USA Travel Guide

Living in Dallas, I take to snow like a fish takes to sand, but there are those at USA Travel Guide who do have a penchant for the powder (and I do mean snow). So here’s a quick tip for those planning a Colorado ski vacation, or at least those planning to be in the Denver area sometime this winter: consider Copper Mountain.

While it hasn’t yet garnered the name recognition of places like Vail, Breckenridge or, of course, Aspen, the ski resort at Copper Mountain does offer top-notch snow sports entertainment with a fraction of the hassle you’ll find at leading resorts. What makes it special? Honestly, it’s the clientele. With less tourist traffic gumming up the works, Copper Mountain is a smooth-operating, slope-hitting machine; a “local’s mountain”. This means fewer lines, shorter waits and cheaper rates on average.

Of course, also in line with most “local’s mountains”, Copper Mountain is better suited for intermediate to expert skiers. While there are some beginners’ facilities, they are far less extensive than what you’d find at a tourist park.

You can of course stay at Copper Mountain or in nearby Silverthorne (learn more about Copper Mountain here), but for the sake of affordability and short-trip convenience, I though I would also offer an option in Denver, which is about 80 miles out from Copper Mountain, depending on where you stay.

So for Denver, CO hotels near the Denver International Airport (DIA), I like the Embassy Suites Denver – International Airport Hotel. They’ve got great family rooms and a gas package to help with the drive.