The Dude Ranchers Association can help travelers pick their perfect ranch from over 100 member ranches across the western U.S. and Canada.

This spring many ranches are offer grown up specials including:

BBQ Bootcamp at Alisal Guest Ranch near Santa Barbara. During this 3-night, 4-day stay guests will enjoy workshops on grilling,a breakfast ride to Historic Old Adobe, and meals from local celebrity chefs, winemakers, and brewmasters.

Spring into Paradise at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana.

Guests can relax with days spent fly-fishing, taking yoga classes, horseback riding, and hiking just outside of Yellowstone National Park.

Golf Getaway at Rancho de los Caballeros in Arizona. This package includes three rounds of golf at the award-winning Los Caballeros Golf Club, unlimited range balls, gourmet meals, and casita accommodations.

Visit www.duderanch.org  to learn about more ranch vacations and packages.
www.duderanch.org

Joining the Summit Serviced Residences collection are properties from AKA, a collection of extended-stay properties with locations in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va. Preferred expects to grow its Summit Serviced Residences collection internationally and will target key cites in Asia, Africa, Europe, and India, where it already includes its inaugural partners in Singapore, 8 on Claymore Serviced Residences, and in South Africa, Gondwana Game Reserve.

WINTER PARK, Colo.- Spring break for a family can be tricky. Do you go somewhere tropical with lots of pool time or play in the last of the season’s snow?

This year the decision is easy: Snow Mountain Ranch.

Located just outside Winter Park, Colorado, the 5,100-acre Snow Mountain Ranch has cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding and tubing, even sleigh rides.

Guests can enjoy complimentary trail and Winter Fun Park passes. The staff at the Nordic Center will help with lessons and rentals. Nearby are classic downhill ski resorts Winter Park, Mary Jane, and SolVista Basin. Guests at Snow Mountain Ranch can rent skis and snowboard equipment for a 20% discount at Snow Mountain Sports.

Family members looking for a warmer escape, will find plenty to keep them happy too.

The indoor pool at Snow Mountain Ranch comes complete with water slide, rock climbing wall, and sauna. The Craft Shop has projects for all ages and abilities, from mosaics and ceramics to jewelry making and sun catchers. Roller skating, volleyball, ping pong, and boulder can be found at the Kiva Center.

Everyone can come together for family board games, movies, and other programs in the evening. Cozy lodge rooms can sleep up to 6 and multi-bedroom cabins are perfect for larger groups.
www.ymcarockies.org

New packages offer special savings and amenities for romantic escapes and family vacations.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. . . . Cheyenne Mountain Resort has created four new money-saving packages to make it easy for couples and families to enjoy a relaxing getaway to the beautiful Rocky Mountains:

Escape Package – Guests booking this package get two nights for the price of one to help them relax, reinvigorate and re-energize. Rates start at $139.00* for two nights based on availability. This package is available through May 15, 2012.

Romance Package – This package, which includes overnight accommodations, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival and a buffet breakfast for two at Mountain View Restaurant, makes it easy for couples to run away to the Rockies for a little romance. Rates start at $180.00* per night.

Rendezvous for Two Package – Couples can relax and reconnect over mouth-watering Colorado cuisine when they indulge in this package. It includes deluxe accommodations, champagne and strawberries upon arrival, and a three-course Colorado Fusion dinner for two and an elegant breakfast for two in Mountain View Restaurant. Rates start at $227.00* per night.

Family Getaway Package – This package is designed for making memories. It includes overnight accommodations, a family “Pizza and a Movie” night in-room, 25% percent off two adult admissions to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and free golf for kids over 12 with a paying adult. In addition, kids ages 8 and under eat free at all meals!

There’s so much for families to do in Colorado Springs, and a great place to start is by enjoying s’mores under the stars on the resort’s Sundance Terrace. Rates start at $139.00* per night.

Packages are available throughout 2012 and are based on availability.

For more information about Cheyenne Mountain Resort or to make reservations, visit www.cheyennemountainresort.com  or call 1-800-428-8886.

About Cheyenne Mountain Resort

Nestled against the stunning Rocky Mountains on 217 acres in Colorado Springs and managed by Benchmark Hospitality International, the AAA Four Diamond Cheyenne Mountain Resort, recently underwent a $20 million renovation and offers 316 finely appointed guest rooms and suites, featuring Rocky Mountain-inspired decor clustered in eight residential-style lodges.

