There are places where heaven just feels closer, and Ranch at Rock creek is one of them.
From the moment you open your car door as you enter the ranch, you immediately start to breathe a different kind of air. Somehow the creek, pine trees, crisp wind, sage and thistle all blend together and give our that perfect quintessential Montana scent like a symphony perfectly synchronized.
The towering peaks surrounding the ranch make this the perfect spot for you to live your western dream with a side of luxury.
The ranch, which opened in 2010, is located in 6,600 acres in the heart of western Montana between Sapphire, John Long and Pintler Mountains. The ranch was such a success that shortly after it’s opening, it became a member of Relais & Chateaux as well as the Forbes Travel Guide in the same year.
While the price is enough to make you think twice about booking, it includes award wining cuisine and top notch activities. The ranch is comprised by a main lodge with 9 perfectly appointed guest rooms, 7 luxury homes, 10 luxury canvas cabins and 3 Conestoga wagons. Every accommodation has a very authentic style which is updated up every year without fail.
The perfect accommodations for a family are both Sweetgrass and Cutbow. Both have 2 connecting tents next to the creek, making you feel like you are in some sort of Lewis & Clark expedition, the only difference is that you have every luxury amenity you might need including a stand alone soaking tub, a wooden barrel hot tub as well as 4 indoor fire places and a fire pit next to the creek.
However, if you are looking for a romantic spot, Trapper cabin is the one. For guests looking for a less adventurous accommodation, Bear cabin is one of my absolute favorites for a large family or a group of friends that want to sleep in an actual wooden structure.
The ranch has a great way to add to your accommodation if you want even more adventure. If you are staying in a tent or a home, you can rent a Homesteader wagon to be parked outside your accommodation for a fun overnight adventure. The wagons are perfectly appointed with a king bed, bunk beds and a bar.
Before you arrive, the ranch plans a personalized itinerary for each party depending on your needs. Our itinerary was comprised by horseback riding, fly fishing, paint ball in the woods, archery, rimfire, sporting clays, mountain biking and sapphire mining. You can do as much or as little as you want, but because we had 4 kids our itinerary was action packed.
Flint Forest Rangers is the perfect spot if traveling with children. It’s a kids program where they have super friendly counselors doing activities like adopting a horse, obstacle courses, among other activities while parents engage in adult-only activities like long horseback rides or spa treatments.
Lastly and possibly my favorite part is the Silver Dollar Saloon. This saloon as as legit as it gets. It has billiards table, four-lane bowling alley, saddle bar seats and the best drinks in town.
The Ranch at Rock Creek is a place where you will probably book your next stay before you even check-out.
We meet the team at 6:00am at Alpine Ascents office in Seattle. The last check-list items were being tackled by our team guides, while the rest of the team if 8 sat in silence trying to wake up and wrap our head around what was in store for us for the following 3 days.
We got in the van and started heading to the 5th tallest mountain in the lower 48, at a staggering 14,400 feet above sea level.
While planning this trip in mid 2019, Covid-19 hit the world hard, shaking most of us to our core. With an estimated death toll of 6.5 million people around the world, the entire world stopped and hunkered down at home. After a few months of this, people started to venture outdoors and explore open spaces, away from the contagion.
The pandemic had been going on for a year at the time of our climb, and there was no end in sight, so extra precautions were required like face masks, smaller groups and carrying you individual dehydrated meals versus having hot meals prepared by the guides and gathering in the cook tent to have some social time.
After a 2.5 hour drive, we arrived to the base of the mountain, a spot called Paradise.
Paradise is nestled on the south slopes of the glacier-shrouded volcano at an elevation of 5,400 feet. This spot is among wildflower meadows, mixed with snowfields and groves fir trees; there are few locations within the entire national park system this stunning, hence the name.
We gathered our backpacks and divided between the 8 climbers the gear that we needed in high camp. This means that our already 40 lbs backpack became even heavier after the extra items were being distributed.
At approximately 9:00am, we began our hike at 5,400 feet of elevation towards the first camp, Camp Muir at an elevation of 10,188 feet.
