You can find what you want in a ski resort in one of these top ten places. Voted the best ten by readers of SKI magazine.
1. Vail, Colorado: This is a complex of three ski areas. Combined yet described as three distinct skiing areas. The Back Bowls is 3,017 acres. The frontside has 1,627 acres. The smallest, Blue Sky Basin is 645 acres. An exciting place to ski with a downhill run to thrill the most sophisticated tourist. The new Arrabelle Hotel Complex is opening this year. The popular Blue Moon restaurant is being renovated. This is an adult playground with skiing as a large part of it. If snow doesn’t fall there — they have a machine to make their own as many resorts now do. According to tourists the worst thing that can happen is your cell phone service doesn’t work at times. A dream vacation for you. The slopes in the daytime and clubs at night.
2. Deer Valley, Utah: Ski on a total of six mountains. Bald Eagle Mountain, Baldy, Little Baldy Peak, Flagstaff Mountain, Bald Mountain and Empire. There are slopes for every skill level. The ski lifts have heaters in them. Take your appetite to Snow Park Lodge for a fabulous sea food buffet. It is so large you are advised to skip lunch. This resort area is family-friendly and there are some great package deals, some with discounted lift tickets. Flagstaff Mountain is especially beginner-friendly. It offers children’s runs. There are play areas with names like Quincy’s Cabin, Bucky’s Backyard and other winsome names. The kids will love it.
3. Snow Mass, Colorado: This beautiful resort offers ski and snowboarding lessons for all ages. There are lessons for physically challenged to learn adaptive methods of skiing. The eight-passenger gondola takes skiiers to the slopes in record time. Many tourists are renting luxury homes instead of staying at a hotel in this luxurious area.
4. Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia: This resort features 8,171 acres. A thousand acres of high-alpine slopes are now available to intermediate skill skiiers. There is a charming European style town of 10,000. During the peak season for skiing the population will temporarily reach 30,000. Blackcomb Mountain is unique. You can ski there in June and July. It is the only place in North America that has glacier skiing available to the public.
5. Park City, Utah: The Wasach mountains 32 miles from Salt Lake City with three ski resorts withing minutes of the Park City. All beautiful locations with enough hotel rooms for 12,000 visitors. Be sure to go to the Bad Ass Coffee Company for some quiet time as well as great coffee.
6. Breckenridge, Colorado: This beautiful location features skiing lessons including private instruction. Recent Innovations include a new gondola to take you from parking lot to lifts. They feature a party honoring the Norse god of snow each year.
7. Aspen, Colorado: You might call this a resort for experienced skiiers only. There are no slopes designated for novices. There’s free bus service between the four mountains in Aspen. You may see a performance by Lyle Lovett at the Wheeler Opera House or classical violinist at Harris Concert Hall. Stop for coffee and breakfast at the Main Street Bakery where the locals eat. It must be great food.
8. Beaver Creek, Colorado: This resort is in a stunningly beautiful area. The slopes wind gently between walls of pine trees on either side. There are 180 new acres open to skiiers on the eastern edge of the mountain. The Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt Hotel is a high-end pampering salon. This is a luxury resort but there are package deals at the Pines Lodge. Go over to Red Tail Camp for a burger. An experience for all tourists.
9. Steamboat, Colorado: Exciting resort for college students on break. Snowboarding is very popular here. Be sure to visit the Thunderhead and Rendezvous for dining in a luxurious setting on the mountain. If you book a stay between February 7 and February 11 you can attend the “Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival.” It is the oldest winter carnival West of Kansas.
10. Sun Valley, Idaho: Kids fifteen and younger can stay in Sun Valley Company hotels for free when with a parent. One event is a cross-country ski trip at night ending at the Galena Lodge for a five-course dinner.
The resorts are rated by readers of Ski Net. Presumably, the voters have skiing experience and have visited these resorts. Downhill skiing is a thrilling experience. Choose a slope appropriate for your skill level. Shop for designer ski jackets. Then after a day of skiing — you can explore the night life scene. There may be a show or concert. Any of these top rated resort towns will provide a special vacation with many fun activities including special skiing events for everyone to participate in…