Great Skiing and Fantastic Lodging Tips in Colorado (2/07)
Great Skiing and Fantastic Lodging Tips in Colorado (2/07)
Written by Kelly Doherty & Todd Elliot
Skiing & Lodging in Colorado- (Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper, Vail and Winterpark)
We flew into Denver approximately a 2 hour and 20 minute flight from Los Angeles to check out some hot ski resorts. Our first stop was in Summit County, approximately an hour and a half to 2 hour drive West from Denver. Summit County is comprised of Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain. Later in the week we headed to Vail which is about 45 minutes driving West of this area. Our last stop was Winter Park which is located 1 1/2 hours North East of Summit County.
In the town of Breckenridge we settled in at the Hunt Placer B and B (pictured below), perfectly located right down the hill from Peak 8 of Breckenridge Ski Resort. The staff was extremely hospitable and the rooms were gorgeous. We suggest the mini suite which will make you feel like you are in a luxury hotel. The Hunt Placer Inn offers Breckenridge’s only Ski-In and Ski-Out access. A beautiful common-place living room and outside jacuzzi were nice amenities. A nice continental breakfast of fruit, cereals, bagels, muffins, juices and coffee were provided. If you are looking for a B and B in Breckenridge this place is great! Check out their website at www.huntplacerinn.com or call
The town of Breckenridge is very quaint and beautiful. Main street is filled with shops, art stores and many restaurants. We were lucky enough to be in town during the ice sculpture contest which runs every year in late January. Check it out if you can. These ice sculptures are amazing! The conditions at Breckenridge ski mountain were not great. It was windy and they needed more snow. It looked like there could be some beautiful ski runs with better conditions. New this year, Breckenridge Ski Resort and the Town of Breckenridge boasts a new Gondola that transforms the way visitors access the town and mountain. It starts at the base villages at Peak 7 and 8. (Photo of Peak 8 below)For more information go to www.breckenridge.snow.com For a snow report call
If you are looking for a condo in which to share try the the condo resorts at the River Mountain Lodge (first picture below) and the Twin Elk (second picture below). They are situated at the base of town right down from the mountain. The rooms are spacious and include your own kitchen, living room, separate bedrooms and garage so your car stays out of the snow. Plenty of amenities are included with these condos: Jacuzzi, Fireplace, Cable TV, Internet, Workout room, lounge and more! This is a great place for a family or to share with some friends! Check out their website at www.resortquestbreckenridge.com
On day two of our trip we skied Keystone. They had some great, long, groomed blue runs that we really enjoyed. The views were spectacular here. The conditions were good and the village was quaint and friendly. The mountain was beautiful and there was a diversity of trails from beginner to intermediate to advanced (See photo below). Keystone is the only place in Summit County where you can experience night skiing (second photo below). They also offer Cat Skiing which is a guided tour that takes you across their newly expanded terrain into their back bowls. You will experience knee-deep powder, crisp, clean lines all your own, fresh tracks all day long. Caution, this is only for the expert skier! For more information check out their website at www.keystone.snow.com or for tickets call
On day three we were off to Copper Mountain where we had great conditions. Many locals seem to come here as the variety of terrain is vast. They offer a four day package with great value. Buy this package in advance. We really enjoyed the warm atmosphere at this resort. From the lift operators to the ticket sales office, everyone was friendly and helpful. Some of our favorite runs were on this mountain. The views were spectacular here. The back bowls which included some great tree skiing, were fabulous. We enjoyed the skiing so much that we came back to Copper on day five! Check out www.coppercolorado.com or call
The morning of day four we checked out of the condo and drove West to Vail. We arrived at this massive resort town just in time for some great fresh snow and skiing. Be aware that the parking at this resort is separately run and it’s pricey! The town has an assortment of shops and restaurants at the base. Take the gondola up the mountain to access a plethora of assorted runs. You need a few days here to experience this gigantic mountain. The highlight of Vail are their famous back bowls (photo below). You can ski a whole day back here and still have lots of terrain to cover. Due to the advanced runs there aren’t as many skiers back there so the conditions are spectacular, especially after some snow. Head up to Adventure Ridge after skiing and experience tubing. This is a great family adventure. First take a ride to the tubing park where you start by watching a short video of how it’s done. Then it’s time to grab your tube (pictured below) and get pulled up the slope by the the easy-access surface lift. Once atop the hill pick a lane and the staff will give you a push down the hill. This is lots of fun for the whole family! The $22 one hour sessions start at 2:30. . For more information on Vail go to www.vail.snow.com For reservations & Vacation Customer Service call
We drove approximately an hour back to Frisco and checked in at The Woods Inn. This unique Bed and Breakfast has different style rooms with lots of art and decorations. The common area was very cozy. They have a hot tub, a huge collection of movies to borrow and friendly owners who will greet you and help you settle in. The all you can eat breakfast was so tasty with a complete menu. The nominal $6 charge for breakfast was totally worth the cost. www.woodsinn.biz
After skiing again at Copper we drove to Winter Park where we stayed at the Moose Mountain Inn. We were warmly greeted by Jo, the hospitable owner. She gave us a tour of her lovely place. Every room is specially designed with it’s own theme. Each bathroom comes equipped with it’s own built-in jacuzzi tub. In each room there are quaint antiques and gas log stoves. We stayed in the Tabernash room (pictured below) which had a woodsy feel and beautiful decor. Jo’s gourmet home cooked breakfasts are worth the stay in and of itself and that’s not to take away from how beautiful this Inn is. After breakfast we began our short drive to the Winter Park resort. Check out this amazing find at www.inn-winter-park-co.com or call
I would suggest not trying Summit Mountain Rentals and Hotel Frisco as they didn’t honor our reservation and they wasted our time in our pre-planning of our trip. Definitely choose one of the other places we mentioned in this story.
Our last ski day was spent at Winter Park Ski Resort. This day was extremely cold. Nonetheless, we bundled up and had one of the best ski days. The runs were long and well groomed. The trails were diverse from beginner to intermediate to advanced. The staff was friendly and down to earth. Winter Park has two mountains, the main mountain and Mary Jane for expert skiers. Ski Mary Jane if you dare! It’s logo is No Pain, No Jane. It is a very advanced mountain with many moguls. For more info go to www.skiwinterpark.com or call
