Elevation: 8,606 feet

As I am writing this post I am in a location I have never been to, but have wanted to go; Aspen, Colorado. Since I learned how to ski at the ripe age of 7, I have been to many different mountains, or lack there of, but nothing compares to where I currently am. Aside from the "5-run hills" I have visited in Ohio and Indiana, I have also been to Boyne Mountain in northern Michigan, Peak N' Peek  and Holiday Valley in New York, and Okemo Mountain located in Vermont. Okemo currently holds the record for the most challenging and longest runs I have been on, but I know they are nothing compared to Snowmass. Okemo also was where I was when I witnessed 3 feet of snow fall in one night, and the wind chill reach a bitter -50 degrees.  Not only too cold to ski and board, but when my dad and I rode the chair lift, by the time we reached the top our breathe on our neck warmers had turned into frost forcing us to warm up in a warming hut before riding down the mountain. We did this once, and called it a day. Don't get me wrong I love an adventure, but worrying about frostbite and my fingers freezing off, is not for me.

Ever since this experience to Okemo Mountain, Vermont in 2005 we not only have never been back, but I haven't been snowboarding since.  Unless you count the hill in Southern Indiana, Paoli Peaks. We decided if we were going to spend the money on another ski trip, it was going to be out West, where the powder is endless and the temperature stays at a comfortable 30 degrees.

So here I am, staying at Timberline Resort, in a ski-in ski-out condo on Snowmass Mountain.  Ironically enough, I am not with my family, but with my boyfriend's dad, step-mom and 2 younger step-brothers. Seeing that  both my boyfriend, Tom and I  are seniors in college, the fact that our stay will be from Sunday until Thursday resulting in us having to skip an entire week of class ( second semester seniors don't have class on Fridays) does not pose as an issue. We had no tests, quizzes, presentations, or papers due this week, so we emailed our professors explaining we had interviews, or family reunions we had to attend. Of course leaving out the exact location we were going, just that will be "out of the state for the week of 2.21."

Tom, being out West many times before resulted in the fact that ever since we bought our plane tickets in January, I have been hearing what Snowmass and Snowmass Village are like. I have googled imaged, and just plain googled, however when we landed in Aspen this afternoon, it was unlike anything I have seen before.  I braced myself for a bumpy ride from Denver to Aspen, however it was rather smooth. Especially since when boarding we were told we may be returning to Denver if when approaching Aspen the visibility would be too poor to land. 30 minutes after we took off in Denver, we touched down in Aspen, however I thought I was in a different country. I am unaware how such a beautiful place tucked away in the Rocky Mountain has been so close to my home my entire life, yet it took me 22 years to finally get here.

 The airport resembled the airport in the classic Disney movie "The Rescuers" when the mice, climb onto the back of a seagull to get them to their final destination. It was more of a house in the middle of a runway then an airport. We even had to walk off the airplane "Beatles Style" onto the runway before we reached the building itself. When we located our shuttle to take us to Timberline, our driver Henderson was one rad dude. If it wasn't for the snowy mountains surrounding me, I would have sworn we just landed in Hawaii. He had a laid back, no problem life style which know I know can be exchanged with a surfer lifestyle as well. I guess if you ride a mountain or if you ride a wave, you have a relaxed, fun lifestyle. Something I do not mind surrounding myself with.

The customer service at Timberline hasn't left me with much to complain about, however I don't have anything great to say about it yet either. The condo we are staying in is very stereotypical to a mountain log cabin, complete with wood cabinets, a winding staircase leading up to a loft and the color of hunter green being prevalent throughout. You also can't forget the fireplace, however it was a let down that to light it all you have to do is hit a button on the side of the wall =(

After checking in we ventured down to Snowmass Village mall for something to eat, and some shopping. Again, this was a mall unlike anything I have ever seen. It was an outdoor mall, with walk up food counters where skiers and boarders alike can grab food before hitting the slopes again. Walking around in jeans, I felt out of place because I was not sporting Snowpants and board boots.  We ended up eating at Venga Venga, a mexican restaurant that could have been the best Mexican food I have ever had. Not only that, but what could be better then drinking a margarita and snacking on some chips and guac. outside around a fire pit for a quick break from the slopes? COUNT ME IN, WHY HAS IT TAKEN ME THIS LONG TO DISCOVER SUCH A WONDERFUL PLACE.

