Food & Wine Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Romance & Relationships Skiing & Snowboarding Telluride: Restaurants Romance & Relationships Skiing & Snowboarding Telluride
by maribeth
Comments Off on Night Out in Telluride Mountain Villlage
Night Out in Telluride Mountain Villlage
Great Room with a View on a Busier Night
I almost can’t wait for the ski season to end. The key word there is almost. I’d love for the skiing to go on and on but I’m also yearning to spend more time at my desk, something that is indeed a big challenge when the slopes lie right outside your door and you’re caught up in the ski fever that grips every mountain town from late November through a good part of April. Plus I’ve been working a lot on the hill teaching skiing, a very rewarding job that not surprisingly leaves little energy for writing at the end of the day.
Then there’s the near grueling pace of the social life that one must endure in such a happening mountain resort. No matter how much you try to stay in, there’s always a concert (often free!), a dinner, a party or an impromptu gathering to take in. Telluride is a culturally rich, increasingly sophisticated town, which consistently goes off at the close of the lifts. more »
Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel: Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel
by maribeth
1 comment
Viva Italia, Viva Italian Americans, Viva la Dolce Vita in Denver
The Sweet Life: Italian Style
Clemente. My name ends with a vowel, just like Delgato, Cardaluccio, pizza. When my grandparents emigrated from Italy our name was actually spelled Clementi. They Americanized it somewhat with an “e.” Even Frankie Valli once contemplated making his stage name Vally with a “y.” But he opted to be a good ‘ole Jersey Boy and settled on Valli and in so doing preserved more of his Italian heritage.
Jersey Boys: Italian American Guys
My dad is a Frankie, too. Not from Jersey but from Troy, New York. Close enough. Recently the music of the Jersey Boys helped him to reconnect with his roots. I spent a lot of time back east this past summer helping my father get through a difficult passage in his life and every step of the way we were serenaded by the melodious and memorable sounds of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We became Jersey Boys addicts. My dad had seen this explosive Broadway show that recounts the story of four Italian American guys and their rise to fame last spring. Their hits from “Sherry” to “Oh, What a Night” to “My Eyes Adored You” to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and more buoyed him up to a place of joy he had not known in quite some time. Through this music, I could tell my dad was retracing part of his own story. And I was right there with him, rediscovering a sound and a slice of Italian American culture I had not paid much attention to in quite some time.
Art & Culture Denver Hotels & Lodging Shopping: Art & Culture Denver Hotels & Lodging Shopping
by maribeth
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Holiday Time in Denver
Ebenezer Scrooge at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Having grown up in upstate New York, a trip to the big apple was almost a tradition around this time of year to take in the festive ambiance, glittering decorations, holiday entertainment specials and a bit of shopping. For many of us, Denver is the big city and I already know a lot of people planning a trip there before winter truly sets in. For shopping, a trip to Cherry Creek Shopping Center is a must. Cherry Creek Mall and Cherry Creek North serve as home to some of the most alluring stores in the Rockies. I suggest you stay at Loews Denver Hotel, a luxury property that is offering screaming deals on weekend travel (Thursday-Sunday) with rates beginning as low as just over $100. a night. They’re a short shuttle ride away from the mall and they offer a ton of perks and discounts on Cherry Creek and more that will make your stay pay for itself. Entertainment-wise, you’ll want to take in at least one of the exciting shows at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts. A Christmas Carol and Jersey Boys are sure to be tops, and in my opinion, the perfect antidotes to any bah humbug sentiments brought on by these blustery times. Denver has become quite the arts capital, you know. Why, it almost reminds me of New York City.
Cherry Creek Shopping Center, 303-388-3900, www.shopcherrycreek.com
Loews Denver Hotel, 303-782-9300, www.loewshotels.com/denver
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 303-893-4100, www.dcpa.org
A Christmas Carol Finale
Colorado Hotels & Lodging Skiing & Snowboarding Telluride The Rockies: Colorado Hotels & Lodging Skiing & Snowboarding Telluride The Rockies
by maribeth
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Togethering in the Rockies
Mountain Lodge at Telluride: A Great Place for Spending Time Together
Togethering. Certainly there was a lot of that this past weekend. Thanksgiving kicks off the season—especially here in the Rockies—when friends and family gather in houses, condos and cabins to share their vacation time together.
Togethering is the term coined not too long ago by travel agents and other travel industry experts to refer to the tendency of vacationing together as a family unit, often with extended family members and/or relations from previous marriages. “This coming together of combined families and friends has been more of a trend the past few years,” says Steve Togni, General Manager of Mountain Lodge at Telluride, a handsome property skirted with ten well-appointed slopeside cabins and an alluring lineup of condos, all perfect for families looking to settle into the mountains for an extended stay. “It has become less about skiing,” Steve adds. “It’s more about shopping, spa going, dining and just being in the mountains. I would describe these stays more as winter vacations rather than ski vacations. There’s definitely more of it going on in the winter than in the summer.”
