Colorado Review

One thing’s guaranteed during Christmas week in Aspen: celebrities are on the slopes, around the shops and in the restaurants. Last week’s local paper ran a story about how the paparazzi (NOT locals) tend to get in the way when celebs come to town. Most storekeepers ban photographers from their shops, but it doesn’t stop the paparazzi from loitering while famous people shop inside boutiques like Gucci, Chanel, Prada and the new Burberry store. Case in point, photogs stalking Heidi Klum while she tried to pick up some decorative items (last minute Christmas gifts?) at Amen Wardy, an upscale home-decor store.

But even though I’ve seen William H. Macy, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Kevin Costner and Jack Nicholson around town in the 13 or so years I’ve lived in the area, spotting celebs never fails to entertain me. Yesterday’s sighting was especially cool, because my mom, who’s in town from California (I know, celeb central) actually recognized these folks while she was hanging out in Bumps restaurant, at the base of Buttermilk Mountain (one of Aspen’s four ski areas):

Yep, that’s Kyle McLaughlin (currently of Desperate Housewives fame) and Seal, Mr. Heidi Klum (and kick-butt singer).

The funny thing was that Seal’s “Kiss of a Rose” started blasting on the restaurant’s stereo WHILE he was sitting their eating (a salad, I think). He didn’t even flinch. He also appeared to act graciously while a fan came up to shake his hand. No one else bothered the pair (sitting with a local real estate broker). Of course, many of us (yes, me included) tried to be cool as we snapped digital photos of them (”Hey, mom! Let me take a picture of you sitting in the ski lodge. Yeah, that’s it. Okay, move your head.”) I’m sure they knew full well what we were doing!

Anyone have ANY idea how Seal and Kyle might know each other? Do the celebs who vacation in Aspen over the holidays together just naturally hang out? Did the meet up for the first time on the slopes? I’m fascinated… if you’ve got a clue what their six degrees of separation are, lemme know in the comments section!

Happy holidays from my winter wonderland in Colorado (we got at least 5 inches of snow at my house today)!

As much fun as it is to spend hours schussing down ski slopes, an important part of any ski vacation is also what you do after a day on the mountain. That is, hanging out with your ski buddies around cozy fire with a hot drink in hand.

The Mountain Vacation Specialists at Ski.com have visited each of the 80+ ski resorts whose vacation packages they book in Western U.S. and Canada. They’ve got the inside scoop on what makes each resort–including many in Colorado–extra special.

These ski-vacation experts recently named the top fireplaces and fire pits at the resorts they sell. Two Colorado resorts came in the top five: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and the Sky Hotel in Aspen.

1. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek, Colorado
This fire pit is situated on a huge patio overlooking the slopes. Enjoy bar service, live music and complimentary s’mores made with homemade, gourmet marshmallows. (See picture at left for the decadent display of goodies!)

5. 39 Degrees in the Sky Hotel, Aspen, Colorado
In the late afternoon, once the skiers have taken their last runs, this fireplace is the place to see and be seen. Only the hippest hipsters gather here to sip on fun drinks like the “Ski Bunny Martini.”

Ski.com is headquartered in Aspen, and I know some of the “vacation specialists” there. The company has actually been around for 35 years (formerly Aspen Ski Tours) and is known for giving personalized service. It really does give travelers “one-stop shopping” for everything you could need at more than 80 of the most popular resorts and 1,400 properties in the United States, Canada, Europe and South America.

If you’re planning a ski trip in the coming months, log onto Ski.com to check out its offerings!

I’ve been remiss in reporting on our weather here in Colorado lately. Here’s the view from my front porch:

The skiing and boarding fanatics are going nuts with all the white stuff that has landed at the state’s ski resorts. In fact, the women’s World Cup races were canceled in Aspen last Friday because there was too much snow! (Is there ever such a thing? Really!)

