PLEASE DISPLAY UNTIL 8.10.2015 $4.95

JULY 2015

DENVERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

CULTURE | ADVENTURE | STYLE

PLANNING THE ULTIMATE COLORADO STAYCATION

HELLO, SUMMER!

SHAKE IT UPCHILL OUT WITH

DECADENT MILKSHAKES PACKING LIST

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RODEO ROUNDUPWHERE TO COWBOY UP THIS SEASON

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STEUBEN’S CURB-SIDE COMFORT FOOD IS FRIED AND TRUE

SUMMER!SUMMER!THE BEST PICNICS, FESTIVALS,

BRUNCH RECIPES, MOUNTAIN

TREASURES & MORE!

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Sure, jaunting across Europe, lazing on white sand beaches or traipsing across one of the world’s biggest cities would make for an amazing summer trip, but sometimes the best vacations are spent closer to home. And whether you only have a few hours to spare or can manage to take a full week o� , Colorado is burst-ing with travel options that would make most out-of-towners green with envy.

In fact, Denver set new tourism re-cords last year, with visitor spending up 15 percent over 2013, and totaling $4.6 billion, according to a recent report from Visit Denver, a nonprofi t trade as-sociation. And in Telluride, for example, summer revenue has bested winter for the last three years running.

Ready to stay local? From an indul-gent spa treatment you can schedule on your lunch break to a one night getaway at a luxury hotel right here in town to scenic mountain road trips fi lled with family-friendly fun, why not make this a staycation to remember? Staying put never sounded so good.

Wish we were th ere

by Lesley kenn edy

Travel plans up in the air? Time to put a Colorado staycation on your summer itinerary

hike or bike (don’t forget

your camera!) in stunning telluride.

easy Drive

girl time

romantic

scenic route

Kid Friendly

road trip

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You have a free afternoo n…Hit the refresh button with a trip to the spa

You have on e day…A perfect urban escape is just a train ride away

Say between work and kids and tennis matches and weekend baseball tournaments your summer plans already have been booked for you? Block out a long lunch on your Google calendar, grab your best pal and head to The Spa at The Brown Palace for a quick, yet super satisfying, retreat that’ll not only fi ll your craving for a little female bonding, but also help get your skin in shape for swimsuit season.

Admittedly, we usually stick to your basic mani/pedi or facial when it comes to booking spa treatments, but when we saw “Colorado Detoxifying & Cellulite-Reducing Salt Glow” on the menu, we could only say, “yes, please.” After valet parking (it’s complimentary with spa services), we headed to the changing room to slip into a plush robe and slippers, completely escaping the busy sounds of the city outside.

Once the treatment was explained, we settled in for 50 minutes of pure bliss as our aesthetician applied a Dead Sea salt scrub mixed with Colorado’s native juniper oil in motions that felt like the perfect gentle massage. The combo is said to result in a detox of sorts that also helps banish cellulite (again, “yes, please”). The addition of aromatherapy using rosemary and grape-fruit oils put us at instant ease, and, when we were told to take all the time we needed in the 12-head steamy shower to rinse all that salt off , we were tempted to just stay put for the rest of the day. However, once we tore ourselves away from the water, we luxuriated in a lotion application/light rub-down. Best of all: Our skin stayed silky smooth for weeks.

So, no, you can’t always pull off a full-on summer vaca-tion. But a luxury spa treatment you can book on your lunch break (or a half-day: “Um, gee, Boss, I may need to cut out early today…cough…must be coming down with something…sniffl e.”)? We’re pretty sure you’ll leave feel-ing like you just spent two days at the beach.

Colorado Detoxifying & Cellulite-Reducing Salt Glow, $115, brownpalace.com

1every u.s. president

since teddy roosevelt, with the exception of Calvin Coolidge, has

visited the hotel.

2the hotel doors opened

august 12, 1892, and have never been closed

since.

