MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

Recognized as one of the most beautiful mountain towns in the world, Mountain Village , Colorado , exudes Old World charm fused with all the high-tech conveniences, amenities and services of the 21st Century. Bronze statues dominate the center esplanade of Mountain Village , while the Wyndham's famous 42,000-square-foot world-class spa, The Peaks, rests on the fringes. Fantastic lodging and residential facilities like the Inn at Lost Creek, Aspen Ridge, Franz Klammer, Owner's Club, Westermere, Silver Bear Lodge and more garnish the rich feel of Mountain Village and add a list of unforgettable amenities to this town of a 1,000 people. Enjoy fireside chats while sipping on a hot cocoa or a hot toddy at many of the gathering spots that frame the Village Core. Local, regional and national talents sing their tunes at various Mountain Village eating and drinking establishments, making aprés-ski time particularly atmospheric. The finely appointed, 20,000-square-foot Conference Center brings in cultural events all season. Casino Night, the Black 'n' White Affair, Chocolate Lover's Fling, Bring Your Doggie to Dinner and other uniquely Telluride get-togethers seemingly dot the "I s " and cross the "T s " for the stunning town of Mountain Village .

Shopping, pampering, dining
The Uncompahgre Forest lands surrounding Mountain Village ring of earthy, primitive tunes. Coyotes singing, chick-a-dees chirping, elk bugling and eagles shrieking fill the airways with lively noises that beckon us to look onto the emerald forests and mountainscapes that embrace this majestic parish which rests at 9,545 feet above sea level. Always reminding us that we are part of a bigger scheme-of-things, nature draws us to most everything that is anything. Nature, in fact, is what created Mountain Village and makes it an epicenter of recreation, shopping, pampering and dining.

Before dinner-room chatter begins and when the slope activities are in full-throttle, prepare yourself for a softer kind of adventure — shopping. Stroll into Mountain Village shops and pick something out that will document your trip or make you look smarter on the slopes. Mountain Village shopping will prove to be an experience in and of itself as there are an abundance of boutiques, sport shops, galleries, outdoor cafés, all things stylish and many things found only in the San Juans. Though beauty may be only skin deep, pampering the "outer" layer can do wonders for your inner tranquility. The Peaks offers the Echo 2 Plus Oxygen Treatment System that nourishes your face with pure oxygen as well as "vitamins A, C and E and 87 different minerals, enzymes and amino acids." Sit back and let a specialist care for your skin or massage your well-worked muscles. Enjoy an herbal body wrap, pedicure or manicure in between dips in a hot Jacuzzi, sauna or steam bath. Most lodging facilities offer up a hot menu of pampering treatments. Make sure to indulge and be sure to relax. Dine haute at Allred's, 9545, Appaloosa, Legends of the Peaks, La Piazza del Villaggio Ristorante or grab a tasty hamburger, pizza, sandwich or zesty dish at Skier's Union, Pizza Chalet, Wyndham's Great Room, Mesa Quesa Factory or Place des Crepes. For certain, Mountain Village has some of the most tantalizing cuisines, awe-inspiring views and fullof- character dining establishments around. Let your concierge make reservations for the evening's dinner in Mountain Village .

Out and About
For an epicurean adventure, take a stroll through the Village's core or a drive through its residential corridors. The breathtaking views amalgamated with the innovative and even ingenious architecture, in essence, redefine landscape art. The collection of Mountain Village architecture along with the exhibitions of homes displays creative potential and vision. This tour is like a visit to a museum. You will quickly notice that the architecture celebrates masonry work, earth tones and windows that display magnificent views as well as add dimension and character. Massive solid wood beams prominently frame many structures, while ornate accents finish off the masterfully crafted creations. For certain, the materials employed play a constant melody of contrasts - rugged rock vs. smooth stucco, thick beams vs. fine trim work, muted tones vs. richly saturated hues. The Design Review Board of Mountain Village ensures harmonious and attractive design implementation through its regulations and review processes.

After viewing the extraordinary structural designs of Mountain Village , do something physically invigorating in the crystal-clear mountain air. Here are some ideas:

Nordic Trails
Woven throughout Mountain Village , the Telluride Golf Course Nordic Trail is a beautiful 6K, intermediate track. Accessed from Lift 10, Magic Meadows offers delightful scenery and groomed tracks for intermediate and advanced skinny skiers. Call 728-1144.

Ice Skating Rink
An enchanting way to spend an evening is to ice skate under the stars with the majestic San Juans slumbering in the background. This Mountain Village pond is open to the public and is free! Rentals available at Boot Doctors. Call 728-8954.

Thrill Hill - Ride, Glide & Slide
Buzzing with afternoon and evening activities for the young and young at heart with the new Thrill Hill. Kids, teens and adults can satisfy their need for speed at Thrill Hill, offering tubing, snowskating and snowbiking from 2:30 - 8 p.m. , Wednesday - Saturday. Stop by the Gravity Garage to compare stories and hang out. Located at the bottom of Lift 2 in Mountain Village .