Here’s the scoop on how much snow has fallen and what’s happening at some Colorado ski resorts:

Purgatory More than 4 feet of snow fell on Purgatory’s slopes in the first week of December, making for a killer opening day, December 8. According to the media folks there, “conditions are epic” and all the snow made for one of the best openings in the resort’s history. Twenty-two inches of fresh snow have fallen in the last 72 hours. The entire mountain is expected to be open this Saturday.

Aspen/Snowmass All four mountains that make up the Aspen/Snowmass area (Aspen, Snowmass, Highlands and Buttermilk) are open for business, with stellar conditions. Aspen Highlands has received 50 inches of snow in the past seven days!

Winter Park It’s a powder day at Winter Park; nearly 9 inches of snow has fallen in the last 24 hours. If you want to be one of the first folks on the mountain this Saturday, consider the “Fresh Tracks Breakfast”: The mountain allows the first 100 guests up the chairlift before it officially opens. It costs $29.99 for adults and $19.99 for kids. After you take your early morning runs, you get a hearty breakfast at Sunspot. Call 800.729.7907 for more details and to register.

Wolf Creek This ski area in the southern mountains of Colorado boasts that it’s the snowiest location in the state. It’s already received a whopping 171 inches of snow this year! (Crazy!) The summit (at nearly 12,000 feet) has received 14 inches in the last 24 hours. And the beauty of skiing at Wolf Creek is that the Pagosa Springs hot springs (The Springs Resort) is just down the hill. A lovely place to rest quivering thighs after a day on the slopes.

I just received a list from Public Relations Director extraordinaire Allison Johnson about the goings-on in Snowmass for the month of December. And I kept scrolling and scrolling and scrolling down my screen! Lots happening here in the next few weeks.

If you’re spending time in Snowmass (or next-door Aspen) for the holidays, check out these fun family events!

Dec. 8: The Snowmass Cross Country Center Opens
Come check out the free groomed trails and spectacular views from the Snowmass Cross Country Center.
Time: Open daily 9:30am to 4:30pm for rentals, lessons, tours, retail sales and cross country ski tuning.
Cost: Trail access is free
Contact: (970) 923-5700

Dec. 11: Roaring Fork Hospice Loving Tree Lighting
This tree lighting celebration is held in the Silvertree lobby. Buy an ornament and benefit Hospice of the Roaring Fork Valley. Complementary beverages and light fare are served.
Time: 4:30-5:30pm:
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 12: Holiday Open House at Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Featuring an exhibition of artwork by Ranch residents, a candlelit walk between studios with 300 luminaries and festive goodies, this holiday open house in December is the perfect chance to meet resident artists and purchase original artwork for that special someone.
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-3181 or www.andersonranch.org

Dec. 15: Grand Opening of the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center
Join the Aspen Skiing Company to celebrate the grand opening of this spectacular new 25,000-square foot facility from 3:30-7pm. Enjoy hot drinks, kids’ activities, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the facilities, and fireworks at 6:30pm.
Cost: Free. Free shuttles run from the Rodeo parking lot until 7pm.
Contact: (970) 925-1220

Dec. 18: Silvertree Hotel’s 40th Anniversary Celebration & Open House
Join the staff of the Silvertree Hotel for its annual open house in the Silvertree Main Lobby, featuring our giant traditional Christmas tree and help celebrate 40 years in Snowmass! Complimentary beverages and light fare will be served.
Time: 4:30-6:30pm
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27: Holiday Kids Krafts
Colorful, creative and fun holiday arts & crafts await children looking for something to do off the slopes. During this supervised hour, Kids Krafts will send children home with a special handmade holiday souvenir of their Snowmass vacation.
Time: 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm
Where: Meet in the Treehouse Kids Adventure Center
Cost: FREE!
Contact: 1.800.SNOWMASS

