A must for the perfect ski escape (aside from a serious need for speed)? The right gear, both on and off the slopes. Using our Take to the Slopes Boutiques as a guide, pick a destination, pack your bags accordingly, and then let the adrenaline take over.
Our three Take to the Slopes Boutiques open Wednesday, November 7, at 3PM ET.
By Sarah Stanley, Staff Writer
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With my crazy fall agenda well underway, dreams of a blissful vacay have been creeping into my train of thought. Lucky for me, our Canyon Ranch Boutique is making my “to go, or not to go?” vacation debate a total “go.” From East Coast to West Coast and warm climates to brisk ones, there is a rejuvenating experience waiting in four equally gorgeous locations. How can all of this be yours, you ask? Just enter the sweeps online to win a three-night stay at the Tucson, AZ location, and read on for top picks.
Canyon Ranch, Lenox: Fitness Pick
Located in the heart of New England, this resort offers an exceptional amount of room for outdoor exploration among the firey fall landscape. But, the real winner? The 100,000-square foot Spa complex complete with cardio and weight rooms, dance and yoga studios, indoor tennis courts and a running track, pools, saunas, and more. Now this is a fitness haven if I ever did see one.
Canyon Ranch, Tucson: Adventure Pick
The beautiful, picturesque region of Southern Arizona is the perfect playground for outdoor adventure. From hiking and biking to the High Ropes Challenge Course, Aerial Adventure, and the Climbing Wall, this particular resort is the perfect spot to take in the fresh air while getting a workout. And the beautiful vistas aren’t bad exercise inspiration either.
Canyon Ranch, Miami: Dining Pick
Known for its Latin influences and flavors, Miami just seems like the perfect place to indulge. Dine beside the surf with sweeping ocean views at Canyon Ranch Grill™ or at the Carillon Café for casual meals and tapas, or to enjoy cocktails and attend wine or tea tastings. Visit the Cabana where you can enjoy a light, healthy meal, refreshing fruit juices, cooling smoothies, and organic mixed drinks.
Canyon Ranch SpaClub® in Las Vegas: Spa Pick
An obvious choice for spa bliss, the award-winning Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at The Venetian® and The Palazzo® provides the perfect atmosphere for unwinding in ultimate luxury. The expansive 134,000-square-foot spa features more than 120 services and activities.
Our Canyon Ranch Boutique opens Tuesday, October 9, at 11AM ET.
By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer
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Continue reading “Canyon Ranch: Discover Bliss, Four Ways” »
For my husband, delving into a museum is a travel must. For me, it’s more about delving into a latte and an artfully curated Boutique. But on a recent trip to Florence, we found a way for our worlds to (stylishly) collide: fashion museums.
Florence’s Gucci museum is only a year old, and it shows in the slick design and experience – a cool contrast with the 14th-century Piazza della Signoria building it’s housed in. When you arrive, you get a paper passport. Every section of the museum has a theme, from the iconic elements of the Gucci brand (bamboo, flora) to its historic and modern applications (luggage, sporting equipment). A smartly designed postcard for each section tells its story and fits neatly into the passport.
The tricked-out vintage Gucci Cadillac was a highlight. So was the slick café outside where I’ll cop to stealing the Gucci logo sugar cubes. Sadly, with my appetite whetted, there was only minimal opportunity to shop – a few Gucci pieces specially made for the museum.
The Ferragamo museum also lives in a historic building – the Palazzo Spini Feroni, a medieval palace built in the 13th century. However, rather than having a permanent exhibit like Gucci, the Ferragamo museum’s centerpiece is a changing exhibition – in this case all about Marilyn Monroe. While I’m no Marilyn aficionado, I did get a kick out of seeing her Ferragamo order slips.
But what I loved most about the museum were the more permanent elements – the historic shoes encased in glass and spotlighted around the periphery. I always associate Ferragamo with its classical appeal (bow ballets, anyone?). Until I saw these masterworks, I didn’t truly understand how innovative the brand is. Think elements like the cork heel (which Ferragamo actually created), artful cutouts, colorful satin linings, curved heels, and fishing line used for invisible suspension effects. Shoes on display from decades ago looked utterly current (and lust worthy) right now.
