7 Best Towns in The Rockies for a Winter Getaway
The Rocky Mountains were gifted to the planet 55 million years ago as Western plates slammed into the North American plate. Colorado was blessed with the lion’s share of skiing opportunities. The state has 78 of the range’s top 100 peeks. Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Western Canada also won the Rocky Mountain Lottery. Live the season this winter where once violent volcanos have cooled into ideal winter escapes.
Vail, Colorado
Get a view of the Vail’s sparkling topography from the Vail Ski Resort’s gondolas. Feel the vehicle cruise along the sky while savoring the sights of the Gore Range and the Mount of the Holy Cross. Gore Creek, a tributary of the Eagle River, runs through the town. Stroll through one of the highest botanical gardens in the world. The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens bloom at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Visit the Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame and feel inspired to face the next challenge on the Ski Resort’s slopes. Check the calendar of events at the Gerald R Ford Amphitheatre’s website to find the perfect show to coincide with a visit. Known locally as “The Amp,” the outdoor venue was first headlined by Willie Nelson in 1987.
Midway, Utah
Midway is the home of Wasatch State Park. The 23,000-acre preserve was set aside by Utah in 1961, ensuring visitors and residents could appreciate the Rockies year-round. The Park hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games at Solider Hollow. Today, the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center is open every season. Feel the rush of snowtubing through the Soldier Hollow’s precision-kept trails. Sleep inside a fairy tale at Midway’s Blue Boar Inn. Each room in the historic building is named for a classic writer. The Inn won Utah Best in State for Bed and Breakfast, Northern European Fine Dining, Plated Brunch, and Best Inn overall. Transport to the Swiss Alps with a stay at the Zermatt Resort Utah. The Zermot has a full spa, a restaurant, and, of course, a bakery.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Welcome to Ski Town, USA. The Steamboat Springs snow is known as “champagne powder” due to its scintillating appearance and how it tickles the nose. Get a lay of the land with a thrilling two-hour snowmobile tour through the Routt National Forest. Climb to the top of Christie Peak with a little help from a high-speed lift and feel the ensuing thrill of five different night skiing trails. Book a massage to enhance the healing properties of the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Admission to the hot springs is only $20 for a two-hour reservation. Savor the best possible view of the champagne slopes from the log cabin-style Mountain High Chalet.
Taos, New Mexico
Visit Taos Pueblo, an adobe architectural wonder that has been inhabited for over 1,000 years. Taos Pueblo is both a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get lost in the wonder of San Francisco de Asisi Church, the only remaining Spanish church in the area and a source of inspiration for painter Georgia O’Keeffe. Taos Ski Valley is only a thirty-minute drive from the town. There are several options for a free shuttle to the slopes. Dedicated ski rippers stay at the Blake in Taos Ski Valley. Wake up and ski: Blake’s rooms are mere steps away from Lift #1.
Park City, Utah
Lap up the luxury of Park City, a former silver mine boomtown turned ski paradise just west of Jordanelle State Park. Dedicated, local rippers have only improved the slopes since their upgrade for the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002. Keep an eye out for a gondola featuring the artwork of Lamont Joseph White. For those who cannot afford Park City’s Waldorf Astoria, Westgate Park City Resort and Spa has two restaurants, including the popular Draft’s Burger Bar, which has won Best in State awards and has twenty beers on tap.
Estes Park, Colorado
Avoid the mega-ski resorts and return to the outdoors in Estes Park, Colorado, where the Big Thompson River arrives at its destination, Lake Estes. Alternate between the slopes and the wonderland that is Rocky Mountain National Park. There are several entrances to Rocky Mountain within Estes Park. The destination exists as a constant fail-safe, ensuring canceled plans will not result in a wasted day. Reserve a room at Tahara Mountain Lodge for a view from the foot of Lily Mountain. If traveling with a crowd, consider renting a cabin at The Estes Park Resort. The cabins’ floor-to-ceiling windows keep skiers dreaming until the lifts open.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Unwind screaming muscles in the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool. Glenwood Springs has something for everyone. Disquiet the senses with the imposing troll carvings at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The Park is open year-round with a rotating roster of summer/winter attractions. Find deep relaxation in the naturally formed vapor caves at Yampah Spa. Cave temperatures average 110-112 degrees, enabling ten-minute exposures separated by rests in a cooling room. Call it at the Denver Hotel. The Denver is a six-minute walk to the Glenwood Springs Hot Spring Pool.
A snowy winter landscape reflects the possibility that lives beneath it. As the soil takes a breath, so must humanity. Please take the time to consider the carbon footprint of modes of transportation when booking travel plans. Choose websites that allow users the ability to glimpse the carbon output of different flights, for instance. While traveling through the Rockies, support Native American businesses whenever possible. The legacies of events such as the Meeker Massacre of 1879 continue to be felt today. The futures of the environment and North America’s First Nations are interlinked and must be supported simultaneously.
