Attention, budget-conscious winter sports enthusiasts: After a seven-year break, Amtrak has brought back the Winter Park Express, which travels between Denver's Union Station and the base of the Winter Park ski resort.
On Saturdays and Sundays until March 26, trains depart Denver at 7am, arriving at Winter Park two hours later. The return trip starts from the mountain resort at 4:30pm.
That means you can go skiing and snowboarding during the day, but spend the night in Denver, where hotel rates are liable to be considerably cheaper than at the resorts in the Colorado Rockies.
Plus, you'll have easy access to the Mile High City's vibrant dining and nightlife scenes.
After all, there's only so much hot cocoa you can drink at a mountain lodge before you start craving some urban excitement.