Ski Free in Park City!
It’s as simple as flying into Salt Lake City International Airport. With a boarding pass, an out of state ID and a redemption voucher from the Park City Quick Start program you can fly into Salt Lake City and fly down the slopes of all three Park City resorts in the same day!
The offer is blacked out 12/22 – 1/1/12 and 2/18 – 3/31/12, but otherwise valid until all three Park City resorts close. Deer Valley gives you the most bang for your free buck as their lift tickets are the most expensive, or if you have less time, choose the Canyons as it’s 20 minutes closer to the Park City I-80 exit. You must separately register every person who is skiing/boarding, even the kids. You’ll receive an email voucher for each person almost immediately. Print the vouchers and you are set to go! So next time you think about flying to Utah for some wintery fun rethink that later flight and check out the Park City Quick Start program!
Colorado’s Chill Ski Town
For the ultimate Colorado Rocky Mountain experience Crested Butte is your destination. During the summer, Crested Butte’s claim to fame is the “official wildflower capital of Colorado” and the “last great Colorado ski town” during the winter. It does not have the hubbub corporate feel like many of its counterpart resorts making it perfect for a hassle free family vacation or for the quintessential mancation.
Located 28 miles from the Guinnison-Crested Butte Regional Airpot (GUC) or four and half hours from Denver International Airport (DEN), Crested Butte is in the heart of the scenic Rocky Mountains. Like many of Colorado’s ski towns, Crested Butte roots come from mining when coal and silver mines started to open in the 1860s. To this day, its Victorian vibe sometimes feels close to a ghost-town. But do not be fooled by its small town feel, Crested Butte Mountain Resort offers some of the best backcountry skiing in the state of Colorado as well as great terrain for any type of beginner skier or snowboarder. With over 400 acres of double black diamond terrain, Crested Butte’s reputation as an expert mountain precedes itself. There are also a ton of beginner trails and other activities perfect for those newbie legs who can’t handle a full day of skiing. These activities include a Bungee Trampoline, a tubing hill and a newly installed zipline tour, which is a two hour long experience.
The town and the people, however, are what make this mountain destination a hidden gem among ski vacation destinations. The small town feel lets visitors and locasl rub elbows at restaurants, bars and on the ski mountain. This local feel is unique among ski towns. With a booming winter sport industry that caters to luxury vacation seekers typically, Crested Butte manages to stay among the authentic ski towns left that are there for the adventure seeker and passionate skier/snowboarder.
This does not mean that there isn’t room for luxury. The Elevation Hotel and Spa in the center of Crested Butte Mountain Village is a ski-in/ski-out resort property that has all the bells and whistles of any luxury ski lodge. The hotel includes a 11,000 square-foot spa and fitness center, indoor pool and hot tub, sundeck with a fire pit, 21,000 square-feet of meeting space, a business center, a ski and snowboard rental shop onsite, 24-hour front desk, ski valet, complimentary ski storage, complimentary yoga classes, complimentary Crested Butte town shuttle and in-suite dining from the restaurant 9,380 Prime Restaurant & Bar. And the list goes on….
So next time if you are looking for a guys weekend get-a-way where extreme is the name of the game or for a family fun filled week look to Crested Butte. The balanced town and mountain resort give any traveler an exceptional and unfettered ski vacation with an authentic western twist.
Aloha Kakou (Hi Everyone)!
We are half way through the high season of surfing on O’ahu (the gathering place) and specifically the ultimate surfing Mecca: the North Shore. Professional surfers come from all over the world to compete in what is considered universally as the “ironman” of all surfing. Starting in late November and going through March, surfers seek to ride the North Shore’s biggest wave. Imagine riding a 25ft, 40ft and 50ft wave at speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour. It’s exhilarating, fun….to watch AND a great activity while you enjoy the majesty of this island…AND IT’S FREE!!!
Over 2 million people a year come to the North Shore to watch the thousands of surfers who ride these gravity defying waves. It’s a fun outing because it comes cheap, but the North Shore is a great destination itself with vacation rentals, shopping and restaurants popping up here and there with that authentic local feel.
