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Tag: Aspen

  • Moncler Invited the Rich and Famous—And Me—To Aspen

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    After a complimentary glass of champagne at the St. Regis, my home for the weekend, I took an SUV—one of 180 available for Moncler guests throughout the weekend—for a 4-minute drive to the nearby Hotel Jerome, where, as I would later find out, the grownups were all staying. (As in, the VIP and high-profile guests, including Moncler CEO Remo Ruffini and my friend and perennial nicest-person-in-fashion award front-runner Rickie De Sole, a VP at Nordstrom and daughter of legendary Aspenite Domenico De Sole.) I was to join a press huddle with Ruffini, who would explain the reasoning behind staging his show in the US after choosing Courchevel last year and Saint Moritz the one before. This would be my first Grenoble show, though I did attend the €30 million spectacle Moncler hosted in Shanghai in 2024.

    In between hits of his vape, Ruffini delivered hit after hit of soundbites: “Brand perception is everything,” he said, in response to a question about his penchant for blockbuster shows. “I hope these journeys continue to elevate our brand,” he said.

    Ruffini was also celebrating the opening of a dedicated Grenoble store, its second-ever for the line. (There is a Moncler store, which opened in 2008 and was the brand’s first in the US, across the street.) Would he ever expand into hospitality, say, by opening a resort?

    “Hospitality is very important in our business, and we have the culture [of investing in it] in my family’s office, but not in the company at this moment,” he said, smiling, before delivering a true banger: “Experience is more important than possession.” It’s why Moncler hosts these spectacles all over, and why these trips include more than just a fashion show. He likes to see, and show, Moncler in action.

    When prompted about whether showing stateside, with political tensions and tariffs and other considerations, gave him pause, he said, matter of factly: “Think of the weather in New York right now, this is more important than tariffs, in a way.” As long as there’s snowstorms, people will buy a puffer jacket. Ruffini just needs to make sure that people know of Moncler. Which brings us back to me, a would-be snow bunny, in Aspen.

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    José Criales-Unzueta

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  • Denver opens cold-weather shelter at former hotel amid squabble between mayor, council

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    One of the largest emergency shelters in Denver’s system is again offering refuge from the cold this weekend after Mayor Mike Johnston unilaterally opened the site Friday — despite the City Council rejecting a contract for it late last year.

    The Aspen, formerly a DoubleTree hotel in northeast Denver, has space for up to 250 people in its ballroom and will be open as freezing temperatures pummel the Mile High City for the next few days.

    Johnston’s decision came after the city’s four other emergency shelters reached capacity on Thursday, the first night of the cold snap. The temperatures, expected to fall to near-zero Friday night and early Saturday, have the potential to cause frostbite in less than 30 minutes without proper attire.

    “With life-threatening cold settling over the city and people at risk of suffering serious injury or death, Mayor Johnston informed Council this morning that we will be opening the ballrooms at 4040 Quebec (St.) for temporary emergency cold weather shelter,” spokesman Jon Ewing wrote in a statement Friday.

    The near-failure to open needed cold-weather shelter space is just the latest chapter in an growing list of disagreements between the mayor and council members in which both sides have pointed fingers at one another.

    Denver extends severe weather shelter activation — and adds space — as cold grips city

    During a meeting on Dec. 8, 11 of the council’s 13 members voted to reject a contract to use the Aspen’s large space as a cold-weather shelter. (A separate contract with another provider, Urban Alchemy, covers the Aspen’s day-to-day use as a noncongregate shelter in the city’s homelessness initiative.)

    Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, whose district includes the shelter, said at the time that the mayor had promised her in 2023 that the site wouldn’t be used for the purpose of cold-weather sheltering.

    “My district is already overrepresented with shelters, with eight of them,” Lewis said. “This is ridiculous.”

    Only Councilmen Kevin Flynn and Darrell Watson voted to approve the contract last month.

    Another council-approved contract with Bayaud Works allows the city to use the ballroom space for short-term emergencies, Ewing said, and that is how the mayor’s office was able to open it Friday.

