Stimulus Vacation Aid
Gunnison-Crested Butte area service providers, attractions, lodging,
restaurants and activities have teamed up to add value and provide
wallet-friendly "stimulus vacation"
ideas just for you! We want you to choose our friendly 1880s Western & Victorian Rocky Mountain
towns for your vacation getaway! We provide "free" options below and enticing wallet friendly packages to the right.
Free/Low-Cost Entertainment
& Transportation
Events & Culture
- Get into the holiday spirit at
Night of Lights in Gunnison on Dec. 4 and
Light Up Night & Holiday Parade in Crested Butte on Dec. 5. Both events are free.
- Watch the silliness and seriousness
as racers take off during the 24th annual Alley Loop Nordic ski
race on Feb. 6. While you'll see
plenty of Lycra on racers attempting to qualify for the American Birkebeiner,
many families and casual racers wear costumes for the shorter races that
go through the streets, alleys and trails of Crested Butte.
- Flush out winter and welcome spring
at the 42nd annual Flauschink held April 1 - 4 during the last
week of ski season. Some Flauschink
festivities are free, while others cost $5 or less with a $3 button
purchase.
- On the last Thursday of December
through March, stroll the galleries of Crested Butte during ArtWalk
Evening. At many locations, refreshments are served and guest artists are
on hand.
- Western
State College offers several free concerts by faculty,
students and guest artists throughout the year.
- At the Gunnison Arts Center
and Crested Butte Center for the Arts, view
art exhibits for free. The Gunnison Arts
Center also has a
gift shop filled with items created by local artists.
- There is a $3 fee (12 and under are
free) to enjoy the exhibits at Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, but enjoy the lobby filled
with items that used to be sold at Tony's Conoco, photos of old-timers and
an excellent gift shop for free.
Recreation
- Go sledding
and ice skating at the Crested
Butte Nordic
Center. There is no cost to use the hill or
rink, and the center offers inexpensive ice skate and sled rentals.
- Join the Crested Butte Nordic
Center for a free
lesson during "Learn to Skate Ski for FREE!" on the first Thursday of
every month from December - March.
The class starts at 1 p.m. and is limited to 12 people, so reserve
a space by calling (970) 349-1707 by the Tuesday before. Ski rentals are available for $15.
- If you have
snowshoes or Nordic skiing equipment, ask local outfitters where to go in
the backcountry or on free Nordic trails in Gunnison. Equipment also can be rented for a
reasonable price.
- Drop a line
in the Taylor River or Blue Mesa
Lake. A fishing license is required.
- Enjoy a day
at the Gunnison
Recreation Center's
entire facility for only $4 for kids ages 5 - 17 and $6 for adults. Kids under 5 are free. Think an indoor pool with slides, rock
climbing wall, gym, game room and fun galore.
-
The
City of Gunnison Ice Facility at Jorgensen Park features three sheets of ice: an
indoor refrigerated NHL-size rink, outdoor Olympic-size covered rink, and
outdoor frozen pond. The admission cost for the indoor rink is $3 for
ages 18 and older, $2 for ages 5 - 17, and free for kids under 5. Skate rentals are $3 per pair. There is no cost to use the outdoor rink and
pond. There are scheduled times for
public skate at both rinks, and the pond is dedicated to open skating.
Transportation
Colorful Mountain Express buses painted by local artists provide
free transportation between Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. The main bus stops are at the visitor center
in Crested Butte and the ski area, with several other stops in both Crested
Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.
The
Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation
Authority offers free bus service between Gunnison,
Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte so you can stay at one end of the valley
and still have an easy and free way to connect to the other end.
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