Bonjour Colorado

Celebrating the Holidays with the Animals

Winter Wildland at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

I recently had Allen Nyhuis, co-author of “America’s Best Zoos:  A Travel Guide for Fans and Families,” as a guest on Travel Fun.  That’s when I learned about the many glittering light displays that take place during the holidays at zoos around the country. I had heard about Boo at the Zoo (which takes place during Halloween) but didn’t realize that so many zoos also offer a festive setting for celebrating the dark evenings of winter—what a terrific idea! Many of you have perhaps already enjoyed the twinkling light show offered at your local zoo.  If not, know that at most major zoos, you have a few days left to take in this joyful winter fun.

Allen Nyhuis: Animal Lover Extraordinaire

Now about Allen.  This guy surely ranks as America’s top zoo aficionado.  Did you know that some 150 million people go to zoos every year?  That’s more than the number of people that attend professional baseball, basketball, football and hockey games combined.  And visiting a zoo is one of the most affordable means of entertainment in our country, yet surprisingly most people don’t go much on vacation; they mostly just patronize their local zoo.  Well, I think it’s a great thing to do on your travels and I’m more convinced about this than ever after having connected with the giraffes, elephants, hippos, tigers, apes, Rocky Mountain wildlife and much more on a recent visit to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.  I was lucky enough to experience the fantastic natural setting of this mountain zoo (the only one of its kind in the country) after a fresh snowfall.  This not only enhanced the beauty of the zoo but it also drove the crowds away and kept many of the animals indoors where they were easier to view.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I encourage you to tune in to listen to Allen’s excellent interview.  You’ll also hear how he responds to my question regarding the happiness of animals in a zoo.  Just hit the play button below.

Thank you to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Allen Nyhuis for the above photos.

Snowboardcross World Cup: Telluride Goes International

Catching Air During the World Cup in Telluride

It was quite the scene here last weekend.  Actually the excitement grew over a two-week period which culminated with the Snowboardcross World Cup Finals at the Telluride Ski Resort last Sunday.  It was the first World Cup event to take place here and it certainly won’t be the last.  Aside from sailing over the course on the chairlift one afternoon early on, I didn’t see any of the events.  But I did breathe in the international flavor at a number of venues around town.  There’s nothing like that foreign flair and best of all, I learned that our international visitors were totally enchanted by everything Telluride has to offer.

Our stunning mountain resort does welcome a certain amount of foreign visitors during the winter and summer seasons but for this World Cup snowboard event, they came in throngs in the form of athletes, coaches, press, fans and more.  My first introduction to their descent onto to T-ride came early last week when my hunny, Steve, and I dined at The Peaks. Here their Great Room was loaded with young and fit athletes, clearly having a good time laughing, singing and drinking (although not too much beer swilling we remarked).  It was a glorious fashion parade since most were still wearing their team jackets and hats—yes, indoors as is the case at most après ski gatherings. Brands such as Fila and Colmar reigned supreme, with “the wet look” in jackets turning heads the most.  Steve and I agreed that the Italians won the prize for the best turned out team of them all.

The official kick off party of the World Cup came a couple of nights later at The Peaks, recently re-opened under new management as a Grand Heritage Resort & Spa. Half the town of Telluride showed up for that bash which turned out to be the “it” party of the season.

Still, I felt like I was missing out on something since I wasn’t able to attend any of the competitions.  So when I heard that the French team was staying right across the ski run from me at Mountain Lodge (which Steve also happens to manage), I wrangled a chat with some of the leading snowboard dudes just before they headed out for their race on Sunday.  My biggest dilemma was what to wear.  Suddenly my ski clothing seemed old and tired compared to what these world-class competitors were donning on and off the slopes. Fortunately I had picked up a new Eisbaer ski hat at Alpen Schatz, a Telluride boutique and online emporium of alpine treasures.  (Visit my Shopping Page to find out about the special discount you can receive from Alpen Schatz).  Eisbaer is the official hat of the Austrian ski team from what I observed at this World Cup event, the must-have accessory off the slopes.  (Everyone, of course, wears helmets while competing.)  My friend Mary Dawn, owner of Alpen Schatz, reassured me that I would be tops in this, especially since it’s such a hard-to-find item outside of Europe.

Eisbaer Hats: All the Rage

The guys met me in jeans and T-shirts and seemed totally unimpressed with my hat. (Wouldn’t you know? Although I did run into some other athletes at the lodge that were also wearing Eisbaer and I could have sworn they gave me a nod.)  I was disappointed to learn that the French team did not have a particular sponsor that outfitted them à la Yves Saint Laurent when he dressed the Air France flight attendants.  ”On est standard, rien d’éxtravagant,” they informed me practically in unison. Yet I did learn that their achievements—including numerous World Cup and Olympic victories—were nothing less than extraordinary.

