4 days in Colorado in December with kids

Old Oct 8th, 2015, 07:14 AM
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4 days in Colorado in December with kids

Need help with the itinerary for our first time in Colorado... The kids are 8 and 11 and have skied once before. We are flying into Denver, and would like to ski a day or two, and do something else fun. I was thinking of maybe going to Boulder / Estes Park, and Loveland to ski for a day, but not sure if it has enough beginner runs, and if there is tubing nearby, or something else for kids to do (dog sledding?)

We do like to eat well and see the sights. But we've never driven in snow Just not sure if snow is a big limiting factor for getting to places. Is RMNP driveable in winter? Anything else we can do in winter? Thanks!
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Old Oct 8th, 2015, 07:23 AM
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The east side of RMNP is driveable except for the upper portion of Trail Ridge Road which will be closed for the season by then. If there's a big storm they may have other sections of road closed within the park until they can get them cleared.

There is a small (really small) hill for tubing/sledding in RMNP - it's located in the Hidden Valley picnic area. You would need to rent or buy a tube or sled. I dont recall seeing anywhere in Estes that has tubes but we did rent cheap plastic sleds from some shop in town.

Have you looked at going to the Winter Park/Grand Lake side? I don't have personal knowledge of winter activities but there are some posters on here that know quite a bit about things over there.
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Old Oct 8th, 2015, 08:47 AM
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Any of the ski areas will have more than enough beginner area for your kids (maybe not Ajax!!)
I would think you would like to go to a ski area and spend the whole time. The areas have wonderful beginning lessons now (from the time our kids were doing it) with the "magic carpet" to take them up the bunny hill.
Breckenridge would be pretty ideal because it also has a center for a lot of other activities.
At Copper Mountain there is the Wood____ --it is a place for snowboarders or stunt skiers to practice their stunts by falling into foam pits, but kids can just go and jump and flip, jump on trampolines, etc.
Get your kids signed up for at least two days of lessons. You can go shopping down in Silverthorne at the outlets or the endless shops at every ski area.
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Old Oct 8th, 2015, 11:18 AM
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What are your exact dates? The question is, Are you looking to day trip to a ski area or overnight in a skiing area? If you are just looking for a day outing from Denver, then Loveland is more than adequate especially Loveland basin which is totally geared include a very slow chair lift to beginners. Kids who have only been on ski once are not going to be doing much skiing. Loveland is only an hour from downtown Denver.

I would not recommend Estes Park at that time of year. Really nothing there and Trail Ridge Road will be closed by that time so you would only have very limited access on the east side.

If you are overnighting for a two or three nights then I would different set of recommendations. Let me know which.
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Old Oct 8th, 2015, 08:05 PM
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fmpden - We will be there for 5 nights (Dec 21 to Dec 26). I see us skiing for 2-3 days at most... So I am kind of torn between settling in at a resort (but which?) or trying to create some sort of itinerary.

WhereAreWe - Just looked at Winter Park - they have lots of beginner areas and tubing too. And close to Denver!

I guess ideally I'd like to spend 2-3 nights at a resort and also visit a few towns with some history / scenery.

Gretchen - magic carpet sounds awesome... Would Breckenridge be very busy? Kinda dread the lines. Heard good things about Copper Mtn too!
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 03:24 AM
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Yes, it will be crowded and high season. Are you also going to ski--and what is your level. I think you will find that "crowding" in Colorado is not what it is in the east--and you don't mind the rest waiting!!!
Kids do not mind "crowds" at that level--and the classes will sort out the crowd. They will be well cared for for the day--and tired at night.
You say "close" to Denver. Breckenridge is 2 hours from the airport--WP about 1.5 hours maybe.
I think there is more to do further up into Summit County. There is the railroad.
But if you google Breckenridge for activities, you'll find a big indoor area also.
Keystone has tubing. You will need to make reservations for tubing (at least there)--not just show up. Don't know about other places.
You will want to look for reservations right now, I think.
Day tripping to ski at that time of year could be very time consuming for traffic, I think. And tiring.
Frisco is a cute little town near several ski areas--Keystone, Copper and Breck. Vail is just over the pass. A good non-skiing day trip from there would be on to Aspen and the hot springs.
I just think that you and the kids would enjoy being in the middle of the ski stuff--we always did.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 04:14 AM
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It might still be possible to get a cabin or other lodging at YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch: all kinds of activities for the family, indoor and out, daytime and evening, and Winter Park is pretty close for downhill (used to be a shuttle, but I'm not sure if they still have one).
From the YMCA, it's a fairly short drive to scenic Grand Lake (which offers snowmobiling and other winter pastimes) and the western entrance to RMNP.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 06:57 AM
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When did you expect to spend your two/three days in the mountains? Don't mean to be overly negative but long lines at Breckenridge is the least of your concerns. The Christmas/New Year time period is the most expensive and crowded time periods at any of the ski resorts. Since you don't have reservations at this point, you could have some difficultly securing anything especially after the 23rd. At Breckenridge or other resort bases, you will find min stay requires from three days to seven days and the best properties will be gone. This is one of the few times of the year that you need reservations for ski school. You cannot just drop in. And it will help to have reservations for ski rental. That is not as critical but helpful.

