Remember way back in this post I mentioned I had done a little traveling during the holiday months?  Well today I’m finally sharing one last trip from 2018, and it was a good one for sure.  Immediately after this trip to Jackson Hole (about 12 hours after, to be exact), I hopped on a plane to tag along with Kat at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championships in Aspen, Colorado.

It was my first time in Aspen and hopefully won’t be my last.  The town is beautiful and (to my surprise) pretty laidback, the people we met there could not have been nicer, and the St. Regis Aspen Resort was like a glorious holiday home away from home.  Scroll down for a few of my favorite, must-see / eat / do spots in Aspen.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort – This was actually my first time staying at a St. Regis property, and oh man was this a good place to start.  (And at Christmas time, no less.)  The hotel itself was so beautiful with a plush lounge area for warming up by the fire, a quaint little library area, an outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi with serious views, the most delicious cocoa that I’m still dreaming about, and a beyond adorable and lovable hotel pup named Kitty.

The rooms were ultra plush with big, comfy bedding, tons of closet space, views of snowy Aspen, and a bathroom that was straight out of a design magazine.  (I somehow didn’t snap photos of the room, but you can see a couple over on Kat’s recap.)  The staff and service were phenomenal, and the location is ideal: ski-in / ski-out for those living their best sporty life and easily walkable to town sights, restaurants, and shops.  It was also a super quick shuttle ride from the airport.

Drinks and apps at Mountain Social – After arriving to the hotel, we roamed around getting the lay of the land, snapped a couple of photos, and then settled in on a plush velvet couch at Mountain Social in the hotel lobby for some late afternoon nosh.  We split a Caesar salad and the truffle fries because, you know, balance.

Dinner at 7908 Aspen – The welcome dinner on the first evening was just a couple of blocks’ walk from the hotel, and wouldn’t you know I find myself staring at a Southern-influenced menu?  The chef at 7908 is whipping up New Orleans favorites like shrimp and grits, gumbo, and gulf red snapper, and everything I tried was delicious.  As a table, we decided to split ALL of the vegetable sides with our meals, and I would highly recommend any of them.  The carrot soufflé and crispy brussels were killer, and everyone who ordered the fried chicken raved about it.

Remède Spa at St. Regis Aspen – While others on the trip woke up and hit the slopes, Kat and I woke up and hit the spa for what was hands-down one of the best facials of my life.  I’m pretty sure if I could make facials from Paige at the St. Regis a regular occurrence, I might just start Benjamin Button-ing.  The spa itself is so pretty with ALL the things to accompany your treatment: sauna, steam room, plunge pool, waterfall room, and an oxygen room to help kick any fatigue from the altitude.

Lunch at White House Tavern – I believe someone recommended this place to Kat, and as soon as we walked in I was like, yep – this is the spot.  It’s tiny but cozy, and while the salad we shared was meh, the fried chicken sandwich (which is served like sliders) was maybe the best I’ve ever had.  So crispy and delicious, and that bread!  I’m pretty sure I was telling random strangers that they should hit up White House Tavern after this lunch.

Shopping in Downtown Aspen – After a “light lunch” of fried chicken and a beer (oops), we decided to walk it off and pop into a few shops.  The downtown area of Aspen is pretty small, but though she be but little, she is fierce in the shopping department.  High end brands like Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren mingle perfectly with smaller favorites like The Little Bird (packed with killer consignments), Forty Five Ten, and Olive LA.

St. Regis Midnight Supper – The Midnight Supper is an exclusive St. Regis dinner ritual that’s been around since the start of the hotel, and I’m so lucky that I got to experience one firsthand.  It’s a super swank affair with several courses, wine pairings, beautiful decor, and (in my case) dinner convo with some new friends.  Besides my girl Kathleen, I spent the evening chatting with Hallie (check out her blog Hallie Daily) and the fun team from Blade and Bow Whiskey.

Breakfast at The Velvet Buck – This cute little spot is also located inside the St. Regis, and after having their breakfast on our last morning, I was wishing we could’ve stuck around for a few more meals.  The Breakfast BLT is seriously where it’s at, and the fresh squeezed Detoxify juice was just what we needed after Midnight Supper-ing and experiencing a bit of Aspen nightlife.

St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship – And now for the main event.  The World Snow Polo Championship hosted by the St. Regis was the whole reason for the trip.  I’ll be honest.  I wasn’t familiar with snow polo before this trip, but now that I know, I’m thinking I’ve been missing out on my new favorite sport for all these years.  The match itself is exciting, and watching it from a fully catered, heated tent with the bellowing voice of a polo announcer who’s just as enthused as one would think?  It’s the blissfully bougie (and surprisingly un-uptight) event to see…and be seen.

Yurt Village / EMP Winter House – The St. Regis currently has a pop-up yurt village right outside that features the most beautifully decorated (and heated) yurts.  It’s exclusive to AmEx card holders and currently taking reservations for dinners.  On our last night, Kat and I joined the Blade and Bow Whiskey team (you can find it here) for Blade and Bow hot ciders, pastas, apps, and the MOST amazing Alpine Fondue that I’ll likely never forget.  We’re talking the cold weather, cheese-lover’s dream served up in a yurt…with Baked Alaska for desert.

xoxo