February 18, 2011

Silverthorne & Breckenridge

Second post of the Travel Series

One question I get asked repeatedly whenever the subject of my having family in Colorado is, "Do you ski?" And, for many years, I've had the same answer: "No."

Over the holidays, however, my husband and I hit the slopes in Breckenridge and finally got to try snowboarding. It's still not skiing, but it's close—the rougher counterpart, if you will. I'm too embarrassed to show you a clip of my less-than-stellar attempt at getting up on the board (I didn't even get past balancing to merit an attempt at moving forward). Our teacher said that it takes at least three days to get the hang of it, and then it simply "clicks." I will probably need two weeks—or even more—by the looks of it.

Breckenridge is about two hours west of Denver and is one of four destination ski resorts in the area (the three others being Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Copper Mountain). Close by are the towns of Silverthorne, Frisco, and Dillon—all of the above comprising Summit County, Colorado. In the summer, the area is a popular destination for fishing, biking, and hiking. One can also ride the ski lifts/gondolas for the scenic views.
Snow country.
Silverthorne seems to be a favorite among vacationers because lodging (and equipment rental for seasoned skiers) is reasonable, and it's only a 20-minute drive to the ski areas. For non-skiers/snowboarders, it's one fun place to shop: The Outlets at Silverthorne offer over a hundred brand names spanning three "villages"... It's a different kind of workout, alright, and you'll definitely work up a sweat (unless it's 8 degrees out).
Rex, a gorgeous Newfoundlander we met at the hotel.
Sun and snow—lovely combo.
Warming up by an open 'fireplace.'
A crowd gathers.
On the practice slope.
View from the lift.
The husband had fun.
The smile betrays the ache in my behind ;)
Calling it a day.
READ the Travel Series starting with...
1. DENVER

2 comments:

  1. Mariel, I can relate about learning how to do a snow sport. I was thinking of doing snowboarding instead of skiing but opted for the latter 'cause I heard it was easier. I guess reading your blog means they were right! I still am keen to try. Will you do it again?

    Lovely photos! Glad to see you're enjoying yourselves with the hubby!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Maya! :)

    Two of our classmates were skiers and they did say skiing was a lot easier. With snowboarding, I think one has to be already physically fit to be good at it, since it engages the core muscles, thighs, and is literally a balancing act. Maybe I will try it again next winter and hopefully have more time to learn it until it "clicks." And, I'll probably take a classmate's advice to wear padding for my behind, hehe.

    ReplyDelete

Welcome to my blog! Always a pleasure reading your comments, so thank you for posting :)

Cheers, cheese, and chocolate,
Mariel

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