Alli Talley

February 26, 2019

Looking For Your Next Weekend Escape? Head to Idaho!

Alli Talley

February 26, 2019

It’s prime ski/snowboard season. Your friends are heading to tourist-filled spots like Lake Tahoe and Breckenridge, but you’re looking for something different. Somewhere that’s accessible, but off the beaten path. Somewhere that has great food, stunning views, great skiing, but less crowds. Somewhere that truly feels like an ESCAPE. Well friends, we’ve got the perfect place for you.

Idaho.

More specifically, Boise and McCall. But shh… don’t tell too many people. Here’s why we love it:

IT’S EASY TO GET TO

If you’re based in Southern California (like we are), Boise is a dream to travel to. You can find 3+ daily nonstop flights out of LAX that will have you there in just over two hours. We left at 7:10 am, and we were sitting at our favorite Boise pizza spot for lunch (The Wylder - add it to your list). The ease of getting there gives you more time to explore and enjoy Boise!

BOISE IS UP-AND-COMING

Boise is COOL. Mark our words, this city is on the ups! From a thriving craft brewery scene (Woodland Empire, Cloud 9 Brewery, and Bittercreek Alehouse to name a few), to trendy, innovative restaurants (check out Diablo & Sons Saloon, Fork, and Capitol Cellars), to fun coffee shops (Form & Function was our favorite), lush parks (Camel’s Back Park has panoramic views of the city), historic buildings with stunning architecture (the Boise Train Depot is a MUST), and more! We stayed at the Inn at 500 Capitol, a lovely hotel that has comfortable (and quirky) rooms with a ton of great food options within walking distance. We definitely needed more time in Boise to sample more of the restaurants and breweries… next time!

Get the burger at Diablo & Sons. You’re welcome.

Camel’s Back Park looking out over Boise

The view from the Boise Depot. Go to the top of the bell tower!

MCCALL IS A SNOWBIRD’S DREAM

McCall is one of those little mountain towns that we’ll be raving about for awhile. It’s quaint and rural and stunningly beautiful… and it’s an easy 2-hour drive from Boise! Because it’s relatively under the radar, it’s rarely crowded, and they have snowboard/skiing terrain for all ages and skill levels at the nearby Brundage Mountain Resort. If snowshoeing or cross-country skiing is more your style, there are plenty of tree-lined trails around Ponderosa State Park.

Exploring Ponderosa State Park by snowshoe

YOU CAN SNOWMOBILE TO RUSTIC HOT SPRINGS

We went on a full-day snowmobile excursion with Brundage Mountain Resort that might have been the highlight of our entire trip. We rode snowmobiles for over 80 miles of snow-covered hills and trails. It was breathtaking. We stopped at the rustic Burgdorf Hot Springs, which is only accessible by snowmobiles in the winter months. We soaked, we ate, and we marveled at the views… Words honestly don’t do justice to this incredible place, so we’ll let the pictures do the talking.

In our opinion, it’s worth a trip to Idaho just for this experience.

Here’s Alli pushing the pace. She wants to get to the hot springs!

IT’S INCREDIBLY ROMANTIC

I mean, Burgdorf Hot Springs ALONE is incredibly romantic. Beyond that, the Shore Lodge in McCall is perfect for a couple’s getaway. It sits right on Payette Lake, the rooms are spacious and luxurious, and they’re home to one of the best restaurants in Idaho, The Narrows. We had the dreamiest date night there, sipping on craft cocktails, dining on Double R Prime Beef Wet Aged New York Striploin (melt-in-your-mouth delicious), and ended the night with s’mores by the Shore Lodge’s outdoor bonfire. Does it get any more romantic than that?!

Bobby likes the fireball, while Alli is a slow toaster

IT’S AFFORDABLE

Because McCall isn’t commercialized, it’s significantly more affordable than other popular ski towns. You’ll find lakeview rooms at the Shore Lodge for a fraction of the price of other places. When it comes to dining, restaurants in McCall are reasonably priced and almost all are family owned and operated.

Boise too, is just as reasonable - with hotels, dining, and breweries offering cheap deals and incentives. (Take advantage of it before the word gets out!) You can find nonstop flights to Boise out of LAX for under $200, making the whole trip totally attainable.

So, what are you waiting for?! Idaho is calling! Head to visitidaho.org for more travel inspiration, as the options to explore and adventure are endless in this stunning state. Leave a comment and let us know which part of Idaho we should explore next!