About an hour drive from O’ahu’s famous Waikiki, the North Shore is ideal for renting a condo to get that home away from home feel while on vacation. It is not as built up as some of its counter parts, but still offers that quintessential beach experience. Waimea Bay, Ehukai (Banzai Pipeline), and Sunset Beach are the most famous beaches. Seven miles of beach is a lot of real estate for the purpose of surfing and hanging out on the beach, but that’s one of the best things about Oahu’s northern coastal region. So next time you think of Hawaii for a winter-time getaway remember to check out those crazy waves and the equally as crazy people who come to ride them every year at O’ahu’s North Shore. You will be not be disappointed!
Got to Love them Humpbacks on Maui Hawaii
North Pacific Humpback Whales love the warm and shallow waters between Maui, Kahoolawe, Molokai and Lanai islands. They begin arriving to this warm haven, where the water is no more than 300 feet, as early as November. January is typically the height of their migration even though whale watching expeditions begin around Thanksgiving.
Humpback whale breaching off the coast of Maui; photo taken from www.whalewatchmaui.com
The best thing about whale watching in Maui is that you do not necessarily need to go on a boat tour to see whales if your timing is right. A great place to look for humpbacks is at the scenic lookout point along the Pali Highway a few miles west of Maalaea Harbor. You will not be alone as people stand on the hillside overlooking the ocean to watch all the whale activity through binoculars.
If you want to experience the whales up close and personal go for the thrill of a boat tour. There is really nothing like experiencing the adventure of having one of these gentle giants swim directly underneath you. If you are vacationing on Maui during December 15 – April 15, do yourself a favor and go on a whale watch! These trips are educational and almost all tours guarentee whale sightings so you will not be disappointed.
Fun whale watching terms and behaviors:
- Tail Slapping – when a whale slaps his tail on the surface of the ocean
- Breaching – when a whale lifts a majority of its body out of the water
- Spy Hopping – when a whale pokes its head out of the water enough for its eyes to break the surface to check out the surroundings
JHMR: The Ultimate Mountain
Gnarly and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort are synonymous. Even though the mountain’s epicness usually refers to its out of bounds territory, with over 4,000 feet in vertical rise, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s terrain leaves something to desire for every type of skier and snowboarder. It’s the ultimate mountain with the ultimate terrain.
Something that many people are not familiar with is how it came to be one of North America’s greatest ski destinations. Skiers started scaling and descending the Tetons as early as 1929. From then on Jackson Hole became home to ski “circuses,” the Teton Ski Club, Olympic ski team members and officially opened as a ski resort in 1965.
Under all these years of history is a cool story about a secret society of expert local skiers – the Jackson Hole Air Force – who literally pushed the boundaries of skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Founding members Benny Wilson and Howard Henderson named this fraternity of sorts after its mission: bomb down uncharted territory, huck off cliffs to get some air, bomb down some more, get some more air and repeat. In order to achieve this cycle of ski, air, ski, air, Benny and his friends skied out of bounds violating a strict policy against ducking ropes.
After years of eluding the Jackson Hole ski patrol as well as local police, the mountain decided to embrace out of bounds terrain and today offers over 5,000 acres of back-country skiing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest to its guests. Ironically, the Jackson Hole Air Force paved the way for an unprecedented guiding program in the United States. You can sign up for a Backcountry Guide experience with “European style off-piste” touring including hiking, mountaineering and downhill riding. The resort guiding program also offers Backcountry Camps for those wanting to earn their Avalanche Level 1. These programs promote the same kind of self discovery that motivated the Jackson Hole Air Force members to duck those ropes some 20 years ago.
Do not fret if backcountry and avalanche courses are not what you are looking for in a ski vacation. There is something for every type of skier and snowboarder. There are nice long groomers as well as great first time terrain. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is all about taking what you know whether that is nothing or expert knowledge to help you to grow.
Two Beach Experiences on One Island
One of my favorite things about visiting Maui is the diversity in the beaches. When I visit Maui, I alternate staying in Kaanapali on one trip and then Wailea on my next trip. Every beach on Maui is great, but it’s nice to have the different experiences on each trip. While in Kaanapali I enjoy the gentle ripple of the ocean, the light waves and the fact that I can walk right from my resort to snorkel. It’s amazing the amount and diversity of fish I see. I often tell folks, you don’t even need to go on a snorkel trip to see plenty of fish right off the shore. I rent snorkel gear in Lahaina or Kihei at a weekly minimal cost.