We enjoyed chatting in French celebrating Franco-American relations for a brief moment within the cozy confines of Mountain Lodge.  I learned that they all thought Telluride was magnificent, “une très belle station,” and that the course was superb. As for Mountain Village, they found it to have a very European feel with its big old stones, more modern renditions of traditional ski lodges and concentrated configuration of buildings in the village core.  The town of Telluride was praised for its “esprit Far West” and they spoke just as glowingly about the American welcome they encountered here.  Polo de Lerve, bronze medal winner in the last Olympics, beamed when I asked about their impressions of American food.  He gave me a big thumbs up for La Coçina de Luz, a local’s favorite, and Rustico.  His friends, Pierre Vaultier and Vincent Valery, joked that Polo is the Gault & Milau of the World Cup.

Zee Snowboarders and Me (in Eisbaer!) in Front of the Mountain Lodge Telluride

So I guess Telluride is making its mark on the world map.  When asked if there was anything else that struck them about the area, they marveled about our natural beauty and most especially how trees grow at such a high elevation here—decidedly quite unlike the Alps.  They’ll be back, they promised.

I couldn’t help but wonder if next time they might be outfitted in le dernier cri des pistes, or the latest fashion of the slopes.  The French do have an image to uphold, don’t you think?

Great Online Boutique Recommendations-Holiday Season 2009

Telluride Truffle: The Best Cookies for Santa in the World

What? You’ve done all your shopping? Lucky you! Well, I’m sure you can still find a few tasty treats below for your holiday feasts.

But if you’re at all like me, you’ve barely put a dent in your shopping. So I’m here to help. Plus it’s cold across much of the country and the parking lots are beginning to fill up at the mall, so why not settle in and visit my hand-picked selection of charming Internet boutiques?

Old Chatham Sheepherding Company: It's Nice to Know the Provenance of Your Cheeses

This year’s lineup once again favors many delectable food items that make great gifts for your friends and loved ones. (And don’t forget yourself!) Let’s start with cheese, typically the last course in France before dessert but here in America we eat it at all different times. I like fresh, artisanally-made cheeses that are good enough to be the focal point of a meal composed of just bread, salad, cheese and wine. No processed food here. I was thrilled to re-connect recently with the wonderful cheeses from Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, an exceptional cheesemaker not far from my roots in upstate New York. Made from fresh sheep and cow’s milk, their award-winning Hudson Valley Camembert, melts in your mouth. Be sure to order their Ewe’s Blue, made in the Roquefort style, and these wonderful whole wheat Petits Toasts that they also sell that go so well with any kind of cheese.  (Love their nutty flavor!)  Consider their sheep’s milk yogurts as well. If you’re not a fan of all those sugary yogurts available in the market, you’ll love Old Chatham’s slightly sweet, ever-so refined yogurts that come in a variety of flavors including maple and ginger. Type Bonjour Colorado into the gift message section to receive your 10% discount.

Coach Farm Goat Cheeses

For the Cheese Lover in Your Life

Let’s not forget the goats. I recently discovered Coach Farm, a company specializing in goat’s milk cheeses and yogurts. Situated within the Hudson Valley, this purveyor supplies many of the top restaurants of New York. One taste and you’ll understand why. Their goat’s milk yogurt, made with live active cultures, just might become your tasty health remedy for 2010. Be sure to visit their Web site as well for many terrific recipes. Coach Farm also produces fresh and aged heart-shaped goat cheeses for Valentine’s Day; these must be pre-ordered by December 30th. Who ever thought cheese could be so adorable?  Call and mention Bonjour Colorado to receive free shipping.

Contact Vermont Butter and Cheese Company for your most refined creamery needs such as mascarpone, fromage blanc and sea salted cultured butter, a near delicacy that enhances any repast tenfold. They offer fine goat cheeses as well along with an extraordinary crême fraîche, a must for any serious cook’s fridge. I love adding a dollop of this most flavorful cream to my puréed winter soups.