3the spa at the brown Palace, awarded the Forbes Travel Guide

Four stars since 2007, features special soaks

that draw from a natural artesian well located 750 feet beneath the hotel.

•

Don’t Miss: If you have an extra 20 minutes, go early for a complimentary steam in the sauna, or stay and relax in the lounge pre- or post-treatment with a cup of tea and a favorite magazine.

DiY triCK: Give yourself a scrub treatment at home with the Simple Sugars Vanilla Grapefruit Body Scrub, $15-$22. The all-natural gentle exfoliator, made with pure cane sugar, organic grapefruit zest and a blend of essential oils, will leave your skin

so soft (and smelling divine), that you can skip the post-shower moisturizer and make every day a spa day. At beautybrands.com

3 things you might not know about The Brown

Palace

1The original union Sta-tion cost $525,000 and

opened in May, 1881.

2Depot police began en-forcing a no kissing rule on platforms in 1902, be-cause it slowed the trains down, according to rTD.

3after a fi re in 1894, the current structure, built

in Beaux arts classicism and italian romanesque styles, debuted in 1914.

3 things you might not know about

Union Station

Once th e treatment was explained, we settl ed in for 50 minutes of pure bliss ...

DiY triCK: Give yourself a scrub treatment at home with the Simple Sugars Vanilla Grapefruit Body Scrub, $15-$22. The all-natural gentle exfoliator, made with pure cane sugar, organic grapefruit zest and a blend of essential oils, will leave your skin

so soft (and smelling divine), that you can skip the post-shower moisturizer and make every day a spa day. At beautybrands.com

Blank date or two on the calendar? Send the kids to Grandma’s or set up a sleepover, and head to the recently renovated Union Station in downtown Denver for a ro-mantic night in the city. Check in at the beautiful, luxu-rious (and, yes) quiet Crawford Hotel, then roam the Great Hall, stopping to check out the art, ambience and energy of the bustling train station. One night in the city and you’ll be back at work the next day fully recharged.

ALL ABOARDDon’t feel like venturing outside of Union Station? No problem! Between the hotel, restaurants, boutiques and more, there’s really no need to leave. A look:

STAY: The Crawford Hotel, opened in 2014, is sophis-ticated, modern and the perfect location for an urban getaway. On a recent visit we were impressed by the spacious rooms (there are 112 in the hotel decorated in various styles) with soaring ceilings, contemporary art-work (paintings, photos, sculptures, postcards and more by Colorado artists are featured in guestrooms, hallways and public areas) and chic oversized lighting fi xtures.

History buff s may opt to schedule a tour of Union Station through the hotel, for a better understanding of the space’s transportation, history, art and tenants. The $20 fee benefi ts the Crawford’s nonprofi t partners.

As far as amenities go, there are plenty, including an in-room iPad mini with a hotel app; 24-hour fi tness

Don’t Miss: Snooze’s sweet potato buttermilk pancakes (the signature dish comes topped with homemade caramel, candied pecans and ginger butter) and Bangkok Bloody Mary, made with Mell vodka, Sriracha, lime, cilantro, basil, fi sh sauce and house Bloody mix. Swoon. snoozeeatery.com

center access; complimentary access to The Oxford Club, Spa & Salon fi tness center; and in-room dining from Snooze and The Kitchen Next Door. Can’t bear to leave Fido at home? The hotel is dog-friendly. thecrawfordhotel.com

inSiDeR TiP: If you’re staying in the Crawford Hotel, be sure to call the concierge about an hour before you’re ready to grab breakfast at Snooze. They’ll put your name on the list, and text you when your table is ready.

Turn page for

travel tips

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GeTTinG THeRe: While valet is available for $39 per night, we recom-mend taking the light rail. Once you’re there, a Tesla courtesy transporta-tion service is available within a 2-mile radius.

eAT: No matter your appetite, you’ll fi nd plenty of dining op-tions: Pancakes, eggs and mimosas at Snooze; fries, burgers and brats at Acme Burgers & Brat Corporation; healthier pub fare at The Kitchen Next Door; seafood and raw bar off erings at Stoic & Genuine; and, for des-sert, get in line at Milk-box Ice Creamery (boozy shakes available, too).