Considering that many indoor activities were canceled until further notice due to the pandemic, it was very visible that more people were taking into outdoor activities like mountaineering. Because of it, our guide pointed out that the mountain was busier than normal and our team was slowed down initially. I have to say that in a way it made me feel safer to know I was not the only crazy person attempting such a challenge.
In the beginning of the hike we saw hundreds of visitors roaming the skirt of the mountain, but as we started gaining more elevation the hikers started becoming less and less. We passed the tree line fairly quickly and got into the foot of the glacier which made my heart beat faster. We then took a break to put on our crampons, take the ice ax out, and attach ourselves to the line in groups of 3 due to the beginning of crevasse territory.
At about the 6 hour mark, I started to feel the very familiar feeling, “Why am I here? Why am I doing this? I am always so tired as it is, the only thing I really need is a hotel room and to sleep for a week straight”. Then a sense of peace took over me when we started hiking again and all I could focus was on each step, each breath, each sound of my boots compacting the snow; it was a walking meditation! And there it was, my first lesson: When life becomes overwhelming, place your focus in the present moment. Magnify the joy in the simple things like a snowflake or a leaf. After a few moments, I looked up and I could see the towering mountain in front of me, and it was calling me by my name. It was breathtaking!
As we reached the respite of Camp Muir, the view of the Cowlitz Glacier, the towering Gibraltar Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Little Tahoma (which seems dwarfed by Mount Rainier), were worth every second. To the right of the camp, a small tent city populated the area of climbers headed to the summit the following day.
After arriving to Camp Muir we all collapsed and took a long deserved break. We were then ushered to our wooden shelter with wooden planks (only a few guiding companies have access to it) where we all set up our sleeping bags right next to each other like sardines. We wanted to make sure we were protected against the cold as best as we could. I was so relieved to know I was going to be protected from the stormy night with more than a nylon tent between me and the outside world. It was not nylon anymore, but a piece of wood. I felt like I was moving up in life.
At around 5:00pm we heated up our dehydrated meals with hot water, made ourselves a blistering hot tea and got inside our sleeping bags before the night got too cold. Maintaining body heat was going to be our priority from this that point forward.
John and Carol on my right, and Rachel and Steve on my left, I was happy with my bunkmates since we all had an unspoken pact of helping each other if anything went aerie. That feeling is magnified when you are in a place that is unfamiliar and dangerous. I often thought this was the reason why people in combat develop such a brotherhood. You have each others back in the moments that matter the most.
The night was in the single digits, the air was crisp and the stars where shining brighter than I ever remembered seeing them, in particular the North Star, like it was trying to act as a lighthouse to guide us to our destination.
When I was about to turn off my head lamp off to call it a night, the zipper on my sleeping bag broke, and naturally I had a moment of panic. I asked John for help by pointing to my zipper because of my inability to talk due to fear of what will happen next. In the few moments after, the thought of the possibility of freezing that evening AND (a big and) if I made it to the next morning alive, the thought of having to turn back the following morning was too paralyzing. In the mountains, if you have the smallest problem with your gear, it might mean costing you the summit, if not your life.
John was able to fix it after fiddling with it for a few minutes, which to me seemed like hours. After crisis was averted, we closed our eyes, but none of the 8 climbers got more than 2 hours of sleep between the altitude, cold and excitement.
We woke up to a hot cup of really strong coffee, while assessing the weather for the day ahead. The sun was shining and it seemed like the perfect summer day to make it to high camp. Before we moved up, we had a full day of snow school.
After breakfast, we met at a snowy and icy hill to practice ice climbing, crevasse rescue, rest steps, pressure breathing, temperature management, hydration, self-arrest, avalanche transceivers, rope techniques and mountain psychology. After a few hours of working on winter alpine techniques, we had a quick lunch and started the 3 hour ascent to Ingraham Flats, also known as high camp. High camp is a camp set up by Alpine Ascents and RMI exclusively for their clients, this gives them a better chance to make it to the summit by dividing the last stretch in two days and avoiding burn out.
