Crested Butte is more than just one of Colorado’s great ski towns. Boasting mountain fun year-round, Crested Butte is also home to fine dining, excellent shops, and beautiful art galleries showing some of the best upcoming local artists. If you are looking at taking a trip to Crested Butte, you can’t miss out on visiting the historic main street of Elk Avenue.
Here are the best things to do in Crested Butte, a small sample of what this great mountain town offers for your next vacation!
Elk Avenue
The famous Elk Avenue is located in the heart of downtown Crested Butte, nestled in the southwest region of Colorado. Part of the Elk Mountain range, Crested Butte is a relatively isolated ski resort in terms of the often crowded I-70 resorts.
Gunnison is the closest town to Crested Butte; however, it is a very easy town to get to. If you are flying to Colorado, driving time from Denver or Colorado Springs is around four hours. Don’t let the drive time dissuade you; the mountain views and fresh air make this trip a must!
Shopping
One of the biggest tourist attractions to Elk Avenue, other than skiing, is the historic Crested Butte shops on the main street. Part of the allure is the lack of corporate chain outlet stores. Take your family for a nice walk through the strip, and get lost in all of the local one-of-a-kind gifts and memorabilia that can only be found here!
The shops on Elk Avenue have so much to choose from! Offering clothing stores, gift shops, jewelry, home decor, and even sports shops, Crested Butte shopping has something to offer for everyone. Mountain Tops Tee Shop is a must-visit while you stroll down Elk Avenue. The custom tee shop offers some of the softest tees you’ve ever felt!
Another highly recommended shop is Butte & Co. The only retail shop owned and operated on the mountain, Butte & Co. offers all levels of skis and snowboards for either rental or purchase. You can find anything you need to hit the slopes in this cute local ski shop. With name-brand jackets and goggles, Butte & Co will have you shredding in no time!
If you don’t own equipment and want to hit the slopes, you can rent all the equipment you need online or in person on a walk-in basis. If you order online, the shop offers a 25% discount. You can also rent outwear like jackets and snow pants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Art Galleries
Once you’ve had your fill of retail therapy, head to the beautiful Crested Butte art galleries. Each gallery on the main strip offers its own unique vibe loaded with photography and art from young, up-and-coming local talent.
From photography, oil painting, sculptures, and even fine rugs, it’s hard to choose which Crested Butte Art Gallery is the best. Feel free to check them all out. While they are all inspired by Crested Butte, each gallery has its own unique pieces!
If you plan to visit in early August, Crested Butte has thrown an Art Festival for the last 50 years! The festival attracts local talent and displays art from talented artists worldwide.
With over 100 exhibits, live music, and food trucks, you can fully immerse yourself in this cozy mountain town. Many of the pieces you see are also available for sale so feel free to take a piece of your trip home with you!
Dining
While shopping and art galleries can be very relaxing, they can also build up quite an appetite. Look no further than the delicious options that Crested Butte dining has to offer.
What sets Crested Butte restaurants apart from anywhere else are the fresh and local ingredients sourced from local farms around the area. Whether you dine at any fine restaurants or visit one of the casual restaurants or coffee shops, you can genuinely taste the fresh ingredients in every bite.
A majority of the dining in Crested Butte is located on historic Elk Avenue. With no restaurant dress code, you can enjoy some award-winning locally distilled rum, locally brewed craft beer, or freshly roasted coffee in your ski attire.
If you are planning your trip and are still determining which Crested Butte restaurants to visit, we highly recommend these three restaurants!
Plan Your Visit
The team at Crested Butte Property Management is dedicated to helping our guests have a perfect mountain getaway. Contact us today to start planning your Colorado vacation!
Elk Ave Prime
Elk Ave Prime is arguably one of the best restaurants in Crested Butte. If you love a good steak, this is the place for you!
Offering more than just steak, patrons can choose some of the highest quality pasta, seafood, lamb chops, pork chops, garden salads, or even elk! Boasting one of the biggest venues on Elk Avenue, this venue is great for parties or weddings!
The Breadery
Another must-visit is The Breadery. The Breadery prides itself on supporting local farmers and uses the best high-quality ingredients for freshness that you can taste with every bite.
In true farm-fresh fashion, this cute simplistic bread-forward restaurant offers a menu that changes with the seasons and availability. It also serves its food in a family-style dining experience.
Although relatively simple and minimalist, their food truly packs a punch of flavor. Most of the menu is sourdough bread inspired; however, they also offer a charcuterie plate and an assortment of soups and salads.
Secret Stash Pizza
The Secret Stash has some of the best pizza you will ever eat! Each pizza has a unique flare using only the freshest ingredients from local farms. They also have the best names! You can’t go wrong with their pizzas, but the Notorious F.I.G. is a must-try! It is the winner of the World Champion Pizza Challenge.
The Secret Stash also offers a wide variety of merchandise, from shot glasses to clothing, making this a great place to dine and grab a souvenir for your trip home.
Dispensaries
Both recreational and medical marijuana is legal and available in Crested Butte. You don’t have to be a resident to purchase recreational marijuana. Non-residents can only purchase up to one-fourth of an ounce or seven grams in one transaction, but any adult can carry up to 1 ounce on their person.
With a couple dispensaries to choose from, it is easy to meet your recreational THC needs. Backcountry Cannabis and Co. and The Dispensary both have knowledgeable staff who are more than willing to answer any questions.
BOOK YOUR CRESTED BUTTE LODGING WITH CRESTED BUTTE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
There is no shortage of Crested Butte vacation rentals to choose from. With Crested Butte being a relatively smaller ski town, you will not have to fight off the I-70 crowds! Plan ahead. Whether you are looking to take a weekend getaway with your significant other or planning a trip with a large group, Crested Butte has options!
From Crested Butte house rentals to ski resorts, you can confidently choose the best arrangements for your trip. The first step to experiencing the famous Elk Avenue is booking your stay, which you can easily do from our site. If you plan a trip with a larger group, check out these Crested Butte house rentals, or if you’d like to stay in a ski-in ski-out property, we have some great options.
