The Ten Best Places to Retire

Sarasota in Florida

Florida is still one of the best places for retirees and Sarasota may just be the perfect place for you. Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, it has more than 30 miles of beautiful beaches and a climate that's perfect for boating, tennis and golf. This is not a big city but it definitely has an urban feel, thanks to first rate entertainment.

Williamsburg in Virginia

If a feel of the colonial South is your idea of the best place to retire in, consider Williamsburg. The romance of 18th century colonial spirit is in the air and if you like to be surrounded (and reminded) of your British colonial heritage and would like access to one of its 15 golf courses, this is the place for you.

St. Simons Island in Georgia

If your idea of a great retirement is something akin to the eternal summer, consider St. Simons Island. Located just a few miles off Brunswick in Georgia, this island basks in the sun for more than six months of each year. Prices for houses are not cheap these days, but you'll get to share sandy beaches and beautiful marshes with the island's 13,400 population, so there's plenty of space for you.

Walla Walla in Washington

With a nice, solid local population of only 30,000, Walla Walla was voted recently as one of the best places to retire in America. If you want a quiet lifestyle in a town where people know one another, then this is the place for you. Walla Walla is that town you've been dreaming of when you want to escape the rat race - complete with bookstores, restaurants and art galleries, where local colleges offer lots of activities such as lectures and classes for retirees. And if you're used to big city prices, you'll love the fact that your future house in Walla Walla will be a nice, affordable surprise.

Fayetteville in Arizona

Fancy living in the Ozarks? If you're a country boy or girl at heart, Fayetteville has plenty to offer you as one of the best places to retire in. This southern town is known for its affordable housing and low cost of living, not to mention the lively outdoors. Imagine fishing in crystal clear lakes and enjoying the fall foliage in a place with a low crime rate and unemployment. Try it for a year and locals guarantee you'll stay 10, 20, maybe more years of peace.

Bellingham in Washington

Situated between Vancouver and Seattle, Bellingham offers plenty of great seaside and mountain views, fresh water lakes and Victorian-inspired historical districts. As one of the best places to retire in, Bellingham offers plenty of recreation and natural charm.

San Diego in California

Still can't get enough of the California spirit? One of the best places to retire to if you want an all-California town is San Diego, with its beautiful weather and sandy beaches. This is the perfect place for retirement if you intend to stay active. The beaches and famous Balboa Park are just a few of the places you can go to for play and entertainment. You'll love the fact that this town remains as one of the most competitive in the fields of electronics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Prepare to spend a little on housing, though. San Diego is not entirely cheap.

Charleston in South Carolina

The south is still one of the best places to retire in and Charleston is the lovely town where you can enjoy lots of activities within a thriving economy. Historic, romantic and beautiful, Charleston may just be the location of your dream home, as long as you don't mind the heat of the summer.

Loveland in Colorado

If the name doesn't get you, the place will. With its spectacular views of the mountains and easy access to outdoor activities, Loveland is one of the best places to retire in. Go skiing, fishing or hiking in this rural Eden and enjoy a metropolitan living in an affordable setting.

Holland in Michigan

Holland is one of the best places to retire in, thanks to its spectacular view of Lake Michigan and amenities for sailing and beach fun. If you don't mind the winter cold outside, you can still enjoy plenty of activity indoors. Don't worry, though. Streets and sidewalks in Holland are heated so snow shouldn't be much of a concern. Not only that, you can plan trips to the Grand Rapids at any time you like, considering that it's only half an hour away.

Bouquets in Boquete

There is a saying; nothing says romance more than fine dining, wine and a bouquet of flowers. Take the fine dining and wine out of that equation and add a bunch of thickets of flowers and I'm romanced. I was in heaven with appetizers and an Atlas beer at a sidewalk café after an evening stroll in a horticultural heaven coupled with the "bajareque".

The fictitious "Shangri-La" has a clone. It sits high in the mountains of Panama and it's real. Lost Horizon the book by James Hilton narrates a tale of plane crash survivors helped by young looking, hundred-year-old Buddhist monks in a place called Shangri-La, which is Chinese for "heaven on earth". Boquete is also an idyllic place. I didn't crash there; I kept on the go. Boquete has a perfect climate and average temperature of sixty-eighty degrees.

