Put Some Spring In Your Step and Take Advantage of Colorado’s Spring Break Deals and Events

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Caitlin Sullivan / 970-372-6571, csullivan@mmgmardiks.com

Roland Alonzi / 212-219-7560, ext. 6765, ralonzi@mmgmardiks.com

Put Some Spring In Your Step and Take Advantage of

Colorado’s Spring Break Deals and Events

Travel packages start at just $119 a night

DENVER (February 13, 2009) – Colorado’s sunny days, legendary spring skiing, festivals and special events make it an ideal spring break vacation destination. This year, Colorado’s resorts are offering deals like never before. Below are just a few ways to enjoy spring in Colorado. For a complete list of packages, visit www.colorado.com/deals

Dynamite Deals

Head to the picturesque town of Telluride and save big with their Spring Ski & Stay Package. This includes a four-nights stay at select hotel and condominium properties and a three-day lift ticket starting at just $119 per person, per night. www.visittelluride.com
Durango Mountain Resort has teamed up with Frontier Airlines to provide outstanding air-inclusive spring ski packages. Three-day/three-night air-inclusive packages, including round-trip flights, lift tickets and lodging start at just $425 per person. Frontier offers daily service to Durango-La Plata Airport from more than 30 cities nationwide with three convenient flights daily to Durango from Denver International Airport. 800-525-0892, www.durangomountainresort.com
Inspire your passion for adventure in Crested Butte. The resort is offering spring breakers an outstanding "Friends and Family Fly Free” program this winter. When visitors book a Crested Butte vacation for three or more people, every third airline ticket is free. Visitors can fly nonstop to Gunnison/Crested Butte Airport (GUC) on American Airlines, United Airline and Delta Airlines from Denver, Dallas, Atlanta, Salt Lake City or Chicago. Air fare, lodging and lift ticket packages start as low as $584 per person with this special offer. A four night minimum night stay is required. Valid for travel through April 5, 2009 with restrictions. Limited to three free airline tickets per reservation. www.skicb.com
Thanks to Colorado Springs’ mild-climate, golf enthusiasts can hit the greens nearly any day of the year. The legendary Broadmoor Resort’s Winter Spa & Golf Getaway includes accommodations, a 70-minute deep tissue massage, a round of golf on one of its famed courses, range balls and more. Package prices start at $405 per person, per night based on double occupancy. Limited availability. Available through April, 2009. www.broadmoor.com
If your idea of spring break includes a little retail therapy, relaxation and pampering - without breaking the budget - try Denver’s new Ultimate Cherry Creek Shop, Spa & Stay Escape. The JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek has teamed up with Neiman Marcus and Nectar Spa to create the perfect weekend getaway at a considerable value. Starting at just $339 per night, the package includes deluxe accommodations for two at the JW Marriott Denver, a $100 gift card to Neiman Marcus, a $100 certificate to Nectar Spa and two complimentary cocktails at Second Home Kitchen & Bar. The package is available Thursdays through Sundays until March 31, 2009. www.jwmarriottdenver.com
Skiing Stimulus Package: Hayden Lodge and Capital Peak Lodge at Snowmass’ new Base Village. With an enviable position at the heart of the new Snowmass Base Village, Hayden Lodge and Capitol Peak Lodge are extending discounts of up to 75-percent off during the 2008/2009 ski season. The new lodges - the first new accommodations built in Snowmass in more than 20 years - boast nearly 100 residences with ski-in/ski-out access to the Elk Camp Gondola and the Village Express chairlift, and are steps from the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, as well as new restaurants and shops. www.aspensnowmasshospitality.com
Enjoy the legendary slopes at Mary Jane and Winter Park with Winter Park’s “4^th Night Free” package. Guests will receive the fourth night of lodging free when they book a three-night stay at Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe. This exceptional lodging deal is available all season long (including during Presidents Week) and as a special bonus guests will receive a free children’s lift ticket with the purchase of any adult lift ticket (four days or more). www.skiwinterpark.com
Keystone’s Daylight Savings. You’ll save more at Keystone once Daylight Savings clocks in with expanded terrain and longer hours for sunset skiing, starting the week of March 8, 2009. Another bright idea: Book Keystone’s ski free, stay free package from $283 for three nights of lodging slope-side at the River Run Village and three days of sunset skiing or riding, and get free activities like yoga classes, snowbiking sessions and a GPS treasure hunt, plus coupons worth more than $100. Based on availability. Restrictions apply. www.keystoneresort.com
Half-Off Vail for Spring. Save 50 percent on lodging at Sun Vail, located just a few steps away from the Eagle Bahn Gondola at Vail. Prices start at $235 per night anytime from March 28–April 19 (closing day at Vail) for a two-bedroom condominium with a two-night minimum stay. Limited availability and other restrictions apply. www.vail.com
Enjoy a spectacular flight in a hot-air balloon with the Millennium Harvest House in Boulder. Float with gentle morning breezes and experience the first form of air travel over the Colorado Rockies. The Hot-Air Balloon Over the Rockies package includes overnight accommodations for two in a superior room, breakfast for two at Thyme on the Creek Restaurant, transportation to and from the balloon launch site and a 1.5-hour Sunrise Flight. Rates star at $539, available April-September. Rate is based on availability and is commissionable to travel agents at 10 percent. Call 800-545-6285.