Prime Meats from Lobel's

You must select some nice wines to accompany your extraordinary plateau de fromages. But let’s not break the bank. I have found some lovely ones, from Blackstone Winery, that represent an excellent price/quality relationship. Their Sonoma Reserve Merlot 2007 typically retails for $19.99 and their SonomaReserve Chardonnay 2008 rings in at $14.99.  For something more celebratory, seek out some sparkling from Cupcake Vineyards, bubbly wines (Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay and Brut Rosé Pinot Noir), from the Loire Valley of France.  They, too, are exceedingly affordable at $15.99 per bottle.  Don’t you just love the name?  Sounds like they’re another must for those looking to inject a little more romance into their lives.

Don’t know what to give that special man on your list?  How about sending him a package of steaks?  Don’t go ordinary though.  Check out the offerings at Lobel’s of New York, purveyors of dry-aged steaks, USDA prime and more gourmet items since 1840.  They, too, have some delicious recipes on their site.

Telluride Vodka: Spirit of Our Mountains

Here’s another great gift idea for guys although gals have been raving about it, too.  Order a bottle of Telluride Vodka, a spirit made from corn and our pristine mountain waters of T-ride.  Its taste is as refined as its packaging.  Contact Brad and mention Bonjour Colorado to receive $5. off every bottle you purchase.

The holidays would not be truly festive without chocolate.  Telluride Truffle still gets my vote as the finest chocolatier of the Rockies and their packaging is so gifty that you know receiving anything from this fine purveyor of treats will make anyone smile.  I’m crazy for their cookies, which, loaded with almonds, pecans, raisins and Belgian chocolate chips, strike a yummy combo between crunchy and chewy.  Type in promo code Paris10 in the Redeem Coupon Box to receive a 10% discount on online orders.

Alpen Schatz is another Telluride institution of sorts.  Owner Mary Dawn DeBraie showcases alpine treasures, superior quality products from the Alps that integrate the mountain spirit into our lives in her Telluride boutique and online store.  From handmade Swiss belts and dog collars, to boiled wool hats from Austria to hand finished silk Italian scarves, Alpen Schatz offers an array of original gift ideas for men, women, teens and children.  Can’t go wrong with Old World charm and tradition. Type in Bonjour upon check out to receive your special 10% discount.  Click on the play button below to hear Mary Dawn talk about Alpen Schatz.

Alpine-Inspired Silk Scarves from Alpen Schatz

Imperial Torte from Vienna

Telluride Gift Baskets rounds up many artisan-style food items in Colorado including jerky, jams, honeys, mustards and more.  If you mention Bonjour Colorado, you’ll receive a complimentary Chocolove candy bar with your order.

Looking for the nec plus ultra in gift giving this year?  Send a Viennese Imperial Torte to the globetrotting chocolate-lover in your life.  Confectioned from mocha cream, sandwiched between six crispy layers, and then surrounded by an exquisite marzipan and enrobed in dark chocolate, these jewel-like creations are shipped directly to you from Hotel Imperial in Vienna.  The packaging alone transports you to this elegant city where refinement and tradition reign supreme.  And if you don’t wait too long, there’s still time to order for Christmas deliveries.

Still in search of something unusual, perhaps a collectible that won’t be gobbled up in one meal?  I discovered The Autograph Source on a recent trip to Aspen and have become a fan of both their boutique and online store ever since.  Do peruse it—it’s great fun.  You can find all kinds of cool stuff from one of Eric Clapton’s guitars, signed by “the man” himself to an autographed photograph of President Obama. Mention Bonjour Colorado to receive your 10% discount here.

Eric Clapton's Signed Guitar from The Autograph Source

Are you still in search of something out of the ordinary, a fun and totally affordable little gift idea?  Why not gourmet sea salts?  In flavors such as lavender rosemary, bloody mary,  niçoise olive and cherry pistachio, Secret Stash Sea Salts will turn you on to something new.  And if you really want to express yourself in your gifting, go for the coconut or almond cardamom.  Now that’s what I calling adding some zest to life!

I’d like to round out my recommendations with two French favorites:  Spirit of Provence and Quel Objet. The Provençal olive oil imported by Spirit of Provence has been flying off the shelves of the finest boutiques in Aspen and Vail.  (Yes, Margie, the owner, is a Coloradan, based in Boulder.)  Check out her Provençal pottery, too.  You’ll find French gift ideas galore at Quel Objet including superior quality tea towels and tablecloths, lovely soaps and creams, French market baskets and bouquets garnis, perfect for stews and soups, which you’ll find you can’t live without.

I think magazine subscriptions always make for great gifts, especially if you match the right publication to the right reader.  I have two favorite publications about France that I enjoy receiving:  France Today and France Magazine.  They’re both offering special holiday gift subscriptions for Bonjour Colorado readers. France Magazine will include a free issue with every gift subscription; click here and type in PRO7G.  Click here for France Today and enter promo code CORP09 to receive 20% off.  They also publish France-Amérique, a publication in French (great for honing your French language skills).  Click here for that subscription and be sure to enter the CORP09 code to receive your 20% discount.