    Lewis has repeatedly asked the mayor’s administration to spread out the locations of the city’s homelessness services since she joined the council in 2023. Now, she says the mayor’s office is manufacturing an emergency to sidestep her continued protestations.

    Johnston “has failed to run the city with a long-term strategy,” she said in an interview Friday.

    Lewis said there shouldn’t be a cold-weather shelter at the same place as noncongregate housing. Instead, she asked for the Aspen’s ballroom to be used as a navigation center offering resources to homeless people.

    But Johnston’s team said they were taken by surprise when the council rejected the contract just as the winter months were setting in and hadn’t had nearly enough time to find enough shelter space since then.

    “The real emergency is that it is 5 degrees outside and people are going to die if we don’t get them inside,” Ewing said.

    The Aspen made the most sense to use, he said, because it’s already set up with cots, showers and bathrooms. A site that’s well-known among the city’s homeless population, it also mostly serves people who are already in that area, he said.

    “We do not just have shelter sites lying around. There are only so many spaces, and there is a likelihood we would need to hold community meetings, go through a full council process and potentially even rezone,” Ewing said.

    He added that the city didn’t plan to use the Aspen for cold-weather shelter next year. A new site for emergencies hasn’t been chosen yet, in part because of the limited options.

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    Elliott Wenzler

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  • Champagne, Caviar Bumps and Celebrities: Inside Aspen’s St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

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    Before the tournament kicked off on Wednesday, there was the obligatory pilgrimage to Kemo Sabe, where Mariah Carey, Shay Mitchell, and Pia Baroncini picked up custom cowboy hats—the must-have accessory for blending in with Aspen’s Western-chic aesthetic.

    Once play began at Rio Grande Park, champagne flowed freely alongside a raw bar, sushi station, and taco setup in the St. Regis tent. Roving waiters circulated, offering caviar bumps and freshly shucked oysters to a crowd swaddled in fur and cowboy boots, carrying dogs decked out in sunglasses, mini cowboy hats, and Moncler puffers. Base State Longevity, meanwhile, offered custom snow polo IV therapy drips, B12 shots, and oxygen therapy.

    Nacho Figueras and Shaun WhiteNick Radford.

    That evening, some, including Tina Chen Craig and James Tupper, retreated to the hotel’s RAKxa wellness spa to recharge in the ammortal chamber’s infrared therapy and try out Aescape’s AI-powered robotic massage. Others headed straight to the Staud for the St. Regis Alpine Collection unveiling, where White performed a champagne sabrage—slicing the bottle top with a sword. Guests, including Charlotte Groeneveld, Stephanie Suganami, and Sara Sampaio, were then shuttled to Wild Fig for a dinner hosted by Staud cofounder George Augusto.

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    Rachel Marlowe

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  • The best times and places to see aspen in Colorado

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    Colorado’s fall color season is upon us as the first areas of the state are reaching peak, with the rest of the state to follow, according to Dan West, also known as “Mr. Aspen” because of his annual fall foliage forecast.

    West is the Colorado State Forest Service entomologist based in Fort Collins who recently flew the state looking at the health of the state’s forests and received a bird’s-eye view of how the aspen are turning.

    Here is your guide for peak viewing times and best color drives in Northern Colorado and statewide.

    Peak fall color viewing times in Colorado

    Here is West’s prediction on when areas of the state will see peak conditions:

    • Northern mountains: Includes areas north of Interstate 70, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Steamboat and Cameron Pass areas. Peak expected Sept. 20-27.

    • Central mountains: Includes, the I-70 corridor, including Breckenridge, Vail and Aspen. Peak expected Sept. 24-30 at higher elevations and cold valleys and Sept. 29-Oct. 5 for elevations in between.

    • Southern mountains: Includes the Grand Mesa, Crested Butte, Pagosa Springs area. Peak expected for Oct. 8-13.

    Tips on how to safely navigate during Colorado’s prime fall color viewing

    National Public Lands Day is Sept. 27, so expect especially high traffic that Saturday when many areas of the state will be at peak viewing.

