Les Saisons, Ketchum, Idaho

680 Sun Valley Road
Ketchum, Idaho 83340
866.847.4200

CELEBS SPOTTED: Bill Gates, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Oprah Winfrey, Clint Eastwood and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Queen Oprah Winfrey

This week, it’s more of a luxury residence resort. But you ask for celebrity hangouts, and that’s what I’m giving you. Les Saisons in Idaho’s Sun Valley is a beautiful property, dripping with le exclusive vibe. There are 12 residences, each coming in at 1,900 square feet, and folks like Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey eat it up.

Beautiful Sun Valley, Idaho

It’s one of America’s premiere ski resorts and the scenery is to die for. Everything from the astounding views to the amenities will have you feeling like a star. The staff claims to know everyone by name, which is a wonderful touch, particularly if they recognize me like so: “Hi Karl, here’s your Guinness.”

The lobby says, "Cozy"

Bruce Willis loves Les Saisons

The Idaho mountains make this a great spot for not just skiing, but fly fishing, hiking, golf, and there are tons of arts in the area, too. There are photo galleries, paintings, even a Sun Valley symphony. Culture out the wazoo, people!

Living room with a view

This is the place where Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney hung out from “White Christmas.” And Les Saisons, while more of a time-share sort of thing, is fairly reasonable if you’re looking to get away from it all. Rates start at $300 a night for a 2-bedroom, $400 a night for 3 bedrooms. And in the peak Christmas season, you’re looking at $900 and $1,200 a night, respectively. And those are the rental rates, so if you’re not looking to buy, there’s still hope.

The kitchens at Les Saisons give you all you need

And while there aren’t a ton of recognizable chains in Ketchum, Idaho, there is a Starbucks. The restaurants you’ll find are all unique dining experiences. Ernest Hemingway used to spend time here, and you can, too. French cuisine and European flairs combine, and there are plenty of regional Northwest flavors, as well.

Luxury includes a rooftop pool

Les Saisons is the perfect spot to enjoy the Bunny slopes. Well, that’s where you’d find me, anyway. I like all my bones right where they are.

Nearby Restaurants: Ketchum Grill, Lefty’s Bar & Grill, The Cellar Pub

Photo attributions:

Sun Valley snow scene – http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/ / CC BY 2.0

Celebrity photos: Celebutopia

All other photos: Les Saisons web site

It finally rained in San Francisco, which means snow in the Sierra. Since people who love to ski and snowboard also usually love the environment, I was curious about the green credentials of some of the big resorts. I was excited to find a really well researched list of the Top 10 Green Ski Resorts in the West.

The list is put out by non-profit group Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition. The organization works to keep environmental concerns at the forefront of ski area managers. They use a heavy-duty weighted criteria to grades resorts, reviewing everything from how well the resort stays within the existing footprint, to preserves environmentally sensitive areas, to energy conservation practices.

Of course, since I’m not a snow bunny –  I’d rather hang out by the fireplace in the hotel lobby and sip a hot toddy or three — I decided to check out the hotel situation at these ten resorts, which are spread across California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.  Over the next week I’ll tell you about the resorts and give you budget, moderate and luxury hotel options in the area.

Starting at the top, the greenest ski resort of 2008/2009 is...Aspen Mountain Ski Resort in Aspen, Colorado.

Aspen Mountain has some of the craziest steep powder in Aspen. They don’t have any “easy” trails. It’s for hardcore downhill skiers and snow boarders, a.k.a. dudes who shred.

And what about the hotels? Aspen has tons of lodging options, including:

Budget: Mountain Chalet

Budget Room at the Mountain Chalet

It’s a simple place, but it offers laundry, locker room, internet access, sauna and steam rooms, and a heated outdoor pool. It’s heavy on the social areas, so a good choice for the hostel-type of crowd.  A “budget room” has two queen beds or two single beds, a TV and small fridge, but no A/C, and costs $105-$240/night, depending on when in the season you go. Serious ski bums just looking for a place to crash can get a bunk for $70 to $85/night.

Moderate: Aspen Mountain Lodge

Four-story fireplace at the Aspen Mountain Lodge

This traditional lodge has 38 rooms, over four floors. The rooms themselves are about average — wet bar and refrigerator, cable TV with VCR, direct dial phones, a CD stereo, bathrobes, a coffee maker, and internet access. The big appeal is the 40 foot high river-rock fireplace in the atrium. Winter rates for a standard room range from $146 to $276/night.

