You might think that having my first kiss on the free Mountain Village Gondola would be my favorite childhood memory in Telluride, but discovering the secret trail to “Little Hawaii” takes first place when it comes to magical moments in this mountain town.

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.

There are two things each new season in Telluride is sure to bring: a change in weather and unparalleled festivals. In my opinion, Telluride's smaller, lesser-known festivals are some of the town’s best-kept secrets. Take, for instance, the quirky Mushroom Festival. Here me out— it’s a celebration of full of cooking demonstrations, guided hikes for mushroom identification, and a parade where attendees get creative with fungal-themed costumes.

Telluride has one of the most accredited culinary programs in Colorado in its backyard, which might be why the restaurant scene has gotten so hot. I've been living here for 22 years and my favorite day starts at Friends With Bennys (located at the gondola plaza on the Telluride side) for the eggs Benedict sandwiches.

We only put 130 miles on our rented car— 65 miles to the Madeline, and 65 back to the airport. The car lived in the lap of luxury in the parking garage our entire stay, largely thanks to Telluride’s free gondola.