Through the Tunnel and Over the Divide

On Friday morning we packed up the car and hit the road. We made a quick stop at Keystone to take some pictures, and then headed to Berthoud Pass.

Berthoud Pass is the U.S. 40 route that traverses and climbs the continental divide. The pass is the quickest way to the Fraser Valley, where Winter Park lays. It is also known as a popular backcountry ski destination because of its awesome snow, steep terrain and easy access for skiers to shuttle back up to the top. The road up the continental divide is steep, scenic, beautiful, and full of switchbacks. With the Autumn colors in full bloom, you can only imagine how gorgeous the drive was. Fortunately for you, I'm a "leafer" and took tons of pictures for you to feast your eyes upon.


At the bottom of the pass is the base of Winter Park, and laying less than a mile away, its sleepy little town. Kevin and I were famished when we arrived and quickly found ourselves eying Deno's, the restaurant next to our hotel. Deno's offers personal sized 12" gourmet pizzas, a variety of pastas, sandwiches, and delicious entrees. We quicky munched down our food, enjoyed our table next to the warm fireplace, and then headed back to the hotel to watch the presidential debates.


On Saturday, we grabbed some breakfast at Sharky's and began to introduce ourselves to every restaurant in town. Sharky's offers an amazing breakfast, very friendly staff, and a small town local vibe. We continued our day working hard and hunting down the 30+ restaurants in the Valley. Kevin and I instantly noticed that every person we met in Winter Park was more than generous with their time, their smiles, and their warmth. I have to say that this is the friendliest place on earth and if you are looking for mellow ski-get-a-way, look no further than the Fraser Valley!

After making friends with everyone we met, we were ready for dinner! We drove by a place called Hernando's, and noticed that the whole town was parked in front of the place. Obviously we couldn't resist investigating this popular hot spot. Hernando's is a very cool and family friendly Italian joint with over $20,000 in dollar bills wallpapering it's interior. That's right - everywhere you look there is a wall, ceiling, or column covered with taped on dollar bills! Not only that, but their Lasagna is fantastic. Just the right size, cheesy, and covered with the perfect sauce.

In the morning, we were told by a few locals to check out The Mountain Rose for breakfast. I can't speak highly enough about this place! The menu boasted unique breakfast choices, tons of vegetarian friendly items, and an enormous amount of healthy and generously portioned entrees. Kevin ordered the He-man Mountain Pie (from the Mountain side of the menu), and I tried the Venetian Goddess Frittata (from the Rose side of the menu). I only wish that there was a breakfast place like this in Park City, or anywhere within 50 miles of it! After happily devouring our breakfast and chatting with our incredibly awesome and friendly waitress, we got back on the road and pointed the Subi towards Steamboat Springs.

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Exploring Summit County

By Wednesday morning, Kevin and I had completed all of our business needs in Breckenridge and decided to investigate the rest of Summit County. On the road connecting Breckenridge and Dillon sits a trail head and a small parking lot. Since it was such a nice day out, we thought we would take a quick walk and snap some photos of Lake Dillon Reservoir. While walking on the trail, a girl heading back to her car handed us a bag of sunflower seeds and said "don't forget to check out the chipmunks". We took the bag of seeds, albeit a bit confused, and kept walking. Then low and behold, about 15-20 yards ahead of us, there was an amazing view of the lake and 50+ chipmunks who were waiting for their dinner. I had an absolute blast feeding the cute little guys, who were more than happy to sit right in your hand and nibble. When we ran out of seeds, we walked back to the car and headed into Dillon.


We spent the rest of our time exploring Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne to learn about some of the best and most notable restaurants in the area. We didn't have a chance to eat at all the restaurants, but we did get to sample a few...


The Dillon Dam Brewery sits near the Dillon Dam and serves everything from burgers to pasta wraps. Kevin ordered the Club Wrap and I tried the Ahi Tuna Pasta Wrap, which was a new addition to the menu. I would have never imagined pasta inside a wrap, but was delighted with the flavor and texture that it added. The brewery is a great place to take the whole family, or to sit and enjoy a beer while watching Sunday night football.

