As US Residents, we’ve seen a good number of cities and states within the United States. Rather than reviewing them all here, we’re going to pick a few destinations we’ve visited numerous times, and provide some of our recommendations/favorites in the way of lodging, food and activities. We won’t be doing “Trip Summaries” but we’ll include any travel/logistics notes in the comments below.

Maui, HI

Crested Butte, CO

Crested Butte (CB) has been our favorite Colorado mountain town since we started visiting in 2012. Located about 4 hours southwest of Denver, this old mining town (incorporated in 1880) sits close to 9,000 feet in elevation, nestled into the Elk Mountain Range of the Rockies. This “postage stamp” of a town is less than 1 square mile, and has around 1,500 full time residents. Its neighboring town of Mt. Crested Butte (~4 miles up the road) and the neighborhood of Crested Butte South (approximately 8 miles down the road), plus the other small surrounding neighborhoods make the total population of the North Valley feel more like 4,000 residents.

Getting to Crested Butte: The nearest commercial airport to Crested Butte is in Gunnison - 30 minutes south of town. Busses do run between Gunnison & Crested Butte, but they are more often used as commuter transportation rather than tourist transport. Winter flights from Gunnison are often impacted by weather, so the most reliable route to get to Crested Butte is to fly to Denver, and drive from there. The drive is beautiful and between about Memorial Day and Early November (snow-dependent), Cottonwood Pass is open to thru-traffic, which makes the drive about 3.5 hours rather than the normal 4 going through Gunnison. As opposed to multi-lane highways which go to other popular Colorado resort towns, the route to Crested Butte is mostly on a 2-lane road with the occasional passing lane.

Lodging & transportation in Crested Butte: VRBO’s and Airbnb’s are very popular, Purple Mountain B&B is fabulous, and hotels are plentiful in Mt. CB. As noted above, the town of CB is a couple miles south of Mt. CB where the ski hill (and downhill bike park) is located. Be aware that unless you specifically want a ski-in, ski-out location, there isn’t a ton of activity going on in Mt. CB. While there are a couple of restaurants and one small market in Mt. CB, the bulk of the restaurants, bars, galleries, shops, and town festivities will be happening in the Town of Crested Butte - so pick your location accordingly. The Mountain Express (free shuttle) does run between town and the mountain between 7:10am and Midnight (winter schedule). Here’s the link to their routes: https://www.mtnexp.org/schedules-routes/. If you have a car, parking is not a problem (pay attention to street parking signs both summer and winter). Also, if you plan to explore outside of the immediate town (for example, taking trips up to Lake Irwin, out to the famous ghost town of Gothic which houses the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, or to the numerous Trailheads located out the spiny valleys surrounding Crested Butte), we would recommend having a car/SUV available.

Below are some photos to give you a feel for the style and size of town - the first photo being from the Peak of Mt. CB looking down at the town of Crested Butte, and the final photo is looking at “the Butte” from the last street in town:

Things to do in/around Crested Butte: Crested Butte is known for its easy access to outdoor recreational activities. It has been called “the last great ski town”, but skiing is only one of many popular things to do. So here we go…

Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding: Crested Butte Mountain Resort - now on the EPIC pass (owned by Vail) provides an exceptional playground and experience for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The Umbrella Bar offers nearly 360 degree views while you sip a beer or cocktail - hopefully while lounging in the sunshine!

Snowshoeing/Skinning/Cross-Country Skiing: CB Nordic (https://cbnordic.org/) grooms 50km of trails around CB and offers rental gear and both day and season passes for access. CBMBA (Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association) also provides winter grooming of trails for multi-use (including fat bikes), and has a list on their website including a “last groomed” date: https://crestedbuttemountainbike.com/winter/grooming-report/.

Snowmobiling: Unfortunately we don’t have personal experience in snowmobiling, but know it’s popular in the area, so if you have your own sled, or choose to rent one, we’re sure you will have an unforgettable day.

Mountain Biking: There are trails you can access directly from town, and some that start a handful of miles away, up one of the many valleys nearby. There’s also a great Bike Park located behind the School, which is also kid friendly. CBMBA is the most trusted resource for trail information locally, and provides descriptions as well as maps: https://crestedbuttemountainbike.com/

Hiking: Here are some of our favorites!

For some easier hikes - which you could do all, or part of, if you have a vehicle drop you off...

