We had NO idea we would love Colorado as much as we did. We are already planning our trip here in the summer for some mountain biking.
We decided to go to Telluride for Thanksgiving for a few reasons:
- Every person we have ever met who visited Telluride has said it is amazing.
- THE PICTURES ONLINE SOLD ME–> mini Switzerland.
- It is only 6 hours away from us.
- It gave us a chance to ski before our resort opens.
- It felt like the perfect getaway with our kids, and it was.
10/10.
We stayed in Mountain Village, which was right at the base of the Telluride ski resort. We could ski right into the condo we stayed in (here is the link, we loved it so much, and they had everything we could ever need).
One of the biggest highlights for the kids was the free Gondola rides that you can take… just a 12-minute ride to Telluride from Mountain Village. The views were unreal, and Beck could have stayed on these all day. We never had to use our car once while we were there; we just took a Gondola or walked.
The resort area we stayed in had little Gondolas all over the place to eat in… with seat warmers and a heater. The restaurants were so good, we loved ice skating there, and the shopping was great. There was also a market where you take a Gondola to it, so we ate a lot at our condo.
The hot chocolate was needed often…
This was my first trip in a long time where I didn’t run the entire trip (besides when I made a 15-second Reel ha). I wanted to give my body some time off and soak up waking up later and staying with everyone the whole time. Also, I’m not even sure I could have run there; just going up the stairs felt like the biggest workout because of the elevation.
It was a great change and something I need to do more often on our trips.
We did get in some cross-training;) by ice skating… falling on the ice hurts more and more the older I get. I may have to retire from ice skating.
Back to regular programming today!
Who has been to Telluride?
Skiiers/snowboarders, where is your favorite resort?
Tell me what your run is today!
I know it isn’t quite December yet but who has a race in December?
29 comments
Jane
Looks like such a great trip!! Looking forward to your ski gear recommendations post. Do you have a link to Andrews jacket?
Have a great day!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you, Jane! Here is the link and I hope you have a beautiful day!
https://www.als.com/billab-m-journey-puffer-jacket/p
emily l
Never been to Telluride, but been to Boulder and Vail and LOVED both. I’ve only ever done Colorado in the summertime and it is AMAZING; one of my favorite places on the planet! My husband and I went white water rafting once and when our raft got stuck against a group of rocks, I popped out of the raft and into the water. I was fine and it was such a fun experience. If you and Andrew can ever go rafting in CO, you definitely should! Happy Monday Janae!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Now we have to add Boulder and Vail to our list. We can’t wait to experience it in the summer too. Oh my goodness, we have to go white water rafting there. SO glad you were okay and what a fun experience with your husband. Thanks Emily, you too!
Beth
We LOVE telluride. Random but I love the fact that they allow dogs on their gondolas as well. Our Frenchie loved riding around with us when we visited.
We live in Colorado but Telluride is at least as far from us as it is from you, so we’ll meet you there in the summer ;)
It looks like you guys had such a great time and I can’t wait for your posts on ski gear and skiing with kids. We are just starting out this year and I can use all the help I can get, I am very intimidated.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Oh my goodness, I forgot to mention that. We loved that too… seeing the happy pups on the gondolas was so fun. Bring your Frenchie in the summer and we will bring Beretta haha. Can’t wait. YOU CAN DO IT BETH and it is so worth the hard work. Skiing with Knox and Brooke now is just the best thing ever. I’ll work on that post today. Have the best day ever.
Thanks Beth!
Erica
LOVE Telluride!! We have only been in the summer and it is a must return trip for you guys.
The Hungry Runner Girl
LET’S MEET THERE IN THE SUMMER PLEASE!!!
Arthi
Telluride!! Tim and I eloped in Ouray which is just an hour from there :) Such a beautiful part of the state!! Def come back to Colorado in the summer!! This might be an unpopular opinion but I STRONGLY believe that ski towns in the summer > ski towns in the winter! The trail running/hiking/mountain biking/everything is just so incredible!
No races in December! Still savoring every ounce of my off season!
Have a great week, Janae!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Arthi, what a stunning place to elope too. I need to see wedding pictures and I can’t wait to be there in the summer. I can’t wait to see it in the summer and for all of the trail running (if my lungs can handle it). Enjoy that off-season, I am too! Thanks Arthi, you too!
Natalie
Janae, I’m so glad you had a great time in Colorado. Like another of your commentors, I live in CO but as far from Telluride as you do, but I have been, and it’s GORGEOUS. Just as an FYI, have you seen that thefeed.com has Maurten boxes buy 2 get one free as their Black Friday sale?????
The Hungry Runner Girl
I am jealous you live in Colorado, we loved it so much. Let’s all meet up in Telluride for a summer weekend?! SUCH A GOOD DEAL… AHHH! Thanks, Natalie!
Anna
I went to college in Colorado (Boulder) but only made it out to Telluride once! It was May but it was snowing – typical Colorado :) I’ll always remember that trip because I had the best grilled cheese and tomato soup of my LIFE at this place on the main strip called Floradora Saloon. I have no idea if it’s still there – this was back in 2010 – but I think about it often haha
My favorite places to ski are Vail and Keystone in CO! I love Beaver Creek too. I was spoiled in college and went skiing all the time, I miss it so much!! I have to make it out to Utah one of these days.
