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Audrey JoAnn | Content and Copy Writer

Compelling Copy for Female Founders

TELLURIDE, CO: TRAVEL GUIDE

December 12, 2016

I spent last week in the magical, snowy wonderland that is Telluride, Colorado, but if you follow me on Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook, you already knew that. I went slightly overboard obsessing over the town via social media posts. Needless to say, if you are planning a family vacation this winter (or even in the summer — it’s beautiful and has tons to do then, too), you might want to give Telluride some consideration.

Not only is this town charming, beautiful, and full of the nicest people (seriously, I’ve never had so many strangers smile at me on the street), it is also the farthest thing from touristy. I’ve been to other ski-resort towns on family trips growing up, but as lovely as those places were, they’re also major tourist attractions. Nothing against tourists — obviously, I’m a tourist on vacation, too — but the more out-of-towners, the busier local restaurants and attractions are. And I hate a crowd or a line for ANYTHING.

Pssst, this is a Christmas tree made of skis. WHAT.

Telluride isn’t the easiest place to get to — there’s a tiny airport that just one, small commercial airline flies in to — and it’s quaint, which discourages crowds of tourists to flock there. But you can also fly into neighboring towns Montrose or Grand Junction and drive 1 or 2 hours, respectively, through some seriously stunning scenery to get there.

Once there, you’ll be glad you made the trek; I promise it’s worth it. In the winter, imagine snowy capped mountains, towering pine trees, a charming old downtown with remnants of when it was once a mining town, and colorful, Victorian-style cottages dripping with icicles.

Skiing and snowboarding are the obvious wintertime activities, but we actually didn’t do either during our time and were still plenty fulfilled with everything else there was to do and see, including adorable dogs on every corner. This is a majorly dog-friendly town, guys. Just one of the many, many reasons I’m so in love. (It’s also incredibly walkable; you can get nearly everywhere by foot — or by free-gondola ride!)

Where to Stay

New Sheridan: This historical, boutique hotel provides cozy and charming refuge right along Colorado Avenue, the main street in town, allowing easy access to shopping, eating, and activities. Also, the bathroom floors are heated. Need I say more?

Telluride Rentals: The family I went to Telluride with (who I nanny for) stayed down the street from my hotel at the most beautifully decorated (think: oak wood floors, beautiful glass light fixtures, and mountain-chic art and furniture) house that slept ten. The management company offers more than 70 Telluride vacation residences for rent.

Where to Eat + Drink

The Butcher and The Baker: Fresh local foods meet a bright, airy atmosphere here, and I had to stop myself from popping in more than a couple (okay, a few) times during my stay. Go for the simple scramble with a blueberry muffin or apricot flax scone at breakfast, or the turkey, brie, pear sandwich at lunch.

Baked in Telluride: A simple, stark interior does not match the caliber of delicious food churned out of here, including pasta (the spaghetti and meatballs were divine), tacos, soups, sandwiches, salads, pizza, and all sorts of baked goods. (Most bread at local restaurants comes from the kitchen at Baked in Telluride.) Anytime we needed something on-the-go, this was our go-to.

New Sheridan Chop House & Wine Bar: I only had breakfast here (the chilaquiles are muy, muy bueno) since it’s attached to my hotel, but I hear the French onion soup and crab legs are winners off the dinner menu. (I may have also indulged in room-service creme brûlée, a MUST-try.)

Tomboy Tavern: Trendy wood paneling, a wrap-around bar, and Edison light bulbs adorn this pub-restaurant that serves local beers and a mean Southwestern salad, a tempting plate of potato-chip nachos, and perfectly spicy chile-garlic edamame. (Hop on the free gondola to Mountain Village to get there!)

Gnarly Tacos: Located in a house-turned-restaurant/bar, Gnarly sure lives up to its name with fun takes on tacos, like the Korean short rib or pork belly varietals.

Smugglers Brewpub: Go for the in-house-brewed craft beer (try the Citra IPA and Blackeberry Wheat); stay for the squash-curry soup. My one regret is getting the cup, not the bowl.

OAK Beer, Bourbon & BBQ: It’s not pretty and it’s not glamorous, but the name says it all if you’re looking for quality in any of the above three things.

There…: This tiny, bohemian spot was opened by a previous bartender and buyer at Nobu; if you want small bites, craft cocktails, and the best fried brussel sprouts ever, this is your place.

Esperanza’s Tequilas: Indulge in chicken enchiladas, topped with creamy poblano sauce, and a fierce margarita — or two — at this hole-in-the-ground (for real, you take stairs DOWN to the restaurant) Mexican-food hang. It’s not gorgeous, but it certainly hits the spot on a cold night, and Esperanza herself will most likely be around to say hi and offer up a recommendation from the menu.

