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Dining among the clouds at the base of Oregon's Mt. Hood, Timberline Lodge's Silcox Hut.

In the Clouds: Timberline Lodge

I’m not often ferried by a snowmobile to meals, unless the grub is trail mix that tastes like icy tundra and stale Halloween candy. But on Mt. Hood, the differences are striking. First, my chariot, the snowmobile, is heated and seats 15 hungry passengers. And our destination is decidedly different from a lonely stretch of cross-country ski tracks. We’re heading to Silcox Hut, a fully restored, handcrafted stone-and-timber cabin a mile or so from Mt. Hood’s summit.

Courtesy of the Hyatt

Pumpkin, gold and luxurious aromatherapy oils. We didn't meet a facial we didn't love for the fall season.

Best Winter Hotel Spa Treatments in D.C.

No one understands the allure of spas more than city-hopping travelers. But whether you’re just visiting D.C. or live here, our local hotels continue to create new ways to pamper and make us feel whole again. We recently surrendered ourselves to four spas and came away with starkly different, but no less praise-worthy, experiences. 

The St. Regis Atlanta, located in the Buckhead neighborhood, features 151 guestrooms, 31 suites, wine room and, yes, one amazing pool.

Southern Swagger: Best New Hotels in Atlanta

Sure, we have an embarrassing number of streets sporting the name Peachtree, and the infamous humidity has earned our fair city the moniker Hotlanta. But you already knew that. What many visitors are learning, however, is that this city recently added a number of hip hotels offering just the right amount of swagger for residents and guests alike.

Balmy evenings in D.C. transform magically to a cool pool scene at the Liaison Capitol Hill.

Summer Deals: D.C. Hotel Packages

Cool drinks, steamy rooftops—must be a sweet summer of hotel options in Washington.

No matter the temps, the rooftop at the Liaison Capitol Hill (affinia.com) is one of the best spots in town. You’ll love the pool, cabanas, DJ and food from Art and Soul. Early birds: Don’t miss rooftop yoga at 7:30 a.m. Mats, bottled water and towels provided, reservations required.

Truffle pizzalores, a thin-crust gourmet pizza, is part of the new P.O.V. (rooftop lounge) menu at the W Hotel.

8 DC-Area Hotels to Check Into This Summer

Kudos to Kimpton, which recently opened its first regional eco-friendly (no bottles) wine-on-tap system at Hotel Monaco’s Poste. Check out the tap in the courtyard, where wine (Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot) is poured directly from a cask.

Montage Deer Valley Turns on Summer Charm

Woof! Some hotels welcome guests the traditional way—you know, with doormen and concierges. But at Park City’s newly opened mountain refuge, Montage Deer Valley (montagedeervalley.com; rates from $250), a well-behaved Bernese mountain dog named Monty does the honors.

Musical Paradise: The New W Hotel, Austin

Waiting for the W Austin (200 Lavaca St.; 512/542-3600) to open has been like being the last girl asked to the prom.

Courtesy of the Renaissance

Food and Beverage Director David Child shares his excitement about the new bar and lobby at the Marriott Renaissance D.C.

Quick Peek: New Bar at D.C.’s Renaissance Hotel

David Child has been the beverage director for Renaissance for more than three years, and he proudly showed off the bar and lobby to me during a recent walkthrough, chatting the whole way in his charming accent about the new additions, MiXX and Mingle, to celebrate the hotel’s 21st birthday earlier this year.

The design team understands Munich's devotion to authenticity and its loyalty to tradition.

German Magic: Munich's New Louis Hotel

I munch on my second Hakkaido scallop with yuzu rice vinegar when it hits me: Bavaria’s Mad King Ludwig would have loved this place, especially if he knew they named it after him.