OT: Colorado Spring Break Trip Question

[PhillipDeezNuts]

So, my oldest wants to go to Colorado and we are thinking of going for Spring Break (1st full week in March). I have questions for you guys who go regularly, as I have never been to Colorado. We are not really interested in skiing, we have a 6 year old so need activities for little ones and me and my oldest want to do snowmobile excursion. Sightseeing is a must and of course local shopping and dining. I’m looking at Winter Park as most likely destination. We would travel on a Sunday and return Wednesday.

1. Looks like most of the resorts require you to fly into Denver and then drive. Very worried about road conditions and traveling as I have no experience driving in snow/ice, especially on step highways. Anyone done the drive from Denver to Winter Park? Is it pretty safe for regular travel?

2. Should I be concerned with weather during this time of the year? Does it snow a lot during early March? Roads closed kind of situation?

3. Do you know if you can do any fly fishing during this time of year? Me and the oldest love to fish, so wouldn’t mind setting up some half day booking with a guide?

4. Any recommendations on ideal places to stay in Winter Park area? We want that lodging feel, with fireplace, etc. Is resorts better than VRBO route?

5. Are there other areas of Colorado I should look at that are easy access to airport? I don’t want to worry about driving long distance in mountains with bad weather always a possibility. We thought maybe Vail since they seem to have a smaller airport that you can fly directly into, only 30 minute drive, but Vail looks very expensive and seems to focus only on skiing.

 

[grilly]

Fly into Durango and spend the week in Pagosa Springs. I’ve spent several spring breaks there with my family. Amazing place. Great snowmobiling, hiking, and fishing.

 

[UTDB]

First of all, the Vail airport is a very convenient airport that while not huge, the biggest planes can fly in there and it sooes nothave the hassle of Denver Internationa Airport which is located east of Denver and is away from the ski slopes. You will have to load all of your family and kids on a shuttle to the rental car area unless you want to leave them at the airport and then come back to pick them up. The Vail airport is not in Vail. It is located in Eagle which is 30 minutes West of Vail via I-70. If you are not accustomed to snow driving, it is much better choice of airport. Driving from Denver thru the eisenhower tunnel and Loveland pass can be a test for the best snow drivers if there is heavy snow. Landing at Vail, you are past all of that and are inn the Vail valley.

As for as WInter Park, I would suggest that you stay instead in Summitt county at Frisco or Silverthorne. There are for skiing areas within a few minutes of those two towns located on I-70. There are may restuarants, places to rent snow mobiles, ice stake, and fly fishing available. WInter Park is by itself isolated and you must drive thru a hellaious pass to get to it. In Summitt county you can find many condos and motels away from the ski slopes that are reasonable. I prefer Vail but it is more expensive and it will still be ski season in March.

As for as snow, in the first week of March in the mountains, it is very likely though there are some weeks in March without fresh snow. The weather that time of year is unpredictable. I have seen it frequently in the 0's during hte day and I have seen snow storms that shut down I-70. I would also suggest that staying in Golden (just West of Denver) and only an hour from the Denver airport might be a better choice of locations. You can day trip to Boulder and definitley fly fish plus their are tons of hiking trails nearby. From there you can drive to Colorado Springs which has many tourist attractions. Have fun

 

[HornLegacy]

Driving is usually not a problem in March. You can have some snow storms not usually a problem. If you don't want to ski I would go somewhere close to Denver like Keystone Breck or Dillon.
Lots of winter recreation there. When you get off I 70 heading up to Winter Park it's very curvy and you might have a tougher time driving if bad weather. You can stay on the main Highway really easily and find lots of resorts. The Dillon area is an hour and a half from the denver airport and all freeway which is usually groomed first obviously. You can fly fish year around. March is good for it. Snowmobiling is all around and an absolute blast the kids will love.
If that doesn't sound good I would look at Resorts that have airports close by like Steamboat and Vail that you can fly Non-Stop. But spring break to those resorts are already mostly full and the flights will cost two to three times more than into Denver if that matters

 

[strong mysterious links]

Get a rental car with snow tires and leave extra space and don’t sweat it. With the amount of snow we’ve been getting this year I doubt you’ll have any problems driving in March

I agree with @UTDB that Frisco and Silverthorne are more central to the Rockies so you could probably do more and be equidistant from everything (closer to i70) than driving all the way to winter park and rolling the Dice that the ski bums won’t jam the road

Have fun! Colorado is amazing and, by a certain homer reading of the Texas Constitution, still a part of Texas

 

[Oilfield]

I’ve been to Winter Park many times. Your 6-year old is at a great age for learning to ski, and Winter Park has great schools in my experience. Plan on about a 2-hour drive from DIA to Winter Park. There are shuttle setvices snd even a train if you don’t want to drive yourself. Bertoud Pass can be a bear but the road has gotten better over the years.

I recommend that you stay in the village as driving daily or taking the bus with children is no fun. Stay at Zephyr or Frasier Crossing. Iron Horse is Older but you might be able to get a deal there. Jane Creek is very nbice if you want yo book a house with a private Hot Tub.

