Whether you’re looking for a luxurious retreat, pining for a rugged mountain adventure or on the hunt for a totally unique experience (have you ever stayed at a working ranch?) The Lodge at Blue Sky ticks all the boxes, and its proximity to Salt Lake and Park City—both around a half hour’s drive—make it accessible while still feeling a million miles away. You don’t have to be a guest at the resort to enjoy an oxygen facial at the spa, dine on swordfish skewers at Yuta Restaurant or be whisked away in a helicopter to a high-alpine river for some fly fishing—but trust us, when you see the suites, you’ll want to.

RELAX

Guests can choose a sumptuous free-standing suite along a nearby creek or an ultra-luxury suite housed in the lodge with the bar, lounge, pool or spa at your disposal. After a curated half-day outdoor adventure, get the spa’s Whiskey Rubdown massage, enjoy a guided meditation session and extend the zen with a catnap on your suite’s terrace overlooking Alexander Canyon. Trust us–you’ll want to gear up for Galen Zamarraa’s multi-course evening feast at Yuta. Winner of the James Beard Award, the executive chef promises a dining adventure.

FLY HIGH

Want a bird’s eye view of our gorgeous Uinta and Wasatch ranges and access to some of the most remote alpine wilderness areas in Utah? The Lodge at Blue Sky has teamed up with Powderbird Helicopter company to offer guests one-of-a-kind helicopter adventures. Fly over peaks and valleys to fish for trout in high-alpine lakes, take a scenic lift to the top of the Uintas to hike or mountain bike through spectacular terrain, or sail above the clouds to remote peaks for a rejuvenating yoga session. Top off any adventure with a gourmet alpine picnic.

COUNTRY LIVING

As part of a 3,500-acre working ranch, horses and riding are part of the lodge’s DNA. The ranch offers everything from riding and English-style shooting lessons to casting and fly-tying classes in prelude to mountain adventures. Folks can also visit the resort’s on-site sustainable farm to pick herbs, veggies and collect eggs, “Now more than ever, virtual work and school has created a need for grounding, tactile experiences,” says Area Director of Sales and Marketing, Jessica Cook. “To restore balance, guests love to visit our organic farm to harvest vegetables, spend time in the company of our rescue horses, and explore our miles of lush hiking trails.” The resort offers immersive horse ranching camps for kids, visitors and lodge guests all summer long as well.

27649 Old Lincoln Hwy., Wanship
866-296-8998
aubergeresorts.com/bluesky

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Picture soaring over iconic Wasatch and Uintah peaks in a helicopter, taking in the dramatic views, then touching down to enjoy the incredible architecture of Blue Sky Ranch that mirrors them. The living roofs of the Edge Spa sown with native flora give way to picturesque meadows as you dive headfirst into a weekend of immersive adventure at The Lodge. 

Blue Sky guests can enjoy a host of exhilarating activities: heli sports like heli skiing and mountain biking, and rejuvenating spa retreats during winter chills; fireside yoga in cozy yurts or horseback riding lessons from the Saving Gracie Equine Healing Foundation for warm-weather thrills. Each excursion offers a truly nature-oriented experience. 

The Blue Sky family are genuine stewards of the earth, and take great measures to ensure that their carbon footprint is as minimal as possible. For your 2022 summer staycation, join in the conservation efforts with Organic Farm School at the entirely female-led, regenerative Gracie’s Farm. The team of farmers work the land using hand tools and animal grazing, for exceptional soil quality that generates equally exceptional produce. 

New to the Blue Sky lineup this season is a craft dinner series, hosted in partnership with Templin Family Brewing. This year, they offer several dinner events, each featuring a locally sourced menu designed by Blue Sky’s James Beard award-winning executive chef Galen Zamarra, complete with local beer pairings to complement each dish. 

“There is always something new happening at Blue Sky,” says Jessica Cook, director of sales and marketing at Blue Sky. “Our experience curators are always creating new, innovative programming that showcases how amazing Blue Sky is during any season.” 

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Utah with a stay in one of Blue Sky’s luxury rooms, including family-friendly Signature and Earth suites, and take your crew on an off-the-beaten-path adventure they’ll remember for a lifetime.

THE LODGE AT BLUE SKY

27649 Old Lincoln Highway, Wanship
866-296-8998 
aubergeresorts.com/bluesky

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Hilton Salt Lake City Center makes planning a Salt Lake staycation easy, with amenities for any kind of vacationer.   

Start your day with a sunrise salutation at Trofi, led by executive chef Tony Coppernoll. “Our breakfast menu offers a variety of flavorful dishes uniquely infused with the honey extracted from our rooftop beehives and garnished with the fresh herbs grown in our on-site gardens,” says Coppernoll. “Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal or light start to your morning, Trofi has something for everyone.” The brunch menu also features classic cocktails with a twist, like the Trofi Bloody Mary with maple pepper bacon, or cherry-infused mimosas.

Earlier this year, Trofi also launched its unique QR code lunch ordering. Guests can access menus, order, and pay entirely from their device, and have their meals delivered on the Trofi patio. With this shaken-up restaurant experience, couples, kids, and even pets are welcome to enjoy the patio amenities while they wait, which include jumbo lawn games, gas fire pits (for chilly days), or just taking in the unmatched views of the city landscape.

