Crested Butte, CO

Population-wise, Crested Butte, Colorado is the smallest location on our list—only 1282 people as of early 2021. My family has a history with CB: my dad used to own a house there (it was Pepto Bismol-pink and apparently had an outrageously expensive heating bill), and since my sister moved to Gunnison, she's spent every winter skiing there on a season pass. She even worked as a waitress at one of the mountain's restaurants for a season. Most recently, we were in CB for Cara's wedding, at the Crested Butte Mountain Wedding Garden.

Naturally, Cameron and I had visited CB before while visiting my sister. We've skied the mountain, done some hikes/runs, and had previously dined at both pizza restaurants in town. This was our first time visiting during the fall, which happens to be the prettiest time of year due to the changing trees and pleasant temperatures. This time, although we still enjoyed walking up and down the bustling Elk Avenue and doing a short hike on the mountain, we meandered beyond the downtown hub to suss out the day-to-day living situation.  

The Good

• Cute/aesthetically attractive.
• Vibrant downtown.
• Good restaurants.
• Close to Cara.
• Very close to skiing.

The Bad

• Too touristy; the bustling downtown would feel claustrophobic if interacting with it on a regular basis & during peak season it would be hard to find a table at a restaurant.
• The grocery shopping options are very limited. There is a Clarks, but it looks more like an oversized convenience store.
• The town is isolated; if you need anything other than the day-to-day necessities, you're driving at least 30 minutes.
• Long cold winters and muddy springs, making hiking/biking season pretty short (per the very friendly retiree working at the visitor's center).
• Dry climate (Cameron really doesn't seem to like the Southwest air).
• Very expensive. We'd have to spend over $1,000,000 to get a home remotely close to what we want.
• Too bougie, even for our snooty standards. 

The Verdict

No. I think I would lose my mind being isolated in this tiny mountain town surrounded by the uber-rich.

Driving from Gunnison to Crested Butte is kind of bland – just rolling brown hills – until you reach this bluff; it's the first indicator that you're entering Crested Butte.

The downtown is cute, but almost fake-cute. Like the town founders and architects decided on a specific aesthetic before building.

The houses, though, are adorable! At least the small ones that haven't been taken over by mini mansions. 

There it is, the crested butte that gives the town its name. Bonus: there is a river that runs through town and lots of field space (although that might be turned over to future developments).

Crested Butte does have beautiful landscapes.

Unfortunately, it felt like the landscapes were being overwhelmed by new construction.

Walking around the ski area was nice, but according to the man working at the visitors center, it's pretty muddy for many months after the ski season ends.