A lot of people choose to rent large homes out West and many families return to the same house year after year. Clearly there’s beauty in having your own special hideaway without being encumbered by the expense and hassle of owning it yourself. “We have people coming back to the same property year after year,” says Maité Daguerre, Director of Operations at Elevation Vacations, a company that specializes in luxury rentals in Telluride. “People love the personal touch and great service we provide,” Maité continues. “It’s all about relationships. When someone checks in to a big luxury home—or even a small guest cottage—we meet them at the door, show them how to use the stereo, help them out however possible.”
I’ve togethered a number of times with my family in Aspen where my parents have a large condo. It’s always different there than being reunited at other locales; it seems the mountain and the lively town of Aspen provide the foundation for all. Both, of course, are good to escape to when the togethering element becomes a bit too much. My favorite times togethering in Aspen have been when it has just been my dad and me. Can togethering be about only two people?
When our family isn’t occupying our condo, it’s rented out and managed by Frias Properties of Aspen, the biggest rental company in Aspen that offers a variety of lodging possibilities in Aspen and Snowmass. “Our bookings are looking good for the season,” says co-owner Chuck Frias. “The international guests will be down from the Australian and Brazilian markets and also from Europe since the euro is weaker than it was last year, but we’re pricing more aggressively to make up the difference.”
A Family that Skis Together Stays Together
Unless you’ve been squirreled away the past few weeks, you know that the travel bargains are better than ever, so this is the time to take advantage of savings of up to thirty percent off on lodging and some airfares. Certainly if people are considering travel, they’re going to put a premium on time with their families. Folks will still want to get together and often it’s easiest to meet in a fun destination in the Rockies when families are spread out between Denver, Phoenix and New York.
Word has been that the outlook is more tenuous for Steamboat Springs this season, but the Sheraton Steamboat Resort isn’t complaining. They’re set to reopen December 4 after a $20 million renovation and bookings are full. The makeover transformed this fine Starwood property from a 350-room hotel to a 200-plus establishment composed of a good number of luxury condos. They offer several different possibilities for families looking to find a living situation that meets their taste and budgetary needs. Their two- to three- bedroom villas are more high-end, but all are ski in/ski out and freshly decorated in their new modern mountain look.
Trapper’s Cabin at Beaver Creek
You can find all kinds of lodging options throughout the Rockies for your togethering. No matter what the price tag, you’re sure to save some on dining expenses if you make use of the glorious kitchen facilities that appear to be at the heart of the accommodations best suited for families.
But what about those truly extraordinary reunions such as a very special wedding anniversary or a landmark birthday when money is no object? The gem in the RockResorts crown is most definitely Trapper’s Cabin, a magnificent four-bedroom, four-bath hideaway in Beaver Creek that sleeps up to ten people. Renovations on Trapper’s Cabin were completed last winter and the amenities such as a sleek professional kitchen and a game room complete with a pool table, poker table and large flat screen T.V. are enough to keep the whole gang happy for days.
The Tempter House in Telluride
There’s no fear whatsoever of catching cabin fever at the Tempter House, the Hope diamond of high-end lodging in the Rockies, situated right here in Telluride, perched at 12,200 feet at nearly the summit of Telluride Ski Resort. The Tempter House is one of the most secluded and romantic destinations you will encounter with 360-degree panoramic views that will make you feel like you’re floating on a mountaintop cloud. A couple’s massage or private catered dinner can be arranged or you can just relax with a glass of wine in front of the master bedroom’s wood burning fireplace and focus on your hunny. This must be why it’s referred to as the Tempter House! (Actually the name is inspired from Temptation Chute, a gnarly couloir that plunges down the mountainside on the out-of-bounds side of the house.) The Tempter House is, however, totally ski in/ski out. Many more glorious amenities are also offered. Expect to pay about $5,000. a night. Now that’s what I call topnotch togethering.
Great Views to Wake Up to at the Tempter House
Mountain Lodge Telluride, 866-368-6867 or 970-369-5000, www.mountainlodgetelluride.com
Elevation Vacations, 888-728-8160 and 970-728-8160, www.elevationvacations.com
Frias Properties of Aspen, 800-633-0336 and 970-920-2000, www.friasproperties.com
Sheraton Steamboat Resort, 866-716-8134 and 970-879-2220, www.sheraton.com/steamboat
Trapper’s Cabin, 970-754-5788, www.trapperscabincolorado.com
Tempter House, 866-888-7197, www.tellurideskiresort.com/TellSki/info/tempter-house
Special Travel Tips for Telluride and Steamboat Springs
There are many great deals for kids to fly for free to Telluride and Steamboat. Click on the below links to find out more.
Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel: Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Prague: More Eastern European Splendor
Prague: More Eastern European Splendor
Terrace Dining At Allegro in Prague
Many people do the trifecta in this part of the world: a sybaritic journey that encompasses Budapest, Prague and Vienna. My friends, Denise and Alan, combined their September trip to Budapest with Prague, a sensible decision since prices in Vienna weigh in considerably more.
With only a five-hour drive or a one-hour flight between these two great Eastern European capitals, a visit to both seems like a must, especially if a rich cultural scene and outstanding Old World architecture figure among your requisites of a memorable vacation. Known as the Paris of the north, Prague also begs to be explored by foot, mostly since the majority of the main attractions are located within the city center. With three major opera houses and several other prominent cultural hubs, Prague also boasts a vibrant music scene, although expect to pay a bit more here to attend events than in neighboring Budapest.
