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Children's Winter Adventures

The baby boomers who first worked the chairlifts (while living out of their VW vans) when Telluride opened in the 1970s are no longer pushing their limits—they're pushing strollers. They still come here, though, because Telluride now has answers to every question posed by skiing families.

Imagine stepping from your condo into a gondola cabin to be whisked off to the mountain. Skis or boards can be picked up along the way and children dropped off to play, all with barely a break in stride. And all without starting the family truckster. Through a combination of Telluride's gondola and chondola transportation systems, and the new Mountain Village Activity Center, this vision is now a reality.

The Activity Center has anticipated the needs of all families with children, be they infants or teenagers or any age in between. For the very young, there are toddler rooms chock full of toys, infant gyms and three separate crib rooms. For those ready to make turns of their own, Telluride's Children's Ski & Snowboard School is just across the hall. For anxious parents, the Activity Center's most unique design feature—a glass kiosk atop the central romper room—allows them to peer down at their children undetected and then slip back onto the slopes without all the fuss which can accompany being spotted by a young child. To tend to visiting children the nursery has trained, caring professionals who entertain their charges with toys, games, healthy food, walks in the snow and more. Reservations are required, call (800) 801-4832.

Children's Ski & Snowboard School

There's simply no better time to learn than as a child. And now, with Telluride Ski & Snowboard School's Children's Adventures, there's no better place for your child to learn than in Telluride. The instructors are "youngster specialists" and understand how to create "happy thought" vacations for everyone.

Each day is an adventure on the slopes and an opportunity to learn more than just skiing. Telluride's Children's Ski & Snowboard School offers a learning theme based on the area's heritage of Ute Indians and hard-rock miners for children three years and older. This imagery proves popular with kids, and it fits, too. Little minors become little miners, uncovering rich nuggets of skiing wisdom and picking up a little local lore as well. Telluride's Magic Carpet lift, a conveyor belt imbedded in the snow adjacent to the gondola's Station Mountain Village, aids in teaching skiers of all ages and enriches the hike-to-ski circle associated with the bunny slopes.

The children's programs also incorporate special focus days to educate your child on topics outside of snowriding while he or she learns the basics of skiing or snowboarding. These focus days include "Race Day," "History/Heritage Day," "Safety Day," and "Environment Day."

On "Environment Day" children may be introduced to Lissa Margetts from Rocky Mountain Ark and her friends Otto, the river otter, or Liberty, the bald eagle. As they all sit down to lunch, Margetts exposes the children to endangered animals that have been rehabilitated after serious injury in a safe, fun and informative environment. The Rocky Mountain Ark, a licensed non-profit organization, is a wildlife rehabilitation facility dedicated to giving animals a second chance to heal, grow and be free again. Although the goal at the Ark is to release the animals, this is not always possible. The Ark also serves as a sanctuary for unwanted or non-releasable animals from around the U.S. and these animals become part of Margetts' wildlife education programs. For more information on the Ark, call (800) 801-4832.

Adventure Club: For parents dropping kids off for lessons, Telluride's Adventure Club takes care of them before and after ski and snowboard school, meaning the adults can enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee before skiing and all the glory of that last run at day's end before picking up their charges at the Mountain Village Activity Center. The Adventure Club is a complimentary program available to all youngsters enrolled in the Children's Center programs. Hours are 8:45-9:45 am, and 3:00-4:00 pm.

Mountain Village Nursery: The new, expanded Mountain Village Nursery in the Mountain Village Activity Center on the promenade level of the gondola terminal staffs trained, caring professionals to tend to children with toys, games, infant gyms, three separate crib rooms, healthy food, outside time and more. Infant care (2 months-1year) and toddler care (1-3 year-olds). Call (800) 801-4832. Reservations required.

Getting Around is Easy: Getting around is also easier thanks to the new gondola. With the gondola, you can take your children from Telluride to the easier slopes in Mountain Village without putting on skis, while avoiding something more difficult than you'd like, and without driving a car. The kids' skis need never touch anything blue or black and there's no loading and unloading the family wagon. The gondola also lets non-skiers staying in Mountain Village go to Telluride to shop or dine.

Spa Treats for Youngsters: The Peaks Resort & Spa hosts a unique KidSpa program for children six months to 11 years old throughout the ski season. Hiking, swimming, yoga, gold panning, snowman construction and spa cooking classes are all a part of the KidSpa. For more information call The Peaks at (800) 789-2220.

Teen Scene: What's a lonely teenager to do in Telluride? If riding Telluride's new terrain park Air Garden doesn't sap all their energy, try hitting the town. Telluride's Voodoo Lounge offers daily afternoon and evening activities for teens including video games, dances and special events. For more information on the Voodoo Lounge call (970) 728-0140. For those who prefer to see movies on the big screen, the Nugget Theater and Sheridan Opera House offer a selection of movies nightly.

Spend a Day with the Family: Feel like taking a day-off from the hill? Spend the morning or afternoon horseback riding with Rowdy and Telluride Horseback Adventures (728-9611), snowshoeing with Telski's Mountain Activities department (728-7533) or the U.S. Forest Service, sledding, tubing or ice skating in either the town of Telluride (728-3071) or Mountain Village (728-0954).

March and April Events

March 8-12: Air Garden Freestyle Camp (13-18 years)—Telluride Ski & Snowboard School's snowboard instructors teach teens the latest freestyle techniques.

March 8-12: Extreme Ski Week—Advanced skiers learn the art of modern, high-angle free skiing. Techniques taught include anchor setting, rapelling, belaying, big mountain skiing, competition tactics, airs and landings. Reservations required.

March 20: SURGE Spring Break RV rolls into town with games, contests and product sampling.

March 21: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Cardboard Derby—Using only tape, cardboard and glue, participants build and race a hand-crafted sled down Telluride's mountain. Entrance fees go to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters youth program.

March 27-April 11: Surf the Rockies—Telluride's annual end-of-the-season celebration complete with "real" pink flamingos on the mountain, bikini-clad skiers, fun races, a Main Street dance and lots of parties!

April 1: April Fool's Day—watch for Pink Flamingos skiing on the mountain!

April 3: Telluride Bikini Slalom—This annual race starts at 1 p.m. and finishes at Gorrono Ranch Restaurant.

April 3-10: Ski Free & More—Skiers and riders staying at participating Telluride lodges ski free and more.

Salomon Spring Thing—Salomon North America throws a big bash to thank shop employees, owners and sponsors for a successful season. This industry event offers five days of skiing, snowboarding, product demos, apres-ski parties, races and prizes.

April 4: Easter—Easter Egg Hunt on Telluride's mountain.

April 6-11: USASA National Snowboard Championship—The United States of America's Snowboard Association (USASA) holds the 1999 Nationals in Telluride for the second year in a row.

April 9: Main Street Dance—Telluride throws its end-of-season bash on Main Street in front of the historical courthouse clock tower.

April 11: Closing Day Party, location TBA.

*Please note: All events are tentative and subject to change without notice. For more information on Telluride's winter events, call the Telluride Ski & Golf Company at (970) 728-7485.