“Take a Ride on the Wild Side… Telluride”

As Jill knows, I ‘love’ many things but there is one thing I am truly passionate about… aside from my Jill… and that is, skiing! And one of my favorite destinations is the western United States; Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Colorado!

Colorado offers quite a number of incredible destinations but the one that typically sits on top is Telluride. In fact, Condé Nast Traveler readers just named the Telluride Ski Resort no. 1 in North American again. Telluride has now won that title six of the last seven years. Now , why is that, you ask. How can a ski resort hidden away in the San Juan Mountains (where???) of southwest Colorado win this award repeatedly? 

Your answers await!

It’s Easy to Get To.

Conrary to popular belief, Telluride is NOT difficult to get to. There are 15 direct flights serving the Telluride (TEX) and Montrose (MTJ) regional airports from 11 different hubs across the U.S., including a brand-new service on Boutique Air, a United Airlines partner that is operating multiple flights daily between Denver (DEN) and TEX. With Telluride airport just 10 minutes from the town and the slopes and Montrose a scenic 65 minutes away, travel to Telluride is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

No Car Needed.

Once you get to Telluride, you have no need for a car. Slope access involves zero effort (relatively speaking). Virtually everywhere in Mountain Village is ski in/ski out. The Peaks Resort and Spa, the Madeline Hotel and Residences, the Inn at Lost Creek and the Mountain Lodge are all slope-side. Lumière with Inspirato in Mountain Village? Slope-side. Furher, the Camel’s Garden, Hotel Columbia and Dunton Town House are steps from the Gondola, while Element 52 sits alongside Telluride Trail.

The various village hotels also offer a friendly-but-professional ski valet service. The ski valets at the Peaks Resort and Spa, for example, provide a “no-touch service” that means your only job is stepping into your bindings. At the Fairmont Franz Klammer Lodge, the ski valets pre-warm boots, give updated info on conditions and offer complimentary sunscreen and glove heaters (that might be a wee bit posh for me but Jill appreciates it).

Talk about your ‘one light’ town, Telluride is approximately eight blocks long; everything is walking distance. And if you’re pooped from skiing the pow, you can catch a ride on the Galloping Goose, a free, eco-friendly shuttle that loops through town every 10 minutes. You can hail it from any street corner on the route, and it can drop you in front of various hotels; main street’s historic New Sheridan Hotel, the aptly named Hotel Telluride or the River Club. There’s also plenty of ski in/ski out condominiums and homes available in Mountain Village and Telluride.

It. Is. Beautiful.

Telluride’s beauty can never be overstated. Telluride is perched in a stunning box canyon surrounded by the highest concentration of 13,000- and 14,000-foot-peaks in North America. Mere words don’t do justice to the jaw-dropping exquisiteness of this place. The natural beauty is something that still astonishes all! It. Is. Beautiful!

It is Historic.

Did you know that Butch Cassidy (no, not Paul Newman) robbed his first bank in Telluride? Or that a local mine was the first place in the world to use alternating current electricity? In a world of ever growing corporate-owned ski resorts, Telluride stands alone. Its independent streak and historic charm are the real deal. Established in 1878, Telluride, a National Historic Landmark District, is a former mining town whose surprisingly colorful, maverick past is evident everywhere you look.

As difficult as this is to say, though you’re there to enjoy the incredible ski-experience Telluride Ski Resort offers, be sure to take a day or two off the slopes. Explore Telluride’s unique and colorful history with a snowmobile tour to a mining-era ghost town. Visit the Telluride Historical Museum located in an old miners’ hospital or take one of the museum’s walking tours. Telluride is a Colorado Creative District, and its arts scene awaits discovery. Check out the Sheridan Opera House, Michael D. Palm Theatre, or Club Red for a concert or theatrical production. Craving activity? Visit a local outfitter to ice climb, heli-ski, flyfish, Nordic ski or snowshoe.

No Crowds.

Crowds don’t happen here. Whether you are looking for steep and deep (try Spiral Stairs or the Plunge) or smooth corduroy (check out Sundance or See Forever), the Telluride Ski Resort has more than 2,000 acres of varied terrain waiting for you with not a line or ski-slope traffic jam in sight.