I have a race next weekend – my first one since before COVID! It’s an 8 mile race in my hometown of Philadelphia on one of my favorite running loops. I can’t wait.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Typical Colorado and Utah haha! When we go back, I will find that grilled cheese and soup. YUM. Adding those ski spots to our list and yes, come to Utah and ski with us. Good luck next week, please let me know how it goes!
Allison
Telluride is on the list especially after this recap! Another family-friendly Colorado gem is Steamboat Springs in the summertime… super cute town and amazing views, highly recommend checking out!! We live near Boulder which is awesome too :)
Have a great week! God bless!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Adding those places to our list. We are officially obsessed with your state. Thank you for sharing and have a beautiful day, Allison!
Liz
Wow, looks like a great trip! I’ve been to Telluride just once (skiing as a kid) and I remember it to this day. I think it’s so cool that you get out to ski with four kids! Will be eager to read your tips and tricks post. If possible, could you touch on the planning aspect? For me, planning a trip is much harder than actually getting out the door to do it once it’s planned!
The Hungry Runner Girl
I’m with you! The planning stresses me out so much… which results on me just choosing everything quickly meanwhile Andrew researches for hours every detail! I’ll have him write about that because I usually make bad choices hahah.. Andrew finds the good stuff! I hope you have a beautiful day, Liz!
Wendy
Telluride is one town we haven’t been too. I think because it’s “far” from the Denver area, ha. I so want to go now! We love to go to towns where you park your car and really don’t need it again until you leave. I’m so glad you all had so much fun.
I am with you on taking breaks. Especially a time like this, so you can really soak up all of the family and holiday time.
Today starts the big holiday toy/food drive that I run for 2 weeks, so I will be busy! My running and workouts will be all over the map. But sometimes that’s ok too. A few afternoon runs feel fun when you’re used to always running in the morning. Today might not happen, since I am taking the oldest to the airport.
Hope you’re starting the week with a full heart. I know I am! Have a great day!
The Hungry Runner Girl
It really is so nice to just be carless (and carseatless ha) for a few days! I need to visit your favorite spots in Colorado! Your time together looked amazing. So happy you had your boys! You do so much for your community. You inspire me so much! Have a beautiful day, Wendy!
Amanda
I was born, raised, and currently live in CO, but don’t seem to make it out to Telluride as often as I would like since it is far from the front range. Fun fact, my fiancé had never been to Telluride and his first time was actually running into it doing the Imogene Pass Run in 2019. Definitely a bucket list race. We are probably going to do it again in 2023, hope to see you there ;)
The Hungry Runner Girl
I just spent ten minutes stalking that race’s website… now to convince Andrew we need to do it together. It looks amazing (and SO hard)! Thanks for sharing Amanda and I hope we see you there!
Stephani
We spent one afternoon in Telluride last spring as we drove from Phoenix to St. Louis. Our daughter graduated from Grand Canyon University so flew out and drove home. We had the perfect trip! We had light snow and we walked around the village and got treats from the Butcher and the Baker. It was their two week off season but it was perfect for us. We even started researching teaching jobs in Telluride:-) We drove that night to Gunnison and the next morning we got coffee and set for another long drive. As we were leaving Gunnison, I saw Sara Hall and her husband Ryan out on a training run. (he was on his bike) I was so excited I made my husband turn around and drive by once more. We would love to go back and stay for several weeks in the winter and summer…gorgeous part of our country!
The Hungry Runner Girl
That sounds like an amazing trip that you took! I love that you were looking into jobs there, we felt the same way! I kept pointing out to Andrew that they needed nurses there too! I bet you were starstruck seeing them running. WOW! I hope you guys get back there soon. Have a beautiful day, Stephani!
Poor Canadian
Over $2300 CAD for 3 nights during off season? GULP.
Too rich for me.
Warren D. Footz
your blog inspires me a lot…..2023 is going to be a mountain year….life took us away from where I once called home….the difference will be when I was in my earlt 20s and well, 18, being active wasn’t much more than the occasional hike….a visit now would be a lot different……yeah, I’m now motivated
Emily
This looks like an amazing trip! I’m so glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving vacation with your family! Would you be able to share the link to your green jacket? It’s adorable!
Becca
Yes! I am glad you love Telluride! We have a cabin 15 minutes from Mountain Village…that’s actually where I got married! We live four hours away in Glenwood Springs (another must visit CO spot for skiing and biking) but Telluride is one of the y favorite places to ski with kids – ours our 9, 6, 6, and 3. We try to get to the cabin a few times every ski season. I hope you ate at Baked in Telluride their cookies are the best! Glad you had a great trip and relaxed — but if you ever get into trail racing again Telluride Mountain Run is crazy amazing views (but also crazy hard haha).
Gen
We absolutely LOVE Telluride. It’s like you’re down in a little village and only one way in and one way out unless you go up. The bakery there is unbelievable. Lots of exploring to done in that quaint little town. Looks like you all enjoyed it to the fullest. Awesome that you had such a great experience and you are sharing with all of us. : )