Colorado boasts 26 mountain resorts and each winter skiers and snowboarders from Alaska to Maine and from Argentina to Norway come to experience its vast array of terrain and the state’s signature Rocky Mountain powder snow. With mountains and resorts to suit any skill and budget, it’s no wonder that last season saw a record 12 million skiers and snowboarders—20 percent of the nation’s total—on Colorado’s slopes.

ASPEN FAMILY VALUES

Vibe:

Families who take ripping down mountains together seriously

For families, Snowmass is the hill with … massive appeal. “With 3,132 acres of terrain, it’s bigger than the other three Aspen resorts combined, but one lift ticket gives you access to all four,” says Jeff Hanle, an Aspen spokesperson. Snowmass is known for its intermediate groomers, but plenty of steep stuff and glades satisfy the more adventurous. And you’ll have a tough time keeping your kids out of the new 12-foot beginner’s half-pipe.

Signature run:

Sneaky’s is a rolling, wide-open intermediate run ideally suited for big giant slalom turns.

Local legend:

Olympic silver medalist and multiple X-Games champ Gretchen Bleiler trains in Snowmass’ terrain park, and she’s lived here since she was 10 years old.

2012 deal:

Check for a different deal each month during winter, mostly of the buy two, get one free variety (www.aspensnowmass.com/deals, 800-308-6935).

Village Highlights:

Grab seats by the fire pit at the Venga Venga Cantina & Tequila Bar for $3 beers and $6 appetizers from 4 to 7 p.m. Don’t miss chef Richard Sandoval’s signature tacos al pastor (105 Paly Ln, 970-923-7777).

Rest up at the recently renovated Limelight Lodge in Aspen, where guests receive two free lift tickets per day with each three-night stay (355 S Monarch St, 800-433-0832).

JOIN THE TRIBE AT BRECKENRIDGE

Vibe:

Friendly. You’ll want to live here with all your new cohorts.

“Breckenridge’s a place where people come for one winter and end up staying,” says Duke Barlow, the sprawling resort’s ski patrol rescue coordinator who did just that when he was fresh out of college 13 years ago. It’s the above-the-treeline terrain that sets Breckenridge apart, he says. What does that mean for skiers and riders? “The wind blows the snow around,” says Barlow, “so it feels like you have fresh snow just about every day.”

Signature run:

The Imperial Express chair drops you at 12,800 feet, the highest chairlift in North America, and the start to Imperial Ridge, an above-tree-line groomed run with spectacular views.

Local legend:

Snowboarder JJ Thomas, the 2002 Olympic bronze medalist in the half-pipe, has competed in every Winter X Games since 1999.

2012 deal:

Buy two nights’ lodging/two lift tickets and get a third night/lift ticket free (www.breckenridge.com, 800-536-1890).

Village highlights:

The rowdy crowd sets up at Fatty’s Pizzeria (106 S Ridge Rd, 970-453-9802). MiCasa Mexican serves family-friendly fare, and it takes reservations (600 S Park Ave, 970-453-2071).

One Ski Hill Place offers convenient ski-in/ski-out condo rentals that range from studios to four-bedroom apartments (1521 Ski Hill Rd, 877-354-6747).

LEARNER’S PERMIT – COPPER MOUNTAIN RESORT

Vibe:

Anything goes and all are welcome, from beginners to freestylers to speed skiers

Perfect your McTwist or Dinner Roll in the safety of Camp Woodward at Copper, the year-round indoor training facility where kids of all ages can learn new freestyle tricks by sliding down ramps covered with slick plastic Snowflex and landing in huge foam pits.

When you head onto the mountain, you’ll notice that Copper’s naturally divided terrain separates skiers and riders by their ability. “You never have to worry about taking a wrong turn and getting in over your head,” says David Roth, a Copper Mountain spokesperson. “And experts don’t have to worry about slow-moving beginners cutting them off.”

