For winter-loving foodies, these ski resort festivals are haute cuisine in every sense!

Imagine arriving at a rustic mountain hut after snowshoeing through a powdery forest where a table is lavishly set for an intimate dinner curated by the region’s best chefs. Wake up early for first tracks. Then after linking your “S” turns, cozy up to a roaring fire with an organic whiskey and chocolate tasting. When you’re not snowshoeing up or skiing down, arrive to a bespoke alpine dinner in a horse-drawn sleigh.

Forget the ketchup pumps and foil-wrapped burritos at ski resort cafeterias. Treat yourself to a snowy haute cuisine experience that you will reminisce about forever!

Here are my top five winter ski resort festivals perfect foodies:

1. Taste of Vail: Colorado  

It’s no coincidence this ski festival is held during the snowiest month of the year. With its emphasis on wine seminars, you might just come back an amateur sommelier. Learn how to create your very own wine blend with Bob Iantosca. He’ll teach you the basics of wine bases and you take it from there with your own signature blend. If you want to challenge your palate, try a blind wine-tasting seminar. You are also invited to chat with the winemakers themselves. In every wine tent the owner and/or winemaker is pouring. If you’re craving altitude, the Mountaintop Tasting is held at 10,350 feet and serves up not only local fresh fare; but also stunning mountain views to drink in.

2. Banff’s Big Taste Culinary Festival: Alberta, Canada  

What goes best with a morning full of fresh tracks in powder? A four-course meal at the iconic Whitehorn Bistro. At 6,700 ft. the stunning views of the Rockies are complimentary. When you’re ready to wind down, head to Park Distillery where Master Distiller Matt Hendriks will give you a tour and tasting of the organic Park Glacier Rye. But wait, there’s more. If art if your jam, join the Art Food & Wine Dinner with Canadian artist Les Thomas. He’ll present and discuss unique pieces of his signature mountain art with each course during your meal. And if you’re looking for a friendly meet-and-greet vibe, The Grand Tasting Hall is a relaxed and refined event with a farm-to-table emphasis featuring the very best in winter comfort food.

3. Beaver Creek’s Winter Culinary Weekend: Colorado

Want to mix and match your desire for culinary exploration with high-alpine outdoor adventure? You can indulge both at Beaver Creek’s Winter Culinary Weekend. Snowy culinary experiences include arriving in a open-air sleigh to an intimate affair at Allie’s Cabin Wine Dinner. Then top off your night with their Thursday Night Lights Fireworks. Throughout the weekend you’ll discover snowshoe tours that wind through snowy woods to lunches prepared by celebrity chefs the likes of Hugh Acheson, Jennifer Jasinski, and Suzanne Tracht. The Apres Ski Beer Garden is free all weekend long and is quite a party. Keep it casual or dress up and hit the speakeasy for handcrafted cocktails and a live swing band.

4. Gourmet Festival: St. Moritz, Switzerland  

If Swiss chocolate and fine champagne are your vibe, head straight to the magical Upper Engadine where St. Moritz’s glitzy ski and culinary scene come together for a wild and wonderful weekend of international cuisine. A favorite event is the Chocolate Cult where you’ll be temped by the very best in Swiss chocolate from famous confectioners such as Lisbeth Werder. Another not to miss event is the Wine & Cheese Celebration with Maître Antonyat the Cava of Hotel Steffani. He personally walks you through a wine and cheese pairing like you have never experienced before. Antonyat is a celebrated éleveur de fromages (cheese maker) and will host a very special Cérémonie de Fromages (cheese ceremony) that will make your tastebuds sing. Events are not stuffy, but elegant affairs. Feel free to dress up  or come as you are off slope. It is a ski resort after all.

5. Skisafari: Alta Badia, Italy

European mountain hut dining is a pleasure unto itself. Located in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, a UNESCO world heritage site, Alta Badia is known for it’s culinary treasures and excellent high altitude wine. During the Skisafari, a local chef will create a South Tyrollean speciality dish for each mountain hut including“Kespe Sorpa” fresh noodles with aromatic bouillon in the Piz Arlara. Skiers can travel from one hut to the next to and taste as many of the hearty dishes to their heart’s content. Each specialty is paired with local South Tyrollean wine, some of which you won’t be able to taste anywhere else. A longtime supporter of sustainability, Alta Badia is also host to Care’s “Ethical Chef Days” where top chefs around the world meet to discuss low impact gastronomy.

