Snow Packed Thrills
Western Slope Ski and Stay (Palisade). Partnering
with nearby Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Colorado Wine Country Inn
invites guests to enjoy the magic of skiing in the heart of the world’s
largest flat top mountain and revel in the charm of Colorado Wine
Country at the state’s first wine themed boutique hotel. Visitors will
enjoy a one night stay for two adults, two full day passes to Powderhorn
Mountain Resort, breakfast and an afternoon wine reception.
Snow Bike & Brew (Telluride). For
adventure seekers looking for a fun alternative winter alpine activity,
while enjoying some of Colorado’s best local craft beers and spirits,
The Hotel Telluride’s Snow Bike & Brew package combines adventure
and luxury with a three-night stay in an Elite View room offering 180
degree views of the San Juan Mountains, a private professionally-guided
fat bike snow tour, locally crafted beers and spirits and a customized,
five-course dining experience at The Hotel Telluride along with
breakfast for two daily.
Night Bike Tours (Winter Park). A
combination of skiing and mountain biking, ski biking offers an
alternative to skiing and snowboarding down the slopes. On Friday and
Saturday nights from mid-December to late March, Night Bike Tours are
available for two hours of night riding. It's the perfect way to see the
mountain in a whole different light. Tours include a guide, ski bike
rental, orientation, gondola lift access, helmet, headlight, glasses and
visibility vest.
Learning Vacations
Bird Watching (Monte Vista). With
reduced foliage during the early spring months, birds and other
wildlife species are easier to spot across the state. During the second
weekend in March, the Monte Vista Crane Festival hosts wildlife experts,
local naturalists and biologists who present educational workshops,
while flocks of dancing sandhills assemble in the neighboring farm
fields. Bus tours to the nearby refuge and adjacent farmlands provide
visitors with the opportunity to view this spectacle up close and
personal, with a knowledgeable local guide.
Art & History (Denver). Learn
more about Denver’s landmark train station, which originally opened in
1881. Denver Union Station underwent a massive $54 million renovation in
2014 to re-open as home to the independent Crawford Hotel, plus an
eclectic mix of 12 Colorado restaurants and retailers. Guests will
experience luxurious overnight accommodations, a guided art tour of the
building’s more than 600 pieces of original art as well as a
commemorative Denver Union Station coffee table book and art guide.
Guided Adrenaline Adventure (Rocky Mountain National Park). The
Stanley Hotel has teamed-up with world-renowned outfitter Kent Mountain
Adventure Center, to offer the ultimate play and stay package. For
those looking to learn something new, push their boundaries and capture a
photo of a lifetime, the adrenaline package includes a full-day of
guided backcountry skiing, frozen waterfall ice climbing or an avalanche
awareness course. All packages include a Kent Mountain private guide,
transportation, basic rental gear, park passes and a range of
accommodation types at the Stanley Hotel.
National Parks.
Peak season for Colorado’s four national parks runs from May to
October, making the spring months an excellent time to take advantage of
Colorado’s treasures before the rush of summer begins. Discover
solitude atop North America’s tallest dunes at Great Sand Dunes, see why
Black Canyon of the Gunnison is considered a dark-sky site with very
little light pollution, perfect for winter-sky stargazing, imagine what
life was like for the Ancestral Puebloans who called Mesa Verde home or
take a ranger-led snowshoe ecology walk through Rocky Mountain National
Park’s subalpine forest.
Downhill Events
Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals (Aspen). Those
who would rather leave skiing to the professionals will enjoy a weekend
of awe when Aspen hosts the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals March 15-19, the first time the event has been held in the U.S. in 20 years.
In addition to watching the best ski race athletes in the world compete
on the steep and technical faces of Aspen Mountain, the World Cup
International Village will be located at Wagner Park in downtown Aspen
and will include a full schedule of activities, parties, international
cuisine and concerts.
Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championship (Vail). The 2017 Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships return to Vail Mountain February 28-March 4,
bringing with them the best snowboarders in the world competing to win
the most prestigious Halfpipe and Slopestyle titles in snowboarding. The
action continues off the snow with an epic sponsor village, nightly
concerts in Vail Village and The U.S. Open of Broomball Tournament at
Solaris Ice Rink.
Kayaks on Snow (Monarch). Many know kayaking to be a popular past-time during Colorado’s warmer months, but on April 15, those ready to brave the cold can enter the Kayaks on Snow race on Monarch Mountain. The
custom course purposely includes banks and plenty of bumps for
contestants, who race head-to-head, sliding down the icy path before
ending in an icy pond.
