Aspen Getaway

Destination Aspen: Where to stay, eat, shop and enjoy a cool Colorado getaway

Ah, Aspen in the summertime — there couldn't be a more perfect locale to get lost in the mountains, the roaring rivers, the cuisine or any number of activities. Every year, thousands of Texans migrate from the heat to the Maroon Bells and find just what the doctor ordered — perfect relaxation.

I recently spent a long weekend, hosted by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, which was designed to show off all that Aspen has to offer – not that it really needs all that much help. As one would expect, the area is filled with deluxe accommodations, cool things to see and do, and an assortment of restaurants, ranging from high end to laid back — but still scrumptious.

Five-star rating

My trip began, as all adventures should, with a personalized airport greet by my host, The Little Nell. This cozy property at the base of Aspen Mountain, often called by its former name of Ajax Mountain among locals, boasts the only five-star rating in the area, as well as ski in/ski out services. It has a number of restaurants and fantastic locations for events. The culinary team just pulled off a fantastic high-end wedding at the top of the mountain.

The property is also known for its concierge service, called Adventures with the Little Nell ,where unique adventures are the specialty— specifically, helicopter rides to the Roaring Fork River for “glamping." (glamorous camping). Needless to say, this is not for those on a limited travel budget.

Rafting trips and Aspen Meadows

For a more affordable option, several tour companies offer rafting trips on the Roaring Fork, Arkansas and Colorado rivers. I attended a Level Three trip with a company called Blazing Adventures (which also puts on a fun Scavenger Hunt around Aspen and nature walk/talk at the Maroon Bells Lake). There are many options to get in touch with Mother Nature, including fly fishing, camping, bike-riding, yoga atop the mountain.

The Aspen Meadows is a surreal and thoughtful property that is the home of the Aspen Institute, an idea think tank designed in Bauhaus style, known as German Modernism. Throughout the property are a number of locations to host events and dine, including some gorgeous sculpture gardens.

One of the newest additions is the Herbert Bayer gallery, a permanent installation that constantly changing as more collectors donate or loan art. Bayer is the architect behind the institute as well as designer of the space. The institute is also home to a number of festivals including the Aspen Music and the IDEAS festival, which both occur during the summer.

Where to Stay

The Limelight Hotel is an adorable boutique property that boasts among other things a great beer and food pairing dinner. This can be done on a terrace over looking Aspen Mountain. Between the amazing libations and the view, the evening is spectacular. The award-winning Aspen Brewing Company, which partners with the Limelight, goes all out to make sure that beer and food pairings are top notch.

At the base of Aspen Mountain lies the St. Regis Aspen. This property has a lot to offer, including stunning room renovations. My favorite is the Chef’s Club restaurant, boasting carefully-crafted menus from top chefs from around country. This apogee of food and wine is a joint venture between Food and Wine Magazine and the St. Regis. Houston’s recent James Beard award winner Chris Shepherd will be one of the chefs designing a menu for the 2014-2015 season.

The Hotel Jerome is one of the oldest hotels in the area and dates back to late 1800's silver mining days. The décor is a throwback to that era but recent renovations make sure it has modern amenities and comforts. Belly up to the bar and order an Aspen Crud, a unique concoction of milkshake and bourbon and was the drink of choice during Prohibition.

Where to Eat & Drink & Shop

For a unique gift idea, the Blues Jean Bar is an interesting concept that allows guests to receive a gift of blue jeans, chosen from a wide selection and setup in a relaxed atmosphere with cocktails and appetizers. A wide assortment of jeans in sizes, colors and styles can be tried on at onsite dressing rooms. This is a great option for a corporate event to wow clients and customers.

The Caribou Club, Matsuhisa from famed Chef Nobu and Pinons are must-go-to restaurants that can be utilized for private events. Cap the night off with an after dinner cocktail at Casa Tua, which has amazing selection of Amaro port. Dessert wines that have a host of secret ingredients and are produced by Italian monks are crazy good.

The T Lazy 7 Ranch is another beautiful venue with views and settings that will blow you away. This is a perfect locale for a wedding in the Ceremony Meadow. O fora more corporate environment, the Chuckwagon Grounds is perfect for a closing-night dinner or teambuilding event.

