Hmmm...talk amongst yourselves...

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

Did she really wear her skis into the building ?

6 hrs skiing. Thinking if the flight landed & deboarded by 08:30 it's possible.

Pretty specific marketing, etc. Endless powder vs endless groomers, never showing a Utah liftline, nice colorful outfit.

I can't see this video because I'm at work, but I'm QUITE certain that everyone here will know where I stand on this based on the title alone!

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

I knew you would enjoy this!

I do however agree from a travelers stand point. The big drawback on flying into DIA is that the car rental place is SOOOO far away from the airport. So, you have to find the correct shuttle bus, wait for said shuttle, load luggage onto shuttle, unload luggage off the shuttle and then finally get the car.

At SLC the car rental area is attached to the airport! It makes it MUCH easier. I've found that you can even run to the car rental agency and get your keys before your luggage is even available in baggage claim! It's a big advantage.

Not big enough to make me go to Utah....but, I do get frustrated with DIA's system and logistics!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

When we flew into DIA in Spring - baggage was there upon arrival at claim, cool ski handling things (kinda like a carnival ride) shuttle to car rental-there, car rental was a long way from the airport, but it was on the drive out to the highway.

The big time consumers - 1) Travel time within the DIA building itself, runway,train ride, escalators, you name it, everything but elevators it seemed. Miles upon miles of traversing. Maybe 30 or more minutes to get to baggage claim. Maybe 45 mins. Maybe we were just tired cause the plane was 2 hrs late arriving.
2) LOOONG road to the airport off the freeway. Miles upon Miles it seemed.

The rest was a breeze.

SLC-1) long wait for baggage (maybe because there was not much time wasting traversing to get there ?) 2) Long drive around the city to LCC or BCC. Not that long though.

I'd be happy to ski either place, but prefer to go where my friends are. Where ever that maybe at the time.

Oh Kelly, you just wait ! This vid is aimed right at you. Glad I'm not the one who posted it.

1. There are a lot of places to use a bathroom along I70 besides behind a tree.
2. Colorado has better beer & no weird liquor laws.
3. The closest ski resort to Denver is Loveland and it is only 45 minutes from downtown.
4. Obviously we know where I stand too! Not that I wouldn't love to take a crack at Alta & Snowbird!

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I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could

Utah doesn't have any decent muti-area ski passes. We have looked into spending some time there and maybe even purchasing a ski condo, but that fact alone keeps us at Mammoth and driving to CO (even though Utah is closer).

Okay, I've done both these trips multiple times (although it has been awhile....).
Totally agree that there aren't as good pass deals in UT as CO.
Depends on how long you're going to be there and from where.
If I'm staying awhile, it's CO.
For short trips, it (sadly) is easier to get out of SLC airport and to resorts.
I prefer the Rockies to Wasatch, but they do have the travel part down pretty good in UT (or did - like I said, it's been awhile for me).
Speaking of odd liquor laws------one time we flew First Class to/from SLC, and the flight attendant couldn't serve us drinks on the flight out before deparature! Something about ground liquor rules in UT. Weird.

I stand FIRMLY on Colorado!

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

Let me just add, that if that guy would have flown into Eagle County (if he was TRULY wanting to ski Vail all day), he could have been up on the mountain for 6-8 hours! He drove a VERY long way to ski....

Winter Park, Loveland, A-Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge and even Copper Mountain are closer to DIA than Vail!

Nice marketing ploy! It's just a big lie!

That got me to NEVER want to ski in SLC!

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

I don't live out west, so my perspective is from someone who travels.

• Traveling is mostly a wash for me. There are virtually no direct flights from where I live to Colorodo or Utah. I won't be skiing on the day of arrival, regardless of where I ski.
• Utah is *way* cheaper to ski than Colorado. You can stay in downtown SLC for $250 a week. You are 30-40 minutes from the slopes, but that is an easy drive. Or, if you are going to LCC or BCC, just grab the ski bus for dirt cheap transportation. You can eat at the restaurants in SLC, and they are way cheaper than what is found in any ski resort. The cheapest lift tickets available just can't make up for the difference.
• Skiing options in SLC are anywhere from slightly better to much better than Colorado. From downtown SLC, you are within 1 hour of 11 top-class ski resorts. You can come close by staying th Summit County in Colorado, but the options just aren't quite as good.
• Atmosphere is much better in Colorado. There are so many great small towns (Telluride, Steamboat, etc.), and SLC lacks that charm. The best option is Park City, but IMO it pales when compared to what is in Colorado. You also have to deal with the weird alcholol laws in Utah, which are just annoying.

The funny thing is, I ski more in Colorado than Utah. I guess I like visiting different parts of the country, and like the ski resorts available. But if you are looking for a less expensive ski vacation, you just can't beat Utah.

ahha NVG , I can tell you've finally watched the video ! It was a lot of twist to the marketing. As SN said, no need to stop behind a bush.
And Southern Skier is absolutely on the mark about the charm of Colorado. I'll add tremendous heart stopping beauty to that.