We also had a chance to eat at Silverheel's in Frisco, which is a steakhouse that serves sushi two nights a week. We met up with some of Kevin's previous coworkers there and sat down for a few rolls. The sushi was pretty tasty for a ski town and the rolls were very large. Because of the young and loud bar-like atmosphere, I would probably recommend checking out this sushi night with a bunch of friends before heading to the bars or for a fun and casual date.

On one of our last nights in Summit County, Kevin and I had the chance to see a ski movie premier called "Hand Cut" by Sweet Grass Productions. Kevin and I were both excited to catch a ski movie premier since we missed the Utah showings this year. Sweet Grass Productions is a Colorado based film company that captures the lifestyle and voice of the backcountry ski community. We both enjoyed the film and could tell that there was a huge amount of passion put into this small budget film. I was hoping for a bit more "story" about the producers, filmers, and skiers behind the movie, but was more than satisfied with the face shots and hip deep snow shots. During the movie, I quickly made note of the awesome soundtrack by Colorado local John-Alex Mason. If you like folksy-bluesy ski town music, you have to check it out!

After the movie, we grabbed some pizza slices from Giampietro's and then headed back to the hotel to pack and prepare for our next town, Winter Park.

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Breckenridge Restaurants

We are currently staying in Breckenridge at a former bed and breakfast called the Colorado Pines Inn, ran by a lovely woman name Margaret. She used to rent out rooms in her house to travelers, but she currently has the house listed for sale, so it is not operating as a B&B any longer. However, the home is still set up like a B&B, and she even cooks us a hot breakfast every morning. This, and we cannot stress this enough, is amazing. Her cooking is fantastic and we have had things like organic blueberry pancakes and egg frittatas. The house is tucked in the pine forest on Peak 7, just a five minute drive from Main Street Breckenridge.



Our first meals in Breck were at local brew-pubs. We ate dinner Friday night at the Breckenridge Brewery on Main and had excellent, home cooked comfort food. This was a nice change of pace from the high end cuisine that dominates Vail and Beaver Creek. The Breck Brewery is a local’s hang out with tons of seating and great Colorado ales. We also went to the Backcountry Brewery for some more traditional bar food and a specialty beer brewed this weekend. The Pine Beetle Festival was in Frisco this past weekend, and the Backcountry Brewery crafted a special Pine Beetle Brown Ale to celebrate. It was full-flavored but drinkable, with a little sweetness and a satisfying finish. Check out the Backcountry Brewery in Frisco if you have a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

The following couple days we checked out Empire Burger and Rasta Pasta on the recommendation of a few locals. Empire Burgers serves up satisfying homemade burgers in a variety of formats, with fresh cut fries and tons of dipping sauces. It’s just a good, solid burger on fresh baked bread. Nothing fancy, but it doesn’t let you down either. I would personally recommend the Sriracha-mayonaise dipping sauce for your fries. Rasta Pasta is a local’s favorite for huge pasta dishes in a funky, Bob Marley inspired atmosphere. Many of the pastas have a considerable amount of kick, with excellent Caribbean inspired flavors like mango and pineapple sauces. The dinner entrees come with a salad and garlic bread, and are a great bang for your buck.


We have also spent a considerable amount time in a coffee shop/bakery/tavern called The Crown. It’s a funky, dark café with comfortable seating and free wifi, so we get lots of work done there. The menu includes soups, sandwiches, pastries, coffee drinks, martinis and specialty cocktails. The music is great, the people are great, and the food is excellent. The Crown is easy to miss, but you should definitely stop in when you are strolling along Main Street in Breckenridge.


