T+L magazine digs Colorado’s quirky towns

In Colorado, a state that’s proud of its “quirkiness” with everything from a brewery boss governor to legalized marijuana, it’s no wonder that Travel + Leisure magazine included three of our ‘burgs in its list of “Top 20 Quirkiest Towns.” Say it loud, we’re quirky and we’re proud.

Here’s how Boulder, Aspen and Snowmass ranked on the list.

“No. 4 Boulder – This lovable mountain town is so outdoorsy (and granola) that each July, locals hold a Tube to Work Day. And while Colorado has recently become more famous for its smokable ‘herbs,’ you can still explore the town’s original herbal high on a free tour of the Celestial Seasonings tea factory, or sit down for afternoon tea and samosas at the elaborately hand-carved Boulder Dushanbe Tea House, originally built in Boulder’s sister city in Tajikistan. To see why the town also ranked well for burgers, check out the grass-fed wonders at The Sink, which is completely wind-powered.

” No. 6 Aspen – This tony Colorado ski town attracts more than just the designer snowsuit crowd. Check out Woody Creek Tavern, one of Hunter S. Thompson’s favorite hangouts, with its sensory-overloaded walls of newspaper clippings and children’s art. Residents have a soft spot for pet lovers: the local shelter’s Rent-a Pet program lets you visit with a designated cat or dog during your stay. Aspen also ranked well for its sense of adventure, which can extend from outdoor sports to food and drink. At Zocalito’s, you can order your guacamole with chapulines (grasshoppers), and at Hotel Jerome’s J-Bar, be sure to try an Aspen Crud, the bourbon-laced milkshake cocktail that dates back to Prohibition.

“No. 16  Snowmass – This ski town landed in the survey’s top 10 for being friendly and smart, but quirky isn’t too far behind. After all, it seems locals have a habit of attaching stuff to trees. The Sanctuaries in the Snow tour, led by a retired attorney, will take you to see the area’s best mysterious shrines – elaborate homages in the woods devoted to, say, Jerry Garcia, golf or Snoopy. Past quirky residents, meanwhile, have included at least one woolly mammoth; a tusk was excavated a few years ago in Snowmass Village and can now be seen, along with other local fossils, at the town’s Ice Age Discovery Center.”

Check out the rest of the nation’s quirky towns at http://tandl.me/1KHPYgG.