According to my extremely well-traveled friend, Denise, this seemed to be the case across the board. She found Prague to be a notch or two up from Budapest—price-wise—although still significantly less than most other major European cities. A dinner for two with wine, for example, rang in about $80. to $100., noticeably more than the same in Budapest.
Czech cuisine, known for its large meat and potatoes emphasis, did not impress Denise nearly as much as the food and wine of Budapest, yet her entire gastronomic experience in Prague was certainly blown off the charts by her meal at Allegro, the only one-star Michelin restaurant in all of Central and Eastern Europe. It came as no surprise that it was housed within the elegant confines of the Four Seasons Hotel Prague, another outstanding property embellished with world-class artwork and situated on the banks of a historic river. As the name indicates, Allegro features an Italian cuisine, one that is especially refined and served in a stunning setting, itself worthy of five stars.
Italian Elegance in the Czech Republic
It seems as though the Four Seasons name is still more accessible in Eastern Europe than in other parts of the world. Eastern Europe has not yet adopted the euro, so one can only imagine how long it will stay that way. It might be a good time to start planning a trip to this part of the world soon. With travel deals the way they are now, you might even be able to swing Vienna.
Four Seasons Hotel Prague, 420-221-427-000; www.fourseasons.com/prague
For more Money Saving Travel Tips, go to my Tips page.
Art & Culture Food & Wine Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Spas Travel: Art & Culture Budapest Eastern Europe Food & Wine Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Spas Travel
by maribeth
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Budapest: For Lovers Young and Not-So Young
A Glittering City
People often tell me they live vicariously through me. Generally they’re referring to my travel adventures and stories rather than the more tedious aspects of my single woman’s life, I imagine. (Although my romantic encounters can, I suppose, be sometimes viewed as out of the ordinary!) I rarely envy other peoples’ travels, mostly because I often see them as uniquely their own. But recently I arranged for my friend, Denise, and her husband, Alan, to go on a trip where I imagined myself every step of the way. It turned out to be a most romantic journey and I’m sure part of me not only coveted her travels but I also imagined myself experiencing this magical city—that always intrigued me—with my own special someone. Oh well, thankfully my life isn’t over yet!
Folk Dancers at the Wine Festival
The Hungarian capital of Budapest was her chosen destination, a selection made partly because of her husband’s Hungarian ancestry. Denise and Alan divided one week between Budapest and Prague; the another was passed in the Hungarian countryside where they found it to be quite easy to explore by car. As in France and other European countries, good signage in Hungary is more the norm than the exception.
Largely considered one of the most beautiful cities of Europe, Budapest is most typified by the Danube, the river made known probably first as a frontier of the Roman Empire and more recently (in 1867!) by a Viennese waltz that will forever evoke merriment and optimism. Classified as World Heritage sites, the two banks of the Danube, Buda and Pest, are punctuated by many great buildings and monuments, some of which house hotels that overlook the legendary blue swath of the Danube.
Art & Culture Four Corners Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Spas The Rockies Travel: Art & Culture Four Corners Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Spas The Rockies Travel
by maribeth
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Going to Gateway
Red Rock Grandeur
“Now why did you say you wanted to come here again?” I asked my friend, Paula, as we stopped in this middle-of-nowhere place called Paradox, squinting beneath the beating sun in search of a gas station, a store or some other significant sign of life. My head pounded fiercely by now and both our car and I were positively parched.
“I wanted to take some pictures of Paradox Valley, you know for that contest I told you about, the one to raise awareness about possible uranium mining in the area,” Paula replied as she drove across verdant plains framed by cliffs the color of buff, sandstone and ochre. This contrasting display of nature must be the paradox, I blithely thought to myself as my head throbbed and we rolled through this shadow of a town, Paula clicking her camera like a sniper in a passing S.U.V.
We realized by now that there was no easy way to cleave our way through these rocky walls to Gateway, our ultimate destination, normally just a two-hour plus drive northwest of Telluride. Our detour to Paradox had proved scenic enough, but now we needed to speed up our travels. We had no choice than to turn around and drive back to Bedrock, the little speck we passed through on our way to Paradox Valley.
Colorado Hotels & Lodging Restaurants The Rockies Travel: Colorado Hotels & Lodging Redstone Restaurants The Rockies Travel
by maribeth
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Redstone Rendez-Vous
Redstone Inn: One of Colorado’s Best-Kept Secrets
After having been away a month, I couldn’t wait to get back to Telluride. I just wanted to sleep in my own bed with my two kitties and bury myself into the quiet of my little mountain nest. The drive from Denver to T-ride is about seven hours and since I’m not much of a car person, I like to break it up with a stop at my brother David’s house. He and his wife, Geri, live in Redstone, Colorado, a charming little town very much at the halfway point of my Denver/Telluride journey. Normally I would stay overnight, giving us plenty of time to catch up; but the three of us were rather pressed for time, so they suggested we lunch at the Redstone Inn instead.
