Men’s Journal – September 2019

ASPEN ALTERNATIVE

CARBONDALE, COLORADO

ASPEN HAS LONG domi-

nated the iconic Roaring

Fork Valley, but with the city in-

creasingly overrun, down-valley

towns like Carbondale, Basalt,

and Glenwood Springs have

come into their own, with the

same Rocky Mountain charm

that made Aspen such a draw

two decades ago. Carbondale

is the best bet for a base camp,

staying at the new Marble Dis-

tilling Co. and Inn, where you

can quench your thirst with a

cocktail, then head to one of

their five luxury suites. The next

evening, after a long day hiking

iconic Mount Sopris or moun-

tain biking the technical trails

of Red Hill, grab a craft brew at

Roaring Fork Beer Company and

dinner at new local favorite The

Way Home, a boutique hotel and

restaurant. For a more mellow

excursion, you can cycle a por-

tion of the 42-mile Rio Grande

Trail, with pit stops like Hunter S.

Thompson’s old haunt, Woody

Creek Tavern. Afterward, soak

in the hot springs at Avalanche

Ranch, just outside town.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT

Glamping for a night at Cedar

Ridge Ranch, a 67-acre spread

with dramatic views of the Elk

mountain range. —J.M.

TEXAS’ NEW

PROGRESSIVE GEM

SAN ANTONIO

SAN ANTONIO GETS a

reputation as a dowdy

destination, but last year the

Alamo City celebrated its 300th

anniversary, and to gear up, San

Antonio underwent a radical

facelift. Today, the metro area

of 2.5 million is a cultural and

culinary rival to Austin, having

been declared a UNESCO Cre-

ative City of Gastronomy, thanks

to its mix of Spanish, Mexican,

German, and French influences

that help shape its cuisine. The

main pedestrian thoroughfare

is River Walk, 15 miles of paths

lined with shops, restaurants,

and museums. But lately much

of the action has shifted to the

Pearl, an 1880s-era brewery

complex that’s been trans-

formed into a 22-acre dining

district helmed by the iconic

Hotel Emma. Standout eater-

ies here include Cured, where

James Beard Award nominee

Steve McHugh offers a master

class in whole-animal cooking.

For something more casual,

pop over to the neon lights at

Cullum’s Attagirl, with gourmet

fast-food options like a bologna

and pimento cheese sandwich.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT

Tossing back a shot near

the Alamo at Maverick

Whiskey, a new distillery in the

restored Lockwood National

Bank building that pays

homage to Sam Maverick, the

legendary Texan whose name is

synonymous with a free spirit.

—M.J.

San Antonio’s River Walk,

which often feels more like

Paris than Texas.

Riding easy on Carbondale’s

Prince Creek trails.

MEN’S JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2019 017

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