Top Country Sking Ideas

Cross Country Skiing - Luxury Romantic Vacation in Colorado Posted by Lisa Marie Mercer on 28th, July 2012 Cross Country Skiing - Luxury Romantic Vacation in Colorado Consider yourself lucky. You have found a soul mate who shares your love of winter sports. What better way to celebrate this love for each other and all things winter than a luxury romantic vacation in Telluride, Colorado?

All About Telluride The Town of Telluride occupies a remote location on the San Juan Skyway. One of North America's most magnificent concentrations of 14,000-foot peaks embellish this region of Colorado. A spectacular, 425-foot waterfall adds to the scenery, making it one of the most romantic luxury ski vacations in Colorado. The San Sophia Ridge divides the Telluride area into two distinct sections: Mountain Village and the Town of Telluride. A free, 13-minute gondola ride connects the two sections. Locals and visitors describe the gondola ride as "one of the world's most beautiful commutes."

Cross Country Skiing | Snowshoe Tours

Ski In Ski Out | Mountain Village Mountain Village sits in majestic splendor, directly adjacent to the ski slopes. The town houses an abundance of ski in/ski out hotels and vacation rentals, along with a sprinkling of quaint, upscale shops and restaurants.

The Town of Telluride In contrast to Mountain Village, the town of Telluride is a 125-year old mining town, which boasts the honor of being a Historic Landmark District. This area is rich in its Victorian charm, and offers lodging options that are ideal for a romantic luxury ski vacation. Unlike Mountain Village, or to any other North American ski area, for that matter, the town of Telluride is unique in its insistence that all of the small hotels, vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts be independently owned and operated.

In addition, all of the architecture must blend with the town's Victorian theme. The ambiance is therefore less generic and more authentic. Your vacation rental might feature brass, four poster beds, claw footed tubs and other types of romantic dĂŠcor typical of the Victorian era. Some of the rentals might even come with views of the waterfalls or the Telluride Peaks.

Cross Country Skiing | Snowshoe Tours Luxury Skiing | Things to Do in Telluride Once you have selected your ideal luxury romantic lodging venue, you and your significant other will have a choice of an endless variety of things to do in the immediate and surrounding areas. Sit together by the fireplace and plan your activities.

Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing Cross Country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts can find Nirvana when they explore the trails at the TopAten Snowshoe and Nordic Area, which offers a 10-kilometre labyrinth of groomed, rolling trails.

These romantically scenic trails meander through dense, high alpine forests and mystical open meadows. Their location at the top of Lift 10 provides Nordic skiers and snowshoers with a unique opportunity to savor the breathtaking views of Prospect Bowl, Palmyra Peak and the surrounding San Juan Mountains. If the temperatures suddenly drop and you feel a bit cold you get cold, snuggle up with your sweetie in the warming teepee, which is graciously open to the public.

Naturalist Tours If geology interests you and your significant other, you've come to the right place. A local naturalist conducts daily educational snowshoe tours at 10:00 a.m. Tours leave from the Mountain Village Activity Center, and feature an exhilarating 2 to 3 hour snowshoe hike which sheds light on Telluride's unique ecosystem and environment. Book a private tour for a more intimate experience.

Cross Country Skiing | Snowshoe Hike

Sleigh Rides For a romantic end to a glorious day, book one of Telluride's unique sleigh ride dinners. They take place on Fridays and Saturdays. A snowcat-drawn sleigh at the base of Lift 4 meets diners and transports you to Gorrono Ranch, where you feast on a western-style buffet.

Friendly Competition The athletic couple who is not afraid of a little friendly competition might enjoy earning their bragging rights by challenging each other on the Telluride NASTAR course. Here, competitors have a chance to be nationally ranked against others of their same gender and age bracket. You might even win a bronze, silver or gold medals. Whoever gets the highest score buys dinner at La Marmotte, where Chef/owner Mark Reggiannini entices gourmands with an exquisite three-course prix fixe menu.

Custom Heli Skiing Tours If you two lovebirds plan to travel with another couple, Helitrax provides custom-designed heli-skiing tours for groups of at least four people. The company provides tasty food during the day, the latest powder skis and backcountry safety equipment . In case you were thinking about it, the top of a secluded mountain is a wonderful place for “popping the question.� Just saying!