A Gem In A Little Known Place Called Crested Butte!

I have never been too fascinated with the tabloids.  Sure, like most people, the act of picking up one of these ‘yellow journalistic' publications is much better then waiting for the person in front of you at the check-out line in the grocery store who has to make sure that they have all their coupons, is fun.  When such a moment occurs, vacation spots is what I would say is what's most appealing to me.  I like to see where the next starlet is going to spend their vacation.  

In one such instance, I remember reading about a place called Crested Butte.  Located in Gunnison County, Colorado, this little known spot has been a outdoor adventure haven for those who knew about it...and that wasn't too many people.  The population of this place, according to the 2000 census, was only 1,529 people. 

Chances are you may have never thought of this destination for winter/summer activities and vacations, that may have been because there was very little air service there. Now with its influx of air crafts flying into its local airport from such hubs as Atlanta, Denver, Salt Lake, Chicago and others, it won't be long before you appreciate this small piece of outdoor paradise.

You may think that skiing and snowboarding are the only things that go on here; after all, it is labeled ‘the last great Colorado ski town', but with spring having sprung, they are rolling out the preverbal red carpet...and catering to you.  

Some of the things you can do in Crested Butte Other then Skiing!

Ok, its true that the main draw here is the amazing skiing and snowboarding that goes on - but that's just the tip of the iceberg.  This is a list, albeit a small one, but it gives you a general idea of what other wonderful things await you here:

1.  Arts, Culture, Culinary and Well Being.  A number of walking tours make a great day of exploring the arts within the city limits.  Great for the whole family, some of the local facilities include Crested Butte Center for the Arts, Crested Butte Mountain Theatre & the Pioneer Museum and Train Museum where you can learn about how it all started back in 1880.

2.  Horseback Riding: The expansive National Park in Gunnison makes this activity an authentic experience.   From stables in Almont and Mt. Crested Butte, families and friends enjoy a variety of wilderness trail rides; and the feature ride is through Maroon Bells Wilderness from Crested Butte to Aspen.

3.  Whitewater Rafting - whether you're a first timer or a veteran pro, you will quickly understand why whitewater enthusiasts have been coming for years to Colorado.  One of the largest tributaries to the Colorado River, the Gunnison River, has a network of steep creeks & Streams.   The Gunnison River is characterized as a scenic stretch; and also a number of fun rapids to navigate in.  Another winner for the whole family!

4.  Boating -Blue Mesa, the state's largest body of water makes its home here; and some of the states biggest fish might explain why boating is big out here.  If your looking for another reason, then check out The Taylor Lake, Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs which all offer boat tours.

5.  Scenic Drives - The key word here is ‘scenic'; because that's what you get with these small country roads.  Like something out of a John Denver song, these roads lead deep into the Colorado wilderness and offer up some of the most remarkable views of nature that you will see anywhere.   Described by one park ranger, The West Elk Loop is the "closest you can come to a wilderness experience in a passenger car".

As stated above, these are just a short list of things to do here.  And if you're wondering where to stay while vacationing here...you don't have to spend your next month's paycheck as once was the deal here.  Amazing lodges start at under $60!  Vacationing like one of your favorite stars never was so relaxing and inexpensive!