Snapshot of paradise

You know those days when you feel like you could really use a vacation?

This is one of them. Seeking serenity now, I'm uploading some of my favorite snapshots from Clayoquot Wilderness Resort's site... full of rock-you-to-sleep type scenes that have me wishing for a little bit of British Columbia right here in Michigan.

For the full scoop on the resort, read my post @ Alternative Consumer.

Planning an Eco-Scape in Jackson Hole

Hotel Terra, skier's dream and Jackson Hole's green darling, has begun its campaign to lure the winter-ready among us to Wyoming with a lineup of green theme "eco-scapes."

The posh property, which blends rustic appeal with admirable LEED Silver certification, offers an impressive array of green efforts in addition to chic accommodations and superb location. Included in my list of favorites are 90 percent, naturally-lit hotel interiors; 100 percent offset electricity; guest-accessible water stations for  aluminum bottle refills; and clever, eco-chic design components (like those recycled seatbelt chairs in the photo below).

Opened last year, the 132-room hotel is tempting travelers with a bevy of packages for the looming season:

Winter Eco-Scape: A four-night package with one day of private guided skiing or ski lesson, a snowcoach tour in Yellowstone, lift tickets to  Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for two and a 50-minute spa treatment at Chill Spa, where only 100 percent natural products are used. Starts at $598 per night.