I exhale deeply as my mind begins to center and I settle into my body. I feel tension I didn’t even know I was holding onto gently float away. With soft, soothing music playing in the background, we begin with a relaxing meditation before initiating our crafting experience – creating our own macramé hangings. Our guide for the afternoon, Verona, is a holistic educator who first began combining meditation with macramé as a way to reground herself through her art. 

I’d come to Austin for a chance to kick back and take in some of the stunning hill country scenery but my day soon took a twist I hadn’t anticipated. I’m taken in by the history that surrounds me at the estate – built as a country home by Edgar “Commodore” Perry, a longtime Austin real estate developer in the late 1920s – and I stop to talk with Jackie to learn more.

The moon has great significance in Mexican culture. While the meaning of the word Mexico has never been confirmed, one theory posits that in aztekatl (the language of the Aztecs), meztli means “moon,” and xictli means “navel,” which combined puts the derivation of Mexico as “place in the navel of the moon.” Additionally, one of Mexico’s most important archaeological structures is the Pyramid of the Moon, situated in what once was the ancient Mesoamerican city Teotihuacan. At Cocina del Mar, we celebrate the moon with a Full Moon Dinner series, held monthly under the beautiful lunar glow.

My morning starts with a guided snowshoe adventure exploring The Lodge at Blue Sky’s back country and watching the sun peek over the Wasatch Mountains. Alpine views seem to stretch for miles in every direction and open meadows reveal herds of elk that freely roam throughout the property. The fresh mountain air feels invigorating and exhilarating, while the journey works up my appetite. With only the sound of our snowshoes against the fresh powder, we make our way back to the lodge.

Soaring redwoods reach toward the sun-filled sky while the leaves of wide-reaching oak trees rustle in the cool morning breeze. The natural beauty of the canyon surrounds me as I head out for a morning of exploring The Chef’s Garden at Calistoga Ranch.

I’ve worked at some incredible places throughout my career, but one reason I love being a part of the Auberge family is their brilliant programming. I’m especially looking forward to hosting Chef Mads Refslund for a special culinary weekend on March 13 to 15. Chef Mads is best known as a co-founder of the groundbreaking Danish restaurant Noma, which went on to receive two Michelin Stars and become the ranked best restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine four times.

I begin to sink into a relaxed state, my body cradled in thick, warm blankets. I gaze out of floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal sweeping mountain views and listen to the gentle, murmuring creek below. The rich, earthy aroma of cleansing sage wafts through the air, purifying the therapy room and preparing my body and mind for my customized healing session. 

I fell in love with Aspen over a decade ago, won over not only by its first-rate powder and wide-open sense of space, but also by its phenomenal cultural and dining scenes. It’s a small town, but one with a world-class sense of self. The latest case in point? One of my favorite restaurants, Prospect, has lured Mads Refslund, an initial partner in the groundbreaking Danish restaurant Noma, to be its chef-in-residence through March.

On my first day at The Lodge at Blue Sky, I signed up for a sporting clay lesson since it is one of their signature adventures. I was a bit nervous because I had never shot a shotgun before. I inquired as to what my options were to learn how to shoot clays. I had never shot a gun before, but I really wanted to understand how it was done and if I would be any good at it. Luckily, there is an option to receive private instruction on shooting clays as a beginner as well as different level courses. 

I’ve been standing outside the doors to the Round Top Antiques Fair for 30 minutes, but if you’re not here before the doors open, you’ll miss your chance on the best items. I’ve been coming to Round Top since I was a little girl, when my mother, aunt, and I would drive over from Louisiana. Since those early days, Round Top, just an hour and 15 minutes outside of Austin, has evolved from a flea market into a European antiques fair, with big-name dealers coming in from all around the world to sell their rare collectibles.

With its incredible beaches, stunning views and lush green mountains, Hawaii is a sensory paradise. But the spectacular scenery is just one part of the journey.  Some of the best discoveries come as you taste your way through Hawaii – from the plentiful fresh produce in season year-round to full-bodied, aromatic coffee and poke practically straight from the ocean.

Renowned chef Jean-Charles Métayer, Consultant Chef of Grace Hotel Santorini, in an interview on the Greek gastronomic scene.

“I don’t buy coffee,” Jesús Salazar, founder and CEO of El Cafeologo in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, once said. What Salazar does is far more involved. He works directly with small coffee farmers in the southern state of Chiapas to develop their coffee production, teaching picking techniques and processing methods, then helps with roasting and cupping. In 2010, Salazar worked with just four farmers. Our coffee shop El Molino proudly buys premium, fair-trade, organic beans from Salazar, and thanks to partners like us, Salazar has increased his network to 35 “micro-producers.”

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. 

As a 31+ year local, I’m frequently asked about Aspen Snowmass’s best-kept winter secret. Well, I'm here to let the "snowcat" out of the bag. With over 1,500 acres of ungroomed terrain exclusively for the use of up to 36 people per day, it's the Aspen Mountain Powder Tours. If you're an intermediate skier/rider or better, there's nothing more fun than skiing or boarding "hero snow" all day long with your own private guides and snowcat. Try it—you'll thank me! 

From the very beginning, I knew I wanted a special destination to propose to my (then) girlfriend. It had to be out of the ordinary, with unforgettable views, and also be a great place to hide away together for a week or two after we got engaged. In short, I wasn’t going to settle for anything less than utterly romantic. Santorini fit the bill perfectly.

My husband and I are driving the backcountry roads that wind through the Texas Hill Country, heading to Fredericksburg. An hour and a half west of Austin, the country drive takes us past Texas Longhorn cattle with three-feet-long horns, and enticing mom-and-pop antique shops that will have to wait for another time. On these last days of summer vacation, we are on a mission to eat the peaches that Fredericksburg is famous for. That rose-gold fruit has always represented summer to me - the long, slow days of youth that stretch out forever - and I’m nostalgic for the floral fruit.

Walking these halls each day, I’m always taken in by the attention to authentic historical detail that greets me at every turn – from the incredible Mediterranean-style architecture and design to artful décor and landscaping that all pay homage to the estate’s rich past and the vision of its original owner, Edgar Howard “Commodore” Perry.