The evening of day 2, September 4th, 2021 we made it to high camp and took a well deserved rest while overlooking the prominent sub-peak of Mt Rainier, Little Tahoma. That evening we gathered around the tents and we got assigned a tent for each of us. We did not have to share one that night, which I was glad about, but nervous I would get too cold on my own. In the mountains is preferable to share a tent to keep your body temperature from dropping.
After dinner our guides gave us the disappointing news that the crevasse connecting the Ingraham Glacier to the Disappointment Cleaver (also known as DC) was widening by the minute and even 3 laters tied to one another wasn’t sufficient to cross the gigantic crevasse. My peripheral view shrunk and zoomed into the words he was speaking as the news was being delivered to me.
A flashback of all the sacrifices I made to be there were all rushing through my brain in slow motion. Orchestrating the logistics of leaving my 4 kids, convincing my husband that this was a good idea, my arduous training, my mental preparation and my expectation of what the climb was going to look like came crushing down like a 100 foot wave. I retreated to an area full of penitentes (an odd formation in high altitude glaciers in very dry air), where I found some privacy to let my frustration out. Lesson number two was that everyone in my team had probably sacrificed more than I did to be here and were much more composed than I was. One man in particular taught me so much grace with the way he dealt with the disappointment after using most of his salary to pay for his trip at the age of 60+. He didn’t say much, but the way he handled himself taught me a valuable lesson.
Once I gathered myself, I went back to the team and we finished that day by ice climbing around high camp, while learning new techniques, do it with more grace and more agility.
Rainier taught me more about myself that I cared to learn then. I was there to bag the summit and came down with much more. Disappointment is a very hard concept to grasp, and when something is out of your control it is even harder to come to grips with it, until it is forced upon you and your ego deflates like a balloon with lessons of humility and surrender.
Life rarely happens as you plan it, and it is in the twists and turns of life that reveal the beauty of what a full bloom looks like.
Climbing a mountain has become the metaphor I now live by and trying to control a mountain is like trying to control life. It is something uncontrollable and we must master the action of hard work while surrendering to outcomes out of our control.
It took a pandemic for my family and I to discover one of the most remote and pristine spots in the United States, San Juan Islands.
It was early march and I had just had a baby, as well as knee deep in construction in our new house, when the lockdown began. After months of not being able to use our front of backyard due to construction, we decided to explore an island where my father in law had grown up in, and currently had a remote log cabin where we could ride the Covid wave.
We packed our bags and relocated with our 4 kids in July, and this is when the journey of discovery began. The San Juan Islands (off the coast of Seattle) have always been a safe haven, a break from the modern world, and a quiet place for a lucky few. Around the 1960’s, these islands started becoming popular among artists, dreamers and farmers in search for a simple life.
Orcas (the most beautiful of all) is still true to its rustic roots, but now a place where also the rich and famous go and hide from the world. Oprah, Paul Allen and Bill Gates to name a few, have been some of the ones that have enjoyed this off the grid island.
While exploring the island, I came across the charming Outlook Inn. This tiny historical hotel, founded in 1888, has the best restaurant, and best rooms on the island. In addition to the decadent food, the new Edge Suites, are the perfect addition for travelers looking to go off the radar, without sacrificing modern amenities.
Owner, Sarah Farish, explained in her own words when describing Orcas: “Comfort is more than a cozy bed, just as deep rest is so much more than a good night’s sleep and a few days off of work. And beauty… it’s mind blowing. We’re not talking about magazine beauty, we’re talking about beauty that inspires, uplifts, and renews you just by being in its presence. You’ll find it in the stunning view, the miles of pristine trails for hiking (and contemplation), and in your own reflection off the deep blue sea”.
Beauty is everywhere in Orcas, especially in the charming Inn and new suites. Each suite has stunning views of Fishing Bay and beach access to ensure you have the outmost privacy and seclusion.
Gorgeous interior design details have been incorporated to make the stay as comfortable as possible. Every suite includes a 100 sq. ft balcony overlooking Fishing Bay and Indian Island, heavenly bed, sitting area, wet bar, electric fireplace, and heated bathroom floors.
