This winter I made the decision to purchase the Epic Pass. My mission, to improve my skiing abilities (I would say I'm somewhere in between beginner and intermediate)...first stop...Crested Butte. Since I've never been to Crested Butte, I decided to spend the weekend there to make the best out of my trip.
As soon as I drove up into Crested Butte I knew I was going to have an awesome time there. I found the town to have a really nice vibe about it, it didn't come across as a touristy location, it had more of a local feel to it and the people I met there were very friendly and engaging.
Upon arrival, I wasted no time in getting into my skis and hitting the slopes. You can hit several blue and green trails from the Red Lady Express Lift. Their ski trails were well groomed and the views from the trails were amazing. They do have several trails that crossover so word of advice be on the lookout to their ski route signs, you can easily end up on the wrong trail if you're not paying close attention to the trail signs. Why I emphasis this, well I'm a green trail skier and accidentally found myself on a blue trail. Although I initially panicked the minute I realized I was on a blue, after several minutes of building up my courage and telling myself "you got this", I tackled the blue and proudly conquered it...twice.
Favorite part of my ski experience was going thru what they call the "Yellow Brick Road". It's more of a flatter surface with a slight downward incline which still gives you speed without putting much effort, the route is basically snow covered roads along the edge of the mountain and the views are spectacular.
WHERE TO STAY
The Grand Lodge - Great resort and awesome location, short walk to ski chair lift, they provide free tea and coffee in your room and lobby area. Rooms were clean and nicely decorated and having kitchenette was a plus. It also has an indoor and outdoor hot tub that came in handy after a long day of skiing. They will also store your ski equipment for free.
TIP: Right across the street from them you will find the free shuttle that takes you into downtown Crested Butte which is full of charming buildings, restaurants, coffee shops, bars and galleries. If you plan to stay out late Downtown, make sure to catch the last shuttle run back to the ski resort area, there are no uber/taxi options and it's about a 2-hour uphill walk back on foot (yes, I almost found myself in this predicament).
WHAT TO DO ASIDE FROM SKIING
Montanya Distillers - It's a Rum Distillery, ask for their free rum tasting, you'll get 3 different types of rum to taste and if you're hungry their ramen soup is a definite must try. If you wish to have a few more drinks, give their interesting rum infused concoctions a test.
Butte & Co - Before taking my trip there, I looked up places to rent my ski equipment and came upon Butte & Co, if you book online and in advance you'll get a 20% discount. I went with their cheaper option, the Silver Package versus their Gold Package. I decided to just take a chance, I was worried the Silver Package equipment would be a bit overused and not of great quality but I was pleasantly surprised that the equipment provided was well kept and of good quality. As luck would have it, their store was conveniently close to the ski chair lift making maneuvering in my ski boots and carrying my skis and poles a cake walk.
Eldo - If you desire a small bar with a local feel and good live music then check out Eldo's, they may charge a small entrance fee during their live music nights but I found it to be worth it.
WHERE TO EAT
Camp 4 Coffee - Great place to grab a cup and joe and lounge around in their outdoor seating while chatting with friends, their coffee was flavorful and aromatic.
Croissant Breakfast Sammie, Latke and Latte
Izzy's - Small cozy place for breakfast, surrounded by colorful and unique local art for sale, their bagel and croissant are fresh and delicious and the latke is tasty and large enough to share.
Niky's Mini Donuts - Right up my alley, I'm one for variety, Niky's provides a large array of fresh and made-to-order mini donut choices, you can order 2, 4, 6 or 12 pack. Their prices are reasonable and their mini donuts are a delight. My favs: maple bacon and german chocolate...yum...my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Winter is not over and there are still several ski places I wish to visit during this winter. Crested Butte was the perfect place to start my winter explorations. Let the adventure begin!