The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is also a popular spot on Main Street, serving up every imaginable shrimp dish in a Forrest Gump inspired atmosphere. We were invited to sample some of their lunch items and we gladly obliged. I went with the New Orleans Shrimp and was definitely impressed. The large portion of shrimp was perfectly seasoned, and just slightly blackened in the Cajun style. It was served with a tasty garlic butter sauce over jasmine rice. I would highly recommend this dish. Casey went with the BBQ shrimp salad and was impressed with its size. The shrimp were again plentiful and the salad was fresh. For dessert, do not miss “that chocolate thing” as it’s called on the menu. It’s a warm, flourless chocolate cake smothered in fudge with ice cream, raspberry sauce and whipped cream. It’s pure indulgence in a mason jar.

We have been impressed with the number of friendly and down to earth people we’ve encountered in Breckenridge. It is much less pretentious than Vail or Aspen, and the price of restaurants is much lower as well. Breckenridge has that old time Colorado feel to it, with the Main Street area being immune from the over-development found in many ski areas. That must be why Breck is one of the most popular winter destinations in this country. We will be back this winter, that’s for sure.

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Leaving Vail

Thursday night we were invited by Steven at La Tour to come sample some of their signature entrees and desserts. We had heard great things about La Tour from a few different locals, so we were definitely excited. While La Tour is a French restaurant, it doesn’t have the same stuffy atmosphere as a lot of French restaurants we’ve visited. It is more modern, with a vibrant and contemporary dining room and bar.

After selecting a couple glasses of wine, our waiter guided us towards the escargot appetizer and the crab cake appetizer. The escargot was served traditionally with a heavy cream and vermouth sauce with garlic and shallots; it was excellent. The crab cake was very unique however. It was more of a crab salad, with fresh, loose crab meat in a pesto sauce on top of garden tomatoes. Casey said it was fantastic and a welcome departure from the typical fried crab cakes most restaurants serve.

For our entrees, I went with the grilled beef tenderloin and Casey selected the dover sole. The beef tenderloin was absolute perfection with a crispy, done exterior and a red, juicy and flavorful center. It was accompanied by a red wine reduction, wilted spinach, morel mushrooms and a potato cake. This was hands down the best steak I’ve had on this trip, and one of the best I’ve had all year, or any year for that matter. Casey’s dover sole was moist and succulent with a lemon butter sauce; she was raving about it for the next couple days.

For dessert, we selected the crème brulee and tangerine panna cotta. The panna cotta was similar to a Mexican flan, but with tangerine and Grand Marnier flavoring. The crème brulee however, was in a league of its own. This is perhaps the finest crème brulee I’ve ever tasted. The vanilla flavor was strong, but complimented perfectly by the crisp, sugary crust on top. You cannot miss this dessert if you ever eat at La Tour. Casey and I had an excellent evening, and it was one of the best meals we have had on this trip; five stars.

The following day we finished talking to the remaining Vail and Beaver Creek restaurants and took a scenic drive around the area. One of the best views in the entire Vail Valley can be had from Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek. A drive around Bachelor Gulch looking at the gigantic houses, followed by dinner at Spago in the Ritz could be the perfect evening. As much as we wanted to stay, we packed up and made the drive to Breckenridge on Friday night to begin our next town and next set of adventures.

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Don't Miss - The Marketplace on Meadows Drive

Last night, the manager of The Marketplace invited us to sample his fabulous tapas menu, gourmet pizza, decadent crepe dessert, and a few specialty drinks. We met Michael a few days ago after we inquired about his family's establishment, and were delighted when he invited us to investigate their menu offerings. We were far from disappointed, and will definitely be visiting the Marketplace when we come back to Vail.

To start off, Michael suggested a few of The Tavern's specialty drinks. We ordered a Bloody Mary and the Watermelon Mojito. Both were very good, not too strong, and flavorful. I am a self-proclaimed Bloody Mary snob and this one ranks high on my list. Our first tasting was the hummus plater offered on the appetizer menu. The pita tips were lightly baked, slightly crispy, and complimented the beautifully presented hummus. I didn't want it to end.