There is a tubing place in Frazier that your kids will love. Also there is a snowmobile company very near the village that can take you up to the continental divide. Have Fun!

 

[Oilfield]

Oh, I would also add that the Winter Park base is around 8000 ft altitude so you want to hydrate like crazy for a week before going.

 

[hornfanaustin]

Fly into Durango and spend the week in Pagosa Springs. I’ve spent several spring breaks there with my family. Amazing place. Great snowmobiling, hiking, and fishing.

Durango, Pagosa Springs, Glenwood Springs, and Estes Park are our go-to places in Colorado.

 

[Delt2000]

I'm biased here because we purchased a place in Carbondale this summer and just got back from NYE.

1. The driving- there is always a chance of a winter storm and crappy roads. I drove up and back from Aspen all last week. I think the keys are take your time, proper car, leave space between you and the next car, and follow the car in front of you.

2. Also sounds like you might be on a slight budget. You might check out Grand Junction to fly into it can be 75-80% less than flying into Vail. You could set up base in Glenwood Springs. I assume its open but they have a amusement park for the younger one. They also have a very affordable/family friendly ski hill called Sun Mountain. You can stay in Glenwood with pretty good food, visit Carbondale with really good food, and into Basalt again good food and shops. The road between Glenwood and Basalt were petty good. Its also 6,000 ft.

3. March/April is one of the first good runs of trout fishing up there. Roaring fork is supposed to be some of the best fly fishing in the state

 

[RiskyWilliams]

Fly into Durango and spend the week in Pagosa Springs. I’ve spent several spring breaks there with my family. Amazing place. Great snowmobiling, hiking, and fishing.

Where do you stay in Pagosa Springs?

 

[Delt2000]

If you can wait till summer there is also a low period were everything gets a little more affordable. Hiking, biking, and white water rafting also become options. If you are into golf at all CO has lots of fairly affordable golf courses that are fun to play as well..

 

[PhillipDeezNuts]

Fly into Durango and spend the week in Pagosa Springs. I’ve spent several spring breaks there with my family. Amazing place. Great snowmobiling, hiking, and fishing.

@grilly Sounds interesting. Any recommendations for lodging in Pagosa Springs? I’m assuming most major airline carriers fly into Durango?

 

[PhillipDeezNuts]

If you can wait till summer there is also a low period were everything gets a little more affordable. Hiking, biking, and white water rafting also become options. If you are into golf at all CO has lots of fairly affordable golf courses that are fun to play as well..

Yeah, I would love to play a round there, but we already decided to take the little one to Florida to see the mouse. He has been asking since he turned 5 so we decided to let my oldest have pick for Spring Break since he will heading off to college this fall.

 

[grilly]

@grilly Sounds interesting. Any recommendations for lodging in Pagosa Springs? I’m assuming most major airline carriers fly into Durango?

Yes. We fly United from San Antonio to Durango and drive over to Pagosa. We rent the same house every time we go. Airbnb is where we found ours. May be slim pickings this late in the game but worth a look.

 

[grilly]

Where do you stay in Pagosa Springs?

We rent the same house. Found it on Airbnb a around 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[RiskyWilliams]

We rent the same house. Found it on Airbnb a around 4 or 5 years ago.

Thanks.

 

[Silencam]

Been many times over the years. Personally, I wouldn’t go to a ski town if my family wasn’t going to ski/snowboard. Go to Boulder if you want a winter experience, smaller drive, etc. Or, fly into Salt Lake city and go to Park City (45 minutes on excellent roads) if you must go to a ski town…..

 

[Dal_Horn]

We have a place in Summit County and if you’re not into skiing then I would postpone your trip until summer or fall. Those are exceptional months to spend time up there especially when it’s 90 and 100 degrees at home. If you’re dead set on Spring Break, you could XC ski, snowshoeing, snowmobile, ice skate (maybe…sometimes the rinks already close by then or they were never open due to Covid), fish, etc. Lots of streams will have snow on top or not be readily accessible, but the blue river just below the Dillon Dam is a great place to jump in and fish. You can always get a day pass and ride a gondola to the top of a mountain but they can be pricey, even if you aren’t skiing.

 

[Atownatx]

I’ve been to Winter Park many times. Your 6-year old is at a great age for learning to ski, and Winter Park has great schools in my experience. Plan on about a 2-hour drive from DIA to Winter Park. There are shuttle setvices snd even a train if you don’t want to drive yourself. Bertoud Pass can be a bear but the road has gotten better over the years.

I recommend that you stay in the village as driving daily or taking the bus with children is no fun. Stay at Zephyr or Frasier Crossing. Iron Horse is Older but you might be able to get a deal there. Jane Creek is very nbice if you want yo book a house with a private Hot Tub.

There is a tubing place in Frazier that your kids will love. Also there is a snowmobile company very near the village that can take you up to the continental divide. Have Fun!

We are driving from Austin and are staying at Zephyr and heard good things. We also have a 7 year old and a 9 year old. Figured we do ski school first day for kids and then adults ski while they’re at school and then scoop them. Do another full day of skiing and then tub sled last day before we head home.

Any ideas the wives can do while we ski?

