Break from tradition and embark on a culinary quest this year for your Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s meal. Imagine carving into a turkey at a historic hotel with a mountain backdrop, or dominating a five-star buffet before hiking in a nearby national park.
Here’s a selection of brunch options for the upcoming holiday breaks. Pack your bags and appetite, and get ready to explore:
ESTES PARK
The Stanley Hotel’s Cascades Restaurant & Lounge has a three-course holiday dinner for both Thanksgiving and Christmas ($99-$109/adult). This makes for an easy trip to the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. 333 E. Wonderview Ave., Estes Park; 970-577-4000; stanleyhotel.com
Plus, Twin Owls Steakhouse is hosting Thanksgiving dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 23. Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. 3110 S. Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park; 970-586-9344; taharaa.com
Where to hike, skate, or snowshoe: Rent skates, cross country skis or snowshoes at Estes Park Mountain Shop. My favorite trails are Ouzel Falls Trail or Lake Haiyaha, but it may be icy! Or head to the skating rink at YMCA of the Rockies.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Reserve a seat at one of the renowned Broadmoor Hall brunches for either Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. This longtime annual tradition features a stunning buffet of pastries, seafood, meats, cheeses, eggs and desserts. Reservations are required (from $110/adult). Across the street from Broadmoor Main, 1 Lake Ave., Colorado Springs; 855-421-4301; broadmoor.com
Another option in the Springs is Grand View at Garden of the Gods Resort & Club, fresh off of a $40 million renovation. They will have holiday brunch buffets (from $65 per person) with items like lobster rolls, mimosa fried chicken, and eggs benedict. Executive chef Nathan Gresham collaborates with the on-site Strata Spa dietician to ensure wellness options on the menu. (The 31,000-square-foot Strata Spa also offers IV therapy, float therapy, and nutritionists.) 3320 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs; 719-632-5541; gardenofthegodsresort.com
Where to hike: Seven Falls to Inspiration Point; it costs $17 to enter, but is a beautiful canyon walk close to town. Contact the Broadmoor for tickets and shuttles. Garden of the Gods is also a local treasure to check out after dessert; the Central Garden Trail is one of the easier ones to find.
GRAND JUNCTION
On the fourth floor of Hotel Maverick, Grand Junction’s first boutique hotel, the on-site rooftop restaurant, Devil’s Kitchen, is doing a traditional Thanksgiving feast with a twist. The pre-fixe menu will be available on Thursday, Nov. 23 from noon to 6 p.m., with chef-inspired salads, entrees, sides
and desserts. Expect beetroot and apple salad, roasted turkey breast, Colorado whiskey-glazed ham, sweet potato gnocchi, creamy mashed potatoes, roasted sunchokes, harvest dressing, acorn squash or green bean almondine on the side. $60/adult. Reservations are recommended. 840 Kennedy Ave., Grand Junction; 970/822-4848; thehotelmaverick.com
Where to hike: Where else? Devil’s Kitchen is a short out-and-back within the Colorado National Monument and, yes, the restaurant at Hotel Maverick is named after it. If you have a pooch, hike to Mica Mines instead; it’s on BLM land and allows dogs.
BOULDER
At St Julien Hotel & Spa, choose from two Thanksgiving options: brunch in the hotel’s ballroom from 12 to 5 p.m., offering a grand affair with a variety of dishes, or a three-course prix fixe dinner in Jill’s Restaurant, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Think seafood bar with smoked salmon, Alaskan king crab legs and shrimp; a carving station with turkey, prime rib and Verlasso salmon; and plenty of vegetarian options (from $109/adult, inclusive of bottomless sparkling wine, Bloody Marys or mimosas). A three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner is served in Jill’s Restaurant from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations recommended. 900 Walnut St., Boulder; 720-406-9696; stjulien.com
Where to hike: Hiking is a year-round sport in Boulder. If there is snow or ice, pick up some YakTrax or spikes for your shoes at Neptune Mountaineering in south Boulder, then choose from so many trails, starting at trailheads at NCAR or Chautauqua. Or hike to the summit of Green Mountain via the West Ridge, which is not so big a climb and has amazing views in any season.
ASPEN
Hotel Jerome is offering a four-course Harvest Feast that blends traditional and non-traditional Thanksgiving. They’ll also do Christmas Eve and Christmas Day “Chef’s Feasts.” 330 E. Main St., Aspen; 855-331-7213; aubergeresorts.com
Tucked away on 40 acres in Aspen’s West End neighborhood, The Aspen Meadows Resort is throwing a Thanksgiving Feast and then creating a winter wonderland with a reindeer village, Hanukkah celebrations, plus an outdoor bar with hot cocoa and mulled wine, sleigh rides, and gingerbread house and cookie decorating. 845 Meadows Road, Aspen; 970-300-2786; aspenmeadows.com
Where to hike and snowshoe: For hiking, strap some spikes onto your boots and head up Maroon Creek Road (closed to cars in winter) to Maroon Lake, for a stunning winter adventure. There are plenty of snowshoe and cross-country ski trails of all difficulties around town. The Aspen Cross Country Center is a full-service ski and snowshoe center, located at the Aspen Golf Course, with equipment rentals and access to the Aspen/Snowmass Nordic Trail System.
TELLURIDE
Madeline Hotel & Residences, a ski-in luxury resort at the base of Telluride Ski Resort, will offer holiday feasts at Black Iron Kitchen and Bar for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve dinners. Reservations can be made on its website. There’s an annual prix-fixe Thanksgiving Dinner ($120/adult), and also Christmas Eve and New Year’s feasts. 568 Mountain Village Blvd., Telluride; 855-923-7640; aubergeresorts.com
Where to hike, snowshoe and ski: Head to the Telluride Nordic Center (telluridenordic.com) in the Town Park for cross-country ski lessons, gear rental and trail maps. Bear Creek Trail is a popular snowshoeing route in winter, starting from Town Park — and it’s not too steep.
Freelance writer Joshua Berman is the author of “Moon Colorado Hiking,” coming in April 2024, and also “Moon Colorado Camping.”
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