After our hummus platter, we tried the halibut fish tacos wrapped in flour tortillas, highlighted with blackbeans and pineapple salsa. Kevin and I both commented on how good the halibut was, not too dry or too moist. The halibut was lightly grilled, and was seasoned rather than covered in your typical fish taco sauce. This seasoning brought out the incredible flavor of the fish rather than covering it up.


As soon as we finished discussing the great tacos, the bartender, Jeremy brought out a Grecian Pizza covered with feta, artichoke, spinach, basil, peppers, and a very light coating of tomato sauce. The pizza was baked thin, topped with all my favorite items, and was served beautifully. Sharing this pizza and an appetizer would be a great combo for any lunch date. When we were done devouring the pizza, Jeremy talked us into trying a dessert crepe filled with bananas, strawberries, and Nutella, topped with vanilla and chocolate gelato and whip cream. If you come to Vail, do not skip this dessert! I'm sure the picture can speak for itself.



So What exactly is The Marketplace?

The Marketplace on Meadows Drive is an incredibly unique mixture of mulitfacited dining option and various "shops" where you can wander, explore, and discover all that your stomach desires. The atmosphere is very casual and relaxing, hints of European dining and is very unassuming. The food is high quality, but won't break the bank.

First, there is the Cafe and Bistro, where you can sit down and enjoy a wide variety of breakfast, lunches, pizzas, and sandwiches. Menus items are created with the utmost care to combine carefully picked ingrediants with gourmet delights. As you begin to explore and head westward, you will find yourself in the center of the marketplace, where you can pick up local cheeses, milk, and produce, as well as imported meats and hard to find organic products.

Through the market, follow your nose into the creperie and awaken your senses to the warmth of fresh filled sweet crepes and homemade gelato served in 20 different flavors. From there, you can see the Tavern, through a brick archway and moody umber lighting hung from the ceilings. The Tavern offers a delicious tapas menu that includes seafood, vegetarian, and chicken items, as well as pizzas, desserts, and delicious drinks. Next door to The Tavern, end your journey by visiting the Wine Shop to pick up a bottle of your favorite Cabernet to enjoy after your next ski day.

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Vail Restaurants

We kicked off this week with a free breakfast buffet at the Ocotillo restaurant at the Marriott in Lionshead. Ocotillo feels like a Colorado restaurant, with southwestern décor and inviting booths overlooking the Vail ski runs. The breakfast buffet is expansive with everything from French toast with house made bread, to an omelet station where a chef will cook your omelet to order. With the large variety of breakfast items, along with fresh-squeezed orange juice, this was one of the best breakfasts we’ve had the entire trip.

Later in the evening we took a drive off the beaten path, towards Minturn. This small, ex-mining town is just a couple minute drive off the freeway between Vail and Beaver Creek. It has an authentic feel to it, with historic homes and restaurants in old buildings. It was hard to believe a small town like this exists so close to the huge hotels, construction cranes, and shear luxury of Vail and Beaver Creek. We probably won’t include the Minturn restaurants in our Vail Valley dining guide because they are a little out of the way for most tourists, but it’s worth noting there are some hidden local spots like Minturn Saloon and Chili Willy’s that are worth checking out if you have the time.

On Tuesday we visited the Ore House in Vail Village because they have a great 50% off special running during the off season. The Ore House specialized in steaks and seafood and has been a Vail landmark since the 60’s. We started off with a crab cake appetizer that was a little disappointing. It was tasty enough, with fresh lump crab meat, but for $9 we only got one crab cake that was not very large. The roasted red pepper sauce surround the crab cake was definitely the highlight. For entrees, Casey went with the Wild King Salmon with a chipotle raspberry glaze. It came out perfectly cooked and was presented in a home made, traditional American style with a side of rice and steamed veggies. She was pleasantly surprised with the entrée and noted it was a step up from the appetizer. I went with the ½ rack of ribs and barbeque chicken because the steaks that were coming out to tables surrounding us looked a little bland. The ribs were tender and slow cooked, with a smoky and slightly sweet barbeque sauce. Two chicken breasts were also smothered in the sauce, making for a huge entrée. It wasn’t mind blowing BBQ, but I was perfectly satisfied and the price was right ($12 with the discount). Overall, we were glad to only pay half price, and would probably look elsewhere during the winter when the entrees are closer to $30 each.

