Snow sports and spa retreats in the peaks backdropping Denver are just an hour and change away by car. Some mountain resorts are also reachable by public transportation, letting you simply sit back and soak in the view of the Rocky Mountains.
Elodora Mountain Resort is just over an hour drive up State Highway 72 to State Highway 119 or two and a half hours on the bus. The resort boasts 300 inches of snow per year and a snow-making system to top off the trails, with one of the runs measuring 3 miles long. There are eateries on the mountain and a season pass can double as a debit card. This isn't a full-service resort and doesn't offer on-site lodging, but the historic Goldminer Hotel bed-and-breakfast is in the canyon below. In the summer, the next-door town of Nederland is busy with festivals while the Barker Reservoir brims with rainbow trout.
Head west out of Denver on Interstate 70 and branch north at U.S. Route 40 to reach the Winter Park Resort, an hour and a half by car or three hours by bus. The extensive network of trails here is divided into runs ranging from bunny slopes to challenging bowls. Four lanes are reserved for those who want to sail down the slopes on an inner tube. Relax with a massage treatment, go shopping or sample the wide selection of dining -- from crepes to craft beers -- in the village. Kids can make s'mores over a campfire, learn how the settlers panned for gold or try a scaled-down version of a bungee jump. Summer passes at the resort give access to unlimited miniature golf, alpine sliding, kids games and more. Lodging options range from condos to B&Bs as well as hotels and lodges near the base of the lifts.
An hour west of Denver on Interstate 70 puts you within easy reach of three resorts. Loveland Ski Area climbs to 12,700 feet with more than 400 inches of snow each year. Nearly half of its slopes are advanced, making it a no-frills stop for seasoned skiers. Head south on U.S. Highway 6 toward the Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which lures snowboarders and skiers to a parking-lot party in a stretch called the Beach. The resort also has a moonlight dinner series showcasing global cuisine. Keep driving on Highway 6 and you'll hit the sizable Keystone Resort with 20 lifts, more than 3,000 acres of ski territory, an ice skating rink, tubing in winter or summer and challenging bowls. Take a yoga class atop a mountain or enlist the family in the resort's mountain scavenger hunts. Complete the resort experience at the spa, gourmet restaurants or myriad lodging options.
Cut west into the mountains at Longmont off Interstate 25, an hour and a half from Denver, to Estes Park. The town bustles with activities year-round -- from concerts in the summer and a pumpkin festival in the fall -- and its dozens of eateries whip up everything from elk steaks to vegan cuisine. This is also the site of the Stanley Hotel, which inspired Stephen King's "The Shining." Estes Park has no shortage of resorts nestled in its hills at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park. Near the Fall River entrance, the Della Terra Mountain Chateau has rooms with private balcony hot tubs. For a more rustic experience, the Historic Elkhorn Lodge has century-old cabins and stables to set you up with a trail ride. From campgrounds to luxury hotels or rental condos, Estes Park offers more than 150 places to stay in the shadow of the national park.