The resort features more than 40,000 square feet of newly renovated IACC-certified meeting space with 38 dedicated meeting rooms including a tiered amphitheater. In addition, Cheyenne Mountain offers three distinct dining venues including its signature restaurant The Mountain View, featuring Colorado Fusion cuisine. A vast array of recreational amenities include an 18-hole Pete Dye championship golf course, five sparkling pools, tennis and racquetball courts, a fitness center, aquatics center and a 35-acre recreation lake. For information or room reservations call 1-800-588-0250 or visit http://www.cheyennemountain.com

Guests will have the opportunity to indulge themselves in a touch of barefoot luxury by the sea and soak up the wide open spaces, fresh air and an abundance of nature. Access to the lodge will be by hour-long scenic transfers by float plane from Lake Kununurra in WA’s Kimberley region. Due to open on 4 April 2012, prices start from AU$1,792 (approx £1,110) per night in a one bedroom king size chalet with a minimum stay of 4 nights. www.berkeleyriver.com.au

Spending the night in an ice hotel is not something you get the opportunity to do very often, and for those adventurous at heart, this truly unforgettable experience has just been made easier with a great new offer from Taber Holidays. The specialist tour operator to Scandinavia is offering five per cent off the brochure price of their three-night break to Alta, Norway, which includes a night at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, if you book and travel before the end of March. This takes the price to £1,043pp.

Situated high above the Arctic Circle, the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is an enviable location by the edge of the Altafjord, with the magnificent mountain plateau, Finnmarksvidda, to the other side. Made entirely from snow and ice, the hotel is built at the start of each season and melts away again as soon as the temperatures start to warm. It was constructed for the 13th time this year.

As well as housing a number of guest rooms, the hotel is also home to an ice chapel, ice gallery, sculptures and its very own ice bar complete with glasses. The temperature inside is kept at a constant temperature just below freezing, and guests are given a thermal sleeping bag to keep them toasty during the night as they sleep upon their bed made of ice.

Alta and the Igloo Hotel – From £1,043pp (Was £1,098pp) – This three-night break is priced from £1,043 per person to include flights, transfers and accommodation (including one night at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel). Based on two sharing. Price valid if you book and travel before the end of March.

For more information call Taber Holidays on 01274 875 199 or see
http://www.taberhols.co.uk/holiday/alta-and-the-igloo-hotel

Accommodations are in the Honeymoon Tent, the most private of Chiawa’s suites, set on a high ridge with a fine view. The king size bed is draped in Egyptian cotton linens. The outdoor verandah is a split-level deck with a private dining area, day bed and comfortable furniture. The bathroom features an indoor and outdoor shower, his and hers washbasins and ball-and-claw bathtub, all with a view of the Zambezi River. Located on the deck, the bathroom is the only outdoor facility at Chiawa Camp.

Chiawa Camp offers nine luxury tents with spectacular views of the Zambezi River and its resident wildlife, with game drives, canoeing, boating and angling. Rates at Chiawa Camp range from $565 to $940 depending on the season, with the Zambezi Dream Honeymoon package at an additional $300 per booking.

Banff National Park – Canada’s oldest and protected playground, nestled in the Rocky Mountains – is Alberta’s premier ski destination.

From the majestic mountains and glistening glaciers, Banff National Park will take your breath away. For an active ski adventure, new winter packages have been added to www.remembertobreathe.com  including family-friendly, adrenaline-pumping and romantic getaways from $77 per person.

Ski-lovers and powder-hounds aren’t the only ones planning a trip to Banff National Park this season; over the January 14th weekend, The 2012 Fairmont Banff Springs Celebrity Invitational saw big names like Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actor Alec Baldwin, legendary actor Peter Fonda and singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins among others enjoying Alberta’s winter wonderland on the slopes.

