We’ve now had our lil cabin in Colorado for a year—hard to believe!—and are gearing up to spend the last two weeks of the year in that cozy, beautiful place. Here are the top ten things I’m looking forward to doing in the wonderful little town of Idaho Springs.
Note: this doesn’t include skiing (Loveland!) or hiking (St. Mary’s Glacier!) or anything in the surrounding towns—this is an ONLY Idaho Springs top ten list!
The Frothy Cup | thefrothycup.com | @thefrothycup
I dream of the Frothy’s lattes. Either get something with homemade whipped cream or the Frothy signature orange and cinnamon tea. Also probably a bag of beans roasted in the back to bring home the joy that is a Frothy’s coffee. Want the town gossip? Eavesdrop on the center table from 7-9am.
MTN Prime | mtnprime.com | @mtn.prime
Bottomless mimosa brunch with killer smashed potato skillets and chicken-and-(savory) waffles. Incredible steak-and-seafood dinners. Fair warning about the town’s fanciest (and priciest) restaurant: they once made me the absolute worst gin martini I’ve ever had in my life. With a bunch of local whiskeys on offer, there’s no reason to make the same mistake I did.
Smokin’ Yards BBQ | smokinyards.com
Happy chicken tenders. Happy barbecue. BBQ so good people drive out from Denver just to eat it. Order it to go and take it across the street to …
YARDS TAPHOUSE | yardstaphouse.com | @yardstaphouse
A lovely, welcoming taphouse with loads of rotating beers on tap. With kids (and adults) games, TVs aplenty for sports, and a super chill vibe, pop in here any time for a beer. Post-ski, in your pjs, on a walk … a frosty one awaits no matter your vibe. They’re also ramping up events so check their ig for the details.
The Rec Center | clearcreekrecreation.com | @instagram.com/ccmrdrec
A hidden gem—for an $8 day pass, you can post-ski or -hike hot tub, sauna, and do yoga five days a week. Skip Indian Hot Springs for $30, and do it the local way. There’s even a water slide at the indoor pool. The gym is pretty legit too, even if the weights are split between the basement and top floor—just call running the stairs your intra-workout cardio.
The Vintage Moose | facebook.com/pages/Vintage-Moose
Don’t be the tourists that walk in wide-eyed, sit at the corner table, and order Coors Lights. Sidle up to the bar, order the IPA Tommyknocker brews made exclusively for the Vintage Moose from Kyle, and don’t be afraid to strike up conversation with the locals. They’re probably drunk anyway.
The better liquor store: Mountain Moonshine | facebook.com/mmoonshine2812
Prices are almost city instead of mountain prices, and the selection is awesome with local liquors, particularly whiskey. The wine selection reads more grocery store than wine store, but wine is hard to come by in this town. Stick to cocktails and you’ll be happy.
Pickaxe Pizza | pickaxepizza.godaddysites.com
OK, here’s the deal: it’s a hit-or-miss place based on the hangover level of the cooks. It’s a mountain town, this should surprise no one. It’s almost always a hit for us, with apologies to our friends who received frozen appetizers, and there’s nowhere else in town for gluten-free pizza if that’s something you’re after.
The Loop Thrift Shop | loopthriftshops.com
We like Mountain Exchange too, but seem to have better luck at The Loop. Their inventory seems to turn over quickly, and they pick really nice pieces. We always pop in and there’s usually something for everyone!
Mountain Made | @mountainmade_idahosprings | maybe columbinecorner.com? (the Georgetown store is its sibling store but they share this URL)
I have no reason to love this kitschy store as much as I do, as you could probably order everything they sell online, and cheaper. But I love it. I usually buy something random from the clearance closet (truly, a closet). It’s affordable and cute, you can’t go wrong.
Keep an eye on my ig for my first Frothy Cup of the winter season!