Air Garden Terrain Park
It's bigger...it's longer...it's got more hits and rails...and it's sporting a new location. Telluride's Sprite Air Garden Terrain Park just entered a new era...a sweet era of fun boxes, A-frames, waterfalls, hits, rails, halfpipes and jibs. With its new location on Lower See Forever - running from Station St. Sophia to the Mountain Village - Air Garden boasts over 10 acres of freestyle terrain for snowboarders and skiers. The park features everything from beginner hits and rails to big hits, long rails, rainbows, tabletops and a new half pipe. Stop by the Air Garden Yurt and check out the action. Listen to music, soak up the sun and hang with your gang before taking your next run.

Helicopter Skiing
Telluride Helitrax whisks you even farther into the glorious bowls of the San Juan Mountains . Virgin powder, thrilling views and awesome turns should be enough to entice you to call 1-800-831-6230.

Shopping the Promenade
Exquisite boutiques, sporting shops, galleries and jewelers as well as real estate companies lace MV's promenade.

Snowshoeing Adventures
Take a walk on the "lighter side" by snowshoeing through MV backcountry with Telluride Mountain Adventures. Guided tours scheduled for Wednesdays and Saturdays leave the MV Plaza at 8:45 a.m. and return in approximately three hours. A $50 fee includes lift ticket.

Mountain Village Activity Center
Aptly named, this 30,000-square-foot complex houses nearly everything Telluride Ski Resort offers related to activities. Lift tickets, equipment rentals, lesson registrations, children's care center and more. The MV Activity Center caters to families and makes pre-ski organizing as easy as 1-2-3 . MV Activity Center is conveniently located just off the gondola station in the Village Core. Reservations required for children's programs. Call 1-800-801-4832.

Gondola
The gondola is a 13- minute ride to Telluride from Station MV, which is in the Village Core. You may also get on the gondola at Station Village Parking, atop Coonskin Ridge or from Station Telluride on south Oak Street which would bring you to MV. Pets are allowed on certain cars and there are specially made racks for bikes, skis and snowboards. Specified cars are wheelchair accessible. Blankets are provided for the ride. The gondola is seasonal. This ride offers spectacular scenery, so take the opportunity to ride the only transportation system of its kind in America . Call 728-8888.

Transportation
All transportation in MV is free! If, for any reason, the gondola becomes inoperable, a shuttle service will take people to-and-fro from Telluride and MV. Call 728-8888 for information. If you need a ride within MV and are a MV resident or a guest of a resident, call 728-8888, Dial-A-Ride, for free transportation. Hours are 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. There's intercept parking near the Station Village .

Unforgettable events start with a memorable location
Since its opening in 1999, the Telluride Conference Center has earned a reputation as an inspiring location for corporate retreats, association conferences and group meetings. With state-of-the-art technological capabilities, awe-inspiring views of the San Juan Mountains , and a refined décor, meeting planners only need to see the Telluride Conference Center in Mountain Village to fall in love.

The characteristics that make Mountain Village and the Telluride Conference Center an attractive meeting destination also make it an exceptional location for special events. Surrounded by majestic peaks and picturesque alpine forest, Mountain Village provides an unparalleled setting for special affairs. In the summer, aspen leaves dance in the warmth of the golden sun; in the winter, snow glistens under the moonlit sky. A sense of the mystic is captured here by the interplay of the quixotic seasons and venerable landscapes. That sense of magic creates an ideal backdrop for special events including weddings, day festivities, and there are many indoor and outdoor spaces within the Village to accommodate groups of any size. Large parties will find the graceful sophistication of the Mountain Village Ballroom at the Telluride Conference Center provides an elegant atmosphere. Individual sections of the ballroom offer more intimate spaces for smaller gatherings and the grand entrance is a lovely setting for hors d' oeuvres, receptions and champagne toasts.

Gorrono Ranch, located on the ski mountain, offers spectacular views of the surrounding peaks with a large outdoor deck to enjoy them from all angles. Built of split pine, this midmountain meeting lodge comes complete with fireplace, transportation, and menus ranging from hearty American dishes to French delicacies. Gorrono Ranch will host parties for up to 250 people after 4:30 p.m. in the winter, and during the day or evening in the summer.

Mountain Village 's fine restaurants and lodging establishments offer beautiful spaces for smaller events. Allred's Restaurant, La Piazza del Villaggio, 9545 Restaurant at the Inn at Lost Creek and the Wyndham Peaks Hotel all excel in providing the perfect ambience for a memorable event. Small groups may also rent a private home for a truly unique experience. Whether your special event is an intimate affair for 20 or a gala for several hundred, there is a breathtaking location in Mountain Village that will be sure to make it unforgettable.