I wasn't searching for the fountain of youth, but I buy into the theory. In part, it must be due to the Bajareche, which contains a lot of moisture, the atmosphere is light, not humid and heavy. Right before my eyes my skin began to regain a youthful suppleness and my energy level electrified. The locals are hospitable, friendly, laid-back and easy to commiserate with even though most speak Spanish.

Literally translated baja means low and bajare means lower. The translation for que is "that". The bajareque refers to the clouds, mist and water that hangs over the valley and hides the mountains, specifically El Volcan Baru, a 3,475 meters (or 11,340 feet) volcano of Boquete, Chirique (province), Panama. It is said by many that the weather and climate promote longevity. Many natives live well beyond their hundredth birthday.

This discovery was not one I made on my own, mind you. My friend Ed from Dunedin, Florida pulled up roots and transplanted himself there; he and many other expats. He was looking for "love" when we met on the Internet. He filled my head full of images of Boquete and since I had no compunction to visit Florida when he lived there and still don't, off I go to Boquete when after a year of Internet talk he finally moved. I had to see for myself and finally meet Ed.

My host Ed awaited my arrival at Enrique Marel Aeorpuerto in David. We took a twenty-five dollar taxi to Boquete about fifty kilometers north. Later I learned I could have taken the bus for just $1.20. Ed tried very hard to sweep me off my feet the week I spent in Boquete. But, it was Boquete that swept me. As my foot hit the pavement on the streets of Boquete I was instantly rejuvenated. Of course, I was excited to see all the plant life and be in a foreign country.

Boquete is nestled in the hills of the tropics at a latitude of 9.1667 (this means it sits above the equator) and longitude of -82.2667 (west of the Prime Meridian) where this 500-year-old volcano looms overhead.

The Spanish word bouquete means "gap" or "opening" pronounced "bo ket a (long a)". A similar word is bouquet, which is French meaning "thicket". There were plenty of bouquets (thickets) everywhere I looked. Along the roadways huge Datura plants drooped with large blossoms. Hibiscus was everywhere. An annual flower show in January is held at the Fair Grounds by the Santa Fe Bar and Grill, now known as "the" expat hangout.

The garden at mi Jardin es su Jardin is a continual work in progress. Local Panamanian art dots the premises. Life-size animal casts are molded from steel mesh and covered with a stucco concrete, gaily painted in brilliant colors and further decorated with, you got it, more flowers. The Gonzales family owns the garden property and invites all to visit free of charge. Parts of the house are open to explore. A tower structure for visiting photo buffs seeking panoramic views sits near the residence. Visitors can tour parts of the house as well. There is also a swimming pool and a chapel on the property.

At Boquete's highest point, without climbing Volcan Baru one can see both oceans. Here one is immune from the intense humidity in the rest of the Panamanian Isthmus. David, for instance, is the inner hub of Central America on the Atlantic side. Just being outside invites instant beads of sweat. Panama City is extremely humid too, but it is cloistered from the full effect of it by the tall city buildings. Air conditioners are reserved for the City, fans for David, and open windows and a blanket at night for Boquete.

According to Richard Livingston, a local tour operator, the week before and week after Father's Day, as a rule of thumb, are as dry as a bone. Otherwise, rain can be expected everyday. Even when the rains and bajareque appear the temperature won't fluctuate much. Water droplets from the fallen clouds are visible even when it is not raining. Showers will last thirty minutes to an hour and come daily, sometimes heavy, and sometimes light. The heaviest rainfall months are May through November when between eleven and fourteen inches of precipitation fall every month.

On my June walk with Ed, we had to catch our breath. The rolling hills of Boquete hit us square on. It was a challenge to pacing myself when we stopped two blocks from the garden for coffee at Café' Ruiz a coffee finca/plantation and factory. As a landscape designer I had difficulty keeping my job boxed up, or temper my excitement to move on up the hill to the garden.
The garden was animated with maroon coleus bushes lining the lane, popping out at passersby. Gigantic allium bobbed their heavy heads in reverence. A bed of purple straw flowers cascaded down tiered beds accompanying the steps, hand-in-hand with a collar of red salvia at the base keeping them at bay. The Stella d' Oro (hemerocallus) stood tall and proud in thick masses, while plate-size hibiscus drooped from their limbs. Many citrus trees covered in lime, orange and grapefruit hide behind fronds of fern and banana leaves.

