Destination Colorado: Summer on the Ski Slopes
March 10, 2008
Filed under Destinations
Schussing the ski slopes in the Rocky Mountains is heavenly-champagne powder, Technicolor-blue skies and plenty of sun make for awesome winter adventures. But it’s summertime when the mountains really shine as outdoor playgrounds for all ages.
Colorado timeshare resort areas offer plenty of mountainous hiking and biking trails, and opportunities for fun pursuits like river rafting, hot-air ballooning and horseback riding. The local ski mountains are morph into mini theme parks, with climbing walls, alpine slides and bungee trampolines.
Breckenridge
From mid-June to Labor Day in Breckenridge, the place to be for families is the Peak 8 Fun Park. Here, kids can jump in a Bounce House, fly across mountain terrain on ziplines, find their way through Colorado’s largest human maze and test their putting skills on the mini-golf course.
A ride up the scenic chairlift brings you to 11,059 feet and a wide network of hiking and mountain biking trails. Conveniently rent bikes at the base and load your gear right on the chairlift. For more thrills, ride a sled down the speedy alpine slalom course.
In Vail, an easy 100-mile drive on the interstate from Denver, you can enjoy a breathtaking gondola ride up Vail Mountain to Adventure Ridge at Eagle’s Nest, complete with views of magnificent peaks. Have fun playing a few rounds of disc golf, horseshoes or bocce. The kids will love to hunt for buried bones at the Dino Dig. Try the bouncing bungee harnessed trampoline or take off on a guided nature hike to learn more about the area’s flora and fauna.
For adrenaline addicts, take your mountain bike on the singletrack down the steep mountain, or if you’re up for a more leisurely ride, follow the paved bike path along the Colorado River, whose trail you can pick up in town. Also in town is the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, which is a lovely place to stroll the grounds or sit on a park bench and admire the summertime blooms.
Nestled between the Gore Range and the Continental Divide, Winter Park Resort fills the summer season with activities galore. Summer on-mountain attractions include more than 50 miles of lift-accessible hiking and mountain biking trails. Plus, you’ll find Colorado’s longest alpine slide, a human maze, bungee jumping, a three-dimensional “gyro ride” and 18 holes of Frisbee golf.
More leisurely pursuits include taking the Zephyr Express chairlift to the top of the ski mountain and enjoying phenomenal mountain views while getting a bite to eat at the scenic high-altitude restaurant
