What could be better than sipping on some hot cocoa in a cosy cabin in the Rocky Mountains when Christmas comes around? Well: the Race of the Santas, for one thing, and there are plenty of other innovative and fun activities. The towns spread across the Rockies in Colorado are custom-made for an ideal festive season, and there are all sorts of activities for the whole family - you can even bring your dog to some of them. And that’s without mentioning the gorgeous lights that paint the enchanting valleys in a red glow that’s almost enough to melt the snow (don’t worry, it doesn’t). Of course, you’re welcome to do un-Christmassy things all the while, such as getting your ski on, whooshing down the slopes and getting drunk in the après ski bars. Actually, maybe that is Christmassy. At least you’ll have the comfort of nursing that hangover in a luxurious Plum Guide home, which we’ve expertly vetted to make sure they’re just right for the perfect stay in Colorado's Christmas areas. We would never settle for anything less than perfection, after all.
Breckenridge
This is hands down top of the list when it comes to Christmas towns in Colorado, simply because it has the Race of the Santas. Hundreds of participants dressed up as Santa (almost certainly including you) take on a 5K race in the heart of the town. And hey, remember we mentioned dogs above? There’s the Holiday Dog Parade too, where dogs in costumes are walked down Main Street. They ask for no Scrooges (no, that’s not a breed of dog).
If all of that isn’t your cuppa Christmas, there are five snow-capped peaks with 187 ski slopes. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of powering down a mountain on Christmas. And you can refuel in the Rejuvenation Spa at One Ski Hill Place in the Breckenridge Ski Resort, before collapsing on the bed of one of the luxury Breckenridge lodgings we offer in the town. If you have the energy, go out for a Christmas meal at one of the most exclusive restaurants, such as Aurum Food & Wine Breckenridge, Hearthstone Restaurant and Relish.
Highland Greens, Plum Guide home in Colorado, US
Telluride
As luck would have it, we also have a great range of upscale homes available in another magical Christmas town - Telluride. Arrive for the Holiday Prelude, when everything from hot cocoa stalls and a Santa workshop to an ice skating ring and Christmas movies get families in the mood for Noël. Attend the turning-on of the Christmas lights, see the massive illuminated Christmas Tree in the town centre, and watch the synchronised patterns lighting up the ski slopes from the Torchlight Parade. Fireworks then light up the sky above the mountain (hopefully not causing any avalanches). Telluride is an idyllic destination that scores high across the board. It has excellent skiing facilities and all sorts of top restaurants and spas.
Mountains In The Sky, Plum Guide home in Colorado, US
Aspen
Snowy mountains in Aspen, Colorado
Many of the towns scattered across the Rockies celebrate Christmas in style, and Aspen is no different. The ultra-cool celebrity hotspot puts on the 12 Days of Aspen (casually inserting itself in the religious folklore of Christmas). Bring your little ones to the workshops to do such fun things as decorating stockings and attending story hours. They can also make cookies and go to Christmas movie screenings. Go ice skating and look up to the skies for the fireworks (maybe not while ice skating, as you’ll bump into people).
Of course, we are talking about Aspen here. It belongs on a list of Christmas towns in Colorado, but it’s much more than Christmas - it's skiing too. Go skiing on the myriad snowy slopes of the High Alpine, the Cirque and the Burnt Mountain Glades. We’ve got homes placed across the area, and you can ski in the Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort, the Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, the Aspen Highlands Ski Resort and the Buttermilk Ski Resort. The après-ski is as famous as anything else up here, so make your way to The Collective for live music, upmarket restaurants and ritzy bars.
Spring Creek, Plum Guide home in Colorado, US
Vail
What could be more Christmas-like than wandering through the Bavarian design of the town centre of Vail? Festive lights and other decorations adorn the lampposts and houses, while the Kris Kringle Market stands at the centre of everything Christmas-related. So stock up on baubles and tinsel and decorate one of the superb homes we have in Vail.
Glowing Embers, Plum Guide home in Vail, Colorado, US
Steamboat Springs
Ski Lift in Steamboat Springs Ski-Resort, Colorado
Steamboat Springs is another hotspot for skiing, with the Howelsen Hill Ski Area known for its Olympian heritage. We don't expect you to quite match professionals, but a few jumps and tricks won't go amiss. The Steamboat Ski Resort is packed with trails and slopes, its hills providing vistas of snow-swept peaks that undoubtedly belong on a list of the best Christmas towns in Colorado. Then rest those weary legs at the Old Town Hot Springs. Go on, treat yourself: it's Christmas. We've also got some lovely homes to relax in, too. For something a little dream-like, watch Santa ride down the ski slopes on horseback. It’s part of the genre-mixing Christmas in Wild West. See him in his workshop with his reindeer, before taking up that exciting cookie decorating practice and staying for the live music.
