Just got back from a 2009 Christmas trip to Colorado. We went skiing at The Loveland Ski Resort. It was great. It is the first ski resort on I-70 west. The Valley Ski School (Turn Left twice after exiting I-70) was a great find. It has an all day ski school for kids up to age 14. It includes Lunch and a Hot Chocolate Break. The class size for my kids was three. The instructors were great. The lessons cost included ski rental, lift tickets and instruction (with a lunch for kids under 14). You can also rent clothing, helmets and goggles on site. All the Loveland team members had a great attitude and genuinely enjoyed their work. The parking is free. You can bring your own food and sit in the lodge. The Loveland Valley skit resort has lots of great runs. The lift lines were very reasonable for Christmas week. GO. GO. GO.

I have the Colorado ski pass, but wanted to try a different ski area. Every time I pass Loveland on I-70, I think, "why would anyone build a ski resort on the Continental Divide?" The pass always seems to be covered in a cloud. It just looks cold. I went anyway last weekend. It's really close to Denver, the lift tickets are half the cost of Vail (there's a reason why). Loveland has a lot of charm and a lot of people love Loveland and Abasin b/c there's less crowds and easy parking. Loveland is small, like Abasin, and has old chairs that are super slow. It's family owned which is nice. It's not as big or flashy as the other resorts. The runs are short too. I wasn't really having any fun there. The wind at the top was blowing strong. The snow was wind blown, making it hard to ski. Then I got altitude sickness! I felt really weak and nauseous. If you go, drink a lot of water and eat lots of carbs, like bread, pasta, fruits and veggies before you ski. After hanging out in the lodge for a bit, I skied through the parking lot to my car (nice!) and drove to Copper to ski.

First let me say that Loveland is not a resort. There are no flashy shops, coffee bars or hotels, but that is what makes it the perfect place to ski.

The variety of terrain is fabulous and the view from the top of chair 9 over ththe continental divide is spectacular. There is plenty of terrain for beginners and many runs for those that like a challenge. There are also great terrain parks, if that's what you are looking for.

Prices are the most reasonable in Colorado and there are barely ever lift lines.

At the bottom of the hill you will find a great, reasonably priced food court, ski shop and rental facility. There is also child care available - again, reasonably priced. Parking is free and there is a free shuttle between the Valley (where the ski school is located) and the Basin.

If you want to go pose in your new ski/board gear, this is not the place for you, but if you want a no frills ski hill with excellent terrain, great conditions and low prices - this is where you want to be.

the only downside is that if you are from out of town, the closest lodging is 12-15 miles away.

Loveland was a very poor experience overall. The employees were rude, and unhelpful, nobody seemed to care. Trails were poorly marked, and cover was thin and rocky compared to nearby Copper Mountain where the coverage was superb. It does cost less for a lift ticket than other bigger resorts, but it is well worth it to drive right on by and spend a little more money for a far better experience. Also the rental department wasn't set up efficiently at Loveland, the rentals at Copper Mtn were much more modern, and they had a better selection. I'll never go back, my advice: drive right on by and go a little farther to have a much better time.