Snow is piling up on the Rockies, the lifts have started to hum and it’s time to get some last-minute help in deciding where you’re going to spend this winter’s skiing vacation. Is it going to be Vail, or maybe Copper Mountain, or one of Colorado’s many other ski resorts?
The big resorts all have informative Web sites to attract your business, and there are several Web-based guides that give you an industrywide view for comparison shopping. vail.snow.com
Thinking about Vail, which offers 34 lifts and 193 trails, and advertises an average 346 inches of powder each year? Look under “The Mountain” for the virtual tour and Web cams, and then go to “Vacation Planning” to see if the lift tickets fit your budget. You’ll need to look into “Lodging,” where you can use the interactive map to look for a spot if you know the area, or go through “book online.”
breckenridge.snow.com www.gobreck.com
Want to try something else? Breckenridge boasts that 32 percent of its trails are for experts, including Lake Chutes with a 55-degree pitch. When you click on “The Mountain” to check the lift ticket prices, look for the “Perfect 10” package that gives you 10 days at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly. If this resort attracts you, drop by the town of Breckenridge to learn more about the area.
www.tellurideskiresort.com www.telluride.com
Still shopping around? Telluride says it stays relatively uncrowded, so you don’t have to fight for space on the lift. And it offers a free gondola connecting the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village. Look under “Ski Resort” for lift ticket prices, maps and schools. Then check out “Activities” to learn about the spa, cultural activities to enjoy when you’re too worn out to ski any more, shopping (new clothes make you ski better, right?) and heli-skiing for an airborne lift to take you way out to the untracked powder. Telluride.com has more data on places to stay and package deals.
www.sunlightmtn.com www.hotspringspool.com
Would you like something smaller with a bit of unexpected luxury? Sunlight Mountain Resort has just 70 trails. But it’s in the town of Glenwood Springs, which boasts hot springs, and the Hot Springs Lodge &Pool has a pool that’s 400 feet long, 100 feet wide and a constant 90 degrees.
www.coloradoskicountry.com
Need a bigger selection? The Colorado Ski Resort Guide has detailed profiles on two dozen, from Arapahoe to Wolf Creek. Run through the list to learn about spots such as Ski Cooper, “one of the kinder, gentler ski areas,” according to the guide.
www.coloradoski.com www.skicolorado.com
You might also try Colorado Ski Country, which offers fewer details but a fancier interactive map. Run through a smaller list at Ski Colorado, which provides a reservation service.
Roger Petterson, Associated Press
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