Powder Snow, Sand Dunes and the Milky Way Great Winter Adventure in Colorado

There is something profoundly moving in the beauty of Colorado, a power that can touch even the youngest of travellers. Perhaps children come expecting ranches, burgers, and rugged valleys, where even the slightest breath of air or the smallest rolling stone produces an echo. They’ll be surprised to discover that Colorado is much more than that, especially in winter. What they will hear echoing through this majestic landscape is the whoosh of skis skimming over fresh snow in high-altitude resorts, and the bubbling of steaming hot springs in the mountains, where people plunge in wholeheartedly. And their cries of excitement as their sled sets off at full speed, pulled by dogs with infectious energy. And their silence as they look through the telescope at the stars that usually seem so far away. And finally, their sighs of contentment as they doze off in front of the fireplace, cheeks flushed from the fresh air and heads full of wild adventures. Your family adventure starts in Denver, the state capital. At an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,250 feet), this city perfectly captures the spirit of Colorado: its heritage from ancestral peoples, the dynamism of the Gold Rush, artistic creativity and a laid-back lifestyle, just a few miles from vast, wild open spaces. Then we head to Buena Vista in the Rockies, where winter unfolds in a soft, white embrace. Venture out in the snow on foot or by sleigh, then take a soothing dip in the hot springs in the protective shadow of Mount Princeton. Your next stop is Telluride, a popular ski resort that remains less fashionable - and therefore less crowded - than Aspen. From this lively, welcoming town, you can access a ski area of over 800 hectares (2,000 acres), rising between 2,600 and 3,890 metres (8,530-12,760 feet) in altitude. A paradise for winter sports enthusiasts, as well as for those who simply love postcard-perfect winter scenes. Then leave the mountains and snow behind to reach Mosca in the heart of the San Luis Valley - an absolutely magical place where plains streaked with rivers become sand dunes, then sharp-edged mountains. An unexpected setting for outdoor activities, it’s well-known among astronomy enthusiasts as a particularly good area for stargazing, as it’s free from any pollution. It is also a chance to explore one of the most surreal sites in the USA: Great Sand Dunes National Park, where rolling sand dunes stretch endlessly against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Along the road to Colorado Springs, you come across the Garden of the Gods with its striking red sandstone formations. Further on, there are western towns where time seems to have stood still. Colorado is definitely one of a kind.

Your Trip

Direct flights, a comfortable, roomy hire car - with a mobile app and GPS to help - should make getting around incredibly easy. And that's a good thing, because they play an important role - the very essence of a road trip. Your journeys are never too long and always on well-maintained roads. Stop off wherever piques your interest: a park, restaurant, cowboy town, or simply a landscape where you can daydream as long as you like. You’ll have a good number of stopovers to reveal the state as a whole, and stay long enough that you never feel rushed. So first, you have two nights in Denver, staying in a hotel with an urban chalet vibe that has borrowed works of contemporary art from the neighbouring museum. In Buena Vista, you’ll spend two nights in a homely, rustic accommodation with its own hot springs. Your ski-in/ski-out hotel in Telluride is the perfect place to relax after a day in the fresh air. Four days on site means you can make the most of the ski area and take part in the town’s entertainment. In Mosca for two days, you’ll find the most unusual accommodation of the trip: a villa set in the heart of nature topped with a transparent dome - a futuristic style with a sleek aesthetic and everything you need to observe the sky. And finally, spend your last night in Colorado Springs at a stylish, friendly establishment. While the itinerary naturally revolves around the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado, we have added in a dog sled ride that the whole family will remember for a long time. We have also reserved your ski equipment and passes for the Telluride ski area. And for anything we can’t plan ahead, our on-site Concierge can be contacted at any time during your trip to deal with any concerns or last-minute requests in real time.