 

[Oilfield]

We are driving from Austin and are staying at Zephyr and heard good things. We also have a 7 year old and a 9 year old. Figured we do ski school first day for kids and then adults ski while they’re at school and then scoop them. Do another full day of skiing and then tub sled last day before we head home.

Any ideas the wives can do while we ski?

Oh gosh, there is shopping in the Vilkage and in the town. Frashier also has Dog Sledding which is very cool.

 

[Atownatx]

Oh gosh, there is shopping in the Vilkage and in the town. Frashier also has Dog Sledding which is very cool.

Dog sledding!?! My kids would love that!!! Maybe too grown up but great for the wives because we probably limited on time and energy.

 

[Oilfield]

Dog sledding!?! My kids would love that!!! Maybe too grown up but great for the wives because we probably limited on time and energy.

Those dogs are amazing. Gotta do the tubing hill in Frazier as well. I think there’s one in WP village but it is much smaller.

 

[Hoekem]

I lived in Highlands Ranch (just south of Denver) and the 1st day of Spring Break in 2003 we got 48" of Snow

 

[Txmediator]

Second the sentiment of avoiding the ski are$ if you aren’t gonna ski. Look at Pagosa Springs, Glenwood Springs…

 

[drano21]

We rent the same house. Found it on Airbnb a around 4 or 5 years ago.

Wanna share ad?

 

[hutchenc]

If you don't want to go skiing and you're concerned about the roads/weather I think I'd avoid ski area towns altogether. It can snow a shit-ton in March or it could be 60 degrees. It's impossible to forecast, but March is typically a pretty wet month for the Rockies in general.

If I were you I'd look into staying in Boulder or Colorado Springs. Plenty to do in both places for families.

 

[Atownatx]

Have to get new tires since Ford puts road tires on their off road trucks. Getting BF Goodrich AT K02 to handle the pass. Should I get chains for Spring Break trip?

I plan on bringing sand just in case and old set of floor mats for traction. I read a floor mat works well if you get stuck and since I have an extra set, why not.

 

[Dal_Horn]

Have to get new tires since Ford puts road tires on their off road trucks. Getting BF Goodrich AT K02 to handle the pass. Should I get chains for Spring Break trip?

I plan on bringing sand just in case and old set of floor mats for traction. I read a floor mat works well if you get stuck and since I have an extra set, why not.

Where are you planning to go where you’re concerned about chains and sand? Colorado roads are usually clear unless it’s snowing cats and dogs and even then they have the plows out in full force. You don’t need to change your tires unless you just want new tires. 4 wheel drive is handy but even then you don’t usually need it day to day. As I mentioned in the thread , we own a house in Summit County and spend about 60 days per year up there. I don’t own chains and never needed sand, but all our vehicles are either AWD or 4WD.

 

[Atownatx]

Where are you planning to go where you’re concerned about chains and sand? Colorado roads are usually clear unless it’s snowing cats and dogs and even then they have the plows out in full force. You don’t need to change your tires unless you just want new tires. 4 wheel drive is handy but even then you don’t usually need it day to day. As I mentioned in the thread , we own a house in Summit County and spend about 60 days per year up there. I don’t own chains and never needed sand, but all our vehicles are either AWD or 4WD.

Going to Winter Park. Sounds like I am being overly cautious. Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[Dal_Horn]

Going to Winter Park. Sounds like I am being overly cautious. Thanks for the advice!!!

Think about all the bullshit cars that are rented at the airport and expected to travel throughout the state. You’ll be fine.

 

[birddog67]

We are going to pagosa again. We will dog sled again and the kids will ski. Hot springs one day. Last time, Xmas 2019, it snowed hard and I wished I had chains. I got some now for insurance and used them in Dallas ice storm.

 

[Lnghrn]

Where are you planning to go where you’re concerned about chains and sand? Colorado roads are usually clear unless it’s snowing cats and dogs and even then they have the plows out in full force. You don’t need to change your tires unless you just want new tires. 4 wheel drive is handy but even then you don’t usually need it day to day. As I mentioned in the thread , we own a house in Summit County and spend about 60 days per year up there. I don’t own chains and never needed sand, but all our vehicles are either AWD or 4WD.

About 10 years ago a snow storm hit Denver/I-70 as we were driving into the mountains. We actually were supposed to fly into Denver on Saturday morning, but we were notified on Friday afternoon that our flight was cancelled as Denver was expecting a snow storm on Saturday. Due to the flight cancellation, we decided to drive from Austin on Friday afternoon hoping we could beat the storm. We ended up having to pull over and stay the night at Golden (just west of Denver). We drove my wife’s Expedition from Texas to Colorado. We didn’t have 4-wheel drive. It was a complete mess. Traffic was backed up. Cars were sliding, including ours. Our friend’s who were driving a separate car, ended up sliding off of the road and had to be pulled out. I kissed the ground and when we found the hotel in Golden, as it was the worse driving situation I’ve ever been it.
I’ve been skiing 5 times for spring break In Colorado and it was the only time we’ve had an issue.
We are going to Breckenridge for spring break this year. Looking forward to it due to missing the last 2 years with Covid.