solairus aviation blog

The Umbrian countryside as seen from Orvieto's walls. ©Kevin Day/Tanager Photography

Most private jet vacation dreams of Italy involve walking down quiet, cypress-lined lanes while vineyards and 14th-century hilltop villas bask in the sun nearby. That dream is Tuscany, and the province is well-suited to please even the most jaded of traveler.

But next door, in Umbria, lies a land with many of the same charms, and a fraction of the hub-bub. Even if you’ve flown in a private jet to Florence or the Tuscan countryside, the splendors of Italy’s most rural province are worth a closer look.

Assisi at sunset. ©Kevin Day/Tanager Photography

Assisi: Spiritual Sanctuary

As the birthplace and home of St. Francis of Assisi, this quiet hilltop town receives most of Umbria’s visitors. Despite this attention, the town remains quiet and peaceful, as if to honor its favorite son, whose love of nature and animals is remembered to this day. The two-level Basilica is a pure wonder for the faithful as well as aficionados of art and architecture. The frescos in the Upper Basilica seem to radiate off the walls.

Driving distance from Florence: 2 hours; 173 km

Orvieto: Hilltop Splendor

Best known for its crisp white wine, Orvieto also beholds a storybook beauty that cannot be duplicated. Crowning the cliffs of a 100-foot-tall plateau, the city was created in part because of its defensible position. The garish exterior of the town’s cathedral betrays its cold, modest insides, and the fascinating Pozzo di San Patrizio — a 60-foot spiral water well that bores into the heart of city’s plateau — is a must see.

Driving distance from Florence: 1 hour, 40 minutes; 165 km

The peaceful shore of Lake Trasimeno. ©Kevin Day/Tanager Photography

Lake Trasimeno: Staggering History

The arc of Italian history is so long and grand, that at times, the only way to comprehend it is to see it for yourself. Between Perugia and Siena lies the beautiful Lake Trasimeno, where you can hop aboard a ferry and tour the splendid, fairy-tale like inhabited island of Isola Maggiore, a sanctuary for even St. Francis. But as tranquil and delightful as the lake seems, it is the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the Roman Empire’s history. It was on the lake’s northern shore in 217 BC that Hannibal’s forces ambushed a Roman legion, killing an astounding 15,000 soldiers. Rather than a Gettysburg-like national monument, you’ll simply find the lovely town of Passignano sul Trasimeno and fields of sunflowers.

Driving distance from Florence: 1 hour, 20 minutes; 122 km

Other Sites to Consider

At more than 3,000 square miles, Umbria is massive. But oddly enough, it is the only Italian province that doesn’t touch an international border or the sea, making it intensely Italian in culture. While Assisi, Orvieto and Lake Trasimeno are the most logical daytrips from Florence and Tuscany, several other towns make for easy exploring. Head to Gubbio for Gothic architecture to rival Siena, Norcia for slow-food favorites such as cured meats and truffles, or romantic Todi for no other reason but its hilltop beauty.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

Summer season in Tahoe has come to mean festival time in the mountains. We’ve even come up with our own reference: culture al fresco. There are plenty of options but we’ve made it easy by highlighting our favorites activities for our private jet travelers.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

Every year the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents a California-style version of the great playwright’s works. In its 40^th year the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival runs July 13 through August 26 this summer. The venue, Sand Harbor State Park, is open air with Lake Tahoe as the backdrop. The pre-show begins at 5:00 pm and either pack a picnic or purchase gourmet fare at the event. Insider tip: Plan to attend during a full moon cycle. I don’t think we need to tell you why.

Tahoe Music Festival

Music in the mountains: Is there anything better? Tahoe Music Festival delivers in spades with top-name performers like Blues Traveler, Colbie Caillat and Michael Bolton. Even better: The venue. Shows take place at the Village at Northstar with general and preferred seating. The schedule begins mid-July with performances running through August but act quickly; these sell out fast.

