More than just a hub for the film industry when it plays host to the annual Sundance Film Festival, Utah’s Park City offers charm and adventure year round. The surrounding Wasatch Mountains provide plenty…
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From the moment you catch sight of their magnificent open-air lobby, it’s evident that the Andaz Peninsula Papagayo actively embraces the Costa Rican signature phrase “Pura Vida”—an ever-optimistic expression…
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The light in Ojai is a beautiful thing to behold. Nestled in the mountains above Santa Barbara, Ojai is a distance from the glorious coastline, but it has charms all of its own. As the sun sets, the bluffs along the Topa Topa mountains begin to glow pink, and the…
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Forget interstellar travel—there’s a transcendent resort currently taking bookings here on earth, and it’s called Amangiri. Located just over the Arizona border in Canyon Point, UT, the hotel sprawls amongst imposing bluffs with sweeping views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. While testing out the 2013 Range Rover on…
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Yabu Pushelberg’s latest hotel project resets the notion of modern luxury
Set to open 19 January 2012, the St. Regis Bal Habour Resort brings the supremely luxurious service and accommodations the brand is known for to the worldwide destination of South Florida. Designed by Seiger Suarez Architectual Partnership with interiors by renowned studio Yabu Pushelberg, the property sets a new standard for the St. Regis brand. Previewing the property last month I found a brilliant combination of materials and patterns; the aesthetic continuity is maintained from restaurants and reception to guest rooms and spa, yet the spaces are also clearly differentiated. My test for evaluating the effectiveness of a hotel brand’s design language is to imagine waking up in any of the spaces—a guest room, a chair by the pool, the spa or even a restaurant booth or the lobby floor—if there’s no doubt where you are, the design is well executed. In this case, I’d wake up feeling right at home and never wanting to leave.
Boasting 27 stories, housing 243 guest rooms and suites and 307 residences, the resort, built from the ground up on the site of the old Sheraton Bal Harbour, features extravagant detailing throughout. Just a few steps into the main hall Yabu Pushelberg’s consuming style transports you to a world of Deco-inspired modern luxury. Highlighting the extravagance are floors of Chinese God’s Flower marble sourced from a private quarry opened exclusively for the project, mirror-laden walls and chandeliers made of hand-hung crystals.
To further set the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort apart from the other destination resorts in the Miami area, the hotel is defined by its extensive collection of contemporary art from both local and internationally known artists—including works by Japanese artists Hirotoshi Sawada, Kohel Nawa, Miami-based graffiti artist Santiago Rubino and French photographer Jean Francois Rauzier.
To pay homage to legendary architect Morris Lapidus—creator of the iconic neo-baroque modern hotel style synonymous with Miami—guestrooms echo a contemporary Art Deco aesthetic. With warm yellow and whites and mirrored surfaces, the interior design nod can be seen in the subtle details throughout the hotel.
For more information on availability head to St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort online.
Our latest video takes a look at the exquisite organic cuisine of Mexico’s most exclusive resort
Deep in the Jalisco state of Mexico lies what for many, is a secret paradise. The coastal resort of Cuixmala, contained within a 25,000 acre nature preserve, was founded by Sir James Goldsmith in the 90s. The eco-friendly destination features beautiful cabanas, casitas and houses, along with all the amenities one would expect from an exclusive escape. From horseback riding to prop plane flying to sailing along the Pacific Coast, the resort has something to offer everyone.
While Cuixmala is the definition of laid-back luxury, the resort is far from the main focus of the area. The nature reserve is host to a group of full-time biologists, offering refuge to a number of endemic and endangered species. Since its inception, the principles of preservation and conservation have been at the forefront of the property. The land itself is a small slice of the majestic forests which originally ran down the Pacific coast. Cuixmala’s current proprietors have done their best to maintain and encourage the natural ecology of the region. Beyond conservation of the landscape, Cuixmala was founded with organic farming as a key element of its success, providing guests with the freshest foods directly from the garden.
We recently had the chance to catch up with one of the owners of Cuixmala, Goffredo Marcaccini and the head Chef to learn about the history, cuisine and importance of the property.
See Burton’s latest terrain park in the POV video pro rider Stephan Maurer shot for us
The Burton Stash at Jackson Hole takes terrain parks to a whole new level. We toured their Stash in Killington a few years back and were super excited to hit the snow in their latest project. The natural surroundings blend beautifully with Stash’s features—and there are a lot of them. With four different runs and over 54 features in all, it’s a serious ride that’s perfect for the skilled boarder
At over 13 acres Stash has something to offer everyone. The trails—Antelope Flats, Deer Flats, Ashley Ridge and Campground—are all packed with log slides, jumps, pillows, and even a vertical wall ride suspended in mid air. From the Dancefloor to the Rollercoaster all the runs’ features mesh seamlessly into the hillside and offer a truly challenging, fun riding experience.
We spent some time exploring Stash’s runs with some of Burton’s riders and got to see the ins and outs with pro guidance. Stephan Maurer was kind enough to don a helmet cam and show us how to tear it up on some of the hottest features, check out the video below.
photography by Adam Moran
Four tips on where to eat, sleep and get pampered in North America’s largest mountain resort
Recently spending a week at Whistler Blackcomb (my annual snowboarding destination), I stuck to some of my favorite gear and places but also used the trip as an opportunity to try some new things. This first story, in a series of three, focuses on highlights of Whistler itself. Stay tuned for a gear round-up and apparel review both later this week.