Dec, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31 Storytelling and Sing-A-Longs
Stop by the new base village plaza for special après-ski storytelling & sing-along hours for the whole family. Complimentary hot chocolate & s’mores await!
Time: 4-5pm Mondays (Sing-a-long) and Wednesdays (Storytelling)
Cost: FREE!
Where: The Base Village Plaza at the bottom of Fanny Hill. The Skittles lift runs up to the mall until 5pm.
Contact: 1.800.SNOWMASS

Dec. 20-24: Santa at the Silvertree Hotel
Santa will be nestled in the Silvertree Hotel lobby, ready for visits from little ones who need to get in those last minute requests. His elf will be on hand to take complimentary photos of the kids; if they’ve been good all year, they’ll receive an early surprise from his big red bag! Complimentary hot cocoa & cookies.
Time: 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Location: The Silvertree Hotel, Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 21-24 Santa’s Village & Carolers-a-Caroling
The North Pole comes to the Snowmass Village Mall when Santa’s magical village opens to hear the last minute requests of good girls and boys. Photos with Santa are offered daily throughout the week. Each afternoon carolers stroll through the Snowmass Mall singing favorite Christmas carols, while local musicians serenade guests in The Silvertree Hotel lobby with mountain favorites and seasonal songs.
Time: 2:30-4:30pm
Location: The Snowmass Village Mall
Cost: Free!
Contact: 1-800-SNOWMASS

Dec. 21 & 28: Free Kidz Flix presented by Aspen Film
The Silvertree Hotel offers free Weston Woods short holiday movies for children, including The Elves & the Shoemaker, Max’s Christmas, Morris’ Disappearing Bag, and The Night Before Christmas.
Time: 11-11:30am & 3:30-4:30 pm
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 21 & 28 Gingerbread Decorating!
Come decorate Gingerbread cookies at the Silvertree Hotel’s Eldorado AB Room.
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Cost: Free
Contact: 923-8254

Dec. 26: Storytelling with Jill Sheeley
Join Jill Sheeley, local author of “Frasier the Yellow Dog� for music, stories, and a visit from the real live Frasier! Santa will be on hand right after storytelling to take requests from little ones.
Dates: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: The Silvertree Hotel Lobby, Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 22: 36th Annual Silverboom, Snowmass Cross Country Center
Six and 12 km freestyle race at 10am at the Snowmass Cross Country Center. A Kiddieboom 1K is at noon for skiers 10 and under. Awards, prize drawings, and refreshments after the race.
Contact: Snowmass XC Center (970) 923-5700.

Dec. 22 & 29: Storytelling with author Johnny Boyd
Join Snowmass local author Johnny Boyd for a reading of his children’s book, First Tracks, about a little girl who travels to a ski resort, meets the locals, and learns to ski. Santa will be on hand right after storytelling to take requests from little ones.
Time: 4:30-6:30 pm
Location: The Silvertree Hotel Lobby, Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 23: Full Moon Tour, Snowmass Cross Country Center
Snowshoe or cross country ski with a guide under the light of a full moon.
Time: 7pm
Cost: Free, rentals $10
Contact: Snowmass XC Center 923-5700.

Dec. 23: Torchlight Parade
Whether viewer or participant, the annual torchlight parade down Snowmass’ slopes looks magnificently luminous! Moms, Dads and Kids ages 8 and older are invited to be part of the trail of light down the mountain.
Location: Fanny Hill
Cost to participate: Free!
Contact: For more information, stop by the Information Desk in the Ticket Pavilion or call (970) 923.0560

Dec. 24: Storytelling at The Silvertree Hotel
‘Tis the night before Christmas and Santa will be reading holiday tales before a roaring fireplace in The Silvertree Hotel Lobby. Come in your Jammies!
Time: 4:30-6:30 pm
Location: The Silvertree Hotel, Elbert Lane, Snowmass Village
Cost: Free
Contact: (970) 923-8254 or www.silvertreehotel.com

