COLORADO - CRESTED BUTTE
Colorado - Crested Butte - Luxury Travel Magazine
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| Issue 51 Winter 2012 | |||||
| (Ski, Colorado, Crested Butte) | |||||
| CRAIG TANSLEY VISITED ONE OF THE PRETTIEST SKI RESORTS IN COLORADO, CRESTED BUTTE. | |||||
| There are very few places remaining that retain all the yesteryear charm of a Colorado mountain town, but Crested Butte – perhaps more than any other ski town in the entire state – overflows in an intoxicating old world charm that’s testament to the pioneers who established the town. The town boasts one of Colorado’s largest National Historic Districts – even new buildings must be built to the same style used when the town was born in the late 19th Century. Meanwhile, the ski resort accesses some of North America’s most challenging terrain, while also offering plenty of runs for beginner and intermediate skiers. That Australian skiers aren’t swarming all over this – the prettiest ski mountain in all of Colorado – is testament to the fact the people at Crested Butte are far too humble to spruik their offerings to the world. So it remains Colorado’s biggest secret with all the small town charm it’s had since mining created it 132 years ago. But small town charm doesn’t mean Crested Butte isn’t sophisticated, on the contrary this town looks just like a miniature version of Utah’s world-famous Park City and its ultra-trendy Main Street. There’s over 30 bars in this tiny village and just as many restaurants offering cuisine from every corner of the globe. It’s alternative too; there’s art studios and yoga workshops and alternative wellness clubs and whole food grocers, but then there’s gun shops, Stetson shops and a bar where Butch Cassidy used to drink. Crested Butte is perhaps the US’s most picturesque ski mountain – its name comes from the jagged, dramatic peak that juts out nearly 4,000 metres from the Earth and is the resort’s striking centre-piece. Crested Butte is surrounded on all sides by a sheer landscape of classic, triangular mountains. This is a mountain for extreme skiers – it has North America’s easiest access to some of the steepest ski slopes on the continent – like the North Face and Headwall which boasts slopes of over 50 degrees. But then there’s plenty of wide-open beginner and intermediate runs too, making it ideal for families with varying abilities of skiing talent. There’s no traffic lights in town, nor are there chain stores, in fact the hardest choice you’ll have staying here is whether to ski all day, or spend your days checking out all town has to offer – from its surprising range of eating choices to its entertainment options, specialty stores and art galleries. Town is just a five-minute free bus ride from the resort. | |||||
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| WHERE TO STAY | |||||
| Elevation Hotel & Spa is at the base of the mountain, right next to the chairlift. Standard King Suitesstart from US$109 (about A$111) per room per night; skicb.com/cbmr/elevationhotel-and-spa.aspx | |||||
| WHERE TO EAT | |||||
| Try Crested Butte’s finest steakhouse at Maxwell's on Crested Butte’s main street or eat on top of the mountain at rustic Uley’s Cabin; maxwellscb.com; skicb.com/uleys | |||||
| For more information on Crested Butte ski resort and town visit skicb.com | |||||
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| GETTING THERE | |||||
| TO COLORADO Qantas flies daily to Los Angeles (LAX) from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Flight time is around 14 hours. Return economy class fares start from A$1,499 and business class fares from A$8,863. Oneworld codeshare partner American Airlines flies to Denver, Colorado from LAX. Flight time is about two hours. Return economy class fares start from US$289 (about A$296) and business class fares from US$1,725 (about A$1,767). | |||||
| qantas.com; aa.com | |||||
| TO CRESTED BUTTE American Airlines operates flights from Denver to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. Flight time is around one hour. The flight operates economy class only and return fares start from US$868 (about A$889). | |||||
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