After mornings in the hotel, guests are encouraged to hit the town–or the trails. “We are uniquely situated for guests to enjoy nightlife and boutique shopping,” says general manager Garret Parker. “But this Hilton is also minutes from outdoor escapes like Memory Grove Park and the adjoining City Creek canyon trails.”

Staying with Hilton also means taking part in their “Travel with Purpose” strategy, an initiative to drive sustainability and community connection in the tourism industry. At the Salt Lake location, these efforts include relying on local ingredients and resources to reduce the overall footprint of the hotel, while also providing a uniquely immersive Utah experience. Find your own travel purpose this summer, and select Hilton Salt Lake City Center for your downtown escape.

Hilton Salt Lake City

255 S. West Temple, SLC
801-328-2000
hiltonsaltlakecitycenter.com

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Wine connoisseurs are flocking to taste the happy grapes of Colorado, bathed in the high desert’s perfect mix of sunny days and cool evening temps in one of over 100 winery-owned vineyards. Boasting traditional sweet, semi-sweet, dry and noteworthy fruit-based and honey-infused wines, the Wine Country Inn in Palisade, CO, mixes luxury accommodations with vineyard experiences that are just a car-ride away.

UNWIND IN THE VINES

Located in the heart of Colorado’s wine country and sitting amidst 21 acres of vineyards, the Wine Country Inn offers guests an approachable, authentic wine country experience under safe COVID-19 protocols. With the relaxed atmosphere and luxurious amenities, some guests never venture beyond the property, while others choose adventure by day and wining and dining by night.  “You can have a totally immersive experience,” says General Manager Ian Kelley. “Your getaway is whatever you want it to be.” The Inn is dwarfed on the north by the Little Bookcliff mountains, home to around 150 mustangs living on the BLM Wild Horse Preserve. Dramatic views in all directions create unlimited exploration and plenty of photo ops.

CYCLE

Visitors are tempted by a variety of attractions: touring vineyards, wineries and tasting local wines; renting electric or conventional cruisers for tranquil, leisurely bike rides through the Fruit and Wine Byway; attacking the more serious terrain on the challenging Palisade Plunge mountain bike trail that opens in July, rafting the mighty Colorado River, sampling the abundant fruit from orchards, visiting enormous lavender farms, shopping for art by local painters, potters and sculptors in the local galleries.

WINE, WINE AND DINE

A daily afternoon wine reception is standard at the Wine Country Inn—the area’s first wine-themed resort serving its own Ten Acre Farm wines pressed from grapes grown on-site. A deluxe breakfast is also complimentary. In the evening, the Tapestry Lounge offers light dining, signature cocktails, beer and wine, while Caroline’s Restaurant boasts classically prepared favorites like rainbow trout, lamb and beef served with locally grown produce paired with Colorado wines. “The terroir is the same, so this area is a celebration of food and landscape,” emphasizes Bridget Zlab, WCI F&B Director. “Our guests experience firsthand how food and wine complement each other to create memorable dining.”

777 Grande River Dr., 777 Stubb Ditch Rd., Palisade, CO
970-464-5777 
coloradowinecountryinn.com

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Nestled at the base of the western Little Bookcliffs mountains, the 80-room Victorian style Inn and Colorado’s fifth established winery are joined by 20-plus acres of established vineyards of mostly Bordeaux-style varietals that are the backbone of Grande River Vineyards’ product line. European-trained and certified Rainer Thoma, who tends the vines and makes the wines, aims to elevate wine profiles and to add cold-hearty vines to the mix.

Co-owners Richard and Jean Tally plan to use Grande River’s pioneering heritage in Colorado’s wine industry as a foundation for establishing an updated winery operation producing high quality traditional wines.

“We have a rare opportunity to build a strong wine destination based on the symbiotic relationship between the hotel and the winery,”  Richard explains.

As a full service boutique hotel, WCI is a popular venue for weddings, celebrations, reunions and corporate retreats. The Inn can now book vineyard and winery tours, special tastings and wine dinners for individuals or groups of friends and family. This new wine destination is perfect for a celebration or a chance getaway.

“You can have a totally immersive experience,” says General Manager Ian Kelley. “Your getaway can be whatever you want it to be.”

Caroline’s Restaurant serves locally-sourced, classically prepared Colorado foods and wines, while Tapestry Lounge features wine, cocktails and small plates. The culinary team can customize in-house catering for events. A complimentary afternoon wine reception and hearty breakfast are standard    at the hotel. The Winery Tasting Room is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and sells food with its wine.

The area’s surrounding natural landscape is wide open for exploration. Whether you’re a leisure traveler soaking up the laid-back ambiance or a thrill-seeking cyclist attacking the Palisade Plunge, the Inn and winery are your “Gateway to   Colorado”— just a tank of gas away.

So fill ’er up, Salt Lakers, and motor on over to Western   Colorado’s new, bona fide wine destination.

WINE COUNTRY INN

777 Grande River Drive, Palisade, CO
970-464-5777
coloradowinecountryinn.com

GRANDE RIVER VINEYARDS

787 Grande River Drive, Palisade, CO
970-464-5867
granderivervineyards.com

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