Stuff to Do

Yoga: I am one of those annoying people who needs to workout on vacation, and Mangala Yoga was a perfect escape for a little hot power vinyasa in the “Lava” class. Telluride Yoga Center, which I didn’t have the chance to stop in to, offers more times, variety of classes, and surely a great view overlooking downtown’s main street from a second-story studio.

Skiing/Snowboarding: As mentioned, we didn’t partake in any skiing or snowboarding, but it is a major draw of this town, and the routes are aplenty…and they look seriously STUNNING. Go getcha’ some snow.

Telluride Brewing Company: The one larger scale brewery in town (as mentioned above, there is also Smuggler’s Brewpub, which is more of a restaurant and small-scale brewery), TBC is worth a taproom visit to try their blonde and IPA beers.

Snow Mobile Tour: The family I went with got out on a snow mobile tour one morning and said it was SO WORTH IT for the views alone.

Gym: Again, I’m a freak and need to workout on vacay. I went to 8750Alt, which is free if you’re a Sheridan guest, but for those staying elsewhere, it’s $25 a day or $40 for a couple, and it’s got all the equipment you could need, plus personal training services.

Decent cardio view…

Shopping: So MANY cute boutiques and shops line Colorado Avenue — stop by Two Skirts for luxury and trendy women’s clothing, Mountain Tails: A Cat and Dog Boutique for pet goodies and souveneirs, The Telluride Toggery for casual warm wear or boots, Over the Moon for charcuterie supplies and kitchen decor (I went THREE TIMES over the course of five days), Sublime for cute clothes and accessories, Paradise Resortwear for cute tchotchkes and Telluride-themed keepsakes, Between the Covers for books and good coffee, and Patagonia if you happen to be freezing your tail off and need the good stuff.

Free Gondola: Take this puppy to the top of the hill (landing at about a 10,000-foot altitude up there) for stunning views and skiing, or take it all the way down the other side of the mountain to Telluride’s neighboring town, Mountain Village, where more lodging and restaurants await.

Telluride Historical Museum: What used to be the town’s only hospital is now a charming ode to Telluride’s long and bumpy, yet incredible, history. A $5 entry allows you to dive deep into this amazing place’s enthralling background — a MUST for trips anytime of the year.

Spas + Art Galleries: I’m grouping these together, because there are tons of both spas and art galleries around town (in fact, Telluridians are so into their art that many restaurants and even the Sheridan lobby display local artists’ work for purchase), but I wasn’t able to explore the spa or gallery scene. No worries, though! I am CERTAIN I’ll be back. I recommend Googling around for spas and galleries alike to find the spots with the best reviews and vibes for you.

So, that’s it! Go plan that dream of a trip, now. I’ll leave you with this quote I found at the museum that seems to aptly wrap up my feelings about this charmer of a town: “Telluride feels like a town that is taking a lot of care to grow intelligently, carefully, with an eye on the mistakes of other ski towns and a healthy awareness of what makes quality of life.” –Pam Houston

What are y’all’s favorite places to go on vacation? Where should I be heading next? Let me know in the comments below!

If it looks like I look cold, you’d be right. Wind ain’t a joke up at the top of the mountain, but neither are those views.

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Comments

  1. Molly says

    December 12, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    So jealous, I love Telluride!! You must go to brown dog pizza next time you’re there!!

    http://www.mollyonthemoveblog.com

    Reply
    • audrey swanson says

      December 13, 2016 at 10:32 am

      Ahh I did stop in there for a drink but didn’t include it on my list since I didn’t try the pizza — for sure will next time! 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome! I'm Audrey, and I adore connecting with female founders and telling their stories in a way that matters & lasts for years to come.

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audskelton

Me, trying to figure out what to do with my hands Me, trying to figure out what to do with my hands without a bump. 👐🏼 Wallace, trying to figure out what we’re doing out of the house. 🤨

First family walk in the books! All of 10 minutes. 🤪 (Also, does anyone else notice the rainbow over Wally?... My heart. 🌈🥺)
1 week old. 🤎 The hardest, most emotional & mos 1 week old. 🤎 The hardest, most emotional & most rewarding week of my life. Babies’ sleep schedules, y’all. They are not for the faint of heart.

Wallace is hitting all his milestones, has learned the alphabet, and is picking up Latin. Just kidding. But he CAN poop 3 times in an hour and a half 😎, and he eats like a champ, is so strong that we prefer to tag team diaper changes for now, and makes the sweetest, cutest noises all day long. (And night.) Like even his cry is cute. 😩

One of my friends called this time the “wet weeks”: urine, breast milk, spit up, night sweats, tears, blood, more tears. It’s a lot, and it’s temporary. So even in the hard moments, we are reminding ourselves that the hardest things are often the best things. 

And this really has been the best thing.

