We kicked off this week with a free breakfast buffet at the Ocotillo restaurant at the Marriott in Lionshead. Ocotillo feels like a Colorado restaurant, with southwestern décor and inviting booths overlooking the Vail ski runs. The breakfast buffet is expansive with everything from French toast with house made bread, to an omelet station where a chef will cook your omelet to order. With the large variety of breakfast items, along with fresh-squeezed orange juice,…

Last night, the manager of The Marketplace invited us to sample his fabulous tapas menu, gourmet pizza, decadent crepe dessert, and a few specialty drinks. We met Michael a few days ago after we inquired about his family’s establishment, and were delighted when he invited us to investigate their menu offerings. We were far from disappointed, and will definitely be visiting the Marketplace when we come back to Vail.
To start off, Michael suggested…

Friday was our last day in Aspen. After wrapping up some business, we packed up and hit the road. The drive from Aspen to Vail is less than two hours and is incredibly scenic. We took highway 70, which winds its way through a canyon carved out by the Colorado River, and checked in at the Vail Village Inn Plaza. We are staying with a few new locals who own a condo here at the…

Over the past few days we talked with most every remaining restaurant in both Aspen and Snowmass. The great thing about the dining scene in Aspen is the shear variety of cuisines offered in every price range.
Some of the highest-end fine dining you will find anywhere can be found at restaurants like Montagna at The Little Nell and Cache Cache on Mill Street. Both of these restaurants offer the very best in world class…

Yesterday, after we spoke with the last few restaurants in town, Casey and I took a drive up to Independence Pass, just East of Aspen on Highway 82. The change in scenery as you leave town is dramatic and very sudden. Just over a mile after leaving twenty million dollar homes and stores like Prada and Louis Vuitton, we were surrounded by national forest, huge mountain peaks, and unspoiled valleys. The top of Independence Pass…