Alli Talley

February 7, 2019

Wisconsin, USA

Snow-cation's All I Ever Wanted - Exploring Madison Amidst the Polar Vortex

Alli Talley

February 7, 2019

Wisconsin, USA

It’s February. It’s the time of year where many-a-people run from the cold and flock to somewhere warm. It’s the high season for tropical, beach-y destinations like Hawaii, Turks and Caicos, and Cabo.

Call us crazy (maybe it’s our rebellious side coming out), but we highly suggest doing the opposite.

Sure, mai tai’s on the beach sound great - but let’s be real. You’ll be fighting the crowds, and you’ll be paying a high premium to do so. We think tropical getaways are always better during the off-season, where prices are practically slashed in half, and your chances of having the beach all to yourself are significantly greater!

So this winter, we decided to head somewhere different. Somewhere snowy. Somewhere that’s up-and-coming, full of winter activities (both indoor and outdoor), culinary experiences, and that friendly, Midwest charm. We got two round-trip tickets to Madison, Wisconsin, packed our winter coats (and hand warmers), and prepared for some sub-freezing exploring.! Here’s what we did, and what YOU should do when you head that way!

Great photo opps in front of the Capitol building!

ICE SKATE AT TENNEY PARK

Have you ever ice skated on a frozen lagoon before? We hadn’t either! Tenney Park is something out of a storybook - with snow covered trees, picturesque bridges, and dozens of families skating across the lake. You can rent ice skates for only $6/hour, and you can warm up with a hot cup of cocoa at the warming center after you’re done. If you’re a seasoned skater or hockey player, bring your stick and slide into one of the pickup hockey games.

STATE STREET

One of the most iconic streets in Madison is State Street, that runs from The Capitol Square to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. State Street has everything from fine dining to quirky boutiques, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, lively bars, and more. We found ourselves on State Street every day that we were in Madison - there was simply too much to see! Some of our favorite spots were Cask & Ale, Paul’s Book Store, August, The Soap Opera and Little Luxuries.

Ready to warm up with a cocktail inside Cask & Ale

Our first Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned’s

BREWERY HOP

There’s no doubt that the craft beer scene is thriving in Madison. It’s “microbrew country”, as they like to say, with several fantastic tasting rooms and award-winning breweries. And we can’t think of a better way to spend a snowy day, then “hop-ping” (Get it?) around a few! There are breweries for any kind of beer fanatic - we took a liking to Ale Asylum, Karben 4, and ALT Brew.

OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS

Find yourself needing a warm escape from the cold air? Well, we’re happy to say that a tropical oasis DOES exist in the middle of the snow! While the Olbrich Botanical Gardens has over 16 acres of outdoor gardens, they also are home to the Bolz Conservatory - a warm and sunny escape from the oftentimes below freezing temperatures outside. There’s tropical plants, pretty birds, lakes with koi, and temperature in the conservatory is always kept between 65-95 degrees! And with admission at only $2/person, it’s an easy and affordable way to spend an afternoon! And don’t forget to brave the cold and walk around some of their gorgeous outdoor gardens… you’ll feel as though you’ve entered a different land!

THE EDGEWATER SPA

We’ll take any excuse to have a spa day - and wintery weather is the perfect excuse! The Edgewater Madison is home to a luxurious, waterfront spa that’s cozy and welcoming and offers every kind of treatment one could want. If you’re heading there with your significant other, we highly recommend their signature Couples Massage. Complete your spa day with a glass of champagne, and a dip in the relaxation pool! Does it get anymore romantic than that?

MADISON HOTEL WEEK

If we’ve convinced you to head to Madison, you’re in luck. February 8-18 is Madison Hotel Week, where you can find discounted room rates at some of the best hotels in the city! We stayed at The Edgewater Madison, and absolutely loved it. They’re offering a discounted rate of $125/night during Madison Hotel Week, which we think is a lovely time for a Valentine’s Day Getaway.

Views from our balcony. Can you see the “I Love U"?

The staircase inside the Edgewater is beautiful!

Madison, Wisconsin blew us away. The friendly locals, the lively downtown, the stunning, snowy scenery… We loved every minute of it. And we can’t wait to return.

Alli Talley

January 8, 2019

Colorado, USA

Why Aspen is a Dream for Skiers, Snowboarders, and "I Prefer to Stay Cozy-ers"

Alli Talley

January 8, 2019

Colorado, USA

Aspen’s been on our bucket list for awhile now.

