by Lisa Trottier, Sunset senior editor

I was always a Homewood skeptic. After all, from Highway 89 along Lake Tahoe, it looks so...dinky. Of course, as I always knew but just didn’t absorb, it rambles back for more than 1,200 acres. It’s no Squaw, on the hugeness scale. But with great terrain and an up-close lake view that on some runs makes you feel like you could ski right off the edge in a grand Thelma and Louise moment and fly into the lake, it makes for a heckuva great ski day.

Now for the better news: Every season, Homewood has 29 days when they sell lift tickets for the very retro price of $29. They’re all weekdays, of course, but isn’t this what sick days were made for?

Pick a date and buy online.
February: 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 23, 24
March: 2, 3, 10, 11
April: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

Recessions are intensely depressing. I know during these gloomy times I feel the need more than ever to escape in books, magazines, movies, theater, and just plain going out.  But can you really justify spending precious money on tickets in a time like this?  My answer is definitively YES!  For one very particular reason:

GOLDSTAR.COM is my new best friend. Let me introduce you:

Wish you could afford to see that new musical in town?  LA Lakers tickets too expensive?  Need a cheap and creative idea for date night?  Sign up for Goldstar.  They send you listings of all their half-price and discount shows in some of the coolest towns in the West: San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas, and San Diego.

The listing range is amazing....it's not just theater....it's comedy, sports events, concerts, even things like wine tastings and rodeos (!).  For example, last week I got discount tickets to a live radio taping of "The Sound of Young America Live" at the San Francisco Sketch Fest for $10!  (and I didn't even know that event was happening until I got the email from Goldstar...it also helps me stay on top of what's in town)

THIS weekend I'm heading down to LA, so of course I checked Goldstar to see what looks fun, entertaining, and inexpensive down there.  Now I have tickets to Jane Austen Unscripted at Theater Asylum in Santa Monica....believe it or not, it's Jane Austen improv!  I can't think of anything more amazing!  Tickets on Goldtar are $10 versus $25. I wouldn't have known about this unless I'd seen it on  Goldstar, AND I save $15 on tickets.  Double bonus. After all, it is a truth universally acknowledged that anyone (not necessarily in posession of a good fortune) must be in want of good cheap fun now and again....   

by Anna Nordberg, Sunset special projects editor

PHOTO: Ace Hotel Seattle

Yesterday we received a comment on our blog about our recent Whidbey island piece, pointing out that hotels starting from, ahem, $275 a night might feel a tad out of touch given the times we live in. We hear you. So we're making up for it with three Northwest hotel options that are half that price or less.

Ace Hotel, a new(ish) chain of stripped down yet impossibly chic lodgings, has a Seattle location with rooms starting at $95 a night—if you don't mind sharing the bathroom with your neighbor down the hall. Their deluxe rooms (which include plumbing) clock in at $175.

What I love about the room design, down to headboard-free beds and wall sinks that remind me of stylish train compartments, is that it manages to make spartan look cool. You can check out other Ace Hotel properties in Portland and Palm Springs.

Another Portland steal is the Hotel Modera, a remodeled Days Inn that starts at the jaw-dropping rate of $119, with most rooms hitting at $139. We'll be featuring it in much more sparkling detail in our March Northwest issue—but in the meantime no, you don't have to share the bathroom to get that rate.

As for Whidbey Island, the cheapest hotel I could find was the Auld Holland Inn, with rooms starting at $59. If you're not into tulips and windmills, this may not be the place for you. (Plus, Sunset has not stayed there before, so take the great rate with a grain of salt). If you prefer not to overnight, here's a Seattle Times' story on how to spend a cheap day in Whidbey Island.

Finally, the woman who posted the comment that started this all has her own blog, Northwest Cheapsleeps, that is chock full of good deals, bargain advice, and tips on hosteling (mine is don't see the movie Hostel before you check into one).

So happy deal hunting.

