Touring China: Imperial Allure
Ballooning Around the Gum-Dropped-Shaped Mountains of Guilin
With news of the 2018 Winter Olympics to take place in South Korea, my thoughts have recently shifted to that part of the world. I conducted an interview with Margot Kong, from Imperial Tours, on my Travel Fun radio show in which we discussed the boon to tourism created by the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008. I’ve decided to post that interview as a podcast below. It’s wonderful how these extraordinary international events capture our attention and introduce us to far-flung lands, especially the most exotic ones that many of us only dream of visiting.
Whether you’re planning a trip-of-lifetime or want to return to China for a closer look, I recommend you enlist Imperial Tours for any travels you’re considering to this far-off land. When you listen to the below interview, you’ll learn that Margot recommends two weeks for discovering the highlights of China. In our chat, she focuses on the most distinguished attractions of Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai and Hangzhou. Hong Kong, where I’ve had the good fortune to visit twice, is a must-see side trip to add on to any trip to China. Hong Kong Harbor is mesmerizing, so if possible, stay in a hotel that offers killer views of the world’s busiest and most colorful waterway.
Visiting the Great Wall of China in Style
Imperial Tours organizes group tours, private tours, themed tours and even celebrity-led tours to China. They have been recognized by many top travel publications for their excellence in travel planning to China for over a decade. Do check them out since even if you’re an intrepid traveler, China is not necessarily a destination you want to visit on your own. It is a vast country where English is only spoken in the most cosmopolitan areas. Know that flying is the most efficient way to get around in China—it’s not only fast but it’s also quite affordable. As a foreigner, you are not able to rent a car unless you rent a car and a driver. Spring and fall are the best times to visit. My goodness, there’s so much to know! This is why you should consult with an expert.
I’ve traveled to some of China’s best-known destinations but have not hit Shanghai which is beckoning. At this point, I have little interest in Korea but I’m sure that will all change once I take in the marvelous images of that land that will surely be broadcast during the 2018 Winter Olympics. The joys of travel never cease!
Do listen to the below interview. Margot is articulate, highly knowledgeable and a terrific radio guest. If you like shopping, you must hear what she says about all the goods to seek out in this enchanting land. Remember that China is the birthplace of the compass, pasta, gun powder, paper and so much more. As cities rise from rice paddies, China’s pace of development in recent years is astonishing. This is the time to visit this exciting land.
Drink flipflop Wines for Fun and a Good Cause
flipflop Pinot Grigio: A Real Winner for Me
Now that’s my idea of totally guiltless summer sipping. With every bottle of flipflop wine you purchase, Soles4Soles will distribute a pair of flip flop sandals to someone in need. This unprecedented partnership between Underdog Wine Merchants, makers of flipflop wines, and this international shoe charity gives new meaning to delighting in a glass of wine on your backyard porch. Best of all, these expressive, well-balanced wines offer exceptional value at only about $7. a bottle. I love their sunny labels, too. So far I’ve tried their Riesling, their Pinot Grigio and their Pinot Noir. I found them all to be surprisingly delicious although I recommend the Riesling more for the apéritif or as a dessert wine, since it is rather sweet. And if you’re still not convinced, know that Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded four of the flipflop wines a “Best Buy” in their June issue. The San Francisco International Wine Competition, the nation’s largest and most prestigious wine competition, awarded the flipflop Moscato a Double gold! No matter which one you choose, it’s a win-win situation because the more flipflop wines you buy, the more flipflops you provide. Like flipflop wines on facebook right now to help them gain momentum with their endeavors.
Three Men, Three Telluride Mountain Village Restaurants
Jake Linzinmeir from M’s Restaurant
Every successful venture needs a driving force. This is particularly the case in the restaurant world where it takes a strong presence—whether in the kitchen or front of house—to shape a dining experience into a memorable moment that defines an establishment. Well in my humble opinion, there are a few noteworthy guys creating remarkable dining experiences in three restaurants in Telluride Mountain Village, a town populated by tony part-time and year-round residents and visited by discerning travelers from all over the world. These discriminating diners all know a thing or two about a red-letter night out on the town, so there’s little room for anything short of excellence in Telluride’s Mountain Village.
It came as big news this past spring—especially to locals—that Chef Jake Linzinmeir was taking over the helm at M’s Restaurant, the signature dining establishment of Hotel Madeline, formerly Capella. Jake, long known as the restaurateur extraordinaire of Telluride, having simultaneously owned and operated three best-loved restaurants in T-ride in recent years, seems to be the perfect fit for this swanky restaurant that demands that the cuisine live up to its high-stepping decor. Jake, widely applauded for his versatility and passion for quality, has the presence both in and out of the kitchen to provide a standout dining experience.
