As Madeline’s General Manager, I’m pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to winter sports. When I want to feel the thrill of soaring down the mountain, I ski. When I want to explore the deep tranquility of the backcountry, I snowshoe. When I want to feel as if I’m floating over the snow, I hop on my fat tire bike. Now, after an amazing half-day adventure with Mountain Trip, I have an exhilarating new winter sport to add to my repertoire: ice climbing.

Each year, AAA announces all hotels and restaurants across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean that received the Four or Five Diamond Rating during the previous year. What an honor to be among the ranking and to receive our first 4-Diamond rating! Telluride is a town of great history, character and lore. It is where Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank and was the first city lit by Nikola Tesla’s method of alternating current electric power. More recently Telluride has been recognized as one of the best ski destinations in the U.S. and the world.