Colorado is known for its fabulous resorts, which run the gamut from charming boutique hotels to stately structures that are truly the discriminating traveler’s delight. Here we offer an up-close look at some of these special destinations.
St. Regis Aspen
Steps away from the base of the fabulous slopes of Aspen, the St. Regis Resort stands majestically. The hotel is a story of sophisticated luxury, with no detail left to chance. From classic guest rooms to the Presidential Suite and Residence Club, accommodations are top-tier, replete with custom furnishings including a leather bed and desk designed by Ralph Lauren, 40-in. flat-screen televisions, spacious marble bathrooms with double vanities, plush bathrobes and Reméde bath products.
The junior suites offer stunning mountain, town or courtyard views, and of course, butler service. The 17 one-bedroom and loft suites include one or two fireplaces, two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. For guests desiring a “bit more” space, the three Presidential Suites overlook breathtaking mountain vistas, and are reminiscent of a late 19th Century mountain manor. The high-ceilinged living area is appointed with custom furnishings including antiqued leather club chairs, a baby grand piano and powder room. And of course, a butler stands at the ready, whether it’s to unpack (or repack) your bags, shine shoes or press garments, or serve up some hot, fresh coffee.
The Reméde Aspen Spa is an experience unto itself, and was voted No. 1 in the world by Travel+Leisure. Champagne and pampering are just part of the pleasure, as spa guests are treated to a world of relaxation and rejuvenation in the oxygen lounge, steam caves, cold plunges, hot tubs, fitness center and Confluence waterfall.
Dining is a journey of good taste at the St. Regis Aspen. From intimate lounges to poolside dining, both food and service are impeccable. Sip a cocktail on the Fountain Terrace which opens up to the splendor of Aspen Mountain, or take it indoors for a cozy fireside respite at Shadow Mountain Lounge, where Afternoon Tea is always a treat. Don’t miss the St. Regis Champagne Sabering, a tradition started by John Jacob Astor IV when he founded the first St. Regis Hotel in New York around 1904. Here, guests gather for a ceremonial champagne sabering to celebrate the transition from day to night, and the tradition continues in Aspen every day at sunset.
Cocktail hour over, it’s time for some fabulous food, and everyone will love the newest signature restaurant, Trecento Quindici Decano for contemporary Italian and American cuisine. Chefs Club by Food and Wine is the resort’s innovative restaurant concept, Food and Wine’s Best New Chef award winners rotate the menu annually and make special guest appearances to showcase their dishes.
This summer, the resort introduces the Colorful Colorado Package, which includes a three-night stay, picnic breakfast at the base of the iconic Maroon Bells, a guided 12-mile hike to Crested Butte and a private flight from Crested Butte to Aspen via helicopter. A wonderful way to see the gorgeous wildflowers, and an experience that will long be remembered. Truly, the St, Regis Aspen Resort stands out as a place like no other!
StRegisAspen.com
Madeline Hotel and Residences
In the picture-perfect town of Telluride, a sparkling gem nestles among the captivating San Juan mountain range. The Madeline Hotel and Residences, located in Mountain Village above the town, is designed to deliver the very best … in accommodations, ambience, food and service. The rooms are second to none, and the amenities are top of the line. And best of all, the slopeside location means it’s just steps away from the gondola – and world-class skiing and hiking.
Slopeside guestrooms behold stunning views of the snowcapped mountains, and in the suites gas fireplaces cast a warm glow throughout. All rooms feature plush linens, luxuriously appointed baths and cozy,
elegant furnishings.
In the town of Telluride, it’s all about dogs and their humans, and the Madeline Hotel makes sure that the furry set is well taken care of while on vacation. Ranked as one of the most pet-friendly hotels around, the 123-room hotel caters to dogs, with special pricing and amenities designed especially for pups.
The culinary offerings at the hotel are top-notch, and menus take advantage of neighboring farms and artisans for the freshest ingredients available. In fact, nothing compares to the beautiful Mountain Village setting, where guests can cozy up to the outdoor fire table and listen to live music and watch the world go by. The hotel’s signature restaurant, M Cub, serves as Telluride’s quintessential gathering spot, replete with cozy sitting areas, indoor/outdoor dining and bar and game room. The Black Iron Kitchen & Bar is a personality unto itself, and offers up every major event on multiple televisions, live music and casual modern mountain cuisine. But wait, there’s more. The new Dylan’s Candy Bar, wildly popular among the young crowd, features confections from around the world, and will satisfy even the most discriminating sweet tooth. And coffee aficionados, worry not. Starbucks is located onsite, serving it right every time.
