Andie’s Guide to Telluride
There are some places that become so intertwined with your story, that hold so many core memories, you can’t help but go back again & again & again.
That’s Telluride for us. It’s where we spent Christmas and got engaged almost five years ago, where we spent our first anniversary after getting married, where we celebrated Momma J’s birthday last year, and where we dream the biggest.
“Where you dream the biggest? What do you mean?”
-you, probably
Well, it’s expensive, friend. We dream about what it would be like to have the funds to come to Telluride anytime we’d like — to stay in a luxurious hotel and get fancy cocktails by the fire and wear fur coats and watch the sun set from a rooftop restaurant. But honestly, that’s not really our style. We’ve just accepted that Telluride is more of a splurge weekend. And that’s really what makes it so special!
Over the years, we’ve curated a collection of our favorite eats, drinks, activities, and occasional splurges. So, here’s where you should go if you want the best experience-to-budget ratio.
WHERE TO STAY IN TELLURIDE, CO:
Camping ($)
You probably already know this, but this is really only an option in the summer and fall.
We usually opt for free dispersed camping in the areas surrounding Telluride. And while I never really share our specific dispersed camping sites (gotta keep a little something to ourselves!), I’ll let ya know that they can all be found online with a little bit of effort. Remember: dispersed camping means no facilities, usually rough roads, and limited cell service, so be prepared, camp within your comfort level, & leave no trace!
Telluride Town Park Campground is open from May-October. We’ve never camped here, but we’ve walked to it to eat breakfast by the river. It’s the only campground within town limits and downtown is just a short walk away.
The Mountainside Inn ($$)
Basic rooms. Feels expensive for what it is, but it’s dog-friendly, has hot tub access, and it’s a short walk along the river to downtown Telluride & the gondola up to Mountain Village.
The Peaks Resort & Spa ($$$)
Probably our favorite splurge. Located in Mountain Village. Dog-friendly. Giant, gorgeous windows. Wooden hotel keys (um, cool). And my favorite part? Access to their spa: outdoor hot tub & heated pool with mountain views, bar (in the summer), indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and Roman whirlpool tubs.
If you don’t want to splurge on the stay (totally understand – we’ve only done it once!), you can get a day pass to the spa for $60. We love some budget luxury ‘round here.
Hotel Telluride ($$$)
This is where we stayed when we got engaged. Felt like a HUGE splurge at the time as VERY budget-conscious 20-somethings. We actually slept in Justin’s truck the first night in a gas station parking lot (don’t do this – you’re really not supposed to car camp within town limits) — me, Justin, and Aspen all snuggled on the floor of the backseat with our Christmas presents to each other wrapped up and secured in a Rubbermaid tote in the bed of the truck.
(Travel isn’t always glamorous, by the way. And while we don’t sleep in the truck nearly as often, we still have lots of slightly unhinged ways we fit more travel into our budget!)
But all of it was worth it. Hotel Telluride felt like a Hallmark movie. It’s also dog-friendly, located in the town of Telluride, and offers a complimentary car service to take you around town if you’d like (in the winter).
WHERE TO EAT IN TELLURIDE, CO:
Brown Dog Pizza ($)
A NEVER-SKIP spot. The best Detroit-style pizza. And one of the most affordable restaurants in Telluride. Their large specialty pizzas feed 2-4 for around $30-35. This place gets busy, especially in the evenings, so go early to put your name in. Otherwise, you might be waiting up to 1.5 hours and that makes for a hangry group.
The Coffee Cowboy ($)
Located right at the base of the gondola in Telluride. Grab some coffee and maybe even a breakfast burrito before starting your day.
Baked in Telluride ($$)
ALWAYS our last stop before leaving Telluride. A cute little bakery with a huge selection of donuts, pastries, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches. This gets a $$ because you’ll want to get everything, and it adds up quick.
Timber Room ($$$)
Cocktails run $20-25 each, but hear me out, okay? This is our other never-skip spot. Because it’s our favorite place to dream.
It’s up in mountain village. We sit outside around the fire pit with our pups, order one drink each, and sip while we talk about the future and think about how life has changed with each visit there.
Skip the food. You’re going there for the experience. You’ll understand what I mean, I promise.
Tomboy Tavern ($$)
If you’re feeling snacky after drinks at Timber Room, take a short walk through the village over to Tomboy Tavern. The outdoor patio is dog-friendly and we love grabbing an order of wings to enjoy outside. Wings are hit & miss, especially in an upscale town like this. But these are like, actually good.
WHAT TO DO IN TELLURIDE, CO:
Telluride Ski Resort
I’m going to let you in on the secret to skiing more affordably in Telluride. Because single-day lift tickets are upwards of $250. And I’m simply not going to let you pay that, friend.
But it’s going to take some planning ahead. Telluride is an Epic partner resort, but only with the purchase of a 4-7 day pass (you also get 7 days with a full season pass). These are only on sale before the 26/27 season starts, but it brings your daily rate down significantly. I’m talking $96-112 per day. Way better than $250 per day. And you can mix & match your days at other Epic resorts, too.
The more you plan ahead, the more you save. Epic usually increases their prices the closer it gets to the new season. It’s a big bummer that skiing has become so expensive & it forces you into planning so far ahead. But, I’m just the messenger trying to help you save if this is something on your list.
Telluride Via Ferrata
Not for the faint of heart or those with a fear of heights. And definitely a “participate at your own risk” type activity.
A via ferrata is basically a mix between hiking and rock climbing. You need a climbing harness with a special lanyard, and you’re clipped onto a cable for parts of the hike to traverse iron rungs that are attached to cliff faces and tricky sections.
Justin and I try to do one each year together for our anniversary. This was 2023, celebrating year one of marriage.We had planned to rent gear in Telluride, until we realized we couldn’t. None of the shops in town offered rentals. Oops!
We pivoted, talking about other hikes we could do instead. Disappointing, but no big deal, ya know?
This was also our annual “Treat Yo’ Self” trip (can’t explain now – that’s for another newsletter), so we had scheduled a couple’s massage. And as we were getting ready to leave, she asked our plans the rest of the day.
Long story short: we borrowed via ferrata gear from a massage therapist we had just met that morning in exchange for a 6-pack of local beer. Now, I’m not saying that you should borrow life-preserving gear from a stranger, but luckily we didn’t die. And now it makes for a good story.
If you’re going though, I’d recommend renting gear in Ouray, CO.
Bridal Veil Falls
2.1 miles out-and-back. 859 ft of elevation gain. A gorgeous, gorgeous little hike to a waterfall (with a couple more waterfalls along the way!). Big fan of a water feature over here.
The Peaks Spa
I’ve already gushed about this place, so I’m just going to leave these memories here.
The Gondola
The gondola! It’s a 12-minute ride connecting the town of Telluride and Mountain Village, and it’s free! It’s the first and only public transportation system of its kind in the US, and shuttles over 3 million people every year! Oh, and it’s dog-friendly!
Well, that’s Telluride, everybody. Or our favorite parts of Telluride, at least. It’s a special, special place, and if you haven’t experienced it yet, I hope it finds a spot on your bucket list (and I hope this helps you plan the perfect trip!).
okay, love you. bye!
Andie