Charming Old Telluride Mining Town in Winter

Charming Old Telluride Mining Town in Winter

Last week I shared a recap of our Terrific Telluride, Colorado Ski Vacation. Today, I’m taking you from the snow covered slopes and mountain views, to a stroll through the historic valley town loaded with wonderful foodie options.

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While we are all cooped up inside, wouldn’t it be nice to take a virtual trip as a little distraction?

Plus, visiting old Telluride is a little like time traveling back to the 1800s, when the charming town was a prosperous community during the silver and gold mining boom. It’s like an architectural time capsule.

Main street is incredible wide, with original buildings from the period that include a hotel, banks and government edifices. Many businesses, shops, restaurants and bars are in buildings with Old Western style facades. Surrounding streets include Victorian era homes and cottages; like the rental property we stayed in.

Unfortunately, it was gray, cold and blustery on the day we spent exploring old Telluride. By far the worst weather of our entire vacation. Temperatures were only in the single digits, with gusty blasts of wind. However, it was the best day not to be on the slopes. We were fortunate it fell on our already planned off-day of skiing.  So, after enjoying a leisurely morning with a big cooked breakfast, the four of us bundled up and braved the weather.
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Terrific Telluride, Colorado Ski Vacation

Terrific Telluride, Colorado Ski Vacation

It’s been nearly two weeks since we returned from a wonderful, weeklong ski vacation in gorgeous Telluride, Colorado. telluride-colorado-ski-vacation-Debbee-slope

What a great trip! Visiting Telluride during the winter season offers world class skiing, off mountain adventures, and a charming town with a vibrant apres ski dining and entertainment scene.

Boasting 300 days of sunshine a year, Telluride has mountain terrain for all levels, and no long ski lift lines. There’s a free gondola with multiple stops to easily traverse the mountain; taking skiers and visitors to and from the historic valley town and alpine Mountain Village.

Telluride is also a repeat winner of the coveted Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Ski Resort in North America.

One awesome alpine experience and two great towns is Telluride’s “special sauce;” making it a wonderful ski vacation destination. Come take a virtual trip with me to enjoy gorgeous mountain scenery and terrain.

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Steamboat Springs Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival

Steamboat Springs Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival

Several weeks ago, my son and several friends met up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend it’s annual hot air balloon festival.

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Mr. Buzz and I enjoyed his photos so much, I thought you might enjoy seeing them too?

Years ago, when my mom was visiting, we attended a hot air balloon festival in downtown Pittsburgh. Part of the fun was walking around Point State Park, and watching the balloons inflate beforehand. We particularly liked the ones that took interesting shapes; like a giant Heinz ketchup bottle. Our favorite though, was an enormous polar bear, representing Isaly’s Klondike Bar. Did you know both Heinz ketchup and Klondike Bars originated in Pittsburgh?

Anyway, the balloons launched where the three rivers converge, rising dramatically over the city’s skyline. It was a beautiful summer evening and lots of fun. My old prints, however, are not blog worthy for sharing like my son’s.

How does the Fifth Dimension song go? Let’s go “…up, up and away…” in Steamboat’s annual hot air balloon festival.

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Breathtaking Breckenridge, Colorado Ski Trip

Breathtaking Breckenridge, Colorado Ski Trip

Two weeks ago, we returned from a wonderful, six-day ski trip in Breckenridge, Colorado.

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Over the years, we’ve enjoyed a number of memorable family ski vacations to Steamboat, Snowmass and Aspen in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains. Another trip took us north of the border to Whistler, Canada, where we skied glaciers. But, this is the first time just hubby and I went on a ski trip together.

When my husband retired last fall, I knew the best ‘present’ I could give him was a ski trip out West. He loves to ski and is quite advanced. But, there’s limited opportunity within a few hours drive of Pittsburgh.

Originally, we had hoped two of his brothers and their wives would join us. That would have given my husband companions to ski more advanced, black diamond trails — something way beyond my skill set and comfort level.

When neither couple was able to come along, I worried that Mr. Buzz wouldn’t truly enjoy himself if he was limited to skiing with me on easy and intermediate terrain. But, you know what? Much to our surprise and amazement — I skied the best I ever had!

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