    That day allows for free admission to National Park Service sites such as Rocky Mountain, Colorado National Monument, Great Sand Dunes. Mesa Verde and more.

    Here are driving tips from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

    • If you’re able, avoid weekend fall color traffic jams by going Tuesday through Thursday. Prime weekends see significant traffic in certain areas.

    • Be aware of vehicles traveling at lower speeds.

    • Watch for vehicles pulling off the roadway or parked along the road.

    • Find safe, designated areas to park.

    • Drivers, be aware of pedestrians out of their vehicles taking photos.

    • Pedestrians, watch out for passing vehicles.

    Best fall color drives in Northern Colorado

    • Peak to Peak Highway: This drive on Colorado Highway 7 from Estes Park to Central City/Black Hawk takes you along the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park and offers excellent viewing.

    • Buckhorn Canyon/Pingree Park loop: One of the more popular and closest aspen viewing drives to Fort Collins includes a loop consisting of Buckhorn Road (Larimer County Road 44H), Pingree Park Road (Larimer County Road 63), Colorado Highway 14, Larimer County Road 27 (Stove Prairie Road) and Rist Canyon Road (Larimer County Road 52E).

    • Upper Poudre Canyon: The Cameron Peak Fire burned many aspen in the stretch from Rustic to Cameron Pass area along Colorado Highway 14, but aspen viewing picks up once you are west of Cameron Pass in the Gould area and all the way to North Park. The Colorado State Forest State Park visitor center has ample aspen, some of which turn a beautiful orange.

    • Rocky Mountain National Park: A good loop drive is to take the slower (and less crowded) gravel Fall River Road up and take the paved (and more crowded) Trail Ridge Road down. Depending what time of day you drive here, you might need a timed entry permit reservation.

    Colorado’s best fall color drives

    • Kebler Pass: The 30-mile drive on a mix of pavement and gravel on Kebler Pass Road (Gunnison County Road 12) just west of Crested Butte to Colorado Highway 133 is the quintessential Colorado aspen drive. This area boasts the largest aspen grove in North America.

    • Maroon Bells: Located about 42 miles southeast of Aspen off of Colorado Highway 82, this is one of most photographed places in Colorado, for good reason. Make sure to secure a reservation before visiting.

    • Dallas Divide: Take Colorado Highway 62 west from Ridgway. For even more color continue to Colorado Highway 145 south to Telluride on the San Juan Skyway. This area offers a superb combination of bountiful aspen and majestic mountains in 14,157-foot Mount Sneffels and 14,252-foot Mount Wilson.

    • Grand Mesa Scenic Byway: This 63-mile paved road leaves Interstate 70 about 45 miles east of Grand Junction and heads up Colorado Highway 65 on the Grand Mesa to Cedaredge. The world’s largest mesa is filled with color from aspen, cottonwoods and scrub oak dotted with aspen-ringed lakes.

    • La Veta Pass: This 50-mile drive on U.S. Highway 160 takes you from Walsenburg to Fort Garland and offers golden aspen mixing with the dark greens of pines and stunning views of the Spanish Peaks and Sangre de Cristo mountains that tower above the San Luis Valley floor.

    • Guanella Pass: This 22-mile scenic byway between Georgetown and Grant turns from a paved road to a well-maintained gravel road. From I-70, take the Georgetown exit and follow the signs. While the aspen show is grand here, so are the crowds.

    • Flat Tops Trail: Ditch the crowds on this 82-mile stretch of paved and gravel road between Meeker and Yampa and experience one of the best aspen viewing drives in northwest Colorado.

    Where to find fall color condition updates

    For 2025 fall color viewing conditions in Colorado and across the country, visit this map. The map will be updated as the season approaches and progresses.

    This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Best drives, places to view fall aspen colors in Colorado

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  • Powdr planning to sell Colorado’s Eldora Mountain Resort in coming weeks

    Powdr planning to sell Colorado’s Eldora Mountain Resort in coming weeks

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    Powdr Corp., which owns multiple ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada, is selling Vermont’s Killington Resort and Pico Mountain, the largest mountain resort in New England, to a group of local passholders, the company said Thursday.