Best of all, the Ferragamo flagship is in the very same Palazzo as the museum, so you can dip right in while your heart is still beating wildly. Mine still is.
Our Salvatore Ferragamo Boutique opens on Monday, September 24, at 11AM ET.
By Rachel Solomon, Associate Creative Director
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Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin, Texas, is a health and wellness resort with an incredible spa – and equally incredible cuisine. Led by French chef Stéphane Beaucamp, locally sourced ingredients find their way into good-for-you meals that taste indulgent (but without the post-dinner guilt). I caught up with Chef Stéphane to find out what brought him to Texas, his favorite thing about working for Lake Austin, and where to sit for the best view.
First off, what was the best meal you’ve ever eaten and where?
Pierre Gagnaire’s restaurant at Hotel Balzac in Paris. The whole seven-course menu was amazing.
Continue reading “Meet the Chef: Stéphane Beaucamp of Lake Austin Spa Resort” »
We all need to get away, but some of us – ahem – are a little chained to our desks right now. So, in an effort to offer up a little fodder for our Monday afternoon daydreams, here are five must-visit places – each visited and endorsed by Rue staffers themselves.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA RESORTS – BELIZE:
CHATHAM BARS INN RESORT & SPA – CHATHAM, MA:
Continue reading “Vacation on the Mind: 5 Rue Travel Picks from Our Staffers” »
I’m ready for it: a weekend trip for viewing the best fall foliage. Whether the leaves have started to turn or not, I’m getting a head start on planning my visit to these leaf-peeping destinations.
Vermont
Does anything say fall foliage better than Vermont? Take a drive through the Green Mountain and Mad River Byways, and stop for fuel (in the form of maple syrup and cider, of course) at Cold Hollow Cider Mill.
New York
The six-million-acre Adirondack Park. Do we need to say more? It’s the largest natural wilderness region in the Eastern United States, and you can drive northeast on Route 86 to get stunning views as you make your way through Jay and Keane.
North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a can’t-miss (via the Blue Ridge Parkway) – and neither is a visit to the Pisgah Inn, which features a 5,000-foot observation deck. Don’t forget your camera!
Wisconsin
Some of the best in the midwest is out here in The Driftless Region, a 158-mile loop of brilliantly colored sumac, maple, and oak trees.
New Mexico
With a name like “The Enchanted Scenic Byway” – could you expect anything less than an awe-inspiring landscape? This 84-mile loop features the 13,000-foot Wheeler Peak, and you have a chance of seeing just as much wildlife as you do fall foliage. And there’s plenty of time to schedule your trip during the Taos Fall Arts Festival (September 28 – October 7), which celebrates all the art and artists in the area.
By Melissa Mann, Staff Writer
Where’s your favorite place to take in the fall foliage? Share it in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.
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Jamaica. It’s an island of pure inspiration. For us, that tends to fall under “I feel inspired to take a nap in the sun all day.” But for novelist Ian Fleming, it’s the inspiration to write (all 14!) of his James Bond novels.
Here, we’ve narrowed down the things to know about the resort where Fleming penned his bestsellers, so you don’t have to go all 007 on your own.
Yes, there are secret coves.
Spanning 52 acres, this property not only has its own lagoon, but also a number of secret coves and private beaches. (So you can hide out in your own super stealthy fashion.)
You can stay in Ian Fleming’s own digs.
Feel a real connection to Fleming and his novels? You can actually stay in the same estate that he did. While you’re there, you’ll be able to see all kinds of prints and memorabilia that pay tribute to his legacy as an author.
Three of the novels are actually based in Jamaica.
Dr. No, Live and Let Die, and The Man with the Golden Gun all take place on this picturesque island.
There’s a lot of “golden” inspiration.