We’ve heard amazing things about the resorts, the restaurant scene, the famous ski slopes… and then recently we learned how extremely dog friendly it is. And that was all we needed to hear. We booked a trip that week. We made a road trip out of it, stopping in Tempe, Arizona and Taos, New Mexico, with our final destination being Aspen… and what a way to end the trip!! If you followed along on Instagram, you probably saw most of our Aspen adventures - but let us recap.

For the first two nights we stayed at The Limelight Hotel, right in the heart of downtown Aspen. This is our second Limelight location (the other being in Sun Valley), and it solidified our love for this hotel brand. Their rooms are spacious, their complimentary breakfasts are extensive and delicious (very important), and they are so dog friendly. Located directly across the street from the Limelight was the Wagner Park, where Sally could get her wiggles out and play with other furry friends. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect location!

The Limelight Hotel Aspen decorated for Christmas!

This was Sally’s first time playing in snow - and we spent the good majority of our first morning in Aspen mesmerized by her reaction to it (yep, we’re those people). It was so cute. She dug, she rolled, she licked, she LOVED. While we were freezing our booties off (It was maybe 3 degrees fahrenheit!!), homegirl couldn’t have cared less... She was made for this kind of weather! We did, however, buy her a sweater - mostly for the cuteness factor.

We split up for the rest of the day - Bobby snowboarded, and Alli went to the spa. AKA, the perfect day for both of us! ;)

Bobby here. Snowboarding in Aspen is was way better than I could have imagined. The first, and most important thing, is the crowd factor. It’s non-existent. There were never any lines for the lifts, and most of the time I was snowboarding relatively alone. Next, the mountains are HUGE. There are four mountains: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. I spent most of my time at Snowmass, but want to explore the others more on our next trip. The scenery is stunning, the runs are incredible, and in 4 days I barely carved the surface (hehe). Hopefully I’ll get Alli on a board next time.

Alli here now! The Spa at Viceroy Snowmass couldn’t have been more luxurious. This 7,000 square-foot spa has a wide selection of holistic spa treatments, a stunning relaxation lounge, and all of the amenities that one could wish. I had the Earth and Air Hot Stone Ritual, which was 90 minutes of soothing relaxation, and they ended it with tea, champagne and chocolates! I could’ve stayed here all day!!

We then met up for lunch at the top of Snowmass and to ride their newest attraction, the Breathtaker. And let’s just say the name is fitting! This thrill ride covers over a mile of terrain, zipping and zooming past trees at speeds of up to 28 mph! It’s crazy smooth, beautiful, and really cold. (If you ride it in the winter, bundle up!)

Nothing sounds better than a couple of hot toddies after being out in the snow, so we went back to the Limelight Hotel and had just that! Later that night, we dined at the iconic La Creperie du Village… a cozy French chalet that serves raclette, fondue, and scrumptious crepes. It was heavenly.

La Creperie du Village is as cozy as it gets!

The next two nights we stayed at The Little Nell, the only 5-star, 5-diamond Aspen hotel. Not only is the property breathtaking (We didn’t want to leave our room!), but their location at the base of Aspen Mountain is unparalleled. It’s ski-in, ski-out, so it was quick and easy for Bobby to hit the slopes. And they’re one of the most dog-friendly hotels we’ve stayed at! They serve a dog menu in their lobby (Sally dined on Wagyu beef - “ruff” life, huh?), they set your room up with a bed, bowls, treats, and more, and their bellmen will even take your pup on a walk! Did we just check into doggy HEAVEN?!

We took the Aspen Mountain gondola up to lunch at the Sundeck, where we dined on burgers and stir-fry dishes from their wok station, followed by some warm Lavazza coffee.

While Bobby snowboarded for the rest of the afternoon, Alli explored downtown Aspen, shopping their quaint boutiques and wandering through the innovative and interactive Aspen Art Museum. We met up later in the evening for a “Garden Party” hosted by The Little Nell, to celebrate Relais Chateaux’s new book, “The Art of the Garden”. We sipped on cocktails and made friends that instantly felt like family… this little hotel is something very, very special.

Our last day in Aspen (insert cry face here) was spent dining at Element 47 for breakfast, Alli walking with Sally around the downtown, Bobby snowboarding, enjoying a hot lunch at Shlomo’s, playing on the slopes with Sally, enjoying a cocktail at the Marble Bar Aspen, and feasting at Ajax Tavern.

It was the perfect way to end a perfect trip. Aspen is one of those places that quickly feels like home. We expected it to feel more pretentious, but it wasn’t at all. Everyone is so friendly, welcoming, and eager to share about their love for this quaint mountain town. We can’t wait to come back.