Tips for Foodie Ski Resort Festivals:

• Alpine winter menus tend to be meaty. Vegetarian and vegan options are (almost) always available upon request in advance.
• When it snows, the show still goes on. Check the weather and dress accordingly, especially for evening events.
• Ticket prices range from $35 to $200+ per seminar and/or tasting. So there are plenty of delicious events for every foodie’s budget.
• Popular events and limited seating seminars often sell out. Get your tickets early!

Related on EcoSalon
8 Ski and Snowboard Gear Brands Working to Save the Glaciers
5 Fantastic Sport Holidays for Adrenaline Junkies
7 Eco Luxury Winter Getaways in the Alps

Image of Gourmet Festival St. Moritz via swiss-image.ch/Photo Andy Mettler 

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Italians know Italy best. Most often they vacation where tourists would never go. So, if you’re looking for a new, undiscovered, and authentic Italian vacation, these five (almost-secret) locales offer the adventurous and savvy traveler truly unique experiences.

1. Toscana Resort Castelfalfi, Tuscany

Stunning scenery. Fantastic organic wine. Winning organic olive oil. Renowned restaurants. What more could you want? A favorite destination of Italians – which is high praise indeed – Castelfalfi is perched on a hilltop in a remote corner of Tuscany between Florence and Volterra. At 820 feet, you’re surrounded by dreamy panoramic views of more than 2,700 acres of gorgeous organic vineyards and olive groves. Offering an authentic Tuscan countryside experience, the renovated 800-year-old borgo (village) boasts a charming castle, woods, lakes, 57 acres of vineyards, more than 10,000 olive trees and a 12^th-Century church.

On property, stay in the Borgo, one of its 48 apartments winding up the hill to the castle, a restored luxury farmhouse villa, or in its boutique hotel, La Tabaccaia, that once upon a time was a tobacco factory. Offering diverse authentic Tuscan experiences, any desire to drive down the hill vanishes in your glass of organic Chianti whilst in the garden overlooking seemingly endless verdant Tuscan rolling hills disappearing into the horizon.

Even if you did venture out of Castelfalfi, it would be a challenge to find better restaurants. The restored castle is home to La Rocca–fine dining with sweeping views of olive groves and vineyards from its panoramic patio. Trattoria Il Rosarmino’s head chef Francesco Ferretti serves up country Tuscan cuisine that is garden fresh and traditionally cooked. His gnudi di ricotta e spinaci al pomodoro fresco and pici alla norcina are so good, you’ll soak up every last bit of sauce with rustic Tuscan bread. Fantastic organic wines are produced by the Azienda Agricola di Castelfalfi, and delicious antipasti are served in the garden by the local wine shop. Perfect for a sunset apperitivo.

If you think Castelfalfi is passionate about its organic wine, including the famous Poggio alla Fame, talk to them about their olive oil! Made from a blend of Frantoio, Leccino, Leccio del Corno, and Pendolino olives, you can take home the quality and flavor of Tuscany and enjoy it to the last drop. And if you’re inspired by all the local organic Italian goodness you devoured, learn how to make it at home at Castelfalfi’s Rosso Toscano cooking school. Go forage for wild asparagus and truffles in the woods. Or cool your jets under the Tuscan sun at one of the stunning pools with views that pair perfectly with a relaxing afternoon.

2. Todi, Umbria

While most travelers take the fast train immediately to Florence, those looking for a more rustic Italian countryside experience take the local train to Umbria’s medieval hilltop towns. Todi is surrounded by rolling hills bursting with vineyards and sunflowers. And when it’s wine o’clock, the perfect place to go is Roccafiore. Locals describe it as da vedere which means it’s a “must see.” And the ultimate compliment? You’ll be elbow to elbow with Italians at their luxury zero-kilometer restaurant and organic wine tasting in their stunning new cantina. Dine al fresco with sweeping views of Todi, surrounded by lavender gardens, or take a jungle vineyard safari for a picnic in Grechetto vineyards. So, get out your navigation device and make your way to Roccafiore. I wouldn’t make any plans for later What often starts out as just a visit turns into an all-day stay. It’s that magical.