Two large fishponds teem with life. The bridge over one pond had a dinosaur topiary acting as guard. The shaped and hedged pathways follow in a march through a maze and more topiaries attack. So beware. There are a two more shaped like cranes lurking about. The shrimp plants dance in yellow dress. Other lanes are lined in large blue and white hydrangeas. A major site and quite a shock is the striking Christmas tree. It is odd to see in a tropical climate a landscape of Christmas design in a tropical climate.

The area is expansive, but lots of benches on the grounds await the weary. Propagating areas are laid out on the northwest side of the property. A makeshift fence grows along the property line comprised of blood red rose bushes heralding thick bunches of aromatic flowers.

After the relaxing stroll in the garden and my incessant naming off all the botanical life my memory could muster, which must have bored Ed to death, we headed to the Bistro Boquete about five blocks away, thankfully, downhill. We ordered curried chicken salad and sipped on a local beer while we sat outside enjoying the rest of the day. The word romance conjures up ideas of falling in love, which I did, with Boquete. I smiled ear-to-ear grateful I made the trip to this "Garden of Eden".

Things Legends Are Made Of

In the dim light of morning, an Indian girl in the eyes of a warrior screaming below. The sun continues to rise. In the twilight, a mountain man joins them. They all live in the "Cirque", ten minutes in the morning and only at night. The sun kisses the edge of the "Cirque" and forms the shadow of lost souls still hiding among the rocks and hills above the Scout Ranch in Bear Creek Canyon are expressed

"Cirque" buildings are reminiscent of an amphitheater. They are circularbasins at valley heads where glaciers used to be. The sun shares qualities with the glacier. As the glacier melts and moves down the valley, it plucks out chunks of bedrock and carries rock down hill where it leaves the basin known as a "Cirque". As the sun warms and moves across the valley, it plucks out spirits casting their shadows upon the edges of the basin. In the early 30's a miner and his son prospected for gold here living in the now deserted cabin. Nearby an opening to three mine shafts beckons.

To earlier travelers headed to Santa Fe, Taos, or the rugged west Las Cumbres Espanolas or Spanish Peaks stood sentinel guiding their way. Firmly planted in southeast Colorado, they are among the most important landmarks of the Southwest. The peaks acted as a shepherd's cairn guiding Indians, the Spanish and French, and early settlers to all points west. Early Indian tribes named the double mountains Wahatoya, (Breasts of the World). Religious connotations flourished naming them the home of the Rain Gods and the deposit of God's treasures. It is said Aztecs were aware of these mountains and believed golden treasure to be hidden there. Geologists claim there probably is there, since quartz-granite rock is in abundance.

Part of the Santa Fe Trail, "The Taos Trail" passes north of the Spanish Peaks along the Huerfano River, up Oak Creek and over the Sangre de Cristo Pass to the San Luis Valley and south to Taos. The usual trail either cut off from Bent's Old Fort near LaJunta, Colorado (the mountain route), or through Southwest Kansas (Cimarron Crossing, or "the dry cutoff"), southwest toward Santa Fe. Explorers and mountain men like Kit Carson, and "Wild Bill" Hickock, as well as Zane Grey traveled through the area.

About three miles from Walsenburg up Bear Creek Canyon Road, we passed the remains of Cameron, a 1900's coalmining town. Now it is a ghost town. Back in the day three to four thousand people stomped around on all that remained of the concrete foundations. If you are trekking around be on the lookout for Indian 'Picto-graphs.'

Along the winding road to LaVeta "Dikes" loom on the horizon. Millions of years ago molten magma forced into underground rock crevices and is now exposed through erosion. The dikes radiate from the Peaks like man-made plinth fences and vary in height from a few hundred feet to over 14 miles. Many are seen along Highway 12, the most prominent being Devil's Stair steps and Profile Rock.

Another phenomenon occurs there under certain atmospheric conditions. Strange cloud formations encircle the Peaks and appear to be layers of pancake shape, sometimes four or five high. At times, storms roll in and out so fast you would think you were in a tropical hurricane. The Peaks are totally obscured during one of these storms. Trees are thrashed and pelted with such force you wouldn't believe you were in Walsenburg, Colorado.

Volcanic plugs dot the landscape. Be sure to drive south of La Veta to see Goemmer's Butte. The plugs were formed through volcanic action underground, but never reached the surface to erupt.

