Contact: Roland Alonzi / 646-442-6765 / [email protected]
Carly Grimes / 720-289-9366, [email protected]
Discover Colorado’s Wealth of Budget-Friendly Winter Adventures
DENVER (March 8, 2012) – A winter vacation in Colorado doesn’t need to break the bank. In fact, the state is an outdoor playground full of affordable activities and experiences from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to ice-skating and cave tours.Below is a sampling of adventures to be had in Colorado for FREE or less than $25. For more information visit www.COLORADO.com.
§ Skiing and Boarding at Chapman Hill Ski Area in Durango for $10: This in-town ski hill has a rope tow, ski and boarding lessons and nighttime skiing. A sledding hill is located to the north side of the ice arena. $8 youth/$10 adult lift tickets. Ice skate rental $3, rink admission $4 for youth. www.durangogov.org
§ Guided hikes and excursions in Boulder for FREE: Open Space Mountain Parks offers guided hikes all winter long. Hikes focus on ecology, photography and more. There are even kid specific hikes, such as “winter birding for kids.” All hikes begin at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. www.naturehikes.org
§ Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in Gunnison’s backcountry for FREE: Cross-country ski or snowshoe along backcountry routes and groomed trails at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area west of Gunnison. This combined with VanTuyl Ranch, the Western State College practice field on campus and Jorgensen Park encompasses approximately 45 kilometers of trails groomed by the Gunnison Nordic Club. www.gunnisonnordic.org
§ Tubing at the Fraser Tubing Hill for $16:The Fraser Tubing Hill near Winter Park is steep and long with a tow rope lift system for easy return to the top of the hill. $16 for 60 minutes. www.thefrasertubinghill.com
§ Historic gold mine tour in Breckenridge for $20.95 : The Country Boy Mine was one of the largest and most famous gold mines in the historic mining town of Breckenridge. Today, visitors to the Country Boy Mine can enjoy a tour into the historic gold mine, pan for gold, pet the burros, slide down the 55-foot ore chute and more. $14.95 youth/$20.95 per adult. www.countryboymine.com
§ Ice-skating at Leiter Ice Rink in Leadville for $2.25: At 30,000 square feet, the Leiter Ice Rink in Leadville is one of the largest manmade rinks in Colorado. The facility features skate rentals, a snack bar, warming hut, and a great sound system. Daily admission is $2.25 per person, with skate rentals available $1 youth/$2 per adult.www.lakecountyco.com
§ Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Cave Tour and Tram Ride for $22: Enjoy a round-trip gondola ride on the scenic Iron Mountain Tramway and a 70-minute guided walking tour of Glenwood Caverns & Historic Fairy Caves. $18 youth/$22 per adult. www.glenwoodcaverns.com
§ Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on Grand Mesa for FREE: Grand Mesa, the highest flattop mountain in the world, offers free cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 55 kilometers of groomed trails at 10,800 feet. The Grand Mesa Nordic Council of Grand Junction set classic cross-country track and skate track on the trails every morning. www.gmnc.org
§ YMCA of the Rockies activities for $15: Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby and the Estes Park Center have a number of activity options available to non-guests as well as guests. At both properties $15 day passes (complimentary for overnight guests) provide access to activities like ice skating, sledding and tubing, indoor pool and sauna, shuffleboard, roller-skating, basketball and more. www.ymcarockies.org
§ Denver’s Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) FREE Days: Colorado residents can enjoy cultural attractions for free on select days throughout the year at The Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Museum of Nature and Science. For a calendar of FREE days visit www.scfd.org.
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 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 12 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2012 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.comor call 1-800-COLORADO. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room atwww.COLORADO.com/media-room. Follow Colorado on Twitter at www.twitter.com/colorado or Facebook atwww.facebook.com/visitcolorado.
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