Boogie boarder at "Big Beach," Maui, Hawaii; photo taken from www.visualphotos.com
The other end of the island, the south end, offers great waves for boogie boarding and/or bodysurfing. Big Beach is a family favorite with a wide expanse of beach that can accommodate a large crowd. I’m able to set up my volleyball net, a picnic area and beach chairs without feeling that I’m intruding on someone else’s grass mat! Depending on the time of day and month the waves can get fairly big. This makes for great fun for kids young and old. Many a sand castle village has been completely “wiped” out by a rogue wave!
- Kelle Keeler
What our Destination Experts are saying about Cabo
Noelle and I spent a few days in Cabo San Lucas recently to tour some of our inventory and to learn more about the area so that we can be TRUE Destination Experts. If you were to ask me today, “What should we do while we’re in Cabo?” here are some ready responses for you:
ACOMMODATIONS
Whether you want an all-inclusive hotel, condo or villa, we have inventory to suit all. One of my favorite hotels was Pueblo Bonito Pacifica. PB Pacifica is a tranquil retreat located about 5 minutes outside of downtown Cabo San Lucas, on the Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula. This full service property has 5 restaurants, 2 pools, an incredible spa and a secluded beach. The rooms are top-notch and with a very professional staff. Our guide, Jesus, met us upon arrival with cool towels and a fresh glass of Jamaica (ha-MY-ka) juice. As we toured the guest rooms, we were greeted by a welcome message on the bed. We felt very special, but apparently ALL of their guests are treated the same way.
Our villa options are plentiful and diverse, ranging in size, location & amenities. It really is hard to pick just one favorite, so I chose three: Villa de los Suenos de Pedregal, Villa Gran Vista and Villa Turquesa. All of these properties are located in Pedregal, just outside of downtown Cabo San Lucas, and overlook the Pacific. Villa de los Suenos de Pedregal is a luxurious home offering up to 8 bedrooms. The vaulted ceilings and elegant furnishings make this home feel grand, yet extremely cozy. Villa Gran Vista is a true home away from home, offering comfortable living spaces, a gaming room with pool table, media room, office space and 7 en-suite bedrooms. Five of the bedrooms could be used as masters, so no need to fight over whom gets the best room in the house. Villa Turquesa sits on the hilltop with amazing views of the Pacific. This home has some flexibility to be rented as either a 4 or 9 bedroom home. Some fun features of Villa Turquesa include a putting green, theater room, indoor shuffleboard, and kid’s room with bunk beds and a jungle gym.
RESTAURANTS
If you’re looking for some good, not too fancy, fun places to eat, here are a few of my favorites:
Baja Cantina- Located at the marina, the Baja Cantina has a really fun atmosphere. It is definitely a popular spot and always hopping with tourists and locals alike. If you’re looking for a place to watch your favorite sport (it was a must for me to watch the Ravens vs. Steelers game), this is the place. As for food, I had the pizza and it was delicious! www.bajacantina.com.mx
Sharkey’s- Of the beaten path a little, Sharkey’s is located about 2 blocks from the marina. Looking for some great authentic Mexican food? This is the place. And if you happen to catch a fish while you’re in town, Sharkey’s can prepare it for you. www.sharkystacos.com
Baja Brewing Company- If you’re tired of drinking Corona, head to the Baja Brewing Company. They have 3 locations: at the marina in Cabo San Lucas, in the historic art district in San Jose and rooftop at the Cabo Villas Resort on Medano Beach. The beer was great and you have to try the arrachera burger…yum! www.bajabrewingcompany.com
MUST DO ACTIVITIES
Drinks at The Office- The Office is an icon! Right on Medano Beach, The Office is great place to hang out day or night. The buckets of beer are CHEAP and the people watching couldn’t be better.
Boat tour of the harbor- We took a tour around sunset for just about an hour and I’d highly recommend it. Take out a bottle of wine (or 2), enjoy the sunset, the skyline and the views of Land’s End.
