As part of Gateway Canyons Resort’s new explorer’s program, Driven Experiences, guests will get behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe, Bentley Continental, Mercedes-Benz SL550 Roadster, or Corvette ZR1 Coupe and explore the surrounding canyons and desert. The program also includes off-road driving adventures in a Pro-Baja racing truck with professional instruction, flyover tours of the Moab desert and Palisade rock formations in a private aircraft, and a behind-the-scenes trip to the Gateway Aut…

Mercedes-Benz continues to expand its product range—but rather than going after superpremium buyers with the likes of the Maybach, it is trying to add owners to the three-pointed-star fold.
The first effort in this outreach to entry-level buyers is the $30,000 front-wheel-drive CLA sedan. Mercedes will use that platform as the base of its new GLA compact SUV, which will debut next fall as a 2015 model and will take on entries like the BMW X1, the Acura RDX, and the upcoming Audi Q3.
Powered by a 208 hp turbo…

For the first time, the private three-floor residence on the grounds of the K Club Hotel, Spa, and Country Club in Kildare, Ireland—40 minutes outside of Dublin—is available for private reservations. Set amid 550 acres of land, the Straffan House mansion was modeled after a 19th-century French château and was previously used as a private residence for the K Club’s owner, Michael Smurfit. The 10 bedrooms, each of which has a bathroom en suite, are available for a total of $26,000 per night in the summer and $16…

In South Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Hotel Domestique opened in August among miles of scenic country roads mapped with bicycle routes for the riders the inn caters to.
Why Go: This American take on a French château overlooks rolling countryside and acres of vineyards from its hilltop setting in the Palmetto State. A stable of BMC road and mountain bikes and Restaurant 17, named for the number of times one of the hotel’s co-owners competed in the Tour de France, set the 13-room property apart from other s…

Scotch is the much-anticipated new whisky bar in the five-star Balmoral hotel that presents more than 400 varieties—single malts, blends, young malts, mature malts—making it the largest selection of Scotch whiskies available to the public in Edinburgh.
Scotch’s bar fodder consists of savory wild-boar salami, smoked almonds, and dark chocolate, which seamlessly match the various whiskies on offer. Of course, those seeking greater sustenance can choose from the menu of contemporary Scottish cuisine designed by …

To kick off the ski season in Deer Valley, Resorts West and Magellan Jets have partnered on an extravagant 4-day weekend getaway December 6 through 9. The four-person package (starting at $49,000) provides private round-trip flights by Magellan and luxury accommodations in Resorts West’s ski-in, ski-out lodges, plus numerous activities centered around the 22nd Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest. The event benefits the Waterkeeper Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting clean water around the worl…

Meridian, the British manufacturer of audio and video components, has devised a new in-car surround-sound concept, for the Jaguar C-X17. Based on the architecture of the company’s in-home surround-sound systems, it comprises 28 loudspeakers placed strategically around the car’s cabin.
Meridian says the new design creates a more authentic listening experience by delivering sound directly to passengers’ ears. This includes two speakers each set into the A and B pillars of the car’s inner frame and an additional…

The Puyu Hotel and Spa, a 29-story tower infused with a resort-like atmosphere, opens November 1in the largest city in central China.
Why Go: Explore the provincial capital city of Wuhan, which shares a number of similarities with Chicago. Wuhan is a major transportation hub and the home of the largest urban lake in China. Attractions in the city of 10 million include one of the four great towers in China (with its commanding view of the Yangtze River), temples galore, and boat rides on the great East Lake. A…

Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud are collaborating for the first time to prepare a five-course dinner at Puck’s eponymous restaurant at the Hotel Bel-Air on October 23. The menu has yet to be determined, but it will take its inspiration from a fusion of French and Californian cuisines and will consist of fresh farmers’ market produce picked by the chefs the morning of the event. There are 160 seats for the dinner ($220 per person), which will coincide with the release of Boulud’s latest cookbook, Daniel: M…

Vivanta by Taj Bentota is a refreshed full-service beach resort in a destination your friends haven’t heard of.
Why Go: This refurbishment of a 1990s beach resort in Sri Lanka is worth considering if you’re in the area. Find the sprawling red-roofed complex on the southern part of the country’s west coast, about halfway between Colombo and Galle. Activities include boat safaris to local villages, whale- and dolphin-watching excursions, and visits to a nearby elephant orphanage. 
What to Expect: India’s …