5 minute read
Winter Wonderland: Traveling to Colorado
By Karrie Comeau | Photos submitted by Snowmass Tourism Office
Are you dreaming of a white winter? With its snow capped mountains and family friendly skiing opportunities, Colorado makes the perfect winter wonderland getaway!
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Getting here from Denver: Car: About 157 miles northwest, approximately a 3 hour drive Airplane: The Steamboat/ Hayden Airport is about 22 miles west of Steamboat Springs. Shuttle service is available. Around town: Steamboat Springs Transit (SST) offers a comprehensive system of free transportation between the ski area, downtown and most hotel, condominium, restaurant, grocery and entertainment locations. Runs daily.
SKIING
Steamboat Ski Area has discounted tickets for kids and kid-first programs. Howelsen Hill is owned by the City of Steamboat Springs and has some great beginner terrain. Better yet, it is free to ski on Sundays throughout the winter! Ice skating- Howelsen Ice Arena offers open skating sessions and bumper cars on ice (very fun). Snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, fat biking and snow tubing are also all great choices. Start at Ski Haus for rentals and trail info. For Nordic skiing info, try Steamboat Ski Touring Center or Haymaker.
THEATER/MUSIC PERFORMANCES
Strings in the Mountains is a world-class facility and offers many discounted or free programs for kids. Also, the Chief Theater downtown has a wide variety of live performances year-round. Check out Music Fest (January 5-10) and the WinterWonderGrass (February 21-23, 2020).
RESTAURANTS
Very few restaurants in Steamboat are not family-friendly, so you won’t have a hard time choosing a good one for the kids. Some ideas include Mazzola’s, Johnnie B. Good’s and Freshies.
The Steamboat Winter Carnival runs from February 5-9, 2020. Celebrating its 107th year, the celebration embraces winter traditions and its western heritage. For more information, please visit www.steamboatchamber.com
WINTER PARK
Getting here from Denver: Car: About 67 miles west, about a 2 hour drive Train: Winter Park Express heads right from Union Station in downtown Denver to the platform at Winter Park. Take the A-line right from the Denver Airport to the train station. Train only runs Friday-Sunday starting in January and will sell out, book your tickets in advance.
COCA-COLA TUBE PARK
Colorado's newest tube park, it features four individual lanes, exciting banked curves, and a covered conveyor lift ride back to the top.
KIDS NIGHT OUT AT CAMP IDLEWILD
Kids ages 6-12 will play and explore the snow woods around Hill House before moving inside for crafts, movies and pizza, while parents stroll down to the village for dining and shopping.
OUTDOOR VILLAGE ICE RINK
Starting December 8, visit the pond for free ice skating lessons every Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.
FAMILY- FEST
Gather around the bonfire at the base for a front row seat of the firework display! Satisfy your sweet tooth at the S'mores bar, or enter to win great giveaways, & dance away to the DJ. Only on select dates: December 14, at 5:30 p.m., January 18, at 6 p.m., February 15, at 6:30 p.m., and March 14 at 8 p.m.
DOG-SLED RIDES
Be pulled across the trails of Winter Park by a team of dogs and a professional guide! Children under 3 ride free based on availability.
Hill House
Don’t forget to stop for a cup of gourmet hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies! Located on the top of the tubing hill. For more information, please visit www. visitgrandcounty.com. >>
SNOWMASS
Getting there from Denver: Car: About 220 miles west of Denver, about a 4 hour drive Airplane: The Aspen/Snowmass Pitkin County Airport is about 6.5 miles away from Snowmass. Bus: The Town of Snowmass Village provides its own free Village Shuttle service to almost any location in the Village.
ICE AGE DISCOVERY CENTER
Located in the Snowmass Village Mall, this mini museum dedicated to 2010 Ice Age found at nearby Ziegler Reservoir allows children to get up close and personal with replicas of a mastodon skull and femur bone, touch mastodon and mammoth teeth, and read ice- age books in the children’s library.
SNOWMASS BASE VILLAGE
This is the hub for kid friendly activities, including ice skating on the new ice rink in the Events Plaza and rock climbing on Colorado’s tallest rock-realistic indoor climbing wall at new Limelight Snowmass. Stay warm by the fire pits that are sprinkled around, also perfect for S’mores! Snowmass S’mores is back, offering free s’mores daily from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. through the winter season.
TREEHOUSE KIDS ADVENTURE CENTER
Designed for kids of all ages, this amazing 25,000-square-foot Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Schools facility is sure to create a lifetime of memories! The Treehouse experience includes Snowmass Kids’ Ski & Snowboard School check-in, equipment rental, retail, and family après entertainment, all under one roof. The unique design shares the wonder of the mountain environment in tactile, fun and educational ways. The Treehouse includes six interactive, nature-themed rooms designed for specific ages, bringing the outdoors inside. Scale the Aspen Leaf Climber in the Alpine Climbing Room, explore the Bear Den with your preschooler, or spend some down time with your infants and toddlers in the Butterfly room.
MOONLIT TREK SERIES
Families can spend an evening under the stars with a 1.2-mile snowshoe, walk, or cross-country ski around the Snowmass Club golf course, with a mid-way stop for cookies and hot chocolate at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
ULLR NIGHTS AT ELK CAMP
Friends and family take an evening gondola ride up to Elk Camp for outdoor winter activities such as tubing, riding the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, snowbiking, S'mores and hot chocolate by the bonfire. Dance to live music and enjoy an a la carte culinary celebration sure to please any palate. After playing in the snow, kids can warm up inside with fun activities and entertainment available downstairs in The Tent. Only offered on December: 27 and 30, January 1, 3, 10, 17, and 31, and February 14, 21,and 28. For more information visit www.gosnowmass.com.
