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.

My friend Eladio Soto has helmed the fields at Hacienda AltaGracia since the land was only comprised of a coffee plantation. Soto, along with a group of five full-time farmers from the local community grow crops like asparagus, passionfruit, chayote squash, and mustard leaf, making my job as a chef much, much easier.

"The best way to say goodnight— or to say anything, really— is with chocolate. Auberge Du Soleil knows this to be true and makes 600 pounds of chocolate-covered almonds a year, in part to leave the sweet surprise of Amandes au Chocolat in rooms at turndown."

Besides using mineral-enriched mud personalized with essential oils, the Signature Mudslide includes a geothermal soak and an anti-gravity sound therapy chair. The best part? You’re not sharing your mud. Instead of a communal mud bath, expect a private, three-part detoxifying treatment that begins with mud combined with volcanic ash, geothermal mineral water, and essential oils you select yourself.

At Chileno Bay, we’ve harnessed the duality of the region to create our resort-wide wellness initiative called Baja Balance. This encourages optimum health for the mind, body and spirit with guest instructor-led weekend retreats and ongoing programming and activities across multiple touch points including fitness, culinary and spa.

I have a degree in psychology, which comes in handy more than you might think during the wedding planning process. From knowing where to place an eccentric relative on the seating chart, to choosing a wedding cake that will please all parties, the decisions I make are informed by knowing what is most important to the bride, groom, and their families.

Step into restorative bath experience— sans tub and bubbles. A “sound bath” is an ancient, healing practice where you can expect to stay dry, as the only thing you will be soaking in is healing sound frequencies.

Beautiful places like Anguilla often breed artists inspired by their surroundings—and craftsman Cheddie Richardson is one of them. “I wandered into his carving studio by accident, but I’ve been a fan ever since” ...

I get antsy on long drives to California's wine country. There's only so much panting I can do from my backseat perch as we drive down the winding country roads before I'm barking in anticipation of what awaits me on my arrival at Calistoga Ranch. Bacon - crisp, greasy, delicious slices of bacon - hidden throughout the hotel's vineyards. I mean, I even get my own in-room dining menu with bones and treats. This is no ordinary dog's life for me.

Rain or shine, the Averill Farm Stand is open, and rain or shine, I go for the heavenly apple cider donuts. A true must-visit in the town of Washington, Averill Farm is primarily a fruit orchard that has been family-run for 10 generations and counting. The hidden gem awaits at the end of a lovely drive, minutes from the Mayflower Inn. Abundant with the simple delights of the countryside— cut flowers, homemade jams, honey, cheeses, locally-sourced pies and more— the charming farm provides a special experience to immerse in the farm-to-table culture of Connecticut.