Or just walk around downtown Aspen to find a number art galleries and, of course, world class shopping. Visit the John Denver Sanctuary, a quiet respite next to the river.

Aspen also boasts some incredible festivals, including the Food & Wine Classic every June. It sells out in March, so get your tickets and accommodations early.

Several tour companies offer rafting trips including Blazing Adventures.

Blazing Adventures white-water rafting Aspen

BlazingAdventures.com

Several tour companies offer rafting trips including Blazing Adventures.

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Spa getaways

2 Texas destination spas named among world's best by Condé Nast readers

Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort

Lake Austin Spa Resort has reached the top of the list for U.S. properties.

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler have voted for their favorite spas in the world, and two favorite Texas retreats are on the list.

Lake Austin Spa Resorthas been named No. 3 among the "Best Destination Spas in the US & Around the World," which was also No. 1 out of the American contenders. In the 2023 awards, it was second in the country, and it could continue moving up the ranks worldwide if it beats the Ikbal Thermal Hotel & SPA in Turkey, or BodyHoliday in St. Lucia — two very tall orders.

It is joined byMiraval Austin Resort & Spa at No. 20, the only other Texas resort on the list. There were 30 spas and resorts on the list overall.

Contributing writers from the magazine acted as reviewers to make sure the selections were covered in firsthand detail.

"Everything is centered on wellness," wroteLake Austin Spa Resort's reviewer, Texas contributor Allison Bagley, "from the exceptional spa treatments to the healthy cuisine and the stunning natural setting."

The 40-room resort has a garden-chic feel, with lots of mixed stone and timber construction, plants indoors and out, and elegant bird-themed artwork in several rooms. As Bagley points out, this isn't a place to pop over between errands, but a retreat from the city about 30 miles away.

Lake Austin Spa Resort's garden-chic interior.Photo courtesy of Lake Austin Spa Resort via Condé Nast Traveler

The review also cites the resort's "cottage feel," soft bed, the spa's own products in the bathroom, a room service menu featuring ingredients grown on site, guided stargazing sessions, and the approachability of classes by Paul, the yoga teacher.

"One of the pools is housed inside a barn — it's a striking setting," wrote Bagley of highlights that didn't fit neatly into the pre-determined review categories. "And I loved that the spa treatments use products grown on the grounds (wildflower and organic honey are used in the facial scrubs) and that some treatments take place in semi-open settings."

In a release, Lake Austin Spa Resort expressed gratitude and shared more tips about the property.

“Moving up from the #2 position to #1 is a true testament to the passion and dedication of our entire staff, who work tirelessly to create transformative experiences that have a lasting impact," said general manager JoAnn Lenhardt in the release. "We are sincerely grateful to Condé Nast Traveler readers for their trust and ongoing enthusiasm for our Texas Hill Country retreat."

In addition to Bagley's favorite things, the property also calls attention to its stand-up paddle boarding, cooking demonstrations, fitness classes, and a special treatment tool that's the only one of its kind in North America: a Comfort Zone Zone Skin Analysis Scan. It also shares four awards from 2024 alone, coming from Travel + Leisure, USA Today 10, Elle Magazine, and the Hotel O-Awards.

At Miraval, Austin-based contributing writer Stirling Kelso took note of similar highlights like a natural setting removed from the actual city of Austin, a focus on wellness, and Texas stone architecture. One big standout, although it might just be Kelso's clever turn of phrase that emphasized it, is the clientele.

Miraval Austin interior Miraval's minimalist, modern looks.Photo by James Baigrie, courtesy Miraval Austin via Condé Nast Traveler

Answering, "Who stays here?" Kelso writes, "The wellness one percent. This is where high-powered professionals come to detox, restructure, and take a break. You'll see men and women ambling around in robes and yoga gear. Note that cell phones technically aren't permitted except in dedicated zones, although we saw more than one person breaking the rules."

In contrast to Lake Austin Spa Resorts, lake-house aesthetic, Miraval is a more modern look and feel. The art is not of nearby flora and fauna, but abstract shapes and references to Eastern design. Kelso also points out that wine, beer, and cocktails are available, despite being rare at wellness retreats.

With both falling in the world's top 30, Texan spa-goers surely can't go wrong choosing either destination. More information about the selected properties, broken up into similar elements for easy comparison, is available at cntraveler.com.

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