3. Lake Maggiore, Piedmont

Long before George Clooney put Lake Como on the map, Italians summered at Lake Maggiore. Imagine lakeside lidos, rivers, mountains, and valleys landscaped with palm trees that give the north of Italy a distinct holiday feel. That and all the sparkling lake views you can handle. Take an alpine hike in the clouds by day or lounge in a lettino at one of Lake Maggiore’s many lido beach clubs. One of the more famous cobblestone villages dotted along Lake Maggiore’s shores is Cannobio. Famous for its Italian market bursting with local specialties, charismatic vendors fill winding viccolos selling their wares. In fall, when the days are still warm,  indulge in the Piedmonte’s rich autumn flavors such as risotto with white truffles, chestnuts, and pumpkin. It’ll warm your heart as well as satisfy your belly.

Another little-known secret is that Lake Maggiore borders the Italian-speaking Canton  Ticino in Switzerland – which offers a unique mountain dining experience. Above Ascona, a lake town just minutes from Italy, traditional grotto mountain restaurants are where locals go for authentic Tincenese cuisine. Here, farm-to-table isn’t a buzzword. It’s simply the way it’s always been. That and dining on traditional stone picnic tables by candlelight under the stars.

4. Ischia, Campania

If you’re looking for beauty, glamour, and healing waters, not far from Capri is another beloved Italian island: Ischia. This volcanic island overlooking the Bay of Naples with views of Mount Vesuvius was the destination for Italian film stars, royalty, and the glamorous during Italy’s La Dolce Vita era who reveled in its healing thermal waters. Today guests of the Miramare e Castello indulge in its stunning hotel with sea views and healing thermal spas. The hotel encourages “bathrobe culture” as you’ll be in and out of the thermal pool and sea all day. In Italy, the healing benefits of thermal water are so embedded in the culture that doctors prescribe it and treatments are paid for by insurance.

5. Alta Badia, South Tyrol

If you’re a foodie, the north of Italy is host to the Dolomites, a stunning mountain range and UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers bespoke Italian alpine gastronomic experiences all year long. The region is a culinary hotbed where you can enjoy fresh alpine fine dining in rustic mountain huts above the clouds. Alta Badia’s Peaks of Gastronomy is literally haute cuisine. With ten participating mountain huts with star chefs in summer, guests can indulge in some of the freshest most innovative Italian mountain cuisine. You’ll also find excellent high altitude wines that pair perfectly with South Tyrolean cuisine.

There are so many wonderful surprises waiting for the adventurous traveler who ventures beyond the tourist hotbeds of Rome, Venice, and Florence. When you visit these secret spots in Italy, you’ll mix with locals, try flavors you never knew existed, and venture into la vera Italia that Italians know and love.

Related on EcoSalon.com

3 Perfect Days in Rome
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Images via Miramare e Castello, Alta Badia Tourism, Castelfalfi, Rolcofiore.

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These sport holidays for adrenaline junkies don’t disappoint thrill seekers looking to raise their heart rate while on vacation.

Combining the excitement of sport with nature, culture, adventure and haute cuisine (haute can mean at 8000 ft!) sport holidays are the new way for “fitsters” to relax on vacation.

1. Alta Badia, Italy 

Just one quick ride up the cable car to Alta Badia’s Explore Your Way alpine fitness park and you’ll find yourself in fitster paradise. There’s trekking, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, orienteering, geo-catching, and more. You don’t have to be a mountaineer capable of one-finger pull ups to enjoy all that Alta Badia has to offer. On the mountain and in the valley, you’ll find a sport for every level of fitness and thrill from moderate to challenging trail running to Via Ferrata climbing routes.

As challenging as it is to go up, it’s equally a thrill to go down.  Opt for a relaxing hike, fly downhill on a mountain bike or paraglide tandem with a guide and- literally – get a bird’s eye view as you soar over the gorgeous Dolomites. If you’re not a mountain bike uphill champ, try the miracle of  e-bikes. Alta Badia has an amazing e-bike sharing program. The low gear + turbo mode combo makes previously impossible hills totally within reach.

Then after a day of adventure in the fresh alpine air, wind down for an après sport cocktail at La Majun and relax sore muscles in their wellness center and spa. Then dine at their Michelin guide-mentioned restaurant featuring delicious Southern Tyrol specialties and incredible views of the towering Dolomites. And if after dinner, you’re still up for a bit of sport, the Majun’s patio has a ping pong table available for pick-up games.