By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

As the recession blues drag on in lockstep with the winter doldrums, and as some of us begin to feel seriously disgruntled with our ever more demanding and less lucrative jobs, or lack thereof, an attitude adjustment is in order. Which, to me, means it's time for a trip somewhere nice. Somewhere big, beautiful and vast, and perspective-giving. And cheap.

Washington's Olympic Peninsula, where primeval rainforest meets endless sea, is all of that, plus it's morbidly romantic in an eerie sort of way, thanks to the teeny-bopper phenom Twilight. And right now it's cheaper than ever to stay in the area's two nicest lodgings, the Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge, since both are offering a Buy One Get One Half Off package through February 28. With rates starting at $117 at Lake Quinault and $89 at Kalaloch Lodge, that makes for some screaming deals.

Trend research reports that travel to national parks will go way up this year, as will hiking. So why not jump on the bandwagon?

How to decide between Lake Quinault Lodge and Kalaloch Lodge? If you can swing a four-night vacation, stay at both, for a taste of two very different sides of the Olympic Peninsula.

If you have to choose one, I'd go with Lake Quinault Lodge, since it offers lakeside recreation, amazing hiking, and great old national park architecture all in one shot. You'll feel like an English countryside gentleman (or woman) lounging in front of a huge fireplace in the lobby of the 1926-built grand lobby before you set out for a paddle on the lake or a hike along blindingly green trails through one of world's rare temperate rainforests.

Kalaloch Lodge is a little more Old Man and the Sea than Walden Pond, set right out on the windswept sea. Go here if you love long walks on the beach and don't mind slightly rustic lodging.

And let the wind and those vast views wash those blues right out of your hair. Happy travels.   

The owners of a Whidbey Island restaurant offer their picks for places to stay and more. Photo by John Clark

Experts: Jamie Sastre and Joe Scott

Field of study: They are the owners of The Oystercatcher, a restaurant on Whidbey Island

Best way to spend Valentine’s Day on Whidbey: On a clear day, try the bluff trail to Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (162 Cemetery Rd., Coupeville; 360/678-6084). Up top, you can sit on a bench and take in jaw-dropping views of the Olympics. If it’s a cool, foggy morning, stay inside by the fire.

Favorite place to stay on the island: Chauntecleer House (rooms from $300; 5081 Saratoga Rd., Langley; 360/221-5494), a private cottage where we stayed for our wedding weekend. But if you’re looking for a spa and a restaurant too, The Inn at Langley (rooms from $275; spa treatments from $75 for 30 minutes; 400 First St., Langley; 360/221-3033) is best.

Pair fresh fish with good wine at The Oystercatcher. Photo courtesy of Brenda Tift
 

Best aphrodisiac a restaurant can put on a menu: Chocolate. But the best aphrodisiac at The Oystercatcher ($$$; closed Mon–Wed; 901 Grace St., Coupeville; 360/678-0683) is a good wine list, great food, and a view of Penn Cove. Try sharing the sautéed Blau oysters with a glass of Oregon Pinot Gris.

by Lisa Trottier, Sunset senior editor

I don’t know about you, but stormy winter weekends make me think one thing: Wine Country. Maybe I’m on my own clock, here, but in wintertime, the vineyards are so green, the roads are so deserted, and everything is...well, if not cheap at least less pricey than usual. This time of year, it’s easy to imagine you own the joint.

Care to join me in the vineyards? If so, here’s a handy-dandy little black book of planning tips:

Napa
Sunset's guide to the very best of California's ultimate wine country

Sonoma
Our guide to the best of the best for every occasion in a town where (local) food matters

Paso Robles
What to do and where to go in one of the hottest new wine regions in the West

Anderson Valley
Find wonderful wine, authentic farm stands, and much more in Northern California's least known wine country

by Anna Nordberg, Sunset special projects editor

Happy hour deals are back, and we're not talking about two-for-one Coors in plastic cups (although those sound pretty good now too).

