There are constants when it comes to these mountains and the people who seek them. The powdered slopes; the summertime trails and fishing — the sense that this place is not just an escape from the routine back at home, but a home of its own as well.

Around that, however, there's also a lot of change going on in Aspen. Owners and guests at The Timbers Club and Dancing Bear Aspen know that every season brings new developments, new events, new reasons to get outdoors.

This winter is no different. To help catch you up on the dynamics of the next several months, we've pulled together a list of highlights. Here some of what's new and exciting this season.

• Opening early! With a rush of November snow, Aspen Mountain is opening Saturday, November 22, 2014.
  
• World Cup Ski Races return to Aspen Mountain over Thanksgiving weekend - bringing the "Fast Women in Aspen" back to town after a year's hiatus.
  
• The X Games are back. January brings the rush of world-class skiing, snowboarding, motocross and snowmobile events. The best athletes in extreme sports converge on Aspen/Snowmass for the winter installment of the X Games, January 22–25, 2015.
• Buttermilk gets even better. To the tune of $10 million, the whole of Buttermilk is poised to offer big-time upgrades. Most notable will be the addition this season of The Hideout, a 7,500-square-foot children's space. Kids will enjoy a mix of indoor and on-mountain programming, all designed to foster imagination and active play.
• Family snow tubing at Snowmass. Four new lanes of family-friendly snow tubing open at Snowmass this December. The new feature is based at Elk Camp and is designed for 'tubers ages 4–14.

And so, update your calendars and grab your gear. Whether you're out there enjoying what's new on the slopes, or back here sipping an après-ski cocktail in our Owners' lounge or at Brexi, it's another brilliant winter in Aspen.

As always, Timbers Resorts welcomes you home.

The holidays are a season full of celebration and you’re bound to find your calendar filled with joyous holiday parties – including a few at Timbers Resorts! Share your gratitude for the opportunity to share these special moments filled with friends and family by bringing the perfect host/hostess gift, tailor selected for your hosts' interests. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

For the Gourmand: Food & Life

Price: $50

Where to Buy: Assouline.com

An elegant coffee table book from Assouline is always an appropriate gift, but this one is especially appropriate for hosts that cook up a storm during the holiday season. Food & Life is all about celebrating food as an essential part of life with gorgeous photography and recipes by world-renowned French chef Joël Robuchon who holds the most Michelin stars of any chef in the world.

For the Game Player: Hermes Card Game with Case

Price: $125 cards; $680 case

Where to Buy: Hermes.com

A game-loving host certainly already has all of the traditional games so surprise him or her with Mythes et Constellations – an Hermes game using elegant silver-edged cards. The game features seven families with seven family members each. The goal is to gather your entire family. How holiday appropriate! For an extra-special splurge, throw in a leather, Hermes playing card holder.

For the Amateur Mixologist: Monogrammed Bar Tools

Price: $34.95 bar tools; $32 shaker; $149 ice bucket

Where to Buy: Williams-Sonoma

Any hostess gift is immediately made more personal and elegant with the addition of a monogram. Adding that special touch is easy at Williams-Sonoma where there are a wide range of chic, customizable silver bar accessories sure to make any party more merry. Start with the bar tools set and then consider adding on a custom shaker and ice bucket.

For the Immaculate Entertainer: Elegant Soaps and Lotions

Price: $80

Where to Buy: Molton Brown

A perfectly appointed powder room is one of the subtle details that no practiced entertainer allows to slip through the cracks. Provide the perfect finishing touch with a festive collection of soap, lotion and aroma reeds from British bath and beauty brand Molton Brown. The scents of frankincense and allspice make this perfect for the holiday hostess.

For the Wine Collector: Jeweled Wine

Price: $195

Where to Buy: Kelly Wearstler

Attending the party of a wine collector can be a bit tricky. You obviously can't bring the traditional bottle of wine but you also want to cater to the host's passion and discriminating taste. An elegant quartz wine stopper, especially one from superstar interior designer Kelly Wearstler, is sure to fit the bill.