Since I’ve simplified your shopping, I hope you’ll be able to find some time to read a few of my many stories about travel, beauty, shopping, food and wine and more here on my blog.  Shopping needn’t be so tiresome.

Visit my Shopping Page to read more about some of my favorite purveyors.

Baaaa-est Tidings from All of Us!

Telluride’s Ultra Luxe Mountain Spas

Capella Spa Telluride: Better Than What the Romans Could Imagine

Hmmmm. There’s nothing like spa-going after a day in the mountains. Whether you’ve been out skiing, hiking or just wandering around taking in the sites, a visit to a spa in the mountains seems so much more deserved, so much more of a must. Maybe it’s the contrast of the rugged scenery and the high altitude sun with the soothing interiors of such cosseted spaces.  At elevations of close to 10,000 feet, the spa experience is indisputably enhanced tenfold. And if you’re lucky enough to find yourself sitting in a heated pool or a hot tub with snowflakes falling gently down around you, you’ll truly understand why spas and mountain destinations go together like robes and slippers. (My favorite visual is one of steam billowing up from outdoor heated pools and tubs, a common occurrence throughout winter and most summer evenings at spas in the mountains. When you’re in the middle of that misty scene, you can’t help feeling otherworldly.)

In Telluride, we’re truly spoiled. Maybe it’s because our mountains are so mighty that we boast such heavenly spas, super luxurious enclaves housed within the finest hotels of Telluride Mountain Village, the heart of the ski area. The little known secret is that you can enjoy these superlative spas for the price of a treatment or in some cases a day pass: Access to them is not reserved exclusively for their hotel guests.

Indoor or Outdoor at The Peaks? Why Not Both?

I wasn’t in Telluride long before I descended upon the Spa at The Peaks Resort, by far the largest and most impressive of all the Telluride spas. (Actually the Spa at The Peaks Resort ranks as one of the finest in the Rockies—-even in the country. It’s consistently the recipient of many recognitions including Spa Finder magazine’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Award in Best for Winter Sports.) Magnificent panoramic views of some of the most spectacular mountains of the Rockies grab you here, so much so, in fact, that even the locals that frequent this vast facility delight in the vistas provided at The Peaks.

I’m a black liner—that’s to say I love doing laps, swimming end to end, entirely transfixed on the black line at the bottom of the pool. This is what draws me to the Spa at The Peaks on a somewhat regular basis and when I’m there I also love reveling in their many relaxation options from lounging poolside (indoor and outdoor) to soaking up the heat in the sauna and in the steam. Their fitness room—outfitted in the finest state-of-the-art equipment—has unfortunately eluded me so far. I took a yoga class there once—just the antidote for too many days of skiing—but I have not made it back to anymore of those wonderful sessions nor the pilates and spinning they offer either. I guess I’m just part fish, yet some day soon I’ll give the rest more of a try. Oh, how I envy the tourists that come here and don’t have to worry about trotting back to their desks.

The Coed Sauna at The Peaks: The Place to Go After the Pool with Your Hunny Of Course

I’ve had a number of treatments at the Spa at The Peaks over the years and certainly my spray tanning session ranks among the most memorable. The others have all been incredibly relaxing and healing. Perched at some 9,500 feet, many of the treatments here focus on the restoration and nourishment of your skin; indeed you’ll find some of the best skincare products and estheticians in the country nestled in to this sunny mountain spa. I experienced an ISUN facial recently, one of the newer additions to the spa’s menu of treatments. A seemingly endless variety of these 100% organic skincare products were expertly applied for the cleansing, exfoliation and hydration of my skin. The aromatherapeutic benefits were extraordinary and afterward my skin felt revitalized, moist and fresh. Concocted in our own backyard, not far from Telluride, these nationally-recognized ISUN products, are on sale in The Peaks Spa Boutique along with a bundle of other spa goods including workout clothing and scented candles.

One of Many Fireplaces to Choose from at The Himmel Spa at The Franz Klammer Lodge

If you’re looking for a cozier, more European-inspired setting, book an appointment at The Himmel Spa at The Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge. I love the warm, wood, chalet-inspired décor here. Be sure to leave plenty of time to enjoy the spa’s indoor and outdoor hot tubs. And I suggest you sit and sip a cup of tea at the snuggly fireplace nook located at the Lodge’s reception area. That’s truly Old World elegance at its finest. The massage therapists here—especially Darren and Marianne—are among the best. For further relaxation and revitalization, add an Oxygen Service to your treatment. I found it lovely to sit and breathe in copious amounts of O2 before my massage, but you can also enjoy supplemental oxygen throughout your whole treatment. Wow, that’s what I call mountain therapy! Leave time to shop for a wide range of healing therapies and fun togs in The Himmel Spa Boutique.