Further south on Highway 12 you will see the Dakota Wall - a sandstone formation running from Mexico to Canada and nicknamed the "Backbone of the Rockies". The entire area is a geological treasure. Gold panners still try their luck. You might try up Indian Creek Trail. I took a calm, peaceful walk up that way, too, but sat by the creek and reflected in the quiet, after the storm I just drove through.

Not only the tales of legend make Spanish Peaks a site to visit, but the geological formations alone are a treasure. While in Walsenburg, pick up a visitor guide and head to the hills. There is a lot to see. You may not find any gold and you may miss the Indian spirits at the "Cirque", but whatever you do, don't miss Colorado's only alligator farm. The visitor guide will point the way. Only in the mountains of Colorado, huh?

Discount Lift Tickets - Learn What Colorado Ski Resorts Do Not Want You To Know!

How to get Discount lift tickets for Keystone Colorado, Breckenridge Colorado, Arapahoe Basin Colorado, Loveland Ski Area Colorado, Copper Mountain Colorado, Winter Park Colorado, Vail Colorado, Beaver Creek Colorado

Updated for the 2005-2006 ski season.

Discount Lift Tickets in Colorado- All Colorado ski resorts make it difficult for anyone coming from out of state to get a great deal on lift tickets. Don't expect to get a great deal anywhere if you didn't start looking in late September or early October. As your Keystone Lodging provider, we can help, but WE DO NOT SELL LIFT TICKETS.

The most expensive way to ski is to buy your lift tickets at the ticket window without any coupons. The following information will help you find the best deal around no matter what time of year.

Colorado Ski Season Passes

If you are in Colorado in April, September or October, you can look into buying a season pass for Keystone, Breckenridge, and A-Basin. Both Loveland and Copper Mountain sometimes sell season passes into November. If you plan on skiing 5 or more days, a season pass to one of the areas ski resorts will more than pay for itself and is the cheapest way to go...even though you won't get to use it for the entire season.

:: Keystone :: Breckenridge :: A-Basin :: Vail :: Beaver Creek ::

Season passes are sold along the front range at places like Gart Sports, REI, and Christy Sports. Season passes for Keystone, Breckenridge and A-Basin usually cost around $329. A 2nd option is to pay slightly more and get 10 days at Vail or Beaver Creek added to that same pass. You MUST buy these in person, and you typically have to use it at least once before the holiday season, or it will become invalid for the rest of the year. These passes do have blackout dates during the holidays and during Presidents Day weekend usually, so make sure you read the fine print before purchasing these ski passes. If you're planning an early season trip (Before December 20th) AND a later prime ski season trip (January - April), this is by far the least expensive way to go. Best of all, once you get a pass that you have to buy in person, you can renew it over the web year after year.

:: Arapahoe Basin Only ::

This year, Arapahoe Basin is offering a season pass of their own. For the 2005-2006 ski season, these are only $239. This allows unlimited skiing at Arapahoe Basin, but also allows you to ski at Keystone or Breckenridge for 5 days. One of the 5 days can be used at either Vail or Beaver Creek. This is an awesome deal if you're coming out for a short trip of 5 days or more. Best of all, you can buy these over the phone and just pick them up at the base area of Arapahoe Basin. As always, get in on this deal EARLY. Passes are usually sold in September and October only. Check out the Arapahoe Basin Website for full details.

:: Copper Mountain :: Winter Park :: Mary Jane ::

Copper Mountain is offering season passes for the 2005-2006 ski season for only $279. You can buy these without being present, but you must submit a photo of yourself so they can print your pass. Add a few more dollars and you can ski Winter Park and Mary Jane too. However, Winter Park is a solid 1 hour drive from Summit County. Still, the skiing at Mary Jane is legendary and you won't be disappointed with your day excursion to the snowpack in the Fraser Valley of Colorado.

:: Loveland Ski Area ::

Lesser known by people from out-of state, Loveland is a very inexpensive option. You'll see Loveland Ski area on your way into Summit County on the East Portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel. The closest ski lodging to Loveland is in Keystone....only 15 miles away. Loveland offers season passes for $253. Being an independant ski resort, you can only ski at Loveland. Loveland is one of the highest ski resorts on North America and they are usually the first to open the ski season in North America in October. Check the webste for details. They have an outstanding variety of terrain and there are little or no crowds at any given time.