Squaw Valley Art, Wine and Music Festival

Wine at the Squaw Valley Art, Wine and Music Festival

The village at Squaw Valley transforms itself July 14 and 15 with art, wine and music. Artists line the streets outside Village shops while performers take to two stages. Add in wine tasting and your private jet Tahoe vacation is complete. Entrance to the festival is free and takes place from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm both days. Fifteen wineries provide tastings for $25.00 a person from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm both days. Like most perfect trios, art, wine and music promise to inspire you.

Truckee Tahoe Air Fair & Family Festival

You flew in on a beautiful charter private jet, so why not continue to celebrate all things that fly at this Fourth of July holiday festival in Truckee. View aircraft on the ground and in the sky, and talk with original Tuskegee Airmen. Take a ride in a P-51 and watch skydivers free fall in formation. The Festival is free and takes place at the Truckee Tahoe Airport July 7 from 7:00 am until 4:00 pm. Plan to spend the entire day; food and drinks are available onsite with $1 bike valet parking right up front.

Lake Tahoe SummerFest Arts

Art and artist education combine for the 2012 Lake Tahoe SummerFest Arts festival taking place August 2 through August 12. Celebrate culture each day from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm with workshops, such as Gene Constanza’s outdoor demonstration on his technique for creating early California impressionist pieces and Albert Handell’s lecture on pastels. View other artist work and make sure to swing through Diamond Peak Lodge to refuel with good eats and drinks.

5^th Annual Beerfest & Bluegrass Festival

Northstar Beerfest and Bluegrass

If beer and bluegrass is your thing, then plan to visit the Village at Northstar July 14. Sweetwater String Band and The Grant Farm take the stage while more than 25 craft brewers supply the suds. The festival lasts from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm and offers family-friendly activities too.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

On St. Barts, even the ordinary restaurants are famous: the venerable Le Select snack bar — a Gustavia institution since 1949 — inspired Jimmy Buffett’s iconic song Cheeseburger in Paradise, for example. So you can imagine how good the fine dining is on a French island where the art of gastronomy is held in highest regard. St. Bart’s top five-star restaurants that should make a dining must-do list for all private jet travelers to the island includes:

Le Gaïac

Acclaimed as one of the top restaurants in the Caribbean, Le Gaiac features the pinnacle of French-Creole cooking under the direction of chef Stephane Mazieres. The restaurant is located in the Hotel Le Toiny and is treasured for its romantic, open-air setting as well as top cuisine and service. The all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch offers a tour-de-force of appetizers, entrees and desserts to sample, or ask for the signature Parmesan spaghetti with truffles, prepared table-side.

Wall House

The name and description of the Wall House — a “restaurant and steak house with a wine cellar” — are deceptively simple: the restaurant serves an enticing array of classic French cuisine spiced with Asian and American influences under the guiding hand of chef Teddy Le Roux, the steaks are USDA-certified prime beef, and the wine list includes 250 selections from every region of France, selected by sommelier Andreas Larsson. The views of Gustavia from your dockside table are as sweet as the desserts.

Bartoloméo

Located in the gardens of the Hotel Guanahani, Bartolemeo offers a la carte dining or a five-course tasting menu designed by chef Nicola de Marchi and executive chef Philippe Masseglia. Meals on the wooden outdoor deck are informal yet sophisticated culinary journeys through the Mediterranean. Italy, and Provence. After dinner, take your aperitifs to the popular piano bar.

On-the-Rocks

The Eden Rock hotel is built on a natural high point on the shore of St. Jean Bay, and perched on top is the On the Rocks restaurant. Chef Jean Georges Vongerichten welcomes private jet travelers to enjoy haute cuisine along with the views — a signature experience at this Relais & Chateaux property. Some of the greens served at this Asian-inspired restaurant are grown on-site, and the wine list includes organic vintages as well as selections from the chef’s native Alsace.

