Week 30: Utah. Exploring Park City in Thursday Boots.

Here is a little photo diary of our trip to Park City! Check out my summer posts about Park City here, if you haven't seen it before.

Almost the whole trip Ben and I were rocking our awesome matching pairs of Thursday Boots. They are definitely not just pretty shoes, but very well designed, durable and comfortable boots that you can wear almost in ANY weather conditions. I am 5'5 (167 cm), so I always feel I need that extra height, so I was happy that my pair had a small heel. The design of these boots is very classic, and won't go out of "trend" in, dare I say, decades!

The left boot was rubbing my foot in the first few days, however a pair of wool socks worn with the boots quickly solved the problem. And a week later I was able to put on my Thursday Boots pair with just thin stockings, and could walk for hours! They are really comfortable and super affordable, so I definitely recommend you to have at least a pair of these durable, timeless shoes that are perfect for not only city walks, but for even hiking adventures, and long road trips.

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I am wearing PRESIDENT in Brown and Ben is wearing CAPTAIN in NATURAL.

Week 30: Utah. The Most Romantic Restaurant in the United States!

When Ben and I were in Utah, he took me on a surprise date. I didn't know where exactly we were driving, but from the moment I saw the gates of La Caille, I knew I would inevitably fall in love with the place. The grounds of La Caille are like a magical fairytale land with stunning scenery a la Narnia in Winter or SnowWhite's little castle in summer.

We drove through the beautiful snow-covered forest towards the French-inspired Chateau, passing a frozen lake with a lonely, graceful swan white as winter, greeting us like a wild guardian. Have you ever seen a single, wild swan on a frozen lake? It is more magnificent that you can ever imagine, and reminded me of the Swan Princess fairytale (yes, yes, I love fables!).

But the surprises didn't end there. After we parked and started walking to the main building, we saw peacocks - brightly coloured, proud and magnificent sitting on the snow dusted branches of trees, or strolling around, almost guiding us to La Caille's entrance. I was already imagining myself as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, secretly wondering if all these wonderful creatures were under some sort of spell. A few seconds later I noticed an abundance of fluffy bunnies and hares jumping around. Squealing with great delight like a 5-year old, I was finally dragged by my already freezing husband inside the little 18th-century Chateau. He knew I could spend hours just chasing bunnies and petting exotic birds, and we would probably never get to the actual dining experience if he let me do that :)

The decor of the castle is no less than a feast for your eyes, especially if you like opulent French style and a Marie Antoinette vibe. The story of this hidden treasure of Utah, is also fascinating,and deserves its own TV series: steamy affairs, multi-million dollar legal battles, and a murder-suicide of the owners, husband and wife, who fulfilled a pact to end their lives together on Christmas night a decade ago.

Such a tragic Shakespearean love story only adds to the mystique of La Caille, the most magical restaurant in the United States, that will put you under its spell the moment you set your foot on its grounds.

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Need I mention that food at the restaurant is FANTASTIC?! From the most delicious cocktails to mouthwatering French dishes, and original desserts, La Caille will amaze even the most sophisticated gourmand. La Caille also has beautiful gardens, a huge greenhouse, and an amazing vineyard you should definitely check out.

Ladies, if you are looking for the perfect wedding destination, I seriously recommend you look into La Caille.

You won't regret it! To be honest, I cannot wait to visit La Caille in Summer, and bring more people to this little piece of a fairytale land in our mundane world.

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Week 30: Utah. Stein Eriksen Lodge Review

First of all, I cannot believe that I have been leading Pastiche.today for one year already! I have been amazed by the amount of support and love I have received, and still cannot believe with how many of my favourite brands I have been privileged enough to work with. Thank you very much!

To celebrate my blog's one year anniversary, Ben and I decided to fly to Utah for a little, snowy adventure. We were lucky to stay at the, I dare say, legendary Stein Eriksen Lodge. The hotel is a luxurious, 5-Star, 5-Diamond, chic, Norwegian-style property with ski-in, ski-out access to Deer Valley Resort. 

Deer Valley Resort is not only one of the top skiing destinations in America, but in the world. Hence it was chosen as a site for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. By the way, the hotel was founded by Norwegian, Olympic-Gold medalist, skier Stein Eriksen, and there is a huge display of his trophies and awards in a beautiful, hand-painted case in the Main Lodge. 

The hotel has a beautiful chalet-chic decor - cozy, warm and gorgeous. Each room in the lodge has a unique Nordic design, but all of them have dark-wood furnishings, amazingly comfortable beds, stunning views and spacious bathrooms with Molton Brown amenities. 

My husband and I were staying in a luxury suite with a full kitchen, dining area, two enormous fireplaces, huge bath and walk-in shower, and our own private deck with a hot tub overlooking the snowy mountains! I can honestly say that it was an incredible experience to relax in a hot tub with steaming water, after a long day of skiing, breathing that fresh mountain air, taking in the breathtaking, picturesque mountain view, while being super warm and cozy.

Stein Eriksen Lodge is a top hotel, therefore if you don't think you will be able to stay there just yet, at least make a reservation at one of their celebrated restaurants: Glitretind or the Troll Hallen Lounge. The food is original and delicious, and their selection of hot cocktails (I am a sucker for any good variations of mulled wine or Irish coffee) is PHENOMENAL, and I don't use that word lightly :)

There is also a huge, heated outdoor(!!!) pool, which is so cool! The experience of swimming in warm water while white, fluffy snowflakes land on your head is quite surreal, and should be added to your bucket list.