Some winter packages available in Banff National Park include:

• Fairmont Banff Springs –

Luxury Ski the Canadian Rockies from $469 per couple per night – Stay at the luxurious Fairmont Banff Springs and enjoy a hearty complimentary buffet breakfast before you hit the slopes with your ticket for two allowing you the opportunity to ski at any one of three world-class ski areas: Banff’s Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village or Lake Louise Ski Area
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• Ski-in ski-out at Sunshine Mountain Lodge and get your 5th night free from $150 per person per night – Stay at the ski-in/ski-out Sunshine Mountain Lodge and when you buy four nights you get one night free.
Package includes all lift tickets and VIP parking.

• Lake Louise Winter Adventurer – from $199 per person per day – Discover Lake Louise with this ultimate winter experience.

Participate in a 1.5hr dogsledding adventure along the Continental Divide and enjoy the beauty of the lake itself. Later, borrow a pair of showshoes, go for a skate or shop inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

• Ski and soak for the weekend – from $426.88 per couple—Ski and save with this perfect ski package!

Offer includes two nights accommodation, Canadian Rockies continental breakfast daily, two passes to the Banff Upper Hot Springs and two one-day ski tickets to either Mount Norquay, Sunshine or Lake Louise Ski Area

• Family Friendly Getaway at Douglas Fir Resort – from $101 per person per day – Stay at the family-friendly Douglas Fir Resort and get your 4th night free and the 4th day of skiing free. Brand new waterslides and outdoor hot tub this winter!

For more information about travel to Alberta this winter and to book a package visit www.remembertobreathe.com

Romantic Getaways Starting at just $69 Per Person

DENVER – Who says that romantic respites are reserved for Valentine’s Day? Colorado offers a host of different experiences in the winter season for many traveler types. From active couples and mountain lovers to spa hounds and foodies, Colorado offers experiences that will bring out the Cupid in just about anyone.

The following are a sample of romance and Valentine’s Day packages in Colorado. For more inspiration visit www.colorado.com.

Durango Mountain Resort doubles the romance with a Rocky Mountain Getaway built for two couples starting at only $69 per person/per night.

The package includes two days of lift tickets and two nights lodging at Durango Mountain Resort. Plus couples can take “the plunge” on the Purgatory Plunge Zipline, which stretches the length of a football field at speeds reaching 35 mph. 800-525-0892; www.durangomountainresort.com

For couples that prefer snuggling over schussing, Denver’s Hotel Teatro offers a “Red Hot Romance” package all throughout February, including a $100 gift certificate to SOL Lingerie, Denver’s preeminent lingerie store, with transportation and a personal shopper; a bottle of Vueve-Clicquot and chocolate covered strawberries in-room, rose petal turndown service, a $40 credit for in-room breakfast or at Kevin Taylor’s Prima Ristorante and late checkout. Rates from $419 per night. 888-727-1200; www.hotelteatro.com

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs offers a Valentine’s Day package starting at $125 per person, including accommodations for two with suites offered at a 40 percent discount.

The package also features a $50 breakfast credit for each night booked, 15 percent discount on select retail purchases, and live music and dancing for packages booked for February 11 and 18, 2012. 866-837-9520; www.broadmoor.com

The Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge offers an “Enchanted Evenings” package of which Cupid himself would approve. Couples will enjoy a Classic Swedish Massage and mineral bath for two at the Spa at the Rockies, as well as unlimited access to the world-famous Hot Springs Pool, champagne, daily breakfast and more. Rates from $175 per person/night, double occupancy. www.hotspringspool.com

Experience Luxurious Love at The Brown Palace in Denver, where many romantic rendezvous have taken place over the years, from Ike and Mamie Eisenhower to the affairs of Isabelle “Sassy” Springer. Starting at $295 per night, enjoy luxurious accommodations, signature rose petal turndown, breakfast for two in Ellyngton’s or delivered by room service, two evening cocktails, complimentary valet parking and more. 800-321-2599; www.brownpalace.com

The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Vail is offering a special package for the month of February starting at just $279 per night.

The package includes Mountain Deluxe King accommodations, breakfast for two daily, a welcome champagne amenity, and a Valentine’s dinner on February 14, 2012. 800-877-3529; www.cordilleralodge.com

This winter Colorado welcomed The OPUS Hut, a new high alpine backcountry lodge nestled on the southern face of 13,666-foot Lookout Peak in the Northern San Juan Mountains.

The solar-powered and heated hut offers secluded access to some of the best backcountry skiing in the northern San Juans. Rates from just $30 per person, per night. www.opushut.com.

