Food & Wine

In Praise of Puakea

puakea ranch review

[trip style = sun + food]

Editor's Note: Photos below.

There's a grocery store down the road from Puakea Rancha stylish, salt-of-the-earth escape on the Island of Hawaiibut you won't peruse the aisles more than once because the farm-stay's fertile grounds turn every day into gourmet. 

Set on a 33-acre plot gently cascading down the northwestern tip of Hawaii's biggest isle, Puakea Ranch begs you to live off the land. The "house" chickens lay eggs daily; fruit trees rise at every turn; and the garden's produce is fit for a chef. And then there's Angus, the bandana-wearing pup-come-site-savant who is keen to show off his idyllic habitat {especially when the task relates to food}. 

With Angus as our guide, we found many of the fruit trees and lived off the landan inclusion when you stay in any of the four restored 1940s cottages situated in quiet corners of the ranch. Each day, when the sun came up, we'd brew Kona coffee, throw on the same clothes as the day beforethe place is cool but not pretentiousand saunter down to the chicken coop to see what how many eggs had hatched.

Thankfully, Blue Styler was so distracted by his new BFF, Angus, we'd swipe the eggs before he could reach {and crack} them, and place them into our basket, filled with papaya, coconut, limes and mangoes we gathered in the brief walk from our cottage to the coop. This was breakfast along with some crusty bread from the nearby town of Hawi.  

As a traveler and writer who relishes in places where chic meets unique and au courant meets authentic, Puakea has been on my radar since I started Trip Styler in 2009. Due to its unique grounds and well-groomed guest experience, it's the kind of stay that makes you want to break out into song à la Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

"I developed Puakea because I wanted an honest-to-goodness place to vacation with attention to detail; when I couldn't find it, I developed it," Christie, Puakea's owner and visionary told me over coffee. "At first, the cottages were deemed tear-downs," she recalled, which is hard to believe given they each look like they could occupy the cover of any leading travel magazine. Three years later, she proved that derelict should not be overlooked: Each bungalow now holds court on the State's Historic Register, a stud-to-style undertaking taking three years of planning and development, as well as a hands-on building crew who lived onsite in safari tents. 

To say Puakea is labor of love is an understatement. Original hardwood floors grace each abode. And the shingles sheltering each cottage? They were taken off, re-stained and hung on clotheslines to dry before being slotted back into place. Every window, piece of wood, and stud has a story, including the boot-kick in the doorway of Cowboy House, an indentation used by the house's original inhabitants to remove the dirt from their boots after a long day in the fields.

Speaking of cowboys, another hint at the ranch's history is the Architectural Digest-gorgeous bathhouses outside of every stay. Once housing tubs for the wranglers and workers to soak in after a hard day on the range, the owner resurrected the washhouses with wow-factor fixtures such as an antique copper soaking tub for two or a Japanese furo bath, and wood-slab counters.

When you're not making friends with the pigs and her piglets, wondering if you're in a dream as white horses gallop past you, or picking mangoes from the trees, there's the lava rock-rimmed swimming ponds with leafy views peering over the Pacific. Taking a dip is the perfect way to end the day before you head back to the garden to pick up some swiss chard and tomatoes to toast your gourmet vacay. Can I get an Amen? 

Details
+Yoshi's House: Two bedrooms {sleeps six} with its own swimming pond + wraparound lanai overlooking the ocean.
+Cowboy House: Three bedrooms {sleeps six} with private hot tub + shared swimming pond.
+James' Cottage: Large studio-suite {sleeps two} with private hot tub + shared swimming pond.
+Miles Away: Two bedrooms {sleeps four} with private dipping pool.
-->Included in each cottage: Washer/Dryer, kitchens, BBQs; as well use of pools, fruit from trees, veggies from garden, eggs from coop, and toys from the Toy Box room.

The welcoming committee 

The welcoming committee 

The communal swimming pond

The communal swimming pond

The tree-lined path to Yoshi's House

The tree-lined path to Yoshi's House

Yoshi's House entry {where we stayed}

Yoshi's House entry {where we stayed}

Yoshi's House interior

Yoshi's House interior

Checking out the just-picked lime plucked from a tree outside our cottage

Checking out the just-picked lime plucked from a tree outside our cottage

Heading out to pick veggies from the garden

Heading out to pick veggies from the garden

The garden

The garden

Photoshoot-ready tree

Photoshoot-ready tree

Blue Styler meeting one of the little chicks

Blue Styler meeting one of the little chicks

Even the chick and chicken coop is beautiful

Even the chick and chicken coop is beautiful

Toy Box playroom 

Toy Box playroom 

Blue Styler playing with a vintage Tonka dump truck {Mr. Trip Styler used to have one...!} from the Toy Box

Blue Styler playing with a vintage Tonka dump truck {Mr. Trip Styler used to have one...!} from the Toy Box

Our familia hanging in Puakea's upcountry Hawaiian paradise 

Our familia hanging in Puakea's upcountry Hawaiian paradise 

[photos by @tripstyler, taken while as a guest of the rancha place I'll return to yearly. Mark my words.]

