This time last year I was packing my bag for a ski trip in Colorado. Problem is, I don’t ski. Never mind. As they say: “I’ll have lots of fun at the lodge!”

New friends from Atlanta invited me to join their yearly ski outing and travel with them to Winter Park, Colorado. Never wanting to turn down what sounded like a great party, I eagerly accepted. I was certain there was something I would find to entertain me. Boy, was that right.

Snowmobiling

Have you ever been snowmobiling? Me neither. But now I’m dying to go again. If you can ride a bicycle, you can drive a snowmobile. (Assuming you’re old enough. There are some restrictions.) With just a few minutes’ instructions from “Snowmobile Steve” I was ready to join the small group and head for the hills.

 

 

The ride was exhilarating. Temperatures were just at freezing and the sun was beaming on the fresh, sparkling snow. There couldn’t have been a prettier sight.  From where we were riding, high above Winter Park, we were told the Continental Divide was in the distance.

 

 

Dog Sledding

Day two of the “ski” trip was dog sledding.  This was a dream come true. Since hearing about this from a friend who visited Colorado a few years before, I couldn’t wait to experience it myself. Admittedly, I was a bit concerned about how the dogs would take to pulling the sleds. Soon I learned there was nothing to worry about at all. They were all anxious to get out for the exercise and the thrill of it.

 

 

 

As we dashed through the woods on the wooden sleigh, I was amazed how the driver could manage the dogs without getting tangled.  It wasn’t easy.  Nevertheless, the dogs stayed in perfect order. Each had been given a place and an assignment, based on their strength and size.

 

Most importantly, the dogs were loved and well fed.

 

The Ski Slopes

So what if you don’t ski? The slopes are open to everyone. Just hop aboard the ski lift and they’ll take you to where the action is.  Everyone else may look fully equipped, but no skis are required! Frankly, it’s was easier my way.

At the top? Why, a friendly restaurant with great food and fun people, of course! Did you know pigs have wings?

 

Touristy Bits

No holiday is complete without a bit of shopping. Right? In Colorado there’s quite a mix.

From small town shopping centers and local crafts …

 

… to Colorado’s home grown industry .

Because I’m the curious kind, I felt it was my journalist duty to check out one of Colorado’s infamous shopping spots. Yes, Cannabis is legal, both for medical and recreational use.

There’s one thing I can say about the place. The staff looked happy.

 

Don’t ski?

Next time someone asks you to go on a ski trip, you don’t have to say “I don’t ski.”  There’s more than enough to keep you busy and entertained. In fact, after comparing our day’s activities, many of the skiers wished they’d tagged along for the real fun.