Colorado hotels that are great for a cozy winter getaway

When planning a winter getaway, you might be tempted to focus solely on your desired activities — skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and more. But the most seasoned cold-weather travelers know that where you stay is often just as important as what you do. After a day on the snow you’ll welcome a cozy retreat for hot cocoa, s’mores around the firepit, board games, hot tub soaks, stargazing and movie nights under the blankets.

As you make plans for winter, consider booking a room at one of these new / newly refreshed Colorado hotels.

The Carlin

While ski racing in Europe, Phil Armstrong found himself hungry at the end of his long days. He’d look for a restaurant in whatever mountain town he was visiting and tuck in for a hearty meal. Several times as he wrapped up his dinner a staffer would mention there were rooms upstairs if he wanted to spend the night. That warm, friendly, eat-then-sleep style of hospitality stuck with him, and this summer his team at Destination Hospitality Restaurant Group opened The Carlin in downtown Breckenridge.

The Carlin is a “restaurant with rooms,” as Armstrong describes it. While the main attraction is a seafood-focused restaurant on the ground floor, there’s also a cozy tavern in the basement. And, for those who don’t feel like going far to find a bed, there are four welcoming hotel rooms upstairs.

If you’re traveling as a group book the Royal Tiger, a bright, spacious retreat with a king bed, twin bunk beds and a private balcony overlooking Main Street. No matter which room you choose, enjoy the European-inspired touches, such as the heated towel rack in the bathroom and the Frette Italian linens on the beds.

200 N. Main St., Breckenridge, thecarlinbreckenridge.com, 970-771-3795

Aspen Meadows

Situated on the grounds of the Aspen Institute — a 40-acre property designed by famed Bauhaus artist and architect Herbert Bayer — Aspen Meadows Resort has long been a beloved place to stay in the Roaring Fork Valley. Guests this winter will enjoy the results of a major renovation of its 98 guest suites, restaurant, bar and lobby.

Designers refreshing the guest suites paid homage to Bayer’s distinctive design ethos by incorporating bold yellows, reds and blues — the preferred color palette of the Bauhaus art school in Germany where Bayer studied and taught in the 1920s. They also added modern conveniences including platform beds with built-in storage and a gear drop station inside each room.

Be sure to check out the latest exhibit at the new Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, which is located within walking distance of the accommodations. Titled “Concept of a Visualist: Herbert Bayer’s World Geo-Graphic Atlas,” the show explores the groundbreaking, 368-page atlas Bayer designed between 1947 and 1953.

845 Meadows Road, Aspen, aspenmeadows.com, 888-221-4851

The Western

Long before it became known as the “Switzerland of America,” Ouray was a rugged, gold and silver mining town. Many of the men who ventured west to strike it rich in the late 1800s stayed at a downtown boarding house. Now, that 132-year-old structure has been reborn as The Western Hotel & Spa, a fully renovated boutique hotel with 16 guest rooms.

Built in 1891, the newly refreshed three-story building is said to be one of the last surviving original wood-frame hotels in the country. It took the team at Zeppelin Development two years to carefully restore The Western, but all that time and energy paid off. Today, the property is a gorgeous ode to Ouray’s rough-and-tumble past — with all the creature comforts of a modern hotel.

In the saloon, you’ll find the original hand-carved bar, as well as a unique 20th-century floor mural depicting a woman named Jezebel. Other historic touches include the original tin ceiling, remnants of cherished wallpaper and the original front desk. Dark wood, leather, original taxidermy and stained glass windows add to the Old West vibe, while floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of natural light. The Western also has a wood-fired restaurant, a general store and a Nordic spa.

210 7th Ave., Ouray, thewesternouray.com, 970-497-1057

Trailborn Rocky Mountains and Trailborn Rocky Mountains Outpost