Oxygen and champagne at the spa in Aspen

Oxygen and champagne at the spa in Aspen

The St Regis underwent a $40 million redesign in 2011 and it shows. They welcome kids and pets with special amenities. The spa is the go to place in town to be pampered –15,000 square feet with 15 treatment rooms. There’s steam and sauna and cold plunge and hot tubs.

Learning to fly-fish in Aspen’s rivers and ponds

Learning to fly-fish in Aspen’s rivers and ponds

until this morning, Zach Lewis hadn’t been fly fishing—a popular Aspen activity. This morning at his first spot on the Roaring Creek River Zach caught a nice sized trout. It was all catch and release, but that’s not what this is about.

On a different kind of cruise in Alaska

On a different kind of cruise in Alaska

“We plan the itinerary so that we can stop like this,” says our captain, Dano Quinn, who has been piloting vessels in Alaska for the last 16 years. “The best of Alaska is the wilderness,” he adds. “Not in the towns and we provide the opportunities for that.”

A hike across the roof of Southwestern Colorado

A hike across the roof of Southwestern Colorado

I’d always wanted to do the famous hike between Crested Butte in Southwest Colorado and Aspen –12.2 miles along the West Maroon trail, crossing the Maroon Pass which is 12,500 feet high. I’d first heard about this hike years ago when we took our kids to Crested Butte, one of my favorite mountain towns to ski.

The Broadmoor — peaceful and relaxing

The Broadmoor — peaceful and relaxing

People are afraid to come to the Springs, locals tell me, saying they think the entire city has burned, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. But the Broadmoor, which has been welcoming families for 19 years, is tranquil and at it should be. So is downtown Colorado Springs, where an outdoor festival is underway.

A week in Colorado – stop one “The Springs”

A week in Colorado – stop one “The Springs”

I’m also glad to be in The Springs as locals call it for another reason—to tell everyone that the Waldo Canyon Wildfire that destroyed more than 300 homes earlier this summer has been completely contained and the city and all of its attractions are open for business.

Kauai – the garden island with so much to explore

Kauai – the garden island with so much to explore

There’s a reason they call Kauai the garden island. There are all varieties of plants I’ve never seen and whose names I can’t pronounce. They also happen to be very rare—endangered, in fact.

The joys and values of summer sleepaway camps

The joys and values of summer sleepaway camps

I’m a real fan of sleep away camp. I went as a child and all three of my kids went for many years—my son to Camp Nebagamon in Wisconsin and my daughters to Camp Kamaji in Minnesota. My girls worked as counselors there as well, teaching sailing and leading wilderness trips.

What’s new at Disneyland in California?  Lots!

What’s new at Disneyland in California? Lots!

Ready to race? Radiator Springs Racers is one of the most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney theme park as the “Cars” gang gathers to get us ready for the big race.