As winter quarter begins to get in full swing, you may find yourself spending a considerable amount of time in the mountains. For many, a trip to the slopes of resorts such as Keystone and Breckenridge to ski or snowboard is a much needed respite after a week of work and classes.
However, skiing and snowboarding are not for everyone. If you are spending a day in the mountains and have no desire to ski or snowboard, or just decide that you want a change from what you normally do, consider any number of the following activities as an alternative to spending your day on the slopes.

Breckenridge:

Relatively close to Denver and included on almost every mountain season pass, Breckenridge is a popular choice for students and residents of Denver alike.

Ice Skating

Grab a partner and head to Maggie Pond to enjoy a day of ice skating around a large frozen pond, located just a short trip from downtown Breckenridge. Afterward, spend the time warming up with a hot chocolate at one of the many coffee shops on Main Street, such as Cool River Coffee House.

Snowshoeing

Located by Peak 8, Breckenridge Snowshoe Center offers tours for every level of difficulty through White River National Forest. With rental access to all necessary equipment and supplies for a day of snowshoeing as well as several options for small group tours, snowshoeing and taking in the beautiful scenery of the mountains firsthand will definitely not disappoint.

Shopping

For a more relaxing day strolling around town, you will be hard pressed to beat the sites, stores, restaurants and coffee shops of Main Street. A wide array of everything, from locally owned handmade boutiques to bookstores to a delicious bakery, ensures that there will be something for everyone on Main Street.

Keystone:

Though it’s smaller than Breckenridge, Keystone is still a very popular choice for students. Keystone’s resort offers many experiences not possible on other mountains, such as night skiing and a world-class terrain park. But the amenities of Keystone do not stop there.

Sledding and Tubing

If you aren’t a fan of skiing or snowboarding, but still want to enjoy the mountains (albeit at a more leisurely pace), consider sledding and tubing in Keystone. With the main rental facilities located at Dercum Mountain (tubes and sleds are first come, first serve, so make sure you get there early, especially on weekends), people of all ages can enjoy sledding and tubing down the mountain.

River Run
A relatively new section of Keystone, River Run is an area of town filled with restaurants, shops and bars, a perfect location to spend the day off the mountain. With a large open area complete with several fire pits (and where events in Keystone are held, such as the Burger and Beer Festival), River Run provides ample opportunities to spend your time.

Whether you spend the day shopping in any number of the local craft stores or relaxing with a locally brewed beer at a bar in the area, your day will be well spent in the River Run neighborhood of Keystone.

Vail:

Vail is the quintessential Rocky Mountain ski town. Boasting world-class terrain for every skill level of skiers and snowboarders, Vail attracts people from around the world and Colorado alike.

Mid Vail

The city of Vail is different from other ski town in Colorado for several reasons, but perhaps most notably is that it did not exist until the resort itself was built. This means that the layout of the town was very much thought-out and planned, with the downtown area modeled after traditional European mountain towns.

Because of this, Vail is an extremely walkable city, with everything from high-end retail shops to small restaurants all within a short distance of each other in the downtown/Mid Vail area. Keep an eye out for the Vail Ale house, which serves up craft beer and frequently hosts touring bands at its in-house venue.

Night Life

Being a destination for many international tourists, Vail has a much more lively nightlife than many other resort towns in Colorado. When it comes to keeping entertained at night in Vail, there is something that is sure to please everyone.

For a more traditional ski bar feel, try the Red Lion, which features live acoustic music every single night. And if you are in the mood for a more upbeat evening, be sure to stop by Samana Lounge, a popular bar in Vail that transitions into more of a club (with DJs) as the evening progresses.