Spring Ski Buffs… Get to Breckenridge

The Residence Inn Marriott Breckenridge Lobby

I’m usually curious where I can ski late in the season for one reason only… I’m a fly by my seat sort of traveler and I also like to wait until the big Christmas crowds are gone. Nothing is worse than a crowded slope, in my opinion. So, at least now we know… ski buffs who live for the thrill of just one more run down the powdery slopes can take on the Breckenridge, Colorado ski scene well into Spring. Warmer weather, fewer crowds, softer snow and falling prices make for the perfect opportunity to also pack up the entire family for a Spring Break ski escape.

The brand new Residence Inn Breckenridge is a natural launch pad to explore the appeals of the Rockies this spring. Boasting all-suite accommodations, this spot is  ideal for families where they can make themselves at home in expansive suites with full kitchens and sofa beds. Complimentary hot American breakfast will fuel the fam before hitting the slopes of famed Breckenridge Ski Resort, where Peak 9 offers chair lifts and terrain that appeal to both beginners and experts, just two-minutes from the hotel. The transition to the slopes is eased by the hotel’s complimentary on-site ski storage.

A hot tub perfect for mom & dad too…

Après–ski, guests can easily explore the charming restaurants and shops with the hotel’s choice location in downtown Breckenridge. The Lobby’s Hearth Room and Base Camp Lounge are another great gathering point with a sophisticated mountain lodge vibe, creative cocktails, and menu of small bites. A year-round outdoor pool and hot tub with sweeping views of Quandary Peak is also a huge win win, complemented by the hotel’s fitness center.

So, ski buffs take note… you and your family can hit the slopes without the headache well into April!

Spring rates start at $255/nt which includes breakfast for every guest, parking, wifi in the room and… there is no resort fee!

www.breckenridgeresidenceinn.com

Love is in the Air This Valentine’s Day

The Snowy Peaks of Telluride

St. Valentine… ah, a story around martyred Saints. Makes me sorta in the mood. You too? To that end, I think of snowy peaks and warm fires. Precisely why we’ll be posting about a few Valentine’s Specials. This one in glorious Telluride, Colorado.

The Peaks Resort & Spa announced today the Valentine’s Day Staycation Special – an evening of pampered luxury for lovely couples everywhere – this Valentine’s Day at the premier resort in Telluride, CO. The Peaks Resort and Spa’s Valentine’s Day Staycation Package includes 1 Night Stay, 3-course dinner for two, a complimentary bottle of Champagne upon check in, 15% off Spa services and a rose petal turn-down service, all for the Romantic Price of only $299 per couple. Pretty great, eh?

A Room at The Peaks Telluride

With 29″ of fresh powder this week in Telluride, there’s no better way to heat things up this February. Treat your loved one to luxury at the world-renowned Resort and Spa. Plus, Telluride’s sweet cruisers, steep bumps and alpine bowls are in amazing shape. Enjoy a glass of your favorite red or indulge in a slice of sumptuous flourless chocolate cake before retreating to a rose-petal room turndown service turning your one-night escape toward an evening of nirvana. Already in town? Reserve yourself dinner at their award winning Palmyra restaurant and let the professional staff lead you on a culinary journey through a special three course menu priced at only $50 per person. *

The property includes 161 guest rooms including 32 suites, penthouse condominiums and two, three, four and five bedroom mountainside cabins – all with astounding mountain views. The resort offers slopeside access in the winter and is the home to the Telluride Golf Club championship course and Pro Shop. Onsite dining includes Palmyra, the Great Room, The Lift, Legends and Deep End Grill (summer only), as well as in-room private dining.

