DC Hotels & Lodging Paris Restaurants Travel: cherry blossoms DC Hotels & Lodging luxury DC hotels Paris Restaurant Restaurants The Fairfax at Embassy row The Jockey Club Travel Washington DC
by maribeth
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The Elegance of Paris in Our Nation’s Capital: The Fairfax at Embassy Row
Cherry Blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial
It’s been over a week that the mountain closed here in Telluride and the town has already slowed down to its sleepy off-season mode. Many people have hit the road in search of warmer climates. Others (like me) are using this quiet time to catch up on work that had been shelved during the busy winter season. Fortunately there’s still fun to be had nearby since I just returned from a long weekend of skiing at Beaver Creek and Snowmass. My final spring ski fling will be in Aspen over Easter.
Still I’m feeling the itch to visit cities such as Paris or Washington D.C., two great capitals that are especially resplendent this time of year. I’ve often been to Washington in (late) spring since it’s an easier trip than crossing the Atlantic; and in Paris I’ve lived through nearly a dozen printemps. Flowers bloom bountifully in April in both cities, making spring the perfect season for strolling vast boulevards while crisscrossing in and out of world-renowned museums. This year, due to the disasters in Japan, there was more talk than ever about D.C.’s cherry blossoms, great puffs of beauty that surely provoked more emotion than usual. (I haven’t seen the cherry blossoms in D.C. but I did experience them in all their splendor nearly two decades ago in Kyoto, and I remember them as heartbreakingly beautiful then.)
Both Paris and D.C. humble you year-round by their manicured landscapes and grand and glorious architecture. This stateliness may be considered distinctly Washingtonian or typiquement parisien. Or sometimes a little of both. (As most of us know, it was a Frenchman, Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, appointed by President George Washington in 1791, who designed our capital city.) The history and tradition of Washington D.C. may be more recent than that of Paris but a visit to this glistening beacon along the Potomac still imbues you with the spirit of the past as well as the omnipotent force of the present.
Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures Restaurants Skiing & Snowboarding Travel Utah: Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures Restaurants Skiing & Snowboarding Travel Utah
by maribeth
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Romantic Getaway in the Heart of Utah’s Ski Country
Schussing at Sundance
Romantic getaways can take many forms. For my boyfriend, Steve, and me an escape centered around skiing works well for us, no matter what destination we chose. This time we skied four days in Utah, testing and comparing four different mountains, a terrific outdoor adventure that made our many candlelight and fireside moments feel all the more rewarding.
It’s great when you share a passion with someone and for both of us, skiing creates a powerful bond whether here in Telluride or at other resorts. But as with all aspects of a relationship, compromises must be made. (Hear that Steve!?! Only kidding. Hubba-hubba.) Fortunately we were able to strike the right balance during this trip, one that allowed Steve to obtain his share of challenging skiing and me to fulfill my all-important quest for an authentic travel experience.
Romance, Sundance Style
Kudos to Steve for having selected Sundance Resort, the dream that Robert Redford realized in the mountains of Utah over four decades ago. We made Sundance our base and explored Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort from there. (The Canyons came on the last day after spending a night in Park City.) We quickly concurred that that was the right formula for us since settling into Sundance made us feel like we were holed up in our own private retreat. (The big resorts at the bigger ski areas offer a more look-at-all-we-have-to-offer-you-here-in-the-mountains stay.)
We like to keep it simple, and at Sundance we discovered a warm and genuine atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of the West and its mountains. We immensely enjoyed our Mountain Suite punctuated by rough-hewn woods and warm, woolen accents. Here we made roaring fires (no gas flames!) and sipped hot chocolate in the quietude of our cozy space. But we didn’t stay home long since we discovered much to do and admire within this beguiling resort. Oh how our senses were tickled at every turn. We spent our first night whooping it up at the Owl Bar, a warm, western saloon of sorts that boasts great live music and tasty pub food. Best of all though it exudes a marvelous mountain panache that can only be achieved by the right mix of locals and visitors.
