This winter’s  ample early season snow has been a blessing for the ski resorts of southwestern Colorado including Telluride, an exclusive mountain resort enclave located in southwestern, Colorado.

Telluride does not try to be everything to everyone. For the visitor to Telluride, in many respects skiing and boarding is nostalgic; few if any lift-lines, no parking structures filled to the brim with rental SUV’s, terrain options from gentle cruisers to challenging chutes reminiscent of vintage Warren Miller films.

While purists may suggest visitors stay in the Town of Telluride, a historic mining town of eight square blocks, we respectfully disagree and suggest Alpen Ridge, a one-of-a-kind ski-in/out estate providing guests the ultimate in the “Three L’s”: Location, Luxury and Lifestyle. Located in Mountain Village , Alpen Ridge offers  true ski-in/out access yet privacy and seclusion not usually associated with on-mountain ski chalets.

As skiers and boarders glide along the Bridges ski run, Alpen Ridge is their envy. The expansive slope-side decks of the home provide an impromptu introduction to the treasures ensconced on this premier location of mature evergreen and aspen trees.

Remodeled “to the studs” in 2007, Alpen Ridge is a chalet which truly provides the pinnacle of luxury in a vacation residence rental from design and amenities to location and exclusivity offering guests 6 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms sleeping 16 in splendid luxury of 7,600 square feet/703 square meters.

The great room, one of the most mentioned rooms features a vaulted hand-hewed log ceiling, a custom corner stone fireplace using native rock with windows above to capture the mountain peaks above the flames, a full service wet bar and massive windows framing some of the most dramatic views available in Telluride. The furnishings, a mix of hand-stitched leathers and premium fabrics co-exist with stone tables and hand-finished wood floors providing warmth, comfort and style.

For the gourmand of the party (or for the available private chef) the gourmet kitchen offers signature appliances from Gaggenau and Sub-Zero and all the necessary small appliances and utensils providing the tools for the grab-and-go breakfast to the formal dinner party. The stone countertops and bistro-height breakfast bar allows for snacking and great conversation. The adjacent dining room with seating for 10+ is dominated by large picture windows cut into the log-wall exterior, perfect for the mid-day brunch between runs or for the holiday meal with family and friends.

Mexico is truly one of the most diverse vacation destinations in the world. From high-rise mega-hotels to destination resorts to quaint fishing villages, the diversity of vacation experiences is vast. For many, the west coast of Mexico continues to retain the attraction of Mexico of years past including untouched gold sand beaches, fishing villages where the “fresh catch” is just minutes from the ocean and recently some of the most opulent and in-demand vacation residences and resorts unrivaled in the western hemisphere. May we present Punta Mita.

Just 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita is an exclusive resort blending the unparallel beauty of the Mexican Pacific Coast with its palm-studded jungles sweeping into the deep blue of the ocean with the luxury, services and amenities of The Four Seasons.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is located within a 1,500-acre/607-hectare nature reserve on the northern tip of Bahía de Banderas – one of the world’s largest natural bays. The shoreline of the community is fringed by over 9 miles/14.5 kilometers of pristine white sand and rugged lava rock formations. Rising in the majestic background are the jungle peaks of the famous and often photographed Sierra Madre Mountains.

The Punta Mita Four Seasons Villa is offered to the discerning client who desires the finest in luxury and amenities along Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The hacienda style of the villa embraces the Mexican Riviera lifestyle paying respect to the 345 days of sunshine and the adjacent Pacific Ocean. With average summer and winter temperatures of 85F/29C and 75F/25C respectively, outdoor living is a prerequisite. For the geography buff, Punta Mita and Hawaii share the same latitude.

The luxury villa provides 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms on an oceanfront lot providing expansive views from every room. Sleeping 8 in luxury, all the bedrooms were designed to be master suites with no detail overlooked including bathrooms which have been described as “luxury sanctuaries” by past guests.

The gathering rooms inside the home have been designed to embrace the informal Mexican lifestyle coupled with custom designed and fabricated furnishings. The formal (as formal is in Mexico) living room is one of the gathering areas of the home. The Yucatan marble floors keep the home cool year round and merge seamlessly with the outdoors. The furnishings offer a comfortable retreat yet most guests open the sliding doors merging the indoor and outdoor living areas. The state-of-the-art audio and video system continues the merged indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

An opportunity recently came to our attention; an award winning home in East Hampton is available for the Thanksgiving and Christmas/ New Year’s holidays. While the area is known as a summer getaway for New Yorkers, insiders know the holiday season is truly magical on the East-End of Long Island.

The summer car traffic in East Hampton is replaced by window shoppers on foot. The shops and restaurants are decorated in the finest holiday fashion yet there is a serene calmness as locals and weekenders enjoy the crisp ocean breezes and the flat winter light which brought so many artists to the East End. Days are spent strolling along the quaint streets.

During the evening hours, dinner in town or maybe a supper at home and relaxing by the wood-burning fireplace. Be your own Barefoot Contessa and try some of Ina Garten’s recipes where they were created and conceived.  Need some “big-city excitement, hop on an LIRR Train or Hampton Jitney and spend the day in Manhattan (see NYC blog)

May we suggest Whale Rock House as your holiday getaway in the Hamptons. With three bedrooms on one level, all generations of the family are welcome. The expansive living room with fireplace will be the gathering place for family and friends.

For the chef, the gourmet kitchen will entice even the most jaded cook to consider roasting a turkey or glazing the ham for the holidays. Cooks, head into East Hampton for some local produce while the rest of the family plays touch-football in the yard. Before dinner, maybe a sunset walk on the beach.

While we have all witnessed Paris Hilton at Sundance in her “snow-bunny” attire, the reality is Sundance is a firm festival for the general public. Robert Redford never envisioned Sundance to be an elitist event; it was and is an opportunity for new films to be shown, critiqued and for a few lucky directors and producers, akin to hitting the lottery.

The Sundance Film Festival will be held January 21-31, 2010 in Park City, Utah.  As a veteran of Sundance, my experience has been that while the VIP screenings happen during the evening, some of the best opportunities for film viewing are in the late afternoon.  While the VIPs are screening movies at 7:00PM, visitors like me gather with friends at restaurants on Main Street and discuss the films we viewed and compare the runs we enjoyed that day at Park City and Deer Valley.

While Park City and neighboring Deer Valley have many lodging options, if I may share a secret, the best lodging location, in my opinion is Park Avenue, just steps from the base area yet world’s away from the congestion and behemoth condos.

At The Society we are proud to be able to present a new vacation rental residence on Park Avenue with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths which sleeps 14-16 in comfort and luxury. This new residence while retaining the rustic charm of the mining town on its exterior is a marvel of the newest luxuries and amenities inside.

The Park Avenue Residence is just 250 steps from the lift. Yet, it is also an easy walk to town including the grocery store, Starbucks, Cold Stone Ice Cream and Main Street. While the location may impress, the interior will surely revise your outdated opinion of the vacation ski home.

The 4,200 SF home is ideal for families and friends traveling together. With 5 bedrooms, privacy and luxury will be enjoyed by all. The two distinct and separate living areas will pacify those who wish to travel together but also desire some “alone time”.

For the chef of the party, the $250,000 gourmet kitchen will surely impress (even the take-out pizza looks great on the slab granite). The game room with red-felt regulation pool table and wet-bar will appeal to those wanting to “stay in tonight”. Whoever calls dibs on the master bedroom will enjoy the romantic private fireplace. For the kids, the bunk room will be their getaway and for the adults, a sanctuary for the children. Te outdoor hot tub is most welcome after a day on the slopes or for a dip before bedtime.