Most people who hear about White Barn Inn’s black tie New Years Eve celebration know of Tom Snow’s fabulous, live piano performances and the divine 7-course prix fixe gourmet dinner— but what most people don’t know about the party’s midnight tradition, is that it takes place with the chefs in the kitchen.

You might be surprised to learn that the origin story of whoopie pie, a beloved treat in New England, has been a source of great controversy between Maine and Pennsylvania for nearly a century. If you’re wondering how a dessert could cause such debate, let me stop you right there. Whoopie pie isn’t just any dessert.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m in a long-distance relationship with Kennebunk. We may live on opposite coasts, but Maine’s mystical coastline has my heart. From wide sandy beaches sprawled with delicate sand dollars to rocky stretches of seaside that sound of waves crashing up against dramatic cliffs, I’ve spent my most tranquil, cherished moments sharing these striking sights with my husband. When I refer to my “happy place,” my family knows exactly where I’m talking about— and when I miss it’s lobster rolls and warm beach days, I take out my favorite souvenir: White Barn Inn’s hand soap.

Marking your steps towards forever, a bridal entrance is unrivaled in grandeur. Make this milestone moment your own, and craft a custom entry point to honor the bridge between bride-to-be and newly-wed. Whether it be traditional or avant-garde, let your dreams guide you. For one of our brides, this meant walking on water. Perhaps the most extravagant entrance we've crafted at Chileno Bay Resort was a custom pathway that led the bride over our pool to the ceremony. With a subtle change in music, wedding guests turned to see the first glimpse of their loved one dressed in white, gracefully making her way to say “I do” while seemingly floating upon glimmering water. Unanimous awe fell over the ceremony—and a swift reach for tissues. In crafting an uncompromising, custom bridal entrance, elevate your ceremony or reception with the details that tell your unique story.

While couples tend to select their wedding date based on the weather, I always joke that they should be factoring in the types of seafood that will be in season during their special day in Kennebunk. Historically a fishing village, Kennebunkport’s location along the Kennebunk River affords locals and visitors first pick of the freshest fare. Sea bass is best savored in the summer months, lobster is absolutely divine in the winter, and shrimp, oysters, and other types of shellfish are a must in the fall. A luxury that White Barn’s Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamonds restaurant delights in often— with a menu refreshed every week to incorporate the freshest fruits of the sea— make sure to ask the concierge to share the area’s boat schedules so that you can take full advantage of Maine’s ocean offerings, fresh out of the water.

In stunning Telluride, you can exchange vows without priests, pastors, judges, witnesses, and sans guest list, if so desired. Resident or visitor, Colorado is one of the few states where you do not need an officiant to tie the knot. Make your wedding as small as a party of two with towering pine trees as your only witness, or gather friends and family to celebrate in your “I do” moment amid the unparalleled, expansive views of a mountaintop ceremony. Bring something borrowed, something blue, and valid identification-— Colorado requires that you apply for a marriage license in person at the appropriate county office of the clerk and recorder.

Dance down halls, cannonball into the pool without reservation, keep the music alive into the wee hours of the morning, and turn every corner knowing that you will only run into your closest loved ones. Go ahead, and rename our modern Aspen landmark as your very own for the weekend. With a Hotel Jerome buyout, enjoy unparalleled privacy in legendary spaces including the Bad Harriet, Living Room, Spa, Prospect Restaurant, and Grand Ballroom, to name a few.

Planning a wedding is consumed with perfecting the sights, tastes, and sounds of your special day— but there’s one detail most couples overlook; the wedding’s signature scent. Fragrance is unique in its ability to conjure vivid memories and emotions, and its strong ties to ringing (wedding) bells make it the ultimate bespoke favor. At Solage Resort, couples can personalize their own essential oil blend to capture the essence of their wedding date. The fragrance can then be gifted as a massage oil, body scrub, or lotion, bringing a whole new level of personalization to the wedding.

If there’s a more impressive way to commence a celebration, we’ve yet to find it. Sabering a bottle of champagne instantly turns any gathering into a fête, initiating a cause for serious revelry and merrymaking.

You might think that having my first kiss on the free Mountain Village Gondola would be my favorite childhood memory in Telluride, but discovering the secret trail to “Little Hawaii” takes first place when it comes to magical moments in this mountain town.

Would it sound entirely ridiculous to say the Santorini Cherry Tomato changed my life? My first encounter with the locally-grown treasure was at Aktaion Restaurant, an unassuming traditional taverna that turned out to to be one of the oldest on the island, built over nearly a century ago. It was there that my wife and I first tasted a traditional korkosela made with eggs, fresh tomato and green bell pepper. It was unlike any dish I have ever had. As a backyard-tomato-farmer, the delicacy sent me into a frenzy to research the mystical Santorini Tomato.

3,600 years ago, there was a massive volcanic eruption that devastated Santorini. Many believe the event inspired the mystical legend of Atlantis mentioned in Plato’s dialogues. I’m somewhat of a hopeless romantic for ancient myths like these, and as my husband and I would walk amid Santorini’s white buildings boasting royal blue roofs and views of the endless, glimmering ocean, I couldn’t help but wonder if the story of the lost city of Atlantis was true. The island gifted us a newfound adventurous spirit, and we set out to explore the mysterious, abandoned shipwrecks and hidden, deep-sea treasures of the Aegean Sea.

While my usual happy hour always starts with a “cheers” and clinked cocktails, our evenings at Grace Hotel included multiple toasts— and not just because it was my birthday week. Every night, I could count on an inevitable second round of glasses to be raised when Santorini’s famed sunset colors called for their own salute. In perfect view from our dining table we would watch as a soft, orange glow met the rich blues of the Aegean Sea and washed the endless horizon in striking color. I remember looking at one another, speechlessly gesturing to the grandeur in awe, thinking that nothing could compete with this view. I was wrong.

At the annual Blues & Brews Festival, September sunlight saturates mountains cloaked in green and gold trees—setting a colorful stage for three days of funk, rock, soul, and blues. “This event is overshadowed by all the other Telluride festivals,” says General Manager Alex Rollinson. “But it’s my favorite—and one of the few family-friendly options where kids 11 and under are free.

If you’re planning on hiking Oat Hill Mine Trail, don’t let the weather deter you— foggy mornings are the best time for this hike. After stumbling upon this discovery by chance, the colder and mistier the morning in Napa Valley, the faster I grab my hiking shoes.

Named after the periodic table’s element 52, which is found in gold, our resort pays homage to Telluride’s rich past as a mining town—and on your visit, so should you! “Riding in a 4x4 is the best way to traverse bumpy switchbacks up to Bridal Veil Falls, where you start an eight-mile-roundtrip hike to Lewis Mine,”...

I've been traveling to Costa Rica for almost 30 years, and I've been to plenty of the country's resorts. In all that time, I've never seen a place where both kids and adults can have equally incredible experiences than at Hacienda Alta Gracia. For kids, the stables are the best in Central America. Well-trained and easy for kids to ride and enjoy, my granddaughters fed and brushed the horses following their ride. Plus, a huge bonus - there are almost always baby horses on the property, which are always a hit! Back at the resort, the kids played at Kata Grande, conveniently located near a bar where parents can enjoy!

It took a killer hangover to get me on the bilibili. This floating Fijian bamboo raft isn't for the faint of heart but it offered my only deliverance after a night of tasting the island's award-winning rum. Drifting deeper into the forest canopy, I searched for a secret medicinal herb the island's first pirates once used while they were developing sugarcane for rum in the 1800s.