M’s Smooth Interior
One of Jake’s Innovative Culinary Creations
If you catch a peek of Jake, you may recognize him from his frequent appearances on The Today Show. But don’t go thinking he’s all about “the show.” No, quite the contrary. Jake presents a Colorado Rocky Mountain Farm to Table Cuisine that features the many exceptional food products for which Colorado is becoming increasingly recognized. From Colorado beef dry-aged onsite to mushrooms picked within the outlying region, Chef Jake’s cuisine reflects the bounty of Colorado flawlessly prepared with the refined palate of the gastronome in mind.
Table with a View at Allred’s
Mario Petillo from Allred’s
Allred’s, a landmark restaurant, only accessible by the gondola, perched high on the mountain between the towns of Telluride and Telluride Mountain Village, is also undergoing changes that are making it more of a perennial favorite rather than a special-occasion restaurant. With its unique location that furnishes some of the most exceptional views in Telluride, Allred’s deserves to be hopping every night of the week. It seems as though this is quickly becoming the case, especially at the bar where locals are flocking (always a good sign) for killer views accompanied by Happy Hour specials that last well into the night. Just call it Happy Night, featuring the best darn sunset of the Rockies and food and drink at reasonable prices.
Allred’s, Spectacular Year-Round
This concept and so much more is the brainchild of Mario Petillo, the new General Manager of Allred’s, an elegant Italian that has worked in the hospitality industry in Europe and in the United States for decades. He’s been a familiar face on the restaurant scene in Telluride as well, a warm and welcoming gentleman that has the ease and grace to meet each diner’s requirements no matter how great or small. Whether you’re ordering Truffle Fries to accompany a glass of wine as you peruse Allred’s enticing menu or being served a Rocky Mountain Elk Short Loin as your main course, you can bet Mario has a say in how your food arrives at your table. Can’t wait to see the many other ways in which Mario will make this restaurant truly great.
Poolside Dining at The View
If a more relaxed dining experience is calling, head to The View, the tavern-style restaurant housed within Mountain Lodge Telluride. As the name suggests, the views here are nothing short of fabulous. Truly one of the best-kept secrets of Telluride, The View thus far caters mostly to its lodge guests, however, those not staying at this handsome mountain resort are always more than welcome. In the summer, The View’s poolside dining offers a prized experience unique in T-ride; here you sit on (or lounge upon!) teak patio furniture, surrounded by tubs of blooming flowers while gazing at the San Sophia Range, some of the most awe-inspiring peaks of the Rockies. I suggest you order a juicy burger or a BLT salad topped with grilled chicken breast, an Arnie Palmer and slip into vacation mode whether you’re here for lunch or to spend a few days. By night, this handsome pool deck transforms into a different sort of magical place as fire pits are illuminated and margaritas become the drink of choice.
Inside The View, you’ll discover one of the most impressive “great rooms” of the Rockies, characterized by a stunning log interior, an immense stone fireplace, one of the longest bars of Telluride, a forty-five foot soaring ceiling, and expansive windows that furnish spectacular views from nearly every seat in the house. Wooden tables and chairs, cozy couches and two widescreen T.V.s complete the tavern-like feel embodied by The View.
Tommy Tompkins from The View
But what would a tavern be without a warm, genuine welcome from the person in charge? At The View you’re likely to encounter that friendly greeting from Chef Tommy Tompkins, an affable guy that has proved as well versed in the front of the house as in the kitchen. “We try to provide good tavern food as an affordable option for people,” Tommy told me during a recent visit here. “Call it tavern fare with a high-end flare,” he added as he stepped away to say hello to some potential diners that had just entered his space.
Now that’s what I call “being on it,” I thought. In today’s world—more than ever before—you can’t take your restaurant diner for granted. You have to offer them added value each time they walk into your establishment. It takes someone special, someone who cares and has a keen understanding of the hospitality industry to make the difference.
It’s nice to know you can find those key people in Telluride Mountain Village.
Good Eats at The View
Note that only The View (970-728-2413) is open for lunch and dinner; reservations are not required. It is, however, recommended to reserve at M’s Restaurant (970-369-0880) and at Allred’s (970-728-7474) for your dinner plans.
Know that Wednesday evenings are particularly happening in Telluride Mountain Village during the summer when the town hosts a Sunset Concert Series at 6 p.m. from July 6th through August 24th. All concerts are held in Sunset Plaza and are free to the public. Check out the lineup—you’ll discover there are some great acts.
