Telluride, Colorado
Telluride remains the best little mountain town in the states. Why you ask? In a very small radius, you have all the good restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops and watering holes. With ski lifts that stop right in town, and plenty of hiking paths reachable by foot from town. On top of all of that, for the skiers, the Telluride mountain has everything your heart desires. It is a vast, diverse mountain, to suit every skiers wants, and because it is just a touch more difficult to get to than most other ski destinations in the US, it is consistently less crowded.
Fly into the tiny, gorgeous Montrose airport, which is an hour and a half drive from Telluride. If you do rent a car (there is also a very easy shuttle option), I highly recommend stopping in Ridgway for a night. Halfway between the airport and Telluride, Ridgway has its own vibe and a handful of good shops and bites. Stay at Chipeta, a quirky, western style hotel. What Chipeta lacks in frills, it makes up in charm, large rooms, views, and a great hot tub and pool area. It sits right in town but a few blocks back from Main Street where the grounds are quiet and peaceful.
Shopping in Ridgway was a total blast. Our favorite store was The Vault Vintage and no one left empty handed. For a small town there are plenty of bomb eats. The tacos at Gnar are insanely good and their tater tots are tops. I also loved hobnobbing with the locals for breakfast at Provisions where the food is fresh and there is a warm feeling from the minute you walk through the door.
The Vault Vintage
Ok to reiterate and spell it out, s ome reasons to love Telluride. 1 - there are good mountain town vibrations and then there is Telluride. Whose whole ethos is entirely next-level-shiny-happy-people. The people of Telluride may have stress and problems like everyone else but none that I could detect. 2 - This is not a town to love for the ski and leave when the snow dries up. Live music and festivals fill the Summer calendar, making it a fab place to visit year round. 3 - It really is some of the best skiing in the USA. The Mountain is vast, fun and easy to move around. 4 - Because Telluride sits in Western Colorado, it does not get the heavy crowds that the resorts closer to Denver have. 5 - The town, period.
KNOW: The Gondola is the main artery through Telluride. It is free to ride and connects the town at the bottom of the mountain to Mountain Village which is a mini town where many of the “on mountain” houses are. I have stayed in town and in mountain village and prefer being in town. Most places to stay, whether in town or on the mountain, are within walking distance to a lift. While it was very nice up top, the real fun is in town. If you are staying in Mountain Village, the gondola runs late so you always have a ride home. Which leads me to my next note, you really do not need a car. It was a nice convenience that we had it, and if you want to spend time in other areas like Ridgway etc then get it. There are even plenty of trailheads for hiking right in Telluride. I always get hit hard by altitude and this one was heavy. I never adjusted and always had that headache and shortness of breath, it’s hiiiigh.
EAT: In town, going to keep this one simple - breakfast at The Butcher and The Baker, dinner at There, drinks at The New Sheridan. Firm favorites. We did also have dinner at The National, and while more formal and less Dipa vibes, there is no denying that the food is outstanding. Petite Maison is cozy and the staff is extremely friendly. I also love grabbing lunch from the Caravan airstream in town that serves a solid middle eastern plate.
On mountain, Bon Vivant is a scene and totally worth it. It’s a bougie sliver of this otherwise chill mountain that somehow still feels cool even with the air of exclusivity and sabering of champagne bottles. Gorrono’s is straightforward, the sprawling outdoor rest stop for everyone who needs a break and a beer mid afternoon. Basically the beach of the mountain. Alpino Vino is the small, polished stop way up on the mountain. Love sitting there sipping a beverage and savoring a delicious fancy grilled cheese and tomato soup - you are on vacation so don’t look at the bill. Somehow the high and low on mountain options in Telluride feel relaxed, enjoy them all.
DO: Of course you would be a fool to not spend most of your time in Telluride skiing if it is winter. but days off are needed and there’s many hours in a day to mix it up. We were there at the tail end of ski season and had the best of both worlds - good ski conditions and warm, sun-filled days. I spent a day off that started with a heated flow at Mangala Yoga. Such great energy in this studio, give it a shot. There are so many great hikes around Telluride. I opted for the 3 mile Jud Wiebe loop that starts in town. The trail goes through lots of different terrain and conditions and the views are legit. The loop is the perfect way to start or end your day. I recommend end of day straight on into the drink that is waiting for you in town upon completion.
SHOP: Bopping around from shop to shop in Telluride is a must. MIXX is my forever favorite, a gallery of sorts with great jewelry, art, and home goods. Everything in the shop is thoughtful, well made and reasonably priced. The staff, the music, the magical dogs and the light that fills the space speaks volumes. I also enjoy Scarpe, a well-stocked higher-end clothing store. Very wearable pieces, both known and loved designers along with plenty that were new to me. T. Karn is a concept store with home goods and accessories, beautiful stuff.
My love for this town grows with each visit. Until I started coming to Telluride I liked to explore new ski towns and mountains every year. Now…Telluride or nowhere!