Standing at the base of Copper Mountain, I heard a
voice…“She’ll take our picture, she’s a ‘mom.” “Who me?,” I replied. “Oh, you should be proud. Most ‘moms’ choose the beach for
vacation.”
Okay, the voice was right. Like most ‘moms,’ I like to take pictures of the
family. And unlike most moms, I
don’t mind bundling up in three layers of insulated clothing (as flattering as
Frosty the Snowman) for a day on the slopes. So there I was, wearing the proper clothing and looking
rather “puffy” at the bottom of Copper Mountain.
Yes, you need to take more luggage than a trip to
Hawaii. And yes, it takes a bit
more work than laying face up in the hot sand. But given proper planning, a little patience and the right
resort, a trip to the mountains provides the perfect playground for the entire
family. Copper Mountain is that
perfect family playground, and I was ready for some playtime with my husband
and 10-year-old son.
There are a few distinct reasons why we chose Copper
Mountain for our playground.
First, Copper Mountain has 2,450 acres of ski/ride terrain
and is just two hours from the Denver International Airport. The drive is relatively “easy” with no
hair-raising tight turns or steep passes.
Second, the mountain’s terrain is naturally divided into
three areas to ski and ride, with three distinct villages catering to each
“neighborhood.” Union Creek is
ideal for beginners with easy terrain and slow lift rides; the center Village
at Copper caters to intermediate (and beginners that have mastered the lifts);
and East Village and the upper Tucker Mountain has chutes and bowls for the
expert skier/rider. The layout of
the mountain ensures that the cautious beginner and the adrenaline-seeking
expert don’t have to meet…at least until the après ski activities.
Third, the resort offers plenty of activities to complement
a day on the mountain:
Ski & Ride School:
Whether it’s your first year (or 25th year), the instructors at Copper
make learning fun. My family had a
three-hour private lesson which was such a great experience that I have
committed to having one every season. Our instructor, Doug Sakata, certainly
impressed us all. Fifteen minutes
into the lesson, my son was thrilled to already have learned new “tricks.” He
even thanked me (yes, thanked me) for convincing him to have the lesson. Doug was challenged by my 25 years of
bad ski habits, but was very positive and motivating. My husband was even able to learn a few new “tricks” after
Doug’s expert advice. Full day
private lessons are $510; half-day private lessons are $390. (A total of 4-6
people a lesson.) Call
866-464-4432 for reservations.
The Tubing Hill:
Located in the East Village, the Tubing Hill provides amusement
park-like thrills for kids and adults who like speed and adventure. There are five lanes, each ranging in
speed (and bumps/jumps). My family
favored the fast lanes, trying every downhill option: the train, circle link and the ankle grab. The ankle grab was the overall favorite
(face your partner, grab their ankles and hold on as the attendee at the top of
the hill spins you down). You experience speed with a mix of G-force pulling
you away from your partner.
Hour-long sessions begin at the top of each hour and kids must be 36
inches tall. Tickets for kids 12
and up are $18; adults are $22.
Sign up at Guest Services in the lodge below the SuperBee Chairlift.
Ice Skating:
Rent your skates at Chubs, located on West Lake in the center Village at
Copper. The rental fee of $10 is
worth seeing your husband on skates.
We had quite a good time playing “tag,” until our ankles started to
hurt. When you’re done, enjoy one of Chubs dessert crepes (I loved the caramel
apple crepes). Skate anytime
from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Kids in the Kitchen at Pizza Carlo: At Pizza Carlo, located in the center
Village at Copper, kids can make their own pizza – choosing which and how much
toppings they want. But be
careful, my son asked for hot sauce, which was quickly intercepted. Besides getting his personalized chef’s
hat, the best part (according to my son) was creating the dessert pizza (which
was in addition to the main-course pizza). Chocolate syrup, marshmallows, M&Ms and sprinkles
smothered most of his pizza. He
also carved out a section just for me with apples, caramel and brown sugar
crumbles. Yes, I love my caramel
apples! Kids in the Kitchen is
available every Tuesday until April 1, 2008 and costs $60. The meal serves a family of four and
reservations are required. (Call
970-968-3112.)
Play in the Snow:
Don’t forget to build a snowman, make a snow angel or have a snowball
fight. My son even has his own
“snowball machine,” although making the snowballs in your hands will do just
fine. Just please promise not to throw them at ‘mom’ too hard because yes, they
hurt. Cost: free! No reservations required.
Camp Woodward:
While not yet scheduled to open until 2008-2009, I must mention the
upcoming Camp Woodward in Copper.
Camp Woodward will offer skateboarders, BMX bikers, and now skiers and
riders, with progressive learning opportunities. The camp will include a 19,600-sq.-ft. facility with indoor
artificial snow equipment, where participants will learn by using trampolines,
foam pits and bungee systems. It
provides a safe environment for extremists to practice and master what they
have learned.
My family had four days of skiing mixed with a variety of
winter activities. If we had just
a few more days, we would have kept the activities going with cross-country skiing,
a snowmobile tour or even snowshoeing. The snow was great and the winter
activities kept my family moving…which was more healthy than laying around the
beach. Don’t get me wrong…there’s
nothing “wrong” with the beach.
You just can’t ski on it.
Visit: www.coppercolorado.com or call Lodging Info and Reservations: 888.219.2441 Guest Services/ General Info: 866.841.2481.