Bonjour Colorado

New Sheridan Hotel: Telluride’s Historic Gem

The New Sheridan Forever Backdropped by Our Majestic Peaks

Most towns and cities boast at least one landmark hotel that embodies the spirit of that destination.  Think of Claridge’s in London, Le Meurice in Paris, The Drake in Chicago and in Colorado, The Brown Palace in Denver, Hotel Jerome in Aspen, well you get the picture.  Here in Telluride, we’re blessed with the New Sheridan Hotel, a most historic property whose orgins date back to 1891, the beginning of the boom time in mining for this Rocky Mountain town.

Nina's New Look

I sat down with Ray Farnsworth, General Manager of the New Sheridan, just before the holidays to talk about why this property and Telluride in general are so special.  It has been just over a year that the New Sheridan completed its $8 million renovation and today it’s more alluring than I’m sure its founders ever hoped it would be.  World-renowned designer, Nina Campbell, incorporated rich, metallic materials and selected colors, fabrics and textures to create an atmosphere of warmth, comfort and pampering.  The result is an elegant establishment that has intelligently married this beloved property’s innate charm with modern design elements.

Fine Dining at Its Best

Nina’s touch may be seen and felt throughout every part of the hotel from its luxurious guestrooms to its glittering restaurants, The Chop House and The Parlor.  ”The New Sheridan is a very important building to Telluride,” Ray says. Certainly he and all the fans of this landmark property breathed a sigh of relief when they discovered how beautifully it has been preserved and polished up to meet the needs of today’s discerning patrons.

“The New Sheridan has been Telluride’s social epicenter for 117 years,” Ray says. And there’s no doubt that it’s more so than ever, especially in the case of the New Sheridan Bar which was rated as one of the ten hottest après ski bars in the world by Forbes Traveler.  Whether you’re just stopping by for a drink or have more well-thought out plans for a fine meal at The Chop House or a few day’s stay, the New Sheridan is indisputably a must-see in Telluride.

Click on the button below to listen to Ray and I talk about the New Sheridan and why Telluride is so special.

A Brief Summary of What Makes Telluride So Unique

-The nearest stoplight is still forty-five miles away.

-There are no fast food restaurants, big-box stores or national chain stores in town or the outlying area.  (No flashy neon signs either!)

-We have been especially well-served in spectacular scenery and sunshine.

-Much like in the mining days, men still outnumber women here, so ladies this is a great place for your girl’s trip.  The shopping and spa-going is excellent in Telluride, too.

-Mostly hippies lived in Telluride during the 1970s and today, thankfully, the town has retained much of its down-to-earth Bohemian spirit.

-The mountain descends right into the town which gives a whole new meaning to ski in/ski out.

-Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank down the street from the New Sheridan.

Note:  The Sheridan Opera House, just around the corner from the New Sheridan Hotel and the Chop House, is another not-to-be-missed establishment. You can read about it in my story Night Out in Telluride.

New Sheridan Hotel, 231 West Colorado Avenue, 800-200-1891 or 970-728-4351, www.newsheridan.com

One Last Round at the New Sheridan Bar

Laughing All The Way: Humor and Travel

A smile is the shortest distance between two people.    —Victor Borga

Karyn Ruth White: Motivational Comedian/Author and Twenty Year Road Warrior

Motivational Comedian/Author and twenty-year Road Warrior Karyn Ruth White shared the above quote with me in a recent Travel Fun interview.  I met Karyn Ruth in November when she gave the keynote address at the annual meeting of the Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association.  She had all those hospitality folks in stitches and I’m sure she’ll have you laughing all the way when you hit the play button below.

“Humor allows you to see your world in a much more postitive, enthusiastic way,” Karyn Ruth says.  She emphasizes how humor can be a valuable tool in dealing with all kinds of situations.

Karyn Ruth encourages everyone to pack their sense of humor with them on their travels and to make a conscious decision that your journey is going to be fun.  Think about what attitude you’re taking on your trip and see how that effects your travels.  Just look around airports to see how many people are smiling.  ”How we travel is a great metaphor for how we live our lives,” she says.  ”If you watch someone in the airport it sums up how they live their lives.”

When was the last time you really expressed enthusiasm about traveling?  Do you remember how it was for you as a kid?  I can recall the night before the first time I was to take the train to New York City when I was about eight.  I couldn’t sleep all night!  And that wasn’t about stress—it was due to excitement.

Karyn Ruth points out that we are presented with humor opportunities every day at home and away. Her book, “Your Seventh Sense:  How to Think Like a Comedian,” helps people to see the world in a funnier way. ”Life is hysterical if you’re looking for the hilarity,” she says.

