A trip to Crested Butte is far from a one-size-fits-all package. In the winter Crested Butte is known as “the last great Colorado ski town,” and in the summer it is the wildflower capital of Colorado. At 10,000 or more feet above sea level, the sky is the limit to what you can do, and accommodations define a successful trip. A well-appointed cabin, condo, or home rental is the key to accessing the activities of your choice. There are three location choices for holiday rentals: Mount Crested Butte, the town of Crested Butte, or the town’s outlying areas.

For the master-skier, a house or condo rental at the foot of the mountain is the best option. Hotel rooms are available at the resorts, but they are expensive, and, for anyone looking to stay with family or for longer than one weekend, a holiday rental offers not only a lower cost but other advantages as well. Mount Crested Butte boasts some of the best backcountry skiing, and as host of the US Extreme Ski Championships and the X Games, it also leads the state in teaching first-time skiers. There are runs for every skill level and family friendly.

The town of Crested Butte is the social center of the East River Valley. To be closer to nightlife and dining, the best lodging choice is a rental home in the town of Crested Butte. While you can catch a shuttle to the ski hill, Crested Butte itself offers historic Victorian storefronts and modern galleries, musical entertainment, and fine dining. Visitors also enjoy the town’s Nordic Center, complete with an ice skating rink and miles of groomed cross-country skiing trails.

Perhaps the most convincing reason to book a rental home in town is that Crested Butte is known for its year-round festivals. These include Torchlight, New Years, Winter Carnival, and Mardi Gras in winter; Extreme Board Fest, Slushuck and Flaushink in spring; Fat Tire Bike Week, the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, the Festival of the Arts, and Ball Bash in summer; and Fall Fest, Vintok, and the Paragon Peoples' Fair in fall.

If you treasure peace and quiet and awe-inspiring views, the best rental option is a cabin or chalet in East River Valley country. Almost all holiday rentals will be only a half-hour’s drive from the town or ski hill.

If you visit in the dry summer months, mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, whitewater rafting, golfing, and fishing can easily keep your family entertained. With Crested Butte and its cabins, condos, and homes, you are renting time in the Wild West.