Signature run:

Nacho starts with a free snow cat ride (Friday–Sunday, conditions permitting) to the top of Tucker Bowl. From there it’s a steep descent in an open bowl.

Local legend:

Meet Rainer Hertrich, a telemark skier who has skied every day of the year since November 1, 2003.

2012 deal:

$6 lunch at Grand Hall (menu changes daily) and $5 beer and a hot dog at Copper Red Hots.

Village highlights:

At CB Grille the chefs are known for their inventive takes on regional specialties such as wild game (910 Copper Rd, 970-968-3113).

The Mill Club is a one-minute walk to the chairlift and offers both hotel and condo-style lodging (in the base village, 866-841-2481).

THE LOCAL HILL – WINTER PARK

Vibe:

Half of Denver seemed to learn how to ski here, and they’re still coming

As part of Denver’s city parks, Winter Park and its sister hill, Mary Jane, own a special place in many Denver-area skiers’ hearts. And thanks to a series of upgrades to the base village and the mountain, the sprawling resort now goes toe-to-toe with the best mogul skiing, tree shots and near-vertical steeps of any resort in the state. The two-mountain set-up—Mary Jane for experts and Winter Park for the terrain parks and the rest of the crowds—keeps the grizzled ski bums and newbies separated and happy.

Signature run:

Outhouse, an expert-only moguls run with no escape, defines the mountain’s “best bumps in America” claim.

Local legend:

Two-time Winter Olympian, former Abercrombie & Fitch model and star football player for the Colorado Buffaloes Jeremy Bloom honed his freestyle moguls chops on the bumps of Mary Jane.

2012 deal:

Early season deals were priced as low at $84/night with a lift ticket per person. Prime Christmas week deals start at $127/night per person. The rest of the year’s deals are going to be closer to the $84 value.

Village highlights:

Save a little dough on your lodging but enjoy all the amenities with a room or suite at the Vintage Resort Hotel, a short, free open-air cabriolet ride away from the base village (100 Winter Park Dr, 800-472-7017).

After the lifts close, get a little taste of the city at two mountain outlets of Denver institutions: The Cheeky Monk in the village specializes in fine Belgium beers served in brew-specific glassware (970-726-6871) and Lime, home to $5 tacos and burritos to go and $3 margaritas during happy hour (970-726-5463).

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT AT KEYSTONE

Vibe:

If the children are happy, everybody’s happy

Keystone aggressively courts and grooms the next generation of skiers and snowboarders, attracting them to the mountains with off-slope entertainment such as the world’s highest snowfort atop Dercum Mountain at 11,640 feet, disco snow tubing at night and Family First Tracks in the morning. And don’t miss the monthly Kidtopia events, four-day periods each month dominated by family-fun activities and deals.

Signature run:

Wild Irishman, an intermediate groomed run for the whole family.

Local legend:

Head to the A51 terrain park for a chance to spot freestyle skier and X Games champ Simon Dumont.

2012 deal:

Buy two; get three lift-ticket-and-lodging packages start at $92 per person/night, during non-holiday periods (www.keystoneresort.com, 800-328-1323).

Village highlights:

Family Fondue Night at Der Fondue Chessel, reached via gondola at the top of North Peak Mountain, is always a crowd pleaser and kids under age 5 eat free with a paying adult (800-354-4386)

At River Run Village more than a dozen separate lodges create a quasi-base village at Keystone thanks to the short walk from them to the River Run Gondola (off Montezuma Rd, 800-328-1323).

MOVIN’ ON UP – VAIL

Vibe:

Local meets upscale

Many Front Range residents consider Vail, the largest resort in the United States, a “local” hill. You wouldn’t know it from the finishing school the village has gone through in the last few years with the addition of new luxury hotels—the Four Seasons and a Ritz-Carlton among them. “Much of it is in anticipation of the 2012 Winter Teva Mountain Games and the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships,” says Paul Abling, a spokesperson for the Vail Valley Foundation, an organization that promotes athletic and cultural events in the region. Vail has always been a family-friendly ski town and mountain, and even with the new luxury additions, that aura hasn’t changed. The stream of cars coming down I-70 from Denver every weekend makes sure of that.

Signature run:

Riva Ridge is a four-mile-long run groomed once a week that’s lined with trees and a pitch that varies between advanced and intermediate terrain.

Local legend:

Lindsey Vonn, the 2010 Winter Olympic gold medalist and winner of three consecutive World Cup titles has called Vail home since the 1990s.

2012 deal:

Buying lift tickets seven days in advance at Snow.com gets you the best prices. Or try a season pass like the Epic Pass or Epic 7-Day pass (www.epicpass.com).

Village highlights:

A local’s favorite, the Westside Café is the go-to place for a twist on American comfort food, especially breakfast—Cap N’ Crunch French toast anyone? (2211 N Frontage Rd W, 970-476-7890). At the base of the ski hill, families can’t go wrong at Blue Moose Pizza in Lionshead Village (970-476-8666).

The luxurious Vail Cascade Resort and Spa offer an escaped from the bustle of Vail Village, a heated riverfront pool and hot tub, and direct access to the ski runs thanks to the resort’s own chairlift (1300 Westhaven Dr, 970-476-7111).

RAW COLORADO – SILVERTON

Vibe:

No frills, big thrills.

At Silverton Mountain, every run is an expert-only experience. There are no groomed runs and with a peak of 13,487 feet, Silverton is the highest ski area in North America—you reach the summit by hiking from the top of the area’s sole chairlift, which only delivers you to 12,300 feet. During early and late season, skiers and snowboarders are allowed to travel around the mountain without a guide for $49/day, but from January until mid-April, a guide is required at $139/day.

Signature run:

Delores’, a gullied tree run full of powder stashes.
2012 Deal: Try heli-skiing to the top for $159/ride (www.silvertonmountain.com, 970-387-5706).

Local legend:

Ingrid Backstrom, professional big mountain skier, calls Silverton “a real skier’s mountain. If you’re willing to work a little you’re rewarded in huge ways.”

Village highlights:

Fuel up for your day with a breakfast of biscuits and gravy or eggs Benedict at the Brown Bear Café (1129 Greene St, 970-387-5630).

Six miles from the mountain, you can check into the historic—and affordable—Grand Imperial Hotel, first opened in 1882 (1219 Greene St, 800-341-3340).

The island of Cancún, Mayan for “Golden Snake,” is sandwiched between the pristine turquoise Caribbean Sea to the east and tranquil Nichupte Lagoon to the west. Add its stylish hotels and powdery, white sand beaches along with hopping nightlife, a healthy dose of authentic culture and history nearby, and you’ve got one heck of a vacation playground.

The Lowdown:

John Gray, a former Ritz-Carlton chef, now commands four restaurants around Cancún and nearby Riviera Maya. The California native moved to the region 18 years ago when he fell in love with its hospitable people. Here, his food favorites:

LOCAL EATS
Downtown Cancún is hidden away with places offering all kinds of Mexican favorites: I love Los de Jalisco (Ave Kabah). In the Hotel Zone there’s a little-known Japanese spot called Mr K’s that’s only 16 seats and serves passionately prepared noodles, sushi and pork belly (Blvd Kukulcán N, Km 9).

THE RIGHT MARGARITA
There are rules to a great margarita. You need fresh lime juice, quality reposado tequila like Herradura, and use orange-flavored liqueur instead of sugar for sweetness. Serve it on the rocks (never frozen!). I like to drink mine at La Habichuela at sunset (Margaritas 25, 998-884-3158).

SNACK SHACK
My favorite place to go on a Sunday afternoon is El Galeón del Caribe, right on the bank of the lagoon. Everything is cooked outside, and I go for ceviche and pescadillas (crispy fried fish tacos).