In our January issue, Sunset contributor Amanda Gersh writes about the $25 oyster and champagne flights at the Alberta Street
 Oyster Bar & Grill
 in Portland. You get three glasses of bubbly and half-a-dozen Pacific and
 Atlantic oysters, accompanied by yummy mignonettes
 like orange-fennel and champagne-shallot.

Now that's a reason to celebrate.

And on a recent trip to Seattle, our wine editor Sara Schneider stumbled across 75 cent (75 cent!) oysters during happy hour at Ama Ama Oyster Bar & Grill (opened by a chef who used to be at Flying Fish.) That's some well-priced local bounty, and they go great with a glass of Muscadet. Just make sure to get there between 4:00 and 6:00.

Enjoy!

PHOTO: Courtesy of Lussorian Luxury Homes and Accessories

Expert: Myra Ghattas, owner, general manager, server, hostess, cook, and dishwasher of Albuquerque’s Slate Street Cafe and Wine Loft ($$; closed Sun; 515 Slate Ave. N.W.; 505/243-2210)

Field of study: Southwest wines

Restaurants (besides her own) that do well by wine: In Albuquerque, Artichoke Cafe ($$$; 424 Central Ave.; 505/243-0200) and Savoy Bar & Grill ($$$; 10601 Montgomery Blvd.; 505/294-9463). My favorite in Portland is Noble Rot ($$; closed Sun; 2724 S.E. Ankeny St.; 503/233-1999).

Notable New Mexico winemakers: Gruet Winery (closed Sun; $6 tasting fee; 8400 Pan American Fwy.; 505/821-0055) for sparkling wines and Pinot Noir. Casa Rondeña ($5 tasting fee; 733 Chavez Rd. N.W., Los Ranchos de Albuquerque; 505/344-5911) produces a lovely Viognier and meritage. Vivác ($3 tasting fee; 2075 State 68, Embudo, NM; 505/579-4441) is a great up-and-comer.

Wine tours: Casa Rondeña is beautiful and right here in the North Valley of Albuquerque.

Where to shop for wine in Albuquerque: Jubilation Fine Wines and Spirits (free tastings; 3512 Lomas Ave.; 505/255-4404). Also Quarters Wine Shop and BBQ ($5 tasting fee; multiple locations; 505/292-1300), especially at their Wyoming Street location.

Other favorite restaurants in Albuquerque: Besides my family’s places, Duran Central Pharmacy ($; 1815 Central Ave. N.W.; 505/247-4141) and Duran’s Station ($; 5201 Menaul Blvd. N.E.; 505/830-0007)? Jennifer James 101 ($$$; closed Sun; 4615–A Menaul Blvd. N.E.; 505/884-3860). She’s back to cooking hands-on and she works at sourcing locally.

Best way to learn about wine: Taste a lot of different wines in different contexts. Studies show that we taste things differently at different times of the day. It’s best to try one wine with several kinds of food and vice versa, in order to appreciate how each wine works best for you.

How to go about this, short of buying out the local wine store: Look for a restaurant that serves a variety of wines not only by the bottle but also by the glass and half-glass. Go there with a group of friends—the kind who don’t mind sharing tastes. That way you can order several menu items and wines at one sitting and compare. It’s also more fun.

How to find a type of wine you like on a list that’s unfamiliar: You don’t need a lot of exclusive wine terms to describe what you like. You can say, “I want a crisp, clear wine with a lot of acid.” Or you can say that you prefer white wines that are creamy and round.

If you see something on the list that you’re curious about, you can always ask, “Do you do a tasting pour?” That’s a small sip you’re given to see if this is indeed a wine you want to order. We offer them complimentary, some restaurants may make a small charge, and some places won’t do it, but it is never wrong to ask.

On sending back a bottle because it just doesn’t suit your taste: Different restaurants will have different policies, but from my viewpoint, it does my restaurant no good for you to have a negative experience here with our wine, and I think most good restaurants will feel the same. If you’re truly disappointed, you should always let your server know.

