They Say Getting There Is Easy, Leaving Is the Hard Part

How to get there: Telluride is 65 miles from Montrose, 127 miles from Grand Junction, 327 miles southwest of Denver, at an elevation of 8,745 feet.

Beginning Dec. 15, Delta Airlines/SkyWest will inaugurate nonstop flights on Saturdays and Wednesdays from LAX. Call (800) 453-9417.

Other service daily from Denver by United Express, (800) 821-7126, and Continental Express, (800) 525-0280.

Where to stay: The San Sophia, 330 W. Pacific St., Telluride, Colo. 81435, (800) 537-4781. Rates: $70 to $210.

Manitou Hotel, 568 W. Pacific St., Telluride 81435, (800) 233-9292. $50-$150.

Best Western Tom Boy, 619 W. Columbia St., Telluride 81435, (303) 728-3871. $40-$130.

Johnstone Inn B&B;, 403 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride 81435, (800) 752-1901. $65-$110.

Ice House, P.O. Box 2909, Telluride 81435, (800) 544-3436. This is a new 42-room lodge with balconies and/or wraparound decks. $75-$230.

New Sheridan Hotel, 231 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride 81435, (303) 728-4351. $40-$70. (Note: The New Sheridan is expected to close soon for renovation.)

Dahl House B&B;, P.O. Box 695, Telluride 81435, (303) 728-4158. $35-$60. Condo units: $50-$170.

Pennington’s Mountain Village Inn, P.O. Box 2428, Telluride Mountain Village, Telluride 81435, (800) 543-1437. $90-$235.

For other accommodations, contact Lodges at Telluride, P.O. Box 2038, Telluride 81435, (303) 728-6621, or Resort Rentals, 673 W. Pacific St., Telluride 81435, (800) 538-7754.

For details on rentals at the new Telluride Mountain Village, write to Mountain Village Resort Management Co., P.O. Box 11163, Telluride Mountain Village, Telluride 81435, (800) 544-0507.

Other information from the Telluride Chamber Resort Assn., P.O. Box 653, Telluride 81435, (303) 728-3041, or Telluride Central Reservations, P.O. Box 1009, Telluride 81435, (800) 525-3455.

Where to eat: Athenian Senate, 123 S. Spruce St., (303) 728-3018.

Powder House, 226 W. Colorado Ave., 728-3622.

La Marmotte, 150 W. San Juan Ave., 728-6232.

Excelsior Cafe, 200 W. Colorado Ave., 728-4250.

Silverglade, 115 W. Colorado Ave., 728-4943.

Skiing: Telluride has more than 750 acres of skiing terrain, 10 lifts.