++++++++++++ Warning ++++++++++++

Do not EVER try to use a 4 pack or season pass that is not yours. There are extremely stiff penalties including large fines and possible jail time if you are caught. The lift operators WILL catch you. A free lift ride is simply not worth the consequences.

++++++++++++ Warning ++++++++++++

Colorado Ski Resort "Four Packs"

Another money-saving tip is to buy what is called a "4 pack" for your ski resort of choice. A "4 pack" is 4 days of skiing for any 1 person. Typically the ski resorts sell these early in the season, but have also been known to sell them again in late March or in April. Buying late in the season is ideal...unknown to many, April is usually the snowiest month in Colorado!

:: Keystone :: Breckenridge ::

For the Keystone and Breckenridge 4 packs, you must buy them in person and they are not transferrable. In previous years they have been transferrable until people started selling them for a profit on eBay. $ packs usually run about $99 and are bought in the same fashion that a Season Pass is bought. The 4 packs do have blackout dates, so read the fine print carefully.

:: Copper Mountain :: Winter Park :: Mary Jane ::

Copper Mountain offers 4 packs for only $69 and ARE transferrable. This deal usually is around for about a week and may have already passed. If so, you're still in luck...both Copper Mountain and Winter Park offer 4 packs for $120, which is still only $30 per day. This offer expires on Dec 9th 2005, so jump on this quickly if you want to get in on the deal! There are usually rules and restrictions as to the dates you can use the 4 pack, so check the fine print carefully.

:: Loveland Ski Area ::

Loveland also offers a 4 pack as well for the 2005-2006 ski season. The 4 packs run only $99 but are only available through November 21st 2005. There are no blackout dates on these 4 packs and can be used anytime during the 2005-2006 ski season at Loveland.

:: Aspen :: Snowmass ::

Okay, so these 2 resorts aren't really all that close to Summit County, but if you want to see what celebrities do during the winter in Colorado...try Aspen or Snowmass for a day. Cheap passes are available, but you have to get them in person. They are available up until November 20th, 2005 at select locations around the Colorado Front Range.

Other ways to get Discount Lift Tickets

Are you a member of the armed forces? Keystone has a special setup with any active duty military, Reservists, National Guard and dependents. Rocky Mountain Blue offers a Freedom Pass for only $129. This pass is good for unlimited skiing at Keystone or Arapahoe Basin. It can be purchased at military bases in colorado including Buckley AFB, Peterson AFB, Schriever AFB, F.E. Warren AFB, Fort Carson and the Air force Academy. You can purchase this anytime during the 2005-2006 ski season and it is good through closing day at Keystone. THIS IS THE BEST LIFT TICKET DEAL IN COLORADO.

Keystone Lift Tickets Sign up for a free Colorado Gem Card. These cards will give you discounts at other ski areas that are further away. The closest resort that accepts this card is Loveland Ski area, which is about 15 miles away right at the Eisenhower Tunnel on the Continental Divide.

Keystone Lift Tickets Know someone with a season pass? Season Pass holders usually can buy a lift ticket for you for a deeply discounted price of $29-$59. The number of times they can do this is limited.

Keystone Lift Tickets Don't forget eBay! Many times people will buy a package deal and not be able to use it. Sometimes it's a 4 pack, sometimes it's someone who has an inside track to the resort and is trying to make some money on the side. Either way, MAKE SURE you check the lift tickets carefully to make sure you know what you're getting. Search around and see what you can find!

Keystone Lift Tickets Buy an Entertainment book for the Denver area. These books are PACKED with ski coupons. We typically buy these books and keep them available for our guests to use. The coupons are for slightly discounted lift tickets. ($5 - $10 off ticket window prices) There are also coupons for ski school.

Keystone Lift Tickets Buy your tickets on the front range in or around Denver. Go to any Safeway or King Soopers grocery stores, or ski and snowboard rental shop. They sell disount lift tickets for most ski areas.

Keystone Lift Tickets As your Keystone Lodging provider, just ask us and we'll do what we can to get you the right information you need or point you in the right direction to save you the most money given the time period of your visit. We typically keep a packet of coupons just for our guests use. When booking, please email or call us with your requests and we will mail coupons to you before you arrive. Coupons are first come first serve. These coupons usually come from Entertainment Books, and wherever else we can find them. We do not sell lift tickets.

