| Are you a non-skier in a skiing family? It is possible to | | | | abundant around Basalt. In addition to the many |
| live in Colorado and not ski. And some ski towns | | | | forest trails, the paved Rio Grande trail extends |
| offer many winter activities for both skiers and | | | | throughout the whole Roaring Fork valley, running |
| non-skiers. | | | | through Basalt. |
| Your Colorado ski trip might be as short as a | | | | Other choices for weekenders. |
| weekend getaway, particularly if you live on the | | | | Steamboat Springs is a town well-suited for skiers |
| Front Range of Colorado or eastern Utah. Perhaps | | | | and non-skiers. It boasts the Strawberry Hot Springs. |
| your family takes ski vacations, or month-long | | | | If you go, get a watsu session, or water-based |
| escapes. If you don't ski, you need choices that don't | | | | massage. There are several options for the active |
| involve skiing. | | | | non-skier, such as cross-country skiing and snowshoe |
| Top choice for weekends or long visits: Basalt. | | | | hikes. |
| Basalt is one of Colorado's hidden gems, and one of | | | | Some visitors prefer Steamboat's affordability, |
| the best towns for a ski trip. There are many | | | | compared to pricier visits to Aspen or Telluride. But |
| reasons why Basalt is the best choice for skiers and | | | | recent development may change that in coming |
| non-skiers on a short or longer getaway. | | | | years. |
| Visitors fall in love with Basalt's small-town, | | | | Steamboat Springs is a bit off-the-beaten-path. This |
| super-laid-back character. Basalt lies amidst two rivers | | | | town feels more tucked away than its ski-town |
| and red-rock mountains. In the summer, folks visit to | | | | neighbor, Vail, and more Interstate-accessible resorts. |
| golf and fish. Basalt's rivers provide world-famous | | | | But travel to and from Steamboat can be precarious |
| gold-medal fly-fishing. Basalt has a reputation as a nice | | | | in the winter. Mountain roads and passes may get |
| place to hide away in the summer, but its slower | | | | dangerous, or completely closed. This makes |
| pace, and less people, makes it a treasure to visit in | | | | Steamboat a better choice for folks with flexible |
| the winter! | | | | schedules. |
| Basalt hosts unique boutiques, a large bookstore, and | | | | For the active non-skiing weekend, Winter Park is a |
| charming cafes. Everything is a two-block walk in the | | | | good choice for folks coming from Denver. You can |
| historic downtown area. And you can stroll by the | | | | visit nearby Devils' Thumb for cross-country skiing |
| river on a path, or just look enjoy your views of | | | | and a nice spa. But if you leave the Denver-metro |
| red-rock peaks that encircle town. | | | | area on Friday afternoon and return Sunday evening, |
| The local day spa is a typical place to find a non-skier. | | | | you will endure massive traffic. You will enjoy Winter |
| Discover your favorite day spa at Higher Spa & | | | | Park more, plus get better hotel room rates, if you |
| Studio in Basalt! Higher is small and locally-owned, like | | | | plan your "weekend" mid-week. |
| most of the town's businesses, so you get royal | | | | Other choices for longer stays. |
| treatment (better than you get at some big resorts | | | | If you don't mind a bit of extra driving, Durango is |
| spas). Of course you can get an ooey-gooey hot | | | | worth a trip. For the best week-long experience for |
| stone massage (using basalt stones), or a killer | | | | a non-skier, you will want to have a car. |
| work-out with a personal trainer in their fitness studio. | | | | Durango is the southwestern Colorado college town |
| But your visit must include their exclusive treatment, | | | | with a ski area. It is in the middle of the Four Corners |
| the "Endorphin High", in which they combine oils, salts | | | | area, and as such, there are no major airports |
| and sports massage for a unique treatment that | | | | nearby. |
| your weary muscles will remember forever. | | | | From Durango, the non-skier can drive to the hot |
| Basalt is centrally located to two winter-destination | | | | springs town of Pagosa Springs. Pagosa is scenic, |
| cities, which provide good day trips for both skiers | | | | hosts great hot springs pools, and is close to the |
| and non-skiers. By bus or car, Aspen is only minutes | | | | Wolf Creek Ski Area, which gets the most snow of |
| away. Skiers can stay in quiet Basalt and ski Aspen | | | | any Colorado ski area. |
| or Snowmass resorts during the day. For the | | | | Elsewhere in the Durango area, a non-skiing traveler |
| non-skier or the skier taking a day off, you can visit | | | | can find Native American ruins and national parks |
| Aspen for upscale shopping and restaurants, art | | | | within a few hours' drive. Santa Fe, Taos, and |
| galleries, and national music acts. | | | | Albuquerque, New Mexico, offer southwest flavors |
| Glenwood Springs is the other city close to Basalt. | | | | and culture if you feel like taking an overnight |
| Glenwood has several hot springs attractions. You | | | | mini-road trip. |
| can swim in the world's largest (commercial) hot | | | | In conclusion, your choice in ski towns may be |
| springs pool, or relax in their natural steam caves. | | | | dictated by several factors, such as accessibility, |
| Your buddies can ski at Glenwood's Sunlight Mountain | | | | activity levels of the non-skier, length of stay, and |
| while you soak in the hot springs, and then meet you | | | | the size of the town you wish to visit. With a little |
| at the local microbrewery for a pint. | | | | investigation, the non-skier can have a great time on |
| Basalt is also centrally located for the active non-skier. | | | | the next so-called ski trip. |
| If you snowshoe or cross-country ski, trails are | | | | |