DRink: Hit the Coo-per Lounge for a classic martini or Coloradier 13 (Breckenridge Bourbon stirred with Breckenridge Bitters and Sweet Ver-mouth, served with an orange twist) and some glam people watching. At Terminal Bar, grab a Colorado craft beer (the list is extensive). And, if it’s caff eine you crave, head to Pigtrain Coff ee (the name comes from trains that carry truck trailers on fl atbed rail cars) for brews from Den-ver’s Novo Coff ee.

PLAY: A shuffl eboard platform sits in the center of the Great Hall and includes two handcrafted “Fritzi” shuffl eboards.

SHOP: Find great gifts and crafts at 5 Green Boxes, fab fl orals and jewelry at Bloom and the best books and maga-zines at Tattered Cover.

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You have a wee kend…Pack up the kids for a mountain retreat

8,100base elevation

(in feet)

11,440summit

elevation (in feet)

45average summer

temperature nights

75average summer

temperature days

49.8miles of

mountain biking trails

BeaVer CreeK

by the numbers

When you’re ready for a getaway with the kids that won’t leave them whining “are we there yet?” over and over and over again, head up the hill to Beaver Creek. Vail’s sister resort, reminiscent of an alpine village, is modern and luxurious, but still full of old-world charm. Quieter than other mountain areas, you’ll fi nd shopping, art galleries, bars and restaurants in Beaver Creek Village, plus there’s a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, gem panning and mini golf for the kids, not to mention the lauded Performing Arts at the Vilar Center and the legendary alphorn-playing Helmut Fricker.

Of course, all the usual outdoor activities (think hiking, fl y-fi shing, mountain biking, golf, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, Jeep and ATV tours, tennis, disc golf ) that make living in Colorado so much fun can be found in Beaver Creek, too. And,

perhaps best of all, take a trip here and you’ll feel like you’re eons away from the city, even though it’s less than a two-hour drive from Denver.

STAY: Warning: Once you pull up to the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Moun-

tain, you may never want to leave. And, re-ally, why should you? The suites are large and inviting, with full kitchens, dining areas, balconies, rain show-erheads and, of course, those famous Westin Heavenly beds. There’s an award-winning spa in Spa Anjali (we rec-ommend the Ayurvedic Facial—personalized to address your spe-cific skin type—that will freshen up your summer glow), yoga and Pilates classes in addition to a 24-hour fitness center and a salon. Plus, you’ll love the 25-yard saline lap swimming pool and

three infinity hot tubs all facing stunning views of the Eagle River and mountain peaks. Want to go on a hike or bike ride without the children in tow? Sign them up for the resort’s Kids Club, where they’ll be happy playing games, watching movies and doing crafts with other youngsters and you’ll be happy to have a little guilt-free alone time.westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com

Dine: Again, if you choose not to venture beyond the Westin’s doors, you could do much worse than Maya, the Beaver Creek eatery from famed Chef Richard Sandoval (it’s somewhat of a mix of his Denver restaurants Tamayo and Zengo). The mod-ern Mexican menu doesn’t ignore the classics, but

be sure to order the Tuna Tartare Guacamole, with chipotle, sesame seeds, jicama and wonton chips prepared table-side and a Prickly Pear margarita for starters. The Slow-Roasted Pork Carnitas disap-peared quickly from our table, as did the Crab & Shrimp Enchiladas.

If you do feel like venturing out (or ordering in), Pazzo’s Pizzeria is a fave (the Pizza de Roma with sun dried tomatoes, garlic, red peppers, Kalamata olives and basil is a winner). And, for breakfast, take a short stroll along the river over to Avon Bakery & Deli for everything from croissants and other pastries to yo-gurt parfaits to bagel sandwiches to French toast to breakfast burritos. The coff ee’s good, too.

