Expert: Steve Collins - 12/12/2010

Question
Hi!
Last year I found a resort in Colorado that looked like a casle all lit up in the snowy mountains and I can't find it again! Looking for a place that is magical looking with dog sled rides and horse drqwn sleigh rides as  we don't ski...somewhere we dont have to drive mountain roads too muc...maybe antique stores closeby?? What do you suggest?? Maybe a few options?? Can u email me the answer as i probably won't find this sitw again!!! Thanks so much, jennifer

Answer
Hi Jennifer!

Well--I'm not positive, because your description does not bring up any immediate answers in my mind.  The closest thing I can think of would be the Peaks Resort in Telluride (www.thepeaksresort.com).  It is a fairly large hotel perched on the edge of a mountain, with gorgeous peaks all around it--in my mind it looks like a castle?

Telluride is a bit remote if you don't want to drive on mountain roads--it takes about 8 hours or so to drive there from Denver.  They have their own airport (the airport code is TEX), but it is a bit of an adventure to fly in there as well.  The airport is just outside of town, but it is carved out of the side of a mountain, with cliffs on 3 sides and a rock wall on the other.  The largest planes that can fly in there seat 18 passengers.  You could also fly into Montrose (MTJ)and rent a car.  MTJ is only 67 miles away, and the roads are not terrible--although there is one mountain pass to cross.

Another that might be what you saw, and one that IS a bit more easily accessible from Denver would be the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park (www.stanleyhotel.com).  It is a historic hotel (a big white building), and a beautiful property.  The town of Estes Park also fits your bill perfectly in terms of being a small mountain town with craft and antique shops, etc.  I'm not sure about dogsledding, but they do have sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and many other winter activities (although no downhill skiing in the immediate vicinity).  Winter is off-season for them, so rates can be quite reasonable as well (although everything is always more expensive at Christmas).  The drive from Denver is not bad, but you ARE driving in the mountains (any of the mountain resorts involve driving on mountain roads--unless you take a shuttle).  Estes Park is only about 90 minutes from the Denver Airport, and the town sits right at the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, so there is a ton of wildlife around as well.  There are scenic drives all around the area--but again, those involve driving on mountain roads......

Honestly for your purposes, I think Estes Park is probably your best bet.

For more of a western style Christmas, there are also some Guest Ranches that are open year-round.  If you are interested in something like this, let me know and I will get you contact information.

Unfortunately I cannot e-mail you this answer directly, as the AllExperts site does not give me your e-mail address.......

Does that help?  If you need more ideas, please contact me with a follow up, and I will try to think of some other options for you.

Hope that helps!

Steve