Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts
The kid mantra “I’m bored,” does not apply in Telluride. We repeat, it does NOT apply. There are countless activities for kids to do here, and lots of ways to keep them entertained so Mom and Dad can catch some quiet time. Here’s the breakdown of where and when to take them and how to leave them in good hands.
Get Schooled on the Slopes
You want your kids to learn to ski or snowboard, but you also long to let loose and hit the steep and deep slopes. Let them learn from the professionals, while you tear it up on the hill: put them in Telluride Ski & Snowboard School. The school takes on kids from three years old and up, and there is a licensed nursery offering daycare for infants and toddlers. The resort also offers “Afternoon Kids Club” and “Kids Night Out” programs so that parents can enjoy a full day of solo skiing or boarding or spend an evening alone. And there is a Magic Carpet lift especially for brand new skiers and boarders, a flat and un-intimidating escalator that shuttles kids up a gentle slope so that they can practice their first turns with instructors or parents.
Mountain Fun for Munchkins
The best kids are tired kids, and there’s more than one way to tucker them out in Telluride. Take them to the Telluride Town Park and rent some ice skates, for the rink in the park or the pond in Mountain Village. They’ll love the Thrill Hill, an after-hours lift at night under the lights for inner-tubing on the slopes. There’s also a skateboard park in the Town Park, which is open just about year-round. For jibbers-in-training, there are two terrain parks at Telluride Ski Resort — small jumps and rails for the wee ones in Ute Park, and more challenging hits, berms and table-top jumps at the Air Garden. And don’t forget to book a family snowshoe tour on the mountain, where kids and adults can learn about the outdoors and check out lynx tracks and other animal footprints in the snow.
Inside Scoop on Indoor Activities
It’s too cold outside, the snow is hard-packed and icy, and their legs are tired. What do you do now? Take them to the Telluride Historical Museum, with exhibits that interest people of all ages. Bring them to Storytime at the Wilkinson Public Library at 11 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, or to the library’s Science Club every other Wednesday or the Kids Yoga program at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Telluride also has the Youthlink center for kids, with an indoor game room, activities and snacks. The Nugget Theatre offers early movies, and kids 12 years old and younger get in for just $5. The Ah Haa School for the Arts offers a variety of programs for aspiring young artists. Or there’s always pillow forts in the hotel room …
Grub for Grommets
Plum has two picks for the best dining establishments for kids: The Sweet Life and The Cornerhouse Grille. The Sweet Life is a neon tribute to the days of the diner, a burger joint combined with an ice cream shop and a candy store. If a Telluride kid has a birthday party, they do it here. There’s a great mini-menu for young people and tons of stickers, t-shirts and retro candy varieties that will take you back in time and make your dental work ache. The Cornerhouse Grille is a parents' dream, an affordable eatery where you can get a beer or a drink and your kids can pick out a game from the closet, or play with the other kids in a fun, easy-going atmosphere. Tip: The Cornerhouse has tater tots on the menu. Remember those?
Kids Night In, Parents Night Out
Ready for a night out alone? Almost all of the local hotels offer babysitting through their concierge, or you can book it at Annie’s Nannies. All of the local lodging is kid-friendly, but the Bear Creek Lodge also has a game room and a year-round outdoor pool to keep kids entertained.
Telluride is having a baby boom of its own, so you won't be the only one on the street with a stroller. Nor will you be the only parent dropping your kids off for some guilty pleasure on Gold Hill's expert terrain. Check out Plum's events calendar to keep posted on the latest Telluride fun for tourist tykes.
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