Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts
Congratulations, you did it. You booked a week-long vacation in the crème de la crème of Colorado mountain country, Telluride. Now the challenge is to spend your time wisely and see and do everything you can squeeze into seven days. Plum is here to help.
Day 1: Time to Acclimatize
Orient yourself to the area — take a free gondola ride. It takes just a few heavenly minutes to be shuttled up and over the Telluride ski resort in the glass gondola cabins, with views of the 13-14,000-foot peaks and a bird's eye perspective of the town itself. The main gondola plaza is at the bottom of Oak Street. Walk back up Oak Street to the clock tower at the center of town, and turn your head to the right to see the most photographed view in Telluride: the main drag and the mountain backdrop. It's socially acceptable to stand in the middle of the street and snap a picture here, and the speed limit is 15 mph.
Then, head to the Bubble Lounge just off Colorado Avenue and suck down some O2; it’s Telluride’s only oxygen bar and will help you acclimatize to the 9-12,000 feet of elevation here. They also have all kinds of effervescent libations. Hungry yet? Now you’re ready to sample some of the best appetizers in town at 221 South Oak, like gourmet foie gras and peach and chevre stuffed squash blossoms. One look at their full menu, and it's likely you'll stay for dinner, too.
Day 2: Hit the Mountain
Hit the java at the Coffee Cowboy on Colorado Avenue and then hit the mountain — if you don’t have the right equipment, or if the airline lost your boards, Paragon Sports and Telluride Sports are located at the base of the gondola and Lift 8. Lessons or trail maps are great ways to get acquainted with the terrain, and stay away from Lift 9 and Lift 14 for your first runs; this is not ski-bunny territory, and there is no easy way down.
Check out the Gorrono Ranch for a mid-mountain, mid-day meal and great views of the Wilson range made famous in Coors commercials and on beer cans. Après ski back at Chair 8, a restaurant next to the chairlift of the same name, known for its tall, thirst-quenching cans of PBR beer and eclectic snacks. The best way to replenish your protein level after a day on the mountain is with sushi, at Honga’s Lotus Petal on Colorado Avenue. Honga’s is the locals’ favorite place to dine and has a wide selection of healthy pan-Asian cuisine. Tip: try the Tom Yam Goong soup and you are guaranteed not to get the flu this season.
Day 3: Hitch a Sleigh Ride
Ride with Roudy. Roudy is a Telluride icon, a genuine cowboy who offers horseback adventures in the summer and sleigh rides in the winter. The sleigh rides are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so bring a camera and dress warmly, and don’t forget your shades — the sun at these elevations can be as brutal as the cold.
After spending a couple of days in the harsh outdoors, revive your skin with a facial at Studio G Skin and Wellness, not a spa for spoiling and pampering, but clinical care and a cherished local beauty secret. Finish off your day with fine food and fabulous sunset views at Allred’s, the restaurant at the top of the gondola. Allred's is the most romantic spot to drink and dine, but beware the altitude when imbibing — liquor is indeed quicker at 10,551 feet above sea level.
Day 4: Dig the Mining History
Take a trip back in time at the Telluride Historical Museum at the top of Gregory Avenue. Meet Telluride’s first inhabitants: before the hippies came in the 70s, Ute Indians, miners and pioneers called Telluride home. Then take a stroll on the Idarado Trail to the mine tucked up in the east end of the valley, and catch a glimpse of Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall (frozen or unfrozen) in the state. The falls are also a coveted ice climbing route in the winter.
Chow down on the cheap at one of the food carts on Telluride’s main drag, from the authentic tacos at La Tapatía to the great Greek food at the gyro stand. Cruise the Free Box, a Telluride tradition since the 70s. The Free Box is a place where people drop off items they no longer need and anyone can scavenge anything, from books, clothes and ski gear to incredible scores like a car, television or even a dog. Finish off the day at Telluride Town Park, and take in a local hockey or broomball game for some action and entertainment on the ice. Warm yourself up with a cocktail at the best bar in town, the Last Dollar Saloon, known locally as "The Buck."
Day 5: Hike & Soak
Grab a crêpe for an early breakfast at the crêpe cart in Mountain Village, and get in the lift line for fresh tracks on the mountain. Take Lift 12 to Prospect Basin, and hike up the ridge to your left to score some untracked powder on runs like Genevieve, La Rosa, Crystal and Confidence. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, take the longer hike up the same ridge to experience the resort’s new extreme terrain in Black Iron Bowl and Palmyra Peak — you can also arrange to hire a guide for these runs. Prospect offers the widest range of skiing and boarding, from easy green runs, to the steepest and deepest slopes on the mountain.
Ready to relax? Make the hour drive to Ouray and soak in the local hot springs — sans suits at the private Orvis Hot Springs, or in bathing attire at the Ouray Hot Springs & Pool. Natural minerals like lithium in the water will rejuvenate you. Continue the drive up into Ouray’s box canyon, which has the country’s only man-made ice climbing park in a beautiful gorge, and tempt your palate at the Bon Ton Restaurant.
Day 6: Ski, Skate and Stretch
Check out a class at Telluride Yoga Center, known for its challenging fitness regimen and affectionately called “boot camp” by local yoginis. Grab a late brunch at Las Montañas on Colorado Avenue, then rent some gear and go ice skating in the Town Park rink or on the pond in Mountain Village. If you need some more exercise, you can rent cross-country skis and check out the great Nordic terrain in the park, on the golf course in Mountain Village, on the meadow at the top of Lift 10 on the ski area, or around Trout Lake — they are all scenic, but only Trout Lake trails allow canine companions.
Don’t forget to check out the Thrill Hill at night, under the lights, at the ski resort base in Mountain Village. They run a lift and let people skid down the mountain on inner tubes, so you can get an easy gravity fix after all of your hard work during the day. A great place to grab a drink after tube time is Poacher's Pub, a laid-back, ski-bum bar in Mountain Village.
Day 7: Go Big, Before You Go Home
Love skiing and snowboarding? Passionate about powder? Today’s activity is not just recommended, but required: ride with Telluride Helitrax, the only helicopter skiing available in Colorado. Catch a few lifts up with these guides and save all of your leg strength for the downhill, flying through the pristine powder snow of the untouched terrain high in the San Juan Mountains. Then it’s time to celebrate with a decadent dessert at La Marmotte, like the chocolate molten cake with espresso ice cream or the vanilla bean crème brûlée with grand marnier tuille. Tip: The best dining deal in town is La Marmotte's three-course prix-fixe dinner for just $35 per person.
We know, we know. One week in Telluride is not enough. Maybe you'll get lucky, and your flight will be delayed, or you'll get a two-week vacation next year, but if you do manage to find some more time, check out Plum's tips for taking on Telluride.
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