Hot Happenings and Awesome Activities

Skijoring & The Crystal Carnival. A must-see Leadville event, March 7-8, 2009. Watch skiers, pulled by riders on horseback, compete over a series of snow-packed jumps through downtown Leadville. Enjoy sleigh rides, games, snow shoe races, dog sledding, a parade of lights and much more. www.leadville.com

Head to Aspen/Snowmass for the 9^th Annual Bud Light Spring Jam. One of the top spring festivals in the Rocky Mountains, the Bud Light Spring Jam is two weekends of new-school competitions and downtown concerts and parties held March 20-22 and 27-29, 2009. Don’t miss Big Air Fridays, the Hi-Fi Concert Series, Terrain Park Boot Camp and the Helly Hansen Battle in the Bowls. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete listing of activities, visit www.aspensnowmass.com
View the age-old mating ritual of the Greater Prairie Chicken in Wray. See these awesome birds at their finest. Watch them do their unique dance and hear their distinctive booming sounds. Wray offers scheduled basic and special tour packages over four weekends in March and April of 2009. www.wraychamber.net

Chill out with friends at “The Beach” at Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin to the locals). A-Basin’s infamous “Beach” is an early riser parking lot home to a stretch of prime real estate that backs into the lower mountain lifts. Soak-up Colorado’s sunshine, check out the terrain of the new Montezuma Bowl, fire up the grill for a tasty barbecue and sip some of their sensational Bloody Mary’s. The Beach fills up fast, but spots can be booked through guest services by calling 888-ARAPAHOE. www.arapahoebasin.com

For a blast from the past, try Retro Ski Day Eldora Mountain near Boulder. A day of Retro ‘70s entertainment sponsored by the Boulder History Museum. Dig out your old ski clothes and join the fun on March 14, 2009 from 11am-3pm. Spend the day skiing and dancing to groovy ‘70s tunes and testing your Boulder trivia. There will be several giveaways throughout the day and a retro costume contest. www.eldora.com
Rock Out in Keystone at the Blues & Barbecue Festival, March 28, 2009. Jazz up your weekend with a spicy afternoon of authentic barbecue and silvery blues music. River Run's Blues and Barbecue Festival is loaded with spring pleasures and soul-soothing indulgences. This savory Saturday features the resort's chefs grilling up a storm. Enjoy dynamic live music and lip-smacking brews. www.keystone.snow.com
Go big at the Spring Massive in Breckenridge, April 1-19, 2009. This annual festival is an interactive event including music, family fun and on-hill competitions. Events include the Bite of Breckenridge, Massive Comedy Nights, Massive Brewfest, Massive Competition Weekend and the ever-popular season finale – Massive Music Weekend. www.breckenridge.snow.com
Easter Bunny Train and Egg Hunt with the Rio Grande Railroad. Hop to it on April 11, 2009 and celebrate spring with the Easter Bunny. Ride the train to his special Egg Hunt location and search for great goodies. The train departs from Alamosa at 11am and a second train runs at 12:30pm. Tickets are $10 for children younger than 12 and $15 for adults. Call for reservations, 1-877-726-RAIL.
Skate your way to spring at the Sk8Way Skate Park, located in La Junta. This city park is a 16,646-square-foot Tony Hawk-designed skateboard park. The skate park features an in-ground concrete design with a steel rail around the top for grinds, a snake run, 9 foot bowls, rails, jumps and an awesome street section. Admission is free. www.exploresoutheastcolorado.com

ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and renowned ski resort areas. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of four major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 10 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, call 1-800-COLORADO or visit www.COLORADO.com. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at www.COLORADO.com/mediaroom.php for story ideas, press releases/press kits as well as high-resolution, downloadable photos and video for editorial use.