Spend a day in San Jose- San Jose is the epitome of“quaint.”Get away from the hubbub of Cabo, walk around, do a little shopping and be sure to stop for a beer at the Baja Brewing Company in the Historic Art district.
These are just a few insider tips, but our knowledge of Cabo San Lucas is comprehensive. So feel free to give us a call and we’d be happy to help you plan your next trip to the Baja Peninsula! To speak with a Destination Expert, call (888) 337-6678 or visit www.vacationroost.com to plan your Cabo vacation!
- Stephanie W
Kihei Maui is a Great Place to Be
Kihei Maui has a lot to offer from great soft white sand beaches, palm trees, clear blue skies to all the ocean activities you can imagine.
Accommodation options have just as much variety. There are higher end ocean front condos and more affordable vacation condos which families love for the true Hawaiian ambience – typically a 2-story buildings surrounded in a tropical garden setting. You will pay a little extra for ocean front or ocean view condos, but in Kihei there is a condo for everybody and every family. Its also always nice to find a condo with a pool for those days when you just feel like lounging around.
If you feel like adventuring out there are a plethora of things to do in Kihei like strolling the beaches, swimming in the ocean, enjoying snorkeling, surfing, board paddling, boogie boarding, or just relaxing to catch a tan.
(View of Kalama Beach Park taken from kitemaniac.com)
There are also plenty of public Beach Parks in Kihei, like Kalama Beach Park and Waipuilani Park. Kalama Beach Park offers excellent picnicking facilities such as picnic tables, BBQ grills, showers and a great playground for little kids. South Kihei has paved trails along the ocean for biking and jogging and North Kihei has a Farmer’s Market open daily featuring fresh tropical fruits, tasty apple bananas, juicy strawberry papayas or sweet delicious mangos.
Beyond the farmers market, Kihei has many restaurant choices from fine dining to fast food. Kihei offers a restaurant for everybody’s taste buds and budget. And don’t forget about the weather. Its perfect. Always nice and sunny year round, with warm, gentle Hawaiian trade winds allowing you to turn off the air condition.
To enjoy what Kihei has to offer, let VacationRoost help you find the perfect vacation rental by visiting www.vacationroost.com or calling 1-888-33-ROOST.
Before I got the opport
unity to really spend time in and around Cabo San Lucas, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the lay of the land. How far is San José from downtown Cabo? Which vacation homes are located on swimmable beaches? Where are said beaches, in relation to downtown? What’s the difference between homes on the “Pacific side” vs. homes on the “Marina side?” What the heck is the “Corridor?” Sound familiar? Well, I’m happy to say I finally mastered Cabo’s layout and am here to share my newly-acquired knowledge. And, yes, it is all that it’s cracked up to be (just in case you were wondering)!
Okay, so let’s get started. When you fly into Cabo, you fly into Los Cabos International airport, which is about 20 minutes inland from the coast. You have two choices once you enter into the heart of San José: you can continue straight through the roundabout into oldtown San José, or turn right onto the coastal highway to make your way up the coast to Cabo San Lucas. If you choose the former you will enter into San José‘s Hotel Row (beautiful hotels and condos that line the SWIMMABLE beach in SJ). This area has a more authentic “Mexican” feel than downtown Cabo, so if you’re looking for that experience, you should stay on Hotel Row (ex. Costa Azul Resort or Las Mananitas condominium) or at least make a day trip from Cabo to check it out. If you choose to go straight ahead into Cabo you will pass through the area between San José and downtown Cabo: the “Corridor.” You won’t see many homes because they are hidden on either side of the highway, however, this is where most of the SWIMMABLE beaches are located. You can stay along the Corridor and be anywhere from 10-30 minutes from downtown Cabo. Beaches are the Corridor‘s main attraction and is a great area for those looking for quiet and privacy.
Continuing past the Corridor is downtown Cabo. Downtown is not very large, about a 20 min walk from end to end, but it’s full of shopping, bars, restaurants, and hotels (Pueblo Bonito Rose & Pueblo Bonito Blanco and the 5 star Hacienda Cabo condominiums are just behind the beach and great for a central location). Medano beach is the place to be if you are looking for water sports, day drinking or maybe interested in the singles scene. Also, if you are staying in downtown Cabo, Medano is really your only option for a SWIMMABLE beach. In addition, it has the best vantage point for viewing The Arches – unless you take a boat out to see them, which I highly recommend!