The Outlook Inn is a combination of mom and pop old time Inn, sophisticated foodie haven, and an art project with layers and layers that keep revealing something more beautiful than what was there before. Comfort, beauty, rest.
I often get asked which property is a favorite among my well traveled clients with discerning taste. It seems quite hard to narrow down a top 10, but Huka Lodge is one of those places that it is always on that list.
Built in 1924, Huka Lodge oozes tranquility and charm like no other place. It is not surprising why this property is a favorite among the Royal Family, especially Queen Elizabeth when visiting this fantastic island.
From its remote location, to the unparalleled service, Huka Lodge is a dream come true for nature lovers and romantic travelers. It nestles on the banks of the mighty Waikato River, upstream from Huka Falls in a location of immense natural beauty. Its views of snow capped mountains is just the cherry on the top.
The property is nestled in 17-acres of magnificent grounds, with only 26 suites. All of the suites with its own charm, yet with the same level of luxury. This is a fantastic surprise for guests, since every time you stay at Huka Lodge you get a different feel and it never gets old.
My absolute favorite thing to do is to have a glass of a local sauvignon blanc, while sitting in the exquisite sofa at the Alan Eye cottage and a roaring fire during sunset.
The decor is my second favorite thing about this property. The rustic antiques mixed with Maori antiquities, gorgeous paintings and textiles rich in texture mix exquisitely with the architecture.
Lastly, there is no shortage of exciting activities for the adventure travelers. Everything from fly fishing and skydiving, to jet boating and kayaking, this spot is ideal for adrenaline junkies like myself.
I tend to be set in my ways when it comes to hotels in cities like London. I have my favorite hotels which are typically the gorgeous landmarks and rarely give other properties the opportunity, because why bother right? Well, I was missing out.
Last year I stayed at the Corinthia London for the first time, and I can only say it will not be my last.
Perfectly located only steps from Trafalgar Square, Westminster, the River Thames and Covent Garden, the Corinthia combines grandeur and heritage (which I love) with exquisite, smart design. It features 225 rooms, 51 suites, seven penthouses. However, it feels like you are checking in into your own private London flat. It feels secluded and exclusive from the moment you step in.
The hotel also has two world-class restaurants which I enjoyed for the two nights I was there. It was so good I canceled my reservation at the chic Annabel’s just to have the decadent duck at Kerridge’s.
Since I was in London for work, I didn’t have time to get a treatment at their unrivaled spa, but when I toured it I made a mental note that it was going to be my first stop on my next visit.
Since my first experience aboard the magnificent Crystal Symphony in the 2003, I have been a Crystal fanatic. Not only is Crystal has most luxurious fleet in the world, now they tapped into the luxury super-yacht market, and winning in that department as well.
If sharing a large cruise with 5,000 of your best friends isn’t your thing, but you still love the idea of being in the middle of the ocean, then Crystal Endeavor is your answer. It is the world’s most luxurious and most spacious polar class ship exploring undiscovered corners of the world due to its small size.
A few months back, aboard the Crystal Symphony, Crystal’s president and CEO, Tom Wolber, shared the first glimpse of the luxury accommodations on the yacht.
“Crystal Endeavor will be the largest, most spacious purpose-built polar class expedition yacht in the world, accommodating just 200 guests and boasting all the luxurious amenities and special touches for which Crystal is known,” the company said. “The yacht will feature generous public spaces, a full-service spa and salon, six restaurants including Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma, expedition rooms and elegant suites that contrast beautifully with the rugged adventures beyond the vessel.”
“Crystal Endeavor’s suites are an important part of the overall experience that is rooted in luxury and comfort, even while in the midst of extreme adventure,” Wolber mentioned. “These suites will be private havens of relaxation and personal service welcoming travelers as they embark on journeys to the far corners of the world.” This is like music to my ears.
Crystal is promising the most spacious suites in expedition cruising, featuring private verandah’s and butler service for every suite. Luxury touches include king-sized beds; walk-in closets; heated storage for drying parkas after your adventures; spa-like bathrooms with adjustable heated floors, dual vanities, anti-fog mirrors and rain showerheads.