Another restaurant we checked out this week is a local’s favorite tucked away in Avon called the China Garden. It’s a little hard to find, but owner Sharon has been at the same location for over 18 years now, so she must be doing something right. Sharon treated us to lunch and we went with the Peking Shrimp and General Tsao’s Chicken. All lunch entrees come with soup, wantons, rice, and a very tasty egg role for less than $8. The portions were more meager than places like Szechuan in Park City, but we still left full and satisfied. The food came out quickly and was presented well, with just a small amount of spiciness and tangy flavors. Check out China Garden if you are in Avon, and make sure to avoid Panda City at all costs. We walked out of Panda City before ordering because of bad vibes and the place was pretty dirty. This is saying something because I can’t remember the last time we walked out of a restaurant.

Other notable restaurants in the Vail Valley include Gohan-Ya in West Vail for their noodle bowls, Kelly Liken in Vail for their swanky and modern atmosphere, and Zacca Za! in Avon for a creative Italian menu and a modern twist on 1950’s decor.

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Exploring Vail - Oktoberfest

Friday was our last day in Aspen. After wrapping up some business, we packed up and hit the road. The drive from Aspen to Vail is less than two hours and is incredibly scenic. We took highway 70, which winds its way through a canyon carved out by the Colorado River, and checked in at the Vail Village Inn Plaza. We are staying with a few new locals who own a condo here at the center of the resort.

After we unloaded our portable office and settled in a bit, we decided to check out some dining options in the nearby Edwards. We came across Gore Range Brewery and decided to check it out. Gore Range Brewery touts itself as being "the liveliest restaurant in the Vail Valley" and I can assure you, they don't lie! After a small wait, we sat down and ordered some micro-brews to go with our dinner. Kevin ordered the Pulled Pork Platter, which was served in a hollowed-out baked potato, and I tried the Ahi Tuna Burger. The food was very tasty, and better than other breweries we've eaten at. The Gore Range Brewery seems to attract a younger crowd on Friday nights, so if you're in town with a bunch of ski buddies and looking for a place to party on a Friday night, check it out.

On Saturday, we planned to walk around the Vail Village and learn about the restaurants nearby. However, as soon as we stepped out the door, we stumbled right into Vail's Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is an annual festival that celebrates beer, people, music, and brats. Many ski towns across the country hold their own Oktoberfest, and Vail's is by far and away the best I've been to. We walked around a bit, munched on some sample pastries and brats, and then decided it was just too busy to speak with restaurants in the village. Instead, we jumped into the car and drove over to the nearby Beaver Creek Resort.

Beaver Creek is the definition of luxury, privacy, and high-end relaxation. If you want to escape and experience all that a ski vacation can offer, this is the place to do it. Between intricately placed rivers, pricey boutiques, and escalators, the only work you'll have to do is ski. During the winter, the mountain hands out hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies to it's guests, and after skiing, there is no shortage of fine-dining to whet your palate. Kevin and I spent the day meeting with hotels, restaurant managers, and a few concierges. Everyone recommended eating at Grouse Mountain Grill, which we'll probably look into later in the week.


During one of our stops, we discovered Rimini Gelato, and had to stop for a coffee and Gelato break after I sampled a few flavors. I've traveled all over Italy and have tried to find Gelato here in the states. Rimini is the only place I've ever been to that makes Gelato the way it tastes in Europe, and to come to Vail/Beaver Creek without trying it would be wrong! Try the pistachio and chocolate, you will thank me!