    Powdr also said it plans to list three other resorts for sale in the coming weeks: Eldora, in Colorado; Mt. Bachelor, in Oregon; and SilverStar, in British Columbia.

    The Salt Lake City-based company will keep Copper Mountain, in Colorado, and Snowbird in Utah, she said. It aims to balance its ski business with its two concession contracts in the National Parks and operations of Woodward camps and mountain centers, spokesperson Stacey Hutchinson said by email.

    Killington said the purchase by local investors represents “a commitment to keeping Killington and Pico in the hands of those who know and love it.” The new owners will focus on capital investment, community engagement and sustainability, the resort said.

    Powdr bought Killington in 2007. The ski area for years has been one of the stops on the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup tour. Powdr will retain a minority ownership stake and have a seat on the board of directors, it said.

    “We will miss the entire team there but cannot wait to see the amazing things that lie ahead,” Hutchinson said. “The new owners, who are locals with a deep love for the mountain, share our commitment to the resort’s long-term success.”

    Killington said its grateful for Powdr’s stewardship over the years, with improvements to infrastructure, snowmaking capabilities, and year-round growth.

    “We believe that local ownership will allow us to be even more responsive to the needs and desires of our community and guests,” said Mike Solimano, Killington’s president and general manager.

    Killington and Pico will remain on the popular Ikon ski pass, Killington said. There will be no changes to the leadership or management, it said.

    Powdr previously owned Alpine Meadows, now called Palisades Tahoe, in California, from 1994 to 2007; Lee Canyon, in Las Vegas, from 2003 to 2023; and Park City Mountain in Park City, from 1994 to 2014, according to Hutchinson.

    Denver 7+ Colorado News Latest Headlines | August 22, 11am

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    The Associated Press

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  • Casino mogul Steve Wynn and his billionaire neighbor in Florida pay $108 million for mansion on Aspen Mountain

    Casino mogul Steve Wynn and his billionaire neighbor in Florida pay $108 million for mansion on Aspen Mountain

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    Only a handful of states can claim a single-family home sale topping $100 million. Colorado has joined that rarified group with the record $108 million closing on Monday of 419 Willoughby Way on Aspen’s Red Mountain.

    “It is great for the market. It is a testament to how special a community Aspen is on a global scale,” said listing agent Riley Warwick, who is with the Saslove & Warwick Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

    The founder of the Bellagio and Wynn resort casinos, Steve Wynn, teamed up with Thomas Peterffy, a pioneer in computerized and discount stock trading, to purchase the home for close to the $110 million the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month.

    Patrick Dovigi, founder and CEO of Green for Life Environmental and a former professional hockey player in Canada, was the seller. Dovigi, who has invested in several Aspen properties, purchased the home in 2021 for $72.5 million from Lewis Sanders, former chairman and CEO of Sanford C. Bernstein.

    “Only a few markets have reached that kind of sale,” said Julie Morrah, president of Aspen Title & Escrow, which handled the title and escrow work on the purchase.

    The U.S. saw its first $100 million home sale two decades ago. Since then, about two dozen sales, not counting Monday’s purchase, have crossed that mark, according to the Wall Street Journal.

    Most $100 million-plus home sales have happened in Manhattan; Miami and Palm Beach, Fla.; Los Angeles and Malibu, Calif.; and Hawaii. Aspen now joins that list.

    Monday’s sale busted a short-lived record for Colorado set last Thursday of $77 million paid for Owl Creek Ranch, also in Aspen.

    So how did Dovigi reap a 50% return in just three years? He and his wife, an interior designer, remodeled the property, originally built in 2009.

    The house sits in a prime location at the base of Red Mountain overlooking Aspen. At 22,405 square feet, the house has 11 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms, a guest house, a large garage, and a heated outdoor pool.

    Pitkin County has capped future home construction at a maximum of 9,250 square feet, Warwick said. Unless the rules change, Aspen won’t ever see a new home built at that size, so scarcity also helped push the price higher.

