Colorado.com Staff Writer

Snow Newbies

Whether you’re 9 or 99, many of Colorado’s ski resorts have highly rated schools and beginner areas suitable for skiers of all ages. Besides, Colorado ski resorts supply plenty of alternative activities for those who need a break from the slopes.

Beginners can plow down Buttermilk’s wide and gently rolling trails, learn to cruise downhill with confidence from pros at Breckenridge Ski & Ride School or rub elbows on lifts with more advanced peers at Ski Granby Ranch, a family-friendly ski area where all trails begin at one point and end at the base. And Amtrak's Winter Park Express train, which runs between Denver's Union Station and Winter Park Resort's base area is a great way to get the whole crew on the slopes after a relaxing ride. Learn about other family-friendly programs at Colorado ski resorts.

If you start referring to your skis or snowboard as arch nemeses (or other fun words) after a couple tumbles in the powder, don’t be afraid to take a break to explore other activities available at the resorts and the towns that surround them.

Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Winter Park and Crested Butte are great places to show off your amateur triple axle, while Frisco Adventure Park and Copper Mountain’s tubing hills have lifts to sustain your stamina for winter fun. Find other activities off the slopes in Colorado ski towns.

While you’re in town, why not take the opportunity to celebrate all things cold at one of Colorado’s winter festivals? The festivities and twinkling lights of the Grand Junction Winter Festival, 12 Days of Aspen, Estes Park Winter Fest and Steamboat Springs’ Winter Carnival are just a few events that will banish the harshest Grinch-like attitude. Discover more winter events and celebrations in Colorado.

Those with Little Ones in Tow

The wits of tenacious tots and lasses are no match for the kid programs offered by Colorado ski resorts. Here are a few things to do with the kids in Colorado in cold-weather months.

Steamboat Ski Resort has five kids' lifts and a special area for new skiers to roam freely called Rough Rider Basin, while youngsters enjoy daily cookie hour and activities such as face painting, scavenger hunts and live dance music at Keystone Resort’s Kidtopia. 

For parents who need some time off, Aspen/Snowmass Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center offers childcare services for children ages 4 and under in Colorado-themed, interactive play rooms.

For wildlife lovers, there are plenty of opportunities to spot furry residents in their natural winter habitats. Head to Dowd Junction Elk Viewing Area (near the city of Minturn on Hwy. 24) to catch hundreds of elk hanging out at their winter range or to State Forest State Park (along County Road 41 in Walden) for a chance to spy on the 600 moose who live there year-round. Also, more than 100 bald eagles can be found roosting on the branches of cottonwoods in the wintertime along the South Platte River Trail (on Hwy. 34 between Fort Morgan and Kersey).

Colorado has dining options that will silence picky eaters and leave a long-lasting impression. Keystone’s Dinner Sleigh Ride is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to mention a photo op for next year’s holiday card. Take a ride on a sleigh pulled by 2,000-pound draft horses to a rustic cabin, where you’ll tap toes to cowboy tunes and gobble up favorites like smoked ribs, barbecue chicken and apple pie a la mode … Yee-ha!

Food-Focused Travelers

Denver’s critically acclaimed restaurants and the recognition of Boulder as a prime destination for “foodies” by magazines like Bon Appétit and Forbes prove that Colorado has developed a reputation for good grub. However, there are opportunities to sample tasty creations made by talented Colorado artisans all over the state.

During Culinary Connectors’ Denver Top Restaurant Tour, you can visit three popular Denver eateries, interact with restaurant chefs and chow down on chef-prepared tastings expertly paired with an adult beverage.

Denver, Boulder and their surrounding cities offer endless options for culinary adventures, but don’t be afraid to travel off the beaten path. For example, in Salida, you’ll find only-in-Colorado beverage companies such as Wood’s High Mountain Distillery, Elevation Beer Company and Mountain Spirit Winery & Gallery, as well as restaurants highlighting menu items made with local ingredients.

Schedule a behind-the-scenes look at our tastiest exports at establishments such as Celestial Seasonings in Boulder, Hammond’s Candies and Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey in Denver, and Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy Creamery in Longmont (five-course technical cheese tasting included). Read more about Colorado’s beer, wine, spirits and signature dishes >>

Hand-Holders

Breathtaking views and many intimate activity options make Colorado the perfect destination for couples seeking a lovey-dovey hideaway.

