5 best girlfriend getaways

BY JULIE HARRISON, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN - DECEMBER 26, 2009

1. Get local: Join chef Ana Garcia at her boutique culinary hotel (www.lavillabonita.com) for a four- or seven-day escape in the foothills of the mountain village of Tepoztlan, Mexico. She will share her culture with you and your girlfriends on scenic trips to the local market for fresh ingredients and family-style cooking classes in her kitchen overlooking the valley.

2. Go with the flow: Kayak from one luxury base camp to another over five days with Solstua West (www.solstua

3. Glassy girls: Ignite your artistic side with The Hotel Murano’s “Hot Piece of Glass” (www.hotelmuranotacoma.com) weekend getaway, just 40 kilometres south of Seattle. After admiring art in the Museum of Glass, you and your girlfriends can get creative during a glass-blowing lesson, then sleep surrounded by the hotel’s art glass from around the world.

4. Hike on high: Heli-hiking lets you experience hard-to-reach locales and the sights that come with them. With Canadian Mountain Holidays (www.canadianmountainholidays.com) you can stay in a luxurious lodge right in the Bugaboo mountains of Alberta, a hiker’s dream of glaciers, granite spires and lush valleys.

5. Ridin’ cowgirl! Giddy-up on over to the 1,600-hectare Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort (www.zionponderosa.com) in Utah. By day, you can christen your cowboy boots with rodeo-riding lessons or a guided horseback riding tour through magnificent Zion National Park. By night, you can round up your girlfriends for slumber in a cowboy cabin.

— Julie Harrison, an Ottawa writer who knows that a girlfriend getaway can cure almost anything.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

(Teton Village, Wyo., December 19, 2009) For the second year running, skiers and snowboarders from across the country waited to ride the new Aerial Tram at Jackson Hole with plenty of anticipation. And those in line were not disappointed. You could hear the “ahhs” as 100 pairs of eyes were transported from the base to the summit breaking through a cloud layer that revealed their reward, blue skies and huge snow covered peaks.

The Aerial Tram and all the remaining major lifts, groomed runs and halfpipe at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort were opened today, expanding skiable terrain at the Resort to 4,139 vertical feet. On-mountain dining facilities and other resort services were all fully operational in time for the busy holiday season.

With snow all week and plenty more forecasted for the Tetons it is a great time to make plans to visit. Amazing deals including free air, lodging discounts and ski free packages are all available at www.jacksonhole.com

Leopold Conservation Award in Utah presented to Tavaputs Ranch

Sand County Foundation, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, the Utah Cattlemen’s Association, and Western AgCredit were pleased to present the 2009 Leopold Conservation Award to Butch and Jeanie Jensen and their Tavaputs Ranch.

The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes landowners actively committed to living Aldo Leopold’s legacy. Working with state or regional conservation partners, Sand County Foundation presents high profile awards in settings that showcase the landowners’ achievements among their peers.

Leopold Conservation Awards recognize extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation, inspire other landowners through their example, and help the general public understand the vital role private landowners can and do play in conservation success.

Gateway, Colorado, is located one hour southwest of Grand Junction, Colorado on Colorado and historic Byway 141 where the West Creek flows into the Dolores River. Surrounded by the Uncompahgre Plateau, Piñon Mesa and La Sal Mountains, this quaint, tight-knit community is embraced by tall canyon walls, cottonwoods and a vivid blue sky. www.gatewaycanyons.com

Snowbird, Utah - Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort received 40 inches of snowfall over the weekend from a substantial early winter storm. Almost 3.5 inches of water fell between Friday and Sunday, pushing year to date totals to 102 inches and the resort’s mid-mountain base to 57 inches. Snowbird is currently offering over 3,100 vertical feet of skiing and riding from the Aerial Tram.

“This is just the storm we were waiting for to get the season off on the right foot,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “Now that we’ve received over 100 inches we’ll be offering skiing and riding in Peruvian Gulch starting tomorrow and aiming to get all of our lifts open by December 26.”

In addition to opening Chip’s Run tomorrow, Snowbird is aiming to open Peruvian Express Chairlift Dec. 18 and Gad 2 Chairlift Dec. 19, weather permitting. Tickets are currently being offered at a discounted rate of $62 including the Tram until Dec. 26, when regular pricing will go into effect.

Coinciding with the new snowfall and warnings of instability in the backcountry, Snowbird and the Utah Avalanche Center are partnering to offer the inaugural Freeride Avalanche Summit this Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17-18. The two-day clinic targets advance and expert skiers and riders who want practical instruction on avalanche awareness, safety and rescue from leading forecasters and professional skiers. For more information, visit www.snowbird.com.

For the most up to date resort information, please follow Snowbird on Twitter at www.twitter.com/snowbirdski or search “Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort” on Facebook.

Lodging packages for this winter, including Ski Free, Stay Free for $149 per person/double occupancy with a lift ticket and potential fourth night free, can be found at www.snowbird.com. Incredible holiday rates are also still available.

Best Western Ruby’s Inn at Bryce Canyon National park joins the growing list of highly rated hotels, lodges, ranches and resorts represented by the Wild West Alliance.

“We are thrilled to have such an Internationally known hotel and popular tourist attraction as Ruby’s Inn join our group,” said Bob Grove, alliance director. “I’ve been traveling regularly to Bryce Canyon since 1978 and have come to know the property and the good folks running it quite well over the years. Ruby’s Inn adds the best possible representation for the alliance in the Bryce Canyon region.” www.rubysinn.com

New Years Eve with Live Performance by Collin Raye

Spend New Year’s Eve at the Hilton Salt Lake City Center and ring in the New Year with a LIVE performance by five time nominee for Country music’s male vocalist of the year - Collin Raye.

Package includes: Overnight accommodations at our hotel / DJ and dancing / Two tickets to the concert / Dinner and champagne toast* / Doors open 7pm, dinner 8pm.Special / Dec. 31, 2009. For rates, reservations, and information click here

See Yellowstone is West Yellowstone’s most comprehensive group of winter services from lodging to snowmobiles, and snow coach tours. If convenience and hassle free travel is near the top of your vacation musts, See Yellowstone is a good solution for families, couples, friends and groups to experience Yellowstone National Park.

The See Yellowstone group of companies is the only West Yellowstone concessionaire to offer both guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours to Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. click here for information.

And for a fun and unique family experience check out the the “Goldilocks” themed rooms at the Three Bear Lodge click here.

MIDWAY, Utah (December 1, 2009) - The Homestead Resort is proud to offer Breakfast with Santa, December 5, 2009. Breakfast with Santa includes a breakfast buffet, pictures with Santa Claus and a small gift. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM reservations are not required. Adult pricing is $12.95 and children $6.95. The whole family will enjoy the new tradition. Breakfast with Santa Claus coincides with the Midway City Swiss Christmas events including the 11th annual Interfaith Creche and Cottage for the Children exhibits. The events run December 4 – 6, 2009 and are free to the public.

The Homestead Resort will be offering the following guest activities during the week of December 25 – 31. Enjoy a true family tradition with the Homestead Resort.

• December 25 - Christmas Movie 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• December 26 - Christmas Crafts 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  
• December 27 - Gingerbread House clinic 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  
• December 28 - Cookie clinic 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  
• December 29 - Snow Shoe Scavenger Hunt 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  
• December 30 - Complimentary Sleigh Rides for Homestead Guests 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  
• December 31 - Homestead New Years Hoe Down 9 PM–1 AM Adults $20 Children under 12 $10

For more information visit www.homesteadresort.com

A total of 2471 skiers and boarders enjoyed this beautiful day at Sun Valley.