Nestled deep in the San Juan Mountains of the Colorado Rockies is the small exclusive resort and perfectly restored ghost town; Dunton Hot Springs . This all inclusive resort is the perfect place to bring you back to nature and explore one of North America’s most beautiful areas.  Soak for hours under an edgeless sky in their natural hot springs and dine on  absolutely fascinating cuisine. Once you experience the Dunton Hot Springs it can be guaranteed you may never want to leave.

Each of Dunton Hot Springs luxury cabins is an authentic, 19th century, hand-hewn log building, restored by local and Native American craftsmen who specialize in traditional building techniques. Although no two are alike, each bears a distinct individual character and history.

All cabins are furnished with custom luxury amenities and revel splendid views that change throughout the day with the shifting colors of sunlight on the mountains.

Indulge yourself at Dunton’s spa which practices the very best of holistic and therapeutic healing and specializes in totally natural treatments in surroundings that can only help relax and rejuvenate.

Food is prepared in the heart of the saloon for everyone to see and enjoy. The chef painstakingly sources local organic foods, lamb from the meadows that spawn fields of boletus and chanterelles, tree-ripe fruit and plump veggies from their own farm and vineyard.

Everyone eats together at a long, antique table in the center of the Saloon. A tradition from the big cattle outlaws that Dunton Hot Springs chooses to maintain.

The resort offers six ways to enjoy their wonderful hot springs that range in temperature from 85 -106 degrees fahrenheit: Under the stars at the source, inside the restored 19th century bathhouse, in the pool outside the bathhouse, in the pool behind the Dunton Store cabin, inside Well House cabin and out on the river at Christoph’s spring.

Dunton Hot Springs is open all year round with an abundance of winter activities to take part in from heli-skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country and back-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and ice climbing.

If you have a special event, why not rent the entire town? Dunton provides the perfect setting for a wedding, family gathering or memorable corprate event. The town can accommodate up to 42 people including meals and use of all facilities including the hot-springs, Saloon and banquet areas.

It all started 20 years ago; The Little Nell in Aspen Colorado began. And now in celebration of its 20th anniversary, The Little Nell has carefully selected 20 of its most memorable wines from the thousands of bottles served at the hotel over the past two decades for a commemorative list, available for a limited time beginning December 1, 2009.

Since its start in 1989 the hotel has worked with exceptional Master Sommeliers, each who have brought their extensive knowledge to this luxury hotel’s 20,000 + bottle wine cellar. This has earned The Little Nell the Grand Award from Wine Spectator each year since 1997.

The plan for this big even is to take guests and diners on a retrospective journey through the years with a sampling of wines that represent the finest vintages, producers, regions, treasure and great values from the cellar over the last 20 years.

These 20 bottles have been specially chosen by The Little Nell’s present Sommeliers with inspiration of past Master Sommeliers and are offering these top 20 wines to be available to its guests throughout the winter season.

What wines are on the list you might ask? A little bit of new and a lot of old. Let’s raise our glasses to The Little Nell. Congrats and here’s to 20 more. Cheers!

Raising a Glass to 20 Years

-Vega-Sicilia “Unico,” Ribera del Duero, Spain, 1989
-Henschke Shiraz “Hill of Grace,” Eden Valley, Australia, 1990
-Ridge “Monte Bello,” Santa Cruz, California, 1991
-Domaine Ramonet “Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet,” Burgundy, France, 1992
-Domaine Dujac Grand Cru “Clos de la Roche,” Burgundy, France, 1993
-Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, Hermitage, Northern Rhône, France, 1994
-Montevertine “Le Pergole Torte,” Tuscany, Italy, 1995
-Château Cos d’Estournel, Bordeaux, France, 1996
-Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone Classico, Veneto, Italy, 1997
-Domaine de Marcoux Châteuneuf-du-Pape “Vieilles Vignes,” Southern Rhône, France, 1998
-Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo “Monprivato,” Piedmont, Italy, 1999
-Château Gombaude, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2000
-Tua Rita “Redigaffi,” Tuscany, Italy, 2001
-Domaine Roulot Meursault 1er Cru “Charmes,” Burgundy, France, 2002
-Torres “Mas La Plana,” Penedes, Spain, 2003
-Giacomo Conterno Barolo “Cascina Francia,” Piedmont, Italy, 2004
-Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru “Aux Brûlées,” Burgundy, France, 2005
-Betts & Scholl Grenache “The O.G.,” Barossa Valley, Australia, 2006
-Knoll Gruner Veltliner “Kreutles,” Smaragd, Wachau, Austria, 2007
-Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko/Athiri, Santorini, Greece, 2008
-Krug, Grand Cuvee, Champagne France, Multiple Vintage

Also, in anticipation of this big anniversary, The Little Nell is also currently undergoing an amazing 18 million dollar renovation to all of its guests rooms, junior suites and corridors designed by residential designer Holly Hunt. You can read all about it here on our blog: Holly Hunt’s Latest Masterpiece.