BE CAREFUL - Some other lodging providers will entice you with a "package deal" saying that they will give you discounted lift tickets after your reserve your lodging...only to suddenly "run out" of the lift tickets after they have your money.

It's Snowing In Colorado, Time To Think Skiing and Boarding

I just saw it on the news, the Colorado Rocky Mountains are getting a foot or more of snow today. It's time to dust off the skis and board. Just think of the powder and soon you will be swooshing down those Colorado slopes....

This has been some of the earliest snow yet in Colorado. Ski areas are opening all over. Record openings! You have to wonder where this Colorado ski season is going...

Of course, if you're a skier or a boarder, season opening can never happen too early. But this winter is setting records in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Some Colorado ski resorts are seeing 3-6 feet of snow already. And these resorts are expecting much more in snow totals this season. This year could even surpass last years record snowfall and a record 12.53 million in skier passes to Colorado's slopes. Oct. 6th of this year was the earliest opening ever at Loveland Pass after producing artificial snow and then getting a deep blanket of the real stuff. Arapaho Basin was open shortly after. Now, all the ski areas are opening.

Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Vail, and Aspen are following suit. Soon, Steamboat and Telluride will follow in their footsteps. Colorado skiing is breaking out all over! Wolf Creek has already received a record 6 feet of snow. This may be the season to remember!

Breckenridge was ranked "best resort" by Ski Magazine. Imagine what it's like tis year. Breck has the highest ski lift in North America and is one of the most accessible ski areas in Colorado. 150 acres of snow terrain will tempt even the most experienced of skiers.

But Vail even surpasses Breck. It was voted No. 1 as an overall resort by Ski Magazine. 1.6 million people skied Vail last year and enjoyed the whole Colorado skiing experience. This is one Colorado ski resort to migrate to.

Copper Mountain is now featuring the free Tucker Mountain Snowcat tour. On your off ski-time you can see some of the most spectacular scenic views that the Colorado Rocky mountains have to offer. But when you think of Copper, think the fantastic skiing you will witness.

Steamboat has some of the best skiing around, and this year will not disappoint you. Why do you think Steamboat is known as "Ski Town USA" and they copyrighted the phrase "Champaign Powder"? For one of the most rustic ski areas in the Rocky Mountains, you can't beat Steamboat.

And then there's Aspen, one of the most popular ski resorts in Colorado and has much to offer skiers and boarders. You can expect lots of crowds and long lift lines on the slopes. Remember, this is a playground of the rich and famous, and a lot of people in general choose this ski vacation spot simply for that reason. But that's just part of Aspen. Also look for the magnificent mountain views, the great runs, and swinging nightlife,

Of course, you can't spend all your time on the slopes. Every ski resort area in Colorado provides its own style of off-slope sight seeing, nightlife, and shopping. You'll never be bored and wanting for activities and adventure on your Colorado ski vacation.

While in Colorado this year, why not go in for the newest rage in winter sports - SnowKiting. You've already got skis or a board. Just the addition of a harness and kite will have you gliding across the snow covered countryside of Colorado.

Whatever your winter sport inclinations are, you'll find what you're looking for in the winter sport paradise called Colorado. And this just might be one of the best ski seasons ever. At least it's starting out that way.

Ski Vacations In Colorado - A Wide Variety Of Locations To Choose From

Ski Colorado Anywhere You Want

Colorado is the one of the most visited ski destinations in the United States because it holds such a wide variety of locations for travelers to choose from. With thirteen ski resorts throughout the state - each with several choices of hotels, lodges and vacation rentals - you can make up hundreds of vacation combinations for your ski vacation in Colorado. Select from hundreds of restaurants, bars and fast food options and visit any one of the nearly fifty spas, gyms and relaxation spots. All in all, Colorado is a skier's paradise and a great place to visit whether you are a seasoned veteran or a first timer hitting the slopes.

Vail is one of Colorado's most prestigious and luxurious destinations. Vail Village has a historical feel that will remind visitors of Old Europe, with the exception of dozens of restaurants and shops to spend plenty of time and money. Vail's renowned terrain includes over 5000 acres spread across several miles. In the off season, the summertime in Vail brings music festivals, championship golf tournaments, fishing, rafting, hiking, bicycling and just about anything else you would want from the great outdoors.

