Gretchen

I think this is a colossal waste of money for these folks. They do not know anything about the ski area (see "summit city", etc.) or maybe even how to navigate getting equipment, etc. I don't mean this to be snarky. I DO know the effort it takes to fly, rent a car, get little kids bedded down, then up EARLY to go skiing. This is not a trip for a long weekend.

historytraveler

Obviously not ideal but if plans are made and can't be postponed or cancelled, it does little good to point out all the difficulties. Best to just give all the advice we can, and I think some here have done so.

Gretchen

I think it does help to point out some difficulties in this case, and hope it meshes with good advice to encourage them to basically "keep moving" in order to maximize what time they have.
I would NOT try to ski.
I would go tubing, find some places to play in the snow.
Keystone has a bungy jumping place in the square--I'm not sure if their children are too young/little.
the town of Frisco has great places to eat (better than Dillon) and is close.

fmpden

I am suspicious that the trip could be this month. Having the actual dates would be great aid.

Will add one other comment. The state patrol has announced a strict enforcement of the chain law. Any time a snow emergency is declared a two wheel drive car must have M&S tires with good tread or some other traction aid - generally chains. All weather, all season tires do not count. The ticket and fine can be substantial in the range of a couple hundred dollars. Who knows if this will actually happen but if it happens once to you that is enough.

fmpden

Looks like our comments were too critical for the op. Sorry but you were getting honest opinions based n experience.

lthomas6

Thanks for the feedback. Any suggestions on places to eat in or close to copper mountain?

Gretchen

Copper is a normal ski area with restaurants and coffee shops at the base. Frisco is just down the road and has many places to eat, but once you are at a ski area, you don't leave until the end of the day.
Dillon has restaurants.

Bitter

Dillon has the Dam brewery, and Frisco has the backcountry brewery. I've enjoyed meals at both.

fmpden

Copper has an endless number of places to eat from on-mountain restaurants to multi-choices at each of the three bases. Also, there are areas for picnic lunches if you want to pack your own. That is frequently done.

Why are you reluctant to answer our questions? It would help the discussion. Where have you skied before?

wtm003

I like the Arapahoe Cafe for breakfast in Dillon and it might be a good stop before heading back to Denver on Sunday morning.

>

I've seen no discussion here, only lectures. The OP has been told their trip is a "colossal waste" of money, criticized for their lodging choice, corrected for typos and told their children will have an awful time.

Yes it is a quick trip, but this is what I'd do:

Thursday: Arrival day. Spend the night near the airport. Possibly the new Westin since you have a late arrival and then you can pick up your rental car the next morning.

Friday: Drive to Summit County. Go tubing, ice skating, build a snowman or go for a sleigh ride.

Saturday: Ski school for the kids at Copper Mountain or repeat Friday's activities.

Sunday: Give yourself plenty of time and head back to Denver after a late breakfast. You can spend some time in Downtown Denver or a museum if you have extra time.

Hope you have a fun trip!

Bitter

"I've seen no discussion here, only lectures."

Apparently you didn't read the entire thread.

Gretchen

I feel lectured by the best of 'em.

historytraveler

wtm300 has offered some excellent suggestions. The Dam Brewery in Dillion is good although it can get busy. The CBR restaurant at Copper Mt. offers good upscale food. For a family all the areas have pretty good pizza places. The Log Cabin in Frisco is good too especially for breakfast. If at a ski area during the day, you need to eat there and not try to drive somewhere else. All the ski areas have a wide choice of eating options. Hard to do a picnic lunch if staying at a hotel…just eat lunch at the ski area and then try some of the nearby restaurants for dinner.

fmpden

There wasn't much discussion since op was short on information. From a local's viewpoint, it difficult to make good suggestions when it is obvious the op doesn't have a good handle on the situation. When the op doesn't response to questions, then posters start making assumptions and base their recommendations on these assumptions. That sounds like lecturing and, to a degree, it is. For example - one day of ski school is a waste of money. The kids at that age will gain almost nothing. It is day care but the parents may want that if they want to go skiing. However, without more information I suspicious that the parents are not skiers either. It is an odd trip that needs a little more explanation.

This site and others work best when there is active discussion so that the recommendations are specific and related to the original question.

Gretchen

Thank you. ;o)

historytraveler

I am going to assume that the OP has some valid reasons for this short trip to the mountains and so I'll offer further advice. I disagree with fmpden about one day of lesson for kids being a waste of money. I have been skiing for some forty years. Have taught my own kids to ski and have skied with my grandchildren. I have lived at a ski resort ( Copper MT. ) and been closely associated with ski instruction and beginning ski programs. Mot kids have a great time skiing even if it's just for a day. In fact, a good experience will usually lay the foundation for future ski trips. Do kids learn to ski in a day? No. Learning to ski takes time, but most kids can begin to grasp the fundamentals. The most important thing is their exposure to the sport and having fun even if they don't master the skills. My kids and grandkids have certainly had a couple of great one day ski outings while they were learning.

Children's ski instructors are specially trained and chosen for their ability to work well with kids i.e. to see they have a good time. Also, if the OP has told their kids that they'll be skiing then how disappointing would it be to then deny them the chance to do so. I say go for it. Do be aware if the time and money involved in fitting and getting rental equipment. You can rent equipment at Union Creek ( see below).

Another piece of advice if skiing/tubing at Copper. The Tubing Hill is located at Copper Station in the East Village. The beginning ski area is located at Union Creek ( The Schoolhouse ) in the West Village.

Tabernash2

Good point about skiing for the kids, historytraveler. I agree they should go for it, especially if the kids are already expecting to ski.

If the OP plans the trip well, it could work. Not the way I'd do a trip, but that's just my opinion. Sorry if we were too harsh on you, lthomas6.

To answer your question about Denver: there's plenty to do here, but I suggest on this trip, you take the kids directly to the mountains.

Especially on a Friday during ski season, you want to be on the road to Summit County way before the afternoon rush starts on I-70. I'd eat breakfast and head up there.

For your late Sunday departure, allow plenty of time to drive to the airport, and leave Summit before the crowds hit the road. The worst of the traffic will be when the ski areas close, and/or earlier, when people check out of their lodging. Just allow plenty of time for surprises on I-70.

Hopefully, you will love Colorado, and you will return.

Tabernash2

PS If your flight is really late on Sunday, you might be able to leave after the hordes, but just allow plenty of time.

On many Sundays, we leave Winter Park around 8pm and are usually miss all the traffic.

So that's an option for you, if your flight is really late, and you'd like to spend more time in the mountains..

One other idea would be to leave Summit early, drive down I-70, and stop along the way. You might want to investigate Georgetown. Or Red Rocks.

Or stop to eat at El Rancho, in Evergreen, right off I-70. It's a cool historic log lodge the kids might enjoy. Has recently re-opened after a renovation. http://www.elranchobrewing.com

Gretchen

Or on Sunday, if the flight is late enough they could stop and see the railroad in Georgetown?
And I do agree if they are expecting to ski (OR snowboard--can't believe I am saying that but all my grands are boarders) then they should do it.
BUT they need to make the reservation for ski school and get to the mountain in plenty of time to get them outfitted (or do it on Friday) with boots and skis.

fmpden

It Sunday. We are just talking among ourselves. The OP probability is stuck in Sunday traffic returning to Denver.