For the World Traveler: Cashmere Travel Set

Price: $395

Where to Buy: Ralph Lauren

If you're at the home of a Timbers Resorts Owner then you're in the presence of a practiced traveler, so why not give a gift that they're sure to love when on the go? Frequent fliers will go crazy for a kit of Ralph Lauren cashmere essentials including a throw blanket, an eye mask, and a zippered bag that doubles as a pillow.

A gift is the ideal opportunity to show appreciation to your host or hostess for bringing together loved ones for the holidays - and that's the best gift anyone can give.

Carbondale, home to Timbers Resorts' headquarters, is a community in which the very landscape helps create a distinctly Coloradan lifestyle. Trees, mountains, the woods, rivers, and more: the natural world is paramount to recreational pursuits and as an awe inspiring setting.

Owners and guests at Timbers Resorts' luxury fractional properties, in Colorado and the world over, know this experience well. There is even, as James Surls, Carbondale's own internationally renowned sculptor, puts it, a kind of influence from nature in places like this — a visual language that informs much of our lives.

And now, Carbondale has a new opportunity to encounter the natural world and our place in it — this time through the lens of art.

'Sewing the Future': New Sculpture for Carbondale

Timbers' CEO/Founder David Burden and his wife, Sandy, are proud to help to underwrite the creation of Surls' new sculpture — "Sewing the Future" in the center of the Carbondale Roundabout at Main Street and Highway 133. View the photo gallery below from the November 2014 installation.

The piece is a major addition to the area's growing reputation as an arts destination, especially in light of Surls' work being in the collections of the Guggenheim, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and dozens of other important institutions. Surls' vision — a 20-foot tall sculpture speaking to concepts of human life, art, and

science within the context of nature - features striking and thought-provoking design elements steeped in the artist's symbolic approach.

• Multiple strands thread giant sculpted needles, emerging from a single standing vase. The thread of life, Surls suggests — birth and the complicated turns that follow.
• Surls also speaks of the needles as elements of human nature, through which life is threaded.
• Within the piece are additional symbols: the jewel, the flower, and a tree with eyes.

"All of these elements derive from the very nature that gives us our existence on the Earth," said Surls, quoted on the project's website. "It is my wish that Carbondale will grow to appreciate the significant meaning of the symbolism represented in this sculpture."

Art in Our Community

We're also committing to our own vision, here at Timbers Resorts: that art is deeply a part of a life well lived. It's certainly an expanding part of it, recently, in Colorado.

In effect, "Sewing the Future" becomes an artistic bookend to the Roaring Fork Valley. It will mark the western side, opposite the new Aspen Art Museum to the east. And Carbondale is also celebrating the brand new Powers Art Center (be sure to visit its stunning collection of drawings by Jasper Johns).

A public dedication for the Surls sculpture is scheduled for June 2015.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.963.4626 (direct) or via email at [email protected].

Trees trimmed and mistletoe hung, candles lit and gifts wrapped, the end of the year is a time for family and food . . . and also holiday movies.

There's something satisfying about making that family-time nest of blankets, snacks, and a warm cup or two in front of the classics. Owners and guests with us at Timbers Resorts' luxury fractional homes can tap into our DVD libraries, available in the game-rooms of our properties, or even set aside some time at the private theater in spots such as Dancing Bear Aspen.

Whether you're streaming, bringing your own copy, or borrowing one of ours, here's a list of five sure-fire holiday films. And, yes, we work in a few of the best and most reliable chestnuts, but hopefully our list of five will also remind you that there are some genuine holiday-themed classics that you perhaps haven't seen 15 times already.