I would try to summarize what the views look like, but that would be impossible. All this to say and we haven't even hit the slopes!

Ride on,
The Travelista

P.S things I have learned this trip
1) When you switch time zones on your computer, ical switches the days of your events.
2) Mailing ski/board equipment is cheaper then flying with it.
3) Walking up a set of stairs at 8,600 feet, feels like you just ran 3 miles... at a 7:30min/mile pace.

Timberline Condominiums on Dwellable

Bachelor Tourism?

ABC's hit reality TV show "The Bachelor" is now on it's 15th dramatic season. Being an avid watcher of  all 15 of these seasons, the show becomes someone predictable. Viewers  know the girls that will most likely stay and what ones will most likely go. This of course being the result of  the strategic editing of who the camera pays more attention to throughout an episode. Also, if viewers are desperate enough to know how the season ends,they are only one quick google search away from their answer.

As the season is narrowed down to less girls, the destinations they travel to become more exotic and more elaborate.  Two weeks ago the girls were taken to the fabulous Las Vegas, last week they had jungle fever in the luscious Costa Rica, and this week they will be soaking up the sun in Anguilla.

While the girls were in Las Vegas, they resided in the new Aria Resort & Casino, located right in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. Their trip was complete with one lucky girl landing a shopping spree at City Center, along with a romantic rooftop dinner at Crystal with fireworks in the background. The trip also included a showing of Viva Elvis by Cirque Du Soleil, which happens to be the current show being performed at Aria.  Bachelor Brad and the girls make their Vegas experience complete when venturing to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in order to test drive some race cars for fun. When the episode is over, if viewers were considering going to Las Vegas in the near future for a romantic getaway, they would need no more convincing.  Also, since viewers have seen all the great amenities for Aria Resort & Casino, why would they consider staying anywhere else? With Las Vegas recently having to lower hotel costs, just to get tourists out there, this episode couldn't have been aired at a more appropriate time.

Jungle fever in Costa Rica took place at The Springs Resort and Spa in Arenal, Costa Rica. Although this resort is not on the ocean, the views of the Arenal Volcano were breath taking. While Brad and the girls vacationed they took part in some Costa Rica zip lining, along with some more adventurous repelling down a natural waterfall. There also was an excursion into a 40 million year old bat cave. I think I'll pass on that one.  The episode did a great job of highlighting all of Costa Rica's great tourism hot spots, and if viewers were unaware of what Costa Rica had to offer them, they were fully informed by the end of the episodes 2 hours. Not only that but it looks like The Springs Resort and Spa did some revamping of their website once ABC was done filming. Who knows maybe their occupancy rates will increase in the next couple of months.

This weeks romantic trip to Anguilla looks nothing sort of amazing. The previews show some boat riding along with some cliff jumping into crystal clear water. It also will be interesting to see the resort they choose to reside in. Will it be one who needs the extra advertising, or one that is luxurious enough that they don't need ABC's help?

With  6 girls remaining this means there is 6 more weeks of lucky locations to be visited.  Which is plenty of  time for tourism locations to get their 2 hour ABC advertising in for the year. But, who will be the lucky locations?

Travel on Bachlorettes,
The Travelista

College Senior, Travel Fanatic

On my list of things I have to accomplish before I graduate I listed "start a blog".  However blogging about my stereotypical college life, would not be entertaining. So I'm blogging about travel, which is something I am passionate about. Being a Tourism Management Major and landing a full time job with a highly accredited resort post graduation, I  figured I might as well share my travel insight with  my fellow travel fans.  In my 22 years of life I have found that travel fans are rare to come across, so maybe I will find more with creating this blog. Besides I need someone to talk to about  the latest cruise ships, insane airfare up-charges, and resorts of the year. I also read once that blogging makes you smarter =]

Peace, Love and hotels,
The Travelista