Crisp, fall weather has us all dreaming of our winter hideaways high up in the mountains. Amenities such as ski-in-ski-out ability, wooden beams, log cabins, eclectic furniture and textiles, and a fireplace to cozy up to are just a few luxuries any modern slope enthusiast wishes for their mountain escape. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape is not lost in the interior design of these ski chalets. Walls of natural wood, stone accents and fur covered seating is all inspired by the mountain terrain.
These modern mountain homes are sure to leave you warm after a long day of action in the snow.We’ve rounded up some of our favorite mountain home inspiration for your mental escape to the slopes!
There’s something beautiful about the forgotten, off season sanctuaries. In some towns, summer ends and it’s as if every human and business in the area starts to hibernate. So what really happens when the tourists go home? Well in my experience, the town suddenly becomes more magical than you could ever imagine. No lines at popular cafes, uncrowded beaches in the best surf spots, weather that brings a satisfying chill to your summer drenched skin and friendly locals who are ready to kick back and relax after a tiring high season rush. Experiencing a new place in it’s off season glory is nothing short of authentic. Here are the top five spots we are dying to see!
This hip Hamptons summer town transforms into a sleepy fishing village immediately after Labor Day. When all the Hamptons vacationers move on to their next sunny destination, the locals in Montauk are settling down for the harsh, yet beautiful, winter season. Sweeping ocean views from almost every bar, cafe or home bring in a romantic beach getaway feeling. Not many tourists come to Montauk after Labor Day, which makes this destination all the more wonderful to experience as a local would. What many do not know, Montauk has amazing weather all the way until November. There are many beach days to be had and waves to surf– this time without the crowds. If the cooler beach days aren’t your thing, the intense, colorful sunsets should be enough to book your flights here!
Boulder is a roaring college town come the start of school. In the summer, the college students return home and you are left with open, beautiful mountains to hike and explore! Roadtrip to nearby ski towns or take a day for some city life in Denver. The weather is hot with cooler nights, making the perfect setting for some cozy cabin evenings!
Imagine a dreamy desert setting, but covered in snow! Joshua Tree, California is a popular town to visit when the weather is mild. Deep in the winter, the desert is even quieter than usual, with mainly climbers here to take on the Joshua Tree face while other mountains are covered in snow. Snowfall is semi rare, yet when you get the chance to see a white covered desert, it’s sure to be a magical experience!
Rincon, Puerto Rico is a small world class surf town. People from the East Coast tend to escape the winter months here for unlimited sunny days. In the low season, the town is just as wonderful, just without the crowds and party-goers. Year round waves, heat and friendly locals will be enough to satisfy a great trip! Explore the waterfalls, beaches and town activities, such as Thursday night artwalks.
Wanting to see the Northern Lights? Whitehorse, Canada has views of The Northern Lights and tons of hiking to explore. Autumn provides fewer crowds and stunning shades of changing leaves. It may snow, yet winter activities will not be in affect yet. It is a lovely place to relax and take in the views while you gear up for winter!
There are so many perks to travelling in the off season months of a town. From smaller crowds to a more personalized adventure, there is always something beautiful to seek in the unknown. Whatever you may be looking for in your next vacation, consider experiencing the raw, authentic off season for unforgettable memories.
Known globally as the city of love and the gourmet capital of the world, Paris will undoubtedly exceed your expectations.
From strolling through luscious hilltop gardens of the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, ascending through candlelit bohemian walkways of Montmartre towards the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, rowing a boat to the Temple of Love in the Bois de Vincennes, learning to tango at twilight at the nightly meet ups on the Seine, or dining in one of Paris’s 40,000 restaurants, the city of love is a romance seeker’s fantasy. Its illustrious gastronomic history, elegant architecture, richly diverse culture, and seductive native language are sure to leave you completely enchanted.
“Love Locks” of Pont des Arts, where lovers from far and wide come to proclaim their devotion by attaching a lock with their carved initials onto the bridge, and throwing the key into the Seine
Magical Château Saint James Restaurant, with balloon-shaped pergolas which recall the garden’s former incarnation as a launch pad for hot-air balloons.
Chandigarh, India is a time capsule of Mid-Century Modern architecture nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas.
In 2016, the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, making these incredible modern buildings an unmissable wonder. In Chandigarh, India, you won’t find an ancient city, or any British colonial buildings. Chandigarh was one of India’s first planned cities, created by the Chandigarh Capital Project Team, and led by Swiss architect, Charles Edouard Corbusier (Le Corbusier). As a marvelous result, Chandigarh is a urban zone that feels both futuristic and retro. The flawless geometrical outline mirrors the engineering virtuoso of the organizers of the city, Albert Mayer and Mathew Novicki. Chandigarh is a vacation destination with a modern business focus.