When we finished with our meetings, we drove around Avon, the city just below Beaver Creek, and ate at an Irish Pub called Finnegan's Wake. The food was typical Irish fare and the view from their outside patio was easy on the eyes. We then headed back to Vail Village to check out some live Oktoberfest music, and relaxed in the lodge's hot tub.


Sunday, we spent the morning planning our coming work week while eating breakfast at Blu's. Blu's reminds me of The Eating Establishment in Park City. It definitely appears to have been here a while, serves delicious breakfast, and has an open airy atmosphere. After breakfast, we headed over to LionsHead, located within walking distance from the village and is apart of the Vail Resort. We spent our afternoon and evening gathering restaurant data and then finished the evening off with diner at The Red Lion.

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Independence Pass

Yesterday, after we spoke with the last few restaurants in town, Casey and I took a drive up to Independence Pass, just East of Aspen on Highway 82. The change in scenery as you leave town is dramatic and very sudden. Just over a mile after leaving twenty million dollar homes and stores like Prada and Louis Vuitton, we were surrounded by national forest, huge mountain peaks, and unspoiled valleys. The top of Independence Pass is about 20 miles from the center of Aspen and is filled with spectacular vistas and harrowing corners overhanging large cliffs. The road narrows to one lane in many spots and oncoming RV’s tend to make things interesting.

Part way up to the pass, at 11,000 feet, is the historic mining town of Independence. The town was settled in 1879 after a large gold deposit was discovered. At one time over 1,500 people lived in the boom town that had 4 general stores, brothels, and many saloons. The town lasted less than 3 years, and quickly became a ghost town once the gold was gone. Many of the miners moved on to the newly formed town of Aspen for its milder weather and silver mining opportunities.

The top of Independence Pass is located at 12,095 feet, making it one of the highest paved roads in the United States. It crosses the Continental Divide, providing some incredible views of the surrounding mountains. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Later in the evening, Casey and I decided to check out a movie called “Bottle Shock” playing at the Wheeler Opera House. The Wheeler is a historic theater that has been restored multiple times since it was built in 1889, and it currently hosts many events in the Aspen area. The actual theater is on the third floor of the building, and is one of the most spectacular places I have ever seen a movie. The screen was huge, the sound was amazing, and the atmosphere was something out of the early 1900’s. We were easily the youngest people in the theater by about 10 years, but we still had a great time. Bottle Shock is a movie about the popularization of Napa Valley wines in the 1970’s, and we both gave it great reviews.

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Aspen Restaurant Experiences

Over the past few days we talked with most every remaining restaurant in both Aspen and Snowmass. The great thing about the dining scene in Aspen is the shear variety of cuisines offered in every price range.

Some of the highest-end fine dining you will find anywhere can be found at restaurants like Montagna at The Little Nell and Cache Cache on Mill Street. Both of these restaurants offer the very best in world class food and service; just what you would expect in a town like Aspen. Matsuhisa is another notable restaurant tucked just off Main Street in a historic Victorian house. This is the sister restaurant to the world famous Nobu restaurant in New York City, opened by Nobu Matsuhisa himself. The vibe is chic, classy, and dark with some of the best Japanese and sushi found anywhere. It is so popular, reservations need to be made over a month in advance during the winter

In contrast to these high-end establishments are local favorites serving up great food at reasonable prices. Some of our personal favorites include Poppycock’s for breakfast, The Big Wrap for lunch at a great price within walking distance of the gondola, and Johnny McGuires for a quick sandwich and their “locals only” vibe.

Another one of our favorites, Gusto, offers a great lunch special that is available only at the bar. For $15 you get your choice of two courses off their surprisingly large menu, plus a soft drink. The first course features a couple salads, along with a few soups. Casey and I both opted for different soups, which were both incredibly fresh and large portions. For the second course we had the choice of many salads, a variety of paninis, or a selection of about ten kinds of pasta. Casey had an ahi tuna steak salad with a lemon vinaigrette, and I went with the house lasagna. Again, the portions were large and everything was flavorful and fresh. If you are looking for a classier lunch option that won’t blow your budget, Gusto delivers.