The Peak's Spa

What we also love? The onsite Spa at The Peaks Resort. At 42,000 sq. ft., is the largest spa in Colorado. The Spa features 32 treatment rooms and a variety of treatments like The Alpine Glow or Après Ski Calming Facial for wind whipped skin. The Spa also encompasses a full service salon, fully-equipped fitness center including Pilates and yoga studios, certified fitness instructors providing a variety of private and group classes, three-lane lap pool with Telluride’s only indoor water slide, indoor climbing wall, gender specific steam rooms (though we love co-ed… cause us Euro), saunas and Roman tubs, and indoor/outdoor heated pool and hot tubs. The NEW Laser Center at The Peaks is also located within the Spa at the Peaks and offers Botox, Restylane, Juvederm and Laser assisted surgery for all you Angelenos who want a secret vacation injection.

www.thepeaksresort.com

We Ski for Equality

This just blew in from across the pond, so we had to share.  For all of you sexy ski bunnies, Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado is holding its annual Women’s Ski Week March 6-11, 2010, partnering with Capella Telluride to create a great meeting of minds for women around the US.

Accommodations at Capella Telluride can be a little steep (think Blue Diamond) at $495/night, but Capella, founded by the ex-CEO of the Ritz, promises never to let you down.  There are three package levels through Telluride Ski Resort for the various events planned ($480, $780 or $945).  Elements include ski passes, lessons, rentals, spa credits, meals at Capella, and a lecture by author Rebecca Shambaugh (“It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor”), who will be kicking off her book tour for her latest piece “Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton.”

We support anything that helps enlighten men and women to reality that all people, regardless of gender, class, race, or expertise on the slopes, ought to be treated equally. No glass ceilings, no sticky floors, no icy conditions.

Hear us roar – just like that toasty fireplace.

Information on Capella Telluride is available at www.CapellaTelluride.com and details on Telluride’s Women’s Ski Week and the three package options can be found at http://www.capellatelluride.com/telluride-womens-week.php.

Colorado is Callin’: Don’t Fence Me In

Eyes like a morning star, cheeks like a rose… Tall, snowy peaks and outdoorsy men with good teeth. Okay, not exactly the lyrics of the Colorado Trail, but close. Yes, I hear the men are smokin’ (and I don’t mean Marlboro reds). Athletic, free-spirited, down-to-earth goodness. Nature at it’s best. Don’t worry, boys. The women are equally fresh-faced, fit, and full of fun. Imagine a place with clean air and enough outdoor activities, fine food, and shopping to keep you occupied for months. The people, and the place, will make you damn proud to be an American.

So ride your way to Rockies.

Jaunt picked some highlights which we thought were a good start. Remember, Colorado is broken up into the following seven regions:

Northwest: Aspen, Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Grand Junction
Noteable attractions: Skiing, of course, Dustin Hoffman’s Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp, Fremont Indian rock art at Canyon Pintado, the hot springs of Glenwood Springs, rock formations and vistas of Colorado National Monument

Front Range: Boulder, Ft. Collins
Notable attractions: The summer long Colorado Music Festival, the gold and silver rushes evident in the small mountain towns, granite canyons of Poudre Canyon, the Peak-to-Peak highway with stunning sunsets, shopping Pearl Street Mall in Boulder

Denver
Once a frontier town, this young city is now home to a thriving arts scene full of restaurants, fine art, and museums.
Notable attractions: The Black American West Museum and the quaint Five Points Neighborhood

Northeast
Considered the Colorado outback, this area is full of wheat and grassland. Talk about frontier… from the early pioneers to Native Americans and soldiers, the Pony Express came through here.
Notable attractions: From April- October, there are over 150 fairs, rodeos, and tournaments where locals and guests revel in their mountain men gunfightin’ roots.

Southwest
Durango, Telluride… in this region, white rapids and grassy meadows are joined with ghost towns and the high flats of the Colorado Plateau.
Notable attractions: In Durango and Telluride, beauty meets culture. In the summertime, there’s the Jazz and Bluegrass Festivals of Telluride. For those who love a good remnant of the past, ancient Anasazi ruins speak to the mystique and centuries of American Indian culture while the skiing, rafting, and hiking can’t be beat.

South Central
Valleys, wildflowers, peaks and a town that boasts itself as the highest city in America. Leadville is literally tucked amid clouds. South Central includes Colorado Springs, a quaint hippie town that still calls almost 1/2 million among its’ residents.
Notable attractions: Rafters, kayakers and fishermen flock to Royal Gorge and the Arkansas River to try their hands and paddles at the river. High art meets mining in a place where the plains meet the Rockies.