What $100 Buys You in Cancún

A huichol-patterned silk scarf from Mexican designer Pineda Covalin’s boutique at Luxury Avenue, the Saks Fifth Avenue of Cancún (Blvd Kukulcán, Km 13, 998-840-6100).

Two tickets to swim with the dolphins at Dreams Cancún Resort when booking through Delphinus World (www.delphinusworld.com, 998-206-3304).

A bottle of premium Clase Azul reposado tequila from La Destilería, which has more than 150 brands of tequila on its shelves. (Blvd Kukulcán, Km 12.65, 998-885-1086).

Golf (including bar cart and food) before 2 p.m. at the 18-hole, par-72, Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed Pok-Ta-Pok Golf Course, with greens that skirt around Cancún’s Nichupté Lagoon. (Blvd Kukulcán, Km 7.5, 998-883-1230).

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As a coach to professional athletes around the world, I can tell you that one of the most stressful parts of a major competition is keeping the athletes healthy on the way to the venue. Ironically, when athletes push themselves to the point where they’re in peak competitive fitness, they’re also teetering on the edge of illness. It doesn’t take much for them to get a cold or a stomach bug that could completely ruin their chances for an Olympic medal or a World Championship. ### In a sense, an athlete’s situation mirrors hectic travel during the holidays; you’re pushed to the limit and in a fragile state. But if you use the same tips I give my athletes, you can greatly boost the chances of staying on top of your game. In short, be vigilant about controlling what comes into contact with your eyes, nose, and mouth. No need to go OCD about it, but following the basic steps below when you travel should help.

WASH FREQUENTLY

Besides air, nothing contacts your mouth, nose and eyes more frequently than your hands. Wash with soap and water before eating anything, and use hand sanitizer with a minimum 60-percent alcohol content when soap and water aren’t available.

EAT SAFE

The chances of getting food-borne illnesses in an American airport are very low, but I don’t take chances with elite athletes, and it wouldn’t hurt for you to follow their lead. Bottled beverages and peel-able fruits and vegetables are smart choices; as are packaged foods such as nuts, trail mix and fig bars.

SLEEP WELL, BE WELL

Make a good night’s sleep before a travel day a priority—actually schedule it as part of your vacation—and stay hydrated. This will keep your immune system humming and ready to tackle any germs coming your way.

GO PRO

Staying healthy factors into everything an elite athlete does on the road: They use their own pen to sign autographs. And the fist-bump vs. handshake? It ensures that any transferred germs stay on the back of the hand. Some athletes even travel with their own stash of disposable flatware swiped from take-out restaurants. Seem extreme? It doesn’t to the men and women who’ve invested months of training for one shot at a competition. And it shouldn’t to you; all you’re doing is protecting your investment in a once-a-year vacation.

Nestled into a handsome bay on the coast of the Mexican state of Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta has retained the cobblestone charm of its city center even as hotel resorts sprout on its north shore and ever-more expensive yachts dock in its marinas.

The Lowdown:

Pat Henry was the first American woman to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world via the canals (chronicled in her book By the Grace of the Sea). After visiting more than 50 countries, she chose Puerto Vallarta as her home in 1997. Here are a few of her local faves:

PEOPLE WATCHING
I love watching local couples dance cumbia, salsa and tango at the Main Plaza—a timeless Mexican Sunday evening tradition.

There’s also the Southside Shuffle, a festive strolling/shopping/visiting event at some of my favorite boutiques and galleries every other Friday night between November and March (Basilio Badillo & Constitucion, Zona Romantica).

EATS
Go to La Esquina de los Caprichos, a very local, intimate eatery in a charming, hillside neighborhood above the old center of Vallarta. Getting there is half the fun, and the authentic Spanish tapas are the other half (Miramar 402, 322-222-0911).

What $100 Buys You in Puerto Vallarta

An action-packed Outdoor Adventure package with Vallarta Adventures, which includes riding a speedboat on the ocean, a Unimog 4×4 tour and mule ride into the mountains, all before zip lining through the jungle and rappelling down a waterfall (888-526-2238).