The grand dame is set to begin her inaugural season in 2020 exploring remote destinations where standard cruise ships can’t access. Itineraries are out to the public and reservations can be made. The rates begin at $15,000 per person and they are typically anywhere from 15-22 days long.
This ship is the perfect option for the adventurous traveler looking to explore the most remote parts of the world, while still enjoying Crystal’s legendary service.
Have you ever heard of the term Aman Junky? Well… if you haven’t, now you have. I am also the newest member of that elite clan and here is why:
Every Aman property is meticulously designed to blend in with the natural setting as well as offer an extreme sense of privacy and peace, hence the name “Aman”, which means peace in Sanskrit.
A few days ago I returned from staying at the new Amanera in the Dominican Republic, and oh what a stay. The hotel executed the perfect balance between a luxurious and relaxed ambiance. Think Swiss Family Robinson meets modernist Aman luxury, and add to that a 4:1 staff to guest ratio.
The moment you walk in, the staff welcome you as if you are an old friend with the backdrop view of Playa Grande, a cold lavender towel and a mouth watering pomegranate and mint drink. After pinching yourself a few times, and taking in the chic, but understated decor, you are swift away to your very own private casita in confortable golf carts.
Amanera has only 25 casitas, which makes the experience even more private. Most villas have a private pool, but not just any pool, a private 30 meter (350sqf) pool, decked out with a gigantic terrace with a sunbed area, outdoor dining, outdoor siting and an outdoor shower. The inside of the villa is as impressive as the outside. The casita is around 90 sqm (850sqf) with a gigantic walk-in closet, separate bedroom, gorgeous living room and a bathroom that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the Caribbean jungle, with floor to ceiling windows showcasing lush vegetation.
Your meals can severed anywhere at anytime, so you can forget about waking up early and rushing to breakfast. Amanera’s main goal is to have you relax and have whatever you want, whenever you want. How is that for a rule?
They have two restaurants, one in the main lobby and a second one in the beach. Both can serve any dish you desire in addition to their standard delicious menu. My favorite dishes were the ceviche, cod and beef Wellington. However, you cannot go wrong with any item on the menu.
Amanera is perfect for anyone looking for a romantic getaway, golfers or family with small or big kids.
Amanera is the only Aman resort which offers a private golf course for guests only. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, and renovated by his son Reese Jones, it is expected to be one of the most scenic golf courses in the Caribbean.
The hotel also has plenty of activities for children to be entertained like pottery class, cupcake decorating, pizza making class, zip line, surfing and more.
All in all, this vacation was one of the most memorable stays in my recent years, and we cannot wait to go back this next winter.
Serengeti House as it’s name states it, is a spectacular 4-bedroom house a few miles away from Sasakwa Lodge, available for rent on a private basis for travelers looking for a home-away-from-home in deep East Africa.
The chic contemporary retreat is ideal for a large family or a group of friends offering a home-like atmosphere. The local materials, natural fibers and light tones ooze an understated glamour. The bedrooms are bright and peaceful, ideal to blend in with the peaceful environment of the Serengeti.
The massive outdoor lounging area offers uninterrupted views of the plains and wildlife while relaxing in your own private infinity pool and indulging in one of Tazania’s best cuisine.
Although the safari drives are quintessential in the Serengeti, the morning and afternoon drives can be substituted by a swim, tennis, archery, cooking class, spa treatments and mountain biking among other fun activities.
A great perk of Serengeti House is the proximity to Sasakwa Lodge, which is open to guests staying at Serengeti House, assuring you numerous things to do during your stay.
The most iconic hotel in the world recently opened its doors after a 4-year renovation speared by Egipcian owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed (also known as Lady Di’s future father-in-law), after pouring 500 million Euro for a major facelift to an already spectacular hotel.
The Ritz first opened in 1898, which makes one of the oldest luxury hotels in the world. The new hotel was constructed behind the façade of an 18th-century town house, overlooking one of the most exclusive Paris central squares, Place Vendome.
