Winter Park has a relatively low profile in comparison with many of Colorado's other resorts, which is surprising given its fantastic snow record; it receives more snow than any other resort in Colorado.

However, combine this with the fact that Winter Park is the closest resort to Denver, and that it is very good value for money and you'll understand why Winter Park's popularity is quickly growing. This will be further enhanced by Intrawest's planned development of a village at the Winter Park mountain base.

The resort is made up of 2 interconnected ski areas - Winter Park and Mary Jane - and currently a cluster of hotels around the bottom of the lifts. The town of Winter Park, where most of the bars and restaurants are, is a couple of miles down the road. It doesn't have the liveliest nightlife, but Winter Park is a good bet for an affordable holiday in Colorado with great skiing and very friendly people.