A five-hour marine scientist-guided humpback whale watching expedition with Ocean Friendly, complete with lunch and drinks (322-225-3774).

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With mountain views from every point of the compass and big mountain skiing on iconic Lone Peak at Big Sky Resort nearby, Bozeman, Montana is the heart of the northern Rockies.

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Skiers and snowboarders from around the world flock to Utah’s abundant snow in the nearby Wasatch Mountains, but a downtown revival in Salt Lake City continues to make new fans of this urban gateway to the great outdoors.

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At the south end of the peninsula separating the Sea of Cortez from the Pacific ocean, Baja Sur runs the gamut from spring break fiesta in Cabo San Lucas to boho-chic in artsy Todos Santos, and from the historic charm of San Jose del Cabo to La Paz, a city on the brink of a tourism bonanza thanks to new developments on its quiet shores. Whatever your getaway desires, Baja Sur can quench it.

The Lowdown:

Former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar came to Cabo San Lucas for a 10-day vacation in the 1980s and wound up a local institution thanks to his bar Cabo Wabo Cantina (Vicente Guerrero at Cárdenas, 624-143-1188). Here, he shares his favorite Baja haunts:

EATS
You have fantastic high-end restaurants like Agua (at the One & Only Palmilla Resort, Km 7.5 Transpeninsular Hwy, 624-146-7000) and Nick-San (Blvd Marina, Plaza de La Danza, 624-143-2491), a sushi place with a little Mexican twist—expensive but as good as you’re going to get anywhere in the world.

I prefer taco stands over everything else, and I like going to get tacos at Gardenias in Cabo (Camino al Hacienda and Niños Heroes).

BEACH
I like the Sea of Cortez side. Find some dirt roads heading out towards the East Cape from San Jose; you’ll find some amazing beaches where nobody’s there—beautiful water, gorgeous white sand without a footprint anywhere.

What $100 Buys You in Baja Sur

The Water Lily body treatment at CostaBaja’s Espiritu Spa, to ameliorate that sunburn (Carretera a Pichilingue, Km 7.5, 612-123-6018).

17 lobster tacos at Bizmarkcito on the malecón in La Paz (Paseo Álvaro Obregón and Hidalgo)

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Since she was a teenager, Grammy Award-winner LeAnn Rimes has been rightly lauded as one of the brightest stars on the country music scene. And part of that success is relentless touring, which makes Rimes a worldly expert on hundreds of cities around the continent. This winter, she’s got more of the same in store as she hits the road to support her new release, Lady + Gentlemen, where she covers famous songs first performed by men. Before she split, she filled us in on her favorite destinations.

When you do get time to relax, where do you go?

There’s a place in Montana called The Ranch at Rock Creek, and they have a room called the Trapper Cabin—it’s half canvas and half rock. And it sits right by a creek—that’s all you hear, the rushing water. You feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, and if you go with someone you love, it’s just the most romantic thing.

I also love Aspen. When we go skiing, we stay at the Viceroy in Snowmass—they do an amazing job there.

Is there a big city you’re in love with?

I’m in love with Chicago. They have so many great festivals—the Lollapalooza music festival to name one. My favorite restaurant in the city is the Girl and the Goat. They have a table for two that’s really romantic—they ask you what you like and don’t like, and then you can sit right back by the kitchen and watch everybody cook for you. I swear you walk out of there 10 pounds heavier (809 W Randolph St, 312-492-6262).

What kind of food do you crave when you go out?

I grew up in Dallas, so I love great Tex-Mex. In Minneapolis I found this random raw-food restaurant called Ecolopitan. I ordered a zucchini pasta served with pesto and pinenuts. Yummy! (2409 Lyndale S #4, 612-874-7336)

In Seattle, there’s a place called Tilth, and it’s one of my favorite restaurants in the world. It fits, maybe, 35 people inside a tiny house. It has the best salmon—so clean and well prepared. The brunch there is also insanely great (1411 N 45th St, 206-633-0801).