Southeast
You’ve read about Native American gems and beautiful scenery, this area is known for it’s wide open spaces.
Notable Attractions: The Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place in the lower Arkansas Valley every November. There’s also Bent’s Old Fort and the Santa Fe Trail or Comanche National Grasslands, over 400,000 acres of sprawling land where you can bring your own horses and ride (but Jaunt recommends going City Slicker and visiting a Dude Ranch where they do it all for you – see below).

Boulder, CO

St Julien Hotel & Spa http://www.stjulien.com – this super swanky property on Walnut Street is the first hotel to be built in downtown Boulder in 100 years. Their spa, and attention to detail and service, is some of the best in the city.

The Boulderado – http://www.boulderado.com – With a view of the snow capped mountains, this property calls itself ‘The first luxury hotel.’ A member of the Historic Hotels of America, it’s Victorian design and happening Corner Bar, is a place to rest, have a mango barbeque shrimp salad, and chill. 4-6pm Happy Hour or 12-2pm weekend brunch anyone??

Restaurants:
Jill’s Restaurant – http://www.jillsdining.com – a modern bistro offering Metro American fare with Mediterranean influences by award-winning Executive Chef Jason Rogers. The menu at Jill’s is light and full of flavor, utilizing a wide variety of locally grown, organic, and free-range ingredients

The Kitchen Café – http://www.thekitchencafe.com – a laid back local spot for fresh, affordable fare

Activities:
Shopping on Pearl Street Mall – just 1 short block from St Julien Hotel & Spa, this pedestrian mall is loaded with amazing boutiques. Highlights include: Chelsea Boutique – started by a group of sorority sisters from Colorado University, this shop is loaded with unique gems and favorites from Marc Jacobs, Theory, Tory Burch, and more – http://www.chelseabella.com/ or http://www.boulderdowntown.com/guide/shopping/apparel/womens-clothing

Rocky Mountain National Park
Boulder Beer Company Brewery & Pub
Boulder Creek Path – walk, bike, or in-line skate along this local, scenic path running parallel to Boulder Creek
2 hour Love Olive Me! Treatment at the Spa at St Julien

Vail, CO
Hotels:
Sonnenalp Resort – http://www.sonnenalp.com – this sprawling resort property is nestled right in the center of Vail

Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa – http://www.vailmountainlodge.com

FYI…Vail is undergoing a “billion dollar renewal” and renovation over the course of 9-10 years or so with a new Ritz-Carlton residences opening in Vail village just steps from Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa

Restaurants:
Restaurant Kelly Liken – http://www.kellyliken.com – Innovative seasonal American cuisine, inspired by local ingredients indigenous to the Rocky Mountain region. The menu changes frequently to showcase the market-driven produce and organic ingredients available with each season.

La Bottega – a local favorite for affordable Italian fare. http://www.denver.citysearch.com/profile/1975722/?brand=smx_restaurant-nc

Activities:
From snow skiing, mountain biking, fly-fishing, hiking, river rafting and, of course, private cooking classes by celebrated local Chef Kelly Liken, activities abound.

Taste of Vail is coming in early April which is a huge draw for epicureans and surrounding areas interested in the culinary offerings of Vail.

Colorado Springs

Hotels:
The Broadmoor
http://www.broadmoor.com

Restaurants:
Summit Restaurant, American Brasserie – http://www.summitatbroadmoor.com/default.html
Penrose Room – Colorado’s ONLY AAA 5-Diamond restaurant – http://www.broadmoor.com/penrose-room.php

Activities:
For fun – try the authentic 1920’s Penny Arcade, the US’ steepest and oldest Cog Railway up Pike’s Peak
Shopping- BEST SHOES, Yardis – http://www.broadmoor.com/broadmoor-shopping.php
New Colorado Springs Fine Art Center – http://csfineartscenter.org

For all the horse lovers out there, might we recommend a good Dude Ranch?

http://www.colorado.com/listing.php?listing_id=5

For general info and good way to decide where you want to begin your trip try: http://www.colorado.com

Sing along…
Give me land lots of land and the starry skies above…