1. If you'll be bringing bikes for kids OR if there's a bunch of snow already and you need a low elevation walk, a great bike/easy trail walk starts from the NE corner of town on the Woods Walk Trail. It takes you out past Peanut Lake (paralleling the road), ultimately to a parking area. If you continue past that, you're on the Lower Loop trail system which starts out wide, but then gets you to an excellent easy single-track trail for hiking or biking. This will take you out to the Gunsight Bridge (where the kids can play in the water since they never seem to feel cold).

2. Lupine 1 and Lupine 2 trails are some of our favorites - we leave from town and go up the Rec Path on our bikes (though many people hike it) and head east-to-west starting on Lupine 1. Ultimately the trails drop you back onto Slate River Road, and if you continue West on Slate River Road <1 mile, you'll get to the Gunsight Bridge (see above), where you can connect to the Lower Loop (or Upper Lower Loop) to get back to town. You could also do this in reverse (start on Woods Walk to Lower Loop, be on Slate River Road heading East for a minute and then head up Lupine 2 to Lupine 1). This entire loop from town is about 12.5 miles and there are gorgeous views the whole way.

3. Mt. Crested Butte (to the peak) is a great hike, but generally people take the Chair Lift up which does have a fee associated with it - check for discounts if you have an EPIC pass. From the top of the Chairlift it's about a 45 min hike to the very peak. There's some scrambling on big boulders at the top, but generally I wouldn't call it a very strenuous hike.

4. Caves Trail to Walrod Cutoff trail (~6miles round trip) - This trail gets a lot of sun, so it's usually first to dry out in the spring and last to get covered with snow in the winter. Drive down to Cement Creek Road in CB South to find this trailhead. Starting on the Caves Trail will take you straight up some switch-backs for the first pitch to the Walrod Cutoff Trail. It'll get your lungs going for sure. Continue east on Walrod Cutoff Trail and it levels out and slowly winds its way down until it dumps you out on Walrod Road (or Walrod Gulch Road). From there you can parallel Cement Creek Road on a little single track trail for most of the way back to your car. You could also do this in reverse, but then you end up with a really steep downhill at the very end.

5. Tony's Trail to Upper Upper to Whetstone Vista (or vice versa) - you can do this as a loop from town (~7 miles, I believe), or an out-and-back. To get to Tony's trail, you'll head east out of town on Elk Ave and cross a cattle guard onto a dirt road and pass some new construction. About a mile from the cattle guard, Tony's Trail will be on your left. When you get to the top of Tony's Trail, you can go left toward Mt. CB (also a great hike), or Right on Upper Upper Loop Trail trail. If you keep going right, you'll hit a junction with Whetstone Vista Trail which will start to descend toward Brush Creek Road. Upper Upper Loop trail will also continue down to Brush Creek Road, just further out.

6. Oh be Joyful - this is an out-and-back trail, so you can go as far as you like. You'll be following a river up the valley the whole way (the trail is close to the river in spots, and further away in others). It’s very easy to drive north out of town and head west on Slate River Road and park at the Oh be Joyful day-use parking area.

For some more strenuous hikes:

1. Red Lady (aka Skarp Ridge to Mt. Emmons) - 8.3 miles or so, and 2500+ ft of elevation gain. This will take you to the peak of Red Lady, which you can see from town. Depending on the time of year and the snowpack, we recommend checking AllTrails reviews to see if anybody has commented on it yet! You'll drive past Lake Irwin, past the campground, to the old Inn to park, and find the trailhead there.

2. West or East Maroon Pass Trails - these are the 2 most popular ways of hiking to/from Aspen, but you can also do them just as day hikes up to their respective saddles. You can't go wrong with the scenery on either hike. Both require driving out past the little ghost town of Gothic (and the site of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory), so be sure you're comfortable driving 4wd type roads.

3. Green Lake Trail (8.5 miles to beautiful lake - rather strenuous climb the whole way). You start at the Nordic Center but there aren't any trailheads until you get up to the Bench above...see this guide (also great to reference, in addition to AllTrails for directions & trail notes!): https://travelcrestedbutte.com/crested-butte-trails-green-lake-mt-axtell/

Fishing: Several Angler shops in town can help set up a float trip, or ensure you have all the gear you need for a great day of fishing!

Camping: Dispersed camping is no longer allowed in the valleys surrounding CB, however there are some designated campsites that are able to be reserved, and some that are first come, first served. Here’s a helpful link on camping in the area: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gmug/recreation/camping-cabins/?cid=fseprd1166175.

4-wheeling: Quads, Side-by-Sides, and Jeep rentals are all available in Crested Butte with a quick internet search.