1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947): 

There's nothing quite like curling up in front of the fireplace — at One Steamboat Place or The Timbers Club, for example — wrapped in the glow of this old-school, thoughtful classic. The idea is that when it comes to the spirit of giving, fantasy and reality are less important distinctions in this world. Edmund Gwen plays a department-store Santa whose real life is on the line, and John Payne plays the lawyer who argues that Gwen's Kris Kringle may prove to be something like the real thing.

2.  The Holiday (2006): 

A pair of stars swap homes for the holidays, and in so doing they discover something about their hearts. Cameron Diaz's workaholic movie producer trades her L.A. digs for the rustic cottages of Kate Winslet's character in Surrey, England. Both discover a path back from burnout in the company of unlikely gentlemen (for whom they fall). For our Owners bound for the opposite clime this season — sunny/warm at Esperanza Resort or Rancho Valencia to cozy/snowy at The Sebastian - Vail or Dancing Bear Aspen, or the reverse — the pleasures of the swap through the Timbers Reciprocity Program should seem familiar - and just as seamless!.

3. It's a Wonderful Life (1946): 

The difference that we make in each other's worlds is a key message of this Frank Capra-directed fantasy. There's really no wrong place to watch Jimmy Stewart work his way through an undeniably heart-tugging role, but if you've got some fresh-powder slopes around you at Timbers Resorts' Colorado properties, for example, or a snug cottage is your environs, the wintertime scenes will resonate especially.

4. Love Actually (2003): 

This is the ultimate romantic comedy with an ensemble cast of powerhouse actors —- Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Laura Linney. To many, it's considered the most charming and romantic mainstream movie ever made. Set in London and extending beyond, it opens and closes at Heathrow Airport around the holidays, taking the audience on a spirited journey through five days leading up to Christmas.

5. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987): 

If you're hunting for a mostly secular setting: John Candy and Steve Martin play businessmen who just want to get home for the holidays — but in this case it's Thanksgiving. The concepts of the holidays in general are strong, though, throughout. Family, the appreciation of what one has at hand, and generosity of spirit to others, those are the underlying ideas. And if you've ever struggled with an airport queue or a train schedule en route to your Timbers Resorts location, you'll feel for this duo, all the way.

To learn about Timbers Resorts and how you can be a part of this lifestyle, during the holidays and year-round, please contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

Wine isn't just a beverage on the dinner table at Timbers Resorts; for many of our Owners and guests, wine is a way of looking at life.

Indeed, we believe that every glass is a great pleasure to behold, to discuss, to share … and, yes, to enjoy slowly over a sunset or a crackling fire.

As much as they join us for any number of favorite reasons, our Owners and guests come to us for the wine experience that Timbers Resorts has come to represent. What follow are some recent highlights of how we make that a touchstone of our properties, all year round.

• Start with the heart of Wine Country. PlumpJack and its family of wineries grow and blend grapes in some the finest climates, worldwide. Timbers Collection Members reap the fruit of our deep commitment to the company's winemaking vision, enjoying a PlumpJack Passport that affords them access to three of its premier locations. Work your way through PlumpJack Estate, CADE, and Odette, one glass at a time.
• As you learn the wines you love, sometimes you find bottles that are hard to come by. At Timbers Resorts, our close connection to Italian Wine Merchants, one of the most respected procurers of exceptional vintages on the planet, helps to solve that quandary. From four different wine-club membership subscription programs to Italian Wine Merchants' extraordinary cellar-management services, every oenophile is working with the best, to taste the best, every time.
• Timbers Resorts even bottles a signature blend. At Castello di Casole, 100 acres of idyllic land in Tuscany, the grapes hang heavy before they're picked and made into exclusive vintages. Timbers Collection Members get special access to these bottles — and our Members are also invited to come to the property and watch how the wine is made.

There is more on the horizon as well. We think that wine is about learning, and Timbers Resorts will soon create new opportunities to do just that across our portfolio of luxury fractional resorts.

Is it time to uncork your next wine experience? Why not join us over some cab or a pinot noir. Wine is a way of experiencing the pleasures of life, here, and Timbers Resorts is your gateway to the best that you can pour.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.963.4626 (direct) or via email at [email protected].