L’isola

St. Bart’s fabulous French cuisine seems endless, but for a culinary and cultural change of pace, check out this chic Italian eatery. Cousin to Santa Monica’s Via Venito, L’isola is a robust nightly feast laid out by chef Fabrizio Bianconi, from antipasti to assorted risotto and pasta dishes and fabulous desserts.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

If you’re taking a private charter jet to Machu Picchu, be sure to set your alarm clock early. The sun breaking through the morning fog of the lost city of the Incas is not an experience to be missed!

To make the morning hike to Machu Picchu, resting at 7,970 feet above sea level, make your start a few hours before dawn. Strap on your walking shoes and grab a head-lamp: the climb up from nearby town Aguas Calientes is long and winding.

Your hike up the mountain will be rewarded with the still dawn rising onto the ancient grounds of Machu Picchu. Spend the morning wandering around the misty labyrinth of this UNESCO World Heritage site as the morning fog slowly dissipates. There’s no better place than this to settle in for a breakfast picnic, sharing the the fields throughout the site with llamas munching on the grass.

Fog burning off of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu in the distance.

There are certified and informed guides available to walk you through the history of the lost city. We would highly recommend taking a guided tour around the city to learn about the colorful stories of the site.

If you’re an adventurous private charter jet traveler, you should tackle the mountain overlooking Machu Picchu, called Huayna Picchu. Head over to the gates early to get a pass to climb or purchase tickets beforehand. Only 400 visitors are allowed to make the climb daily to preserve the area’s structures.

Climbing a few of the final stairs to the top.

The climb up is not for the timid: Huayna Picchu looms over Machu Picchu promising bursting lungs and slippery stones. You will wind your way up steep hills and weathered stairways to reach the peak at 8,922 feet, almost a thousand feet higher than Machu Picchu. The stairs are narrow and steep—many times barely wide enough for one person to navigate! In many areas a steel cable will help you steady your trip up, so hold on tight! The view from the top is unparalleled: you can see all of Machu Picchu stretching below you and down into the sloping, lush, valleys surrounding the site.

Machu Picchu is an often-visited destination, but you will understand what draws people from around the world once you step foot on its grounds. It will transport you to a different time and different world. Just remember to bring reliable shoes!

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

Friends mountain biking in Sun Valley.

Sun Valley is going a little mountain bike crazy. Gaining momentum on its reputation as one of the West’s best mountain biking meccas, there is no shortage of single track to ride or sunny days to enjoy on your next private charter jet vacation to Idaho.

And this summer, the Sun Valley area is hosting the second annual Ride Sun Valley Festival. One of the best, biggest and brightest weeks on two wheels, the festival is packed with parties, concerts, expos, the Fat Tire Criterium, the Idaho Pump Track State Championships, kids’ races, Fourth of July Celebrations and of course, USA Cycling’s Cross-Country National Championships.

The country’s best mountain bikers will assemble for the second year on Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain and race a course that is known for being brutal, fun and challenging. They will come together, racers of all ages and levels, to vie for the coveted “Stars and Stripes” bike jersey and for the title of National Champion.

But not all of us are racers, so many will enjoy checking out the music scene and cheering on the radical mountain bike-racing competitors during the Ride Sun Valley Festival.

There are trails for all levels at Sun Valley.

The White Cloud Trails:

The White Cloud Trail system is a great and expansive set of trails that are a perfect early season ride (with little trees and hardly any shade, the trails dry out faster here) and are ideal for improving the skills of mountain bikers of any level. The mountaintop location in the center of the Valley, with views of Baldy, the Sawtooth Mountain Range and the Pioneer Mountain Range don’t hurt either.

Corral Creek:

This fun and moderately challenging roller coaster of a trail is a perennial local favorite. Any given summer day you are sure to run into a local or two on this trail. It parallels Trail Creek Road out past the historic Sun Valley Village, past the Ernest Hemingway Memorial and through some of the most beautiful, close-to-town single track you’ll find. The best part of this trail is, you have the option of riding out on the road and riding back on the trail… i.e. the downhill!

