Telluride

Area: Colorado

Telluride offers world-class ski and snowboard holidays in North America.

The natural, jewel-box setting of Telluride is nestled in a pristine canyon surrounded on all sides  by the jagged 14,000 feet peaks of the San Juan Mountains. It is the perfect blend of world-class  skiing and unsurpassable beauty. This exceptional resort never lost its Old West character; this  was where Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank. With its eight-block historic district lined with  colourful Victorian homes and clapboard storefronts, you almost expect to hear the creak of  leather saddles, but there is a new sophistication within Telluride. What had been a rowdy saloon  may now be a western art gallery, and a five-star restaurant occupies what once may have been  a wrangler's bunkhouse.

Telluride's free, scenic gondola connects town with Mountain Village from morning until midnight.  Crowds are virtually non-existent, and queues at Telluride are the exception rather than the rule.  The rugged North Face includes famous Spiral Stairs, Plunge and Kant-Mak-M, the ultimate in steep and deep terrain. Also on offer is an intermediate paradise, with long, pisted runs – don't miss the memorable open-glade skiing on Giuseppe's, and the quality of Telluride's snow is generally as good as it gets. The most recent addition of 733 acres accessed by four lifts at Prospect Bowl has only served to enhance Telluride's reputation. All this in a resort that constantly wins awards for its 360 degree mountain vistas and picture perfect setting.

The best of the après-ski and restaurant scene can be found in the historic district, although
Mountain Village also has its share of nightspots – you'll find everything from contemporary
international dining to great pizza and informal Mexican fare. The bar and night scene notably
steps up a gear at weekends, and Smuggler's with its microbrewery is an excellent place to start or finish an evening out. Activities off the slopes feature Ballooning, Hot Springs, Day Spas, Snowmobile tours, Ice Skating, Snow Biking, Horse Riding and Colorado's only Heli Skiing facility.