Winter Fun in Aspen & Snowmass

Ski enthusiasts from all over the world descend upon the Aspen/Snowmass area each winter to enjoy Colorado's famous champagne powder and Technicolor blue skies. The mountains' varied terrain, superb restaurants, and stellar ski schools draw visitors of all ages.

But, what if you're not a downhill skier and would still like to embrace the outdoors while vacationing in the Rocky Mountains? Or some of your grandchildren aren't interested in skiing every day for a week? Or you anticipate needing a break from the slopes one afternoon?

Don't worry. Plenty of adventures await non-skiers vacationing in the Aspen area. Consider these fun options:

Krabloonik Dogsled Rides

Bundle up in an oversized parka and don a pair of mukluk boots for the ride of your life on a sled pulled by ten mixed-breed Huskies through the pristine winter wilderness.

For more than 30 years, Krabloonik Kennels & Restaurant has offered dogsled rides, and a gourmet meal, alongside the Snowmass ski area. An experienced musher controls the sled and guides the dogs through evergreen forests, in the shadows of looming mountains, on straight shots across open meadows, and around hairpin turns.

Thirteen-year-old Jack Holds of St. Louis, Mo., loved the "thrill of turning corners" on his first dogsled experience this year. "It felt like we were going to slip off the trail and tip over," he says. But once the sled was flat on the ground again, I laughed at how my adrenaline pumped so much."

Despite the heart-thumping excitement, "I felt very safe," says another first-time dogsledder, Debi Lander, 56, a grandmother of three from Jacksonville, Fla. "Our musher had such command of the dogs."

Each sled can hold two adults and a small child. Children must be 3 to ride, though Lander says she'd recommend the ride for kids ages 6 and up: "Any younger and I don't think they'd understand how special the experience is."

Canine-loving kids appreciate the chance to meet the sled dogs and puppies in training. "The best part was when we got to pet the dogs," says Audrey Holds, 10. "They were so cute!"

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Photo courtesy of Snowmass Village

More than 60 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails join the two towns of Aspen and Snowmass Village, comprising the Aspen/Snowmass Nordic Trail System. The easy-to-expert terrain is free to anyone who wants to strap on skinny skis for a great workout and change of pace from the alpine slopes.

Rent equipment at the Aspen Nordic Center, which doubles as the Aspen Golf Course in the summertime. And if cross-country skiing isn't your bag, you can snowshoe the trails � just avoid the ruts left by the skiers. Either way, you'll enjoy some stunning views of Pyramid Peak and the famous Maroon Bells.

Western Dinner Dance

Pack your cowboy boots for some good old-fashioned family fun at the Maroon Bells Lodge's Western Dinner Dance, typically held Thursday and Friday nights through the winter.

First, board a horse-drawn sleigh for a 25-minute ride through the scenic Maroon Creek Valley. "Even though it was hailing when we went on the sleigh, we stayed warm under the big blankets," says Jenna Curnow, 7, of Basalt, Colo.

Then it's back to the lodge for a cook-your-own-steak buffet dinner, followed by "a whole bunch of desserts," according to Curnow. For the interactive entertainment portion of the evening, friendly and enthusiastic callers encourage the kids to the dance floor for rousing renditions of "The Hokey Pokey" and "Hot Potato."

Later, the entire family gets into the act to learn square-dancing and line-dancing moves. "We had so much fun laughing and trying to figure out how to do the steps," remembers Curnow.

Hot Springs Pool

Centuries ago, the Ute Indians soaked in the natural hot springs in the Glenwood Springs area because they believed their mineral content had healing powers. Today, those healing waters have been harnessed to flow into what is the world's largest hot springs pool, about an hour's drive from Aspen.

Photo courtesy of Hot Springs Lodge & Pool

Sure, you could rest weary muscles in your condo's Jacuzzi. But Glenwood's Hot Springs Pool is pretty cool � or hot, that is. Two blocks long, the attraction is actually made up of one large pool heated to about 92 degrees Fahrenheit, and a smaller therapy pool that's 104 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

Since my family and I live 30 minutes from the Hot Springs Lodge & Pool, we have a season pass. My kids, ages 5 and 7, my husband and I head to the pool regularly, often with my mother-in-law in tow. Admittedly, Grandma Bonnie prefers to accompany us in the spring or fall, since the walk from the bathhouse to the pool across the icy concrete deck can be brutal in frigid temperatures. "I just don't like to go when my hair gets wet and freezes," she says.

But on sunny, spring-like Saturdays in March, Grandma will happily don a bathing suit to watch her young grandchildren dive for rings, jump off the diving board, and otherwise frolic in the pool: "It's good for me to try to keep up with them," says this very active 64-year-old. "And the heat feels so good and relaxing after a busy week."