Feb 1, 2012

Unique Keystone, CO

Fun Things to Do, Beyond Skiing

By Lisa T. Bergren

After a while, it takes a bit to differentiate between ski resorts. A vital element, of course, is the number and variety of slopes the slopes and lifts, but the vibe and what we term “extracurriculars”—what a resort offers, beyond skiing—also contribute to a resort’s vibe. Continue reading

Feb 13, 2011

How to Check Your Kid Into Ski School…

Without Losing Your Mind

By Lisa T. Bergren

2 WEEKS + BEFORE ARRIVAL

• Reserve in advance; call or online
• Full day the first day; consider subsequent partial days that you can cancel if you wish (check out cancellation policy); usually you can cancel, but you can’t get a kid into a full class. Continue reading

Feb 1, 2011

Skiing Old-School Sunlight

Glenwood Springs, CO

By Lisa T. Bergren

Maybe it’s because I grew up skiing in Montana at Big Mountain, back before it got its facelift and became Whitefish Mountain. In my early years, it was just a few major runs, a couple of chair lifts, a T-bar and a rope tow. And it drew most of its skiers from the locals in Whitefish and Kalispell and Columbia Falls, not from the far reaches. Continue reading

Mar 13, 2010

Tubing at Copper Mountain

Totally Fun!

By Lisa T. Bergren

Okay, this seemed a little gimicky to me, but my kids were excited to try tubing at the Coca Cola Tubing Hill, and I figured we should give it a whirl. And it was totally worth it. If you reserve your space and time online, in advance, you can save a few bucks, and you get more than enough runs in your hour allotment. Arrive half an hour before your reserved time so you can sign waivers inside at Guest Services (building right in front of you when you hop off the bus). Continue reading

Mar 13, 2010

Copper Mountain, Colorado

Condo rental perfection!

By Lisa T. Bergren

It’d been years since we skied Copper Mountain. When my girls were young, we popped them into Copper’s ski school—at the time, one of the ten best in the country—and had a blast under blue skies and amidst spring temps. Now that I’m an adult, I don’t willingly do frigid cold skiing; I’m a fair weather skier girl who favors blue slopes to black. I’m out to enjoy the day–not conquer much of anything. Continue reading

Mar 13, 2010

Ski or Curl Up with a Good Book? Hmmm…

A Mom’s Meditation on the Sport

By Lisa T. Bergren

I open one eye to glance at the clock, catch a glimpse of blue sky and stifle a groan. No excuses. I shut my eye, shoring up for what’s ahead. I should be happy for this day, grateful. A million other mamas would gladly be in my shoes, ensconced in a ski condo along the slopes of a Colorado resort. But frankly, I’d rather pull the covers over my head, sleep another hour, then settle into the comfy living room chair with a cup of java and a good book. Continue reading

Mar 6, 2010

Montana in Winter

The Way It Used to be...

By Lisa T. Bergren

Planning a family trip to Montana in winter? I grew up skiing at Big Mountain in Whitefish, now called Whitefish Mountain Resort. When my family traveled from Colorado to Montana last winter to celebrate Christmas with my folks, I thought I’d take my children skiing, show them where I learned how to ski, relive the memories and make some new ones too. Continue reading

Dec 15, 2009

Winter in the Flathead Valley, Montana

Coming Down Off of Blacktail Mountain

After a great, cold day of skiing in Montana, we watched this sunset… Continue reading

Dec 10, 2009

Northwest Montana

Top 3 secrets from a psuedo-local...

I’ve been tagged, as in, “travel tag–you’re it!”–a game in which travel writers share three of their beloved secret places…reluctantly. Reluctantly, because if I tell you about it, it won’t be a secret anymore, right? We don’t want our secret places overrun. There’s something about keeping a place special–only sharing it with a few special, chosen ones–that makes a girl smile. But it’s your day…I’m about to share some treasured family secrets about Montana. Continue reading