PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRAIG MACKAY
Following up on my post from our stay in Denver I wanted to share some photos from our trip to Aspen (and definitely check out our video from the trip here). The drive from Denver to Aspen is hands down one of the most beautiful road trips we’ve ever taken (if you haven’t seen it check out my California Highway 1 photo diary for another beautiful road trip). Independence Pass which is a mountain road that opens only from Memorial Day through early fall was open, so we took that route into Aspen.
Every corner and every turn was breathtaking. The views are like ones you see in the movies and the skies were so clear we could see snowy mountaintops for miles. The road on Independence Pass is also incredibly windy and a bit nauseating at times, but worth it for the views!
As we drove into Aspen (our car broke down-haha minor detail) we were speechless. Stunning 360 views of beautiful mountains, budding flowers and green valleys. I was really worried about the altitude but for the most part we were fine.
We were so lucky to be visiting family because they are so familiar with Aspen and took us on beautiful hikes and nature walks. It wasn’t quite summer yet so it was definitely a bit chilly, I was in layers the entire time (and I am ALWAYS cold anyways).
After staying with my cousin and her husband for a few nights we checked into the Hotel Jerome. We stayed at another hotel in the resort collection last summer, the Malliouhana in Anguilla, and now I am completely in love with Auberge Resorts. The Hotel Jerome is a quaint boutique hotel right in the center of Aspen. While it has been newly renovated the hotel is also historic, built in 1889 during the height of the silver boom in Aspen.
One thing is clear when you arrive at the Hotel Jerome. No detail went unnoticed (I felt the same about the Malliouhana). While the interior and exterior are stunning, they’ve also managed to capture a feeling of luxury, the comfort of home and the essence of Aspen in the decor and level of service.
The best thing about the hotel next to the overall experience and amenities is the location. We were able to walk everywhere and we took full advantage of that.
From cute shops in town to great restaurants and walking trails there is no shortage of things to do. A few of the restaurants I highly recommend are the J Bar (at Hotel Jerome), Meat & Cheese (we had the most amazing lunch here outside), Main Street Bakery (get the glazed donut), White House Tavern and Mi Chola. We also went to the top of AJAX Mountain for lunch one day, the views there are hard to beat.
There are some beautiful parks right near the Hotel Jerome too. Craig spent his mornings at the Aspen skate park. We also walked around the John Denver Sanctuary and ACES where my cousin works.
Aspen is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. Now we just have to figure out how to get back there to snowboard in the winter!
Thank you to the Hotel Jerome for an incredible stay.
OUTFIT DETAILS FROM ASPEN
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