Restaurateur Tucker Woodbury has made quite a name for himself in Valley hospitality (The Vig, The Genuine, Little Woody, et al), but the Colorado native always longed for his home state. Four years ago, his dream of being a part-time Coloradoan came true when he purchased a second home in its signature ski town. “You should skip all of Colorado from now on and just go to Telluride,” he says. “It’s just bizarrely beautiful, almost like being in the Alps. It feels very authentic and is just a gorgeous town.” Woodbury shares his Telluride highlights from his trip this summer, from hiking to dining.
Blue Lake
Woodbury enjoys hiking to this alpine lake with his kids and says his dogs “demand it.” The hike is about 6 miles and involves 2,000 feet of climbing, from Bridal Veil Falls to Blue Lake above the timberline. “There’s two sets of beautiful waterfalls along the way, and the lake is crystal-clear,” he says. telluride.com/activity/blue-lake
New Sheridan Hotel
Hotels claim most of Woodbury’s entertainment dollars, he says. This historical hotel was built in 1891 and boasts an old ballroom, opera house, rooftop deck and a restaurant, the Sheridan Chophouse. “They have a great steamed mussels dish with a coconut curry broth, Thai chile and a great toasted baguette that you use to absorb every drop of the juice once you finish the mussels,” he says. newsheridan.com
There…
Woodbury orders a Steakhouse Martini at this petite bar with handcrafted cocktails and great food. “You’re in this tiny, tiny bar that you must make reservations for well in advance,” he says. “You wouldn’t think that they would execute on a culinary level, but they just blow you away with their small plates and service.”
Sidework
The food-and-bev pro favors this cozy restaurant for the branzino and craft cocktails. “It’s always ever-changing, but [there’s] a lot of creativity,” Woodbury says. “They always seem to raise the bar with their food offerings and cocktail program.”