In India, most of the cities are planned and created solely for automobiles, so a sidewalk is an immense luxury. In Chandigarh, there are plentiful pedestrian walkways where you may safely stroll, a perfect means to pleasantly meander local streets by foot. Take a quick walk with us through this modernist haven!
In the vast and mystical Chihuahuan desert, Marfa, Texas is an oasis of alluring mystery and transcendental experience.
Located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, Marfa was originally founded as a railroad water stop. Now one of the minimalist art and design meccas of the nation, Marfa attracts creatives and adventurers from far and wide.
During the 1920s, the community in Marfa began to grow. By the 1950s, it was nationally famous for its mysterious Ghost Lights. The source of the Fata Mortgana has long been rumored to be anything from UFOs, to wandering spirits. This mysterious phenomena has also been attributed to atmospheric reflections of campfires and headlights, although the first recorded sighting was in 1883, before automobiles were on the market. In modern times, atmospheric scientists hypothesize that the lights are a sort of mirage caused by sharp temperature gradients between cold and warm layers of air.
Marfa Army Airfield was the training grounds for several thousand pilots during World War II. In the 1970s, the army base lands were bought by Donald Judd, an acclaimed visual artist from New York City. In 1979, Judd began transforming the fort’s buildings into art spaces with a vision to house large collections of individual artists’ work on permanent display. Though Judd birthed the contemporary art movement in Marfa, when he died in 1994, Marfa quite literally became a ghost town. Tumbleweeds the size of shopping carts could be seen blowing down the road, and storefronts were completely baron and overlaid with dust. In the early 2000s, Marfa was resurrected, and thus began a kind of renaissance. Artists and Artisans opened new galleries and chic hotels, and the Texas government decided to make a roadside viewing post for the Marfa Mystery Lights.
Today in Marfa, you can expect to find modern art galleries, bohemian boutique hotels and restaurants, eclectic campgrounds, funky bars, and far-out festivals with the ever-ethereal backdrops of reverent desert tones. Take a dive with us through the dreamy high desert..
Austin has an international reputation for its rich and vibrant culture. With hundreds of live music venues, thousands of restaurants, and endless adventure destinations in the outdoors, you will never have a day in Austin without excitement and activity!
Ranked as one of the fittest cities in the United States, and with 300+ days of sunshine and an average temperature of 68 degrees, being active in Austin comes naturally. Austin offers an abundance of outdoor activities from cycling, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, yoga, kayaking, rock climbing, and more!
Austin is known for its creativity and freedom of expression. Home some world-class museums like the Blanton, with the nation’s largest University-owned collection on exhibit, Austin attracts an international appetite for the arts. Austin is a place to explore the work of designers, painters, sculptors, writers, photographers, filmmakers, dancers and musicians, year round, in a variety of venues.
Modern design and decor are now a part of the aesthetic culture in Austin, and there are an array of cafes, restaurants, hotels, and bars so beautiful, that they are a place to see, and be seen. If you have an eye for unique architecture and interior design, you will enjoy these eclectically modern hotels!
Austin, the capital of Texas since 1839, is the fasted growing city in the United States. An urban zone immersed in natural beauty, Austin sits amidst lush rolling hills, and numerous lakes and rivers. The culture is thriving with a diverse range of music, performing arts, film, technology, fine foods, and athleticism.
Despite widespread stereotypes of Texas, Austin is in the heart of the hill country, with rich landscapes of forests and waterways. Downtown Austin is perched alongside Lady Bird Lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River that runs through Central Texas. There is a 15 mile hike and bike trail that traces the lengths of the reservoir and some adjacent roads and parks, inspiring an athletically abundant culture of jogging, biking, and dog walking throughout each day. With delightful weather most of the year, you will not often see Lady Bird lake empty of kayakers, paddle boarders, and the local rowing club. You can even catch local bands playing a concert atop the water from rafts, canoes, or tubes for the Midsummer Serenade Series.
You will find natural monuments such as the renowned Barton Springs Pool, an enclosed bit of natural spring that attracts thousands each week. The 3-acre lake is spring fed, and the water averages 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round. There is an 8 mile stretch of protected land along Barton Creek with hiking trails, waterfalls, swimming holes, rock climbing routes, and pristine wilderness that begins in Zilker Park near downtown, heading into Westlake Hills.
