Yvette Armendariz
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 14 2008 4:11 pm
Easter typically signifies the end of ski season. But Easter comes early this year, and resorts are staying open at least through mid-April. Right now, you can find good deals on hotels and lift tickets. Here are three Colorado destinations to consider. And if you book now, you could snag airfare as low as $150 roundtrip to Denver.
Breckenridge
www.breckenridge.com, 1-800-789-7669
There's tough terrain here, but also plenty of easy and moderate runs for the kids. The terrain is 14 percent beginner, 31 percent intermediate, 19 percent advanced and 36 percent expert. Day care is available, too. A big plus is Breckenridge is more than just a ski area. If you don't feel like skiing, you can go shopping, dogsledding, snowmobiling or take a carriage ride.
Open through: April 20.
Lift tickets: $86 for adults, $45 for kids. Rates go down in April, but prices have yet to be announced. You can find deals when combined with hotel packages.
Ski rentals: $20-$43. Save 20 percent by booking online at www.skirentals.com. After April 1, get up to two free junior ski rentals per online reservation, or $32 off per day.
Where to eat: More higher-end restaurants are coming to town. One that's kid-friendly is Relish, which serves Colorado-inspired cuisine. The kids menu includes grilled chicken, trout and bow-tie pasta. The menu changes regularly. www.relishbreckenridge.com.
Where to stay: Take your choice, from condos to hotels. (inappropriate term) Run and the Great Divide Lodge are nice for families. Many nearby properties are offering a "$96 @ 9600 Feet" ski package between April 1 and June 12. Details at www.gobreck.com.
Fun for kids: If you go March 22-23, check out the Snow Active Kid's weekend. It includes a Cocoa & Cookies Concert, snow-sculpting challenge and Easter egg hunt. The ski school has a "Mountains of Discovery Program" where kids go on a mission to find items using a map.
Fun for adults: There are plenty of apres-ski options and quaint shops. Relax at one of the town's spas, which offer everything from acupuncture and massages to Pilates and qigong, a type of moving meditation exercise.
Copper Mountain Resort
www.coppercolorado.com, 866-841-2481
This resort, with 125 trails, offers a good mix of adult and family fun. Kids can practice on the red carpet, a conveyor belt just off the center village, then go down a mild slope and work their way to the Green Acres trail. Day care is available by the hour, as well as by the full day ($93-$98) and half-day ($78-$88). The terrain is 21 percent beginner, 25 percent intermediate, 36 percent advanced and 18 percent expert.
Open through: April 13.
Lift tickets: Prices go down after March 31. A three-day ticket will be $168 online vs. peak season rates of $225 online or $258 at the window. If you're skiing in March, buy your ticket at King Sooper in Denver. You can get an adult ticket for $75, an $11 savings; kids tickets are $37, an $8 savings. Kids 5 and younger get in free, but you still need to get them a ticket.
Ski rentals: $19-$40 per day. Book online to save 20 percent. After April 1, get free ski rental for kids with each adult rental, a $15 savings per child, at www.skirentals.com
Where to eat: Get pizza and drinks at Pizza Carlo, in the center village, which offers daily bar specials. Children can be "Kids in the Kitchen," where they learn the art of making pizza and get a chef's hat and certificate. Then they serve their own creations, plus dessert pizza, garlic bread, salad and soda to their families. Cost is $60, and reservations are required. 970-968-3112.
Where to stay: Village Square if you like to ski-in, ski-out. We found a hotel room for $128 a night in the final weekend of the season. That compares with $298 a night during the peak season. There are still a few "Ski Free, Stay Free!" deals, but you have to be flexible. This deal adds a fourth free night if you book three nights of lodging and a day of lift tickets, plus kids 12 and younger ski free.
Fun for kids: Kids 36 inches and taller can go tubing. An hour costs $18-$20 for age 12 and younger and $22-24 for adults. Make reservations to ensure a spot. 1-866-416-9874.
Fun for adults: Check out Jack's Bar in the village for apres-ski cocktails and music. Catch popular local band Lefty Lucy from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
www.arapahoebasin.com, 888-272-72463
This isn't your typical ski resort. You won't find condos, lodges or timeshares. That means no ski-in, ski-out opportunities. But two big positives are a longer ski season - it opened Oct. 10 and won't likely close until June - and discount lift tickets. If you love challenging runs, the Pallavicini black diamond run is considered one of the most challenging in North America. The terrain is 10 percent beginner, 30 percent intermediate, 37 percent advanced and 23 percent expert.
Lift tickets: Ages 6-14, $25; ages 15-19, $47; adults, $58; ages 60-69, $48; age 70 and older, $10. Three cool deals: Kids 5 and younger always ski free, get a free child's ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket, and there's a $12 beginner lift ticket valid only at the Molly Hogan Learning Center.
Ski rentals: $18-$39.
Where to eat: Check out the Black Mountain Lodge, which offers a great view and serves bistro-style food. The menu has included kobe burgers, white bean chicken chili, brisket and grilled salmon. You'll also find $5 kids' meals with your choice of hot dog, mac and cheese or "dino nuggets" and fries.
Where to stay: Take your pick of places in nearby Keystone, Dillon or Silverthorne. Key to the Rockies in Keystone is offering a 2-day lift-tickets-and-lodging special as low as $130 per person, based on quad occupancy. It's good for the rest of the season.
Fun for kids: Let them practice jumps and other moves at the High Divide Terrain Park. There's a "Beach'n Egg Hunt" on March 23.
Fun for adults: Enjoy a cocktail and live music at the 6th Alley Bar. Or catch the Summit State, a free bus, to a brew pubs in Keystone, Dillon, Silverthorne, Frisco or Breckenridge. www.summitstage.com.
If you pick up an
If you pick up an Entertainment Guide book, you can find a few ski discounts there. Most aren't for peak season, but they can save you $20-$30 a ticket.