On a powder day—you’ll find plenty—it’s not difficult to find an untouched line or powder stash all day long. Simply. Amazing. Corduroy is what you seek (not my style but ok)? Beginners and advanced beginners should head for Double Cabins off Lift 10. This wide-open, uncrowded groomer affords views all the way to the La Sal Mountains of Utah, 100 miles away. Hot for some hair-raising hike-to terrain? Telluride’s Gold Hill chutes are famous (or maybe infamous, depending on the kind of day you’re having) and offer some of the steepest terrain in North America. Access is via Revelation Lift and, depending on which chute you want to ski, a short or moderate hike. Are you an intermediate who wants the full mountain experience? Ride Lift 6, enjoy lunch and the views at locals’ favorite Giuseppe’s and then ski the aforementioned and aptly named See Forever all the way down.

The Gondola.

We need to say a little about Telluride’s unique Gondola. The free Gondola is the only transportation system of its kind in North America, and it is genius, connecting Telluride, the ski resort and Mountain Village via a handicap-accessible, pet-friendly, 13-minute ride. The views are sick (aka, incredibly beautiful), and the uniqueness of the experience is something unforgettable! It also happens to be eco-friendly. By carrying more than 2.5 million passengers annually, the Gondola keeps folks from having to drive the 8 miles between Telluride and Mountain Village, avoiding an estimated 45,000 tons of CO² in vehicle emissions each year.

It is Delicious.

Though Telluride is a small town, it’s got a big-city dining scene where any foodie would salivate! Various locales offer enviable wine lists, innovative menus and the freshest, finest ingredients prepared by talented chefs. We’re thinking of Allred’s, 221 South Oak, the Cosmopolitan, La Piazza del Villagio or the Chop House at the New Sheridan Hotel. Not to mention the Telluride Ski Resort’s array of on-mountain options, like Alpino Vino, at 12,000ft, the highest restaurant in North America. This exquisite spot, below Lift 14 on upper See Forever, offers traditional northern Italian fare. You can also try Rustico, the Telluride Bistro and the Village Table. Even the more casual eateries are award winning, like Brown Dog Pizza, which is a repeat winner of the Pizza World Series… in Italy. Other winners in our book are The Butcher and the Baker and La Marmotte.

And for kid-friendly offerings, you have authentic Mexican (Esperanza’s or La Cocina), genuine southern barbecue (Oak, where the owner is an Alabama native who knows his BBQ), creative burgers and salads (Smuggler, Black Iron Kitchen or Floradora) or award-winning pizza (above mentioned Brown Dog and High Pie Pizzeria), in Telluride and Mountain Village, meals will be out of this world. 

Relaxation.

Telluride and Mountain Village have a number of fitness centers offering a friendly and supportive environment. Get your sweat on at the hot yoga classes at Mangala Yoga, loosen those legs in a Pedal Den spinning class or get your ass kicked with a conditioning class at Telluride Fuel. Then again, how about just skiing???

Local spas and salons are staffed by knowledgeable professionals. Try Pure Beauty and Wellness Spa, Studio G or the spas at the Madeline Hotel and Residences or the Peaks Resort and Spa for a range of services, like massages, aromatherapy and beauty and wellness treatments. Pure also has an authentic, European-style salt cave. The Madeline and the Peaks both offer guests a heated outdoor pool with exquisite views. The Mountain Lodge does too, with diners at the hotel’s restaurant also welcome to take a dip.  

Community.

Telluride is a town of REAL people living REAL lives. You’ll find the ski resort, streets and sidewalks, restaurants, bars, shops and galleries inhabited by locals who aren’t shy about expressing their love for ‘their’ mountain and sharing that love, too. There are NO chain stores, malls or fast-food outlets here. Local kids don’t have ordinary gym class in the winter, they have Ski PE and spend one day a week during the ski season improving their skiing and snowboarding and appreciating their exceptional hometown. Spend just a few days experiencing Telluride’s genuine warmth and friendliness, and you will be surprised to realize you are feeling like a local, too.

Get ready to be pleasantly surprised as you make plans to Visit Telluride.