Colorado Restaurants Shopping Spas The Rockies: Breckenridge Colorado Restaurants Shopping Spas The Rockies
by maribeth
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Shopping, Dining and Spa-Going Small in Breckenridge
Breckenridge by Night
I love the idea of Small Business Saturday, the latest shopping initiative added to the Thanksgiving weekend holiday shopping kickoff. Thank you American Express. I’ll take that any day over Black Friday and grey Thursday (which sadly looks as though it’s here to stay). It should come as no surprise that I’m a huge fan of boutique-y places. Where would we be without our small businesses? We’d certainly live in a charmless world. I love places with personality and soul. I think you most often find those characteristics in something small.
In Colorado, we are well served, especially in mountain towns such as Aspen, Telluride, Crested Butte, Vail and more. This past summer I discovered Breckenridge, Colorado for the first time, yet another Colorado mountain town that offers picture-postcard views at every turn. Even their Starbucks is adorable! Breck’s main street is filled chock-a-block with a plethora of small boutiques and restaurants. I also discovered a spa that won me over by its intimate, relaxing feel.
Food & Wine Shopping: Food & Wine Online Boutiques Shopping
by maribeth
Comments Off on Champagne Cheers from Henri’s Reserve
Champagne Cheers from Henri’s Reserve
Party Time with Henri’s Reserve
I feel like I’ve been hearing a lot of pop, pop, pop on TV, over the airwaves and on social media ever since late Tuesday night. Whether your guy (or gal) won or lost, I think we’re all happy that the elections are over and that our great country carried out democracy in fine fashion. (Perhaps except in Florida; although in a state populated with so many old people, you have to figure they’re going to move at a slower pace.)
Now it’s time to focus on fun, the holidays and the inevitable dilemmas of gift giving that this time of year often presents. (OK, we have a lot of work to do, too.) But there’s nothing like bubbly during this festive time of year, and I’ve found some of the best champagnes—largely from boutique purveyors—at Henri’s Reserve. Yes, I said champagne which means these divine wines have all been sourced from France in the Champagne region of this wonderful country.
One of Henri’s Many Samplers
And the packaging is superb. Henri’s Reserve offers just the sort of fun and elegant look you want to share with loved ones, business contacts and yes, even yourself this time of year. Bestsellers include tasting samplers such as Henri’s Tasting Soirée which features three bottles of “champ” from their favorite champagne houses. Or, if you really have someone to woo, send a case of Jacquesson 734, the standard-bearer of champagne.
You can read about all this and more at Henri’s Reserve, a classy and colorful online boutique that makes shopping a pleasure. Be sure also to check out Henri’s Journal, an informative and entertaining blog filled with all kinds of delicious nuggets. A recent post showcased terroir, one of the most interesting words of the French language. Their Facebook page furnishes lots of nice tidbits, too.
Type in the code “bonjour” to receive a 10% discount on all orders and enjoy your tour of Henri’s Reserve.
Colorado Cycling Shopping The Rockies: Colorado Cycling Shopping The Rockies
by maribeth
Comments Off on Bike and Ski Race Cowbells from Alpen Schatz
Bike and Ski Race Cowbells from Alpen Schatz
Authentic Swiss Cowbells from Alpen Schatz
What’s a bike or a ski race without cowbells? Follow in the tradition of some of the great European sporting events and ring your bell to show your enthusiasm as the athletes pass. Did you know they prefer the din of ringing cowbells over cheers or other noises to root them on? That’s what I’ve heard.
Art & Culture Colorado Mountain Living Music & Dance Shopping Telluride Festivals: Colorado Mountain Living Music & Dance Shopping Telluride Festivals
by maribeth
Comments Off on Telluride Blues & Brews Promises More Fun Than Ever This Year
Telluride Blues & Brews Promises More Fun Than Ever This Year
This Year’s Blues & Brews Poster
Coloradans love to have fun. And many of our good times are had at festivals, a glorious tradition that was started in our most alluring mountain towns some forty years ago. Some of the greatest festivals have been founded in Telluride, Colorado, and I’m sure we’ll always rank as the frontrunner of all the festival towns. I can say with confidence that the biggest and best take place here in T-ride. It’s likely largely due to our spectacular setting. Have I told you that it’s drop-dead gorgeous here?
It didn’t take long for the rest of the country—and countless people across the globe—to catch on to our festivals. Now the calendar year is marked by Telluride locals and fans from afar by our remarkable happenings. Telluride Blues & Brews bookends the summer festival line up for a glorious three-day extravaganza the third weekend of September. This year, due to the calendar, it comes early on September 14th, 15th and 16th. That just means it promises to be extra sunny and warm.
