Roughing It (easily)

North Fork ranchers move their stock between pastures in early summer, so don’t be surprised if cowboys are leading cattle drives the very same weekend local winemakers are kicking off their 2024 season with North Fork Uncorked, a series of viticultural events held June 8 to 9. Colorado’s North Fork is a federally designated American Viticultural Area (the West Elks AVA) fed by a tributary of the Gunnison River.

Early indications suggest Colorado could have a very good rafting season through spring and into the summer, especially in the northern half of the state. Predicting seasonal rafting conditions is difficult because factors besides snowpack depths always come into play, such as temperature trends, which affect the rate of runoff, as well as the amount and timing of monsoon moisture in the summer.

The time has arrived to build your summer schedule around the jazz festivals returning to the mountains. How fortunate are we to have so much natural beauty intersecting with so many people obsessed with bringing you excellent music at altitude? Boney James will perform at this summer’s Winter Park Jazz Festival.

“Employees must wash hands before returning to work.” It’s a basic concept (and one that probably shouldn’t need a bathroom-sign reminder). But at Kawa Ni, a flashy, cozy Japanese-style izakaya that opened last November, washing your hands is just the beginning. Kawa Ni is among the first – and only – restaurants in Denver with a pair of bidet toilets, one in the women’s restroom and one in the men’s.

Adventurous travelers seeking beauty and budget thrills should look no further than Guatemala: a friendly country that remains largely unexplored by many Americans, but can be reached in as little as six hours from Denver. A question I fielded several times before my late February trip: Why Guatemala? My partner and I have made a habit of planning at least one international trip each year.

Eight Colorado hotels won the new Michelin Keys on Wednesday, according to the Michelin Key hotel guide. Each of these Colorado hotels received one Michelin Key. Three of the winning hotels are in Denver — the Clayton Hotel and Members Club, Four Seasons Denver and the Crawford Hotel. Three hotels in Aspen — Hotel Jerome, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, the Little Nell and Mollie Aspen — and two in Vail — Four Seasons Vail and Sonnenalp Hotel — were also awarded the distinction. “Michelin is a prestigious organization and being one of only eight hotels in Colorado to receive a Key is a great honor,” Thierry Kennel, Four Seasons Hotel Denver regional vice president and general manager, said. According to Michelin, hotels with One Michelin Key offer a very special stay.