This agenda is ideal for a 4-day trip to Denver with 2 full days of skiing in Vail (preferably) and/or Breckenridge – fly to DIA on Thursday afternoon and depart on Monday evening (book the latest flight out). After grabbing your luggage, follow the signs to the RTD; hop on the University of Colorado A Line to Union Station. 37 minutes, 9 bucks – can’t beat it.

S T A Y : truly the best option

Union Station | The Crawford Hotel : Last stop on the A Line is the historic and freshly restored Union Station – Denver’s living room and a Beaux Arts masterpiece. Once you pass through the doors you’ll understand why this is the place to be seen and stay – a bustling train station housing over 10 bars and restaurants and a luxury hotel.  Included with your extravagant room: chauffeur service around town in a Tesla, Panda bicycles, a beer, scoop of ice cream, and coffee on the house! Grab your complimentary pint and pretzel during happy hour from Terminal Bar, the old ticketing office, and either nab a spot at a shuffleboard table or kick back and watch the world (i.e.: your fellow travelers) go by – you’ve made it to Colorado.

Check into your room, freshen up, skip the nap – The Cooper Lounge awaits. This glitzy spot is a time capsule back to the golden age of the cocktail. Grab a seat at the long marbled bar looking out through 28 foot high cast-iron windows to downtown. Behind you, enormous chandeliers float suspended above The Great Hall. The skilled bartenders will mix up the perfect craft cocktail. Each drink is served on a thin silver platter – exactly what you would (or should) expect of a place as elegant as The Cooper Lounge. Choose a few cheeses from the Maître Fromager and order the Colorado Wagyu Steak Tartare, it melts in your mouth. When you’re finally ready to leave heaven, your perfect pillow waits in your perfect room down the hall. Sweet dreams.

If you want just one more drink – or a night cap, as the proper folk would say – head across the street to The Cruise Room in The Oxford Hotel. This was the first bar to open the day after prohibition was repealed in 1933. Rumor has it The Cruise Room was actually open during  prohibition – where are the windows?

Sleep in. Head downstairs for breakfast and either wait in line at Snooze for the pineapple upside down pancake or take our advice and hit up Mercantile for their toasted ham and cheese croissant; it’s the first item to sell out each day. Pack up, check out and bop over to Lower Highlands for a couple of hours before heading West.

S H O P (and eat) : just a little pit stop

Alcott & W 44th Avenue. Intrigue Boutique: this spot is easier on the wallet; find locally made jewelry and home goods along with a cute blouse for under 50 → Midnight Rambler: the definition of boho-chic. Ashley McCredie (owner) carries a variety of awesome brands – from Australia’s Lenni the Label to Cleobella from Bali → Rhizome Apothecary : a visually stunning space dedicated to botanical remedies and holistic healing.  Ash and Claire will whip up a personalized tea or tincture for any ailment you’re experiencing – we walked out with a fresh blend of calendula, nettles, and rose hip tea to boost complexion.   This place is magic.

Drive one mile northwest to Tennyson Street and bop along this funky strip. Grab a lite lunch at Vital Root, a feel good vegan spot that features ingredients of super-food status and cold pressed cocktails.

M O U N T A I N   T I M E : pow pow betches

Hit the road before the 4 o’clock mountain rush. Exit at 226 for Silver Plume, trust us. This tiny mining camp town, now ghost town, at the foot of the Rockies is getting a breath of life from the geniuses behind Dram Apothecary; this intriguing couple started Bread Bar, Dram Lodge, and have developed an entire line of bitters, syrups, and switchels – all ingredients lovingly foraged in the wild country of CO. Bread Bar is now owned by 4 friends and is housed in an 1800s-era bakery, the cocktails are assembled with care by a cute bartender who will share stories of the neighborhood haunts if you ask. If there’s one spot that embodies Colorado, this is it.

Whole Foods, right off I-70, in Frisco is your last stop before unpacking at your AirBnb in East Vail or The Bivvi in Breck. The liquor store is next door, stock up. Don’t forget Cheez-Its and backpack beers for the lift rides and brats to grill at Belles Camp.

V A I L vs. B R E C K E N R I D G E : Prada vs. Volcom

Which mountain are you? Breckenridge agenda HERE. Vail agenda HERE!

M I L E   H I G H : club?

Monday morning traffic is non-existent so take your time rolling out of bed. On the way back to the Front Range, consider taking a detour to Evergreen; home to the world’s largest Zamboni-groomed outdoor ice skating rink, perfectly nestled amongst mountains of ponderosa pine. Hopefully there’s still a lil whiskey in your flask, it goes great with the hot chocolate they serve up in the lodge. Work up an appetite and bop down the hill to Little Bear Saloon for a Budlatte, hot wings, and a ceiling full of colorful brassieres.

Just want to cruise straight to Denver for a delicious bite before your flight? If you depart on the earlier side, Steuben’s is where it’s at. This high-end diner and bar offers up delicious comfort food; do NOT pass up the Steubie snacks.

Night flight? Perfect. Head to RiNo (River North) Art District and pop into Fish ‘N’ Beer for a brew and half dozen fried oysters swimming in garlic butter, parsley and parm.

Next up, Hop Alley is right next door – the #1 restaurant in Denver according to 5280 Magazine. We’re suckers for the rap music but its the food that keeps us coming back; MUST order: Beijing duck rolls, la zi ji fried chicken, and dan dan mian. Holy hell this place is insane.

Who doesn’t love a restaurant that uses Rick Ross as their mascot?