By Laurel Ann Nelson
Mountain Travel Expert
From the first time I visited Crested Butte I fell in love and wanted to move there! I didn’t realize that true ski towns like this still existed! It reminded me of skiing as a kid with its quaint style and charm – but with an exciting nightlife scene. I’ve now been back a couple more times, both in the summer and in the winter, but my recent visit in early February was a truly memorable experience.
While there, we received nearly 25 inches in 36 hours —I’d never seen so much snow before! Bedecked in all that snow downtown Crested Butte looked picture perfect. Festive lights, decorations, bikes and ski fences were all blanketed in snow, which created a special glow.
I stayed at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square which is the newest hotel/condo complex conveniently situated in the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base village. The property is less than 250 yards from the chairlifts making it great for a family or group seeking a convenient location, luxury atmosphere and world-class amenities.
I was able to to tour the Grand Lodge, also located in the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base village. This property features a large, outdoor hot tub and is perfect for those looking for great accommodations and location at a budget-friendly price.
Downtown Crested Butte, which is three miles from the ski resort, exudes an incredible amount of mining-era charm and down-to-earth experiences. For its size Crested Butte offers a wide variety of lively, funky bars and historically and culturally eclectic restaurants. I’ve never had a bad meal in Crested Butte. From gourmet pizza at Secret Stash all the way down to a “Gas Stop Café” delicious breakfast sandwich, everything is fresh and scrumptious! Even the sushi at Lil’s makes you forget you’re in the middle of the Rockies. Crested Butte has more than 40 different bars, restaurants and lounges to check out, not to mention great boutiques so the ladies can do some shopping. There’s even some great live music that comes through every week, summer and winter! Town is a happenin’ spot, just try not to miss the last bus or you’ll be taking a taxi.
I would recommend Crested Butte to anyone who wants to get off the beaten path and experience something different! The resort is great for families thanks to its many gentle green and blue runs as well as skiers or snowboarders looking for an “Extreme” experience on the famed upper-mountain terrain.
If you have any questions about Crested Butte or would like to book a vacation to this unique corner of Colorado, call me today at 800-619-8911 ext 3043 or email me.
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