0
Your Favorites
By: Joslyn Peterson
When my husband and I set out to plan our latest ski vacation, we had our hearts set on Snowmass Village. We’d heard a lot about the area over the years: good food, friendly locals, strong runs for any ski level. And as a couple who balances a love for incredible eats with a passion for outdoor adventures, we knew that Snowmass could offer the perfect intersection of thrills and indulgence.
Our home base for the weekend was the Limelight Hotel, and it truly elevated the experience from the moment we arrived. The hotel’s slopeside location, just steps from the lifts and gondola, meant we never had to worry about shuttles or long walks in heavy boots (which, it turns out, is true for about 95% of the lodging in Snowmass). The gym was also massive and well-equipped, which was a win in our books. Overall, the biggest luxury of our stay there was simply the ability to walk everywhere. We didn’t move our car once the entire weekend.
We arrived with a bit of trepidation after checking the Colorado snow report. With a slower start to the season, we weren’t sure if we’d be able to do all of our favorite activities. But to our pleasant surprise, Snowmass’s snowmaking team made magic. We found plenty of fun, well-manicured runs open and ready for carving.
As someone currently navigating my third season on skis, the “crowd factor” is always at the front of my mind—there’s nothing that kills my confidence faster than a congested run. Fortunately, the sheer scale of Snowmass means the crowds disperse almost instantly. We spent our first day basking in the high-alpine sun, cruising down massive, open runs that felt like our own private mountain.
After skiing for the day, it was time to shift gears into foodie mode. Our first culinary stop was Kenichi in the Base Village. To say Kenichi is “just a sushi spot” would be a massive understatement. We treated ourselves to a spread of sushi rolls, but the wagyu seared on a hot stone was nothing short of transformative. This meal set a high bar for the rest of the trip, but we soon learned that Snowmass was more than happy to meet it.
Full and happy after dinner, we spent the evening wandering through both the Mall and the Base Village, which are conveniently connected by an evening-running gondola. The winter spirit was in full swing. In a stroke of luck, we snagged some complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, which provided the perfect sugar kick for our next stop: the ice skating rink.
The rink is located in front of The Collective, a vibrant central hub in Snowmass Base Village, where excited skaters shuffled out with their rentals, ready to take to the ice. I’ll be completely honest: my ice skating skills are roughly on par with a newborn giraffe, but the setting was too beautiful to pass up. Twirling (and occasionally wobbling) under the mountain stars, Galen and I closed out our first night with a quintessential Snowmass experience.
The next morning, we rose bright and early to head up to Elk Camp. The views from the top are legendary, offering a panoramic look at the jagged peaks that make this valley famous. For lunch, we opted for a local favorite: The Stew Pot in the Snowmass Mall. Galen warmed up with a hot cider, and we shared a meal that felt like a warm hug after spending the morning out in the cold.
By mid-afternoon, we were rested and ready to get our hearts pumping with a skinning lap—also known as uphilling—that would take us up the mountain just in time for sunset. We did, however, make a quick strategic detour at 3:30pm for the free s’mores at the Base Village. This is a daily tradition at Snowmass and, unsurprisingly, incredibly popular. If you want to get your hands on a toasted marshmallow, you need to be there right on time.
After fueling up on chocolate and graham crackers, we clicked into our touring bindings and headed uphill along Snowmass’s designated uphill routes, enjoying the peaceful mountain scenery as the lifts closed for the day.
Exhausted in the best way possible, we relaxed back at the hotel before heading to Aurum for dinner. Located near the Village Express lift, Aurum manages to feel both sophisticated and cozy. Galen ordered the trout, while I opted for a beautifully seasoned quinoa dish. Both meals were exceptional, proving that you don’t need to leave the village to find world-class cuisine.
We capped off our final morning with one last skinning lap, closing out the weekend with a rhythmic ascent that felt like a moving meditation. Leaving Snowmass, we realized we’d achieved the impossible: a packed ski weekend that felt entirely relaxed. We got our resort turns, we got our safe uphill cardio, and we ate like royalty, all without ever having to venture beyond the Village.
For skiers who want it all without the hassle, Snowmass is the ultimate mountain retreat.