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Shell Gas Two For One Ski Ticket
For 2014, Shell gas stations are offering 2 for 1 vouchers at several ski areas with a 10 gallon gas fill up. This means that if you buy at least 10 gallons of gas, you get a coupon good for a free lift ticket if you purchase one full price adult lift ticket. The deal is good at several ski areas.
Unfortunately, full price adult lift tickets have become so expensive that this isn't much of a "deal". But if you just want to ski one day at a participating resort this year, this will get you on the slopes for less than full price.
In Colorado, 2014's participating resorts are:
Copper Mountain
Crested Butte
Loveland
Monarch
Powderhorn
The SkiFreeDeals.com web site has a full list of participating Shell stations and ski resorts.
Learn more at skifreedeals.Com: 
Golden History Center and Astor House (free days)
The Golden History Center, along Clear Creek next to the Golden Library, and the Astor House Museum, offer free days from time to time. The next free day is during the winter Candlelight Walk, December 5th, 2014.
Details from the Golden History Museums web site:
Ruby Hill Rail Yard
For about 6 weeks each year in January and February, Ruby Hill Park in Denver features a free ski and snowboard park known as Ruby Hill Rail Yard.
Aspen Nordic Center (always free)
For vacationers to Aspen, the Aspen Nordic center provides probably the ultimate cross country ski and snowshoe experience in Colorado, and it is entirely free!
Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs (always low cost)
Howelsen Hill Ski Area is a historic ski area and Olympic training grounds operated by the city of Steamboat Springs, and is one of the only ski areas left in Colorado that is affordable on a daily basis. This ski area is a decent place for downhill skiers and snowboarders to make some quick laps, and features a nice terrain park, but it is especially nice for Cross Country / Nordic skiers.
There are only a handful of downhill runs served by 1 rope tow and 1 chair lift, but there are miles of Nordic trails. Howelson is lit for night skiing and often stays open until 8pm.
Oh yeah, the huge ski jumps are off limits to the public but they are an amazing sight!
2012 - 2013 Rates:
Lift Tickets: $20 per adult, discounts for children and seniors.
Terrain Park Only: $10
Nordic Trails Only: $10
Children's Magic carpet learning area: Free! (see concession booth for a free ticket).
$10 night skiing tickets are also available Tuesday through Friday.
Full lift ticket pricing breakdown for 2012-2013:
Hours and Season:
CLOSED MONDAYS.
Tuesday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 1:00 pm - 8:00pm
Thursday 3:45 pm - 8:00pm
Friday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed on Christmas Day and special holiday hours are in effect through Jan 3.
Howelson Hill Home Page and Maps:
Steamboat is fairly remote for a day trip, but if you can't afford the lodging in the area, there is a year-round campground that is reasonable called Steamboat Campground.
New Belgium Brewery Tours (Tuesday - Saturday)
The New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins has had to greatly modify their previously awesome tour and beer sampling system. They never said why they changed, but it was obvious what the problem was when I visited. Because of the free beer samples, the place was overrun with college kids who wanted to party hard for free.
Now to get a small free sample you must take the full brewery tour, and reservations fill up online weeks or months in advance. If you go there without being signed up for a tour, you can still buy beer at the bar for a discounted rate.
Despite the changes, this is still an excellent small brewery to see and learn about.
Location: 500 Linden Street in old town Fort Collins.
Liquid Center Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 10am to 6pm
Closed on Sundays until Feb 9th, 2014.
Guided Tour Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 11am to 4:30pm
Closed on Sundays until Feb 9th, 2014.
New Belgium Beer Web Site:
University of Colorado Museum of Natural History at Boulder (always free)
The University of Colorado Museum of Natural History is a free natural history museum on the CU Boulder campus. They have excellent changing exhibits, a dinosaur section, and an extensive bird display. A small donation is requested to help keep the museum open and free. This is a fun small natural history museum for adults and curious kids.
When:
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm
Where:
The Henderson Building on the CU-Boulder campus, between 15th and 16th streets east of Broadway.
For details check their web site: