; and a three-mile-long sandbar called Heaven on Earth, complete with two beach chairs and an umbrella.

As part of his next act, Copperfield is working on adding a Secret Village to Musha Cay to create a more mystical, magical experience. Guests will be able to walk down a winding staircase that leads them through a secret underground tunnel which emerges on the other side to a lush, tropical landscape full of interactive monkeys.

Beats a weekend at the Jersey Shore.

Photos from MushaCay.com.