Oracabessa Bay, where the resort is located, actually means “golden head.” And when Fleming was in the navy, one of his operations was code-named GoldenEye. The result? A James Bond novel and this legendary villa.
Our Travel in Style: One-of-a-Kind Jamaican Properties Boutique opens Monday, August 20, at 11AM ET.
By Melissa Mann, Staff Writer
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Last night, in head-to-toe white, 700 Bostonians gathered at the city’s Harborpark for one of Boston’s best-kept secrets – a pop-up white picnic. The culinary event, called Dîner en Blanc, is an annual tradition that began in Paris more than 20 years ago – and last night was the Bay State’s first go at the très chic party – as well as mine.
Dressed in all white (okay, and a few cream accents), I met up with several other partygoers, picnic basket, table, and chairs in hand, waiting to find out the location of the Brigadoon-esque event. Soon enough, my group and I were led to the waterfront, where we were met by a sea of white. From the tables to the cutlery, we were under strict instructions: not a pop of color was to be seen. Attire ranged from crisp shifts to wedding dresses while tablescapes were made up with candles and handmade floral arrangements (some more impressive than others – and let’s just say, next year, I need to step up my game).
The start of the epicurean feast was marked with the waving of our napkins and the end, a dance party. Equal parts mysterious and whimsical, this flash feast guaranteed one thing – it’ll be a long time before I consider a checkered blanket and plastic utensils an adequate picnic.
By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor
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Our Associate Creative Director, Rachel, bought a Canyon Ranch weekend on Rue – and brought us back the inside scoop on how to make the most of the luxury at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA.
Pack It In:
Bring workout pants and tops, extra underpinnings and socks, and sneakers for outdoor hikes and indoor classes. (Note: Some workout rooms prohibit black soles.) And don’t forget a bathing suit for pool classes or just enjoying the outdoor pool.
Here’s the Rub:
Before you go, book your facials and massages in order to get prime times. The ideal slot is 5:30PM. Finish the day’s workout (most classes end at 5PM), and have time for a quick shower before your service. Also, if you’re getting a facial, arrive with a list of your current products – their very versed facialists will ask.
Dinner Date:
Make dinner reservations in advance of your arrival, too. The time around 7PM gets very busy and that’s the time you’ll want to go. You’ll be starving after your massage.
Hunger Games:
Speaking of starving, the time between lunch and dinner can feel long when you’re exercising like mad. Grab the ripe seasonal fruit as you leave lunch. After dinner, ask for the snacks they keep in the fridge behind the hostess stand: almond butter and crackers, nuts, and the unbelievable trail mix bars.
With end-of-summer blues looming, I constantly daydream about playing hooky from work for an impromptu long weekend away (sorry, boss). I’m talking about jumping in my nonexistent car, driving with the windows down, and belting out my favorite songs before settling into an adorable B&B by the beach. In preparation for just such an occasion, I’ve made this list of last-minute must-haves:
Maxi Dress – when trips are this spur of the moment, there’s a good chance there is no plan. Grab a maxi dress; it’s good for beach walking, shopping, date night, dancing – pretty much everything, depending on how you accessorize it.
Camera – be it digital, Polaroid (my personal favorite), or camera phone, just make sure you have something to capture every minute. The secret is to keep a steady snapping pace. Catch people when they’re not paying attention, take some while you’re driving (only if it’s safe). The idea is to have plenty of images to choose from when you craft your post-trip scrapbook.
Carry-All Tote – when in doubt, bring the biggest bag you own. Roomy enough to fit all your touristy finds (who doesn’t need another “I heart (destination)” T-shirt?), you’ll need something that can handle everything. It can also fit a dainty box clutch to swap out for late-night activities.
Toiletry Bag – probably the most important of the essentials. Make sure to include deodorant, a toothbrush, floral perfume, and bobby pins (you know you lose them, everywhere). I also suggest tossing in that made-for-you red lipstick. With practically no effort, it infuses any day look with evening-worthy glam.
By Abigail Kuzia, Editor
What’s on your last-minute list? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.
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