Locals flock to the restaurant for its hand-cut steaks. RARE is “rare” in the sense that it has its own beef flown in from Japan. They age all the meat in house — something you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, especially in Madison.

I can’t imagine a better place to have said “yes” than Malibu, and particularly at Malibu Beach Inn.

Visiting Aspen in winter has been on my bucket list for a long time. I’m a sucker for the glitz, especially when it immerses me in nature. Fresh snow dumped on four mountains, and a swanky town center riddled with delicious food, high-end shops, and people wrapped in furs, is what makes the winter scene here so sensational.

Guests who book with Homes & Villas by Marriott International can expect to choose from an exciting array of private homes, including beachfront bungalows, sprawling villas, grand chateaus, cozy cabins, ski chalets, and characterful townhouses, flats, apartments and penthouses. There’s castles, too.

Travis and I checked into Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa for a two-day getaway that was very much needed. We roamed through the European village, ate and drank waterfront and under the pines, hiked, and explored the lake by boat.