The best part of living in Colorado isn’t just the access to the mountains and wide-open skies, but the way we move through these landscapes with intention. From a historic hot spring hideaway outside Telluride to RiNo’s art-immersed boutique hotels, these properties don’t just put you up, they put you in the heart of the action.
BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE WEST
Natural hot springs, lovingly restored 1800s cabins, a bar Butch Cassidy deemed worth lingering in, communal cowboy dinners, and a night sky so full of stars that electricity feels optional. About an hour outside Telluride, Dunton Hot Springs offers the rare chance to step into the West and back in time. The all-inclusive property is intentionally remote, trading noise for stillness and letting the land do most of the talking. Soak in the bohemian- style bathhouse or one of the open-air springs scattered across the untamed grounds, saddle up for horseback riding, and listen for the bell that signals supper’s hot and worth dropping everything for. Pull up a chair with new friends or reserve a seat at the chef’s table. However you take it, the meal stretches late, the Milky Way comes out, and time loses meaning.
BEST DESIGN IN DENVER
Yes, the Ramble Hotel is oh-so-aesthetic. But what makes this RiNo stay really special is its devotion to the local art scene. Neon installations, curated murals, and rotating exhibitions by Denver artists connect the hotel to what’s happening outside. An artist-in-residence program keeps things fresh, currently debuting Ariana Barnstable’s Western contemporary Lazy Cowgirl series. Collaborations carry into the food scene too, with an elevated cocktail program by acclaimed Death & Co. anchoring the first floor, Dana Rodriguez’s dim-sum-style Mexican food rolling through the attached Work & Class, and if you prefer to stay in your room, special packages with Uchi offering sashimi in the sheets. Pull up a seat at the bar, linger over the art, and leave feeling a little more in tune with one of your city’s coolest neighborhoods.
CROWN JEWEL OF THE SLOPES
Ajax has one true ski-in/ski-out hotel, and with The Little Nell’s stellar reputation, it’s clear why no one else even tries. Break bread with the celebrity set at breakfast, rub elbows on the gondola ride to Cloud 9, but don’t worry, you’ll have the slopes mostly to yourself (and the locals). Aspen’s expert terrain keeps the crowds light on the mountain and the champagne flowing at the base. After skiing, trade turns for truffle fries and an Aperol spritz at Nell’s Ajax Tavern, aka après-ski central. Don’t bother with your gear, as the ski valets will handle that hassle. When the day winds down, the hotel’s new spa eases any lingering tension, and your luxurious room, with a patio, fireplace, and cloud-like bed, awaits.
SUPERLATIVE SUMMER SPLURGE
Championship golf, infinity pools with mountain views, and a spa that could convince even the most lounge‑averse traveler to slow down, The Broadmoor is where spending those extra pennies feels completely worth it. Your room selection sets the tone for your time here: choose from stately rooms in the towers, spacious cottages brimming with charm, or go big with a brownstone or the estate house. Set on thousands of landscaped acres in Colorado Springs, this legendary resort blends elegance with endless ways to play in the sun. Whether you’re lounging by the lake, teeing off for a round on a bucket-list course, or dining in the recently renovated Penrose Room, it’ll feel like a well‑reserved stay in your Colorado story.
TRENDIEST NEW RETREAT
Outside Evergreen, the Juniper Lodge & Treehouse is glamping for adults who like their accommodations with a side of adventure. Only two of the eight luxury treehouse rooms are open so far, each themed around Colorado history, but the birds are hard at work crafting more cozy nests. The retreat also offers an expansive deck, hot tub, fire pit, and communal spaces. Check in on the first Friday of the month and enjoy a Sommelier’s Wine Tasting with themes like northern Italian wines and women-owned wineries. A popular place to stay for Red Rocks concerts, the venue even offers transportation and tailgating. This summer, they have built out weekend-long packages featuring live music happy hours, Red Rocks tours and tailgating for Jason Isbell, The Head & The Heart, The Avett Brothers, and Brandi Carlile, along with yoga flows to close out the trip. So if you’re the type to scroll Airbnb for hours hunting for something a little extraordinary, consider your research done.
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