While a little off the beaten path, the Four Seasons makes up for it with spacious rooms that all come equipped with cozy fireplaces, thick terry robes and toasty down comforters. Impeccable food throughout its two restaurants and full bar service at the hot tub lends easy indulgence to a stay there. Being out of the fray of the main village provides a peaceful atmosphere, and a constantly rotating shuttle bus and Mercedes MLS courtesy car provide easy access to everything—nearly on demand.
New to Whistler this year, the Scandinave Spa is exactly what the resort town has been missing. The 3 acre property has multiple baths of varied temperatures, a large steam room and huge pine sauna. All of these features are outside and set in to a beautiful, rustic slope, complimented by modern Nordic-style buildings that house a café, along with locker and treatment rooms. The deep tissue massage I had there was one of the best resort-town massages I’ve ever had.
Down near the Creekside Village is the Rim Rock Cafe, an old Whistler standby. Skipping the fanfare of complicated dishes and stuffy interior design, this restaurant features local foods in simple preparations alongside a wide selection of regional wines. Be sure to request a table by the fireplace for a touch of authentic charm.
At the top of the Crystal Chair on Blackcomb is the best food on either of the mountains. While you’ll smell the waffles before you enter the door, it’s the salmon, potatoes and veggies prepared in their wood-burning oven that win me over. Plan ahead though, Crystal Hut is a small space that gets crowded, and food is made to order so there’s plenty of waiting.
Known the world over for its weather, beaches, increasingly important art, design and cultural scenes and of course its celebrated night life, Miami Beach is perhaps not the first destination you think of when you’re planning a spa getaway. But it’s for all these reasons that I like Canyon Ranch Living, Hotel and Spa Miami Beach so much. You’re in the middle of everything, but it’s extremely easy to turn it all off and spend the day hiking on the beach or taking in the fitness and wellness programs, and enjoying Canyon Ranch’s renowned health-conscious cuisine.
Having had the opportunity to experience Canyon Ranch’s larger and more immersive resort in Lenox, MA on several occasions, I happily accepted the invitation to have a more in-depth experience during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Conveniently located on Collins Avenue and 68th Street, it is only a few minutes to both Surfside and Bal Harbour to the North, South Beach to the South, Wynwood and the Design District to the West, and the MoCA and cluster of mid-century modern shops Northwest. The resort has 750 feet of prime beach, on a stretch with a wide and well maintained board walk.
Bernardo Fort-Brescia, co-founder of Miami’s most famous architectural firm Arquitectonica, took us on a tour of the resort they designed. The first thing you notice from the porte-cochère as you drive up is the wide open view to the beach through a palm grove. Connecting to the Miami of the past, the hotel is housed in the completely renovated, historic Carillon hotel; it proudly features its original, restored neon sign and recalls its reign as one of the most celebrated hotels of the 1950s. Today the Carillon tower houses the 150 spacious one- and two-bedroom hotel suites, as well as 80 condos, and a dining and retail area.
Bernardo pointed out several of the original design elements, and explained the complexity of the building’s renovation. A testament to good design, it captures the original building’s personality while bringing the space to a more current (and up to code) presence. One of the bigger challenges facing the design team was the building’s numerous columns, which are now completely invisible as you walk through the suites. Other benefits of the restoration include the addition of floor-to-ceiling glass to better enjoy the views and interiors by David Rockwell and his team at Rockwell Group.
The core of the resort is the 70,000-square-foot Wellness Spa—it’s as big as it sounds. Here, you get all of the Canyon Ranch love that made them famous. The Spa includes the Wellness Center, where you can consult with physicians about injuries, ailments, weight loss, prevention and healthy living. The fitness center offers nearly every type of cardio and workout equipment (including a climbing wall and Pilates machines), and dozens of exercise, movement and fitness classes. You can of course chill at one of the pools, sit on the beach, take a class at the outdoor fitness studio, or enjoy one of the 54 treatment rooms, which house some of the best spa treatments you’ll find anywhere in just about every flavor. My favorites are Ashiatsu and Reflexology, the latter done on a Neuroacoustic Sound Table, which uses sound technology to help relax minds and bodied. The Spa also includes his and hers Aquavana thermal suites—a collection of hydrospas, saunas, steam rooms, laconiums (dry saunas) and showers.
The Hotel and Spa are flanked by two newly constructed condo towers, where one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments (from 720 to more than 3,500 square-feet) feature amazing city, bay and ocean views, Rockwell-designed interiors, and of course use of the Wellness Spa and restaurants. Residents also can relax at their own pools if they don’t feel like mingling with the hotel guests. You can learn all about The Residences online.
Well-known for its approach to healthy eating, the Canyon Ranch Grill delivers on that promise with low calorie, tasty and fulfilling meals that feature local and organic food whenever possible. The South Beach Wine and Food Festival brought Executive Chef Scott Uehlein out from the Tucson resort, and he treated us to the most memorable five-course meal with fewer than 800 calories that I’ve ever eaten. Unlike the other Canyon Ranch resorts, the Miami property doesn’t ignore the city’s other temptations, and offers a really great selection of organic and biodynamic beer, wine and spirits. You can also eat the Carillon Café or poolside at The Cabana.
While the wholly engaging nature of the Tucson and Lenox resorts create a more complete experience, the Miami Beach Hotel and Spa offers a uniquely refreshing way to experience Miami.
More photos by Nikolas Koenig in the gallery.
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