Dec. 24: Services at the Snowmass Chapel
Christmas eve services at 4 p.m. (Catholic Mass), 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. (Candlelight Service), and 11p.m (Christmas Eve Worship).
Location: The Snowmass Chapel
Contact: (970) 923-6192 or www.snowmasschapel.org

Dec. 31: Snowmass New Years Celebrations
Snowmass rings in the New Years with celebrations ranging from intimate gourmet prix-fixed dinners in local restaurants such as Sage Restaurant and The Artisan to the Silvertree Hotel’s 18th annual New Year’s Eve gala to parties in local hot spots such as the Mountain Dragon and Zane’s Tavern.
Location: Snowmass Village
Cost: Prices vary per event
Contact: 1-800-SNOWMASS or www.snowmassvillage.com

Dec. 31 New Years Eve Gala at the Silvertree Hotel
The Silvertree Hotel’s 18th annual New Year’s Eve gala parties into the wee hours with a reception with pianist and hors d’oeuvres, dinner buffet, and dancing. This event annually sells out.
Time: 8pm-1am
Location: The Silvertree Hotel Cabaret Room
Cost: $125/ticket
Contact: (970) 923-8220

For more information, visit www.snowmassvillage.com. Photo above by Biege Jones, courtesy Snowmass Village.

From my home in the Colorado Rockies, I’ve got a choice of airports.

Aspen (ASE) is only 30 minutes away, but usually prices to fly in and out of this chi-chi resort are steep, especially in the high season (summer and winter).

Grand Junction (GJT) is about 90 minutes from me, but it works if I’m flying to the West Coast (usually via Salt Lake City or Phoenix).

Denver (DEN) is a nearly-four-hour drive, but since it’s a United and Frontier hub, I get the best deals here. If I’m flying somewhere with the whole family (four of us; five if my mother-in-law comes along) we’ll make the drive to Denver and stay overnight in an airport-area hotel before our flights. We typically do this for long-haul trips to Mexico or the East Coast.

My preferred airport, however, is Eagle/Vail (EGE). Why? That’s easy: FREE PARKING!

How many regional airports these days offer totally free short-term and long-term parking? Not many, I don’t think. All the parking spots are within walking distance to the main terminal–no shuttle service needed. That’s a beautiful thing.

For me, the airport is an hour from my home. That means it’s about an hour and a half from Aspen. It’s also less than 30 minutes to Vail’s slopes, and not that much further to Breckenridge.

Basically, if you’re coming to the Rockies to ski, consider EGE if you don’t want to make the lengthy drive from Denver International Airport. Colorado Mountain Express vans make scheduled runs from EGE to the various Western Slope ski areas.

The Vail/Eagle County Regional Airport also offers free wireless internet service throughout the terminal. It’s spacious and always clean. A newly remodeled coffee shop and deli offers healthy food before your flight.

And the airport does accommodate jet service, which is great for me, since I hate flying on small propeller planes (yes, the irony of being a travel writer and dreading small-plane flying does not escape me). Boeing 757s regularly fly in and out of EGE.

For your next vacation in Western Colorado, I highly recommend checking out EGE. It’s truly the most convenient airport to most of the Rockies resort locations, and has many non-stop flights from major U.S. cities. Read more about EGE here.

Everyone in my neck of the woods—the Aspen area of Colorado—is fixated on the sky lately. We’re praying to the snow gods to bring the flakes to our mountains. The snow that was forecast for Wednesday, left just an inch or two in my front yard–and it promptly melted as soon as the sun came out on the day before Thanksgiving.

The “storm,” did, however, dump about 12 inches on Aspen Mountain and 9 inches on Snowmass Mountain. It wasn’t enough for the mountain managers to open Aspen Mountain for skiing on Thanksgiving (the gondolas were free to outdoor enthusiasts who wanted to snowshoe or hike). Snowmass was open—and the lifts were free to folks who wanted make some turns on the limited terrain. (I’m a fair weather/great conditions kind of skier, so my boards remain in my basement for now!)