PLAY: When you’re ready for a little adrenaline rush, it’s time to se ek out a guide service. We hooked up with Lakota Guides, which has been leading adventure trips in Colorado for more than 30 years. You can opt for anything from a full-day rafting trip through Gore Canyon to a horseback cattle drive. But for something a little tamer—and kid-friendly—try a Jeep tour. After getting picked up at our hotel, we headed to the private Bair Ranch, 30 minutes west in Glenwood Canyon, for a two-hour trip right up a mountain, with several stops along the way to enjoy breathtaking views. “It’s like a hike, but sitting down!” one of our kids said happily. Next time: ATVs. lakotaguides.com

sUMMer highLights in BeaVer CreeK

Culinary Demonstration se-ries: Local chefs dish up free

demos at the Culinary Experi-ence tent in Beaver Creek

Plaza most weekends through September 19.

Beaver Creek rodeo series: Cowboy up Thursday nights

through August 13.

Movies under the stars: Bring a blanket and a big bag of pop-corn for Tuesday night family

fi lms alfresco through August 11.

strawberry park express Lift: Open daily from 9:30 a.m.–4:30

p.m. through September 1.

Beaver Creek hiking Center: Open daily from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

through August.

Maya’s tasty Tuna Tartare Guacamol e is prepared table-side.

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True, a trip to Telluride, tucked 330 miles away in San Miguel County in south-western Colorado, requires a bit of a time commitment—it’ll take you six to seven hours to drive there from Denver—but the epic scenery makes the time go by quickly, and the payoff once you reach this mountain town, just eight blocks wide and 12 blocks long and nestled in a box canyon? So very worth it.

STAY: We adore The Hotel Telluride, a chalet-style luxury boutique just off the main drag, that’s super con-venient (you can walk everywhere) yet just far enough off the main drag that’s it’s nice and quiet. Kids (and adults) will delight in the afternoon cookie service in the lobby (fi nd plenty of comfy seating, games and a roaring fi replace there, too). Grab a beer from Telluride Brewing Compa-ny at the hotel’s restaurant, The Nook, after a day of hiking, biking, fl y-fi shing or rafting. In the morning, they serve tasty grass-fed breakfast burritos with spinach, goat cheese, avocado, potatoes and eggs, yogurt parfaits and oatmeal (defi nitely worth it for the pistachio butter—so, so good). Of course, make time to soak in the hot tubs on the property to wind down—or start things up before your daily adventure. thehoteltelluride.com

SHOP: Colorado Avenue, also known as Telluride’s Main Street, is chock-full of boutiques and eateries. From high-end designer fashion lines to souvenir T-shirts and caps to art galleries and Western goods, there are plenty of buying oppor-tunities here. Don’t miss Between the Covers, an independent book store and espresso bar; the Telluride Gallery of Art, the region’s oldest gallery featuring the

pLein air FestiVaL:

June 29-July 5

4th oF JULY CeLeBration:

July 4

Yoga FestiVaL: July 9-12

the riDe FestiVaL: July 11-12

art+arChiteCtUre WeeKenD: July 18-19

You have a wee k…Take a scenic road trip to the San Juans

With a view like th is, th e lon g drive

to Tell uride? Totall y worth it.

get YoUr FestiVaL on In the summer, Telluride loves its festivals—so much so,

in fact, that there’s at least one taking place nearly every weekend through September. A look:

shaKespeare in the parK:

July 18-25

pLaYWrights FestiVaL: July 21-25

JaZZ FestiVaL: July 31-August 2

ChaMBer MUsiC FestiVaL:

August 6-16

MUshrooM FestiVaL: August 13-16

FiLM FestiVaL: September 4-7

BLUes anD BreWs FestiVaL:

September 18-20

1telluride has the only free gondola public

transportation system of its kind in North

america.