It is Well

[trip style = luxe + food + beach]

Editor's Note: Hello 2017! Here's a dose of wellness to kick off Trip Styler version 2017!

Built on land known as Kalahuipua’a where Hawaiian royalty used to retreat for mind-body-spirit rejuvenation, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows is a touchstone to its well beginnings. Just stepping foot on the property you feel a sense of renewal beyond the bliss that splashes your soul when you first arrive at a destination.

With a prime position pointing due West, the arrow-shaped property is situated along the Kohala Coast where quiet coves, sugary sand, and the rugged remains of the Hualalai volcano cozy up to the coastline. 

As one of the first hotels in the area, the land is wide open {read: Views for miles} and filled with native Hawaiian flora and fauna saturating the resort from its ancient fishponds to the hotel’s atrium, a botanical garden where nature is the main showpiece. 

At this divide between surf and turf, sparkling water, historic petroglyphs, a thatched-roof spa, or dinner at the sunset's edge will make you want to relocate to the island permanently. Wherever you go in the 30-acre property, it becomes clear why the land was once a royal retreat. It is well.  

The pool at twilight.

The pool at twilight.

The supermoon I captured at 5:30am from my oceanfront suite.

The supermoon I captured at 5:30am from my oceanfront suite.

I spy a Trip Styler beelining for the shaded beach cabanas, an inclusion that ensures there's somewhere to retreat from the heat. {Most hotels charge extra for beach lounges like this...}

I spy a Trip Styler beelining for the shaded beach cabanas, an inclusion that ensures there's somewhere to retreat from the heat. {Most hotels charge extra for beach lounges like this...}

A feel-good stay: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows was the first resort in Hawaii to implement commercial-scale solar energy with a photovoltaic system so major, its panels span three acres. 

A feel-good stay: Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows was the first resort in Hawaii to implement commercial-scale solar energy with a photovoltaic system so major, its panels span three acres. 

Bird's-eye view of the pools.

Bird's-eye view of the pools.

Blue Styler plotting his path for the day.

Blue Styler plotting his path for the day.

A bridge over one of the seven ancient Kalahuipua'a Fishponds used by ancient Hawaiians to raise fish and supplement their ocean fishing efforts. 

A bridge over one of the seven ancient Kalahuipua'a Fishponds used by ancient Hawaiians to raise fish and supplement their ocean fishing efforts. 

I'm pretty sure he was thinking: "Why can't I spend every day like this?" 

I'm pretty sure he was thinking: "Why can't I spend every day like this?" 

Plotting my retirement, part one...

Plotting my retirement, part one...

Plotting my retirement, part two...

Plotting my retirement, part two...

The Mauna Lani Spa, ahhhhhhh, one of the island's best wellness retreats.

The Mauna Lani Spa, ahhhhhhh, one of the island's best wellness retreats.

Outfitted in a traditional lava lava, I felt lighter the minute I stepped on the ancient lava flow’s grounds graced with thatched-roof huts, pools of orchids, and palms rustling in the wind.

Outfitted in a traditional lava lava, I felt lighter the minute I stepped on the ancient lava flow’s grounds graced with thatched-roof huts, pools of orchids, and palms rustling in the wind.

Two treatments that keep you connected with Hawaii's healing and calm your senses draw on the energy of the island’s essential elements. In the first, detoxify and destress as you sit under the sun in open-air lava sauna slathered with volcanic clay…

Two treatments that keep you connected with Hawaii's healing and calm your senses draw on the energy of the island’s essential elements. In the first, detoxify and destress as you sit under the sun in open-air lava sauna slathered with volcanic clay. A private outdoor shower is the treatment’s cleansing crescendo. Also using water—but a lot more of it—is the Lava Watsu Pool situated in an ancient lava tube. Here, aquatic body work focusing on tranquility, stretching, and meditation harness the power of planet Earth to fill your cup with more than just water.

Room service breakfast, obvi.

