Historic Hotels of the Rockies Embrace British Tea Traditions

Steeped in tradition, afternoon tea is a ritual that is alive and well in many Historic Hotels of the Rockies. There was a time when attending afternoon tea was a chance for friends and acquaintances to meet in elegant surroundings and enjoy one another’s company and conversation, as well as have a bite to eat before dinner which was traditionally served around 8:00 PM. While the need for a nibble before dinner has diminished, in today’s fast-paced electronically driven world the need for companionship and conversation is at a premium. Both can be enjoyed over a pot of piping hot tea and the customary accompaniments.

Rocky Mountain States, USA (Vocus) March 2, 2010

The West may be wild, but it is also refined. Historic Hotels of the Rockies, a collection of classic hotels that date from the early frontier days, give visitors the opportunity to indulge in the lovely British tradition of afternoon tea. Historic Hotels of the Rockies including the Castle Marne, the Delaware Hotel, the Nagel Warren Mansion, the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel, the Plaza Hotel, the Hotel Colorado and the Grand Union Hotel are a few places where stopping in for a spot of tea will satisfy the stomach as well as nourish the soul.

“Afternoon tea is a wonderful ritual that allows visitors to decompress, enjoy a light meal and spend time in an historic setting” said Jim Osterfoss, president of the Historic Hotels of the Rockies and owner of the Nagle Warren Mansion. Traditional afternoon tea usually begins between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. The tea is served with both lemon and milk; cream is considered to be too heavy to accompany tea. For nibbles, afternoon tea combines both sweet and savory choices such as fresh scones served with lemon curd, clotted cream and preserves, quiche or savory tarts, fresh fruit and delicate finger sandwiches. All of these are artfully arranged and presented to guests amid Victorian-era or other historic settings.

Each hotel adds its own signature twist to afternoon tea. The Delaware Hotel, for instance, features three different tea experiences and each one is highlighted by stories and tales of bygone days told by the servers. Themes include Victorian Tea, Cowboy Tea and Sweet-Tooth Tea. The Plaza Hotel and Castle Marne serve afternoon tea in the classic English style and many of the hotels have special tea sets reserved just for the occasion of afternoon tea.

The Duchess of Bedford is credited with starting afternoon tea in England in the 1840s and the gentry embraced this opportunity to break out the fine china, dress up a bit, and meet and mingle with friends. Afternoon tea is still an ideal way to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Many of the Historic Hotels of the Rockies offer a fixed price tea menu and seating times. Some hotels only offer afternoon tea to coincide with annual holidays and special events while others serve tea every weekend. See individual hotels for specifics details.

Enjoy afternoon tea at these Historic Hotels of the Rockies:
Castle Marne, Denver, Colorado
Delaware Hotel, Leadville, Colorado
Nagle Warren Mansion, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Historic Elk Mountain Hotel, Elk Mountain, Wyoming
Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, New Mexico
Grand Union Hotel, Fort Benton, Montana
Hotel Colorado, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

About Historic Hotels of the Rockies
An eclectic collection of vintage properties, the Historic Hotels of the Rockies resurrect the glory days of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. For detailed information on each hotel, go to http://www.historic-hotels.com.

Media Contact:
Jim Osterfoss, President
Historic Hotels of the Rockies
307-637-3333
jim (at) nwmbb (dot) com
or
Vicky Nash, PR Representative
Resort Trends, Inc. - Tourism & Resort Communications
970-948-4923
Vicky (at) ResortTrends (dot) com

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