    Unlike a traditional closing where sellers, buyers and their agents sit across from each other at a table and hand over keys once the wire clears, the deal was done remotely and through attorneys, which is typical for the highest-end homes.

    “You have a lot of attorneys involved doing a lot of the heavy lifting,” Morrah said, noting that a deal of that size had extra tight security.

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    Aldo Svaldi

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  • Awkward! Kyle Richards & Mauricio Umansky Reunite For Family Ski Trip In Aspen After His Partying! – Perez Hilton

    Awkward! Kyle Richards & Mauricio Umansky Reunite For Family Ski Trip In Aspen After His Partying! – Perez Hilton

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    Whelp, this must be awkward as hell!

    Perezcious readers know Mauricio Umansky has been turning heads this week as he’s been spotted hanging out with multiple younger women in Aspen, including influencer Lele Pons, 30-year-old Brazilian singer Anitta. And at one point the two ladies were in nothing but a towel while the trio went skiing together!

    Related: Kyle Reveals How She Helped Morgan Wade During Double Mastectomy Journey!

    During adventures in Aspen, he was even caught cozying up to 33-year-old fashion designer Alexandria Wolfe! According to People, a source claimed he and Alexandria have been “getting to know” each other and enjoying each other’s company upon meeting in Aspen.” Oof. No wonder his estranged wife, Kyle Richards, needed to “escape reality for a bit” in Mexico!

    He’s been living it up like a college guy! But now, Mauricio has to face the music (and wrath) following his week of partying! Because TMZ reported that Kyle left her mini-vacation to join the 53-year-old real estate agent and the rest of their family in Aspen!

    The outlet reported the former couple were spotted with their children and what appeared to be a private instructor on Saturday walking around the ski resort. Kyle and Mauricio appeared to flash smiles during their outing. However, they were caught in some tense moments! In one picture posted by TMZ, they did not have pleasant looks on their faces while talking with each other! Yikes. You can ch-ch-check out some of the photos (below):

    We cannot help but wonder if Kyle had a little chat with him about his partying ways this week! Someone give us the deets on their reunion conversation STAT! LOLz! Reactions, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments (below)!

    [Image via Kyle Richards/Instagram, Access Hollywood/YouTube]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • Millennials Leading Transition From Country Clubs To Social Clubs

    Millennials Leading Transition From Country Clubs To Social Clubs

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    Given the size of their enormous cohort, Millennials wield incredible clout to change society. Since maturing into young adults, they’ve been fingered as culprits behind the demise of a great many societal habits and norms, from the donning of business suits and the shopping of department stores to the use of banks and golf clubs.

    Given that last item, they’re not surprisingly also being named the guilty parties in the slow death of U.S. country clubs. In the place of sport-centric, niche settings, however, Millennials are embracing a new phenomenon. That is the emergence of members-only social clubs catering to varying, often active and outdoorsy, interests and demographics.

    As one-time country clubs are repurposed into social clubs, several design trends are emerging. Because members value experiences above all, a broad array of food and beverage offerings and the correct culinary experience are essential. Social clubs also are seen as places where members can partake of work-ready spaces allowing them to work as hard as they play. Finally, social clubs take advantage of the natural world around them to serve up fitness activities ranging from trail running to skiing.

    Retrofit hurdles

    Officials of architectural firms tackling the conversion of country clubs to social clubs understand this is an undertaking with no shortage of headwinds.

    “Any time you’re adapting a space once used for something else, you’re going to encounter challenges,” says Rebecca Stone, AIA, LEED BD+C with Denver, Colo.-based OZ Architecture, a firm involved in several such conversions.

    “Layout updates are often needed to bring the flow of these spaces into current guest and operations expectations. For example, many country clubs had very formal dining rooms and today this experience is more open, activated with the bar, and flows indoor to outdoor. Despite the challenges, we also find a lot of inspiration in adaptive reuse projects. Outdated or historic properties can often be a source of some really fun, quirky ideas and inspiration for designers.”

