Stay-cation: Westin Snowmass Resort.

Super Moon over Westin SnowmassI'm cool with Snowmass.  Snowmass is a good neighbor.  In the Winter they have over 3330 acres of skiing.  In the Summer they have the Snowmass Rodeo, the biking is siiiiiick, free music on Thurdays and there's golf ( but I abhor golf) and its wide open and generally pretty relaxed.

Aspen has a different vibe in the Summer. All the show ponies are in town. It's more accessible by car, its crowded, it's noisy, there are tons of guys on scooters, from Long Island & Miami claiming to live here. There are 100 bars and 500 outdoor dining seats, but there is no more skiing. The 15 or so major construction projects in the 5 block core have brought a flurry of BIG machinery to town.  It appears as if the banks have opened the spigots and Aspen is a development opportunity again.  Throw in all work on the parks and the curb upgrades...and it's as noisy as NYC.  I needed to de-stress.

Click for pix:  Stay-cation Snowmass.

So When the Westin Snowmass Resort invited Carmelo and I to come over for a stay-cation, a food frenzy and a pool party at The Wildwood...I looked at my dog..and said hellllllz yeah.  So off we went.  9 miles via Owl Creek Road into a different world.  As we passed the imposing structure known as base village that blocks the sun.  We weren't stopping at the imposing concrete parking stucture that is reminicent of The Wall that borders the Northern edge of the 7 Kingdoms, guarded by The Night's Watch that defends the Realm in the Game of Thrones.  No way...we were headed up the hill to The Mall.  Last year, a new ownership group began flying the Westin flag at the Snowmass Conference Center and The Westin Snowmass Resort was born. They did a complete remodel bringing the hotel into modern times.  The same group did a total re-do on the The Wildwood, right next door.  Kudos on the rad re-design at The Wildwood to my pal Carlton DeWoody, a founding member of Ski Radical.  Excellent job, bro. The bright, primary colors speak to me...and everybody loves the New Belgium Beer bar and the game room in the lobby.

Someone loves luxury hotelsCarmelo, my best friend is getting a little older now, but she still gets excited and loves to turn it on in luxury hotels. Her booty was shaking so hard in the lobby that everybody wanted to pet her.  Then she dropped into the belly rub position on the cool marble floor...and indicated "I'm good".  The staff couldn't have been nicer.  It's very clear that The Westin Snowmass has professional management in place.  All the details are covered.  When we got to our beautifully appointed room...Carmelo gave me a look that said " yeah, I can't jump up on the bed anymore...but turn up the A/C... full blast, will ya pal".  We both sacked out. Carmelo on the floor, and me on the Heavenly Bed.  I'm not exactly sure what makes it a Heavenly Bed...but I slept like a log...heavy drool and everything. 

The next morning we skipped yoga in favor of a spirited game of fetch on Fanny Hill.  The slope-side spa and pool at The Westin Snowmass Resort looks siiiiick...but brunch at Snowmass Kitchen was calling my name.  Several media members had spent the night in Snowmass and we were scheduled for a grazing session at the Westin's awesome in-house restaurant.   Before I started blogging, I never realized how many media people were just one free meal away from starvation.   Any way, it was full-on feeding frenzy...a four course, 3 hour brunch.  I don't know what I enjoyed more the bagels & lox (Jewish soul food), the waffles & fried chicken (real soul food) or the Eggs Benedict (1% soul food).

Next stop...the first Sunday pool party of the season at The Wildwood.  Luckily I brought my underwater camera cause sh*t got crazy. It was a great crowd for the first of a series of Sunday fundays at The Wildwood.   DJ Naka G was spinning, the sun was shinning, skin was showing and the food and drink specials were too good to pass up.   It was a very fun scene.  The Wildwood Pool is open to the public...so feel free to get after it. Luckily we got hooked up with a late check out so Carmelo and I spent the afternoon jamming poolside.  It was a great weekend in Snowmass.  A little stay-cation never hurt anybody. 

Thank you WESTIN SNOWMASS RESORT. To para-phrase Arnold... We'll be baaaaack.

Click for pix:  Stay-cation Snowmass.

The Eggs Benny was off the charts at Snowmass Kitchen. Click 4 pix.The WildWood pool in Snowmass is open to the public. Huge pool party on Sundays. Click 4 pix.Media babes copping some rays at The Wildwood. Click 4 pix.