Colorful Colorado – the state welcomed 86 million visitors last year to both urban and mountain destinations. Albeit a large number, it’s not surprising. Between Colorado’s towering 14’ers, 26 ski resorts, hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails, a gamut of breweries and a buzzing urban capital, Colorado’s allure is unmistakable. For many, the journey ends in a Rocky Mountain ski town. Which begs the question, what are the best Colorado mountain towns for groups?
Our answer: it depends. Group travel balances different interests, hobbies and bucket lists. Read on to gain an insider’s perspective on the best Colorado mountain destination for your group vacation.
Top Destination: Breckenridge, Colorado
Clocking in at ~1.5 hours travel time, Breckenridge is an arms-length distance from Denver International Airport; therefore a popular destination for Colorado visitors. The historic mining town blends an iconic ski resort with a vibrant Main Street. Yes, that includes upscale restaurants, abundant shopping, and a bustling nightlife scene.
In addition, the town of Breckenridge tourism organization packs a full calendar every year. Powderhounds revel in the iconic ULLR fest, stein hoisters laden in dirndls and lederhosen flock to Oktoberfest. Cinema aficionados flourish when the Breck Film Festival rolls around.
No matter your flavor, there’s a restaurant for every palate. Breckenridge incubates a foodie culture. From white plate steakhouses like Briar Rose to Eric’s sports bar teeming with every game on high res. To a plethora of fusion masters like Aurum, Modis or Cabin Juice, no belly goes hungry.
And when it comes time to unwind after a day of adventure, the best place to stay in Breckenridge for your group is Gravity Haus – the social haus for the modern adventurer.
Gravity Haus Breckenridge is the first hotel under the Gravity Haus brand, scheduled to open it’s doors in December 2019 (you can make reservations here).
Why Gravity Haus is good for groups
Each room in the 60-room haus is curated with the modern traveler and adventurer in mind. Take the Crashpad for example. With two queen-sized steel bunk beds and a queen sleeper, this room is designed for the whole crew. If you’re traveling with the fam, check out the Trekker. This room features a king bed and twin bunk to keep the kids at bay.
Winter Park, Colorado
Dubbed the mountain biking capital of the United States, Winter Park is often viewed as the final frontier for developing ski towns. Similar to Breckenridge, Winter Park is roughly 1.5-2 hours from Denver International Airport.
In winter months, popular activities include the historic tubing hill, snowmobiling at Grand Lake and of course, downhill skiing at Winter Park Resort. Summer beckons festival-goers, mountain bikers and extreme downhill mountain bikers to Trestle bike park at the resort.
The town of Winter Park welcomed an influx of visitors over the past decade which spurred a wave of development. Along the main drag twinkles an array of restaurants and bars, including Idlewild Distillery and new-ish brewery, Hideaway Park.
When you’re booking group travel to Winter Park, Colorado, check out Devil’s Thumb Ranch.
Why Devil’s Thumb Ranch is good for groups
If a cabin in the woods sounds like your cup of tea, check out DTR! The rustic mountain getaway dons one to four-bedroom cabins set on a hill behind the resort. Each cabin includes a kitchen plus an oversized family room so you feel at home.
Our favorite on-site amenities include:
Devil’s Thumb Ranch provides the perfect mountain oasis for your group.
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride is a stunning year-round destination nestled at the end of a box canyon. Downhill skiers flock for the powder-dusted glades in the winter and you can find red carpet movie stars strolling downtown during the Telluride Film Festival. Dedicated bluegrass fans flourish over summer solstice weekend and leaf peepers spend hours hiking amongst sunset-colored leaves.
Main Street exudes history around every corner any group could spend hours fumbling through dozens of charming shops.
To lock in lodging for your group in Telluride, check out Lumière hotel. Lumière is a new ski-in/ski-out property offering rooms from suites to 5-bedrooms for the whole crew.