    Examples of today’s members-only social clubs include the following. Designed by OZ Architecture, Gravity Haus in Aspen, Colo. is a social club designed for mountain-loving outdoor enthusiasts who like access to premium gear and expert-led fitness programs.

    Park House Dallas is a private social club that provides curated experiences within a modern social setting designed by architecture and interior design study Droese Raney, which focuses upon commercial, hospitality and retail projects nationwide.

    HEIMAT, in Los Angeles, is a pioneering social club concept that incorporates fitness, exercise, wellness, fine dining and socialization. The club is designed by INCO STUDIO, focused upon motion design, corporate design and interior architecture.

    Design process

    It’s important for architectural firms to pinpoint the distinctive facets that make the property unique, whether they be part of the built environment or alternatively are qualities members believe intrinsic to the experience, Stone says. These elements become parts of the design story as expansion or renovation plans are outlined.

    “The goal of each property is very different, and as designers, we look to ensure that a strong sense of place is achieved for every project we touch,” Stone says, adding OZ team members of differing generations are encouraged to deliver their thoughts about the properties and projects upon which the firm is focused.

    “Gen Z and Millennials are changing the conversation around social clubs,” she concludes. “The outcome has been a significant trend toward creating active social spaces where members can work, play, work out, meet friends, relax and bring their families. Clubs are being positioned to serve a much deeper demographic than just golfers in the country clubs of old. And this new generation wants a more casual environment where all aspects of their lifestyles are wrapped in.”

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    Jeffrey Steele, Contributor

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  • $1,850 a day? What it costs to visit the 10 most expensive vacation destinations in the world

    $1,850 a day? What it costs to visit the 10 most expensive vacation destinations in the world

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    Looking to splurge on your next vacation?

    The travel website FloridaPanhandle.com analyzed costs in 100 popular vacation spots, looking into average prices for accommodations, transportation, food and attractions.

    Here are 10 destinations that certainly call for big budgets.

    According to the analysis, the most expensive vacation destinations, excluding flight costs, are:

    1. Gustavia, St. Barts
    2. Gstaad, Switzerland
    3. Aspen, Colorado
    4. Park City, Utah
    5. Maui, Hawaii
    6. London, England
    7. Cocoa Island, Maldives
    8. Maun, Botswana
    9. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    10. Monte Carlo, Monaco

    The 10 most expensive vacation destinations around the globe.

    Source: CNBC

    The list was dominated by islands and ritzy ski towns, though the draw of eco-tourism safaris in Botswana and Europe’s financial capital, London, rounded out the ranking.

    Where hotels average $1,000 per night

    The Caribbean island of St. Barts is the most expensive vacation destination in the world, largely because of its high accommodation costs, which average $1,770 per night, according to the analysis.

    Average hotel rates in Switzerland’s Gstaad (No. 2) are $1,360, according to the research. The town in the Swiss Alps also has the highest average food costs on the list, at $177 per day.

    Accommodations at the third priciest spot — Aspen, Colorado — average $1,385 for one person, but a family of four can expect to pay $2,274, according to the analysis.

    A street in downtown Aspen, Colorado.

    Nik Wheeler | Corbis Historical | Getty Images

    To find those prices, FloridaPanhandle.com researched average rates for four- and five-star hotels for stays during Christmas (Dec. 21-27) and the spring (May 19-25), but did not include taxes.

    Attractions: from $0 to $333 per day

    To estimate the price of activities, FloridaPanhandle.com calculated the average cost for each location’s three most-reviewed attractions on TripAdvisor.

    The ski town of Park City, Utah, averaged $333 for daily attractions — the highest on the list.

    Attractions in Maun, Botswana, Africa’s lone destination on the list, averaged more than $100 per day for activities like a one-day visit to the Okavango Delta.

    Despite having higher overall average costs, St. Barts and the Maldives’ attractions were valued at $0. Vacationers may have to pay top dollar for hotels in those locations, but their beaches are free.

    Monaco, Monte Carlo.

    Ostill | Istock | Getty Images

    Monte Carlo had one of the lowest average rates for attractions on the list, a surprising result for a vibrant gambling hot spot.