Melt away the hassles of everyday life at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, which has a relaxation pool reserved just for adult guests. For a more rustic romantic getaway, Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa in Moffat offers stays in yurts and hot spring pools with views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Read more about hot springs in Colorado >>

Duos can initiate warm conversation while sipping sophisticated cocktails at intimate bars, where the only interruptions come from friendly mixologists. The Dogwood Cocktail Cabin in Crested Butte is known for its adults-only atmosphere and inventive drinks designed to excite the palate such as the Romeo y Julieta (rum, hibiscus, mint and fizz). 

Laundry Restaurant in Steamboat Springs dishes out classic and contemporary pick-me-ups, while The Bitter Bar in Boulder cuts its thick ice cubes from long slabs of ice, so they won’t dilute your drinks as you gaze into each others’ eyes.

Woo your sweetie with an out-of-the-ordinary meal at atop the peaks at one of the ski resorts. Alpino Vino in Telluride has a five-course, Italian-themed dinner at 12,000 feet that’s only accessible via enclosed snow coach, while Element 47 in Aspen is a hot spot that blends Colorado fare with indulgent ingredients like Waygu beef (from pampered Japanese cows) and foie gras to serve up dishes resembling works of art.

If nothing means “I love you” like stuffing hot, gourmet cheese into your mate’s mouth, a meal atop the resort’s North Peak is a must. Find other mountaintop dining spots in Colorado.

Girls’ Getaways

For those heading here to spend time with their best girlfriends, Colorado’s thriving creative scene offers many activities for gal pals.

If you happen to be in town on the first Friday of the month, many galleries in Denver’s Santa Fe and Golden Triangle art districts participate in the First Friday Art Walk, which offers free entry to galleries, the opportunity to rub elbows with local artists and access to tasty food and beverages. Locales such as Old Colorado City, Pueblo and Fort Collins also host First Friday Art Walks during winter months in their creative districts. Locate other Colorado art walks >>

If shopping is your crew’s forte, score a deal at Colorado’s outlet malls in Golden, Castle Rock, Silverthorne and Loveland. Boutique lovers will find comfort in the shops located on the main streets of Breckenridge, Telluride, Aspen, Durango, Vail and Steamboat as well as in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, on Boulder’s Pearl Street and in downtown Grand Junction.

Only-in-Colorado spa treatments can help you prepare for your next selfie session. The Turquoise Wrap at The Peaks Resort & Golden Door Spa in Telluride includes an exfoliating brush massage using Hopi blue cornmeal and a warm, ionized turquoise clay wrap, while The Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa’s Mountain Rescue Facial soothes sunburn and hydrates dry skin after a long day on the slopes. Discover more ways to enjoy winter indoors.

Guys’ Getaways

Male bonding is an age-old tradition, and from Western bar hopping to sporting events, there are many opportunities in Colorado for like-minded fellas to get together and have a good old time.

There’s no doubt that male bonding is more fun when it involves beer, giant hot dogs and screaming in unison at grown men in uniform. Score tickets to see pro teams such as the Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, or surround yourself with excited Colorado Buffalo football fans at the University of Colorado’s stadium in Boulder where the stunning view of the Flatirons rivals the scoreboard. Read more about pro sports in Colorado >>

Colorado’s Western roots will surely lure out your inner wrangler, so embrace the arrival of your cowboy-hat-wearing, cool drink of water before somebody gets hurt. Grab the guys and head to celebrations of Colorado’s Wild West heritage like Denver’s National Western Stock Show (Jan. 6–21, 2018) orSteamboat Springs’ Winter Carnival (Feb. 7–11, 2018). A carnival may not sound like a masculine affair, but the obstacle course races, night ski-jumping events and sight of adults on shovels being pulled down main streets will surely convince you otherwise.

Many of the state’s authentic watering holes are still serving up stiff drinks, as well as tales of Colorado’s past. Head to Lucha Cantina at the Red Ram in Georgetown for a mix of Mexican and American comfort food (bonus points if you can handle their ghost-pepper salsa); a favorite of mountain-town locals, be sure to ask about the historic building’s haunts. Other old saloons worth checking out include the Diamond Belle Saloon in Durango, a former ragtime piano bar where visitors can find costumed bartenders and dance-hall girls, and Gold Coin Saloon and Millie’s Restaurant in Central City, an establishment named after its old madam with the ambiance of an old-timey brothel. Find other rough-and-tumble saloons in Colorado >>

Want More?

Get the full list of Colorado winter activities >>

Photo credit: Bob Winsett