Colorado Ski Vacations

Even before John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" made the state internationally famous, Colorado was THE place to ski in the United States. Perhaps it's the way that the Rocky Mountains jut up boldly into the sky, or maybe it's the near-perfect powder that blankets the slopes every year. It could be the old-style charm of the former silver mining towns, now ski and snowboard resorts, or the prestige of rubbing elbows with the upper crust that frequents such delightful places. It's most likely the combination - all these things and so much more coming together in the same state, that brings millions of people from all over the globe to Colorado for their ski vacations.



Few states can boast being so thoroughly covered in incredible, wonderful, and wildly different quality ski resorts. From the southeastern corner, Pueblo, to the Southwest with Wolf Creek Pass, to Estes Park's majestic non-commercial mountains and rare eco-systems - all over Colorado there are unique resorts to experience, new slopes, and bowls, chutes and backcountry excursions to try. Whether you're a first-rank beginner or a seasoned expert, most all of these resorts have been set up to ensure that everyone who chooses Colorado for their ski vacation destination will be comfortable, and yet able to progress and learn while they're visiting. Even the most vertical of drops is going to have a bunny slope somewhere else on the mountain, and a whole bunch of intermediate level runs to aspire to, when you're ready for them.

Find discounts and deals on your next winter vacation - are your ready to ski Colorado this season?

With success come privileges. Colorado's ski resorts make for a very affluent clientele. Aspen and Vail have always been thought of as part of the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but the fact is that pretty much anyone can (and does) ski there, along with every other mountain resort area in the state. Even in the most exclusive Aspen, you'll find people with multiple PhDs working as janitors so that they can stay and ski there. Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and the rest of the joys of Summit County are so readily accessible that you can land in Denver in the morning, check in to your lodgings and still be on the slopes before noon!

Then there's the new kid on the block, the enigma (or is that vision?): Echo Mountain. Formerly Squaw Pass, this mountain was revived and redesigned from the ground up with a different sort of vision. The owner wanted to make a place for the everyman to go, where lift tickets didn't cost $75 and a buffalo burger wasn't 14 bucks. He set about the vision with wisdom. He bought a used 3-chair lift from Vail, an older quality snowcat, and brought in bright young snowboarders' minds to set it all in motion. The results are an adrenalin junkie's paradise! You won't find any frills, and you won't find daycare or Starbucks or Oakley franchises. What you will find are 80 features on a zillion freestyle terrain parks, over a dozen trails, and a LOT of aerial fun being had by everyone... for a LOT less than any other ski resort in Colorado!

Some places grow old. Some places grow up. Those who choose a Colorado ski vacation find that it just keeps getting better.

Colorado: Keystone in Summit County

Mountains are about the contrasts. In Keystone, you're at some of the steepest peaks on the continent, but between them the land gives way to rich, lush rolling meadows and forests carpet the foothills and mountains below the timberline. The air is crisp and clear and clean, the lakes, rivers and streams pristine. The smell of the pines is constant, and the sky is the deepest blue you can imagine. Everything looks as though you could just reach out and touch it! Few places on earth exemplify these contrasts as well as Keystone.

Two award-winning championship golf courses have been etched onto the topsoil, beautifully engineered to blend with the natural beauty already there. The village is decidedly alpine, and the same ponds that grace it during the summer will freeze solid for a huge ice skating rink in the winter months. Lodges have lots of live music of all kinds, including jazz, folk and rock. Dance clubs get your groove thing going for apres-ski, and rock concerts are common on weekends. There's even a miniature golf course for kids of all ages! Take a tram ride and look out at the mountains. Feeling a bit more adventurous than that? A hot air balloon ride will give you a perspective few have ever seen! Get a feel of the old west with a trail ride on horseback. Want to relax? Check out the day spas and massage therapists. Pretty much anything you want to do or can imagine (and some great things that you may never have heard of before) can be found at Keystone.

Discover Keystone Lodging including condos and private home rentals.

Restaurants play a bigger part than some people realize in a exploring a new place. Some people look to the familiar, while others take the opportunity to splurge or be daring. Whatever your culinary pleasures, you're sure to find a cornucopia, and your hosts will go out of their way to be sure that you have a great meal and truly enjoy yourself. It's part and parcel of a visit to this mountain mother-lode. There are scores of unique restaurants to take in during your stay. Whether it's the casual Italian fare at Paisano's or Wolf Rock Brewery, or you choose to indulge in fine dining at the Zagat-rated AAA 4-diamond restaurant located some 11,444 feet up the mountain, you're sure to leave content and smiling.

One of the things that makes Keystone such an amazing destination is the very diverse nature of the place. From the most adventurous adrenalin junkie to the total bookworm, from athlete to couch potato, everyone who comes to Keystone finds plenty to see and do and experience. Keystone and the rest of Summit County are so incredibly different from the state capital, just 75 miles away, that you'll feel as though you've stepped through some magic portal -- and you really have! Life in the Rockies is unlike anything anywhere else in the world. The great thing is that you can be there just a bit over an hour after arriving in Denver.


Area Travel and Vacation Video - Keystone Lodging

Travel-Grand Canyon Mule Rides

When you are planning a trip to Las Vegas or to any of the other cities in the area, the Grand Canyon is one of the sights which you absolutely have to see. Hiking through the trails of the Grand Canyon is one way to enjoy it, but another way which a lot of people find more enjoyable is to take a mule ride - on the back of a slow moving mule you can enjoy a slow and leisurely paced day with plenty of time to enjoy the vistas of the Grand Canyon and the rugged natural beauty of the southwestern United States.

Mule rides in the Grand Canyon are a relatively inexpensive way for you to get a great look at the Grand Canyon and get the full experience of this beautiful part of the country. One of the things that you have to remember, though, is that there are a finite number of companies offering mule rides - because the Grand Canyon is such an attractive destination for tourists you may have to book your Grand Canyon Tours on a traveling mule several months in advance.

There are also a number of rules that you must consider - generally there is a weight limit. Although the mules which are selected for use by the mule ride companies are particularly hardy and healthy they have their limits and usually you will need to weight less than two hundred pounds when you are fully dressed and carrying everything that you are taking with you. This will have to include your backpack, water, etc. (and you will want to carry water because you are likely to become thirsty, not to mention hungry, over the course of the day).

Depending on the Grand Canyon mule riding tour that you choose you may stay for one day or two, and your trip may include a stop at a ghost town or small village along one of the trails. For many of these trips which include plenty of stops there will be places along the way where food and drink will be provided, so factor this into your planning and you may be able to simply show up and enjoy the trip without having to bring a lot of heavy supplies with you.

Also keep in mind that the day after you ride on a mule you are likely to be sore, so you should have some time to relax after your mule ride. Good luck planning a mule ride in the Grand Canyon!




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