So, so thankful for a hands-on husband who’s been so involved in everything... there’s something indescribable about watching your partner care for your child and step into a big, new role like this so gracefully. And we are thankful for ALL of the support, near and far (... mostly far), from our family and friends and coworkers. What a week... here’s to continuing to figure it all out together as a family. 😌
At 5 a.m. my water broke and at 3:44 p.m. our worl At 5 a.m. my water broke and at 3:44 p.m. our worlds and hearts were changed forever. Everything in between was a gritty, fast-moving tidal wave of emotion, pain, instinct, and a kind of love I never could’ve imagined.

Welcome, Wallace Ronal Skelton. 🤎 You kept us waiting until you decided, very quickly, you’d like to be here. I’m still in disbelief that you are ours. 

January 4, 2021 • 7 lbs 4 oz • 20.5 inches • Sweet as can be.
Well, this baby friend doesn’t exactly have our Well, this baby friend doesn’t exactly have our sense of punctuality which realllly threw me for a loop after thinking & saying for months that I was certain he/she would get here early. I’ve drank 3 boxes of raspberry leaf tea in 3 weeks, walked dozens of miles, eaten way too many dates, done hundreds of squats and bench step-ups... and now I’m surrendering. You come whenever you feel like it, little one. I’m comfy enough and can still sleep through the night (minus a bathroom break or two) so we will just keep on waiting and letting you teach us our first lesson of parenthood: PATIENCE. I knew I could always use some more of it. 😉 #40weekspregnant #pregnancy
scenes from our blissful, muddy, much-needed morni scenes from our blissful, muddy, much-needed morning hike. ☀️🍂 in a year that’s felt like 5, getting outside whenever we can has been my favorite way to reset. so thankful to live in such gorgeous surroundings!
our first and probably only christmas just us thre our first and probably only christmas just us three! quiet and simple and a little sad but mostly filled with hope and gratitude. hope yours is special in all the best ways. 🤍
the most freeing parenting advice i’ve heard so the most freeing parenting advice i’ve heard so far? (and i’ve gotten a lot this year!) our children NEED to see us to mess up. they need to see us walk through mistakes, fix our messes, apologize, learn, and readjust.

as someone who very much realizes i’m nowhere *near* perfect but is also terrified something i’ll do might mess my kid up for life... hearing this advice has stuck with me so profoundly. i think about it every day, especially as we get closer and closer to becoming parents.

we don’t need to get it right. in fact, we’re serving them better when we get it wrong AND course correct openly. when we can admit our faults and say we’ll do better next time.

i had a friend tell me a few months ago she apologizes to her baby all the time. she’ll say, “i’m sorry that i really don’t know what you need right now, but i’m learning... i’m sorry that you’re upset, let’s figure this out together.”

and i thought that was a beautiful way to own and lean into the truth that parenting isn’t having the answers all figured out—at all. it’s guessing and learning as you go and being able to be humble enough to apologize to your infant when you don’t get it right (and then your toddler, and then your kid, and then your teenager).

these next 18+ years are going to be an adventure, i can already tell. lots of mess-ups. lots of sorry’s. lots of goodness. 🤍

oh, and... can we all agree that the worst parenting advice is “sleep when the baby sleeps”?! as the lightest sleeper ever, i don’t need that pressure in my life. 😅 

photo by @jilliangoulding
the body of the grinch but the heart of cindy lou the body of the grinch but the heart of cindy lou who. ♥️

(wrong holiday, i know—but let’s not pretend 90% of us don’t already have christmas stuff up already okay?)

however you’re celebrating & whoever you’re celebrating with today, i hope it’s special. happy thanksgiving, friend! 🦃🍂💛 #thanksgiving #35weekspregnant
simple joys today: 🍂a pecan praline almond mil simple joys today:

🍂a pecan praline almond milk misto in the @starbucks holiday cup.
🍂early monday morning grocery run with my husband for simple thanksgiving ingredients for our 2-person party (well, 3 technically i guess 😜) on thursday.
🍂cool mornings.
🍂fall colors.
🍂the charlie brown christmas album on repeat. (i honestly think this is my favorite album of all time. 😂 we even got it on vinyl this year. i listen to it from end of october through january every single year.)
🍂random fall-y at-home manicures.
🍂2 short weeks in a row.
🍂phone calls with family.
🍂baby hiccups, kicks, and rolls & starting to distinguish between knees, hands, and a booty sticking out of my stomach. 😂
🍂sleeping in.
🍂finishing up home projects. (y’all, WE FINISHED THE FLOORS. praise.)
🍂a clean home.
🍂daily walks & clean air.
🍂soaking in the joy of our last childless vacation/staycation.

so much to be grateful for. and this year it’s really the little things that are the big things. what are your simple joys you’re hanging on to right now?
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