Ski Season’s On—And There’s More Than Just Skiing

Already gotten plenty of early season trail time? Time to plan a trip with an itinerary that lets you ski AND play.

Situation: Reviving some romance.

Solution: Ice Skating

He wobbles, you steady him, she slips, your arm is right there—and it’s all in a sparkling mountain setting. A perfect date, even if you’ve been together forever.

Find It:

Rinks and skates await at Beaver Creek, Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Snow Mt. Ranch, Vail Resort.

Situation: Kiddos too young to V2.

Solution: Tubing and Sledding

Get your ski in, but let your little people wear themselves out their way: covered in snow and having a ball.

Find It:

Frisco Nordic (free sledding hills and kids’ igloos) Snow Mt. Ranch (tubing).

Situation: Your “never-ever” friend wants to stop and refuel.

Solution: Find a cozy lodge hangout

Don’t forget to relax, grab a cup of something warm, and reconnect.

Find It:

Keystone Nordic has a cozy clubhouse with great patio; Grand Lake Nordic serves hot soup and snacks with a Never Summer Range view, Breckenridge Nordic has awesome on-mountain huts; Eldora has 4 onsite restaurants.

December to-do list

1. Strength train your core and upper body to prevent back pain when starting out on the trails. Get started: Add some planks to your routine.

2. Check the race calendar and choose your target events. Look for new ones, like Devil’s Thumb’s Stagecoach Classic and Home Ranch’s Clark Store North Routt Race, both in January.

3. Buy your season pass ASAP—prices jump pre-Christmas.