*Due to this renovation The Little Nell will be closed until December 1, 2009

This year marks the 16th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in the beautiful state of Colorado happening September 18th – 20th 2009. Known as perhaps one of the most scenic music festivals in the country, breathtaking Rocky Mountain peaks serve as the backdrop to this year’s artists including Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Joe Cocker and many others.

Check Availability

If you’re going to the festival, and are looking for a place to stay, you’re in luck. Capella Telluride is offering a special package for this event. Book your stay during September 16th – 22nd and receive your choice of room, a full breakfast buffet for two each day at Onyx restaurant and valet parking each night.

At the festival, along with great music, 53 Microbreweries, all American, most from Colorado, will be participating in the festival and the Grand Tasting happening on the 19th with over 150 different beers to sample. Upon entering the festival everyone will receive a free souvenir tasting glass. Bottoms up!

If you were thinking that great music, great beer, and fabulous scenery couldn’t get any better, it just did. This year’s festival is going to be 100% carbon neutral! The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival is taking a stand against global warming and have joined with Eco-Tunes, the first comprehensive program for carbon neutral music tours and events created by Green Mountain Energy Company and Sustainable Waves. Also the official beer sponsor of the Festival, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is an environmental leader in the brewing industry. For more information on the event, check out the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival website (http://tellurideblues.com/)

Located in the heart of the Telluride’s Mountain Village is the luxury hotel, Capella Telluride, known as a grand ski resort during the ski season. With a design inspired by European alpine architecture accompanied by native Colorado stone and warm timbers, the resort provides a casual elegance that makes it stand out amongst its neighbors.

Each of the resort’s guest rooms, suites and condos are spacious and supremely comfortable offering the finest amenities. Picture windows and private balconies invite the outdoors in and rooms have unforgettable view of the San Juan Mountains and the Mountain Village below.

Cappella Telluride offers three restaurants for resort guests and gourmands alike. Its signature restaurant, Onyx, features a sophisticated menu complemented by the best local ingredient Colorado has to offer. The Suede Bar is the perfect place to enjoy a drink with friend be it after the festival or a day on the slopes. And if you are looking for easy meals available to dine in or take on the go, Cappella’s European style café, Gray Jay Café is the perfect choice.

Gusts can also take time to relax at Cappella Telluride at their spa, which offers a wide variety of treatments each crafted to meet your needs and desires. Ranging from the cosmetic to the fitness minded, Capella spa is certain to have the treatments you’re looking for.

If you have some time on your hands and would like to explore the area, make sure to check out these other luxury hotels in Colorado and read our reviews previously written on the KiwiJetsetter:

Hotel Teatro in Denver

The St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen

Hotel Teatro, one of Colorado’s best luxury hotels, was recently included on Travel and Leisure’s 2009 World’s Best List as one of the Top 50 Large City Hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

Hotel Teatro was the only hotel in Colorado on the list, and the only hotel in Denver to make the 2009 World’s Best list in any category.

They’re pretty stoked about this recognition over at Hotel Teatro, which is why they’ve decided to celebrate by introducing the “World’s Best Martini”, which will be available for 50 days at Prima Ristorante, the hotel’s restaurant.

We’re always happy when the rest of the world acknowledges how amazing the hotels in our collection are – and are even happier when our hotels celebrate by concocting innovative drinks, meals or special packages for their guests.

The World’s Best martini will be a blend of Stoli Orange and Grand Marnier, garnished with a mandarin orange wedge and fresh orange slice. It sounds delish!

Perfect for business trips and vacations, Hotel Teatro really caters to quite a large crowd (which is probably why they were voted one of the world’s top hotels by hotel goers). This hotel is located right in the heart of Denver, close to the Denver Center for Performing Arts.

If you want to learn more about this great hotel, read our review of Hotel Teatro right here on the Jetsetter.

June is the perfect month to enjoy the Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS). Especially since the St. Regis Aspen Resort is offering a promotion: stay one night and the next night is 50% off! A quick 20 minute jaunt from the St. Regis Aspen Resort takes you to JAS , where you’ll enjoy the talents of Jamie Cullum, Chris Botti, Al Jarreau and, our favorite, Smokey Robinson.