Soooo , having only been to Alta & Solitude, then A-basin (but spending a big chunk of my childhood in the Rockies) I'll currently vote ---- TAHOE !
That was easy.
okay, so, I like 'em all. Next stop .........

Our ski rack is on the car, our skis are tuned, and we'll be leaving Weds. morning to hit the WROD on Thursday and Friday, and probably at least a few mornings the following week. Have to drive home by the following weekend so we can get home in time to vote. And we have sworn not to ski the WROD on weekends this year - did that last year and it was unrewarding in many ways.

I pick CO for the ambiance and the snow quality. I pick Mammoth for being relatively close to my house and the snow quantity. Last winter for the first time we had more days in CO than at Mammoth. I hope all the areas have great snow year this winter.

If it's skiing or riding, it's all good.

For me, the only advantage Utah has is the airport aspect. If Colorado would fix their airport situation it would be great! DIA is such a time eater. It just kills me!

__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take
But by the number of moments that take your breath away~

NVG - you know I picked Tahoe 'cause it's just up the highway for me & counts as home. Nice place to have up the road too ! Otherwise it would have to be Colorado.

Feeling your pain, SS. Ditto here. Unless I drive 170 mi to Manchester, NH and try Southwest. I think even then, I have to change @ Chicago/MDW. At least Southwest flies into DIA now.....this just started a few years ago and gives us more options (esp for flying DS home).

Just makes it seem so much easier to get in the car and drive 40 miles to local skiing (which can be darn good, if icy, oh well).

I have no complaints! I am lucky to live HERE!

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

Looks like we may not start the drive out until next weekend.

I have a bad cold, plus a friend of ours whom we help out was admitted to the hospital today.

The WROd will have to exist without me a bit longer.

If you come out next weekend, I can ski with you Wed, Thurs or Fri (or all three!)

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

I guess I may be a little biased. And I must be completely oblivious because I just noticed there was a video tonight. I am in the Utah camp thought. Mr. Sheena and I debaded a long time before we planner our first western ski trip and ultimately decided on Utah based on 1) cost and 2) proximity to the slopes from lodging. Our first year in SLC we got a hotel for the week for $29 per night.

The proximity to slopes is the same reason we decided to move to Utah. Denver was a strong contender for some time and we debated the merits of both for a long time. Denver area almost won. But in the end we decided that you can't beat the distance from most locations in Utah to the many different resorts.

^^ OK I hope that makes sense. I just drank more than half a bottle of wine - celebrating that we got approved for our home loan.

^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^

That's great news, Sheena! Do you have closing date yet?

p.s. For what it's worth, I think anyone who hasn't done so should try the flight into SLC and drive to resorts, just for the experience, just to see how it looks/feels, etc. Both places are great as skiing destinations in their own ways.

YEAH! Fabulous!

I'm very excited for you! (but I would have LOVED to have had you here in Denver! )

Like you, I'm biased!

Unlike you, however, I had no choice in where I was born! I just had a choice in staying!

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett

I am going to have to vote for Utah, mainly because I have been to alta and beaver mountain (=visiting Sheena of course), but I noticed that there were shuttles and very easy access to the slopes (all around the SLC area). I did some searcha dn did not see that same accessibility from Denve though, If I am wrong somebody please inform me and I will look into trying Denver. I would like to try and not rent a car if I try Denver. Out of SLC and in the SLC area it would have been very easy without a rental car

Know what? We could go round and round w/this, and the bottom line is that it's an apples/oranges kinda deal. If immediate proximity to a big (wow, SLC is huge) city is what someone wants, that's the ticket. (My first time at Snowbird, I was just amazed at how visible the valley was when on-mountain.) Colorado is definitely more "destination resort." (for quantity) People don't fly into Denver and stick around the city to commute daily to ski resorts. Denver's the gateway. The geography is just altogether different.

I object to that video showing Utah having nothing but pow and CO nothing but groomed. Duh. Totally wrong. Hey, I have personal pics that reveal the exact opposite. I've had hardpack and powder at both locations.

I know people who have intensely disliked the stay-in-SLC-commute-to-resorts kind of set-up. They prefer a resort experience, period. (Of course, Utah resorts, with the possible exception of Brighton - which only has one lodge- or did - all have slopeside/resort lodging.)

I've done both and have enjoyed both. Those coming from a distance and flying in obviously don't have the Denver-to-resorts commute option. So the circumstances are just a lot different.

Any way you look at it, it's just different.....and aren't we lucky to have these choices??!!

^^^^^^^^ Well stated!

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Kelly
"Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been." ~ Jimmy Buffett