Floating the Slate River: This fun “lazy river” experience is usually feasible from about June - early Aug, depending on water levels. You can rent boards, tubes & inflatable kayaks from Wheelies & Waves (https://www.wheeliesandwaves.com/) in town, but have to figure out your own transportation to/from the start and end points in the river! This float trip takes, depending on how often you stop for a drink or to take in the views, about 90 minutes.

Visiting Lake Irwin: Lake Irwin and the adjacent campground is a wonderful spot about 20 minutes from town on a mostly dirt road. This is a great spot for a picnic or playing in the water. Again you can rent floaties from Wheelies & Waves, but have to arrange your own transportation to/from. There are restrooms available for day-visitors, but no other services, so pack a lunch if you go!

Visiting the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic: Founded in 1928 in the old mining town of Gothic, this Biological Laboratory is still active today, with scientists coming from around the world to study the flora and fauna of this high altitude ecosystem. They have a great little visitors center and run tours during the summer months starting in June: https://www.rmbl.org/visit-rmbl/visitors-center/. The drive from CB is about 20 min on a well maintained dirt road.

Downtown Shopping: Art galleries, boutiques, bars and restaurants line the 5-or-so blocks of Elk Ave (main street).

Enjoying numerous playgrounds around town: Last but certainly not least for those with kids, check out the Center for the Arts’ Pirate-themed playground, Rainbow Park with its playground + rock climbing boulder, or the Community School playground (if school isn’t in session!).

Live Music: There is live music in several restaurants/bars most weeks, along with a great Center for the Arts lineup of artists and shows.

Here are a few photos from our activity adventures in/around Crested Butte:

CB offers everything from local’s bars to fine dining, and if you’re visiting in the winter, you can even experience that fine dining in the romantic Magic Meadows Yurt with live music and a roaring fire. The catch is, it’s only accessible after a 15-30 minute snowshoe or cross-country ski….are you up for a little fun?! Here’s the link: https://cbnordic.org/experience-the-magic-meadows-yurt/.

Though restaurants do come and go, here are some of our current favorites in Town:
- Paradise Cafe - our go-to spot for breakfast - try the Maui Pancake, Cinnamonster, and any of their egg dishes.
- Izakaya Cabin - Fun vibes, great cocktails, wonderful sushi.
- The Breadery - wonderful flatbread pizzas (all sourdough-based), healthy salads, great cocktails.
- The Secret Stash - fun family pizza place right in the heart of town.
- Frank's Deli or Clark’s Deli - great for lunch-time sandwiches.
- Teocalli Tamale - CB's version of Chipotle.
- Marchitelli's - family owned, higher-end Italian restaurant you could dine-in, or do take-out.
- Bonez - family friendly Mexican cuisine.
- Ryce - family friendly Asian cuisine.
- The Slogar - family style fried chicken southern cuisine with some of the best cocktails in town.
- Tin Cup Ice Cream - local ice cream shop.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this overview of Crested Butte. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, and let us know if you tried any of our recommendations!

Maui, HI

Growing up on the west coast, Hawaii was a popular vacation destination throughout both of our lives. From the west coast of the United States, flights are plentiful, and only take 5.5 hours or so. We were engaged on Oahu, and honeymooned on Kauai. We’ve since visited The Big Island (Hawaii) once and Maui multiple times. Though all the islands are magical in their own way, Maui captured our hearts.

The Lahaina Fire on August 23rd, 2023 devastated the town of Lahaina, the local community, and the economy on the island. The aftermath of the fires is still being felt, with Lahaina still off limits to all but residents, displaced residents still struggling to find housing, businesses (mostly driven by tourism) trying to figure out if/how they can survive, and housing reconstruction likely to take years. Though only the town of Lahaina was physically burned in the fires, locals across the entire island have been impacted in one way or another - so if you do visit Maui post-fires (which we have), go with an understanding and respect of the situation and consider taking some time out of your vacation to volunteer.

HandsOn Maui is the County of Maui’s Volunteer Center for the Department of Housing and Human Concerns. Their website offers volunteer opportunities that visitors can take advantage of, as well as locals: https://handsonmaui.galaxydigital.com/about-handsonmaui/.

Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation (HARF) is currently only supporting animals who were displaced by the Lahaina Fires. It’s easy to sign up for a shift - you will be feeding, cleaning, walking, caring for and giving love to the displaced pets: https://hawaiianimalrescue.org/.

Maui Humane Society is also focusing on displaced pets since the Lahaina Fires, and they have a great program (Dogs on Demand) for confident dog walkers/handlers to take a dog from the shelter and spend the day with him/her on dog friendly beaches or trails, or at dog friendly restaurants (they’ll provide a list of these). These dogs enjoy their break from the shelter environment and all the love and attention for the day: https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/dog-outing-programs/.

