True West 2017 Road Trip - Day 1

Oct 22, 2017, Destinations

Day 1 - Longmont to Crested Butte

As I cruised past Vail in just 2 hours this reinforced just how accessible Vail is from the major airport hub of Denver. And if you want to fly even closer then you can choose to fly into Eagle County Regional Airport which is just 40 minutes from Vail and 35 minutes from Beaver Creek.  Vail and Beaver Creek are world-class Summer and Winter destinations with superb hotels, dining and activities.  You will never be disappointed if you choose one of these destinations for your upscale groups.  But this was not my destination on this day and I zoomed straight on through as I headed West.

From Glenwood Springs I turned south and did not take the road to Aspen (another great world-class Summer/Winter destination) but instead turned southwest where I could take one of the most scenic drives in Colorado, over Kebler Pass, and into the quaint, historic and artsy town of Crested Butte.  Lots of history here in this old mining town, and nearby is Mt. Crested Butte, one of the upcoming ski resorts in America. It’s already well-known to serious skiers but more Americans and international guests are discovering it each year.  This is a gorgeous destination for mountain biking, fishing, hiking, hunting and all the great outdoor activities which are undertaken in the Rockies.  It is certainly more remote, and harder to reach than Aspen, Vail, or Beaver Creek, and it does not yet have the major hotels or conference centers to attract incentive business.  But give it time because it is constantly developing.  My day ended with a stay in the historic, 1881 constructed, Forest Queen Hotel, complete with haunted room #7.  They don’t make them like this any more you can’t replicate the old-west history.  Being in the center of the main street also gave me access to some great bars and restaurants. This is truly one of the great western towns.