I also wanted to mention the incredible pizza we had at Tasters in Snowmass on Sunday. Park City has its share of pizza places, but they all seem to offer the same flat, dense crust that is synonymous with high-altitude cooking. While a thin crust pizza can be incredibly tasty, sometimes you yearn for the light, airy, fluffy, and crispy crust you find at sea level all over this country. Well, at Tasters, we finally found a pizza place that delivers this light, airy, and thick crust at altitude. I’m not sure how they do it, but it’s one of the best pizzas I’ve had above 7,000 feet.

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The Beginning of the Off-Season

According to most of the locals in town, this was the last weekend of the season. Like most ski towns across the country, things generally get very quite between September through mid-December; when the snow hits and the tourists flock back. We spent Friday and Saturday celebrating the last busy weekend, and enjoyed everything from Mexican food to a scenic and chilly gondola ride.

On Friday, we woke up and headed to the bus stop in front of the Snowmass Village Mall. We had 20 minutes to spare before the Aspen bus came, so we decided to check out the coffee shop next door, appropriately named Fuel. I ordered a regular coffee and a bagel sandwich, and Kevin got a breakfast burrito. Our total for breakfast and drinks was under $12.00, which is hands-down the cheapest breakfast we've found so far! We enjoyed our breakfast while riding into town, and then spent some time working.

For lunch, we were craving some Mexican food, and decided to try La Cantina. I asked the server which fish dish she liked, and ordered the Mahi Tacos upon her recommendation. I thought they could have had a bit more flavor, but was satisfied none-the-less. Kevin had the Chimichanga Carnitas, which he said was fabulous, and we sipped on some margaritas while overlooking main street on their outdoor patio.


After lunch, we cruised around the stores and did some serious window shopping. Everything from last season is still on sale and it's a great time of year to purchase anything you are missing for winter. After browsing the sale items, we checked out a few locals bars, and called it a night.

On Saturday, we ate some breakfast at the condo and then took the bus into town. One of Kevin's friend, Kim, works for Aspen and was kind enough to get us some gondola tickets. The gondola ride was beautiful and gave me a pretty good idea about the terrain that Aspen has to offer. The views from the top of the mountain are incredible, and everything this time of year is so green! We ate lunch on the Sun Deck while Kevin made a friend with a little terrier who was very interested in his sandwich.




After our gondola trip, we headed back into town. We checked out a few more ski shops where I got an incredible deal on some new ski pants, and then caught the bus back to Snowmass to get some work done.

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Hitting the Streets of Aspen

Our second day in Aspen we decided to take the bus from Snowmass, to avoid the parking nightmare downtown. Due to a grant of some kind, the bus from Snowmass to Aspen is now completely free. Last time I was here it was something like $2 each way to ride the bus into town. Definitely a good improvement, and hopefully someday all the buses in Aspen will be free, like they are in Park City.

The bus ride was probably quicker than driving into town because buses bypass all of the traffic in their own HOV lane. Once in town, we hit the streets, talking to as many restaurants as possible. One of our immediate favorites is a place called Explore Bistro. This little organic vegetarian bistro is tucked inside the top level of a quaint book store, inside an old Victorian house. You would never know a restaurant was there if it wasn't for the sign outside. We asked around and everyone seems pretty fond of this place. We plan on eating there sometime in the next week, so keep an eye out for our review.

While exploring Aspen, we stumbled across a gourmet pizza place called Brunelleschi's. The bartender was quick to chat us up when we walked in, and informed us that September is now officially bourbon month. He proceeded to pour out two shots, even though it was only about three in the afternoon. Casey was stoked when he gave her a fresh rose from a vase nearby, along with the shot. Nothing like a free shot 2 minutes after you walk into someplace. Definitely a good first impression, and a good way to earn favorable reviews in the future. Nice job Brunelleschi's.

