Colorado: Vail, Denver & the Rockies

Colorado is mountain magic year-round, world-class skiing in winter, hiking and gondolas in summer, and gateway cities with a great food-and-beer scene. I know Vail especially well, so here is where I would go.

Vail (my home base in the mountains)

Vail is a storybook alpine village, and it is wonderful beyond ski season. A few of my favorite tables: La Nonna and La Bottega for Italian and pizza, Elway’s for a great steak, and Mountain Standard. For a fun, low-key night, the Vail Chophouse in Lionshead has live music on its terrace, you can enjoy it from outside without even going in. And my insider tip: take the gondola up from Lionshead, not Vail Village, for the truly incredible views. See my ski guide for winters.

Denver

Denver is the gateway, an easy, walkable city with a booming food-hall and craft-beer scene, and the Rockies right at its doorstep.

Boulder

Boulder is the outdoorsy college town at the foot of the Flatirons, with the pedestrian Pearl Street Mall, great restaurants, and a wellness streak. It is a lovely add to a Denver stay.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Just up from Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park delivers alpine lakes, wildlife, and the famous Trail Ridge Road, an easy nature day from Denver or Boulder.

The part people underestimate. Vail lodging in ski season is spoken for close to a year out, the national park runs a timed-entry reservation through the busy summer months, and the mountain drive up from Denver can stretch to two hours or more when weekend ski traffic hits. It all comes together with the right timing, and pulling that together is exactly what I do.

Why plan Colorado with me

Ski in winter, hike in summer, I match the season and the towns, book the mountain lodging and the tables, and fold in the city side. In English or Español.