Room service breakfast, obvi.

Sesame-encrusted island goat cheese with Waimea strawberries and edible flowers enjoyed {immensely} while partaking in the below view at CanoeHouse...{more below} 

Sesame-encrusted island goat cheese with Waimea strawberries and edible flowers enjoyed {immensely} while partaking in the below view at CanoeHouse...{more below} 

CanoeHouse: A mainstay in Hawaii's dining scene since the 1980s, and the resort's alfresco, oceanside eatery where Chef de Cuisine Allan Nagun dials Hawaiian regional cuisine up a notch with his take on every dish, including his signature and a…

CanoeHouse: A mainstay in Hawaii's dining scene since the 1980s, and the resort's alfresco, oceanside eatery where Chef de Cuisine Allan Nagun dials Hawaiian regional cuisine up a notch with his take on every dish, including his signature and award-winning poke: Served in a flavor-enhancing glass and topped in truffle dust.

[Photos by @tripstyler, taken as a guest of Mauna Lani. Select photos, including lead, courtesy of the hotel. PS: I only write about standout experiences, read my strict editorial policy.]

Find Festive at these Vancouver Hotels

four seasons vancouver Christmas treats

[trip style = staycation + luxury + food + wine]

Hotels really know how to deck the halls over the holidays. From twinkling lights to star-topped trees to cozy pop-up lounges set up with glee, finding festive is no big feat in Vancouver. Here is where to find an extra dose of magic this Christmas....{See you there} 

Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
I said this last year and I'll say it again, the Four Seasons is Vancouver's ultimate noël hotel {and not just because they are in the centre of the shopping district}. During December this posh urban retreat offers so much in the way of glad tidings, it's enough to make Santa a little jealous. 

Start or end your day with YEW's merry band of holiday sippers, think: Housemade nog spiked with cognac, served in a Christmas Vacation Moose Mug {among other festive cocktails}. Or there's the sparkle-factor: December is "bubble month" meaning there will be a lot of cork-popping with eight bubbles offered by the glass, in addition to sommelier-selected vintage bottles brought out from the cellar.

To make the Four Seasons version of festive last a little longer than your sip or stay, check out the Festive Desk nestled among the Festival of Trees on second floor lobby. Here, housemade stocking stuffers such as macarons, caramel corn, and stollen {bringing the former pastry chef out of retirement to bake} are available for you and yours. And if you really love the person, upgrade your gift to a plush Four Seasons robe...   

vancouver four seasons holidays
four seasons vancouver holiday stollen
moose mug cog nog four seasons vancouver

Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Baby, it's cold outside, but Reflections: The Garden Terrace, is toasty and warm. As the first winter pop-up for the chic open-air lounge, the elves at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia have transformed the alfresco space into a holiday haven complete with faux furs, outdoor fire pits, strings of light, posies of mistletoe, mulled wine, and fondue {among other Christmassy treats}! Open now until Dec 30, 3-10pm Thursday to Sunday, 4-10pm Monday to Wednesday.

reflections fondue vancouver
reflections the garden terrace pop-up vancouver
food reflections vancouver winter pop-up

Fairmont Pacific Rim
It's a good thing there is approximately 2km between me and the Fairmont Pacific Rim's giovane eatery + market. If I lived any closer, I'd need a staff of personal trainers to assist me in burning off the calories from daily sugarbuns, aka gooey-fluffy bread with whipped cream in the center. To add a little Christmas spirit to an already spirited treat, giovane has upped their own ante with ho-ho-ho holiday versions of their famed buns, think: pistachio with vanilla bean whipped cream and cranberry-orange. 

[photos via hotels featured]

Montana on my Mind :: Whitefish

whitefish montana guide

[trip style = adventure + food/wine]

{Editor's Note: This is the second post in a multipart series on Montana. Don't miss part one.} 

Like the rest of Montana, you breathe deeper in Whitefish, Big Sky Country's prime adventuretown at the cusp of the continental divide. Sure, the far-reaching forests add an oxygen boost to the air quality, but it's more than that. The ultra-kind western hospitality helps, too. As do the 360-degree mountain views, glacial lakes and raging rivers. Mostly, the air up there is filled with a spirit of creativity sparked by a place that fuels passions.

"Take a quiet walk with nature; it will nurture your mind, body, and soul."
- Anthony Douglas Williams  

As I wander our planet, I've noticed a commonality in every area code: Those who are inspired by their environment create well whether that's cuisine, handicrafts or art. Whitefish is a good example of this. The nature-centric activities—cue residents traipsing around town in their fly fishing waders, cycling armor, or hiking boots—encourage a well of inspiration. The result: A cool town where locals live life to the fullest at every elevation. 

