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Stop in for a Soak
To find out why — and more importantly, where...
Hot Springs Eternal
Natural hot springs are the
earth’s way of providing spa treatments — soothing surges of warm water
perfect for washing away our stress. So before you hurtle headlong into
the busy holiday season, try soaking in one of these spectacular hot
springs. They’re Mother Nature’s way of helping us relax. — Josh Sens
 Caracalla Thermal Baths,
Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden,
in Germany’s Black Forest, means “bath bath,” and these are among the
resort town’s finest. They’re a collection of soaking pools in a
facility that also offers eucalyptus-scented saunas. From $27. www.carasana.de
Wilbur Hot Springs,
Wilbur Springs, California
Sheltered
by a bathhouse, the warm waters of Wilbur are shunted through three
flumes and end up pooling into natural baths of varying temperatures.
The hot springs are two and a half hours by car from San Francisco and
an hour and a half from Sacramento. $45 day rate. www.wilburhotsprings.com
Gellert Baths and Spa,
Budapest, Hungary
In
a city famous for abundant hot springs, few are more alluring than this
natural spa, which is ringed by mosaics, plants, and marble statues.
From $14. www.gellertbath.com
 Boiling River,
Yellowstone National Park
A
short drive from the park’s north entrance, the aptly named Boiling
River converges with the icy waters of the Gardiner River, creating an
ideal spot for outdoor soaking. The surroundings, of course, can’t be
beat.
(307) 344-7381
LaQua,
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo
Dome City, a leisure center in the heart of the city, is home to these
springs, which bubble up from hundreds of feet deep inside the earth
into a network of outdoor baths. From $22. www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/laqua/spa.htm
Sykes Hot Springs,
Big Sur, California
A
long day hike through a redwood forest leads you to these boulder-lined
baths, which bubble from the ground beside a babbling brook. To get
there, take the Pine Ridge Trail from the Big Sur Station. (831)
667-2315
San Antonio Hot Springs,
New Mexico
Located
in the Santa Fe National Forest, these hot springs flow from a steep
hillside, creating a collection of soaking baths, each progressively
cooler the farther downhill you go. The hot springs are a five-mile
hike from the Jemez Springs area in the national forest. (800) 777-2489
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort,
British Columbia, Canada
A
horseshoe-shaped cave is a defining feature of these hot springs, where
you can sit in the cozy darkness of a natural cavern and relax in warm,
mineral-rich waters. The hot springs are off of Highway 31, on the
western shores of Kootenay Lake. Free for resort guests; $10 day rate
for visitors. www.hotnaturally.com
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Fun in the Snow
Winter means building snowmen, plowing
snow, and scraping all that ice off your car window. But what if you
were to escape to Narnia and do something really different this year? — Becca Hensley
 What: Snow Biking
Where: Telluride, Colorado
How: Fly into Montrose/Telluride
Not
only does this mountainside hotel offer a bevy of snowy-weather
activities, it boasts a Golden Door Spa, so you can relax your overused
muscles. Skiing in this chic mountain village is a given, but why not
try snow biking? It requires no pedaling or climbing, as you use a
low-to-the-ground bike with a ski instead of wheels to slide across the
snow. Rooms from $99; one-day snow-biking adventure, $65.
www.thepeaksresort.com
What: Ice Climbing
Where: Southern Vermont
How: Fly into Albany, New York
Make
like an icicle and hang — on to a mountain, that is. Join the expert
guides of Extreme Adventures of Vermont for a guided wilderness
adventure. This safe yet challenging weekend trek for first-time
climbers connects you to the tranquility of nature even as it tests
your mettle. The Winter Stay and Play package includes two days of
climbing, a half-day of snowshoeing, lodging, meals, and more. $900 for
two. www.extremeadventuresvt.com
 What: The Glacier Express
Where: Switzerland
How: Fly into Zurich
Take
the Glacier Express between two of Switzerland’s most beautiful ski
areas. Start with a few days on the slopes in St. Moritz, then board
this train that crisscrosses the Alps. It’s said to be the slowest,
most scenic train ride in the world, and you’ll be awed with sites like
the Matterhorn before arriving in Zermatt to continue your ski
adventure. Tickets from $109. www.glacierexpress.ch
What: Cross-country Skiing
Where: Idaho
How: Fly into Sun Valley with AA’s codeshare partner Alaska Airlines, operated by Horizon Air
Cross-country
ski your way from one backcountry (read: luxury) yurt to another with
Sun Valley Trekking’s Hut-to-Hut Tour package. Deep in Idaho’s Smoky,
Pioneer, or Sawtooth mountains, you’ll find your inner abominable
snowman as you plow through powder and inhale pine-scented air. In the
evening, soak in a wood-fired hot tub and indulge in fine wine and
food. $150 per person, per day. www.svtrek.com
 What: Snowshoe Hiking
Where: Taos and Santa Fe
How: Fly into Albuquerque
Hike
through the Land of Enchantment — on snowshoes. Country Walkers’ active
itinerary ensures that you’ll get plenty of exercise to burn off the
overindulgence of the holidays. Attention, hedonists: The
easy-to-moderate hikes end in plenty of time for outdoor hot-tubbing.