Soaking and Shopping at The Himmel Spa

Envelope yourself in earth-toned luxury at the Capella Spa, the newest addition to Telluride’s bastions of beautification and well being. The look here is one of subdued elegance, just like the Capella Hotel and Resort itself. It will surely make you want to speak in hushed tones and tiptoe around their indoor pool. I’m dreaming of savoring a cinnamon-dusted hot chocolate, sitting in my robe and slippers on their outside deck overlooking the slopes.

Spa Treatment Suite at Capella Spa, Fabuleux!

As for the Capella Spa services, know that most of the dimly-lighted treatment rooms boast a private steam shower. Truly this is an establishment that prioritizes intimacy and supreme relaxation. Looking for something that is the ultimate après ski experience? Try a Fire and Ice Pedicure. Your feet will love you. The combination of hot stone massage, cooling menthol lotion and warm booties will set you right for another fantastic day on the slopes. These special shea butter booties are sold in their spa boutique along with an array of other up-to-the-minute products including vegan nail polishes, paraben-free creams, yoga mats and lots of other irresistible treats.

Shopping for the Holidays and a Brand New You for 2010 at Capella Spa Boutique

Have I convinced you yet? Spa-going in the mountains is truly the best. It’s so good that I suggest you set aside at least a few hours to fully benefit from all that is offered. Soaking and shopping alone takes over an hour! It’s all so good that you might even want to take a day off from your mountain activities to fully enjoy it all. Just don’t say I said so.

The Peaks Resort & Spa, 136 Country Club Drive, 970-728-6800, www.thepeaksresort.com

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge, 567 Mountain Village Boulevard, 970-728-3318 and 888-728-3318, www.fairmont.com/klammerlodge

Capella Telluride, 568 Mountain Village Boulevard, 970-369-0880, www.capellatelluride.com

It’s Dumping in the Rockies

Let it Snow!

As though right on cue, the big snows are arriving in the Rockies like a gathering of elves furiously putting the finishing touches on holiday preparations at the North Pole. Like kids on Christmas Eve, people in ski towns all across Colorado are suffering from ski fever as the pow pow accumulates outside our doors. The only release is to ski (or board!) and those lucky enough to get out are enjoying some of the best first tracks of the season.

Less than two weeks ago the sun shone brightly throughout most of Colorado as the thermometer displayed nearly springlike temperatures. Opening day in Telluride was as much about hanging out at the Hop Garden, a popular slopeside restaurant and bar, as stretching your legs on the slopes. Yet from Aspen to Vail to Crested Butte, all were eager to see some real snow. Even Sylvester, the cat, the lucky resident of the Sundeck, Aspen’s mountaintop restaurant, longed to see snow blowing outside his window. (Heck, if it’s cold and nearly winter in the mountains, it might as well snow!)

Sylvester, Aspen's Premiere Mountain Cat

Our wish has been granted and clearly winter is rolling in with great force. Just in time, too. Here in Telluride we’re gearing up for the LG FIS Snowboardcross World Cup that kicks off shortly. World-class athletes have already begun to arrive, some earlier than originally planned since there’s apparently no snow in Europe. Wait ‘til they get a taste of the Champagne powder of the great American West.

Click here to see what winter is like in Telluride. You really must see this for its incredibly beautiful. Thank you to Ben Knight for capturing the magic of our awe-inspiring place.

Thank you also to Lisa Wilson for the top photo and Tom Watkinson for the one below.  Check out more of Lisa’s photos at Telluride Daily Photo and be sure to consider her 2010 calendar for holiday gifts.  I love her shots of life in Telluride.

End Note:  As I write this, I’ve had to reassure my kitties, Leo and Clara, that all is well.  They’re blasting outside, a good sign for everyone but cats.  I wonder how little Sylvester is surviving the avalanche control work in Aspen.  He’s surely hiding, especially since he’s known to only emerge before the rush, early in the morning and after lunch.

Also if you’re lucky enough to be in Telluride, stop by the Hop Garden today at 4 p.m. to meet the US Team athletes for poster signing and fun.

Steve and Me in Front of the Hop Garden on Opening Day