10 Ski Resorts You Should Visit At Least Once
Winter might seem far off now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning your winter trips. The cold might not be the most enjoyable, but the other activities you can do then are great. If you enjoy the season, you probably like to enjoy some winter activities like skiing or snowboarding. The downhill variety of skiing is especially popular these days and snowboarding is gaining more riders every day. With more and more ski shops and lessons popping up, it seems like everyone is learning how to ski or snowboard. And it’s no surprise. Skiing or snowboarding is a great way to burn calories and have a ton of fun.
As you become better at skiing you might grow bored of your local ski resort, however. Whether it’s because you’ve skied every run or the snow just isn’t that great, you may be longing for something new. You’ve probably considered visiting other ski resorts and maybe even traveling far to do so. However, it should be noted that if you’re going to spend big bucks to ski, you’ll want to go somewhere it’s worth it. Luckily, there are so many great ski resorts that are offering memorable ski trips these days. Here are 5 ski resorts you should visit at least once.
1. Vail Mountain Resort
This ski resort offers fresh powder often and a whole list of special amenities. Considered to be world-famous by many, the ski resort is visited by everyone from avid local skiers to famous celebrities like Katy Perry. The ski resort itself is huge with numerous lifts, including two gondolas. This is definitely a good place if you want to ski a variety of terrain because there’s everything from groomers to powdery tree skiing. If you’d prefer to visit in the summer and skip the snow activities there’s still plenty to do. Vail has beautiful villages with shops and restaurants you can explore!
2. Zermatt
Is any surprise that Switzerland is home to one of the best ski resorts? As you ski here you can see Matterhorn in the distance and the views are always gorgeous. Getting bored here will be hard, as there are tons of trails and there’s so much to do. You can stay in a luxurious hotel near the resort or ski down some of the toughest trails. Plus, since 2019 there’s been the world’s highest 3S lift. The lift carries up to 2,000 passengers per hour and will take you up to Matterhorn Glacier within 9 minutes!
3. Alpe d’Huez
This French ski resort leaves plenty for a tourist skier to do. From mountain coasters paired with virtual reality headsets to sightseeing flights, there is so much to do here. Accommodations here are pretty great too. You can stay in a 5-star hotel like CERVO Mountain Boutique resort which is a ski-in/ski-out hotel and has luxurious rooms. Or you can even rent a beautiful large flat to stay in.
4. Deer Valley
The Utah ski resort is famous not only for hosting the Sundance film festival but also for its high-quality skiing. At the resort, you can ski everything from trees to moguls and snow is often great. The food here is also fantastic and you’ll love the lodging options.
5. Jackson Hole
This list would be incomplete if it didn’t include a world-famous ski resort, Jackson Hole. The ski resort is home to plenty of advanced terrains and some of the best backcountry skiing in the world. Thus, the ski resort is perfect for highly experienced skiers. Of course, beginners can still enjoy their time at the resort too, as there are still some basic runs to do and the surrounding area provides numerous shops and restaurants to check out.
6. Big Sky Resort
With 5,850 skiable acres, 36 lifts, and an average of 400 inches of powder per year, Big Sky, Montana is every experienced skier’s dream. Big Sky is considered to be the “Biggest Skiing In America” because of its copious space to ski, lack of lift lines, terrain variety, most consistent snowfall in the Northern Rockies, and the Lone Peak Tram which offers views of 3 states, and 2 National Parks from 11,166 feet. Big Sky has it all.
7. Whistler Blackcomb
Ever heard of a 200-day ski season? Whistler Blackcomb is familiar with that and is arguably the largest ski resort in North America. Located in Whistler, British Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb features a Peak 2 Peak Gondola for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, so you get two for the price of one. The two mountains provide enough terrain for numerous lifetimes, the town surrounding the mountain is vibrant, and there is an abundant amount of space to ski. What more could you ask for?
8. Snowbird
Snowbird, just 29 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, offers 500 inches of snowfall per season on average, has over 2,500 skiable acres, and a summit elevation of 11,000 feet. Snowbird’s terrain offers vast options for skiers of all levels, including 27% Beginner Terrain, 38%Intermediate Terrain, and 35% Advanced Terrain.
9. Killington
Killington, otherwise known as “The Beast”, is the home of the longest season in the East. With 7 Peaks, a vertical drop of 3,050 feet, and a rad nightlife, Killington offers some of the best skiing and off-mountain activities year-round.
10. Aspen Snowmass
Aspen, CO is known for being one of the most coveted ski areas in the world. Famous for amazing ski conditions, The X Games, and Cloud Nine (the wildest apres ski in North America, but only by ski), Aspen has everything to offer. Aspen Snowmass has not only one, but four different mountains to choose from; making your ski trip worthwhile.