About Dallas: Where would you tell a visitor to go?

I’m a big shopper, so I would definitely go to NorthPark Center mall. They have every store you can imagine there from Intermix to Barney’s to Neiman Marcus. And I’d go to Nobu for dinner—I was so happy when they got a Nobu in Dallas (400 Crescent Ct, 214-252-7000).

Dallas loves its sports. The Mavericks (Dallas’ NBA team) are always a great team to go see. Cowboys Stadium (home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys) is absolutely insane. Its huge art exhibit is worth seeing alone. And, of course, there’s Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, the biggest honky-tonk in the United States—everyone needs to check it out.

What’s the most romantic trip you’ve taken?

My husband and I go to Cabo once or twice a year to get away. We’ve stayed at many different places: Esperanza‘s where we had our honeymoon, Las Ventanas is an incredible resort, but Palmilla is our go-to place when we want to get away as a couple. For a romantic dinner, Capella’s oceanfront restaurant set into the cliffs is really beautiful.

If you were to move somewhere for two months, where would you go?

I’m obsessed with the Pacific Northwest. It’s so cool and healthy, the food’s amazing, the air’s clean. If you’re a yogi in Portland there’s a place called Yoga Pearl. They have an incredible teacher there, and they also have an organic vegan-fusion restaurant in the front of the building called Blooming Lotus (925 NW Davis St, 503-525-9642).

I’d stay at the Hotel Lucia in Portland. When I last stayed there they had pulled pictures of me and my family off the Internet, framed them and put them in my room. They’re so sweet that way—made me feel right at home (400 SW Broadway, 503-225-1717).

Stop with the loser New Year’s resolutions—lose weight, stop losing your temper, stop losing money—and go big.

It’s that time of year again; I’ve just spent the last several hours searching the junkyard that constitutes my office for last year’s list of New Year’s resolutions to see how they turned out. Apparently, crossing off my annual No. 1 resolution—“Be more organized”—will have to wait another year.
That’s okay, though, because I’m taking a different approach for 2012.

Instead of focusing on the usual losing battles—you know, losing stuff, losing weight, losing my temper over drivers who insist on doing 50 m.p.h. in the left lane—accentuating the positive is the goal. After all, who says you can’t resolve to enjoy more of the good things in life?

Like travel. This year, I’m going to resolve to travel more, travel farther and have more adventures along the way. It may not make me a better person, but it’s bound to be more fun than giving up red wine and snickerdoodles.

For example, my wife has always wanted to go to Paris. So be it, we’ll go to Paris. She also wants to go to Australia and Argentina and on an African safari. Hey, sign me up! I have no idea where we’re going to find the time or money to do any of them, but where there’s a will, there’s a MasterCard with a revolving line of credit.

The key, I’ve decided, is to make like a Nike commercial and Just Do It because I’ve come to the conclusion that the longer you put things off, the more likely you’ll put them off entirely. That may be okay for the little things in life—changing your oil, going to work, having kids—but do you really want to procrastinate your way out of a vacation?

I sure don’t, which is why I just booked a family trip to Florida over New Year’s. I figure that by jumping on my new resolution right away, in 2011 no less, there will be less opportunity for it to get away from me. It also means that if I ever find last year’s list, I can finally scratch my go-to resolution No. 2—“Be more proactive”—off it.

I like that, almost as much as I like the fact that I don’t have to write a new list of resolutions this year. On January 1, while others are swearing they’ll drink less, eat healthier or get more organized, I’ll be lying on a beach, soaking up the sun and savoring the satisfaction of accomplishing my New Year’s resolution.

Happy new year, indeed.

Heads covered in ski toques or Stetsons mingle on Main Street, while at the ski resort, kids strive to out-schuss the local Olympians: Steamboat claims 84 and counting, more than anyplace else in the country.

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