taurants, such as Terra Bistro. More info:
www.bettyfordalpinegardens .org,
www.artinvail.com, www.ter
rabistrovail.com. Health and fitness enthusiasts:
Yosemite, Calif.
The Rockies are a great setting to get rejuvenated along with a little R & R. The new Vail Vitality Center offers wellness and nutrition workshops for everyone from athletes to novices, along with medically based guidance, rehab programs, bodywork treat- ment, and fitness programming. The Vail Athletic Club — the largest in the area at 18,000 square feet — is a huge, full-service gym with yoga at all levels, Pilates, cycling-conditioning studios, and private sports coaching, plus an indoor rock-climbing wall and classes such as snowshoeing in winter and power hiking in summer. Twice yearly, the Vitality Center hosts four- day Ageless Vitality sessions, with offerings such as body composition tests, “super food” demonstrations and nutrition workshops, strength- training classes, and indoor/outdoor cardio, plus spa lunches, personal training, and energy balancing. More info:
www.vailvitalitycenter.com.
Downtown Vail, Colo., offers fine dining and high- end boutiques.
A national park roughly the size of Rhode Island, Yosemite serves nature on a silver platter. Complimentary shuttle buses circle Yosemite Valley, with stops at the major sights, trailheads, points of interest, and lodging and camping venues as well as res- taurants and shopping areas. Everyone will love: Why stand in lines at a theme park when you can go to a national park, showcasing our country’s natural grandeur? You’ll find some of the world’s highest waterfalls, awe-inspiring rock formations and sheer cliffs, gigantic sequoias that would dwarf the Statue of Liberty, lush wildflower meadows, and wildlife galore, including bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and black bears (which are not always black). Hard-core adventurers can climb world-famous El Capitan, hike to the top of Half Dome, or venture deep into the backcountry. Less-rugged types can choose scenic nature hikes or mountain bike rides at all levels, lengths, and abilities. More info:
www.nps.gov/yose. Families: Tenaya Lodge, a classic resort
nestled in the forest just outside Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of towering sequoias, is a great base with two pools (indoor and out- door), bicycles, tennis courts, guided hikes, horseback riding, bicycling, ice skating, and guided Yosemite tours. There’s a climbing wall, an arcade, a babysitting service, and an “Adventure Club” for kids (to give grown-ups a little time on their own). Hungry? There’s a pizzeria, a casual grill with patio seating, and fine-dining restaurants, too — like the flaming Bananas Diablo at Embers, a delicious dessert and fiery show in one. Accommodations range from classic lodge rooms to family cottages. More info:
www.tenayalodge.com. Solitude seekers: Yosemite’s best-known sights are clustered along
the Valley, near Yosemite Village — so that’s where all the tourists go. To get away from the crowds, consider heading to Hetch Hetchy, at the park’s north entrance. Often called a “twin” to Yosemite Valley, with towering cliffs, wilderness trails, and waterfalls, here you can hike to your heart’s content and see sweeping vistas and views — without the crowds or traffic. For accommodations here, you can’t beat Evergreen Lodge, which offers
a coveted “middle of nowhere” feel without requiring you to rough it. You can stay in a private cabin big enough for a family of five or two couples to stretch out, with a living room, two bedrooms, and a front porch. For the fun of camping without the hassle, Evergreen offers “custom camping” with tents all set up and equipped with fluffy queen-size mattresses, luxe linens,
PHOTO: LEFT, GALEN ROWELL/CORBIS; ABOVE, SHUTTERSTOCK
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