A kid friendly guide to Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado

Mesquite, Nevada

Gunnison/Crested Butte Colorado Family Activity Guide
Winter 2007
One-Tank Trips

Go skiing!

If you're a season pass holder at CBMR, three full days of skiing at the following resorts are included with your pass:

• Monarch Ski Area, Taos Ski Valley (check blackout dates)
• Durango Mountain Resort
• Powderhorn Resort
• Angelfire Resort in New Mexico.

I'd base my trip depending upon the following: How much snow do they have? Is it warm there?

Monarch has all natural snow and frequently lots of fresh stuff. The ski area has recently opened 130 acres of extreme skiing in Mirkwood Basin. Parking is right next to the lifts and there are slope side day lockers. It's a short drive from Gunnison (about 40 minutes). The pass is well maintained and frequently plowed. If you're going to spend the night, the Monarch Lodge is inexpensive and has a great indoor pool for the kids, as well as an on-site restaurant. This is the one "free" pass you shouldn't miss! Click here for Monarch's web site.

Head south to break away from the sub-zero nights to Taos, Angelfire, or Durango. And of course, who can pass up Grand Junction in the winter! Powderhorn Resort has 50% intermediate runs and 20% easy runs which is perfect for the little ones. There's only three lifts, a very quaint place for families.

Mesquite, Nevada

Why Mesquite? It's a day drive away (about 8 hours), it's kid friendly, and it's cheap! What a nice way to break up the snowy spring and travel to a town where the average high is 58 degrees in January, 64 degrees in February, 71 degrees in March, and 80 degrees in April. I highly recommend traveling there late spring (April break from school, or when school is out) because some pools are closed in the winter and other outdoor activities are limited to weekends only. When booking a room, remember that the price of a room is inexpensive Sunday through Thursday night. At The Oasis, there are four pools, one with a water slide that will open March 2008. If you stay at the Casablanca, room rates are as low as $60.00. (But the pool is closed from November through February.) In Mesquite, there are go-karts and a mini golf course which are open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the winter, but every day for the summer. There are also arcades, three movie theaters, a bowling alley and a recreation center with an indoor pool.

For older kids and parents there are at least five golf courses. Nine holes of golf at The Palms or Casablanca golf courses are $25.00 including a cart. 18 holes are as low as $49.00 including a cart.

Nearby attractions include Zion National Park (southwestern Utah about 77 miles away), Snow Canyon State Park (about 40 miles away in St. George, UT), and Valley of Fire State Park (56 miles in Nevada). Learn more on Mesquite's web site.

Ojo Caliente, New Mexico (For adults)

Although this is a "kid friendly" magazine, I just had to let parents know about this fabulous hot springs. Children 12 and under are allowed to go there, but they have limited access. They are not allowed in any of the ten mineral pools, but they can go into the swimming pool but only until 6:00 p.m. and they must be potty trained.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa is located in New Mexico approximately one hour south of the Colorado State border on Hwy 285. It is the only hot springs in the world with a remarkable combination of four types of mineral water: Lithium, iron, soda, and arsenic. Each of these minerals are believed to have specific healing powers. For example, lithium is believed to relieve depression and aid digestion. The arsenic water is believed to be beneficial for relief from arthritis, stomach ulcers and to heal a variety of skin conditions.

The average high for the day there is 50 degrees in February, 56 degrees in March, 64 degrees in April and 73 degrees in May. It is a nice getaway for parents/grandparents to break up the winter.

Spa services are available that include massage therapy, skin care, body treatments, and a nail studio.

Yoga classes are available for a fee. If you are lodging on the grounds, access to all pools are included with the lodging. Visit their website for special packages, rates and more information.