Adam’s Gulch:

Adam’s Gulch is, by far, a favorite area to ride in Sun Valley. Located less than two miles north of Ketchum, you can ride or drive to the trailhead where you can pick your pleasure for the day. With a trail system that includes Sunnyside, Shadyside, Citizen’s Trail, Harper’s Trail, Lane’s, Eve’s Gulch and more, the possibilities are endless! From easy, to hard to mellow, this trail system has great signage and is a go-to for any private charter jet vacationer!

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

The Wasatch Mountains provide an excellent scenery backdrop for a charter jet fly-fishing trip (Photo Credit: Meghan M. Hicks)

Fly fishing is a beloved sport around the world and Park City, Utah is no exception. Experienced anglers as well as those looking to learn a new form of recreation will enjoy the robust and high-quality fly-fishing opportunities offered in this geographic area. Some spots are located very close to downtown Park City, and superb mountain views surround every fishing hole!

Locals and private charter jet travelers all love the Provo River, which is highly accessible by car, a short drive from town, and often a hotbed of fly fishing. The Provo River meanders past Park City to town’s east and south, through two reservoirs, across flatland stretches, and among the tumbling cascades and sleek, flat-water holes of Provo Canyon. The closest access point is a 20-minute drive from the Inspirato residences. This river, with its proximity, accessibility, and fishing quality, makes a great destination for half and full-day outings.

Locals call the Weber River, which is smaller than the Provo but just as close to Park City, a hidden gem. During peak fly-fishing seasons, you’re likely to share the Provo River with other anglers. Alternately, the hot holes of the Weber River are often empty except for you. This river is another perfect spot for a half or full-day outing from Park City.

The Strawberry River’s best fly-fishing locations are about an hour’s drive, through scenery that’s worth the outing alone, from the Inspirato residences. The river is known for its big brown trout. The Strawberry River is a remote river as compared to the Provo and Weber Rivers, and you feel like you’re in the wild! Choose the Strawberry River for a full-day excursion.

If you seek a multi-day fly-fishing expedition from Park City, you’re also in luck with the Green River. The Green River is accessible from a couple areas in Wyoming, which are a 2.5-hour drive from Park City. You can also fish the Green River in Utah via a 3.5-hour drive from Park City. Multi-day float trips, based on either lodging or camping, allow access to the best of the Green River.

If you’re an experienced angler with your own gear, fly fishing near Park City can be accomplished solo. Let your Destination Concierge arrange for your fishing licenses, gather information from local fishing reports, and secure transportation. Guided fly-fishing outings are exceptionally popular in Park City, and they can be catered to your ability and interests. Allow your Destination Concierge and your fly-fishing guide plan yours! Your guided trip will include gear, instruction, your guide’s local knowledge, food, transportation, licenses, and anything else you might need for fishing success.

We have one last secret. You diehard anglers will be elated to know that Park City has a number of hike-to fly-fishing spots in remote, alpine settings. They require legwork to learn about and access, but they are worth it!

On your next spring, summer, or fall privater charter jet vacation to Park City and Deer Valley, give fly fishing and some of the local fishing holes a go!

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

The new Aquatic Center at Olympic Park in London. Photo © London 2012.

The Olympics have the power to transform cityscapes with state-of-the-art infrastructure and spectacular new stadiums. After all, in 2008 it appeared that Beijing’s “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube” would steal the show … that is, until Michael Phelps won eight gold medals.

So, with just a few weeks until our private charter jet passengers fly to the opening ceremonies of the 30th Summer Olympic Games in London, we started wondering: how will the landscape of London be changed for the games?

New Venues

Most of the major development for the Olympic Games in London is centered around the 500-acre Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which is located in the Stratford area of East London. Occupying a former industrial zone, the park will bring a splash of green and gleaming white venues to this part of the city’s landscape.

But whereas most Olympic developments take on Herculean ambition, London has opted to take a more conservative approach. Call it a reluctance to spend extravagantly in a lean economy, or a desire for sustainability, but most of the new sporting venues are relatively modest affairs by Olympic standards. Then again, when your city already has facilities like Wembley Stadium and Wimbeldon to utilize, who can blame the British for being sensible?