We also ran into a couple very friendly locals at New York Pizza, just a few blocks over. What is it with pizza places staffed by the coolest people in town? They offered us a couple free slices of their HUGE New York style pizzas, and we went for the veggie with feta and artichokes. The crust was perfectly thin in the New York tradition, and the toppings were fresh. The best thing about New York Pizza is they are open until 2:30am, so you can grab a slice before you head home for the evening on a night out.


Later that night we were back in Snowmass and looking for some dinner. It was about 9pm, which is a horrible hour to find food in the off-season. The only place still serving was a bar on the top level of the Snowmass Mall called Zane's Tavern. The place was pretty crowded, and there was only one bartender taking care of everyone. He was doing a great job though, despite the fact he was in a mortorcycle accident just a few hours before. Zane's has a large bar menu with traditional pub sandwiches and burgers, along with a unique Mexican menu. Casey ordered the enchiladas and I went for the house special, flautas. The food blew us away. We were expecting bland bar food, but what came out was flavorful and fresh. Definitely check out Zane's if you are in Snowmass looking for some late night Mexican along with some local beer.

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Exploring Aspen - Day One

Kevin and I rolled into Aspen at about 9:30pm on Tuesday after a pretty quick and painless drive from Park City. The drive from Utah to Colorado is a beautiful one, full of vast desert landscapes and uniquely molded mountains, and with an awe inspiring sunset backdrop.

We are staying at a cute and quaint studio in the Snowmass Village, just outside of Aspen. The owner of the local liquor store, the Daly Bottle Shop, was kind enough to let us rent one of his vacant studios. The Daly Bottle Shop is an adorable small store located inside of the Snowmass Village Mall and offers a large variety of wine, imported and local beer, spirits, and all natural snacks, cheeses, and gourmets delights. A highly recommended first stop to get your vacation started on the right foot.

Our First Day - Exploring Aspen

We drove from Snowmass into Aspen and spent a few hours collecting travel guides, maps, and walking the streets to get acquainted with the area. We realized that driving into town was a bad idea, and quickly discovered how difficult parking was. We made a quick mental note of the free shuttle that runs to and from Snowmass, and went on with our day.

Aspen is absolutely breathtaking, and I can definitely understand why everyone wants to move here. The center of town is very posh and very hip, yet with a warm and welcoming touch. I instantly felt at home after chatting up the manager at the Tourist Center and picking her brain about the 90+ restaurants located within a few square miles. Our first stop in town was at Boogies, where we ate lunch on the outdoor patio overlooking Aspen Mountain. The service was very quick, and was exactly what we were looking for in a lunch spot that is both funky and fun. After lunch, we had to move the car from 2 hour parking, so we took a drive around the city and searched for the best spot to take some pictures.

After our photo session, we came back into town, grabbed some ice-cream at the Ben and Jerry's in the center courtyard, and met with a few restaurant managers to collect some detailed information.

On our way back to Snowmass Village, we made a quick trip up to the Maroon Bells. The air was incredibly cool for early September, and the crisp smell made me think it was already October. The Maroon Bells are truly worth seeing! They sit nestled in a valley of their own, and appropriately, placed in front of their very own lake. Measured at 14,000+ feet in altitude, their magnitude and sheer splendor can't be described in photos or words. Regardless, we managed to get a few good shots.




We watched the sunset turn the Maroon Bells into a bright red, a deep maroon, and then finally, a navy blue as the dark sky quickly overtook the daylight. On our drive back to our condo, we met a couple of deer who didn't seem phased with our human presence, and posed for the camera.


All in all, our first day in Aspen was wonderful, and we are very happy to be able to travel, work hard, and enjoy all that earth has to offer us. Our next 3 - 4 days will be packed with meetings and restaurant introductions, so we will have plenty to tell you in the way of food, dining, and perhaps a scenic Gondola trip.

It's now time to open up a bottle of local Cabernet, eat some pasta, and say goodnight . . . buenas noches.

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