2. Mountain Bike Camp, Mammoth Mountain USA

Do like speed, catching air, and dirt? Does the feeling of flying down a mountain on a bike juice you up? Then head to Mammoth Mountain in California for their summer mountain bike day clinics and weeklong camps.

You’ll work on your downhill technical and freeride techniques and be coached on jumps by such pros as Leigh Donovan who leads the Women’s Mountain Bike Camp and Guinness World Record setter Cam Zink. Both their day clinics and camps almost always sell out so book in advance.

Remember that to join in the fun, you don’t have to be a total pro. Everyone has to start somewhere. There are mountain biking clinics and camps for every level. And Leigh is passionate about “the working moms, closet adventure girls, and the women who haven’t been invited yet to join this amazing sport” to get on a mountain bike and try it. So unleash your inner adrenaline junkie and let it rip!

3. Mountain Hut Touring, Switzerland 

Alpine mountain hut touring in Switzerland’s Val de Bagnes is truly an adventure at altitude. Some of the most stunning destinations in the Alps are remote and accessible only by hiking itineraries where you arrange for a night’s stay at a cabane or mountain hut. Fear not, cabanes in the Swiss Alps are more like cozy dormitories than huts. After hiking past sapphire blue glacier lakes, winding rivers, blossoming meadows and perhaps even a glacier, at a mountain hut you can  rest and enjoy divine local wine like Fendant or Dole, indulge in Swiss fondue with nettle and other alpine herbs, mingle with other travelers, and get a true night’s rest before setting off in the morning.

Whether it’s your very first or umpteenth mountain hut tour,  Tour du Val de Bagnes is a must see. Beginning in Le Châble, you’ll pass through charming tiny alpine towns on your way up to stunning views of seemingly endless glacier peaks. Included in this itinerary are two of Switzerland’s most beloved mountain huts: Cabane Mt. Fort and Cabane Louvie. The views and the away-from-it-all experience of the Alps is well worth some uphill conditioning.

4. Kayaking in Corsica, France 

When you think of France usually wine, cheese, and Paris come to mind. Now, add in kayaking. If you fancy paddling through turquoise Mediterranean waters to remote coves along stunning unspoiled coastline that is only accessible by sea, join in ROW’s Compelling Corsica trip that is held several times a year. You’ll paddle through UNESCO’s World Heritage Site Reserve Naturelle de Scandola and get your land legs back by hiking along the awe inspiring Gorges of the Restonica. A winner of National Geographic Traveler’s 2015 “Tours of a Lifetime” this kayaking (and hiking) trip combines the charm of Corsica with must-see pristine natural areas. So get your paddle on and start practicing your French. A little before-the-trip arm and shoulder training will be helpful. As you want to make sure that after paddling, you won’t be too sore to raise your wine glass!

5. Windsurfing with Flying Fish, Greece

If windsurfing is your thing, Greece is one of best spots in the world to take your skill to the next level or learn for the first time. Flying Fish’s windsurf training center on the island of Lefkas is near Vassiliki, a charming village teeming with water loving enthusiasts who come for the consistent winds and then relax afterwards in the charming tavernas that line the narrow streets and waterfront.

For the night owl, windsurfing is the perfect sport because the wind starts to pick up at about 10AM and then blows full force much later in the afternoon. So, enjoy the great nightlife of Vassiliki. Because in windsurfing, the early bird doesn’t get the wind. And if you can’t find a friends to join in the fun – go solo. The atmosphere at the The FlyingFish windsurfing club is fun and friendly. There’s a great camaraderie in the classes and you’ll find plenty of people to share the stoke with after a amazing day on the water with the wind in your hair.

If lounging by a pool reading a book now sounds boring, join in one of these sport holidays that will satisfy your inner adrenaline junkie for the thrill and adventure of a lifetime!

Related on EcoSalon.com:

5-Best Eco Island Dream Getaways 

Cabin Spotting: 20 Perfect Weekend Retreats

5 Affordable Wellness Retreat from Around the World

Images: Alta Badia © Freddy Planinschek, © Michal Pancir, couple windsurfing, Swiss mountain hut, and mountain biking via Shutterstock

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