Skiing is a favourite winter pastime around the world. It’s a great way to get out and enjoy yourself while getting some exercise.
Many places offer hills that range from beginner to daredevil skill levels. Fresh air, fun, and then the apres-ski – and this is good for you; is there anything more you could ask for from a winter sport?
You can find ski hills in many parts of the world. Many families go out on weekends to the local hill. Sometimes though it is nice to take a trip a little further afield.
To make it a true vacation, you’ll want to find places that not only offer skiing suitable to all the levels within your party but also nice accommodations, good food, other activities, and an atmosphere suitable to your plans.
Depending on your priorities, you may rank these resorts in a different order but all should please even the pickiest skiers.
#1: Whistler Blackcomb – British Columbia, Canada
Whistler Blackcomb is well known for the sheer variety of skiing opportunities it offers. Set in the Rocky Mountains, the two peaks (Whistler and Blackcomb) offer over 200 trails for everything from absolute beginners to certified daredevils.
There is over 8,000 acres of terrain to be explored along with 16 alpine bowls, and 2 glaciers. You can take a gondola ride from one peak to the other. Over 37 lifts will accommodate over 67,000 skiers per hour.
With an average of 462 inches of snow per year and one of the longest ski seasons in North America, this is a top choice in most people’s books. For those who get tired of skiing there is also heli-skiing, tube riding, snowmobiling and sleigh rides.
Accommodations range from modest and affordable to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler which is a bundle of luxury mountainside with easy access to the lifts, its own spa, indoor/outdoor heated pools, and every other luxury you care to dream up. Conde Nast rates it the #1 resort for leisure facilities.
As for dining, there are 17 restaurants and bars on the mountain and a village full of everything from fast food to five star dining for once you finish your day. There are lots of family friendly options for those with kids and even more options for those looking for an evening of dancing, beer, and spectacular views of skiers making their last trip down the mountains.
#2: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is one of those secret spots that good skiers love that is becoming more and more popular as others spread the secret. The skiing is aimed mainly at intermediate to expert skiers with less than 10% of the trails rated for beginners and 50% rated for experts only. This is for serious skiers.
Like Whistler Blackcomb, there are two mountains (Rendezvous and Apres Vous) but it is substantially smaller and geared towards people whose main goal is skiing. There is about 2,500 acres of terrain and 116 trails.
Snowboarding is welcome and there are half-pipes onsite. There is a Burton Stash park for freestyle snowboarding using natural elements to create obstacles. There is snowshoeing, dog sledding and excursions into Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park can also be organized from Jackson Hole.
On mountain dining ranges from pizza and cafeteria style food to five star dining while the base of the mountain features casual fare. Lodgings range from high end spa luxury resorts to a hostel, so there is something to accommodate every budget.
#3: Taos, New Mexico
Skiing in New Mexico, might not be your first though when considering this southern state but Taos has lots to offer skiers and winter sport enthusiasts.
It was the dream of Ernest Blake to create a resort area that was suitable for family vacations in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The resort reflects both European, Latin, and local Native American influences.
Boasting an average of 305 inches of snow annually, Taos is home to the country’s top rated skiing school. There are 110 trails and snowboarders are welcome. In keeping with the family theme, there is a tubing hill suitable for the whole family as well as snowshoeing and snowmobiling.
In the warmer months, the area is open to hikers and backpackers. It also has golf facilities, fly fishing, rock climbing, and high alpine horseback riding. Lodgings tend to have a European flare and range from bed and breakfasts to luxury resorts. You can also rent your own condominium or house for your stay.
Food options range from casual family dining to formal restaurants. For those wishing to venture further afield there is a free shuttle service from the ski resort area to the nearby town of Taos and the village of Arroyo Seco. There’s also lots of nightlife available for once the kids have gone to sleep.
#4: Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke boasts the North America’s greatest vertical at 5, 620 ft. It has over 3,000 acres of lane skiing, high alpine bowls, a half-pipe and more. It is the world’s only resort to offer heli, cat, lift, and back country skiing from the same village base.
They’ve also added an area for night-skiing and snowboarding. There’s tubing for the family and a beginner’s area for those new to the sport. Most of the 65 runs though are geared towards intermediate and advanced skiers. For many years the only skiing done in the area was heli-skiing.
The resort and regular skiing on the mountain have only been around for about 6 years and the resort is still expanding. Enough is in place to offer something for virtually any ski enthusiast.
There are lots of lodging and dining choices with even more planned. There’s also a gondola for those looking to get a scenic overhead view.
#5: Telluride, Colorado
Telluride is another one of those quiet secrets. It’s rarely crowded and has something for skiers of all levels, offering great skiing for beginners and intermediate skiers as well as the experts in the crowd.
With over 2,000 acres of terrain and 300 inches of snow annually, the conditions are beautiful and varied. It’s prefect for those who would rather not ski as part of a crowd. There are schools that teach skiing and snowboarding.
Should you get tired of skiing there is also a spa, snowshoeing, mountain tours, snowbiking, and more. For those looking for a special dining experience consider Alpino’s.
Located at 11,966 feet it is North America’s highest fine dining option. You arrive by snow coach and dine in a traditional European hutte with stone floors, exposed beams, and fireplace. The food is high end Italian and it makes for a wonderful, and romantic, evening.
As you start planning this year’s ski vacation, you have lots of choices before you. There is a mountain suitable for every interest and skill level. Have a great time on and off the slopes!
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