    While “Monte Carlo is known for its casinos, it is also not the most popular thing to do in town,” said a representative from FloridaPanhandle.com.

    According to the company, the three most popular attractions in Monte Carlo are the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, an outdoor area called Casino Square, and the Casino of Monte Carlo, which has an entrance fee of 18 euros ($20).

    Gambling losses, however, are not included in Monte Carlo’s average attraction costs.

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  • ESPN sells majority interest in iconic X Games brand

    ESPN sells majority interest in iconic X Games brand

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    ESPN sold its majority stake in the X and Winter X Games on Wednesday, marking the end of a nearly three-decade chapter during which the network helped propel snowboarding, skateboarding and other action sports out of the fringe and into the mainstream.

    Terms of the sale to MSP Sports Capital, a sports-focused private equity firm that also has stakes in McLaren Racing and a handful of European soccer teams, were not released. ESPN will remain a minority partner in the events and will continue to televise them.

    This season’s Winter X Games are scheduled for Jan. 27-29 in Aspen, Colorado.

    Created during an era when ESPN still craved programming of all sorts (ESPN2 was originally designed specifically to appeal to a younger audience) the Winter X Games have long been a trendsetter in snowboarding. It carries a reputation for building the best halfpipes and slopestyle courses and finding new events (think, snowmobiling) and niches ( think, Knuckle Huck ) to keep action sports on the cutting edge.

    Next to his three Olympic titles, Shaun White’s 15 wins and 23 overall medals at the X and Winter X Games are his top sports achievement. Virtually all of the sport’s biggest names — Chloe Kim, Jamie Anderson, Danny Davis, Marc McMorris and more — have won multiple titles in Aspen. Even in an era in which the Olympics overshadows most everything, hardly anyone argues that a great snowboarder’s resume isn’t complete without some kind of victory in Aspen.

    The first X Games were held in 1995 — a summertime affair known as the “Extreme Games” that focused on skateboarding. Tony Hawk was among the gold medalists at the inaugural gathering. ESPN added a winter version in 1997 that eventually overshadowed its summer cousin in many ways, in large part thanks to snowboarding’s inclusion in the Olympic program a year later.

    Building courses, finding judges, dealing with athlete health and safety and scheduling concerts that, increasingly, became a major draw to the events takes a staff of more than 1,000. By selling the majority stake while remaining invested in the enterprise, ESPN will step away from that part of the endeavor but will still focus on its core mission — televising sports.

    “We’re proud of what we’ve created with our employees and the athletes over nearly 30 years of world-class X Games events and content,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN and Sports Content.

    Stepping in will be MSP, which will take over the production of the contests, and is expected to reshape the digital offerings for an event that skews to a younger, content-craving audience.

    “Our vision for the X Games tomorrow, next year and a decade from now is simple — we want to create a global action sports community of athletes and fans where we push the limits of competition and entertainment,” said Steve Flisler, who becomes the new CEO of the X Games.

    Flisler has been an executive at Twitch, a streaming service that is best know for its live streaming of video games, and also was in leadership positions at NBCUniversal.

    He said the mission at the X Games is to create “a content engine that gives fans more ways to interact and get hooked to athlete stories.”

    “X Games athletes are competitors first but increasingly will become some of the most influential content creators across the globe,” Flisler said.

    ———

    More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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  • “Mobituaries”: John Denver – Death of the Sunshine Boy

    “Mobituaries”: John Denver – Death of the Sunshine Boy

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    “Mobituaries”: John Denver – Death of the Sunshine Boy – CBS News


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    In the new season of podcasts Mo Rocca looks back at one of the most beloved entertainers of his era: singer-songwriter John Denver (who died 25 years ago this week), whose utterly sincere songs about Colorado and nature made him one of the biggest stars of the 1970s. Rocca visits Aspen, Colorado to meet John’s first wife Annie Denver, and close friend Tom Crum, to learn more about the man behind the music. [For more tune in to “Mobituaries” wherever you download podcasts.]

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