And of course, the hotel has a beautiful spa, with many individual massage rooms that bare the names of Scandinavian Gods.

By the way, Stein Eriksen Lodge is a year-round mountain resort, and it is worthy of a visit in summer as much as during the ski season.

Park City is a charming city and has deserved a name of one of the most beautiful and prestigious places in the United States, so I definitely recommend you to explore it! While you are waiting for my upcoming Utah posts, here you can find my Park City summer adventures and a visitor's guide I prepared for you. Enjoy and let me know if you visit Park City!

Week 14: Park City. Zara Dress, Sunflowers and the White Barn

Today I am sharing a perfect summertime look with you that was shot next to the famous White Barn in Park City. I bought this dress and hat from Zara a few weeks ago (how amazing is their new summer collection?!) and I think they go together perfectly. Hats have become my new obsession and I have purchased at least 6 new headpieces in the last two months, so be prepared to see much more new looks with hats soon :)

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Week 14: Park City. Best Places to Visit

Park City is a small town in Utah, but it's quickly becoming a more popular destination. The world knows Park City for its luxury ski resorts and the largest independent film festival in the United States, the Sundance Film Festival. Park City is also  home to the US Ski Team, it hosted the skiing and snowboarding events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and it is one of the hottest real estate spots in America among celebrities and millionaires. Michael Jordan, Will Smith, Katherine Heigl and many other famous people own gorgeous mansions in Park City. 

I have been spending so much time in Utah, both in winter and summer, that I have decided to share my favourite places in Park City.

TOP 7 Places to Visit in Park City:

1. Main Street

The Egyptian Theatre in Park City was part of a national and worldwide fascination with the contemporary discovery of the tomb of King Tut in Egypt.

The Sundance Film Festival has used The Egyptian Theatre as a cinematic house for almost as long as the festival has existed; one of its oldest and most recognizable venues.

Banksy on Main Street.

One of the art galleries on Main Street.

Main Steet is the first street you will likely want to explore in Park City. Main Street to Park City is like Oxford Street to London and Broadway to New York. Rumour has it that there are more restaurants per capita in Park City than in any other American city, and they all serve delicious food. You should also check out all the little boutiques and galleries. Be sure to go to Dolly's Bookstore, where they not only have a great selection of books and gifts, but the store is also home to a few friendly cats. And of course do take tons of pictures of the beautiful, colourful houses that easily compete with the rainbow coloured ones in Notting Hill, London.

The cutest soft toys made from alpaca fur.

Throwback to my first visit to Park City in August 2015.

2. Park City Museum

I love visiting museums and will never miss a chance to wander around interesting artifacts and expand my knowledge base. Usually small towns have modest museums featuring exhibits that aren’t very engaging, however the Park City Museum pleasantly surprised me with its various interactive exhibits, displays, videos and even little attractions.

This huge interactive book describing criminals from Park City's Wild West history was really fun to "read." I was not surprised to find out that the Park City Museum has recently undergone a $9 million dollar renovation. It really shows! The museum is located at 528 Main Street and it is a great family friendly place.

3. Ski Resort in winter/FUNICULAR to St.Regis in SUMMER

Skiing with my husband Ben.

The majority of tourists come to Park City in the winter to ski. I only just  learned how to ski last year, but my husband is a former professional skier, so I trust him when he says it is the best town for skiing in the USA. If you plan to ski, plan for at least a few days since it is cheaper to get multi-day or weekly passes rather than to pay daily.

If you visit in the summer, take the funicular to St. Regis hotel and enjoy the breathtaking view. The bar at St. Regis is beautiful and I recommend you order their signature spicy Bloody Mary or a delightfully sweet Pineapple Mojito. 

Gorgeous view Park City

4. Nature love

Everyone in Park City hikes, or so it seems. There are hundreds of trails and beautiful spots... at least according to every person who lives in Utah. I am personally not a big fan of hiking and cannot recommend any specific trails (I am more of a theatre and museum kind of girl!), but I can appreciate the nature and wildlife of Park City. Even if you just take a drive instead of wandering around the woods, you will probably spot a graceful deer or a fluffy rabbit somewhere alongside the road.

I personally love the White Barn/ McPolin Barn and its surroundings. It is a perfect spot for taking pictures or having a little picnic, plus it has a parking spot on the opposite side of the road. I will post a photoshoot from next to the McPolin Barn later!

5. Handle Restaurant and Flanagan's

Handle is a rustic-chic eatery with a very delicious and original menu. It is located at 136 Heber Avenue. It is probably one of my favourite places to eat at in Park City, along with Flanagan's. But I love Flanagan's mostly for their mouthwatering beignets. 

6. Atticus Coffee  

Forget about Starbucks! Atticus coffee has an impressive range of hot and ice coffees and teas, free wifi, and a very cozy atmosphere. Whenever I am visiting Park City, I go there to blog or read.

7. Silver Lake Drive

If you want to see more luxury houses (because, to be frank, they are everywhere in Park City), drive up Silver Lake Drive. The designs of some of the houses will make you reconsider buying that new pair of shoes you wanted and inspire you to start saving for a beautiful house of your own.

Hope this was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions about Park City, and I will gladly guide you further :)