Skiing the slopes of Telluride: Colorado's Wyndham Mountain Lodge offers the ultimate in resort luxury, while providing some of the finest skiing in the West - Going Places

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Nov, 2001 by JoAnn Buchbinder

Meanwhile, what a day our son had. His instructor told us that Danny was doing so well and had shown such enthusiasm for skiing, they had moved him up from the beginner Gold Miner class to the more-intensive Ute program with the older kids. This allowed him to be outside and in the snow for the entire afternoon. He had made such progress that, as he excitedly told us, he was now able to turn and stop by himself. The secret, he explained, was making french fries (keeping his skis parallel) when he wanted to go straight and pizza wedges (pointing the heads of his skis at each other) when he needed to stop. His turns were rudimentary, but would lead to fluidity with continued practice.

While Mike took Danny back to the lodge for a rest, I made a beeline to The Peaks for a bit of pampering. The Golden Door Spa at Wyndham Peaks Resort is one of the finest in the world, featuring 44 treatment rooms, saunas, steam rooms, and at least a dozen types of massage. I started with the kiva lodge treatment, which consisted of a steam sauna, followed by a whirlpool bath (with a view of the slopes through the picture window), topped off by a hot sauna--the perfect preparation for my 50-minute massage. I had come in with tight and tired muscles, and left refreshed, relaxed, and ready for the evening's activities.

The courtesy bus dropped me off at the Wyndham Mountain Lodge, where I found my very brave--or completely crazy--husband and son swimming in the outdoor heated pool on the deck. Mike maintained that he was warm and comfortable--as long as he stayed submerged to the neck! Though they wouldn't admit it, I'm sure they were grateful to get back into their clothes.

One of the features that makes Telluride such a perfect experience is the three-stage gondola that provides fast and free transportation among the town, the slopes, and the Mountain Village. This mode of travel eliminates the need to rent a car and provides breathtaking views of the mountain and other of nature's wonders.

We were looking forward with great enthusiasm to dinner at Allred's, reputed to be the finest of the many excellent restaurants in Telluride. We knew this would not be the place or time to take a four-year-old worn out by his active day at ski school, so we arranged for a babysitter through Guest Services at the lodge and set out for a rare adults-only meal.

We took the five-minute gondola ride up to the restaurant, located at the St. Sophia Ridge, 10,500 feet above sea level, and entered the restaurant through the arched stone foyer. We were seated by the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered spectacular views of the 13,000-foot peaks that frame Telluride and the twinkling lights of the town 2,000 feet below. It wasn't just the views that took our breath away. Allred's is an epicurean experience. Chef de Cuisine Bob Scherner's kitchen prepares sublime culinary masterpieces, featuring regional American dishes with international overtones. Allred's also maintains an outstanding wine cellar.