Sherman's Travel

Much like Salt Lake City, which we covered last week, Denver can be downright chilly this time of year. But, for those looking to get a little more wear out of that winter coat, it can be an excellent time to see some of Colorado’s beauty before (or after) a day of meetings. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the wilds of The Mile High City, we’re offering up three restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Rather than trying to escape the chilly weather this season, why not embrace it? Even in high season, many ski resorts offer lodging deals now, especially for travel on weekdays or toward the end of the season (late March and early April). Winter is also the cheapest time to travel to many cooler-weather metropolitan cities, both in the U.S. and abroad, so, if you can brave the lower temperatures, you’ll also enjoy reduced airfare and hotel rates.

Ski on fresh powder out West at major Colorado ski resorts like Breckenridge and Keystone, where individual condos through ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals start from just $119 per night. Most of Fairmont Hotels‘ 4-star properties throughout Canada offer rooms for 20 percent off this season, including the Jasper Park Lodge in Alberta, which sits at the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Not only can you ski at the nearby Marmot Basin, you can also enjoy ice skating, tobogganing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. Read more

Temperatures may be chilly at the moment, but the winter festival scene is certainly heating up. Across North America, outdoor adventurers can choose from all sorts of snow-centric gatherings that feature everything from ice sculpting to costumed ski jump competitions to a lively pub crawl – on skis, of course.

Choose from any of these fun, family-friendly festivals for the perfect antidote to cabin fever.

The action starts this holiday weekend, with the fourth-annual Estes Park’s Winter Festival in Estes Park, Colorado, held January 18-21, which has become one of the fastest growing festivals in Colorado. Read more

Updated on November 13, 2012: Snowflakes have already started to fall in parts of the country, and many ski resorts, including Colorado’s Copper Mountain (Nov. 2) and Mammoth Mountain in California (Nov. 8), have already celebrated opening day. The hum of anticipation from the skiing and snowboarding community is almost palpable.

And there’s good reason for that excitement: According to the 2013 Old Farmer’s Almanac, this season should bring with it higher-than-average snowfall to several resort areas, including the Utah mountains, the Great Smokies in the southeastern United States, and British Columbia. Along with that much-hoped-for gift from nature, there are some pretty cool man-made happenings at several major resorts, too. Here, a few noteworthy tidbits to get you geared up for the 2012/2013 ski season. Read more

Summer is great for enjoying nature, but there’s just something about fall – the crisp weather, the scent of a wood fire burning, the frenzy of college football – that seems to fire up the adventurous spirit. Fortunately, festivals abound this time of year that cater to those of us who’d rather enjoy the brilliant foliage from the saddle of a bike than the backseat of a car. Here, some picks for fall festivals with adventure front-and-center.

Moab Ho-Down Mountain Bike & Film Festival, Moab, Utah, October 25-28
Extended to four days this year, this gathering at one of the country’s top mountain biking meccas encompasses all the essentials of the sport: biking, beer, and revelry. Sponsored by the local Chile Pepper Bike Shop, the festival also features a film component, with evening showings of movies featuring independent mountain biking footage. Rounding out the action is a Hot Pepper Eating Contest and Ridiculous Costume Party that promises plenty of photo ops galore – all for the bargain price of just $35 for a festival pass.

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At 9,500 feet in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, the lush green slopes of Telluride offer visitors more than just skiing in the winter. Visit in late summer or early fall and you’ll have a whole slew of outdoor activities at your fingertips, including hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and fishing. Stay at the upscale Mountain Lodge Telluride, where rates through October are as low as $109 per night, over 50 percent off high-season rates.  But hurry, you need to book by August 29 to take advantage of this offer.

The lodge is comprised of luxury suites, lodge rooms, condominium units, and private cabins, all of which feature private balconies or patios. Beyond concierge service and full 24-hour front desk service, the hotel provides guests with daily housekeeping, grocery shopping service, a fitness center, massage and steam rooms, and an outdoor deck with heated pool and hot tubs.  With this offer, you’ll stay in a lodge guestroom, which features a queen bed, a high-definition flat screen television, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The property’s on-site restaurant, The View, features classic tavern cuisine, Après Ski and Happy Hour, breathtaking views of 14,000-foot peaks, and a massive stone fireplace.