I thought visitors would be complaining bitterly about the lack of snow, but it turns out, those who traveled from places like Florida and the Caribbean were thrilled to simply be able to play a bit in snow. Of course, the fact that skiing was totally free helped!

It is cloudy here today, and more snow is in the forecast for the coming week. (If my brother is reading, rest assured I’m *sure* there will be plenty of snow for your snowboarding visit over Christmas!)

In the meantime, if visitors want to forego the slopes and enjoy other activities while they’re visiting my fine state, there’s tons to do. Here’s a special I learned about recently:

Reasonable Rates at Hotel Monaco, Denver
Stay at the four-diamond Hotel Monaco, an upscale boutique hotel in downtown Denver, for as low as $104 a night through January 6. You’ll be close to shopping, nightlife, tons of restaurants, and did I mention awesome stores for holiday shopping? Plug in the promo code TZP at the hotel’s reseservations website.

*******

Don’t forget to vote for me in the second week of Project Blog! Here are the rest of the contestants:

1. Randi, Brad Pitt Watch: “A Blast from the Past for Project Blog”
2. Kate, Babylune: “Has Sex Really Left the City?”
3. Winnie, Watching The View: “Project Blog: Three Ways Rosie O’Donnell Changed The View”
4. Sally, Style Fix: “Because I Slacked on My Promise: A Total ANTM Recall”
5. Jodie, Gossip on Sports: “Project Blog Week Two Challenge”
6. Cynthia, TV of the Absurd: “Supernatural Origins: Take Two”
7. Mark, Get Incensed: “We’re Still Not Friends”

It’s coming! But it’s not here yet!

I’m sitting in my mountain home at 7,000 feet elevation — 30 minutes from Aspen’s slopes — and it’s 60 degrees outside. According to one of the local papers, the Aspen Times, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will open on Thanksgiving Day with very limited terrain. Jeff Hanle, an Aspen Skiing Company spokesperson is suggesting that locals not even try to hit the slopes. He’s quoted in the paper as saying, “It’s not going to be the best conditions in the world, so we may want to leave it to our visiting guests.”

Other ski resorts in the state have opened, but conditions are reported marginal elsewhere, too.

That all said, according to the Weather Channel, a storm is moving in, at least in my neck of the woods, and we can expect some snow starting late tonight. In Aspen tomorrow, the high is expected to be in the 30s, with morning snow showers. Another storm is moving in later in the week, with some snow expected on Friday, as well. Denver’s high is forecast to be only 28 degrees, also with snow on its way tomorrow and Friday.

Even though the ski season is starting slowly around here, I’m not worried. If temperatures do drop this week as forecast, the snow-making machines will be running on overdrive to fill in those patchy spots on the slopes. And I’m sure Mother Nature will help out by the time visitors arrive in droves for the busy Christmas-to-New-Year’s Week, which can be hectic in Aspen, but oh-so-fun for celebrity spotting!

Photo by Hal Williams. Courtesy AspenSnowmass.com.

I’ve made no secret of my fondness for vacation condominium rentals. Why stay in a standard hotel room, when you can spread out in a multi-bedroom unit? Especially for ski vacations, when you’re packing lots of equipment, gear and warm clothes, you want spacious accommodations. Plus, a living and/or dining room gives you room to lounge around apres ski.

The amenities in many vacation homes–whether they are condominiums or freestanding houses–help take the hassle out of a cold-weather, equipment-heavy sport, and the camaraderie can’t be beat. Vacation home rental can even save skiers money, especially when you’re traveling as a family, or with a large group of friends.

ResortQuest, the nation’s largest ski vacation home rental company, has properties in Aspen, Breckenrige, Keystone, Steamboat Springs and Telluride. The company offers the following tips for those looking to rent a ski vacation home this ski season:

Look Before You Book
When shopping for ski vacation rentals, look for companies that offer a simple way to determine a home’s suitability for you and your winter sport companions. Go to the web site: it should provide photos as well as detailed descriptions of accommodations. It should also tell you the home or condo’s proximity to the slopes and available services.