Colorado Mountain Living Shopping The Rockies Travel: Colorado Mountain Living Shopping The Rockies Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Mt. Evans: A Fine Summer Outing on One of America’s Fourteeners
Mt. Evans: A Fine Summer Outing on One of America’s Fourteeners
My Friends and Me at Some 14,000 Feet
There’s a lot of talk about fourteeners in Colorado, especially in the summer when some people make it a goal of hiking a bunch of them. Fourteener refers to a mountain at least 14,000 feet tall. Colorado claims fifty-three of them and yes, there are folks that miraculously manage to climb them all. Some are known to be fiercely challenging, characterized by scree fields and dramatic precipices that have proved to be many mountaineers’ demise, especially on the descent.
I’ve always thought I’d like to climb one some day, however, I think I need to hone my hiking skills more for such an endeavor. (A six-hour climb to the summit of a fourteener is about what’s required for even the easiest.)
So when my hunny expressed his desire to go to Mt.Evans, one of the Rocky Mountain state’s most renowned fourteeners, last weekend, my ears perked up. It didn’t matter that a stop at this Front Range mountain would require a significant detour from the rest of our itinerary. I was mainly happy that he wanted to visit something since he’s the kind of guy that would much rather hike, ski or climb a mountain. Touring in the most touristic sense of the word typically eludes him.
Father’s Day Gift Ideas from Favorite Online Boutiques
One Heck of a Find: Peyton Manning-Signed Revolution Broncos Helmet from The Autograph Source
Herlocher’s Mustard Adds Zest to Any Party
Ugh. Shopping for men. I grew up with five brothers and a father and have had a fair amount of boyfriends and one husband. And shopping for men hasn’t become any easier. Well, maybe a little. But still, they always pose more of a challenge than women—at least for me. You give a woman just about anything and she’s thrilled. (It’s the thought that counts, right?) Men seem to look something over this way and that, give a little smile of appreciation and then you’re left wondering if they really liked what you gave them. In all fairness, I think it has more to do with men’s display of enthusiasm vs. women’s. So in the end, I’ve concluded that I do just as well in the gift-giving department as anyone else and what mattters most is that I aim to please. (Although the day I produce that Ferrari, I’m sure I’ll truly be thrilled with the response.)
Just because they’re guys, don’t think that cards and gifts don’t mean much to them. And since most of our fathers live a distance from us, I’ve come up with a selection of online shopping ideas that you can send to them to let them know that they’re tops on your list.
Art & Culture Fashion & Style Shopping Travel: Art & Culture Fashion & Style Shopping Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Imperial Shopping to China
Imperial Shopping to China
The Bund, Shanghai’s Colonial Waterfront
I just learned from my friends at Imperial Tours that they have put together a special Holiday Shopping Tour to China to take place November 10th-18th. This exclusive travel company, renowned for their expertise in China, will be conducting a small group tour (8-16 people) to Beijing and Shanghai that features some of the most exciting and selective shopping haunts of this exotic land. While there will be some fantastic sightseeing during this 8-night/9-day tour, the highlight will be on finding the best treasures in China such as antiques, couture, jade, pearls, cashmere, ceramics, embroidery as well as personal, home and table accessories galore. Markets, exclusive boutiques and private studios of local designers will be visited during this unique tour.
Travelers may want to go early or stay later if they have an interest in buying traditional and/or contemporary art since Imperial Tours enjoys special entrées within the art market including access to private collections, experts and artists.
It sounds like now is the time to do such a trip to China. You can find lots of cutting-edge designers that are redefining style along with many traditional goods —all at still reasonable prices—within this burgeoning super power. I visited China nearly two decades ago and returned with a Marco Polo-sized cache of goods that I still cherish amidst my French-inspired decor. more »
Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Shopping Travel: Colorado Outdoor Adventures Podcasts Shopping Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Bootdoctors Offers Further Adventures
Bootdoctors Offers Further Adventures
Rollicking on the River with Further Adventures
Did you know that most of our mountain towns attract more visitors in the summer than in the winter? Heck, yeah. As the saying goes, “I came for the winter and stayed for the summers.” Our hills are alive with all kinds of great outdoor activities. Actually our mountains, valleys and streams furnish glorious backdrops for fair weather fun of every stripe.
I chatted with Bob Gleason, owner/operator of Bootdoctors and Further Adventures, in a recent Travel Fun interview and he provided me with a fantastic overview of the rafting, fly fishing, hiking and biking in Telluride, Colorado and the outlying area. Between the lush alpine landscape and the rugged red rock of southwestern Colorado, the whole region offers many stunning experiences both on the water and off.
“I like to play on those H2O molecules all year round,” Bob says. It’s true that as the snowpack melts, the level of fun rises on our rivers and streams. This year’s flow will be rather thin, yet there are still good times to be had. Further Adventures arranges rafting trips on two different rivers in southwestern Colorado: the San Miguel and the Uncompahgre. This year the season is super short on the San Miguel (only through early June), although most years you can run the river through the end of July. Bob and his band of river guides will be conducting float trips on the Uncompahgre all summer long.
“There’s nothing like floating thru a river canyon to see the geology of the area,” Bob says when talking about some of the highlights of river rafting in the West. “Any time you spend on a body of water is a time of peace. The Native Americans called the river system the veins of our mother,” he adds.
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