Karyn Ruth White Suggests You Ask Yourself the Following Questions on Your Travels, Especially in Stressful Situations

-Can I find anything to laugh about?

-Am I going to let this ruin my day?

-Would this be funny if it were happening to someone else?

Celebrating the Holidays with the Animals

Winter Wildland at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

I recently had Allen Nyhuis, co-author of “America’s Best Zoos:  A Travel Guide for Fans and Families,” as a guest on Travel Fun.  That’s when I learned about the many glittering light displays that take place during the holidays at zoos around the country. I had heard about Boo at the Zoo (which takes place during Halloween) but didn’t realize that so many zoos also offer a festive setting for celebrating the dark evenings of winter—what a terrific idea! Many of you have perhaps already enjoyed the twinkling light show offered at your local zoo.  If not, know that at most major zoos, you have a few days left to take in this joyful winter fun.

Allen Nyhuis: Animal Lover Extraordinaire

Now about Allen.  This guy surely ranks as America’s top zoo aficionado.  Did you know that some 150 million people go to zoos every year?  That’s more than the number of people that attend professional baseball, basketball, football and hockey games combined.  And visiting a zoo is one of the most affordable means of entertainment in our country, yet surprisingly most people don’t go much on vacation; they mostly just patronize their local zoo.  Well, I think it’s a great thing to do on your travels and I’m more convinced about this than ever after having connected with the giraffes, elephants, hippos, tigers, apes, Rocky Mountain wildlife and much more on a recent visit to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs.  I was lucky enough to experience the fantastic natural setting of this mountain zoo (the only one of its kind in the country) after a fresh snowfall.  This not only enhanced the beauty of the zoo but it also drove the crowds away and kept many of the animals indoors where they were easier to view.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I encourage you to tune in to listen to Allen’s excellent interview.  You’ll also hear how he responds to my question regarding the happiness of animals in a zoo.  Just hit the play button below.

Thank you to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Allen Nyhuis for the above photos.

Listen to Graham Watson Talk the Tour

2010 Tour de France Route

The 2010 Tour de France route was posted just over a month ago which means that hotels along the course are booking up fast.  There’s still time, however, to plan a trip to take in some of this renowned bike race next July.  Renowned Tour photographer, Graham Watson, will tell you how.  Read about what I wrote about Graham and his book, “Graham Watson’s Tour de France Travel Guide,” here.  You can also listen to Graham speak about the Tour and more  by clicking on the play button here:

The National Trust and Us

Richard Moe: Our Nation's Top Preservationist Enjoying the Great American West

People don’t want to go to a place that has lost its soul.

—Arthur Frommer

Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, shared the above quote with me in a recent Travel Fun interview.  As our nation’s leading historic preservation organization, the Trust has saved the soul and character of countless places in its sixty years of existence. From main streets to historic sites, this bipartisan organization works tirelessly toward preserving our country’s heritage.

As a part-time resident of Telluride, I’ve had the privilege of chatting with Dick Moe about historic preservation and some of his favorite destinations several times.  He loves his time in the West and makes Telluride his base every summer for visiting some of the most significant cultural sites in the United States including Canyon of the Ancients in southwestern Colorado.  In our interview, he also talks about other exciting locales in the region such as Durango, Silverton, Chimney Rock and the Rio Grande Gorge in Del Norte.

As for Telluride, it’s clear that it stands a cut above all other Rocky Mountain destinations.  ”Telluride has done a better job of preserving its historic character than any other mountain town,” says Dick.  He also shares his thoughts on the Telluride Valley Floor, a 500-acre parcel of open space that he fought hard to preserve.

The Trust’s programs on sustainability and historic preservation are also discussed in our interview. Currently the organization is committed to a sustainability program that focuses on the environmental value of “recylcing” older buildings for new uses and retrofitting them for greater energy efficiency.

Heritage tourism is the fastest growing part of tourism, already a huge industry in our country.  The National Trust has offered tours all over the world for quite some time but they’re expanding their reach with Gozaic, a one-stop shopping portal for heritage travel.  You can hear what Dick has to say about this in our chat as well.

Listen to the entire half-hour interview I conducted with Richard Moe by clicking on the play button here:

People want to experience what’s real and genuine in communities.

—Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Note that at the same time of this story posting, Richard Moe announced his retirement from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  He has been the longest serving president in the sixty-year history of the Trust.  He plans to continue to hold that position until a replacement is found, likely in the spring of 2010.

National Trust for Historic Preservation, 202-588-6000 and 800-944-6847, www.preservationnation.org; you may become a member of the Trust and receive their award-winning magazine six times a year for as little as $20.