You will have a better chance for lodging in Frisco/Siverthorne/Dillon area simply because it is removed from the slopes with massive numbers of condos. From there you are about equal distance (around 10 miles) to Keystone, Breckenridge, and Copper Mt and those areas are served by a free public bus systems. Any of those areas have more than enough green slopes for you.

My personal preference for ski school is Copper Mt since it is a little smaller area, the lay out of its slope is superior to the other areas, and ski school is well organized. All the green slopes are in one area so you have to worry about a black slope hot dogger slamming through the green slopes.

Good luck.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 07:14 AM
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ALL that fmpden says. Do you have your airline tickets? If not, it might be a good time to look for a package, IF it is even possible for that time frame.
You say "green" slopes, but reaally, what level of skiers are you.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 08:01 AM
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Gretchen - With kids only skiing one other time, I doubt if they could even handle a green slope and a chair lift. I doubt if they would get out of the bunny slope area. At this late date, given their time frame, and only wanting to ski one or two days, they might be better to off to grab a hotel on the western side of Denver, maybe Golden, and drive to Loveland. It would be less than hour drive, midweek traffic would be manageable, and the crowds at Loveland would be min since it is only day skiers. Holiday crowds have less impact at Loveland. For a couple of days of beginner lessons, Loveland is fine. And then they could shift to downtown Denver for the balance of their trip. Downtown Denver would be very festive at that time.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 12:14 PM
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I agree about the slope and chair lift completely--hence mentioning the magic carpet.
I still think being AT a ski area is more fun with more to do, if that is the principal part of their trip. Hard to tell at the moment.
But the info at Loveland is certainly useful.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 12:50 PM
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Gretchen, I would agree with you if I thought the primary objective was skiing. Her references to skiing was vague - .....would like to ski a day or two, and do something else fun....... That is only one or two days out of five so don't know what the thoughts were for the other days.

And then .....not sure if it has enough beginner runs,.... just left me very puzzled. If you are a beginner, one or two green slopes is about all you need. Your mind is so focused on getting down that you could ski the same slope a couple of times and not remember it.

It would help to know the grand plan instead of just guessing.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 05:47 PM
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The lasst statement is "it". And all the other "whatsits".

I think they have never skied in CO--and it is an awesome first experience which we have encountered. Unlike anywhere else when you are a beginning skier as we were. Hence, I really think I know what they "are" in a way--and after that, they need to decide what they want to do.

Enjoy.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 06:01 PM
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That's why I like the idea of YMCA of the Rockies; good location for downhill, x- country, ice skating, hill tubing, snowshoeing, night sleighride, roller skating, hiking, and visiting other scenic locales. The last time, I got a 3 bdrm cabin for Christmas in November, and everyone had a great time. Can't beat the price.
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Old Oct 9th, 2015, 06:44 PM
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The YMCA of the Rockies might just be the answer. Lots of activities and Winter Park ski area just down the road.
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Old Oct 11th, 2015, 08:36 PM
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Thank you all for the helpful suggestions! I will look more into them. Just to take the mystery out of our skiing skills: I grew up in a flat cold area, so did lots of cross-country but none of downhill. Skied twice downhill as adult - both in New Mexico. Took my kids and husband to one of these occasions, and it was the first time for them all. I had them signed up for beginner lessons and they did pretty well, mastered greens the first day and skied one more day without a problem. My husband is not too wild about the skiing though, so we would have to choose from skiing for a couple of days and doing something else, or staying at the resort with lots of other activities or in a town with many things to do.
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Old Oct 12th, 2015, 05:18 AM
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Fmpden recommended Copper and I second that also. Greens in Colorado are really LONG runs--wonderful. Youngsters progress really quickly with lessons and they could be on light blue pretty quickly. They will put them in a lesson appropriate to their skill level so they really do progress.
Also at Copper is the Woodward Center--the foam pit and trampoline area that kids LOVE to just jump around in--or the trick skiiers and snowboarders practice their stuff.
Frisco is very close for a fun shopping area for mom and dad as is Silverthorne.
I think I am repeating myself. You'll have a great time. In Denver I would bet the Botanical Garden will have a nice Christmas exhibit.
Boulder--Celestial Seasonings tour.
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Old Oct 13th, 2015, 12:09 PM
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Just received this from Copper Mt. Maybe it would be helpful for you ---

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#in...061f84003bbfa6


Don't mean to question the athleticism of your children but I find it to believe that they master green slopes in less than one day. Around here it is hard to get anyone off the bunny slope in one day, let along flying down green slopes. Must have had great instructors. Still think you big issue will be reservations at that time of year.
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Old Oct 13th, 2015, 12:11 PM
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Opps - wrong address. Try this-----

http://www.coppercolorado.com/winter...NjYwOTAyNTMwS0
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Old Oct 13th, 2015, 08:51 PM
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Thanks, fmpden! awesome deal!

Gretchen, I am pretty much sold on Copper at this point. Looking into lodging... Frisco, Silverthorne and Boulder diversions sound great too. Thanks again everyone!
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