Aspen Colorado Crested Butte Cycling Shopping Telluride: Aspen Aspen/Snowmass bike rentals bike riding bike tours Bootdoctors Colorado mountain towns Crested Butte Crested Butte Mountain Resort Cycling Four Mountain Sports Sheraton Steamboat Resort Steamboat Springs summer fun Telluride Telluride Ski Resort
by maribeth
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Bike Riding In and Around Our Beautiful Mountain Towns
Biking in Telluride
Family Bike Adventure in Crested Butte
Penelope Gleason from Bootdoctors in Telluride
The hills are alive with the sound of cyclists clicking their way over all kinds of bike trails from single track to old railroad grades to paved bike paths to smooth and bumpy swaths cut through our forests for your recreational pleasure. Our towns and valleys are popping with cyclists clad in brightly-colored garb, too. Whether you’re looking for a scenic ride along one of our rushing rivers or interested in snagging a momentous climb or a descent of World-Cup order, Colorado’s mountain towns offer some of the best bike riding options in the United States. Young or old, skilled or amateur, mountain biker or road rider, there’s something for everyone set within some of the best drop-dead gorgeous scenery in the world.
Below is a rundown of a few of Colorado’s major mountain destinations and some of the cycling options they offer. Read them over, make some enquiries and/or reservations, then enjoy the ride. Most of the mud has dried up and the wildflowers are beginning to bloom, so there’s no better time to freewheel it through and around our mountain towns.
French Life Shopping: charming online shopping Mother's Day gift ideas
by maribeth
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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas-2015
Lovely Lily of the Valley
It’s almost May 1st, or May Day, a holiday widely celebrated in Europe. My favorite part of this fête nationale in France is the muguet, or lily of the valley, that delicate flower with droplets of blooms that resemble little white wedding bells. You can enjoy its fresh, redolent scent in Diorissimo, a signature fragrance of the House of Dior. Christian Dior’s favorite flower was, in fact, le muguet, one of the most beloved symbols of happiness in France. On le premier mai en France, most everything is closed, but you can still find all kinds of bouquets of muguet sold throughout–from street corners to flower shops.
Telluride Truffle Mother’s Day Gift Box
Telluride Truffle Spring Gift Box
Ruth’s Toffee
Pink Champagne from Henri’s Reserve
Voilà there’s one terrific gift idea for the lovely lady in your life for this Mother’s Day. Read about many more at my Online Shopping page. Many of the online boutiques I feature actually showcase European goods or goods of such fine quality that they could pass for European made. Telluride Truffle and Ruth’s Toffee are such examples and indeed the quality of their products rivals some of the delectable treats I’ve sampled from France’s top chocolatiers. What mom wouldn’t be thrilled to receive some sweets from these two Colorado-based confectioners! Pay close attention to the instructions on my Online Shopping page to receive a 10% discount on online orders from these two purveyors and all others highlighted on that page (and below).
Nothing says holiday like bubbly, especially when it’s champagne. Send mom a beautiful bottle of champagne rosé from Henri’s Reserve to celebrate her. I promise she’ll be tickled pink.
Shopping Tours: A Tour of the Heart adventure travel charming online boutiques Valentine's Day online shopping Valentine's Day read Valentine's Day shopping
by maribeth
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Valentine’s Day Shopping 2015
Hearts and Flowers Dog Collars for Your Precious Babies at Alpen Schatz
Matching Leash from Alpen Schatz
Organic Catnip Toy from Purrfect Play
Tomorrow is February 1st. And you know what that means…it’s almost Valentine’s Day! I’m a hearts and flowers kind of girl, so I can’t help getting all mushy around this holiday. And as I get older, the list of people–and pets–I acknowledge on this holiday grows. It’s not just about romance. To me, it’s a solid occasion for expressing love. And what better way to express love, than to offer a card or a gift to say I’m thinking about you? This is especially true for someone that lives far away.
Shopping: holiday online shopping holiday shopping last-minute holiday shopping last-minute shopping online shopping
by maribeth
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Last-Minute Holiday Shopping 2014
Pretty French Trays from Quel Objet
Champagne from Henri’s Reserve
Romantic Treasures from Alpen Schatz
Phew, there’s so much to do! As I reported in my last post, I’ve been busy with a move and the start of ski season. Although I don’t have many gifts to buy, I do like to send out a few. I’m going to make it super easy and get online this morning to order original products of quality and charm you don’t find all over the internet.