There is no better time to enjoy Aspen than the third week of June. This year marks the 18th annual not for profit Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) running from June 18 – 27, 2009. This year, the JAS June Festival is featuring world-class jazz musicians such as Grammy nominated Jamie Cullum, world’s top selling instrumental artist Chirs Botti, five-time Grammy winner Al Jarreau and America’s “greatest living poet”, Smokey Robinson.

And, the festival gets even better. This year, JAS has teamed up with the world famous Food & Wine Classic in Aspen to create a Night & Day Pass. This includes a 3- Day Food & Wine Classic Pass as well as a 3 Night JAS Gold Patron Pass.

Jazz, Food, Wine and Smokey Robinson? In our opinion, there’s only one way this festival could get better – if one of the best hotels in Colorado just happened to be running a promotion.
Thankfully, we’re in luck. The St. Regis Aspen is offering a special promotion: stay one night and the next night is 50% off with a minimum four night stay.

Surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains, this eco-friendly resort delivers a benchmark of personalized service and unending attention to detail and guests can expect nothing less than a remarkable experience, perfect for enjoying JAS!

Arrive Sunday through Wednesday for a four night minimum stay through September 30, 2009 to take advantage of the promotion.

Due to the exceptional nature of this offer, rates are pre-paid and non-refundable. 50% is taken off the best available non-restricted rate.

Spring skiing and enjoying the wilderness are the perfect ways to enjoy your time in Colorado. Kiwi Insider John Nielsen recently took a trip to Colorado to go on a ski vacation. He details his experience in Colorado below! Remember to stay in Colorado’s best hotels on your next trip to explore this state’s national parks and mountains. All of the photos are courtesy of Nick Nielsen.

There can be few greater feelings then standing at the top of a snow capped mountain, with the sun blazing from a clear blue sky, and view’s of skiers setting off. The fresh cool air, powder snow, colorful outfits, snow capped trees and energy from holiday markers, makes skiing such a wonderful sport – especially when you on top of the world in some of Colorado best mountains!

I have been fortunate enough to ski in major parts of Switzerland, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia, and have always dreamt of visiting the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. My wish came true recently.

Denver is the capital city of the magnificent state that is a paradise for nature lovers, be it the skier or the hiker. The national parks of Colorado are quite sensational. If you are an experienced or a less experienced skier then head east to Vail located in Summit County, which offers a great blend of ski fields for the whole family. Vail Mountain has a maximum elevation of 12,250 feet and low of 8,120 feet with 193 marked trails, so plenty to choose from!

The lovely town is ideal to retreat to once you have finished a day on the slopes and offers shoppers paradise along with excellent hotels. Another major advantage is its location. Vail is only 25 minutes drive from two other brilliant ski resorts of Breckenridge and Keystone. The resort is owned and operated by Vail Resorts, which means that your lift pass can be used in these resorts and that they offer regular bus services to Keystone and Breckenridge. Keystone is the smaller of the two, and again serves up superb family skiing facilities, where as Breckenridge is a much bigger town with a more traditional large resort feel. The mountains of Breckenridge are known as the “3 peaks”.

The restaurant scene in and around the three resorts is first class. Keystone is home to two of the best, the Ski Tip Lodge, a Swiss Chalet, that serves up a treat, have dinner in the main dining room and then retreat to the open fireplace lounge and feast on dessert. A second and most impressive option is the Keystone Ranch, located on the Keystone PGA Golf course. The main dining room has a traditional wooden feel and the adjacent lounge is magnificent.
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Hotel Teatro is the perfect hotel to stay at if you’re on a business trip or if you’re looking for a great food and wine hotel. This is also a great place to stay if you need a pet friendly hotel. We here at Kiwi Collection highly recommend this Colorado stunner!

If you’re looking for a little luxury on your next trip to Denver, we recommend that you stay at Hotel Teatro. Found right at the heart of the city, this luxury Denver hotel is located right across from the Denver Center for Performing Arts (and you’ll see elegant and interesting costumes and photographs from past productions decorating the lobby, parlor and guest rooms).

You’ll find unmatched service at this boutique hotel, where no request is too large or too small. Make use of Hotel Teatro’s resourceful concierge to arrange anything from a private jet to Maui or a massage for your pet pooch. With knowledge of the city and all of the amazing things there are to do in Denver, you can ask for advice on how to spend your time (if you have any free, that is).
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