Lodging from the No Frills Motel to a Ski Resort Paradise

Lodging in Vail is available in wide varieties, from the budget conscious, no frills motel to an all inclusive ski resort paradise. The Landmark Tower is one of Vail's best condo hotels and is located in Lionshead Village. From your room you can enjoy a fantastic view of Colorado's mountains, and partake in the great shopping locations available in Lionshead Village. The Antlers at Vail is a luxurious gathering of spacious studios with balconies, fireplaces and full kitchens. Like most everywhere in Vail, the mountain view is breathtaking.

Often called Colorado's last great ski town Crested Butte is historic mining community upgraded with comfortable accommodations and fantastic skiing. Its award-winning mountains have been recognized by professional athletes and novice skiers alike. They are known as giving a challenge to everyone no matter what skill level you are. Summertime in Crested Butte, like most of Colorado, can be just as amazing as the winters. Just because the snow melts doesn't mean the fun goes with it. Enjoy hiking, bicycling, kayaking, wildflowers and wildlife, followed by a fabulous night life.

Heated Sidewalks at Crested Butte

Hotels and resorts at Crested Butte are full of amenities, attention to detail and four star services. Black Bear Lodge is a relatively new establishment just a short walk from the slopes. One of the advantages to condo rentals over hotels is the home-like units fully equipped with bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms. Black Bear boasts luxury kitchens and larger than life rooms featuring stone fireplaces and entertainment systems. One of the most interesting features here is not necessarily a luxury, but more like a safety measure. You won't have to worry about slipping on the ice walking up to your condo with the heated sidewalks!

Other ski towns and resorts such as Winter Park, Loveland, Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Telluride are definitely worth a second glance as well. There are thousands of places to stay, things to do and see. Even if you're not a skier, ski vacations in Colorado can be tailored for anybody. While your family hits the slopes, you can stay inside, basking in the warmth of a roaring fire with your hot chocolate, or take in some local culture, shopping and sight seeing. It's your vacation, enjoy it.

Ski Gear For Different Abilities and Terrains

The first step to buying the most suitable ski gear is accurately assessing your skiing ability.

If you have never been skiing, or have been only a few times and are planning a ski trip, you are classified as a beginner skier, and should shop for beginner skis. Intermediate level skiers range from the cautious novices who have had at least some skiing experience to the slightly more confident skiers who are still somewhat new to the sport.

Intermediate skiers should look for skis and equipment, their capabilities can grow with them and still work on a number of reasons.

Intermediate and advanced learners are those who are not only self-confidence, but they are comfortable on different soils, slopes and the use of different techniques. Many experienced skiers know what kind of skiing the best of their ability and choice of background work, but should be of high quality skis that facilitate the control and an exploration permitcompetitive edge.

Different skis for different levels

When it comes to skis and ski gear, there are many verifiable differences between the kinds of skis developed for beginners, intermediate level skiers, and also advanced ski experts. These variances in design help make learning to ski for the beginner an easier process and also help to protect against injury as well as provide accommodating factors for different terrains, so purchasing clothing and equipment that is most suited to your own ability is essential.

While it isn't necessary to know everything about skis when purchasing your skiing equipment, knowing a few things about the differences in design for different abilities can help you know what to look for when shopping.

Beginner skis often feature a torsion box design and cap construction that allows the ski to bend more easily. This design not only makes the skis more durable, but also allows for greater control.

A larger sidecut in beginner skis also increases ease of handling by reducing the amount of pressure required. Beginner level skiers should search for skis that are ten to twenty centimeters shorter than their height, and gradually increase the length of the ski as their skill level develops.

When shopping for ski gear, intermediate skiers should look for skis that have a larger sidecut than expert skis, but still slightly smaller sidecut than those of a beginner. This moderate sidecut allows for ease of turning. When it comes to stiffness, intermediate skiers want a ski that is still fairly soft, but if they are too soft they tend to vibrate more at higher speeds. Intermediate level skis should be ten to fifteen centimeters shorter than the skier.

Skis and ski gear intended for expert and advanced level skiers are stiffer in design in design and feature varying different sidecuts depending on the skiers preferences. This not only allows for stronger, sturdier skis, but also creates the opportunity for better edge grip at high speeds and increased turning precision.