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Winter Wonderland: 12 Retreats To Satisfy Every Athlete
by Carrie Miner
Cooling Off In Colorado
Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride, Keystone, Winter Park—all names illustrating what winter enthusiasts have known for decades; that the sport of skiing and Colorado's snowy slopes go hand in hand. Ski resorts of the Colorado Rocky Mountain are famous for their spectacular mountain scenery, excellent ski slopes, fabulous snow conditions, chic style and elite accommodations.
Rich in natural resources, Colorado made a name for itself with its prosperous boomtowns and wealth of gold and silver. Like many of the state's mining towns, Telluride springs from this rich legacy. Located in a narrow box canyon in the San Juan Mountains, Telluride was founded in the late 1800s as the base for the silver mining done on the steep mountain slopes towering over the San Miguel River Valley. The town and its people suffered from the isolation of being in such a remote location. But in 1890, the Rio Grande Southern railway steamed into town, bringing contact with the outside world and creating a boom of prosperity to Telluride.
Five years later, the Sheridan Hotel went up in downtown Telluride, bringing Victorian charm and cozy comfort to the managers and financiers of the Sheridan mine—one of many in the vicinity.
Today, the mines overlooking Telluride are silent, but this charismatic town continues on. Aerial trams traveling up the mountain carry skiers instead of miners and the clean white snow, the bane of Telluride's early inhabitants, is now cheered as a new source of prosperity for this Colorado community.
Today, Telluride takes pride in its isolated location. But private pilots have an edge on other skiers and can easily sample this historic charm of this 19th-century mining town by flying into the Telluride Regional Airport [KTEX]—which at 9,078 feet MSL is the highest commercial airport in the United States.
To stay in the vein of the town's historical ambiance, book a room at the New Sheridan Hotel—the same hotel that has been welcoming guests for more than a century. This Grande Dame still rules the roost in Telluride, featuring not only old-fashioned hospitality, but also the Victorian furniture and dècor that has graced the elegant rooms since its earliest days. As an added incentive to cozy comfort, the historic New Sheridan Hotel also features the New Sheridan Chop House Restaurant, a bistro featuring hearty American cuisine, and the lively Historic New Sheridan Bar, the oldest watering hole in Telluride.
Just a few minutes walk from the historic hotel will take you to Telluride's environmentally-friendly gondola, which commutes from Telluride to Mountain Village and the surrounding ski slopes. The lofty 14,000-foot high peaks offer skiers more than 1,700-acres of sizable terrain with 84 trails accessible for all skiing skill levels. In addition to downhill drop-offs, skiers can slow down with 10 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails or speed up with on the ski area's NASTAR race course. And then, if that isn't enough to keep your pulse pounding, try out a few of the other winter fun runs—heli-skiing, snowmobile excursions, fly-fishing trips, sleigh rides and glider rides.
 Aspen, one of the favorite destinations in the Rocky Mountains, features four mountains—all connected by a shuttle service. While Buttermilk and Aspen Mountain cater to beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, Highlands tops the list as a local favorite with one of the highest vertical rises in Colorado. However, the monumental Snowmass Mountain, offers a larger ski area than all three of Aspen's other mountains combined.
This favorite hangout of the rich and famous and the chic capital of après-ski, offers a multitude of world-class places to stay. However, if you're looking for casual comfort without breaking the bank you might want to check in at the Aspen Meadows Resort. Located just three miles from the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport [KASE], this 40-acre resort offers spacious suites and is within walking distance of the trendy boutiques and culinary hotspots of Aspen.
And speaking of culinary hotspots, Olives at the St. Regis Resort Aspen spices things up by utilizing celebrity Chef Todd English's flair for dishing up American cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. Tempt your palette with such delightful entrees as crispy roast duckling a l'orange or beef short ribs braised with sherry and brown sugar. Olives Aspen features an exhibition kitchen and an eclectic dècor, creating the cozy atmosphere favored by Aspen's elite. The superb bar menu at Olives takes epicurean delights to an even higher level with nearly 20 tidbit treats including such succulent dishes as spicy yellow fin tuna tartare, steamed Prince Edward Island mussels and beef carpaccio.
Along with featuring this famously popular restaurant, St. Regis Resort Aspen makes another fabulous place to stay during your visit to this chic Colorado community. Located at the base of Aspen Mountain, St. Regis Resort offers simple elegance in its stunningly picturesque guestrooms and suites.
As an added incentive, private pilots and their passengers are met planeside by one of the resort's drivers for hassle-free transportation to the impressive property.
Once you are settled in, the concierge will help you book your sporting selections—everything from cross country and downhill skiing to winter fly fishing and snowshoe treks.
Finally, finish up with a visit to the highly-acclaimed Remède Spa at St. Regis Resort, which offers up a menu of such sophisticated signature spa services as an après ski massage and a super oxygen skin booster.
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