$2,298 for six days. www.countrywalkers.com
What: Dogsledding in France
Where: Évian-les-Bains, France
How: Fly into Geneva with AA’s codeshare partners British Airways and SN Brussels Airlines
Évian
Royal Resort, a belle epoque beauty at the foot of the French Alps,
sits on the south shore of Lake Geneva like a castle made from snow.
From your elegant base, a guide will accompany you as you take a
dogsled across the Mont Blanc mountain range. Rooms from $185;
dogsledding from $407. www.evianroyalresort.com
What: Polar Bear Viewing
Where: Chugach Mountains, Alaska
How: Fly into Anchorage
Explore
the last frontier. Just 40 miles south of Anchorage, the Alyeska Resort
can arrange super-adventurous day trips for you. You can cruise in
search of winter wildlife while in view of spectacular glaciers ($65
per person), and then set out for a polar bear safari. Just don’t
forget your camera. One-day safari from $1,128; resort stay from $130 a
night. www.alyeska resort.com
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Sweet Delivery
Ah, the holidays — and, oh, the stress
that comes with them when you’re trying to bake for a houseful of
guests who have rampant sweet tooths and visions of sugarplums dancing
in their heads. One way to make things a little easier for your next
get-together: Plan ahead and have dessert delivered to your door.
Because we care about you, dear readers, we decided to sacrifice our
swimsuit-ready figures and sample treats from all over the country.
(It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.) Here, for your reading
— and eating — pleasure, are the best of the best. — Haley Shapley
Apple Pie (1)
Heritage Pie Company
Whose grandma
made this? No, really — that’s a serious question with this pie, which
arrives so fresh, you could pass it off as homemade. At five pounds,
this monstrous dessert is filled to the brim with apples — 10 to 12 of
them, to be exact. We’ve made piecrust this tender and good only in our
dreams. $35. (877) 816-1400, www.heritagepie.com
Starry Night (2)
Elegant Cheese Cakes
Choosing
this winner was a piece of cake — since it’s the prettiest cake we’ve
ever seen. Although it’s heavy on the fondant icing (which we forgive,
as that’s what makes it look so good), the gift inside (vanilla
cheesecake with a hint of peppermint on a chocolate-cookie crust) is
worth a little unwrapping. $99. (650) 728-2248,
www.elegantcheesecakes.com
Chocolate Mousse Cups (3)
Williams-Sonoma
These chilled treats were so good, they inspired our taste-testers to invent words such as scrumdeliumptious and yumazing.
With the three different flavors of creamy, melt-in-your-mouth
chocolate, you can’t go wrong serving these for any occasion. $43 for a
set of 12 (four of each flavor). (877) 812-6235, www .williams-sonoma.com
Homestyle Babka (4)
Zabar’s
If
cereal and bagels have become boring breakfast standbys, try babka — a
tasty twist on coffee cake. Zabar’s moist, flavorful loaves are sure to
please the masses (and are kosher, to boot). Jerry and Elaine from Seinfeld
couldn’t agree on which was better, cinnamon or chocolate, and neither
can we. But there’s one thing we did agree on, as stated so well by
Elaine: “You can’t beat a babka.” $9. (800) 697-6301, www.zabars.com
Busy Bee Cake (5)
Black Hound New York
Calling
all the overscheduled busy bees out there: This cake is perfect for
you. The moist texture and almond flavor are especially worth buzzing
about. With rich layers of chocolate butter cake, almond cake,
bittersweet-chocolate mousse, and marzipan, it’s definitely filling —
but worth every bite. Available in a six-inch ($36), nine-inch ($52),
or 10-inch ($69) size. (800) 344-4417, www.blackhoundny.com
Ultimate Chocolate Truffle Cake (6)
Desserts by David Glass
What
this cake lacks in size it makes up for in the sheer decadence of its
rich, deep chocolate flavor. Aside from its addictive taste, this
dessert’s biggest asset is its ability to be customized. Add fresh
fruit, whipped cream, nuts, caramel — the options are nearly endless.
