Girls, girls, girls! Trapper’s Cabin getaway

by Tom Johansmeyer on

There’s no guarantee that this retreat will become home to the latest in the Where the Boys Aren’t series, but Trapper’s Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain does offer the ladies a chance to disappear for a while and enjoy relative seclusion and a bit of relaxation. This four-bedroom, four-bathroom villa is 9,500 feet in the sky, surrounded by nature and designed for high-touch service.

Trapper’s Cabin is a log cabin … that happens to come with a hot tub, steam shower, pool table and professional kitchen. In-room spa services are available, as well, along with the efforts of a personal chef. Skiing, snowshoeing and hiking are not far from the front door.

So, could you imagine taking off with the ladies for a destination like this? Conceive of having your body rubbed down by a skilled spa therapist before soaking in the hot tub … while boyfriends and husbands and kids are trapped in the real world? Trapper’s Cabin starts at $599 a night, which I find shockingly low.

Visit Yellowstone Offseason

by Kraig Becker on

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., welcoming nearly 3 million visitors per year. Most of those come during the summer months, when the weather is consistently beautiful, and the travel season is in full swing. But this article suggests that we should go now, to beat the crowds, and enjoy springtime in the Northern Rockies, where no matter what time of the year it is, Old Faithful erupts, whether anyone is watching or not.

The Park covers more than 2.2 million acres, spreading out across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. It was first established back in 1872, and is home to hundreds of species of birds and animals, including sixty distinct species of mammals, such as elk, moose, bison, wolves, and bear. Yellowstone also contains diverse terrain, with rivers, lakes, canyons, and mountains dominating the landcsape.

Of course, all of these natural wonders are also what attracts the large summer crowds, which makes visiting the park in the offseason such a popular idea for outdoor enthusiasts. For instance, even though it is spring, and temperatures are on the rise, there is still plenty of snow in the high country, allowing for some late season skiing or snow shoeing. At lower altitudes, the trails are now open, granting access to much of the park, and since the crowds haven’t arrived yet, there is plenty of solitude as well.

The article offers some excellent links to websites that cover Yellowstone from top to bottom and have plenty of great tips on how to maximize your visit, including the best places to stay, both inside and out of the park. Beat the rush in Yellowstone. Go before Memorial Day weekend, to have the park mostly to yourself.

Try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing for free on Winter Trails Day

by Alison Brick on

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to learn a snow sport?

You might get encouragement from friends who are whizzes on the trails, but the thought of keeping up with them can be intimidating. Start thinking about all of the fees, and you might not get much farther than that fireside couch in the lodge.

Winter Trails Day makes it easy to follow through on those resolutions. The one-day event on January 10th lets you try out cross-country skiing or snowshoeing for free. Resorts across the US are waiving the costs for newbies–on everything from equipment rentals to trail passes. Depending on which of the 100 locations in 22 states you go to, you could also hit up mini-lessons and product demos to make the transition a bit easier.

It’s true that cross-country skiing is just like walking (but even better because you get to glide!). Give those skinny skis a whirl, and see what you think. I just might have to test-run some snowshoes, myself. See ya out on the white stuff?

Winter Trails 2007

by Dave Luna on

Haven’t had a chance to break into a winter activity? Well, Winter Trails 2007 takes place 6 January (tomorrow), and it could be your kick-off to an active season.

The Winter Trails program offers anyone the chance to try snowshoeing and cross country skiing for free. The event is geared toward those new to the activities, and the site tells me it’s an excellent outdoor experience for families, hikers, and youth groups. Many resorts across the United States will participate in the all-day event, and you can find out if there’s one near you via the Winter Trails 2007 event website.

Me? I love snow sports like downhill skiing and drunken tobogganing. There’s just something invigorating about waving your fist in the face of winter’s desolation… and watching the snow bunnies. Yeah, the snow bunnies have a lot to do with it.