The village is only a short walk, shuttle, or gondola ride away. Here, visitors can take advantage of the unique shopping, restaurants, and activities Telluride has to offer. There are no chain restaurants, shops, or hotels in the area, a testament to Telluride’s dedication to make the town as individual as can be.  The free public bus system runs on non-toxic, biodegradable fuel, and the free gondolas are energy efficient as well. You won’t find another place like this!

To book, visit Mountain Lodge Telluride or call 866-368-6867. This offer is good for reservations made by August 29.

See our Telluride destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rate on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.

Colorado tourism officials have a crucial message for travelers: The wildfires that destroyed tens of thousands of acres in recent weeks are 100 percent contained and the state is eager and open for visitors. To that end, Colorado hotels and and tour operators are offering discounts and promotions, some of which will provide help for victims of the fires.

“We have heard from lodging properties large and small that there have been many cancellations as people are seeing all the photos and videos that went viral,” said Chelsy Murphy, public relations manager for Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. “There is a misconception that the visitor experience has been drastically impacted by the fires. But in fact, the fire impacted areas represent less than one percent of the state’s 23 million acres of public land/outdoor recreation.”

Here are some of the best picks from the offerings. Check them out – they’re a great way to make your travel dollars really count. Read more

The dog days of summer may be upon us, but RockResorts is looking to cool you down with its winter getaway deals featuring savings of 25 to 50 percent, and rates starting at $85 per night at locations around the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Already dreaming of snow? Book now for the lowest rates at The Arrabelle at Vail Square or The Lodge at Vail, RockResorts’ establishments near Vail, Colorado, where you’ll find excellent back-country skiing and snowboarding. At nearby Beaver Creek, the group’s Osprey and The Pine Lodge also offer activities like snowshoeing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, and hot air ballooning. Read more

Some hotels are merely a place to rest your head at night, but others hold fascinating tales of wartime refuges, remarkable wildlife, valuable art, and ghostly spirits that refuse to let go. Sign up to be amazed and maybe learn a thing or two on these exceptional hotel tours.

Until recently, most people had forgotten there was an air raid shelter underneath the Hotel Metropole in Hanoi, Vietnam. When staff discovered it during some routine work on the pool area, however, the hotel decided to excavate the bunker and restore it to its original state. Now, hotel guests can participate in nightly tours that highlight the shelter’s famous past residents – including Joan Baez, who recorded “Where Are You Now My Son” there in 1972 – and Hotel Metropole’s role during the Vietnam War.

An in-house historian leads groups through the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida, each Wednesday through Saturday to reveal such nuggets as the unlikely origins of the hotel and President Calvin Coolidge’s preference to dine with the hotel staff during his visits. The tour costs $5 for guests, $10 for non-guests; alternatively, book the tour and a three-course lunch at Marchand’s Bar & Grill for $25.

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Get away to the luxury town of Aspen, Colorado, and stay in a 4-star hotel at the base of the mountain. The recently-renovated Sky Hotel, A Kimpton Hotel, is offering rooms for as little as $169 per night this fall – a savings of 65 percent on winter rates.

The Sky Hotel is a sleek boutique with an updated design aesthetic, and features evening wine receptions, high-speed wireless Internet, and a heated sundeck with outdoor fire pits, a heated pool, and sweeping views of the Aspen Mountain. There is also a 24-hour fitness center and a trendy lounge and restaurant. All rooms feature luxurious linens, iHome clock radios, and plush bathrobes. The Sky Hotel is only three blocks from downtown Aspen’s upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment.

These low rates with the “Nip & Tuck Package” are available Sundays through Thursdays from September 4 through November 21. Weekends and summer rates are available for more, also at a discount. To book, visit the Sky Hotel website or call 800-882-2582 and mention the rate code TUCK.

See our Aspen destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.