And then there’s the spa. At 10,000 feet in the air, guests can savor a spa treatment that, as the hotel says, brings them halfway to heaven. Inspired by high alpime surroundings and active lifestyles, the spa offers specially designed deep tissue treatments that allow guests to play hard and soothe sore muscles. The Madeline Studio is relaxing and modern, with white oak-stained floors and contemporary lighting. Guests can choose to participate in yoga or Pilates, or have a hot stone or Swedish massage. The sky is the limit, and this one truly feels like you’ve touched the sky!
MadelineTelluride.com
Sonnenalp Resort
Amid the backdrop of the picturesque Vail mountains, nestled cozily in the base of Vail Village, Sonnenalp Resort is a haven for travelers who appreciate an escape from the ordinary. Old World elegance intermingles with a spirited Western independence in this wonderful resort that is surrounded by world-class skiing, golf, dining and shopping.
Owned and operated by the Faessler family, the hotel’s roots trace back nearly 100 years to Ofterschwang, Bavaria, where the family opened a hotel specializing in personalized service in breathtaking surroundings. This was the inspiration behind the Sonnenalp name, which literally translated, means sun on the Alps. The Faessler’s love of the Vail Valley led them to open the Sonnenalp Resort in 1979, and the staff’s commitment to Gemutlichkeit, a dedication to making the guest experience one that will be treasured, is well appreciated among guests who return time and again.
Service is the word of the day, from the moment guests arrive and are welcomed by name. When it’s time to ski, equipment is brought to the lift, dinner reservations are made and shopping recommendations are always available. Best of all, the feeling of a home away from home is not only encouraged, it’s also a state of mind, as guests sit in the hotel’s majestic living room (okay, it’s actually the lobby), lounging in robe and slippers, reading a favorite novel while sipping hot chocolate or indulging in wine and cheese. In winter months, live entertainment can be heard in an apres ski setting, and best of all, guests’ favorite wine is readily available at day’s end.
The 112 guest suites and 15 hotel rooms boast heated marble floors in the bathroom, European goose down comforters, and the soothing sound of Gore Creek just outside the balcony door. The resort’s signature restaurant, Ludwig’s, is a favorite, and breakfast in the sun-filled dining room is a must, replete with mouthwatering European pastries, fresh fruit and delicious egg dishes. In summer months the hotel will prepare a box lunch for guests to take on a hike, and at day’s end there’s nothing more memorable than a candlelight dinner, complete with wine from the award-winning wine cellar.
Pampering is always a plus, and the 10,000 sq. ft. European Spa at the Sonnenalp Resort provides a healing retreat. Whether it’s massage, hydrotherapy, yoga or something else, this is truly a luxurious way to end a day … or being anew. The spa lobby beckons with a stunning circular fireplace, and relaxation is the word of the day, with subtle aromatherapy, calming music and soft candlelight. Within the meditation room, sunlight streams across the pines through floor-to-ceiling windows. Too sedentary? When you’re ready for a workout, a personal trainers is on hand to put you through your paces.
When ski season is wrapped up, it’s time to move outside where a beautiful indoor/outdoor pool and gorgeous pool deck beckon all year long. Whirlpools are a great place to unwind with a fruit drink or glass of wine, and in the warm months the area blooms with flowers. Golfers will love the majestic links of the Sonnenalp Golf Club, just 15 minutes from the hotel. The 18-hole Scottish links course is set among the spectacular scenery of the Colorado Rockies, and elevated tees provide unparalleled mountain views. A truly remarkable property in Vail, Colorado!
Sonnenalp.com
Gateway Canyons Resort
One of Colorado’s most breathtaking resorts is nestled near the Colorado/Utah border, at the convergence of five majestic canyons. From the moment you arrive here, you know immediately this will be no ordinary getaway. The resort is awash in adobe-style southwestern architecture, tall cottonwood trees and irrigated green fields that stand in stunning contrast to the red canyon walls that were once the home of the ancient Puebloans.
The resort offers
more than 6,000 acres of natural splendor that still today stands in its most primitive state, including one of the world’s only locations where Precambrian rock is still visible to the human eye. The resort is just steps away from one of the highest concentrations of dinosaur fossils on the planet, yet the luxury that abounds within the rooms and amenities belies the rustic world outside.
“Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa is a one-of-a kind combination, encompassing a dramatic and awe-inspiring environment, paired with one of the finest guest experiences and services around,” says General Manager Rudy Sharp. “Guests have the opportunity for personal growth and enrichment, plus endless opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime experiences and memories.”
With its 58 guest rooms and suites and 14 casitas, fabulous dining and spa – not to mention activities galore, this Southwestern Colorado resort is one of a kind. Part of the Noble House Hotels & Resorts Collection, the resort is owned and operated by John Hendricks, founder and former Chairman of global media company Discovery Communications (parent of Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet), and founder of CuriosityStream, a multi-platform service delivering a host of content on a variety of topics (curiousitystream.com).
The beautifully appointed rooms and suites in the Kiva Lodge and Kayenta Lodge are indeed the lap of luxury, featuring pillow-top beds, Egyptian cotton sheets, and spacious quarters. Ranging in size from 475-1,100 sq. ft., both offer 42” flat screen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi and workstations, and the two-bedroom Kiva Suites have private outdoor terraces with hot tubs and gas fireplace. The two signature rooms of the Kayenta Lodge, which opened in 2012, offer oversized private outdoor courtyard with in-ground hot tub and gas fire pit.
The recently opened Palisade Casitas are set apart from other lodging, and each of the 14 structures offer the ultimate private retreat. Featuring 875 sq. ft. to 2,075 sq. ft. of luxurious living, each Casita boasts custom artisan furnishings and hand-carved doors from Peru. One-of-a-kind Turkish rugs and custom-designed textiles reflect the crystal-blue skies and turquoise shades that are signatures of the American Southwest. Vaulted open-beam ceilings separate the master bedroom, five fixture bathroom and free-standing tub and outdoor garden shower, private outdoor patios with fire pit and massive windows that overlook the towering Palisade rock formations. As an added touch, Casita guests have a butler on hand to assist them with their every need.
And best of all, there are activities galore that cater to every type of guest. “The list of unique experiences at Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa is almost too extensive to list,” says Sharp. “From our world-class Gateway Canyons Auto Museum, to our own Curator of Curiosity, Zebulon Miracle, who will take you on tours of some of the oldest dinosaur track sites in the country, to the locally sourced food, plus our Gateway Canyons Air Tours or Driven Experience Rentals and Pro Baja four-wheel experiences, there is something for everyone at the resort. And maybe the most impactful ingredient is the incredible natural setting, a combination of inspiration and serenity that cannot be matched.”
GatewayCanyons.com
Limelight
A little bit irreverent, a lot of fun, and the epitome of elegance. This is what makes the Limelight Aspen special, and this is what keeps guests returning time and again. Back in the day, this now stunning hotel housed “The Ski and Spur Bar, where outlaws and skiers would come to imbibe. Later, it became a popular dinner theater and lively nightclub, headlined by The Limeliters, which drew large crowds and entertainers such as Judy Collins and The Smothers Brothers.
In 2005, the Paas family, which now owned the property, razed the Limelite Lodge and rebuilt a 126-room hotel, which was sold to the Aspen Skiing Company in 2010. And today, the hugely popular hotel stands boldly at the corner of Monarch Street and Cooper Avenue in Aspen, welcoming visitors to come in and enjoy a little something different.
Rooms and suites are spacious and sunny, with high ceilings, big windows, contemporary décor, oversized closets, plush bedding and granite and marble finishes. This fun hotel is not only something to see, it’s also pet friendly! Complimentary bowls and placemats are provided for your canine companions, but it is requested that pets stay out of the bar and lounge area when food is served!
For those wanting a bit more than a hotel room, or perhaps a lot more, the Penthouse Suite is a winner. With 1,300 square feet of exquisitely decorated space, guests can enjoy expansive living room complete with fireplace and entertainment system. A six-seat dining table and full-sized kitchen accommodate a meal fit for a, well, weary traveler or pack of partyers. Two master bedrooms with flat screen TVs, two en-suite bathrooms and complimentary Body Eclipse Spa Line bath products round out the inside. And on the outside? A grand outdoor balcony with sweeping views of downtown, Independence Pass and Aspen Mountain, and, oh yes, a fireplace for roasting s’mores.
Amenities abound, with complimentary transportation, cruiser and fat bikes, a fantastic (and free) continental breakfast, outdoor pool and hot tubs, spacious fitness room, electric car charging stations, and lots more.
limelighthotel.com
