Denver Magazine / April 2010 / Mud Season Getaways

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Mud Season Getaways

Between powdery winters and sunny summers, the mountains experience mud season — the time to experience the ultimate getaway for rock-bottom prices at gorgeous resorts and historic towns.

Palisade

• Why Go Now: The Western Slope is warm and dry.



• Who You’ll See: Oenophiles and mountain bikers pining for muck-free singletrack.



• Where to Stay: Vistas and Vineyards B&B for the friendly hosts and the lemon-ricotta pancakes; vistasandvineyards.com.



• Best Deal: Sipping wine at local tasting rooms amid a landscape of striking mesas.



• Worth the Splurge: Barrel into Spring includes barrel tastings, winery tours, and 15 percent off wines; $65, April 24–25 or May 15–16, grandvalleywine.com.



• Who You’ll Meet: Vintners happy to share their craft.



• What Mud? Nearby Fruita hosts the Fat Tire Festival April 29–May 2, fruitamountainbike.com.

Aspen

• Why Go Now: Snag a swanky hotel for a song.



• Who You’ll See: City girls in search of sky-high style.



• Where to Stay: The glamorous Sky Hotel treats Colorado residents to a $125 per night rate during the off season, theskyhotel.com.



• Best Deal: Watching beautiful people navigate the Sky’s legendary pool scene.



• Worth the Splurge: That Gucci or Prada bag you’ve been lusting after or a visit to Cos Bar for a new spring scent.



• Who You’ll Meet: Aspen locals luxuriating in their nearly tourist-free town.



• What Mud? Enjoy movie morsels indoors at Aspen Film’s Shortsfest, April 6–11, aspenfilm.org.

Beaver Creek

• Why Go Now: Book top resorts at bottom-dollar prices.



• Who You’ll See: Couples in need of a romantic retreat.



• Where to Stay: At The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, there’s no need to even step outside, ritz-carlton.com.



• Best Deal: S’mores and a killer ambiance at the mountainside fire pit.



• Worth the Splurge: Dine at The Ritz-Carlton’s Spago restaurant for a taste of Beverly Hills, wolfgangpuck.com.



• Who You’ll Meet: Bachelor, the resident Labrador retriever.



• What Mud? Guests get free access to The Ritz-Carlton’s luxurious spa facilities, including eucalyptus steam rooms, saunas, and a grotto.

Estes Park

• Why Go Now: Beat the crowds to this swarmed-in-summer spot.



• Who You’ll See: Families who are opposed to sitting in traffic.



• Where to Stay: Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch forgoes its week-long-stay policy in the off season, offering a B&B-style guesthouse for around $250 a night, sylvandale.com.



• Best Deal: The ghost tour at The Stanley Hotel, made famous in The Shining, is a spooky steal at $15, stanleyhotel.com.



• Worth the Splurge: Take turns watching the kids and book hot river-rock massages at Riverspointe Spa, riverspointespa.com.



• Who You’ll Meet: Early-season visitors en route to Rocky Mountain National Park.



• What Mud? Barbara Ernst, Mistura Bela, and Houston Person perform May 15–16 at the Jazz Fest and Art Walk, estes.org.

Durango

• Why Go Now: Durango’s authenticity shines in the low season.



• Who You’ll See: Adventurers who can’t wait for summer.



• Where to Stay: The 19th-century Strater Hotel emanates the spirit of the Old West, strater.com.



• Best Deal: Climb a 32-foot ladder and crawl through a tunnel on a $3 guided exploration of the Balcony House cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde National Park, nps.gov/meve.



• Worth the Splurge: Order an expensive bottle of Italian red to go with your bowl of perfect pasta at Guido’s Favorite Foods, guidosfavoritefoods.com.



• Who You’ll Meet: Laid-back locals sipping suds at one of four microbreweries.



• What Mud? See spring bloom in the gorgeous San Juans by taking a day-trip on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, durangotrain.com.

Kerri Rebresh is a Denver-based writer and editor with a passion for all things Colorado.