Getting to Maui: Maui’s airport is called Kahului Airport, with code OGG. Many airlines offer direct flights to OGG from across the U.S. Connections are also available through most of the major west coast airports so check your airline miles to see if you have enough for free flights, and then check your options from your preferred home airport! Keep in mind Hawaii doesn’t change time zones for Daylight Savings, so it is either 2 or 3 hours behind Pacific Time. Coming from Colorado, we often take an early morning flight from Denver over to the west coast, and connect there - which usually puts us on Maui around 1 or 2pm.

Lodging & Transportation in Maui: The first thing to consider is which “side” of the island you want to stay. A hot debate exists online between people who love the “west side” and people who love the “south side”. In truth, there are great options in both locations and they’re only about 45 minutes apart, so you can easily day-trip if there’s a beach, restaurant, or activity you want to experience that’s not where you’re staying. We have always stayed in south Maui (look for Kihei, Wailea, Makena) but have visited the west side (look for Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua) many times during our stays. As mentioned above, the town of Lahaina is on the west side of the island, so although most of the big hotels on the west side were physically not impacted by the fires, Lahaina was the main shopping and entertainment center for the west side.

We’ve personally stayed at the following locations (in no particular order):

Menehune Shores Condos: This condo building is in north Kihei and doesn’t have much in the way of restaurants or shops within walking distance BUT, it does have the old Kalepolepo Fishpond in front of it which is a natural barrier that turtles happen to love! You can expect to see turtles daily here (just keep your distance in order to allow them to rest!). We’ve reserved condos here using Airbnb and also Ali’i Resorts. Each condo is a little different (privately owned) and have different amenities. Parking is exceptionally easy and the Indian Restaurant in the base of the building is also quite good!

Royal Mauian Condos: This condo building is a little further south in Kihei, directly across the street from one of the two main business centers. It has easy access to The Cinnamon Roll Place (a must-try, in our opinion!), gear rental shops, a natural food market, and several restaurants and retail shops. As with Menehune Shores, you can reserve condos here via Airbnb, VRBO or property managers. This condo is also directly south of Kamaole Beach Park I and north of Kamaole Beach Park II, with a pool and grassy lawn immediately in front of it.

Makena Surf Resort: This luxury beachfront resort is south of Wailea in Makena. There are no restaurants or shops within walking distance but definitely feels more secluded than the condos in Kihei or the mega-resorts in Wailea. Though called a resort, the condos are still privately owned and rentable through Airbnb, VRBO, or property managers. Note that buildings A&B share a parking lot and pool, while all the other buildings have a separate parking lot and pool, which we would guess are both busier since they’re closer to more of the buildings.

*Pro Tip for ANY Condo rental: Do not assume every condo has Air Conditioning! Check the listing details and gauge if you’re comfortable with/without, and also whether it’s available in each room, or just the bedrooms.

Residence Inn by Marriott Wailea: Located in the heart of Wailea, and less than .5 miles to The Shops at Wailea (a lovely outdoor mall with restaurants, retail stores, and a couple food markets), this is a GREAT location, despite not being beachfront. We love that these rooms still have a kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, cooktop, and dishwasher (note no oven). They have a beautiful pool/hot tub area, next to the complimentary breakfast location and afternoon bar with live music weekly. You also have the benefit of daily housekeeping, being in a hotel. Additionally, it’s only .3 miles from Monkeypod Kitchen (another must-do restaurant, in our opinion!).

Things to do in Maui: In addition, of course, to relaxing on one of MANY beautiful beaches around the island, here are some activity ideas:

Golf: Both the West and the South side of Maui have wonderful golf courses. We’ve played the 3 Wailea Golf Club courses but have heard wonderful things about the Kaanapali and Kapalua courses as well.

Scuba Diving/Snorkeling: Island Style Diving (https://www.diveislandstyle.com/) is a small, family-owned shop that departs from the Kihei Boat Ramp and usually visits Molokini for its first Dive, and a 2nd site of the Captain’s choosing for the 2nd. We’ve also had friends enjoy the Trilogy Snorkel Tours. Additionally, you can rent snorkel gear easily (check out Snorkel Bob’s or Auntie Snorkel) using either a single day or multi-day package, and simply walk off the beach to some phenomenal snorkel spots around the island. Some great ones include Honolua Bay, Makena Landing Park, the point in front of Makena Surf Resort (south side of Chang’s beach), and the point in front of Mana Kai Resort. By no means is this list exhaustive - you can find great snorkeling all up and down the west coast of Maui!

