Nick and Laura Visconti are a husband and wife duo hailing from Truckee, California. Laura considers herself a coffee-fueled mountain soul while Nick loves to shred the mountains as a professional snowboarder. They just returned from an Instagram takeover in Crested Butte as part of Alaska’s Weekend Wanderer series. For more Weekend Wanderer posts, make sure you’re following Alaska Airlines on Instagram.
I was so excited when Alaska Airlines invited me and my husband Nick to spend a couple of days in Crested Butte, Colorado as Weekend Wanderers.
Coming from Truckee, a small ski town nestled in the mountains of Lake Tahoe, we were excited to pack our snowboard bags and head out for a ski vacation that I assumed would somewhat mimic our everyday life. But once we touched down in Gunnison after the inaugural Alaska Airlines nonstop flight from Los Angeles, I realized that while Crested Butte may be a small ski town in the mountains not unlike my own home, it had a culture entirely its own. It was, in a word, unforgettable.
Locals ride beach cruisers in 6-degree weather as craggy mountains jut out of the sky in every direction … while it���s snowing, no less. The year-round population is so small that before a full 24 hours had passed, Nick and I were getting recognized in the grocery store and on the ski lifts as the “Weekend Wanderers.” We made friends with Gretchen from Daily Dose where we got our daily dose of juice concoctions (with extra garlic), and chatted all things coffee with Travis from local roastery First Ascent. All our meals had locally sourced ingredients, including one memorable five-course dinner at Uley’s Cabin, accessed via sleigh ride.
Oh, and we snowboarded. A lot. Crested Butte Mountain Resort boasts 121 trails and breathtaking terrain that anyone from your casual weekend wanderer (myself) or former professional snowboarder and X Games medalist (my husband) could enjoy. My husband, who has ridden many of the great ski mountains around the world, says only a few in Switzerland rivaled the austerity and majesty of Crested Butte.
The warmth that oozed out of the heart and soul of this town was something special, and unlike anything I’d experienced. I can’t wait to go back.
Hello! @lauralawsonvisconti + @nickvisconti here, checkin’ in from beautiful (and cold!) Crested Butte, CO. We were so excited to be on the inaugural Alaska Airlines flight from LA, and are having a blast exploring this gorgeous ski town frozen in time. Follow along the next couple days as we take over Alaska’s Instagram account, and be sure to check out our feeds to see more adventures as well! See you from the slopes!Just landed in Colorado’s Last Great Ski Town with Alaska Airlines as a #weekendwanderer. Can’t wait to uncover the on-mountain features and off-mountain treasures of this ole’ mining town! Follow along with my and @lauralawsonvisconti’s adventures as we take over the @alaskaair Instagram in Crested Butte, CO. #iflyalaska #ridecb #crestedbutteHey @nickvisconti here… Had a dang good time tweaking Crested Butte side country today. Can’t wait to rip @skicrestedbutte corduroy with @lauralawsonvisconti in the AM!Good morning! @nickvisconti + @lauralawsonvisconti here, fueling up before we head to @skicrestedbutte! Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day!Gorgeous day up at @skicrestedbutte today! -@lauralawsonvisconti + @nickviscontiThis is such a magical time of year… @skicrestedbutte was so generous with not only a white Christmas on the slopes, but a sleigh ride to historic Uley’s Cabin. @nickvisconti and I, @lauralawsonvisconti, live in Lake Tahoe and still our evening here was one of the most memorable mountain moments we’ve ever had. Can’t wait to get back on the lifts tomorrow morning!Saturday morning strolls used to look a lot different, until I landed in Crested Butte. -@lauralawsonvisconti, with @nickvisconti behind the lens. #WeekendWanderer #crestedbutteThis trip has been the best holiday gift we could have asked for. So excited that Alaska Airlines is now offering nonstop service from LA to Crested Butte! We’re having a blast wandering around this gorgeous mountain. ???? -@lauralawsonvisconti + @nickviscontiGetting to @skicrestedbutte the local way.Staying grounded at @skicrestedbutte after a lot of miles sky high from Los Angeles to Crested Butte with @lauralawsonvisconti! -@nickviscontiThanks for the airspace @alaskaair, and the landscape @skicrestedbutte. Until next time as a #weekendwanderer …We don’t like goodbyes, so we’ll just say… ’til next time! Many thanks to Alaska Airlines for this amazing trip. Keep an eye out for our recap blog post coming soon! Hope you enjoyed wandering Crested Butte with us! -@lauralawsonvisconti + @nickvisconti
