Exceptional Allures, Endless Possibilities

Growing up in Poland, my grandparents often looked after me, and they taught me much of what I know about plants and herbs today. As I work in my position as the Spa Manager at The Lodge at Blue Sky, I still cultivate what I learned from them those days and use it daily.

As we descend down a set of wooden stairs to a secluded beach, we see the flickering glow of tiki torches. As we get closer, we can smell the fire burning amongst the tables. My husband and I are on this beach to experience the raw culinary experience.

Hawaiians have honed their relationship to the sea over many centuries. Daring to ride the biggest waves, sail outrigger canoes across Earth’s largest ocean, and dive into the sea’s salty depths, Hawaiian watermen and women have shown the rest of the world what is possible. Drawing upon this ancient expertise, guests are invited to paddle, pedal and perform by way of Kainalu Sports.

As an Area Director of Sales and Marketing, I cover two amazing mountain resorts: Hotel Jerome in Aspen and Madeline Hotel & Residences in Telluride. That means I’m often on the road shuttling between the two, surrounded by some of the most scenic vistas in Colorado.

A favorite among Cabo San Lucas hotels on the beach, Chileno Bay Resort & Residences sits along one of Cabo’s most swimmable beaches, a half-mile stretch of golden sand that leads to some of the calmest, most tranquil waters in the region. The Blue Flag-certified beach is also home to one of Los Cabo’s best snorkeling reefs, where you’ll discover a hidden underwater world brimming with colorful sea life. “You’ll feel like you’re swimming in an aquarium,” says one recent fan.

Hiking through Kalāhuipua‘a Historic Park, we stopped along the trail to appreciate the variety of petroglyphs that depict primitive life symbols and provide a view into Hawaiʻi’s rich and ancient history. The area also offers around 40 natural caves composed of lava tubes and partially collapsed lava bubbles that are perfect for exploring, and we were in search of one cave in particular – the mythical “spirit cave”. A short hike from our retreat at Mauna Lani, I was tipped off about the park’s unusual cave during a discussion with Uncle Danny, the resort’s resident expert in Hawaiian history and culture. 

Every year I take a tropical vacation to dip my feet in the sand and search of the best beach. Once I arrived at Malliouhana, I set out to find the best beach on Anguilla.  The staff told me there are 33 beaches on the Island of Anguilla so I was ready to explore. You can go on a tour of 7 Anguilla beaches but I chose to spend a longer time at a few.

I love skiing the slopes just as much as any local. But I’ll admit it: Summer might be even better than winter for enjoying elevated adventures at Madeline. Not only is playtime on the peaks infinitely more varied in the warmer months—because of the temperate weather, it’s also the best time of year to play above the peaks. As the days get longer, there’s more time than ever to try these adventures. Here are my top five favorite ways to enjoy the “high” life in Telluride. Why don’t you try one (or all five) this summer?

My girlfriends and I were looking for a place for a girls getaway. Our goal was great outdoor experiences and relaxed but attentive service. We wanted something a bit different this year. One friend had been to Utah before and mentioned she had a fabulous time. Of course, many of us have been skiing in Utah, but it is spring, and all the snow has melted. We were not convinced there would be anything to do. After some searching, I found out that Utah is the first state to be given three Michelin Stars!

Just over 30 years ago, golf was practically unheard of in Los Cabos. That all changed in 1987, when the 20-mile, sun-kissed stretch between the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo got its first golf course, the 9-hole Punta Sur, now known as the Course at Vidanta Los Cabos. While partially flat with modest views, it foreshadowed the future: a boom in Los Cabos golf resorts and the region’s emergence as a premier destination for golf, with more than a dozen championship courses and even more on the way.

Telluride really is an angler’s paradise, with some of the finest trout streams in the Rocky Mountains along with countless high country lakes, ponds and alpine creeks that make for stellar fly fishing year-round—even in winter. Here’s a guide to the best spots for fly fishing Telluride, CO and its environs any time of year. 

I’ve practiced yoga all over the world, including in India and Nicaragua for hundreds of hours of yoga training. But one of the most magical is right here in Santorini, especially at my favorite spot, on a promontory rock in front of Grace Hotel that juts out into the Aegean Sea. Here, taking in splendid views of the Caldera, I feel connected to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing; Epione, the goddess of soothing; and their daughters, goddesses of health and recuperation. I feel their ancient powers flow through with each breath and yoga pose.

Like many unexpected discoveries that can happen during an adventure in the Napa Valley, I stumbled upon one walking through the lobby of the Solage Resort. It was the striking colors that first caught my eye followed by the light fragrance that seemed like a combination of delicate roses and lemons. Abundant blooms of fresh flowers – fluffy, fully bloomed camellias and ranunculus; multi-colored tulips, delicate, sweet-perfumed jasmine and honeysuckle and bright, sunny daffodils – filled a cart that also contained beautiful recycled glass bottles of varying sizes, all for creating personal, handcrafted bouquets.

When magenta azaleas, yellow tulips, and fragrant lilacs are in full bloom, I love to hit the trails in the verdant countryside of Washington to enjoy our local flora and its most vibrant. With more than 60 trails covering 518 miles, there is plenty of spectacular scenery to enjoy, whether hiking to the stone tower in Mount Tom State Park or enjoying a picturesque view of Lake Waramaug at the peak of Macricostas Pinnacle, one of the finest overlooks in the state. 

As I slipped my feet into the whiskey, salt, and sage foot bath, I am given a shot of whiskey. If this is how all massages started, I would get them weekly. I hadn’t intended to get a massage as I rarely get them back home. However, my friends and I had been out horseback riding in the mountains the day before, and we were going hiking later in the day, so I wanted something relaxing. Going to The Lodge at Blue Sky was a reunion for my college buddies. While we have kept in touch, it has been since the last wedding that we have all gotten together with just us guys. 

Entering Amtrak’s 1950s-era domed railcar was like stepping back in time. With my feet kicked up and my Australian Shepard, Max, in tow, I never knew a two-hour, car-free connection on the Downeaster train from North Station in Boston to Wells, Maine, could be so enjoyable and land me only 5 miles from Kennebunk. From passing New England’s most beautiful stretches of pristine coastline to enjoying vistas of the idyllic countryside, I enjoyed my steamy cup of chowder from the Downeaster Café while Max chewed on his favorite bone. Seated in the train’s upper level with panoramic windows on all sides, this daytime adventure proved an added perk before my vacation even began.

Leave our tropical home more lush than when you arrived by joining us in planting mangrove propagules at Nanuku’s onsite nursery. As a part of our Planet Auberge Program, an initiative to decrease each property’s footprint, this eco-conscious activity delights adults, families, and our youngest “tribe members” in the LaiLai Kids Club as they join us in our effort to preserve Fiji's paradise. By getting hands-on in the soil with our community, guests improve the surrounding environment we all so deeply cherish while simultaneously testing out their green-thumb and soaking up Fiji’s majestic, natural splendor.