Luxury: Mountain House Lodge

A standard room at the Aspen Lodge

If you’re willing to spend a little more so you can enjoy relaxing in the privacy of your own room, take a look at the Mountain House Lodge. A standard room includes two queen bed, cable t.v., refrigerator and a phone. Most rooms also have decks, and are big enough for a sitting area. Winter rates range from $189-$299/night.

Yosemite in winter

Yosemite in the winter is simply beautiful. Many people come here to camp and hike during the warmer weather months, but there is something magical about this grand national park in the colder months.

Snowy meadows, frozen peaks and the quiet can be incredibly conducive to romance or just a great way to recharge your batteries. Whatever you decide, there are many ways to enjoy the Yosemite Valley.

Our stay at The Ahwahnee in January was overall so relaxing and a wonderful time. We had thought about waiting until February and enjoying a Valentine’s escape to Napa, but decided instead to experience Yosemite in snow.

The Ahwahnee Hotel is a splurge compared to other lodging options in or near the park, but worth it if you can swing it.  The architecture and magnificent façade are amazing to see, especially for the first time. There is a grandeur about this stately hotel. No wonder presidents and royalty have stayed here.

Snowy peaks above

Did you know that The Ahwahnee was specifically designed to highlight its natural surroundings, which feature Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Glacier Point? This beautiful hotel has the warmth of a mountain ski lodge but on a grander scale. The interior rooms have Native American motifs and accents with natural wood furnishings.

View from Ahwahnee Hotel ground floor

This AAA Four Diamond hotel has 123 handsomely appointed guest rooms, including 99 hotel rooms, parlors and suites and 24 cottages. We stayed in the main building in a guest room and found that we ate most of our meals in the grand dining room.

With the chilly air and icy roads, I quite enjoyed staying indoors and staring out the enormous windows at the fabulous views, with a warm drink and book. However Badger Pass is not too far if you prefer to go skiing and the hotel can help with arrangements.

Inside the main dining room

Other types of lodging around Yosemite National Park are available during the winter and summer months but you will need to check ahead of time to see what roads are open, besides availability – I suggest you check directly with Yosemite National Park.  Booking directly with the park may also save you money or get you one of their seasonal packages or other sweet bargains.

Discover your inner Ansel Adams and no matter when you go or where you stay, don’t forget to take your camera!!

Photo credits to sfcphotography

Winter is definitely upon us, and many parts of the country have been blanketed in snow over the past few weeks, even cities like Las Vegas which rarely see as much snow as they got! If you’re a fan of snow and skiing, this is the perfect time of year for you. The U.S. has plenty of fantastic ski resorts – check out some of these cities, ski resorts and hotels when planning your next ski vacation:

Stowe Mountain Lodge

The Stowe Mountain Lodge

The Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, is practically brand-new, and it’s gorgeous. Stowe, Vermont is one of those perfectly picturesque towns to visit, no matter what time of year you go, including the magical winter season. All rooms have a view of either Mt. Mansfield or Spruce Peak, and you can book 1,2 or 3-bedroom suites. Most rooms have fireplaces to cozy up next to as well as balconies. There are plenty of winter activities to check out including snowboarding and dog sledding, too!

Lion Square Lodge

Lion Square Lodge

The Lion Square Lodge is located in beautiful Vail, Colorado. You can enjoy either hotel rooms or large, 1-5 bedroom condominiums. There are three outdoor hot tubs, saunas and a well-equipped fitness room. Although, after a day on the nearby slopes you probably won’t have to work out at all. You’ll be close to lots of shops, restaurants and nightlife as well.

Aspen, Colorado

Sky Hotel

The Sky Hotel, located in Aspen, Colorado, offers 90 luxurious rooms perfect for every snow bunny. The decor is hip and welcoming, and you can choose to relax in the outdoor heated pool or hit the slopes as soon as you arrive. This resort is pet-friendly, too! Aspen has a great nightlife scene, and you’ll be close to that as well.

Stay warm, have fun and enjoy an amazing ski season at these picturesque ski resorts.

Photo Credits: Lion Square Lodge website, Stowe Mountain Lodge website, Mcclave