Toto, we’re not in the Alps any more… Skiing in Colorado isn’t the same as skiing in Europe. There’s a lot more space for starters, acres of light powder snow, in this case 2,762 acres, and lots more snow, around 359 inches a year. The terrain is different as well, there are still the poetic mountains with their towering rocky peaks, but because the American Rockies region is so huge, there are just lots more mountains, and more valleys and more bowls and more ridges etc. Winter Park is part of a ski area covering three big mountains and surrounding a big, smooth bowl.

A bit less of a third of the runs are designated for beginners, and a bit more than a third are suitable for advanced skiers, and there is PLENTY of opportunity for an off piste adventure and a snow park for the boarders. If you fancy something a bit more adventurous the Vasquez Cirque area is for you, it looks terrifying.

The Winter Park après ski is pure Colorado as well – the top restaurants have names like ‘The Shed Bar’ and ‘The Untamed Steakhouse’ and people are friendly and dressed for warmth rather than glamour. Your kids are very welcome, Winter Park offers child care for tiny two month olds to big boy six year olds. Their care includes giving skiing parents a pager for peace of mind…but that won’t help if you’re the one who falls over – by the looks of their Kid’s Adventure Center they may have just as much fun as you do. Winter Park’s ski schools will take ski kids from three years old and they have a cool video play back lesson where you get to watch yourself and improve your ski form with advice from the ski school teachers. There’s also a designated beginners area called ‘Discovery Park’, but don’t let the slightly naff name put you off, it’s got good views of the best of the slopes, a few adventure trails and a race course for first timers.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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