MILES & MEALS

Well we’re finally moving on to the recap of Day 2 of our long weekend in Crested Butte, Colorado! The first day was jam-packed with fun but in a relaxed, go-with-the-flow sort of way. It was a great start to the trip!

Sunday was a lot like Saturday—but on steroids! We had a longer, hillier trail run, following by multiple progressive meals. (I miss it dearly.)

UPPER LOOP TRAIL

We started the day with an early-morning 6-mile trail run along the Upper Loop. The weather was gorgeous, and the trail boasted some breathtaking views. Trail running at almost 9,000 feet of elevation was a tad exhausting—and hunger-inducing. Enter the progressive feast below.

CAMP 4 COFFEE

Immediately after our trail run, we picked up our wallets and walked to Elk Avenue for all the foods. First stop? The delightful Camp 4 coffee house, which boasts the “Best Coffee in Colorado,” according to our friends at the Denver post.

The siding of the restored old cabin is covered in license plates from around the country. Pretty cool!

The inside is tiny, allowing only enough space for ordering and receiving food and coffee to enjoy on the patio.

We failed to order coffee at the site of “Colorado’s best coffee.” Whoops! We had our sights set on more… carby treats.

So, perhaps I’ll need to try Camp 4 on the next visit to Crested Butte, because 1.) the food was not impressive, and 2.) I’ll need to see if the coffee surpasses the kind of blasé service we received. Meh! On to the next noshery!

NIKY’S MINI DONUTS

Near the end of Elk Avenue sits this retro donut shop, straight out of a 1950s Jersey Shore photograph. The smell of donuts at Niky’s was enticing, along with its atmosphere.

Red diner-style bar stools line the front window. How cute!

Here is the man determined to choose the best sugary indulgence. (I’m guessing that skateboard-turned-stepping-stool is to allow patrons to watch them make the fresh donuts!)

We went with the 4 Fresh Mini Donuts for $3 option: 2 glazed, 1 powdered sugar, 1 cinnamon sugar. They were hot, crispy, and oh so good!

FIRST ASCENT COFFEE ROASTERS

After all the carbs and sugar, we ventured on over to First Ascent coffee to share a hot caffeinated beverage.

Enter the most delicious almond milk cappuccino. The almond milk is made entirely by First Ascent, too. They’re the real deal.

We sat just inside of their upper-level balcony seating. Like almost every other establishment in Crested Butte, this coffee shop is housed in a turn-of-the-century log cabin.

The interiors were spot on. The service was outstanding. The food? Yeah, we came back the next morning for our final breakfast, and it was so good I plan on writing a whole blog post about how much I love First Ascent Coffee Roasters. Stay tuned!

SECRET STASH PIZZA

After going back to the Old Town Inn and taking hot showers, we decided it was now time for lunch (naturally). Almost everyone we asked for recommendations replied with “Secret Stash,” so we knew we had to try their award-winng fig pizza and hot wings.

The decor is what I’d call: “A Stoner Hippie’s College Dorm Room Above a Pizza Hut.” But somehow it works.

We ordered their wings and fig pizza, which both were OUTSTANDING. And these weren’t even the award-winning plates, technically.

We ordered the Buffalo Wings and:

the Where’s The Beef? pizza, which is comprised of:

• an olive oil base
• light mozzarella
• minced garlic
• red onions
• mushrooms
• black figs
• asiago cheese
• fresh basil
• topped with balsamic reduction & truffle oil

For reference, their Stash Wings were voted the “Best in Crested Butte” (not sure by whom), and their Notorious F.I.G. (which is very similar to the Where’s the Beef?… but it has bleu cheese. Gross!) is the winner of the World Champion Pizza Challenge.

After our full day of eating, we did what any cool kids do: We played cards outside, watched Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, and then took a nighttime walk around town before crashing at, like, 9:30 pm. 🙂

WHAT’S MAKING YOUR MOUTH WATER?