• I took the Amtrak Winter Park Express, also called the "Ski Train," from Denver to Winter Park.
• The affordable two-hour train ride was pleasant and had wonderful views.
• I loved dodging traffic and not having to drive — plus, the train tracks were steps from the resort.

Those who want to visit the mountains in Colorado without the hassle of driving may want to try the Amtrak Winter Park Express.

Affectionately nicknamed the "Ski Train," it is a fantastic option for going from Denver to Winter Park ski resort for a day in the snow. Its service typically begins in late December and runs through the end of March.

Fares for the two-hour ride start at $19, depending on the date you book tickets. My round-trip ticket from Friday, December 20, to Saturday, December 21, cost $58.

Here's what my "Ski Train" ride was like.

The trains felt perfectly scheduled for maximum skiing time in Winter Park.

My train was scheduled to leave Denver Union Station around 7 a.m. to arrive in Winter Park around 9 a.m. — right as its ski lifts open for the day.

I live just outside downtown Denver, so I woke up at 6 a.m. to drive to the parking garage adjacent to Union Station, where I'd booked an overnight parking spot. I arrived at the tracks around 6:20 for my 6:30 boarding time.

My return trip would depart Winter Park at 4:35 p.m. (right after the ski lifts close) and arrive in Denver around 7 p.m.

Boarding was pretty easy.

The train allows riders to take their skis or snowboards as a single carry-on item.

Since passengers can bring two carry-on items and one personal item on board, I was able to travel with my skis, overnight bag, and a small backpack.

While boarding the train, I passed my equipment to a volunteer, who placed it in a special storage area.

I had no problem finding a seat on the train.

All seats on this train are coach — there are no business or first-class options. As the train filled up, I had no trouble finding a seat.

Seats were arranged in pairs (or clusters of four), and I felt quite comfortable. They can recline slightly and most have pull-down tray tables, similar to what you'd find on a plane.

The energy on the train was excellent.

Many of my fellow passengers seemed excited and buzzing with energy — you'd never know it was barely 7 a.m. As the train exited the station, some of them started cheering.

The vibes on the train ride were excellent overall. Even our lively conductor made sure to stop and chat with each passenger while checking tickets.

I tried to get work done but ended up looking out the window for most of the trip.

I and many other passengers had our laptops out to use during the ride. Unfortunately, we lost cellphone service about 30 minutes into the trip, and I wasn't able to use my hot spot or do much on my computer after that.

Fortunately, I was able to spend most of the trip looking out the window at the stunning mountain scenery.

I spent most of my trip in the lounge car because I loved its windows.

My favorite spot on the train was the lounge car, which had domed windows on top and large ones on either side. It had the best views.

This car also had snacks and drinks for sale, so I bought myself a hot coffee.

After almost two hours, we began to approach our final stop.

The highly relaxing trip took roughly two hours in total.

When we went through Moffat Tunnel on the final stretch of the journey, an Amtrak employee told us it was time to put on our ski gear because we were just minutes away from Winter Park Resort.

Our train stop was wildly close to the Winter Park slopes.

We pulled into the train platform shortly after 9 a.m., and I could see the ski runs right out the train windows.

Amtrak employees unloaded our skis and snowboards for us, and we stepped off the train platform and right onto Winter Park grounds.

Seriously, I couldn't believe how close the train tracks were to the ski hill.

We were less than 50 steps from Winter Park's base ski lift and village area, where we could grab a bite to eat, rent a ski locker or equipment for the day, and buy a lift pass.

Overall, the train could be an excellent alternative to driving to Winter Park.

The Amtrak journey to Winter Park wasn't overly expensive and felt highly efficient. It was a great alternative to driving to the mountain.

Although I've been told driving from downtown Denver can be a slightly shorter trip at around 90 minutes, that doesn't factor in traffic.

Winter Park can get really congested during peak ski seasons, so I was happy to not be stuck in a car. Plus, since I wasn't driving, I was able to fully embrace the stunning mountain views around me.

The only real downside for me was that I couldn't bring my dog as the train is not pet-friendly.

• I've skied at over 20 resorts in the US. After visiting Brighton Resort twice, I wouldn't go back.
• The resort isn't as impressive as its neighbors in terms of vertical drop and skiable acres.
• I thought it was too crowded on my visits and I'd rather try somewhere new next time.

I've had the opportunity to ski at over 20 resorts across the United States, and five of them were located in Utah.

The state is home to some of the most iconic ski resorts in the US and lots of snowfall, truly making it a powder skier's paradise.

When I close my eyes and think of skiing there, I picture myself gliding down black-diamond runs, indulging in the après-ski scene, and soaking in breathtaking mountain views.

Although that's the experience I've had at most resorts, one beloved Utah destination has let me down: Brighton Resort.

After skiing there in two different years and in two different months, I've realized this popular spot is one I just don't need to return to.

Brighton's lift lines were significantly longer than other ski resorts I've been to

Brighton is part of the Ikon Pass, a famous ski-lift pass that many skiers and snowboarders have around the world.

The ski resorts on the pass are known for their excellent runs, top-notch amenities, and overall upscale atmosphere, which attracts many tourists.

Due to the pass's popularity, you can generally expect larger crowds at Ikon Pass destinations across the country.

However, I've skied at numerous Ikon destinations around the country, and the lift lines at Brighton during my visits felt significantly longer than any others I've encountered.

This is likely because Brighton only has six lifts that service dozens of trails. In comparison, the majority of Ikon destinations in the US have at least 10 lifts — some more than 20.

I wish the resort would install more lifts or make existing ones larger to better alleviate some of the crowding.

Its terrain doesn't measure up to neighboring resorts

Brighton has over 1,050 skiable acres of terrain. Although it's not necessarily small, it seems relatively compact compared to neighboring resorts like Alta and Snowbird, each home to over 2,000 skiable acres.

Brighton's vertical drop is also at least 780 feet smaller than the ones at those nearby resorts.

This results in fewer challenging runs and allows skiers to reach the bottom more quickly, leading to longer waits in lift lines for the next run.

I felt the nearby après-ski options were limited and a bit disappointing

I really enjoy the après-ski experience and love hanging out with my husband and friends after a long day on the slopes.

At well-known resorts, I can typically find a wide variety of choices for post-slope drinks, appetizers, and meals throughout the surrounding mountain and village areas.

However, at Brighton Resort, I felt the options were limited. Most of the nearby dining spots were located by the base of the mountain, which meant they could get pretty crowded.

During our trip, we struggled to find available tables in the packed — and, thus, often loud — restaurants we visited in the area.

I also found the views from the dining options we visited to be less impressive than those I've experienced at other ski resorts in Utah.

Many people love skiing at Brighton, but I don't plan on going back

Utah attracts over a million visitors yearly, with many of those skiers and snowboarders heading to Brighton to enjoy its snow and runs.

Although I'm glad to have checked this resort off my bucket list, I ultimately doubt I'll return. I felt I spent too much time in lift lines, was not particularly impressed with the terrain, and found the après-ski options didn't meet my expectations.

That said, if you view lift lines as part of the experience, don't mind cruising down more moderate terrain, and aren't particularly concerned about après-ski selections, you might enjoy this resort.

Brighton Resort did not respond to a request for comment.