Or leave it dressed down and watch it quickly disappear. Available in a
six-inch ($17) or eight-inch ($22) size. (860) 769-5570, www.davidglass.com
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Ditch the Gym Membership
The path to fitness is paved
with visits to health clubs, where you will sweat alongside other
gym-goers — eventually (assuming you stick with it) coming to realize
that everybody else is more interested in wearing stylish workout
clothes than in actually sweating and panting. But don’t give up.
Consider your financial budget, fitness goals, and available space, and
buy your own home gym. — Mark Henricks
 Does It All
The
bully of home gyms is the Titan T1, a Polish-built monster sold in the
U.S. by Fitcore that rivals most club equipment. It’s three-quarters of
a ton of lifetime-guaranteed steel racks, benches, cables, and machines
that fill a nine-by-twelve room, and it offers the potential for 90
exercises and a quadriceps-blowing 800-pound maximum. Budget $3,599 for
the basic T1 or $6,500 for the ultimate with everything except, of
course, the weights. www.fitcore.com
 Budget Conscious
Even
the nearly broke can buff up with the Band Flex Gym from Stamina
Fitness. For $360, you can do more than 60 exercises, and adjustable
elastic bands safely generate up to 260 pounds of resistance. The Band
Flex warranty is just five years on the frame and 90 days on other
parts, but if the equipment lasts even a year, you’ll spend less than
what you would on club dues alone. www.staminaproducts.com
 Personal Spotter
Free
weights build muscle better than bands or weight stacks do, but they
aren’t as safe when used solo. The Caribou III System from Yukon
Fitness Equipment ($899) addresses this dilemma by pairing a classic
power rack with a self-spotting Smith machine and adjustable spotter
arms to help prevent uncontrolled descents. The Caribou is warranted
for life and can be expanded with many features. Unfortunately, free
weights don’t mean the weights are free: You supply your own barbells
and weights. www.yukon-fitness.com
 Aerobic to the Core
One
of the best ways to lose weight is through aerobic exercise, and
treadmills are the most popular aerobic equipment because they’re so
easy to use. The Landice L7 LTD Pro Sports Trainer ($3,095) is regarded
as the top home treadmill because of its commercial-grade construction
and lifetime warranty on all parts. With a spacious track,
three-horsepower motor, and 400-pound capacity, it walks off with the
title of best home weight-loss equipment. www.landice.com
 Space Constraints
The
space-challenged can still get fit with Body-Solid’s EXM1500S Home Gym
($799). With a footprint that’s a tidy 49 inches long and 36 inches
wide, it has a 160-pound weight stack, plus cables, pulleys, and
attachments for many popular exercises. And the lifetime warranty for
home use means there’s a good chance you’ll break your diet long before
you break this gym. www.bodysolid.com
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Comic Nation
Comedians call it “crickets” when a joke
flops, in tribute to the chirping insects that can be heard above the
deafening lack of laughter. And while no comedy house is perfectly
uninfested, the following clubs are plenty cool enough to remain
bug-free most nights of the year. — M.H.
Chicago
Zanies
in Lincoln Park is both intimate, with a 130-seat room, and
intimidating, presenting A-list jokers like Dave Chappelle practically
in your lap. With improv legend Second City a block away, Zanies’
nightly shows are all and only stand-up. Cover for a typical show is
$20. In case of a sellout, satellite Zanies in St. Charles and Vernon
Hills offer larger venues. www.chicago.zanies.com
Denver
Comedy
Works reliably lures comedy’s biggest and best to the Mile High City.