2at 365 feet, the town’s bridal Veil Falls is the

tallest free-falling water-fall in the state.

3in 1889, butch Cassidy robbed his fi rst bank in telluride, scoring more

than $24,000.

4You’ll have to travel 45 miles for the nearest

stoplight.

5the town is one of just a handful of Colorado

communities to be des-ignated a National his-toric landmark district.

•

5 things you might not know about

Telluride

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work of painters, photographers and sculptors, as well as jewelry; or Two Skirts for high-end women’s clothing. And in Mountain Village, you’ll want to hit Dylan’s Candy Bar, the eponymous sweet shop owned by the daughter of Telluride ranch owner Ralph Lauren, which opens this month. Take the free gondola (summer season runs through October 18 from 7 a.m. to midnight daily) between the town and the village for maximum shopping experiences.

Dine: If you’re a foodie, consider Telluride paradise. There are no chain restaurants here, just an incredible amount of delicious eateries sure to cure just about any hankering. We made daily stops at Cowboy Coffee, housed in an airstream trailer. The kids (not to mention Mom and Dad) could have eaten Brown Dog Pizza’s Detroit-style pies every night (Blue Pan Pizza from the Telluride owners opened last month in Denver). The bustling Butcher & Baker Café serves a yummy brunch (try the spicy Bloody Mary and an order of Chilaquiles). And, for a more upscale dining experi-ence, the French La Marmotte, open for more than 20 years, is a must. Organize a sitter, or bring older kids along (ours devoured the Hot and Cold Shrimp (tempura and poached) appetizer, along with their steaks off the children’s menu). Oh, and should your table’s crème brulee arrive while you’re in the ladies’ room? Well, don’t be surprised if you’re greeted with a completely empty dish upon your return.

Hike: Coors beer and Colorado go hand-in-hand, and, attention trivia buffs, the iconic mountain pictured on Coors and Coors Light bottle labels is an actual place. Telluride’s Wilson Peak, at 14,017 feet, offers a majestic view from the town, not to mention one heck of a hike. The Hotel Telluride is offering a “Crack a Coors on Wilson Peak” excursion through September 15, that gives guests a memorable alpine challenge. Guides from the San Juan Outdoor School will lead you through the day hike (you’ll face Class 3 and Class 4 sections on the summit). Your reward for reaching the top? Cold Coors beer, naturally. Once you return to the hotel, soothe those sore muscles with a 60-minute spa treatment as part of the package. Visit thehoteltelluride.com for more information. DLM

Lights! CaMera! CoLoraDo!

Between the mountains, the sports and the lure of the Old West, it’s no wonder directors

want to film or base their mov-ies here. In fact, Oscar-winner

Quentin Tarantino chose to film “The Hateful Eight” in Telluride,

bringing a hefty economic boost to the town. Set to hit theaters later this year, the

Western starring Kurt Russell and Samuel L. Jackson sur-

rounds eight travelers trapped in a Wyoming blizzard. Here’s a sampling of movies, while not necessarily filmed here, set, at

least in part, in Colorado: About Schmidt

American Flyers

Battlefield Earth

Beerfest

Blades of Glory

City Slickers

Dumb and Dumber

Harvey

Ice Castles

Jack Frost

Misery

National Lampoon’s Vacation

Red Dawn

The Shining

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead

Festivals reign in Telluride...

insiDer tip: Try a jam cocktail from There…, a sliver of an eatery (“We’re bringing tiny dining back,” a bartender told us.). that serves this sweet sig-nature drink. How it works: You

choose a jam (like blueberry, red pepper jelly or pumpkin) and a spirit (vodka, rum, rye, gin or tequila). The alcohol is mixed

with bitters and served in a jam jar (naturally) with the jam in

a spoon on top so you can mix in the sweetness according to

taste. therebars.com