The ski hill at Sundance appeared more regional—at least on the busy Saturday we were there—consisting of lots of school kids from the nearby big city and its environs. They reminded me of the snowsports enthusiasts I encountered at the little ski area I grew up on in western Massachusetts. I felt totally rattled by them, mostly because these novice skiers and boarders crisscrossed the bunny slopes like rabbits darting about for food. Steve and I both agreed that it’s likely best to ski Sundance during the week, something that was confirmed when we left the resort the following Monday when we noticed that the parking lot was still empty after 10 a.m., This made us feel wistful about coming back on a weekday especially since Steve ended up rating Sundance as having the best expert terrain of all the resorts we tested throughout our trip. Steve had sampled most of these runs before I headed out on our Sundance ski day. I thought they were awesome, too, until I I found myself—mid-way down one of the runs—doing loopty-loops in a gully made even more disorienting by flat light. Here, I experienced my first meltdown of the season, but you have to have at least one on a ski vacation, don’t you?
Colorado Hotels & Lodging Pot Pourri Shopping Spas Telluride: Colorado Hotels & Lodging Pot Pourri Shopping Spas Telluride
by maribeth
Comments Off on Valentine’s Love: Great Deals for Public Radio
Valentine’s Love: Great Deals for Public Radio
Wrapped in Red at the New Sheridan Hotel
Here’s an opportunity for twofold love. Snatch up a great deal on travel and treats while supporting community radio. I’ve listed some exciting gifts below that you can give your Valentine and at the same time you’ll be showing support for KOTO, our homegrown NPR station here in Telluride, Colorado. All proceeds from these gifts benefit KOTO. You’ll notice that you don’t even have to go to T-ride to take advantage of them. All you have to do is contact me with your pledge and I’ll let you know if you’re the lucky recipient of these fine premiums. It’s first come, first served, so go ahead and e-mail me your choice along with your contact information and I’ll let you know if you’ve scored a great Valentine’s gift for your sweetie.
Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Paris Spas: Colorado Denver Denver spas Hotels & Lodging luxurious Paris spas Paris Spa George V Four Seasons Paris Spas The Oxford Club Spa The Oxford Hotel Spa
by maribeth
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Spa Going: The Perfect Antidote to the Winter Blues
The Sitting Room of the Spa George V at the Four Seasons in Paris
Ho hum. If you’re not an avid outdoor enthusiast, you might be growing tired of winter by now. The Northeast has been in the grip of mighty cold and snow for the past couple of months and as I write this, half the U.S. is bracing itself for another arctic wallop. Europe has experienced quite the winter as well, particularly in Paris where I hear many fashionistas have gone so far as to trade in their stylish châpeaux for more practical knit hats—mon dieu!
Aside from cozying up on my couch with my kitties, an excellent cup of tea and a good book, I’ve found a trip to a spa to be the best therapy for curing mid-winter doldrums. (That’s, of course, after I’ve had fun in the mountain air.) Pampering and intense relaxation always warm my body and soul, leaving me to feel newly restored and ready to affront the cold or whatever else is thrown my way.
I love how almost no matter where we find ourselves, we can chose a spa experience that will transport us to a new and different healing space sure to transform us on many levels. There’s a spa out there for seemingly every mood and budget; it’s just up to us to seek it out.
Colorado Hotels & Lodging Spas Telluride: Hotels & Lodging Spas Telluride
by maribeth
Comments Off on Camel’s Garden Hotel: A Telluride Favorite
Camel’s Garden Hotel: A Telluride Favorite
The Gondola and Camel’s Garden Hotel Backdropped by Telluride’s Majestic Peaks
I love boutique hotels. Our Colorado mountain towns are blessed with a number of them and in Telluride, Camel’s Garden Hotel is one of my favorites. It offers the whole package for assuring a heartwarming stay in our beautiful Victorian town: great location at the base of the gondola, large, brightly-colored rooms and condos, personalized service and a variety of amenities. The breakfast room is so pleasant and welcoming that you’ll want to hang around for a second cup of coffee. No problem since there are two lifts to chose from (including the gondola) right outside your door. As for après ski or late-night stargazing, guests at Camel’s Garden enjoy the privilege of experiencing one of the best hot tubs in town, one of the best in the West, in fact. Frankly I’d stay here just for the use of the tub which is really more of a small pool from which you can take in killer views.