Austin is home to a large population of musicians, some known around the world. With an international reputation for being the “Live Music Capital of the World,” there wont be a day or night in Austin without a vast number concerts in an array of genres. Most restaurants and nearly all the bars in Austin have the capacity to be a live music venue at some capacity.
There are now a good number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Austin, and since the influx of technology and developmental companies in the 1990s, this high-tech town has been recently nicknamed the “Silicon Hills.” Conventions and festivals such as South by Southwest bring millions of techies to Austin for events and seminars each year.
There is a rapidly growing foodie culture in Austin that has made it a hotspot for innovative and delectable selections of cuisine. Chefs from every corner of the world have created their dream kitchens that attract appetites from far and wide.
A long standing local motto, “Keep Austin Weird,” refers to the movement and desire to protect small, unique, and local businesses from being overrun by large corporations. The eclectic aesthetic of Austin manifests in its restaurants, cafes, and hotels. From the classically eccentric old-Austin flavor, to the newer sleek and modern tastes, you wont find a corner of Austin that doesn’t catch your eye.
Check out some of our favorite selections of places to stay, and spots to eat!
Located in the Northern area of Thailand along the Ping River, breathtaking Chiang Mai is situated amongst the highest mountains in the country, surrounded by lush forests. Dubbed the cultural capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai has been awarded the title of Creative City by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and repeatedly received recognition as one of the top destinations in the world.
The climate of Chiang Mai is that of the tropical savanna; with low latitude and relatively high elevation, the weather is warm to hot year-round. With over 300 Buddhist temples to visit, you will have no shortage of stunning architecture to marvel over. Chiang Mai also has its fair amount of museums, botanical gardens, and street markets full of exquisite local treasures and foods. The surrounding areas are verdant and mountainous, with national parks for trekking, Hill Tribes to visit for cultural immersion, and elephant reserves that you may visit for opportunities to volunteer.
WHAT TO PACK
Lightweight pants and skirts, sundresses, shorts, yoga pants, tunics
Baby wipes, it’s very humid and you might want to keep your face clean!
Lightweight scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders inside temples
Swimsuit, hiking shoes, comfortable sandals, and water shoes
Comfortable sandals and sneakers for walking around the city
Lightweight hiking pants and shirts with long sleeves for mosquito protection
Waterproof phone case and waterproof backpack or bag
The lake is where you escape into the dreams of the wilderness. Where the only sounds that surround you are the graceful chimes of the breeze through the leaves, the caress of delicate waves rushing across rocks, and the soft songs of birds.
A lake home should have an abundance of natural light shining through tall windows that line high ceilings. With fresh flowing air, the mood should be serene, and the aesthetic should be radiant.
Check out some of these amazing lake homes, some of which you can find a link to book a vacation!
Santorini, or classically known in Greece as Thira, is situated in the stunning Aegean Sea amongst the 6 thousand other Greek Islands.
The island of Santorini is part of a circular archipelago in the the metamorphic complex of the Cyclades islands group. This group is a remnant of a volcanic caldera, or sinkhole formed by a collapse following the evacuation of magma. Essentially, Santorini is the result of an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed what was once previously one larger island, creating the current geological formation. It is one of the biggest highlights for tourism in the Aegean Sea, and a world mecca for volcanologists.
The main stretch of Santorini curves around a 32 square mile lagoon with three edges consisting of cliffs towering nearly a thousand feet above the water. The rest of the island slopes smoothly down into the Aegean Sea, with white, black, and red sandy beaches, and rocky reefs adorned with colorful coral and aquatic life.
Santorini remains the home of a small, but flourishing wine industry, based on the indigenous Assyrtiko grape variety. White varieties also include Athiri and Aidani, whereas red varieties include mavrotragano and mandilaria.
Assyrtiko is famed to be the Grecian island’s essence in a bottle, and is renowned throughout Europe. During the rule of the Venetians between the 14th and 16th century, Santorini wine was some of the most valuable and sought after in all of Europe.
While visiting vineyards in Santorini, you will notice the extraordinary and unusual way the vines grow. In contrast to the majority of grape vines around the world that grow along trellises, in Santorini, the vines grow in tight bunches almost like tumbleweeds. Woven closely to the earth along the rocks, their growth is tightly bound, seeking shelter from the powerful gusts of sea air. The fresh oceanic breeze, along with the rich volcanic soil, imparts the refreshing acidity for which the wine has become so well known.
Santorini’s whitewashed villages, blue cupolas, flawless beaches, exquisite Grecian food and wine, and breathtaking sunsets make it a destination for millions from across the Earth every year. Take a peek at some of these stunning captures of the island’s magic!
