With festivals going on almost every weekend in the summer and skiers visiting continuously throughout the winter, Telluride remains busy most of the year. Stay at the Hotel Telluride, slightly tucked away from the main road, where wooden interior and rustic décor reflects the surrounding vibe. Take a short walk over to The Butcher and Baker Café for breakfast and grab a hand-crafted artisan pastry, or build your own meat and cheese sandwich for lunch.

From the comfort of the Hotel Telluride—a cozy, boutique lodge on North Cornet Street—I watched as snow dropped in buckets upon the box canyon containing the town of Telluride and its surrounding mountainous amphitheater.