Copper Mountain – where every day is a snow day!
We picked up our car from Alamo and drove the scenic two hour drive up into the famous Rockies Mountain range before arriving in Frisco from where we had pre-booked our skis and boots – and where the nearest supermarket is situated!
Straight in with no queue we bundled the kit into the car and drove another 15 minutes along the I-70 to arrive at Copper ski resort and Tucker Mountain lodge – our home for the next 7 days and the address we had given to Father Christmas! After picking up our room key from the very quick and friendly chap at the lodging reception we found the very convenient underground car park and took the elevator to our condo. After picking up our lift passes and ski school vouchers we headed back to Frisco and to a rather up-market Safeway to do our food shop for the week. Being Friday night and Christmas Eve it was pretty busy and we were surprised to hear so many English accents. However, we were lucky enough to catch the torch light decent on the slopes of Copper as we drove back into our resort.
Back at the condo and after a pasta supper and ‘Wizard of Oz’ (things haven’t changed!) we unpacked our Christmas stockings and hung them over the fireplace in anticipation.
Xmas Day and the children were awake far too early. Father Christmas had found them and they were delighted of course!
After a porridge and croissant breakfast we headed out for our first day on the slopes. Bright sunshine, blue skies and sparkling white slopes greeted us – we were one of the first families on the ski lifts. There is something quite special being able to look back and see your own tracks – and parallel too!
The snow was superb and the variety of trails and slopes is extremely extensive for all levels of skiers. What we all liked particularly about the resort was the variety of green and easier blues making skiing interesting and enjoyable for the most novice of skiers and for families with young children. There was a frequent and free resort bus for getting to the ski school (if you didn’t want to ski there) and the leisure centre if you preferred not to drive. What we missed on the colder days was a gondola as all the slopes were accessed by chair lifts of varying speeds.
Geoff & I ventured onto more difficult blues while the children had 2 full days of ski lessons and then we spent the rest of the week between scenic greens and easier and more challenging blues with the children. Geoff tackled and enjoyed a few blacks at the end of each day…and why not! Most afternoons we went back to the condo for hot chocolate and muffins before heading down to the outside hot tub. One afternoon we headed to the activity centre and went swimming.
Copper village was compact and had a variety of shops, bars and restaurants some overlooking the ice rink. A small store sold milk, ready-made meals, ice cream and beer and there was also a liquor store.
We spent New Year’s Eve in Denver at the Courtyard by Marriott in the very popular Cherry Creek area of the City. We had a fabulous view of downtown Denver and the Rockies beyond. Recommendations from 3 different ‘Denverites’ on the ski lifts sent us to ‘Cherry Cricket’ located just a short drive from the hotel and in a rather up-market shopping area beautifully lit for the festive season. With a reputation for their burgers this neighborhood bar did not disappoint after a truly delicious freshly prepared burger cooked to order and a Breckenridge avalanche beer we headed back to the hotel for dessert and a good night sleep before our flight back to New Jersey the following morning.
We all agreed that Copper provided a fantastic ski holiday and another wonderful Christmas in the USA.
I wonder where we will be next Christmas?