to immerse beginners and first-time skiers in the mountain experience straight away , rather than keeping them in the base area out of convenience . Eventually , Greenhorn Ranch will also serve as the mid-station for the Wild Blue Gondola , which will travel to the top of Sunshine Peak providing direct base area access to the resort ’ s most popular terrain .
BRECKENRIDGE
Breckenridge ( or Breck as it is known to those who frequent the area ) is known for many things , not the least of which , is its affordability relative to other ski options in Colorado . In fact , according to the results of HomeToGo ’ s annual Ski Season Report for 2023 , which ranks the top 50 ski destinations in North America based on traveler interest and affordability , Breck is the most popular ski resort in North America in terms of HomeToGo travel searches .
But price alone does not explain Breck ’ s popularity . There are , in fact , multiple reasons why Breck is so well-liked and many of them can be traced back to the singular ski experience the resort offers .
While many resorts tout the fact that they offer varied and diverse terrains , few deliver on the promise as successfully as Breck . Part of the Rocky Mountain ’ s Ten Mile Range , the resort offers more than 180 trails for skiing and riding spread across five glorious Peaks , each of which has a personality and vibe of its own . And it is precisely because of this variety and diversity of experiences that Breck has developed such a rabid fan base among ski enthusiasts who flock to the resort .
Unfortunately , the knock on Breck is that it ’ s too crowded , which may well have been true in the past but the times they are a-changin ’. For the 2023 season , Vail Resorts is limiting lift ticket sales at all 37 of its North American resorts including Vail , Breckenridge , Beaver Creek , and Park City Mountain in an effort to prioritize the mountain experience for guests in the aftermath of widespread overcrowding and discontent last season .
Another new improvement designed to enhance the overall guest experience at Breck this season involves a new lift upgrade . On the heels of installing the brand-new Freedom SuperChair on Peak 7 last year , this winter the focus turns to Peak 8 and the Rip ’ s Ride chairlift which has been upgraded to a new , high-speed quad to enhance the learning and Ski & Snowboard School experience at this popular peak . The upgraded chair provides guests with faster access to Peak 8 ’ s primary learning terrain and allows for more time to be spent on the snow , as well as easier and more convenient access from Rip ’ s Ride over to Peak 9 .
Beyond the terrain and improvements , Breck ’ s other main attraction is the inviting and historic Main Street which cuts a swath through downtown Breck . Though the town of Breck may be only 7 miles long and 2 miles wide , it is home to more than 200 lively restaurants and bars that are known to start buzzing as early as noon .
Best of all , in Breck , like Park City , the connection between mountain and town is omnipresent . From the abundance of walk-to-lift accommodations to the BreckConnect Gondola and ski-to-town trails , it ’ s almost as if the entire town of Breck is practically ski-in , ski-out . There is truly no need for a car when you ’ re in Breck and airport shuttles are available to and from Denver International Airport ( DEN ).
BEAVER CREEK / VAIL
Just as Beaver Creek is already well known for its pristinely groomed and varied terrain suitable for skiers of all skill levels , so is it known for its exceptional ski schools , first-rate service , and family-friendly environment . In January 2022 , Beaver Creek expanded upon its offerings with the debut of McCoy Park , which added 250 skiable acres of lift-served beginner and intermediate terrain , further embellishing its reputation as one of the best destinations in the country in which to learn to ski . This season , McCoy Park and its 17 new trails are still the star attractions , particularly as many are seeing it for the first time this year .
Meanwhile , just a few miles away down the road , 2023 is shaping up to be quite the year for anniversaries as Vail also celebrates its 60th anniversary in high style this ski season . To mark this watershed moment in the legendary resort ’ s history , guests are being feted with all manner of treats that are bound to only amplify the already magical experience of a visit to the resort .
On the heels of receiving over 18 inches of snowfall during the second week of December , Vail Mountain opened the Legendary Back Bowl to kick off its official 60th birthday festivities . A massive undertaking , the resort prepared and opened 2,000 acres of terrain , thereby making some 3,200 acres available for skiing and riding this ski season . In addition to this enormous terrain opening , Vail Mountain also kicked off its 60th birthday bash with the launch of the Eagle ’ s Nest Ice Bar — one of two planned ice bars on tap for its 60th season .
However , the fun doesn ’ t end there .
The 2022-2023 ski season has also seen the resort relaunch its Bistro 14 as a fine art photography gallery experience featuring the work of legendary fine art photographer Gray Malin ; debut four exclusive snow bungalows at the Eagle ’ s Nest Ice Bar and Bistro 14 ; launch Vail Mountain 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Rye Bourbon — a one-of-a-kind limited edition spirit created in collaboration with local distillery , 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits ; and introduce a Vail Mail program , which offers guests the opportunity to select a postcard from a range featuring artwork by Gray Malin , jot down a message and , in true retro fashion , mail it from Legacy Hut , Vail ’ s highest mailbox ( postage courtesy of Vail Mountain , of course ).
Lastly , Vail has added new murals and must-visit photo spots across the mountain to commemorate its 60th birthday . Chief among the spots is a large recreation of Vail Mountain ’ s original opening day sign at the top of Wildwood Express (# 3 ) and the Insta-perfect new Mt . of the Holy Cross Archway at the top of Eagle ’ s Nest which beautifully frames the mountain ’ s closest 14,000 ’ peak .
GETTING THERE
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Frontier and United Airlines offer daily nonstop flights from DCA to DEN while United and Southwest Airlines offer daily nonstop from IAD to DEN .
SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Delta Air Lines offers daily nonstop flights from DCA and IAD to SLC .
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
United Airlines offers seasonal service to Steamboat Springs .
FLYWASHINGTON . COM 10 SPRING 2023