Point Breeze Cabin is the newest addition to the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, located almost on top of the Continental Divide at 10,500 feet in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado.

Couples can enjoy more than 15 miles of rewarding beginner to intermediate cross-country ski trails right outside the cabin door. www.huts.org

ABOUT COLORADO

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state’s breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2012 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com  or call 1-800-COLORADO.

Follow Colorado on Twitter at www.twitter.com/colorado  or Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitcolorado.

MOAB, UTAH . . . . If you’re looking to impress your dearly beloved this Valentine’s Day, check your horoscope, as it is likely guiding you to escape to one of the most breathtaking destinations and resorts in the country — southern Utah’s Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa in scenic Moab.

Considered Utah’s premier luxury resort ranch and situated on the banks of the Colorado River, Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa is serving up three sizzling hot Valentine’s Day packages that are guaranteed to tug at the heart strings of your loved one. Unwrapping the romance at Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa this Valentine’s Day includes:

“Over the Top” Valentine’s Day Package

From personal chauffeurs and private flights over Utah’s famed Canyonlands or Arches National Parks, Sorrel’s “over the top” Valentine’s package is destined to send your sweetheart’s heart soaring over the majestic peaks and valleys of Moab.

This 3 night / 4 day package includes:

• Three nights in a luxuriously appointed Spa Suite with a river view

• A private chauffeured SUV for touring Moab and airport transfers

• Private airplane tour over Canyonlands or Arches National Parks

• A sunset Hummer® excursion

• $500 resort credit to be used toward dining or activities

• Rose petal welcome

• One dozen roses

• Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries

• His and her signature Sorrel River robes

• A romantic couples massage at The Spa

• Chef’s Table for Two dinner with wine pairings

• Breakfast for two daily

Sorrel River Ranch’s Valentine’s Day package begins at $6,350 per stay including taxes and fees and is available from February 1 – 29, 2012.* For reservations and information, call 1-877-317-8244 or follow this specific link: http://tinyurl.com/SRRVDAY

ENGAGING ADVENTURES

Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa recognizes that February is one of the most popular months for those looking to POP the question to that perfect partner! With the perfect ring in hand, Sorrel River Ranch offers the perfect location to help create that fabulous moment that ends in an unbridled “yes.”

Sorrel River’s Engaging Adventures proposal package includes a two night stay in a luxuriously appointed river view suite overlooking the Colorado River, a treasured welcome amenity, signature rose petal turndown, a romantic chef’s table dinner for two and an adventurous selection of settings and locations for “popping the question.”

Pricing for this two night package begins at $709 plus tax, per night, based on double occupancy.

Additional amenities or engagement elements may be tailored and added at an additional cost.

For additional information on “popping the question” this Valentine’s Day at Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, call 1-877-317-8244 or visit www.sorrelriver.com.

RED ROCK ROMANCE

Sorrel River Ranch’s most popular package makes the ideal Valentine’s retreat and includes a two night stay in an elegantly appointed ranch decor guestroom with majestic views, a relaxing couples massage at Sorrel River Spa and a candlelit dinner for two at the River Grill restaurant overlooking the famed Colorado River. Reconnect on the rocks this Valentine’s Day – you won’t regret it! Price begins at $600 plus tax, per night based on double occupancy and can be tailored based on accommodations. For additional information call 1-877-359-2715 or visit www.sorrelriver.com.

About the Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa

Located on the banks of the famed Colorado River on 160 acres amidst Moab’s majestic red rocks, the AAA Four Diamond Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa is managed by Benchmark Hospitality International and is an exclusive member of Benchmark’s newest Personal Luxury Resorts & HotelsSM. Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa features 55 spacious guestrooms and suites and elegantly appointed ranch décor throughout the property, reflecting the pristine, natural beauty of southern Utah. The upscale ranch features a full-service spa, The River Grill with spectacular views overlooking the Colorado River, an equestrian center, 7,500 square feet of indoor meeting and event space and a sparkling pool. Sorrel River Ranch offers an extensive selection of recreational activities and outdoor adventures for guests including horseback riding, guided hikes, river rafting, jeep and ATV tours, sky diving, rappelling and more. For further information or to book reservations, visit: www.sorrelriver.com  or call 1-877-317-8244.