financial compensation was not received for this post, but we thank Ritz Carlton for the gift of an incredible stay. opinions expressed here are my own.
when the ritz carlton reached out to invite us to stay at their bachelor gulch resort in colorado, we jumped on the opportunity. we loveeee it in the catskills, so we knew heading to the real mountains out west had to be even more gorg. we totally underestimated how beautiful it was going to be. the mountain air is crisp and clean. the views are insanity. the mountains are dotted with wild flowers and lush trees. the clouds looked like a painting. the resort itself is actually a massive log cabin - the largest in the usa!
the property is one of THE most dog friendly resorts we've ever been to. not only are there specialized canine dining options to be ordered, there's awesome hiking, the rooms come stocked with a comfy bed, bowls and treats and my personal fave: a certified canine masseuse.
dinner overlooking the mountains? yes please.
what made the trip extra fun: we were invited to the ritz with some friends, both new and old. we were joined by chloe the mini frenchie, tuna, of tuna melts my heart fame, popeye the foodie, cooper the frenchie and the dogist.
we had the opportunity to try all of the dining options. dinner at buffalo's was awesome, but the standout was the dessert: a cast iron baked cookie, smooshy in the center with ice cream on top. omg.
while i may love my fashiongirl lifestyle, i also enjoy a good romp in nature. we took a hike to anderson's cabin, original home of John Anderson, one of seven bachelors who settled the gulch in the early 1900s. the cabin is meant for private dining experiences and has incredible mountain views. the resort also brought their canine masseuse to the cabin to ease our aching muscles after our hike.
yessss, that's the spot, that mr. massage man.
lady human's favorite meal was at wyld, which is is a more foodie forward take on alpine cuisine. she did share some of her meat with me, which was amaze.
we got a little carried away discussing human dining options - because the chef has also carefully designed a canine menu, which is far more important to me. i sampled every option - my fave was the german shepard's pie which comprised of local lamb meat, veggies and rice. for those who prefer steak, chicken or an eggier dish, there are meal options including those proteins too.
in the evenings after a day of hiking and eating (or skiing in the winter), the guests gather 'round the campfire, look out over the mountains and soak in the amazing sky. as a new yorker, i can't remember the last time i saw so many stars.
s'mores by the campfire.
what we loved most (aside from eating) is that the resort is really designed to be enjoyed year round. lady human and i had thought of colorado as a winter destination, but the summer was stunning. the weather was awesome in august. we would LOVE to go back and experience it in the snow. the human spa is AMAZING with a grotto pool to swim in underground, steam room and more. nature hikes in the summer/ fall will become skiing and snowshoe-ing.
we'll be back, bachelor gulch!
leather for days.
hiking the trails.
fancy after hike picnic.