Winter Wonders for the whole family

Sure, we have a world-class ski resort here in CB with ski and ride school lessons and plenty of opportunities to make on-mountain memories as a family. But there’s more to CB than just the downhill skiing/riding—whether on snow, on ice or in a cozy indoor venue. From snowmobiling to art camps to movie nights, there are more family-friendly activities than there are days in the week.

By Katherine Nettles

Sledding

Pyramid Avenue has a designated sledding area, with a long row of relatively short runouts so plenty of kids can spread out and tackle the hill. You can purchase a sled at ACE hardware. Bring a winter picnic: lawn chair, blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate and some snacks so you can enjoy the spectating as much as the sledding. Bonus: pack extra mittens in case the first pair get snow-soaked, and hand/boot warmers will buy you extra sled runs even on a cold day.

Snowshoeing

Try a glittery walk through the snowy forest trails wearing snowshoes or put on Nordic skis to make the one-mile trek to Magic Meadows yurt where a nice, warm pot-bellied wood stove awaits. Crested Butte Nordic has all the rental gear you need for Nordic skiing or snowshoeing, including a trailer to pull your littlest family members. Instruction and guides are also available. Check out their special events throughout the winter—family jammy bingo, anyone?

Old fashioned ice skating

Take the kids for a classic day of ice skating at either Big Mine Ice Arena, adjacent to the Crested Butte Nordic Center, or in CB South at Red Mountain Park. You can rent skates for adults and kids at the CB Nordic Center; be sure to check the open skate rink schedule at cbnordic.org.

The outdoor hockey rink in CB South also has a neighborhood pond-style ice rink next to it. Use of all rinks is free; bring your own hockey stick and pucks!

Dog sledding tours

Book a one or two-hour dog-sledding adventure with The Mushing Mutts based in Ohio City, and bring along everyone—infants and up. If you want to learn the art of dog mushing yourselves, you can book a special learn to mush lesson as well. Keep an eye out for when the dog truck comes into town with its friendly husky faces peeking out of their kennels.  https://themushingmutts.com

Snowmobiling

For a higher-adrenaline activity that can include kids of all ages, companies in the valley offer snowmobile rentals and tours allowing you to explore the Gunnison National Forest. Tours are the safest option to help you find the best conditions, prevent getting lost, give you helpful pointers and to help dig you out if you accidentally go in deep. Check out CB Motorsports or Action Adventures/ Burt Rentals for hourly, half day and full day options.  https://cbmotorsports.info/winter or https://actionadventures.com

Inside art time

Let the kids get their hands dirty with a plethora of arts and crafts projects inviting them to get creative. The Trailhead Children’s Museum on Elk Avenue is a beautifully spaced art and STEM haven with open-ended activities for building, imaginative play, science experiments and loads of sensory and artistic delights.  Check the website for family workshops, special events, museum rentals and babysitting nights. They also offer supervised weekend skier drop-off art sessions so you can make some grown-up turns. Drop in camps are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., reserve in advance. https://www.trailheadkids.org

Explore history—and trains!

Satisfy your kiddos curiosity at the Crested Butte museum on Elk Avenue which has a working model train, mining-era collections and ski and mountain bike exhibits celebrating Crested Butte’s mining heritage and early days of extreme sports. There’s also a great gift shop. Take the time for an iconic photo op at the vintage red gondola—the whole family can climb inside. https://crestedbuttemuseum.com

Curl up with good books

Looking for some quiet time for the kids? The Old Rock community library in Crank’s Plaza has a wide variety of books, movies, audiobooks, puzzles and games. The library is housed in the original Crested Butte rock schoolhouse, with great nooks and crannies to settle in with a good read. They also have activity backpacks you can check out to enjoy at home. Check their website for free weekly craft sessions and story times. https://www.gunnisoncountylibraries.org/event-calendar/

Catch a movie

The Majestic Theatre in Clark’s Plaza is a nonprofit cinema with three screens that allow them to show the new Hollywood blockbusters as well as cult classics and even offer two time slots each day for theatre rentals. Throw a party or just enjoy a private screening of whatever you want—including video games. They have all the classic concessions and a full bar. https://cbmajestic.org

Make some pottery

The Crested Butte Clay Studio is a fully equipped ceramic studio with classes and events for all kids 9+ and adults. You can book a private class for the whole family in wheel throwing or hand building, and take home your homemade souveniers. https://www.crestedbutteclaystudio.com