Your well-being matters to us at Timbers Resorts.

We like to think that whether our Owners and guests join us for a season or just a short break, it's more than just a time for great food, fine wine, and seeing family and friends. Coming here is also your chance to rejuvenate. It's a time to get back in touch with what it is that makes you feel good in every way, inside and out. Wellness is the goal, and Timbers Resorts can help you achieve it.

The Spa Experience

Whichever of our properties you call home, spa experiences are deeply connected to the idea of wellness that we pursue at Timbers Resorts. Plug into the opportunities we offer, and you can find your well-being in any number of ways.

• Slip into a rooftop hot-tub at Dancing Bear - Aspen.
• Find a moment of reflection among the grapevines and apple groves of The Orchard at The Carneros Inn.
• Join our yoga instructors for a session and then cool down in the pools at Castello di Casole.
• Restore with an expert massage and an herb-infused steam-room experience at The Spa at One Steamboat Place.

Canyon Ranch: An Invitation

We also extend benefits to our members who'd like to visit Canyon Ranch's resorts in Arizona and Massachusetts. There, nurture your palate and spirit with nutritious cuisine and stress-management coaching. Timbers Collection Members receive preferred rates, additional services, and a special gift upon arrival.

World-Class Care, Onsite

While you're here, know that as a Timbers Collection Member you're in good hands. Registered nurses from the Mayo Clinic's Preferred Response team are ready to answer your questions and all manner of medical planning and appointment services are available. Top-level resources like these are a part of ensuring that your wellness is always in good hands with us.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.963.4626 (direct) or via email at [email protected]

No matter how luxurious your destination, when you leave home on time-off, to some degree you leave behind the network of safety and security that is the backdrop to your primary-residence lifestyle.

Timbers Resorts' Owners, however, needn't find that a cause of concern.

Our properties are about surrounding you with not only the best options for relaxation, restoration, and wellness — but also the certainty that should you and yours ever need a bit of assistance, you're covered and in the best hands possible.

Safe and secure: it's a Timbers Resorts policy. Read about two of our partners that are helping to keep that critical part of every travel experience in place.

• MedjetAssist: Accessing preferred rates on this invaluable service, Timbers Collection Members are assured of speedy, top-rate care in every crucial scenario that might arise. Injured or sick more that 150 miles from home? MedjetAssist gets you from where you are to the hospital of your choice — no cost limits, no exceptions. You have peace of mind that your care providers are a swift jet flight away… every time, every place, always.

• Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue: It's also about caring for the carers. When you love the outdoors and all-season activities like our Owners do at The Sebastian - Vail, Dancing Bear - Aspen, The Timbers Club, One Steamboat Place, and other Colorado-based properties, it makes sense to invest in the CORSAR card. For just a few dollars, you're ensuring that if a state-volunteer team ever responds to your outdoor scenario, they're reimbursed for the invaluable aid that they supply.

There's no reason to think our Owners and guests will ever have to implement our Safe + Secure assurances. But knowing they're there: that's always a comforting part of Ownership at Timbers Resorts.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.510.6796 (direct) or via email at [email protected].

Your time with us at Timbers Resorts starts, of course, with getting here. And we work with you every step of the way to make certain that the journey is a pleasant part of our Owners' experience. Then we take it further.

Partnering with leaders in the travel industry, Timbers Resorts is committed to bringing luxury and convenience to each of our traveling Owners.

"As our Owners travel often, we want to elevate their travel experience with the best-of-the-best partners providing special perks and privileges," said Stephanie Taylor, manager of Partnerships and Reciprocity at Timbers Resorts."We've curated a handful of well-known and like-minded brands to align with."

Whether it's a car service, luggage shipping, or even a private jet — have a look at the options your Timbers Resorts team has created for you.

