Scattered across the Rocky Mountains are all manner of rustic and upscale towns adorned with boutiques and cafés. It’s here that you’ll find some of the finest après-ski bars and restaurants, and rub snowy shoulders with winter Olympians and celebs. Oh yeah, we should add that, amid all the parties, the spas and the fine dining, you can also go skiing in Colorado. Aspen, Vail and Telluride are among the many snow hubs with state of the art lifts and equipment for the most comfortable (and exhilarating) skiing experience imaginable. They have countless slopes and pistes, packed with snow throughout winter. And most importantly, these mountain villages are exactly where you’ll find some of the best Plum Guide homes; ones we’ve inspected personally to make sure they’re just right for your holiday.
Telluride
Top-class restaurants, spas and golf courses (probably best before the snowfall) are among the fun and exclusive activities in this famous ski hub. And we at the Plum Guide certainly have a ticket to Telluride (sorry) in the form of our myriad homes spread across the valley. What awaits you is a resort area with pretty much everything you could ever want or need to get your ski on. In some ways, Telluride is a little more down to earth than its Aspen and Vail rivals (although it’s pretty high up in the sky, regardless). It’s a reliable destination, with high points across the board for its quality of skiing, its stunning views and the quaint ambiance of the town centre. Dine at the Cosmopolitan or the Chop House Restaurant.
Snow-capped mountains in Telluride, Colorado
On Piste, Plum Guide home in Telluride, Colorado
Aspen
Where Telluride is (relatively) low key, Aspen is the Hollywood of the Rockies (there must be a Sylvester Stallone joke in there somewhere). There's nowhere fancier to go skiing in Colorado; the glitz and glamour makes the snow seem somehow even softer and more sparkly. Across the High Alpine, the Cirque and the Burnt Mountain Glades, you’ll ski in the tracks of all sorts of celebrities and high achievers. Hey, you may even consider yourself one of them. We should think so – it’s why you’re reading this journal post and browsing the homes we’ve got in Aspen.
Skiing in Aspen, Colorado
You’re a little spoilt for choice in terms of resorts. The Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort is the most famous of the lot, while the Aspen Mountain Ski Resort, the Aspen Highlands Ski Resort and the Buttermilk Ski Resort make up the numbers in a pretty spectacular line-up.
Head down to The Collective for live music, upmarket restaurants and ritzy bars. Then, shake off that hangover in the morning, and go skiing, snowboarding, tubing, indoor wall climbing… the list is endless. Disclaimer: it’s not endless. Nothing is.
Durant Basecamp, Plum Guide home in Aspen
Vail
We’d like to un-Vail another top tip for skiing in Colorado in the form of…well, we’ve already written it…but yes, Vail. Like Aspen, it’s an upmarket gem frequented by the rich and famous. The biggest difference is that it has just the one mountain compared to its rival’s four. It’s not the size that matters, and it must be said that it makes for a closer-knit community and even more exclusive vibe.
A snow-covered landscape in winter in Vail, Colorado
It may just be one mountain, but you’ve got the Front-Side, the Blue Sky Basin and the Back Bowls, with a bunch of slopes criss-crossing between the trees. Another highlight of Vail is the Bavarian style of the town centre. As for our homes, we have a great range of styles in Vail, from rustic to modern chic, so have a look and pick your preference.
Mountainous, Plum Guide home in Vail, Colorado
Breckenridge
This area comprises five peaks adorned with 187 snow-filled pistes. Rest those weary ankles or legs (or whatever ails you the most after all that skiing) in a spa. Or put the skis away for a day, and get some exercise, power walking through the deluxe shops, fronted by classic redbrick designs. It never disappoints for snow, as one of the highest points in the state, making it great for skiers of all abilities. But all that snow can’t hide the plethora of high-class lodgings the Plum Guide has in the area.
Backcountry, Plum Guide home in Breckenridge, Colorado
Steamboat Springs
The dazzling lights of the Yampa Valley make for quite a sight as evening falls. By day, you’ll try to achieve some of the feats that winter Olympians made before you in this prestigious resort town. Take classes and ski down the snowy slopes. In summer, hike up and down the lush green hills.
