going skiing in Colorado?

Question

ok by the end of january my friends and i are going skiing in Colorado and none of us have ever been there so i have a question can anyone recommend a nice location and resort or maybe cabins, we are trying to find the place to stay at but we are not sure yet of even the city or what part of colorado is the best, please recommend something

Answer 1

Sunlight is small, not like the big destination resorts. My friend who used to live near there said that was where the locals who couldn't afford Aspen (and its satellites) go.

Vail is great, if you want to look good, and don't care as much about who you might spot that's famous as the skiing itself. It's kind of a snooty community. I can't think you'd find many cabins, there.

Copper Mountain, is, for my money, one of the best. I love the layout, there. As you face the mountain, look right, everything is easy, and it progresses to hardest overlooking Hwy 91. Copper is very much modern architecture. No cabins.

Breckenridge is my real old stomping grounds. Love the town. Love the mountains, but it's easier to find yourself in the wrong terrain, there. Not a problem if you're a strong skier, but if you're a novice and find yourself on an intermediate run by accident, it can be a challenge. Breck is a victorian town, and there are a lot of "alpine style" buildings. They have covenants to preserve its quaintness. Might just be the place for you. If you want a preview, rent Dumb and Dumber (the first one) Breck stood in for Aspen, which looks a lot like Breck, but is TONS more expensive, and exclusive. (Aspen Ski Corp owned Breckenridge Ski Area many years ago, and the same architects built a lot of the buildings in both towns, plus, originally, they were built at about the same time, so the architectures look a lot alike).

Arapahoe Basin (cabins nearby, by the way - that would be the town of Montezuma, I'm not sure if they can be rented short-term, though) is one of the most difficult mountains, with only limited novice terrain. There is also no lodging right there. You have to stay somewhere else, and it's quite small. Few people actually ski there for their whole vacation.

Keystone has its merits, but if you're looking for modest housing, there's not a lot in the town, but you could stay in the middle of the county, there are a few nice little motels in Dillon, and then there's Frisco, which used to be the cheap town to stay in, and there are a lot of little motels, some of which are very log cabin-y. The Snowshoe Inn comes to mind first (970-668-3444) Can't find any others that aren't big box chains, but there are those, too. Frisco is a cute little town, with little, mom and pop motels on Main street and the numbered streets, Galena, and Granite. Also a wide variety of food, and it's about the same distance (1/2 hour or so, if the weather and traffic are nice) to any of the above mountains.

That's my little area. Lived here for over twenty years.

Answer 2

Sunlight Mtn Resort is nice, located outside Glenwood Springs. You can go online and get some deals on a ski swim stay package. Historic Hotel Colorado, the Historic Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Pool, and then Sunlight Mountain. There is a shuttle that goes to and from the mountain so you don't have to drive up the snowpacked road. Right now it's snowpacked, I was there yesterday.

It's also close to Aspen, with 4 more mountains to ski. Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands, and Old Snowmass. 5 resorts in a relatively small area.

Plus it's also about an hours drive to Vail, not much further to Copper Mountain, Cooper Ski Area (by Leadville) and Breckenridge.

I don't know what your budget is, but, if it's on the smaller side, Sunlight and Glenwood Springs could be great. If money is of no concern, then Copper, Aspen, or Vail can be a lot of fun.

There is a place just east of Glenwood, at No Name, they have cabins and advertise through Sunlight too.
Heres the link to Sunlight. Check it out.
http://www.sunlightmtn.com/

Try joining (for free) Mountain Sports Club online, they have some great deals at resorts in Colorado as well as other areas of the US.

http://www.mountainsportsclub.com/

Have fun!

Answer 3

You should also check out Crested Butte...cute little town in the mountains!!! Have fun! Colorado is amazing!!! You will love it!

http://www.skicb.com/winter-planning.html

Answer 4

go to steamboat springs, its a smaller resort where you can be yourself and dont have to worry about impressing anyone...i have lived here my whole life, and have been to every resort in colorado...definately the best for just wanting to "chill"...also the best half pipe in colorado...:)

Answer 5

Breckenridge is nice - not as expensive as some locations.

Lots of lodge rentals available.

http://summitvacations.net/summit_lodging.php