Inspired by this place and its pursuits, here are the trip styled spots to stay, shop, sip and eat in Whitefish, Montana:  

Shop :: Miakoda in Stumptown Marketplace. I wanted to buy e-v-e-r-y piece of leather in this shop, though with only a carry-on in tow, I chose something small: A leather necklace. Using local hides in most of her designs, shopgal Alexandra relo…

Shop :: Miakoda in Stumptown Marketplace. I wanted to buy e-v-e-r-y piece of leather in this shop, though with only a carry-on in tow, I chose something small: A leather necklace. Using local hides in most of her designs, shopgal Alexandra relocated to Montana to explore her passion for leather-making and life in the rugged wild. 

Shop :: Meriwether of Montana, a cheeky-cool gift shop—so popular they are now selling their wares across the country—with campy mugs, handkerchiefs, and humorous keychains with inscriptions such as "Humble with a dash of Kanye," scattered throughou…

Shop :: Meriwether of Montana, a cheeky-cool gift shopso popular they are now selling their wares across the countrywith campy mugs, handkerchiefs, and humorous keychains with inscriptions such as "Humble with a dash of Kanye," scattered throughout the store. 

Shop :: Harlow. If I lived in Whitefish, I'd buy my entire wardrobe here. When I visited, I became a regular stopping in to chat with staff and try on the gorgeous garments ranging from Mother Denim jeans to Free People dresses to Cleobella bags. &n…

Shop :: Harlow. If I lived in Whitefish, I'd buy my entire wardrobe here. When I visited, I became a regular stopping in to chat with staff and try on the gorgeous garments ranging from Mother Denim jeans to Free People dresses to Cleobella bags.   

Eat :: Sweet Peaks. Sweet Peaks is delicious in every way from its local dairy and oh-so Montana flavors. Hello huckleberry, and cardamom plum swirl, my mouth was VERY pleased to meet you. 

Eat :: Sweet Peaks. Sweet Peaks is delicious in every way from its local dairy and oh-so Montana flavors. Hello huckleberry, and cardamom plum swirl, my mouth was VERY pleased to meet you. 

Sip :: Spotted Bear Spirits. Enter the bar of my dreams with its leather-bound menus, wildflower-filled vases and ultra-local spirit{s}. Stop in for a sip of their vodka, gin or liqueurs, or stay awhile and have a craft cocktail or two. Ch…

Sip :: Spotted Bear Spirits. Enter the bar of my dreams with its leather-bound menus, wildflower-filled vases and ultra-local spirit{s}. Stop in for a sip of their vodka, gin or liqueurs, or stay awhile and have a craft cocktail or two. Cheers.

Stay :: The Firebrand Hotel. Located in downtown Whitefish, this property is the newest and most boutique addition to the town's growing list of accoms.  

Stay :: The Firebrand Hotel. Located in downtown Whitefish, this property is the newest and most boutique addition to the town's growing list of accoms.  

[Photos taken by @tripstyler—except lead and firebrand courtesy of town/hotel—when I visited Montana in partnership with Expedia. As you know, I only write about what I LOVE.]

Trip Styling on a T+L "World's Best" Isle

Ischia Italy Trip Styler

[trip style = sun + beach + food + wine + spa + luxury + steal]

Once in a blue moon your travels feel almost anointed and you encounter a destination that moves you.

For me, this place is Ischia, Italy, a small island an hour by boat from Naples or Capri.  

I'm writing about my "spirit isle" again for two reasons:

1/ I was there at this exact time last yearsipping Rose, noshing on vine-ripened tomato bruschetta, lounging in a spring-fed spa, hanging at beach clubsand I desperately want to return. At the time, I declared to Mr. Trip Styler, "we should come back here every summer," to which he agreed since it's magical, gorgeous, dripping in dolce vita and well-priced. But, alas, it's now "this summer" and we are not in Italy! Well, sometimes life has other plans for you. More on that next week. Eeeeek!  

2/ I just read an article in Travel+Leisure about The Best Islands in Europe in light of their World's Best Awards survey, and Ischia came #1 on the list beating Sicily, Hvar and Santorini! AH, the secret is OUT. Don't go. Ok, go! This accolade is also an exciting confirmation in Trip Styler trend-casting given that I submitted Ischia to Expedia six months ago as a destination to watch in 2016!

[photos by @tripstyler]