Top 10 Reasons Why Families Love Crested Butte
MT. CRESTED BUTTE, CO (July
2000) -- This top-ten list might not make David Letterman, but it
will come in handy when you're planning your next family ski
vacation.
Here are the top ten reasons why families love Crested Butte:
1. Family-friendly size and layout. Crested Butte is large
enough to have activities for everyone in the family, but small
enough to feel safe and comfortable. Key activities are centered
in a convenient base area, where all the ski trails funnel, so
it's easy for the family to convene for lunch or aprés ski.
2. Kids Pay Their Age lift ticket pricing. Children and
teens 5-16 years old can get in on the best season-long kids' deal
in the ski industry: Kids Pay Their Age. The cost of a child's
daily lift ticket is the child's age. Six years old? Six bucks.
Children four years and younger are free. Good all season long,
with no blackout dates. "We wanted to make the strongest
possible statement that we are a family-oriented resort, and this
is it," said Gina Kroft, Director of Communications for
Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
3. Skiing and snowboarding programs tailored to each age.
CBMR's Kid's World invites young people of all ages to come ski,
snowboard and play in the snow. The resort offers daycare for
non-skiing children and special programs for sliders of all ages:
Cubs (3-4), Polar Bears (5-7), Grizzly Bears (8-12) and Teens
(13-15). Rip Sessions are for accomplished skiers 8-15 years old,
and the Shred Bears snowboarding program serves riders of all
levels, ages 8-12. Daycare, lift tickets and lunch are available
for participating children. Special kids' instructors offer
private lessons and Tag-a-long Lessons, during which parents
observe their children during private lessons.
4. Bubba and Betty. Bubba Bear, Crested Butte's loveable,
larger-than-life skiing mascot, showed up five years ago to ski
and board the slopes and greet families around the base area.
Folks loved Bubba so much that he decided to stick around, and was
soon joined by his skiing sweetie, Betty. Hugging and playing with
Bubba and Betty can be the highlight of a child's day on the
slopes.
5. Beyond-skiing attractions. Families can explore Crested
Butte's snowy playground in many ways besides skiing. For example,
CBMR, with Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, offers daily guided snowshoe
tours along a special trail atop the Goldlink and Painter Boy
lifts. Also, local Green Team guides lead ecological tours of the
mountain. In town and in the surrounding countryside, families can
ice skate, nordic ski, sled, shop, visit galleries, see Mountain
Theater plays, dog sled, ride hot air balloons, do some winter
horseback riding, ice fish, build snow forts or visit Crested
Butte's museum.
6. Kids Night Out. Every Saturday, parents get some time
alone together while kids 5-15 get endless pizza, games and movies
from 6 to 10 p.m. at Kid's World. On Wednesdays, it's even better:
from 4 to 7:30 p.m., a kids' dinner is followed by a torchlight
parade; the kids get to ski down the mountain with Glo Sticks!
7. Diversity of skiing and snowboarding experiences. From
bunny
slopes to the Extreme Limits, snowboarding terrain park to
mogul meccas to groomed cruisers, the resort's 1,434 acres will
entice and entertain every member of the family.
8. Safety and independence. Crested Butte's remote,
small-town atmosphere makes it safe enough for young people to
have some independence. "As we strolled down Elk Avenue after
dinner, I realized what I liked best was the size of the
place," commented Eileen Ogintz, Los Angeles Times syndicated
columnist. "Crested Butte is small and friendly enough to let
a couple of young teenagers wander on their own in town and on the
mountain." Free and frequent bus transportation between the
modern ski village and historic town make it easy for family
members to get around without a car.
9. Great deals for local families. CBMR this year lowered
season pass rates significantly, based on a survey of local
residents. In July, full gold season passes went on sale for $589;
bronze passes (with some restrictions) for $439, and Mountain
Cards for $189 (five-day pass) or $289 (10-day pass). These passes
also entitle buyers to discounts and benefits at resort
restaurants and other facilities. As a service to local families,
CBMR has also designed affordable children's skiing and
snowboarding programs (like the Saturday Bandits) throughout the
season. Also, in a unique program for young adults, CBMR offers a
free season pass to any local high school student who chooses to
sign a pledge to stay drug and alcohol free for the school year.
10. Free and all-but-free family recreation. Quality family
time doesn't have to cost money. Which leads us to our next
list....
A Dozen-Plus Things To Do Free (or Almost Free) in Crested
Butte
"As a tourist, you don’t feel gauged by resort prices.
You can still get lunch in the lodge for $6, beers are $3 and the
bus is free." -Michelle Quigley, Mountainzone.com
1. Ski for free. At the opening and close of the 2000-2001
ski season, Crested Butte will offer free lift tickets in
conjunction with participating lodging (November 22 – December
15 and April 1-8). Call Crested Butte Vacations at 1-800-544-8448
for reservations.
2. Ride for free. Mingle with the locals and find out the
best runs on the mountain on the free Mountain Express buses
between the ski village and the National Historic District of
Crested Butte.
3. Ice skate at the free outdoor skating rink in Crested
Butte (at the Nordic Center near Second and Whiterock).
4. Careen your sled down the sledding hill next door.
5. Nordic ski on the trails branching out from town (fee
required only on trails groomed by the Crested Butte Nordic
Center).
6. Visit the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum at
Sopris and Second, and see the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Open
Tuesday – Sunday from 2:00 – 7:00pm. $2 entry fee.
7. Take a free on-mountain tour, with local guides giving
you the scoop on how to get around the slopes. Offered daily at
9:45am. Meet at Guest Services in the Gothic Center 15 minutes
prior. All levels welcome.
8. Relive Crested Butte's history by doing a walking tour
of the National Historic District (written guides available at the
Chamber of Commerce office). Or... take a $5 guided audio tour,
also available at the Chamber office.
9. Take a free Green Team educational tour of the mountain
and learn about the valley's natural wonders. Thursday, Friday and
Saturday mornings at 9:45am. Tours are approximately two hours in
length, intermediate skill level required.
10. Watch local and national legends in action. Take in an
action-packed local hockey game, watch the SAAB U.S. Extreme
Freeskiing Championships (a blow-out 10th anniversary
celebration this year) or the U.S. Extreme Boarderfest, catch the
Alley Loop in-town nordic race or the start of the Grand Traverse
epic ski race to Aspen...check the sports calendar to see what's
happening each week.
11. Ferret out great deals in town: like $1 beers and brats
at the Saloon, $1.50 burritos at the burrito cart at the Town
Center, or $20 never-ever ski lessons during the opening and
closing days of the ski season (November 22 – December 15 and
April 1-8).
12. Ice fish, build a snowman, have a snowball fight,
roast chestnuts on an open fire, read up on local history and
visit famous landmarks, fall in love, watch the Christmas parade,
or make your own list and send it to us....
Tips for Parents
for Crested Butte Mountain Resorts Kid's Ski & Snowboard
World:
Allow at least 30 minutes for registration for daycare or ski
school. During Christmas and Spring Break our sales desk and
rental shop
will be open extended evening hours. SIGN UP AT NIGHT TO
MISS THE MORNING RUSH!
Please bring kids with warm clothes, waterproof mittens, goggles
or
sunglasses, a warm hat and sunscreen with SPF of 15 or more.
Mark clothing with your child's name. Masking tape and
markers are
available for your convenience.
Children must be potty trained to participate in outdoor skiing
instruction.
Article and Pictures Courtesy of Crested Butte Mountain Resort
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