As a travel writer and blogger, I have stayed in many hotels, some nice and some not so nice. And out of all the places I have stayed, I keep coming back to the Courtyard Country Inn in Westcliffe, Colorado.

If you know me, then you know I can’t stop talking about one of my favorite Colorado mountain towns— Westcliffe. Located in the Wet Mountain Valley, along the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway, Westcliffe feels diminutive compared to the neighboring Sangre de Cristo Mountains that rise from the valley floor to the west. 

But what Westcliffe lacks in size, it makes up for with big mountain views and big small-town mountain charm. Since my first visit in 2012, I have come to love it for its quirks, history, peaceful landscape, friendly locals, and one of my favorite places to stay in all of Colorado: The Stellar Inn. 

Centrally located along Main Street, the quaint and cozy inn has welcomed many travelers since it opened its doors 20+ years ago. I have come to regard Westcliffe and the Stellar Inn as my go-to for a quick weekend getaway from Denver.

Why I love the Stellar Inn

At the Stellar Inn, every moment is an invitation to relax, unwind, and immerse yourself in life’s simple pleasures. Every time I go, I always find myself enjoying a relaxing cup of tea or coffee in the garden, time to journal, time to write, or just simply chatting with others over a glass of wine in the courtyard. It’s a kind of place that expects you to do nothing else but simply relax.

I would consider the Inn the OG of what we now call boutique hotels. An intimate property with only eight rooms—all on the ground floor and each with direct access to the tranquil courtyard—keeps it quiet and chill. It is a place where you can experience true tranquility by simply stepping outside your room and instantly being surrounded by nature. A central courtyard filled with a koi pond, flowers, art, and an outdoor lounge area sets the stage for the perfect place to unwind.

The property’s courtyard is what made me fall in love with this place. I have enjoyed many early mornings sipping on a cup of coffee with a good book and relaxing evenings with a glass of wine gathered around the warm chimineas. It’s a little slice of heaven

What’s new

With my latest visit, I got to see some of the improvements that have been put into place.

The new owner is full steam ahead with plans for new branding: The Stellar Collective. The Collective is their vision to encompass lodging, an on-site market, a new food + beverage concept, and local experiences. A complete travel experience for those visiting Westcliffe. 

Updated rooms

While the original owners kept the inn very country-chic with dust ruffles and grandma’s favorite florals, Cruz has taken on the task of remodeling each room. I got the chance to stay in the first completed room during my recent visit. Driven to create an elevated, yet laid-back experience, new updates like simple white linens and towels refreshed the room, and updated decor made the room more Euro-chic than country-chic. 

Unique touches such as travel-size journals at your nightstand to capture thoughts about your stay and in-room coffee and tea from local purveyors — all pair perfectly with quiet, reflective moments in the courtyard. 

Inside the remodeled bathrooms, I found premium bath products made from a local farm in Westcliffe—Big Nugget Farms. The luxurious bath products, made from white birch, oud palo santo, eucalyptus, and tonka bean, feel like heaven on your skin.

New guest experiences in Westcliffe, Colorado

My favorite new additions, which Cruz is bringing with the Stellar Collective, are the guest experiences. She has partnered with several other local businesses and people in town to help host and showcase a variety of local experiences. Choose from sunset horseback rides and plant foraging to afternoon tea and a luxe picnic in the mountains or a hike and yoga excursion.

I put together the perfect day with local experiences: yoga in the park with Brittany Burke, an afternoon hiking in the mountains, a 4×4 adventure up Music Pass with my jeep rental from Custer County Supply Co., plus an evening of theatre and dinner under the stars.

The Shakespeare and Dinner under the Stars was one of Cruz’s newest experiences, which included a ticket to see the Shakespeare in the Sangres theatre group perform at the historic Jones Theatre in town, followed by a private dinner back at the inn, all prepared by a local chef and fresh ingredients from their farm.

While availability will change with the seasons, you can count on a unique lineup of activities in Westcliffe that bring visitors and locals together for an authentic experience.

Food and beverage concepts

I remember first coming to Westcliffe and there being only a few options for food, and good luck getting anything to eat past 9:00 p.m. While the town has grown over the years and has added several restaurants and coffee shops, Cruz adds to the mix with their unique and elevated food and beverage concepts.

The búho market is the latest creation under the Stellar Collective. Opening this July, the búho market (Buho is Spanish for owl) started to meet the needs of late-night guests for last-minute necessities like food, and has now become a market concept offering specialty food to anyone. 

The market features a curated selection of arts and crafts from local makers, unique gifts and finds from local purveyors, plus a hand-selected assortment of specialty grab-and-go foods, decadent cakes, and sweets.

Cruz herself said, “It is a struggle to do everything we do, but it’s done because we care about this place and this community we have found a home in. We love the Courtyard Country Inn and want to be good stewards of this incredible property.”

And that is why I do what I do: showcasing those who make an impact in their community, no matter how small. One thing is for sure, the world needs more people like Vanessa Cruz and places like the Courtyard Country Inn.

Follow along on Instagram, @staythestellar, and @buhomarket.colorado.

*All photography by Jessica Hughes.