City: Boulder, CO

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (888) 272-7246

Description: Arapahoe Basin is America’s highest ski area, with a base altitude of 10,800 feet and a summit elevation of 12,450 feet. Rugged terrain, fabled steeps, open bowls, and high, tree-free snowfields make it paradise for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders. The lifts can run into summer (in 1995, A-Basin finally closed on August 10).Both A-Basin and Keystone have child-care facilities. Arapahoe Basin’s nursery accepts children as young as 18 months. It offers ski lessons from age 3 and snowboarding lessons from age 8.A-Basin has 61 trails with 490 skiable acres and 5 lifts. Fifteen percent of the trails are beginner, 45 percent are intermediate, and 40 percent expert. A one-day pass during the early season (until December 12th) is $49 for an adult, $25 for a child. High season tickets will be somewhat more. Tickets can be purchased in advance at King Soopers, Safeway, and Christie Sports.