Colorado Four Corners Hotels & Lodging Music & Dance Restaurants Spas Telluride The Rockies: Colorado Four Corners Hotels & Lodging Music & Dance Restaurants Spas Telluride The Rockies
by maribeth
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Chipeta Sun Lodge & Spa: Spirit of the Southwest in the Rockies
Chipeta Sun Lodge & Spa
Can’t decide whether you want to vacation in the Southwest or the mountains? How about choosing a place of lodging where you enjoy the spirit and landscapes of both? Check out Chipeta Sun Lodge & Spa, a lovely southwestern-inspired adobe retreat set within the majestic San Juan Mountains, just an hour from Telluride, Colorado. Situated in the charming little town of Ridgway (featured in John Wayne films such as “True Grit”), I often recommend Chipeta as an excellent base for visiting the many interesting sites and towns that pepper southwestern Colorado and southern Utah.
If you travel further into the mountains from Ridgway, you can easily explore the historic old mining towns of Telluride, Ouray and Silverton. If you head toward Montrose, you can hit the Ute Indian Museum, a well-worth-the-stop attraction that showcases one of Colorado’s most complete collections of Ute ceremonial and traditional artifacts. Just on the other side of Montrose, plan to spend at least a half day at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a stunning and somewhat spooky site that provokes nearly as many oohs and aahs as the Grand Canyon. And within a two-hour drive you can find yourself amidst the striking red rock of Moab and other parts of southern Utah in addition to Arches National Park and Canyonlands.
Since there’s so much to visit in the area and most of the lodging at Chipeta includes condo-type units, you’ll likely want to check in here for a week. Plan at least a couple of relaxing rest days where you can stay put at this warm and welcoming lodge just to loll by the pool or enjoy a treatment in their spa.
View from the Porch of Chipeta's Four Corners Cafe
Whether you’re staying at the lodge or just passing through, a stop at Chipeta’s Four Corners Cafe for dinner or drinks is a must. Here you’ll be enchanted by the striking vistas provided from the top-floor location of this casual restaurant and bar. Inside, the scene serves up heaps of southwestern charm within its desert rose-colored interior. As the sun sinks beneath the mountains, you’re bathed in pink light most evenings whether you’re seated inside or out.
The Sunny Interior of the Four Corners Cafe
Indeed this heartwarming lodge is aptly named. It’s called Chipeta, in honor of the lovely wife of Chief Ouray, head of the Ute Indians that once inhabited this land, a gentle woman that eventually became “queen” of both the whites and the Utes of the region. Embracing the rich diversity of this part of the country is what Chipeta, the lodge and the beloved Native American figure, are all about.
Chipeta Sun Lodge & Spa, Ridgway, Colorado, 800-633-5868, www.chipeta.com
July is a wonderful time to visit Chipeta Sun Lodge and its Four Corners Cafe, especially this year with such a rockin’ Ridgway Concert Series lineup. Free concerts take place every Thursday throughout the month from 6p.m. ‘til dark in Ridgway’s Town Park. What a great way to kick off the weekend!
Colorado Music & Dance Telluride: Colorado Music & Dance Telluride
by maribeth
Comments Off on Keller Williams Gives the KOTO Doo-Dah More Doo-Dah and Lots of Doot-Doot-Dah
Keller Williams Gives the KOTO Doo-Dah More Doo-Dah and Lots of Doot-Doot-Dah
Keller Williams: This Year’s KOTO Doo-Dah Headliner
Doot, doot, doot, da doot doot doot. Waaaa, waaaa, ba, boom, ba, doo. Weah, weah, woo. According to my hunny, Steve Togni, and general manager of Telluride’s handsome Mountain Lodge, that’s kind of how Keller Williams sounded during his early years. He would know since they were roommates in college. It was back then that Steve remembered that Keller started to use his vocals as an instrument outside the realm of standard singing. “Sometimes it would sound like percussion, sometimes it would sound like horns,” Steve has told me several times in recent years. This unique hubbub and other noises eventually transformed into Keller’s signature sound and style: that of a one-man jam band that creates music on a variety of platforms.
Steve and I—along with a good part of Telluride and the outlying region—are excited about Keller coming to play in T-ride next Saturday, July 9th. Steve, of course, knows his friend’s music well and even had the opportunity to pick with K-Dub on occasion way back when. He told me of one lazy afternoon where in spite of Keller’s most focused attempts to teach Steve Dylan’s “Stuck Inside of Mobile with Memphis Blues Again”—a relatively easy song—Steve never got it right. For me, seeing him in concert will be a first. Keller’s the main draw at this year’s fifteenth annual KOTO Doo-Dah, the summer concert put on by my beloved radio station here in Telluride that has showcased other illustrious artists over the years including Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett and Bob Dylan.
Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures Restaurants Spas The Rockies Travel: Hotels & Lodging Outdoor Adventures Restaurants Spas The Rockies Travel
by maribeth
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Gateway Canyons: One Big Discovery
The Kiva Pool: My Own Special Sanctuary
I returned to Gateway Canyons recently and became even more enchanted by this magnificent site than when I first visited this resort two and a half years ago. Clearly they’d been busy at Gateway throughout this period, cultivating and refining the soothing oasis that has been created within the awe-inspiring red rocks of this unique southwestern Colorado location. Indeed, Gateway Canyons is well on its way to being a world-class resort. And certainly Gateway Canyons owner and founder of the Discovery Channel, John Hendricks, must feel proud about how his burgeoning resort has more than added to the beauty of this already spectacular setting.
Although just a two-hour (and quite scenic) drive from Telluride and Grand Junction, getting to Gateway can require a bit of an effort. But to me, this only adds to the appeal of this lovely resort. I can’t ever imagine it overrun by tourists and that certainly wasn’t the case when I stayed here a couple of weeks ago during peak time. This enabled me to while away peaceful hours by the Kiva Pool, sipping lemonade and eventually a prickly pear cactus daiquiri as I leafed through magazines. A quick dip in the pool’s cool, saline water allowed me to lounge in the desert heat until the surrounding rocks soaked up the sum of the day’s blistering sun. Ahhhh, that’s what I call relaxation.
Being Green Colorado Mountain Living Telluride Telluride Festivals: Being Green Colorado Mountain Living Telluride Telluride Festivals
by maribeth
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Welcoming Summer and Contemplating Climate Change
Telluride House Band Including Jerry, Tim, Sam and Béla at Bluegrass
Some 12,000 people ushered in summer over the weekend at the thirty-eighth annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival here in my pristine mountain town. That’s about four times the year-round population of Telluride, a town that has remained picture-perfect partly due to its remote location. Just over 4,000 of these folks were campers, many of whom came from all over the country to attend this world famous four-day happening of sun and song, free spirited-ness and fun. If you look around T-ride today, you’d hardly guess that the town of Telluride and Planet Bluegrass had put on such a party just a couple days ago. Even throughout the festival, there’s scant evidence of un-managed festival waste and even fossil-fuel burning vehicles are kept at a minimum. (Lots of bicycles and enthusiastic walkers though.) Indeed, the organizers of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival know that our majestic mountains and verdant valleys are as much a prized part of this great summer solstice gathering as the picking and strumming of festival regulars Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan and Béla Fleck. Festival organizers have imparted this love and will for preserving the environment to their devoted festivarians and best of all, facilitate people’s ability to reduce waste at every turn.
Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Music & Dance Restaurants: Art & Culture Colorado Denver Hotels & Lodging Music & Dance Restaurants
by maribeth
Comments Off on Fun this Summer and Year-Round at The Curtis
Fun this Summer and Year-Round at The Curtis
Curtis Philosophy and a Nod to the Beatles
Who says summer fun is all about building castles in the sand, running through sprinklers or taking a dip in a secret water hole? Sure, those activities can provide many hours of giggles and entertainment, but when was the last time you checked into a hotel that really made you smile? And smile. And smile. And smile.
Kids on vacation and weary business travelers alike can’t help being endeared to The Curtis, a Doubletree Hotel, located in downtown Denver. A stay at The Curtis leaves an indelible mark on your funny bone–and every other sensitive part of your body–from the moment you spot their giant building blocks sign that say “all together now” to when you’re back home recalling your fun-filled visit at this unique property.
To me, some of the best hotels are ones that provide a memorable experience, a positive stay that you can’t easily create at home. The colorful and cheery Curtis does this and more. You can just sashay through a Laugh In-like set or pay closer attention to the Light Brite artwork and oversized wooden game board in their lobby. Here it’s also fun to check out the video art that displays favorite retro games and the Cartoon Network playing on the T.V. You can catch up on pop culture trivia in the library or drink a retro soda at the 5 & Dime and nibble on one of the hotel’s fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies on this level as well. If you’re indecisive about personal or professional doings, just ask to play rock, paper, scissors with the frond desk attendant. Head to your room and the real fun begins.