Plenty of Perks
Many vacation rental companies offer renters special perks, from discounted lift tickets to free ski lessons and even entertainment or attraction tickets for time off the slopes.

Check Out The Amenities
Make sure the home has all of the amenities your group needs. Is there space for skis, poles. parkas, snowboards and other equipment to be stored safely? Is the washer/dryer large enough to accommodate all your gear? Will there be enough towels for everyone every day? Call in advance to make sure.

Word Of Mouth
What better way to gauge the quality of a ski rental property than to find out if other people liked it? Ask the rental company if a property has a high percentage of return guests. Or check online forums to see what people have to say.

Sleep Tight/Ski Right
Decide in advance who bunks with whom and where (especially, who gets the master bedroom). Take into account when travelers plan to hit the slopes and match roommates accordingly. Look for vacation accommodations where each bedroom has its own bathroom, or set up bathroom usage schedules in advance.

Feeding the Hungry
Everyone will be famished after a long day careening through the white stuff. Can arrangements be made in advance to have the pantry stocked? Are there places nearby from which food can be delivered? Decide in advance on how to share costs of food and beverage, who cooks and who cleans up. Could anyone arrive early to get the grocery shopping done and unpacked before everyone else arrives? Another option is to decide who will be bringing what from home.

Just in Case
Ensure that the property has the ability to help take care of urgent needs–from getting an extra toothbrush to assisting with accidents and other medical emergencies. This is best accomplished when there is a local management office or representative from the rental management company available to assist around the clock. Let’s face it–heaters and refrigerators can break down, so you’ll want someone on-site to quickly make it right for your ski group.

skiing, Colorado, condominiums

Yesterday I spent the morning with my son’s kindergarten class at Aspen’s Maroon Bells, some of the most photographed mountain peaks in the world. How blessed are these children that they get to retreat into glorious nature as part of their curriculum?!

My group of five little boys and I (and another helpful mom) talked about our five senses and explored the lake, traipsed on trails, and collected leaves, pine cones and sticks. It was a beautiful, robin’s-egg-blue-sky day and I certainly felt blessed.

Aspen, Maroon Bells

I’ll be honest. I’m not one to worry about the impact my family’s annual trip to Mexico has on Mother Nature. We’re not going to not hit the tropics in the dead of winter because of our plane’s emissions. Similarly, we take regular weekend road trips in our non-hybrid car. (Oh, and we are often pulling a pop-up camper behind the minivan.)

However, I know that many travelers are more green than I am. (My family does recycle and we use energy-saving light bulbs!) Many want to offset their carbon footprint. As a result, Aspen, which has long been an eco-conscious ski resort, is offering the new Aspen ZGreen Carbon Offset Package, valid September 15 to December 22, 2007.

With the Aspen ZGreen Carbon Offset Package, visitors who book two or more nights at any participating Aspen lodge will receive a “Canary Tag� certificate, confirming that $60 has been invested in a third-party, verified energy efficiency and renewable energy project through the City of Aspen. (Note: $60 offsets the carbon footprint for three commercial airline passengers from New York City to Aspen, plus average area driving and hotel stay for one week. Verification of Canary Tag offsets will be from a reputable third-party carbon verifier such as the Chicago Climate Exchange or the Environmental Resources Trust.)

Many Aspen lodges are participating, including the Gant and Sky Hotel, and bookings can be made through Stay Aspen Snowmass. To reserve the Aspen ZGreen Carbon Offset Package call 800-670-0788 or visit the Aspen Chamber Resort Association website or StayAspenSnowmass.

Aspen encourages guests to use the free bus system, walk or bike while visiting. Participating lodges will include free parking. In addition to the carbon offsets, the City of Aspen will give participants two complimentary passes per reservation ($30 value) to the Aspen Recreation Center.

(more…)