The hotel was reportedly the first in Europe to provide a bathroom en-suite, partly due to the ambition of Mr. Cesar Ritz of building the most luxurious hotel in the world. This attracted the most famous names of the XX century like Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel, who lived there for 34 years.
During the 1940’s it became the residence of Hermann Goering, the second most powerful Nazi after Hitler, as well as the headquarters for the German airforce. His quarters took up an entire floor and consisted of three bedrooms, maids’ rooms, several opulent salons.
Al-Fayed purchased the property from the Ritz family in 1979, he closed its doors for an overdue renovation to bring it back to its former years of glory. The wear and tear was starting to become obvious, and the hotel needed to catch up with the modern technology to stay competitive.
Thorough the two major renovations the essence of the 18-century palace still stands, which I think personally it is exceptionally hard to do. Grand hotels around the world like Waldorf Astoria in New York City and St. Francis in San Francisco have tried to mimic the same undertaking, only to find that the elegance and beauty of the old world has been vanished due to their desire to become part of big hotel chains, as well as their need to bring cost down and occupancy high at any cost.
The hotel closed its doors once again in 2013 for a four-year renovation which turned to be longer due to an unforeseen fire three months prior to their opening in 2016, the opening got delayed by a few months. Almost one third of the hotel is still being renovated to this day (not that you would ever notice).
From the moment you walk into the Ritz, the astonishing architecture, the elegant décor and friendly faces will make you feel like you are walking home. Well, I take that back, it makes you feel like you are walking into the home you have always dream about.
The attention to detail is superb. For instance: Every gold detail in the hotel (which by the way there are a lot) is all gold plated with the most exquisite details. Everything from door handles to furniture was sent to the best antique restoration company to ensure the history wasn’t erased out of any piece.
The number of rooms was reduced from 150 to 98 after the renovation, to ensure that every guestroom was more spacious and grand. There are 650 full-time staff which is more than any luxury hotel in Paris, all to make sure that the ration of staff to guest is at its highest to ensure perfect service.
Overall the Ritz was, is, and will be the Grand Dame of Paris.
Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Grumeti, Serengeti, Tanzania. Agency HKLM. Art Director: Paul Henriques. Stylist/Producer: Janine Fourie. Photographer: Mark Williams. 22/02/12.
Sasakwa Day 10
Sasakwa Day 7
When you pull up to the Singita Sasakwa Lodge entrance, not only do you realize this is the pièce de résistance of Tanzania, but the best view in Africa acts as a backdrop to the foyer.
As I am walking in, I look down to the plains from the spectacular vantage point where Sasakwa sits, and quickly realize that this is the most magnificent place to watch the migration in the Serengeti, as millions of wildebeests stampede their way from the dry plains to the wet plains following the rain, which is widely known as the greatest natural spectacle on earth. It still gives me the chills as I write this.
Singita is the belle of the ball of the African lodges, and Sasakwa is the queen of the Singita lodges, so lets just say this is the most incredible lodge in the entire continent of Africa, let alone of Tanzania.
The 10-cottage lodge is the perfect blend between a manor house with East African influences, giving you the typical opulent African experience, without sacrificing the level of comfort, luxury and old-world elegance. The cottages range between 1-bedroom to 4-bedrooms with a private heated infinity pool, making it ideal for anything from a romantic getaway to a family vacation.
Every corner of the lodge is more spectacular than the one before. The infinity pool overlooking the plains, the uber chic tennis house, the old-school billiard room, the tasteful library, the old-world spa and the English dining room. Every room will blow you away.
The best room if you are looking for privacy is the furthest cottage from the lodge. However, if you want to minimize the time you spend walking from your cottage to the main lodge, then cottage next to the main lodge is ideal.
Since every meal is served in a different location, you will feel like you are the only guest at Sasakwa. Make sure you request lunch in the front lawn when you get there!
*Although lodges in Africa do not typically cater to children younger than 10 years old due to the proximity to predators, Sasakwa caters to all ages.
