Tracey, Catbert is giving you excellent advice. Lake Dillon is gorgeous and close to Breckenridge and Keystone. You could also do a day trip to the Hot Springs Pool in Glenwood Springs if you are interested.

Check out the following website for a sample of the non-skiing activities in Keystone.
http://keystone.snow.com/info/otherwinteractivities.asp

Telluride is beautiful, but it is a very long drive (further than Carbondale) from Denver and also an expensive flight. IMHO, I think Manitou Springs/Woodland Park would be boring for a week. Winter Park and Lake Granby are also wonderful places, but I don't think they have what you are looking for and don't have a lot of evening activity.

If you can find anything in the Breck, Keystone, Dillon area, you should book it. The area is gorgeous and romantic.

You should go to Breck, no question. Lots of fab scenery, fun winter stuff, tons of dining, lots of pretty little nearby towns (e.g., Georgetown); there's even outlet shopping and fun casinos nearby!

You haven't really specified why it is that you want to go to breckenridge or woodland park. you mentioned that you and your husband to be don't ski- this is a major time for skiing in these areas due to people being on christmas break. so, this causes the lodging prices to go way up.

have you considered New Mexico? It's the off season in Santa Fe, which has good Christmas events (see the NYTimes this week for the article "Christmas in Santa Fe). You'll be able to get good rates, there will probably be snow, and it probably won't be near as crazy as Breckenridge, etc.

if you decide to fly into denver and stay overnight (and if you are going to summit county this would not seem necessary unless your flight arrives very late) you should definetly stay at the brown palace in downtown. it is a very old, very gracious, very beautiful hotel and would be delightful for a honeymoon night!!

okay- love all the help and advice- BUT having a HARD time finding something in dillon that is reasonable and with private hot tub. so i am still searching. thank you all- any more suggestions is always appreciated.

i just glanced at the dillon properties available on vrbo.com. The majority of them did not have private hot tubs probably because they are in condominium units that have a communal hot tub.

It looks like those with private hot tubs are 1) much more expensive (you said reasonable...that is subjective especially in light of the fact that you are looking for something the day after christmas about 1 week prior to when you need it) and 2) found in 3 bedroom houses.

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but you are looking for something extremely last minute in one of the busiest travel periods of the year. You said that you want something reasonable. If you mean less than $100 per night that will be nearly impossible if you are absolute about having a private hot tub.

I think you should contact an agent with Resort Quest (www.resortquest.com), a vacation rental company that offers many properties in CO. They have a 1-800 number and you will be able to give them your budget and preferences, and they will probably have a master list of available properties for christmas week.

I just looked at ResortQuest's website and saw that they have a last minute special for the week of Christmas for all Breckenridge properties. It says that the special is 20% off normal rates and only requires a 1 night stay.

Another option would be for you to bid on properties on priceline.com. I am a big fan of priceline and I know that the Keystone Lodge shows up. Familiarize yourself with bidding by searching this forum as it has been discussed in previous threads, or by going to biddingfortravel.com.

If you can get a deal on Keystone Lodge, take it now. I saw on the news last night that Breck is 95% full. I'm sure the entire area is booked up.

Just my .02 as someone who lives in Colorado Springs and drives regularly to Breckenridge to ski. The drive between Breckenridge and Woodland Park is about 1 hour 15-20 min. The road is well maintained but you do have to go over a high mountain (paved)pass. I would steer clear of I-70. Breckenridge is VERY full for the next two weeks (we just spent the weekend there). Woodland Park has some nice scenery but not much on the gourmet dining scene. I agree w/ previous posters that deals on lodging are rare at this time of year.

If money is the issue go w/ Colorado Spring/ Manitou Springs and enjoy the sites, dining, and great weather we will be having. Especially since you don't ski.