Copper
Mountain
Going on a winter vacation, you'd expect to ski or snowboard down
the mountain, but Copper sees beyond the board and offers snow tubing.
Serviced by The Stinger surface lift, riders cruise down snow-filled
lanes with varying degrees of pitch, no lessons or skills required,
just an openness to fun.
Take the
old fashioned adventure of a horsedrawn sleigh ride, add live entertainment
and a gourmet four-course meal served in a replica of an 1800's miner's
tent and the family dinner takes on a whole new twist. Have dessert
back at 'base camp' where you can roast a Rocky Mountain Chocolate
Factory s'mores kit on the open fire.
For kids
looking to improve their mountain cred, Camp Woodward, the BMX, skateboarding
and inline skating capital of the action sports world, is now at Copper.
Camp Woodward provides skiers and snowboarders the tools to take their
sports to the next level. Rather than throwing themselves at the mercy
of gravity and hardened snow, Woodward at Copper participants can
first learn aerial awareness and technique on a series of features
including trampolines, foam pits and resi-pads before heading out
on the hill. Softer landings equal more confidence, more learning
and more self-progression.
Steamboat
Ski Resort
Learn adventure from a professional adventurer. Billy Kidd, Steamboat's
Director of Skiing, World Champion and Olympic silver medalist, and
Nelson Carmichael, Olympic bronze medalist and World Cup Champion,
offer free on mountain clinics throughout the season.
Budding
Olympians can hone their skills in Steamboat's terrain park, serviced
exclusively by its own chairlift that features terrain for all ability
levels spread over 11.8 acres. Features include an outdoor sound system,
professionally designed rails, tabletops and jumps. Mini-Mavs, a miniature
version of the superpipe just around the corner in Rabbit Ears Terrain
Park, has ten foot walls, perfect for novice riders.
Instead of going
on vacation together and then having to take lessons separately because
of varied skill levels, at Steamboat the entire family can bond over
a bump lesson. Steamboat's Family Private program offers all-day and
half-day private clinics for the entire family. Each member of the
family will gain maximum benefit as a Steamboat Ski & Snowboard
instructor develops a family clinic to meet specific needs and goals.
Howelsen
Hill
Don't let the fact that Howelsen Hill is the oldest ski area in continuous
use in North America be interpreted as "slow and boring." On the contrary,
Howelsen Hill is located in the heart of downtown Steamboat Springs,
stands tall at 7,136 feet and hosts the largest and most complete
natural ski jumping complex in North America. Bring the family to
ride one of four kid-friendly lifts, ski down the 15 trails and watch
the ski jumping pros as they train on the nearby ski jump.
Aspen/Snowmass
As longtime host of the ESPN X-Games, Aspen/Snowmass is synonymous
with adventure. In the 2007-2008 ski season Aspen/Snowmass took kids
skiing to the extreme when they unveiled The Treehouse Kids' Adventure
Center at Snowmass base village. As the focal point for kids' programming
at Aspen/ Snowmass, The Treehouse features activities and a host of
themed rooms for kids eight weeks to 17 years old.
Graduates of The
Treehouse can go on to join Othello's Rail Riders Camp. Atop Aspen
Mountain, just a few yards away from the Sundeck restaurant, former
competitive skateboarder and snowboarder, Othello, partners with the
Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass to teach rail riding.
Camp attendees will learn to get on a rail properly, terrain park
etiquette, balance, how to land tricks, and what not to do. The camp
also has a hut with a mini skate park.
For adventure
of a less extreme nature, get back to nature with Winter Wild Things.
In this Aspen/ Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School program, kids learn
about snow survival and tracking the wild animals of Pitkin County.
Generally, cooking
school and ski school do not go hand in hand, unless you're talking
about the Cooking School of Aspen. Here the Kids in the Kitchen series
is a hands-on experience designed for children ages six to 13. The
classes encourage creativity, interaction and, above all, fun. Using
child-friendly recipes and a little guidance from the staff, youthful
participants build their confidence by preparing a meal by and for
themselves. Colorful place settings and aprons make each child feel
like an authentic chef. This event is ideal for groups of friends
and families.
Winter
Park
The core of wintertime adventure is the old fashioned downhill ski
race. The modern version is Winter Park's National Standard Race orNASTAR.
Centrally located on the mountain, the race course is set and maintained
by a professional race crew in a dual format so you can race side-byside
with your friends and family, or just race against the clock to try
to improve your time. Skiers and snowboarders of all abilities can
take a run down the course and NASTAR medals are awarded based on
your time in either platinum, gold, silver or bronze.
Winter Park adventure
can also be found beyond the ski area boundaries with a pair of Redfeather
snowshoes. Try your hand at snowshoeing through the backcountry and
follow the tour route as it travels off the beaten path along wildlife
game trails and summer mountain biking trails. Learn more about Colorado
native plants and animals that call Winter Park their home. Tours
include use of Redfeather snowshoes and a onetime lift pass on Gemini
Express and a knowledgeable tour guide to lead the way.
Luxurious adventure
awaits in a plush, heated 13 passenger snowcat. Enjoy a two hour sightseeing
tour of Winter Park Mountain in a unique vehicle not many people can
say they've ridden in. The tour loop travels across beginner, intermediate,
and expert trails, making several stops along the way for photos of
beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain vistas.
Crested
Butte
At 12,162
feet elevation and nearly 3,062 ft of vertical, Mt. Crested Butte
stands as one of the most challenging ski mountains in Colorado. With
20 percent of the trails for advanced skiers and acres of off-piste
hike to terrain, you can't help but find adventure here. The key is
to take it one adventure at a time.
Kids can start
their adventures with a child's version torch light parade.
Kids, along with
ski instructors, ride up the Red Lady Express Lift, and ski down green
terrain at dusk, lighting the way with glo sticks. Then head over
to Kids' World for a pizza party and fun activities.
For a little more
night time adventure, take the family up the Red Lady Express Lift,
and ski, snowboard, or snowshoe to dinner at the Ice Bar & Restaurant.
After dinner, a member of the Crested Butte professional ski school
or ski patrol will escort you back to the base area with headlamps
to light the way.
For a truly unique
adventure, saddle up Rover and hook up an Iditarod-style dogsled at
the Lucky Cat-Dog Farm. Aspiring mushers of all ages venture into
Crested Butte's backcountry for a morning or afternoon ride, complete
with lunch. So bundle up, and get ready to do some exploring.
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