GRAND Magazine - November/December 2008 - (Page 61) f Snow courte tastes goo d sy Cr ystal M at Crysta ounta l Moun tain, in. Snowmass, Colorado The Colorado Rockies’ champagne powder is renowned. With 300 inches of snow falling annually at Snowmass, plus high-tech, environmentally friendly snowmaking equipment, visitors know they’ll have plenty of white stuff to play in on the slopes. Snowmass is the second-largest ski resort in the country—36 Disneylands could fit within the ski-area boundaries. It also has the highest vertical rise of any U.S. ski resort: 4,406 feet, higher than four Eiffel Towers. The resort also offers more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, 24 chair lifts, three terrain parks and nearly 100 trails that vary from ultra-easy learning hills to challenging steeps. Plus, a lift ticket is good at the three other Aspen/Snowmass ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands, all linked by free skier shuttles. Snowmass is in the midst of a multi-year, billion-dollar “renaissance,” bringing additions and improvements to its new Base Village and to the slopes. For visitors, this will mean more options for accommodations and dining, plus new chair lifts and trails. Accommodations: While Base Village’s 236-room Viceroy Snowmass hotel (with 7,000-squarefoot spa) is not set to open until winter 2009/10, overnight visitors can currently choose from convenient ski-in/ski-out, multi-bedroom condominiums or vacation home rentals in all price ranges. The slopeside Silvertree Hotel offers standard guest rooms, as well as one- or two-bedroom suites. Contact Stay Aspen/Snowmass: www.stayaspensnowmass.com, 888-649-5982. Lessons: Families rent equipment and check in for ski school at the brand-new Treehouse Adventure Center with themed rooms for different age groups. “Never-ever” skiers are taken on the “magic carpet” ride (surface conveyor belt) up Fanny Hill or to the new, mid-mountain Elk Camp Meadows learning area, which brings beginners into the high alpine with a dedicated quad chair. Preschoolers can take group ski lessons in the morning and then hang out after lunch at the Adventure Center’s “Bear Den,” with a puppet show theater, napping loft and ageappropriate interactive games. Half-day, full-day and weeklong ski and snowboard lessons for every ability and age are offered at Snowmass, as well as specialty programs such as women-only seminars or “learn to ride the rails” camps. Dining: Nine on-mountain restaurants suit every palate and budget—from a quick slice at Up for Pizza or elegant table service at Gwyn’s (think elk medallions in cranberry port sauce and warm “chocolate gateau”). Then there’s the new-this-season, $9 million Sneaky’s Tavern at the base of Fanny Hill. And you may not be able to tear your grandchildren from The Sweet Life, a two-story candy shop and family diner featuring more than 250 flavors of ice cream and a s’mores table where the goods are delivered by train! Beyond the slopes: On a dogsled ride provided by Krabloonik Restaurant & Kennel, you’ll take on hairpin turns and thrilling straight shots through open fields with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks—all in the capable hands of an experienced musher. The per-person price of a ride combined with a gourmet lunch or dinner is hefty—$195 and up. But you may consider the once-in-a-lifetime experience worth the cost! Après-ski family fun can be found weekday afternoons at the Treehouse Adventure Center, with scheduled programming that includes sing-alongs or storytelling at the plaza fireplace, kids’ crafts or classic ski films. Getting there: Snowmass Village is nine miles from downtown Aspen and about six miles from the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE). Other airport options are the Vail-Eagle County Airport (EGE), 70 miles away, or Denver International Airport (DIA), 220 miles from Snowmass; from either of these airports, rent a car or take a scheduled Colorado Mountain Express shuttle to Snowmass. Learn more: www.snowmassvillage.com, www.aspensnowmass.com. NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2008 GRAND 61 h, Notc lers’ sort. ugg h Re t Sm c ing a lers’ Not oe owsh Smugg Sn esy court “Never-ever” skiers are taken on the “magic carpet” ride e http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com http://www.snowmassvillage.com http://www.aspensnowmass.com
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