American wines vs. European: I teach a wine class and one week is devoted to looking at the Old World (Europe) vs. New World (the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South America, South Africa). We don’t just talk about wine but also look at culture—rock and roll vs. classical, skyscrapers and cathedrals. We look at our signature foods: spicy barbecue, hot wings, jalapeños. Everything we do in the New World is more in your face, edgy, loud, and so it’s true with wines. European wines tend to be subtler, with layers of very minute flavor distinction, while New World wines are jammy, bang-pow, and delicious.

–Interview by Ronni Lundy

by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times, from here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/20web-inaug2.html?hp

Happy inauguration day!  And a momentous day it is!  But even if you're not in D.C. right now (and though I desperately wish I was there, you can't beat the 67 degree forecast in San Francisco today—didn't those folks shivering on the Washington Mall look COLD?) there's still plenty of places to raise a glass, relive the speech, and celebrate Obama's first day in office.  Obama fever is everywhere, and there's parties for every type of reveler.  Here's some ideas to help you find the fun:

San Francisco:
-Inauguration ball at the Bubble Lounge, 714 Montgomery St.
-Elbo Room Inaguration Party: $7, 647 Valencia Street in the Mission
-Amnesty International SF Inaugural Bash at Le Colonial, $10, 20 Cosmo Place
-Rock Barack at Paradise Lounge, $10, 1501 Folsom Street
-North Beach Inauguration Ball: Savoy Tivoli, 1434 Grant Ave.
Check out a more extensive list from the SF Examiner.

For East Bay and Marin ideas, scroll to the bottom of this list

Vallejo:
Inauguration and broadcast party at the Empress Theater

Napa:
Sonoma Inaugural Ball: The Sonoma Community Center at 276 E. Napa St. in Napa
Also, check out the Inauguration Party at the Oxbow Wine Merchant

By Sara Schneider, Sunset wine editor

President Obama’s first moves to bail out, pull out, and overhaul (issues: the economy, Iraq, and health care, respectively) will be momentous, to be sure—extreme stuff of world history and personal fate. But I can’t help but put a lot of stock, too, in the first wine Obama chooses to drink as President of the United States, and how soon he gets to it after becoming Number 44.

Photo: Bloomberg News

For the record on the timing, not long! The official Inaugural Lunch menu for Tuesday involves not one, but three, wines. All are from the West, which isn’t a given, considering that wine of some sort is produced in all 50 states. Here’s the scoop.

First course: Duckhorn 2007 Sauvignon Blanc from the Napa Valley with Seafood Stew

Second course: Goldeneye Pinot Noir from the Anderson Valley (in California's Mendocino County, pictured below; photo by Emily Nathan) with a Brace of American Birds (pheasant and duck) with Sour Cherry Chutney and Molasses Sweet Potatoes (maybe not so coincidentally, Goldeneye is owned by Duckhorn)

Dessert: Korbel “Special Inaugural Cuvée” sparkling wine from Sonoma with Apple Cinnamon Sponge Cake and Sweet Cream Glacé (Korbel seems like an appropriate choice; they were the first to produce premium bubbles in this country, after all.)

Washington, Oregon, and the rest of the wine-producing West will have to cut Obama some slack for the all-California lineup. (It might have something to do with the fact that California Senator Diane Feinstein is chair of the Inaugural Committee.)

In my book, it’s a good sign when a new president drinks three wines with his first lunch. It remains to be seen, though, if Obama has the capacity of a great statesman like Winston Churchill, say, who reportedly downed an entire bottle of Champagne every day—before he ever got out of bed in the morning.

I won’t hold our new President to that standard, but if he and Michelle need some suggestions for the best bottles from the West to serve in the White House during the next four years (eight?), and what to pair with them, Sunset is here to help.

Raise a glass with us this week to change!