Tariffs to enter the 280-seat theater on historic Larimer Square range
from $10 on Tuesday’s Amateur Night — the first show of the week — to
$45 on a weekend, when established stars like Dennis Miller may share
the stage with Josh Blue and other up-and-comers. www.comedyworks.com
New York
In
this city known for hip humor, nobody outjokes the Upright Citizens
Brigade Theatre. The Chelsea club claims to be New York’s only venue
with stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy every night. It may also be
the city’s best cheap date: All shows cost $5 to $8. If you’re killing
time on a Sunday, line up by six p.m. for free seats to the 9:30 improv
show, during which Saturday Night Live headliners frequently appear. www.ucbtheatre.com/ny
Pasadena, California
America’s
oldest comedy club is the Ice House in Pasadena, where, starting in
1960, the likes of the Smothers Brothers trod the boards that today
support Ellen DeGeneres and her ilk. Tickets range from $14.50 to
$19.50, and there’s always a two-beverage minimum at this cozy,
185-seat former ice factory where every night but Monday you can see
Sunset Boulevard–quality comics in a Main Street environment. www.icehousecomedy.com
Houston
The
oldest comedy club in Texas has been yukking it up for 28 years and is
still in the same location (and still, inexplicably, houses late comic
Sam Kinison’s piano). Laff Stop, boasting a 250-seat showroom in the
tony Houston neighborhood of River Oaks, has shows Wednesday through
Saturday, plus offers an open mike — rare among top comedy clubs — on
Monday. Tickets are $20 to $30. www.laffstop.com
Atlanta
An
undistinguished building in suburban Sandy Springs (just north of
Atlanta) houses the Punchline, one of the Southeast’s top comedy stages
and a regular stop for national touring acts. Covers for
Tuesday-through-Sunday shows range from $8 to $15, and there’s a full
dining menu. Make reservations in advance for this intimate comedy
house. www.punchline.com
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 Stephen Covey on Greatness
Megaselling author Stephen Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) speaks to American Way about the new book he coauthored with David K. Hatch, Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life ($25, Rutledge Hill Press), a collection of the best stories from 80 years of Reader’s Digest, with a running commentary by Covey. — Chris Tucker
Why did you want to do this book now?
We
have a celebrity-obsessed culture focused on what I call secondary
greatness — wealth, prestige, position, notoriety. But character and
contribution are much more important. The key is you make a difference,
add value in society.
How do we attain everyday greatness?
First,
we take responsibility for our own life. We’re not victims of
circumstance; we’re the creative force of our own life. Second, we have
a purpose, to contribute, [and] that gives our life meaning. And third,
we accomplish that purpose by living by principles such as integrity,
humility, empathy, and discipline.
Your stories focus on 21 principles. Is one more important than the others?
No,
but I would say that courage is the quality of every other quality at
its highest testing level. The real test of any principle, when push
comes to shove, is courage.
You’re often classified as a business author. How do you see yourself?
I
try to think like a social ecologist, seeing how different elements of
society connect. Business is only one element, but it’s an economic
engine that drives opportunity. Businesspeople should feel a
stewardship for the whole society, not just for their customers.
How do you define leadership?
It’s
a choice, not a position, and it must be based on moral authority, not
on formal authority. You can be a key informal leader and have the
greatest influence within the company culture. People who have formal
authority but don’t live by principles will lose influence even if
they’re the CEO of a big corporation.
Your motto is “live life in crescendo.” Please explain.
It’s simple. The most important work you’ll ever do is always ahead of you, not behind you.
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 That Maverick Mojo
Authors
William Taylor and Polly LaBarre studied dozens of trailblazing
companies to find the most creative entrepreneurs and executives
around. The result is Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win ($27, William Morrow). Some key ideas:
Walk in stupid every day.
That’s the motto of Dan Wieden, legendary founder of the Wieden+Kennedy
advertising agency (Nike, ESPN, Miller Brewing Company). No matter how
long you’ve been on top, say the authors, keep seeking out unexpected
ideas, outside influences, and new perspectives.
What you think shapes how you talk.
Create your own company vocabulary, like board-game maker Cranium did.
In their lingo, customers are “Craniacs” and all products must be CHIFF
— clever, high-quality, innovative, friendly, and fun.
Innovation through agitation.
Employ splashy, unorthodox tactics to create buzz. The CEO of retail
bank ING Direct USA led 700 Harley riders on a 700-mile jaunt; in
Boston, the company bought subway tickets for all riders one morning.
Competition by not competing.
Online classified-ad-busting Craigslist.org uses neither advertising
nor focus groups, has no logo, and is mostly free, but the company’s
yearly revenues have been estimated at $20 million. — C.T.
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