SUP’ing: Stand-Up-Paddleboarding is one of our favorite morning workouts when in Hawaii. It’s easy to rent paddleboards by the hour (you can rent them for a week, but we never have a convenient place to store them). Our favorite so far has been to rent from Mana Kai’s Surf Shack (https://surfshackmaui.com/) - there is easy public parking in front of the hotel, and plenty of boards available for rent. From the Mana Kai Beach, we’ll either paddle 30 min north or 30 min south, and then turn around for our return trip. It’s a GREAT workout and we always see fish, turtles, or rays!

Hiking/Biking: Just 3.7 miles past the charming “Up country” town of Makawao (about 45 min from Kihei) is a beautiful forest reserve with trails available for hiking or biking. Bikes can be rented in town and parking at the reserve is plentiful. Stop in Makawao on your way to or from for a little shopping or ice cream treat!

Haleakala National Park: Like all national parks, an entry fee is required and if you want to go for Sunrise, a Reservation is ALSO required. Reservations are not required (at this time) for other times of the day. Some tour companies will transport you to/from or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even bike down from the top. Since the peak is at just over 10,000 feet, we’ve heard that Sunrise tour can be CHILLY, so bring your Down jackets and gloves! Also note if you Scuba Dive, you shouldn’t ascend Haleakala for 24hrs post-dive.

Surfing Goat Dairy Farm: Also in Up country, The Surfing Goat Dairy Farm is a fun chance to see a working dairy farm - complete with milking time, interactions with the “kid” goats, and best of all, opportunities to taste their products!

Ocean Vodka Organic Farm & Distillery: Around the corner from the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm is this beautiful Distillery with a tasting room and restaurant on-site. Tours are available but we have loved going for a cocktail and food out on their picnic tables (with table service). The views are amazing and it makes for a fun afternoon in combination with the dairy farm.

Maui Wines: A little further down the road in Up country is Maui Wines - a tranquil winery (reservations recommended) with wine flights, wine by the glass, and light snacks to pair with your drinks. Enjoying the ocean breeze on the side of a volcano in a stunning garden with a glass of wine in-hand is really an experience not to be missed.

Road to Hana/Pipiwai Trail: We enjoyed our Road to Hana day - but make no mistake - it’s a FULL DAY. We really only made 2 significant stops along the way - one being for a hike, and the other being for lunch, and it took us 8.5 hours. We opted to do the reverse route, leaving from Kihei, heading to Upcountry, and doing the loop around Maui in the counter-clockwise direction. We highly recommend downloading the Shaka Guide tour (about $20) - as it is connected by GPS so if we stopped along the way, the commentary for the next highlight wouldn’t start until we actually got there. We went in this counter-clockwise direction so that we’d hit the Pipiwai Trail earlier, rather than later in the day. This is a 4 mile (round-trip) trail that leads you to a beautiful waterfall…100% worthwhile in our opinion. The only other stop we made was at the Food Trucks in Hana for lunch (and a bit later on the drive for a quick peek out towards Jaws (aka Peahi) the famous wave that surfers love during the winter time!). Though the road narrowed to a single lane in points, we didn’t feel that it was particularly dangerous as everyone seemed to be driving cautiously and giving way to others.

The food in Maui is generally wonderful, though expensive (it IS an island, after all!). Here are some of our favorites:
- Monkeypod (best Mai Thai in the world and good food)
- Matteo’s Osteria (traditional Italian restaurant in Wailea)
- The Pint & Cork (casual eatery with great food in the Shops at Wailea)
- Manolis Pizza (for casual lunch / dinner at the golf course in Wailea)
- Cinnamon Roll Place (if you love an ooey, gooey cinnamon roll - this place is worth the wait!)
- The Lobby Bar at Four Seasons (limited menu but great views and live music)
- Spago at Four Season Wailea (very expensive, but very good)
- Mama’s Fish House (very high-end Hawaiian fare. Generally need to make reservations 6 months out)
- The Birdcage at Hotel Wailea - (this is essentially their lobby bar, so no reservations, but amazing atmosphere & food/drinks. Go BEFORE sunset.)
- Gather on Maui (resort-casual spot at the Wailea Golf Club)
- Wailea Market (upscale grocery store for quick grab n go items / lunch)

Maui is one of our favorite places on earth so we’d love to hear from you if you’ve been and discovered other more amazing places to eat, things to do, or wonderful accommodations!

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

– Lao Tzu