• Priority Pass: Start with your point of departure. Our Members enjoy a preferred rate with Priority Pass and then receive special access to more that 600 airport VIP lounges in more than 100 countries.

• Luggage Forward: Forget about check-in lines and fees. Implement this doorstep-to-destination luggage service at our Owner rates.

• Sentient Jet: Elevate your travel experience with a special package on Sentient's private jet service. Owners receive free flight hours and credits that apply to further perks at Timbers Resorts' properties.

• Hertz: Members are automatically lifted to Gold status with Hertz, and they're guaranteed meet-and-greet services and complimentary vehicle pick-up and delivery, too.

• BMW North America: From June through November, our Members climb into the driver's seat with BMW's Ultimate Driving Experience Tour. From its various locations around the U.S., or with special access to its Performance Driving School in South Carolina, the wheel of one of the finest machines in the world is now in your hands.

"We understand that our Owners are very savvy, especially when it comes to partner benefits and the added value to their ownership," Taylor said. "Therefore, we seek partners that are not only like-minded, but provide a little something extra."

The bottom line? When it comes to getting from point-A to point-B, Timbers Resorts is always attending to the details that make sure you reach — and then fully enjoy — your favorite destination.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.510.6796 (direct) or via email at [email protected].

For Timbers Resorts Owners, it's not so much about vacation; we prefer to think about our properties and the experiences surrounding them as a lifestyle.

Whether it's the services and amenities we offer — from our spas and restaurants to our ski-in and ski-out lodges, to our concierges always on hand — you might consider lifestyle to be a frame of mind, here. It's a way of thinking about your activities and passions, the ones you pursue at home and away, as an extension of the very things you'd do all the time if you could.

Growing your relationship with those things is key to our approach at Timbers Resorts. Let's look at a short list of some of the ways to do just that, bringing the leisurely lifestyle into your days and weeks, in our spaces and also those of our closely held partnerships.

Partnerships in Leisure: Ways to Explore Your Lifestyle

At Timbers Resorts, we know that variety and circumstance are important to the choices and accommodations that our Owners have come to love.

When you're an Owner with us, you'll have access to a lifestyle accented by international flair, all geared toward providing you a truly leisurely state of mind.

• PlumpJack Group: Start with how you eat and drink. Our partnership with PlumpJack ensures that your experience at their wineries, wine shops, and inns are of five-star caliber, and flush with benefits that non-Owners won't receive.

• Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa: Leisure is about restoration — bringing the senses and mind into line with the body and wellness. At Rancho Valencia, our Owners receive preferred rates on treatments and retail at the spa. Hotel reservations and dining are at special rates as well.

• The Sebastian - Vail: Bringing your friends and colleagues together in the right place at the right time is part of the leisurely lifestyle. In addition to preferred rates on accommodations, dining, retail, and spa experiences at The Sebastian - Vail, our Owners receive special access to banquet and meeting-space pricing.

• Hotel Castello di Casole and Hotel Savoy: There is something about Italy. At Timbers Resorts we treasure a special relationship with the region. When it comes to leisure, our Owners will explore special rates on suites, food, wine, and services at Tuscany's Hotel Castello di Casole. In Florence, our Owners receive VIP welcomes at Hotel Savoy, free upgrades when available, and a daily continental breakfast.

• Trump International Ireland: There is no place quite like the southwest coast of Ireland. To experience its magnificent cliffs, its world-class greens, and its inimitable culture and community, plug in to preferred rates at Trump International, Timbers Resorts' partner on the Emerald Isle.

• Mandarin Oriental: And then, continue your pursuit of leisure around the world with the spas, dining, service, and style of Mandarin Oriental's unique, exquisite, and wide-ranging properties.

Luxury: it's our Owners' passion. With the kinds of friends on our list, Timbers Resorts continues to make luxury a central part of every visit and trip.

To learn more about Timbers Resorts, please contact us at 800.941.4579 (toll free) or 970.510.6796 (direct) or via email at [email protected].