If I must be honest, I definitely look for the best spot to eat lunch, take a break, meet up at the end of the day to Apres ski, and of course, where to dine.

Pictured here, Chase and Katja enjoying Apres ski in Aspen Snowmass. What you don’t see is the band playing just beneath the ski slopes, people dancing and the outfits. One South American financier flew in a few (50+) of his best friends for a party. We were the lucky benefactors — music, outfits, entertainment.

I was inspired to write this blog after receiving Gray Malin’s email yesterday. Gray Malin is one of my favorite photographers discovered during my journey of the Empty Nest while producing my book, Contained Beauty, Photographs, Reflections and Swimming Pools to which he featured on Pages 74 and 122 … Click To Preview  The Making of Gray Malin in Aspen.

Here are my top five places I have discovered over the years, and enjoy–  from Aspen to Park City/Deer Valley and Vail to Telluride and Lake Tahoe.

• The 10th @ Vail, Colorado. My daughter and her friends turned me on to this beautiful restaurant set on the top of Vail Mountain. Make a reservation, it is a sit down restaurant. Highlight: Remove your ski boots and jackets and slide into a pair of cozy slippers to borrow during your long leisurely lunch. The 10th

• Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, Aspen, Colorado. Adam and I discovered this little jewel while skiing Aspen Highlands at the top of Cloud Nine Lift. Highlight: Perched beneath the chair lift you are right in the center of it all. Ski in, ski out or book a dinner reservation and arrive by snowcat. Lunch, Apres ski and Dinner. Charming, quaint and reminiscent of a resort in the European Alps. Cloud 9

• Alpino Vino @ Telluride, Colorado. We discovered Alpino Vino while skiing Telluride’s tallest mountains one Christmas vacation. Alpino Vino sits at 11,966 vertical feet and is the highest fine dining restaurant in North America. Got Oxygen! I highly recommend drinking a lot of water and keep a bottle of O2 on hand. They sell cans of O2 at almost every store, including clothing boutiques. Highlight: The views, the stunning location, the beautiful plates of charcuterie and cheese exiting the kitchen or the effervescent glasses of crisp white and sparkling prosecco. Grab a cozy, luxurious throw and wrap it around you while you linger at Alpino Vino. Cheers!

• Fireside Dining @ Deer Valley adjacent to Park City, Utah. Chase, Katja, Adam and I drove from California to Colorado skiing our way back at the end of Winter Break from home to CU Boulder — back to college. We started in Lake Tahoe at the Ritz Carlton, NorthStar, to Park City, Utah and through Vail, Co and back. While in Park City — it was a chilly, snowy, winter wonderland — cold yet gorgeous, but we made the best of it. Of course! One evening we dined at Fireside Dining located in the Empire Canyon Lodge. Check days and hours of operation, it’s not always open. It is European dining at its finest. Enjoy 4 courses served from stone fireplaces. It was the first I had ever heard the term raclette. The raclette fireplace serves warm, melted cheese accompanied by cured meats, potatoes, baguettes and more. It’s delicious! And a first for me. A little like fondue, perhaps. Fireside Dining, Deer Valley — add this one to your list of places to experience.
• Manzanita, Northstar, Lake Tahoe. Anytime of day. As you approach the Ritz from below the gigantic structure situated high on the mountain reminds me of Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s boarding school. Relax, work or read in the expansive lobby with dramatic wall of windows, or dine at Manzanita, an ideal spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks after a long day of skiing or spa–ing. Sit indoors or out, and experience fine dining overlooking the snowy peaks.

Happy Skiing and of course, enjoy your Apres Ski experience whether you ski or not!

XOXO