Now, if you continue along the waterfront (Bay of Cabo San Lucas), you will enter the Marina. This is where the fishing boats, charters and boat slips are located. There are also several restaurants ranging from Ruth’s Chris to local fare. Most gringos dine here at night and have a few drinks before hitting the clubs (i.e. Giggling Marlin, El Squid Roe – all located just behind the Marina, downtown). The food is good and all restaurants have outdoor seating. Two blocks inland from the Marina is Pedregal; a gated hill community comprised mostly of homes owned by the local gringo population. The homes on the lower side of the hill are only a couple of blocks from downtown, making it convenient to walk into town.
Now, here’s where it can get confusing: Pedregal is a hill with homes located on all sides. It is split up into two areas the “Pacific side” or “Marina side.” If your vacation home is on the west side of the hill, you are on the Pacific side; if your home is on the east side, you are on the Marina side. Homes on the Pacific side have expansive views of the ocean and tend to have light later in the day. Anything facing the Marina or the east has views of the Sea of Cortez. The Pacific Ocean is not swimmable in this area. Should you stay in Pedregal, it’s easiest to catch cabs to and from town unless you choose to rent a car for day excursions. There are a few hotels on the Pacific side, such as Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica and the Monte Cristo Estates. They are located just behind Pedregal and offer beautiful beach access (though not swimmable). This location is perfect for weddings, large groups or couples that wish to spend most days by the pool, enjoying one another’s company. The hotels are all full-service and the villas have private pools and kitchens, so the need to leave the premises is minimal. From here, you are about a 15 minute drive to downtown.
So, that pretty much sums it up, from San José to Cabo, the ins and outs. I hope that this was helpful!
- Noelle M
Interactive Does Solitude
Riding up Apex Express
Some big decisions and purchases were made here in the interactive department at Vacation Roost over the past couple of weeks. Websites were scoured, research was done and many of our team members took the plunge in successfully buying ski pants, jackets and goggles. One might think these purchases were prompted by the recent snow dump in Utah and all over the west this past weekend, but that is only a coincidence. These purchases were weeks maybe months in the making as our team members prepared for our big department ski day at Solitude Mountain Resort. Yes, we get to ski for work. You can be jealous. Not many people can say that they get to hit the slopes for a day to do market research and team building, but here at Vacation Roost we live for what we sell.
Interactive Department team members (left to right): Adam Collings, Ryan Hutchings, Laura Daly, Colby Gilmore, and Kelly Thomson
To begin our adventure we sent team members Elise and James off to a ski refresher course. They later conceded that they were at the top of the class having both skied before, but as Elise described it felt good to get her “ski legs” back. While Elise and James braved ski school the rest of the crew hit the slopes without hesitation. With four inches of fresh snow on the mountain, the day was already off to a good start. Next the sun came out and despite some briskness early in the morning it was a perfect blue bird day. Our fearless leaders turned out to be Amy and Colby who are seasoned veterans and pass holders of Solitude. We started off on Moonbeam Express and took a warm up lap down to Apex Express. From there we took Apex Express skied down to Powderhorn II and repeated. Eventually we decided to switch it up and ride the Sunrise lift a couple of times before lunch at Last Chance Mining Camp.
Amy Ochoa bites into her burger at Last Chance Mining Camp
Lunch was provided by our gracious host Visit Salt Lake who set up our ski day through the “Ski it to Believe it” program meant to get players in the industry out to ski local mountains. We chomped down on some quintessential ski lodge grub: burgers and fries. After our carbo load we hit the slopes as a complete team with Elise and James joining us for a lap on Apex Express. A few runs later and we were back in the car driving out Big Cottonwood Canyon. Was it worth all the purchases? The anticipation? Maybe a couple falls here and there? Definitely. Although we are back at the office today it is safe to say that everyone enjoyed turning in their keyboard for some turns on the mountain.
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