Check out my Online Shopping Page for my hand-curated collection of boutiques. Read the descriptions carefully to find out how you can benefit from a 10% discount. Most of my purveyors have told me that goods can arrive by Christmas–by regular mail–if orders are placed by mid-day today. Some have even noted that Friday is the last day. And, of course, there’s always priority shipping to be extra sure of a December 24th arrival. In any event, it’s best to ask each establishment if they can indeed fill the order in time. (Some, such as Telluride Truffle, are pretty swamped.)
Go ahead and check out these lovely boutiques. You’ll be glad you did and so will your happy gift recipients. Remember to follow the instructions to receive your 10% Bonjour Colorado discount.
Happy shopping!
Organic Catnip Toy from Purrfect Play
Arizona Aspen Colorado Crested Butte Cycling Restaurants Shopping Travel Utah Writing & Books: Gateway Goulding's road trip USA Pro Cycling road trips Colorado road trips Grand Canyon road trips Monument Valley road trips the West
by maribeth
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Road Tripping in the Great American West
Mt. Crested Butte
Monument Valley
There’s nothing like a good, old fashioned road trip to give you a terrific sense of freedom. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that you go under your own steam–that you’re not reliant on a plane, train, bus or boat to get you to your destination. The fact that you’re the captain of your ship means that you can leave when you want, go where you want and stop at whatever strikes your fancy along the way. Maybe it’s liberating because if you take your own vehicle, it’s like bringing your personal living room on the road. Whatever the reason, road tripping is so damned much fun. And there’s no doubt that it’s even better in the great American West.
Beauty Colorado Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures Shopping Telluride: Beauty Colorado Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures Shopping Telluride
by maribeth
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Win a Fall Foliage Trip to Telluride, Colorado
Fall in Telluride, Colorado
Autumn in Telluride rates as one of my favorite times of the year. Since we’re located in southwestern Colorado, it’s typically sunny and warm during the day and cool and crisp at night. Known as the gold season, the aspens present a dazzling array of sunshine yellow, honey and maize while the brush, which flanks our mountainsides and carpets our valleys, turns into a rich showing of saffron, russet and ruby red.
The foliage typically peaks at the end of September, however, the scenery remains stunning here through mid October, especially if we’re blessed with a fresh dusting of snow on our breathtaking peaks. The big summer and festival crowds have gone home, so you can easily soak up the tranquility of our charming mountain destination and the outlying area whether you’re hiking, biking, fishing, jeeping, shopping, dining or just lolling on a nice deck.
Thanks to Mountain Lodge Telluride, the New Sheridan Chop House Restaurant, Paragon Outdoors/Bootdoctors and Salon 7, you can win a fabulous stay in Telluride, one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. (And that’s coming from a gal who lived eleven years in Paris.) Here’s what the trip includes:
Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Podcasts Restaurants Shopping Travel: Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Podcasts Restaurants Shopping Travel
by maribeth
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Dana Crawford Chats About the Opening of Denver’s Restored Union Station and The Crawford Hotel
Denver’s Union Station
I rarely write about a place without having visited it, however, in this case, I can do it with the utmost confidence. I’m talking about the newly restored Union Station in Denver and a splendid hotel housed within: The Crawford. Both have been a labor of love of for Dana Crawford and Sage Hospitality, and Colorado is abuzz about the reopening of this landmark station and the unveiling of this unique hotel. Listen to what Ms. Crawford has to say about this enormous project, her passion for restoration and future plans in the works in my Travel Fun interview below.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Aspen Colorado Food & Wine Shopping Telluride Telluride Festivals: Aspen Colorado Food & Wine Shopping Telluride Telluride Festivals
by maribeth
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Summer Sipping 2014
Chloe Wines
Summer is the season for wine festivals throughout much of the United States, especially in Colorado. June is particularly big in our Rocky Mountain state since the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen is taking place this weekend and the Telluride Wine Festival—under new direction—is happening next weekend. They’re both long-established events, terrific for sampling and savoring food and libations among the pros. Typically one walks away from these festivals with a go-to list of wines, spirits and restaurants to experience in the upcoming months. They also offer wonderful opportunities for socializing among fellow foodies and wine lovers in beautiful mountain settings.
For me, however, summer sipping feels best outdoors while gazing at a gorgeous mountain vista or inside relishing a delicious dinner of grilled meats and vegetables after having done a big hike. I’ve also been known to pack a good bottle and snacks and share a near-sacred moment with someone special out in a remote place. These treasured times create memories that last the longest for me.
