To sip champagne in the snowy slopes of Aspen, or rock-climb in the deserts outside Sin City? To drink craft beer and jam rails in Michigan, or tear through powder from Friday to Sunday? These are the questions…

By Tara House, Chase Scheinbaum, and Nicholas Ayala

Clicquot in the Snow, March 12 – 14

Aspen, Colorado

This weekend take to the slopes in Aspen, where skiers will be sipping bubbly at the 3rd annual Clicquot in the Snow, sponsored by Veuve Clicquot champagne. The weekend is filled with aprés ski parties, champagne tastings, and exclusive events throughout three mountains in the Aspen area. By-the-flute specials and champagne tastings can be found at base-of-the-mountain hotspots AJAX Tavern of Little Nell, Willow Creek of The Ritz-Carlton Club at the Highlands, and The Nest and Pool Deck of Viceroy Snowmass. The event is in support of Challenge Aspen, and Veuve Clicquot will make a donation to the organization for every flute of bubbly it sells at all participating restaurants and bars.

On Friday, March 12th, Veuve and Aspen Magazine will co-host an exclusive VIP kick-off party at Kimpton’s Sky Hotel, followed by a star-studded event at the participating Viceroy Snowmass on Saturday, March 13th. Skiers and visitors are also invited to join Veuve Clicquot for the highly-anticipated party at Aspen’s newest and most buzzed-about nightclubs, Syzygy also on Saturday. Pre-reserve table packages by calling the number found here.

Other activities and giveaways will include capturing “champagne moments” in an interactive photo booth at Gondola Plaza in the center of Clicquot in the Snow, and chances to win a speciality pair of Veuve Clicquot’s famous Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, as well as Limited-Edition Ski Goggles made by Smith.

Travel and Accommodations

This weekend’s fizzy winter-wonderland adventure is open to the public and all you needto do to join in is make a reservation at any of the participating mountain resorts mentioned above.

The Aspen-Pitkin Country Airport is only a short distance from all main resorts. Full travel accommodations and directions can be found here.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, March 13-14

Las Vegas, Nevada

If you’re one to obsessively check the weather forecast at your favorite climbing areas, then you already know that this weekend looks like a perfect season-opener for Red Rock Canyon, the sandstone paradise outside Las Vegas. Temperatures in the Mojave Desert will be in the high-60s during the day, and just a hair under 50 degrees at night.

Being so close to Sin City — the Strip is a mere 17 miles to the east — you’ll have to pick your poison: will it be bouldering, sport-climbing, or all-day multipitch climbs? At Red Rocks, there are over 1,600 routes and boulder problems to choose from.

The south-facing Cat in the Hat — a five-pitch traditional 5.6+ — is an indisputable classic. It gets morning sun, and is accessed by a quick 40-minute approach through manzanita bushes and scrub oak.

After getting some mileage at the crag, put on a long-sleeved shirt and drive to the Strip for steak at Delmonico Steakhouse, Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant in The Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino. (Yes, you have to wear sleeves, but it’s worth it.) The cocktails, Cajun-inspired menu, and cigar cabinet will be a welcome way to fortify you for whatever further exploits lie ahead on the Strip.

If you haven’t had your fill after Red Rock’s climbs, hit up a roller coaster of your choosing at the Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. The aptly-named Insanity is a good choice: the ride spins you at three G’s from the top of the sky-piercing observation tower ($20 with admission).

Travel and Accommodations

Red Rock Campground is within spitting distance from the canyon loop road, the access point for the canyon. For $10 a night, you can have a crash pad from your adventures on the Strip, and a launching pad for your days on the cliffs.

If you’d prefer to stay indoors, grab a Las Vegas travel package that includes hotel cost and airfare to McCarran International Airport. Click here for possibilities.

Brew-SKi Festival, March 13

Harbor Springs, Michigan

In its inaugural year, the Brew-Ski Festival at Harbor Springs’ Boyne Highlands is kicking off things right with a Saturday full of snow, beer, brats, and music. With a beer tent featuring more than 100 craft brews and a rail jam open to all skiers and snowboarders, you should prepare yourself for some great beverages and amazing grinds. The beer tent is open from noon-4:00P.M. (drink tickets are $2 each, and entrance is free). Registration for the rail jam ($5) runs from noon-2:00P.M. in the sound tent and begins at 2:30P.M. Once the beer tent closes up shop, move on over to the Zoo Bar to keep the party going with live music. Check out the festival website for more info.

When you’re not sampling beer at the Brew-Ski Festival, switch it up with some wine and a bite to eat at The New York Restaurant, which offers around 300 vintages. Alternatively, you can stick around the resort and visit Boyne Highland’s Main Dining Room, or a number of other dining spots at the resort.

Looking to make a short trip to a neighboring city? Try the 20-minute drive to the Odawa Casino Resort and spend the night in Petoskey trying your luck at Blackjack.

Travel and Accommodations

From hotel rooms to cottages, Boyne Highlands offers a variety of places to rest after a day on the slopes. Take advantage of the Brew-Ski Festival package — which include accommodations and lift tickets — by visiting the website or calling 1-800-GO-BOYNE. If you want to mix it up and go for something a bit more unique, choose from a variety of vacation rentals in the area.

If you’re flying in, several airports have you covered. Catch a flight to the nearby Pellston Regional Airport or, if you have your own plane, Boyne Mountain Airport is the place to land. Other travel options can be found here.