Art & Culture Hotels & Lodging New Mexico Travel: Art & Culture Hotels & Lodging New Mexico Travel
by maribeth
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Light and Luminarias in Taos, New Mexico
Taos Mountain from La Posada de Taos
New Mexican Light and Luminarias by Day
It’s been so unusually grey here in southwestern Colorado lately that I can’t help wondering what it’s like south of us in New Mexico. I love the light in that part of the country-––sort of like America’s Provence-––no wonder so many artists such as Georgia O’Keefe have called this land of enchantment home. The wondrous play of light in the sky and on the raw landscapes and adobe architecture especially enchant us this time of year when the sun is low in the sky. These mystical scenes become even more beguiling at night during the holiday season when luminarias light up the rugged southwestern dwellings like candles on a birthday cake. Today many of these small lights or lanterns have been electrified and bulbs have replaced the candles that were originally set in sand-filled paper bags, but no matter-––the effect is still magical and quintessentially New Mexican.
Art & Culture Hotels & Lodging Spas Telluride Festivals Travel: Art & Culture Hotels & Lodging Spas Telluride Festivals Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Royal Fascination
Royal Fascination
Windsor Castle
I don’t know about you but I can’t get enough of England’s royal family these days. Everywhere you turn there’s another image, clip or sound bite of William and Kate. And the world’s just gearing up since their spring nuptials are nearly five months away. Everyone loves fairy tales, and isn’t that what the House of Windsor provides?
Windsor Castle Norman Gateway
The stories wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if they were about perfect people that lead perfect lives. That’s exactly what makes these royals so real, dare I say so relatable? Of course we poured our hearts out for Princess Diana and all the seemingly insurmountable challenges she faced during her life. And who didn’t shed a tear when she met her tragic demise?
But if you really want to embrace a royal story that you can relate to, go see “The King’s Speech,” a feature film that was released nationwide a week or so ago. I was lucky enough to see it in Telluride over Labor Day weekend when it was shown at the Telluride Film Festival. (Yes, like many other films, it actually came here before the Toronto Film Festival.) It deeply moved me not only for its superb depiction of the royal family (indeed, I love all the accoutrements of such elegant lives) but more importantly, for its gripping portrayal of a flawed man who had to become king. It’s clear that the Duke of York, played by Colin Firth (who received a special tribute at the Telluride Film Festival this year), never wanted to become king. But he was forced to step up to this enormous responsibility when his brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallace Simpson, the American divorcée. Assuming this position would be daunting to even the most carefully prepared heir to the throne, but downright frightening for someone that suffered from stuttering. Remember this was the golden age of the radio and speeches needed to be eloquently delivered. Ah, fairy tales always have their twists and turns.
Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Mountain Living Travel: Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Mountain Living Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Travel Lightly: Something to Remember During the Busy Holiday Season and Always
Travel Lightly: Something to Remember During the Busy Holiday Season and Always
CME: My Ticket to Ride
“Travel lightly,” said my dear friend Jane over the phone.
“Oh, I will,” I quickly replied. “I’m not packing much for New York.”
“I’m not talking about traveling lightly in that sense,” she insisted. “I mean be light, as in light of spirit.”
“Oh, of course,” I answered as I pondered the full meaning of her words. “Yes, I will––-I must. Yes, I have to remember to take that approach,” I emphasized as we ended our conversation.
I can’t tell you how much I’ve thought about those two simple words these past ten days. Travel lightly. Travel lightly. This has become my mantra of late. I know that everything begins with intention and how you ease into (or respond to) a situation dictates its outcome. But it’s nice to be reminded of this sort of thing.