Planners for these games were adamant that the plans exclude “white elephant” projects. As a result, every venue has a legacy plan for after the Games, meaning Londoners — and travelers alike — will have plenty to enjoy once the Olympic flame is extinguished.

Here are some of the top new venues that will crown the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park:

• Olympic Stadium – As the third-largest stadium in Britain, the Olympic Stadium will host both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events. Plans for the stadium after the games are still up for bid, but they include reconfiguration plans to be the new home of West Ham United Football Club.
• The Aquatic Center – Designed in 2004 for the London Olympics bid by Zaha Hadid, this facility will host swimming and diving. From afar, the structure is reminiscent of a white dove landing on the park.
• The ArcelorMittal Orbit – Orbit by Anish Kapoor — the genius behind Chicago’s Cloudgate (aka “The Bean”) — is not only the largest piece of public art in Britain, but will serve as an intriguing observation tower during and after the games.
• The Basketball Arena – Its straightforward name belies a straightforward purpose: to be taken down. As a temporary structure — the largest ever in Olympics history — the Basketball Arena will most likely be disassembled after the Olympics, but could potentially be used in the 2016 games in Rio de Janiero. Perhaps no other venue better captures the spirit of sustainability for these London Games for our private charter jet passengers.

Transportation Improvements

Transporting visitors to and from events will be no small task, particularly since the London Underground — already the second most extensive metro network in the world — handles 3 million passengers on an average day. As a result, upgrades have been implemented to several lines, including those serving East London and the Docklands.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

The chairlifts have stopped running in Vail and the chic mountain resort is quieting down a bit during the slower spring off season. But, private charter jet visitors to Vail have a lot of great stuff to look forward to once Memorial Day Weekend hits and summer season is in full swing by July 4 – plenty of opportunities for hiking and biking in the mountains, as well as fabulous annual events, the Sunday farmers’ market and lots of al fresco dining options. Here are some new events scheduled for Vail’s warm-weather months, as well as some recently opened restaurants.

Gran Fondo Vail Cycling Race

Modeled after bike races in Italy, this long-distance event for amateur cyclists August 18-19 will cover plenty of mountain terrain, high elevation gain and some short stints on dirt roads. Spectators will be able to catch the cyclists flying in and out of town; participants of the 120-mile full course or 50-mile short course will enjoy a pasta meal and plenty of Proseco afterwards! The Vail event is part of a national series that includes San Diego, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia, Reno and Miami.

Vail Symposium: Living at Your Peak

At this two-and-a-half day summit September 13-15, participants explore ways to live longer and healthier through presentations by top fitness, nutrition, psychology and medical experts, plus interactive sessions and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities in glorious area mountains. An on-hand concierge helps guide each guest to meet his or her health, fitness and longevity goals.

Matsuhisa Vail

This stellar sushi restaurant in the Solaris complex in the heart of Vail Village opened in late 2011. If you didn’t check it out during your private charter jet trip during ski season, stop in this summer for a meal on the patio, where you can sample outstanding yellowtail, shrimp tempura, and Nobu Matsuhisa’s famous Broiled Black Cod with Miso.

Elway’s

Another restaurant that opened just a few months ago, Elway’s is owned in part by former Denver Bronco quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer John Elway. The steakhouse replaced the oh-so-dated and frou-frou Wildflower restaurant in the Lodge at Vail. This welcome renovation to the space is sleek and modern, and the menu features steaks, seafood, Colorado lamb and a nice array of salads.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

Think mountain towns don’t offer much when it comes to sophisticated and trendy cuisine? Think again. Tahoe area restaurants offer the kind of dining experience that our private charter jet passengers expect in larger cultural centers, and Tahoe’s chefs, more importantly, have an easier time staying current when it comes to 2012′s hottest dining trend: locally sourced everything – from produce, meat and seafood to beer and wine. Add in that Tahoe is home to numerous Zagat-rated restaurants and the mountain escape you’re planning might turn out to be culinary-based.

Wolfdale’s Unique Cuisine, Tahoe City

If lakeview dining and inspired cuisine served in a creative display is your thing, consider Wolfdale’s. In operation since the late 70s, Wolfdale’s adventurous style is rooted in its farm-to-table ethos and sustainable choices when it comes to meats and seafood. We suggest you show up hungry and sample the Truffle fries rolled in Asiago cheese before moving onto menu mainstays such as Miso-glazed Alderwood Black Cod.

Pianeta Cucina Italian, Truckee

Once your private charter jet lands in Tahoe, immerse yourself in old-world European charm at Pianeta with their Italian and Mediterranean-style dishes. Prior to opening, owners Robyn Sills and Ed Coleman took the time to meticulously renovate the historic space that houses Pianeta. Their efforts paid off: the atmosphere conveys the authenticity and cozy intimacy of 500-year-old design. This classic theme extends beyond the dining space: every morning the kitchen staff hand-rolls pasta for the evening meal under executive chef Bill Arnoff’s watchful eye while he prepares Pianeta’s signature crispy duck with balsamic and basil infused demi-glaze.

PlumpJack Café, Squaw Valley

Obsessively seasonal menu, check. Locally-farmed produce, check. On-site sommelier, check. It’s no wonder PlumpJack Café excels at epicurean delights. Somewhat of a locavore, executive chef Ben Dufresne delivers on dishes like Fulton Valley Free Range Chicken Breast and Durham Ranch Sirloin of Prime Beef.

Dragonfly, Truckee

For Dragonfly, located in historic downtown, 2012s ethnic food trend comes easy especially with choices like lemongrass marinated New Bedford Diver Scallops and plantain and panko crusted Basa. Open daily, Dragonfly serves a sublime blend of Asian-influenced cuisine like Thai, Japanese, Indian and Malaysian. They also offer some of Truckee’s best cocktails and give beer connoisseurs unmatched access to west coast microbrews.

Petra, Village at Northstar

In December 2011 Petra opened doors in the Village and has received rave-reviews since. Self-assured proprietress Kali Kopley offers smart, tapas-style eats that are large on flavor and lets you pair them with limited-production wines from family-owned wineries.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

One of the best experiences flying a private charter jet to wine country is taste-testing the latest vintages straight from the winemakers themselves.

Good news for those flying in a private charter jet to Sonoma in 2012: Sonoma County’s Starlite Vineyards just released their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, and according to first taste-testers, the Bordeaux-style wine is primed to make a bold first-impression.

Starlite Vineyards, located in the Alexander Valley, is one of Sonoma County’s boutique wineries and the makers of European-style wines including the famed Cabernet, which is what Starlite is known for among top sommeliers. While the Cabernet is its tour de force, Starlite was honored with a 92-point nod from Wine Enthusiast for its 2006 Zinfandel.

Now comes the latest vintage from the vineyard, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. The new cab is said to be “seductive” and “silky” with hints of plums and smells of vanilla and chocolate. While a heavy and hearty Cabernet isn’t all that rare in Sonoma and Napa Valleys, the Starlite Cabernet is the most recent Cabernet to be released from a boutique vineyard in the region.

“We had to go outside the Bordeaux varietals to find a blend for this wine that would make it stand out in the crowded Cabernet Sauvignon space,” said Starlite Vineyards’ Owner Arman Pahlavan. “The resulting wine is gorgeous and very much Bordeaux in style to the point that at one of the blind tastings in New York City, one of the great sommeliers called it a 2000 Bordeaux.”

In addition to the release of the 2007 Cabernet, Starlite Vineyards also recently released two other wines; their 2007 Zinfandel, a Claret-style wine soft tannins, rich fruit, and ruby color, and their 2010 Viognier, a Condrieu style wine which exudes scents of orange blossom and honeysuckle along with layers of apricot, peaches, and nectarine.

Feel like a tasting? You can stop by the Starlite Vineyards’ Tasting Room, which is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (winter hours Thursday-Sunday) and on Mondays of major holidays.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.