It doesn’t matter if you ski six days each season or 60. Or if you snowboard, telemark, alpine or monoski (well, that last one’s a bit dicey). If you’re the type of person whose dreams turn to snow-filled glades right around now, who religiously tracks weather systems and who sleeps with new skis next to the bed, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the lowdown on where to ski in the Lower 48 this winter.
Learn the basics in school
East: Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont. This award-winning snowsports school is acclaimed for its personable approach and small class sizes. smuggs.com
West: Keystone. Home of “Kidtopia,” a magical, on-mountain world, Keystone’s ski school focuses on inspiring students and building confidence and skill. keystoneresort.com
Bucket list: Aspen/Snowmass. Last year, Aspen/Snowmass opened the Hideout, a 7,500-square-foot children’s learning center (ages 2 to 12) at the base of Buttermilk. This $10 million facility is a one-stop location for everything lesson-related, features an imaginative indoor play center and is conveniently located on the snow. It complements Snowmass’s Treehouse, another impeccable institution for instruction and, for little ones, child care. aspensnowmass.com
Party scene
East: Hunter Mountain, in New York. A serious ski destination this is not. But if a nightclub/hotel combo with three floors, each with its own D.J., sounds like your ideal vacation, head two hours north of Manhattan to Slopes in Tannersville, “New York’s Infamous Winter Party Destination.” huntermtn.com
West: Breckenridge. Most resorts have some sort of “Ullr Fest,” an homage to the Norse god of snow, but few feature a shotski that runs the length of Main Street and has nearly 100 “shooters.” Don’t worry if you miss the actual Ullr Fest (Jan. 13-16); Breckenridge is as devoted to partying as it is to schussing. breckenridge.com
Bucket list: Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe, California. Not for the faint of heart, Heavenly’s nightlife starts with the Unbuckle Après Party at Tamarack Lodge, at the top of the gondola (featuring Heavenly Angel go-go dancers) and rages until dawn at surrounding nightclubs and casinos. skiheavenly.com
Premium powder
East: Jay Peak in Vermont. Last season, Jay Peak collected a near-record 373 inches of dry, fluffy powder. The forecast calls for similar conditions this year. Need we say more? jaypeakresort.com
West: Alta/Snowbird, Utah. Weather experts and locals call the phenomenon that blankets the mountains in Little Cottonwood Canyon the “Lake Effect.” We call it amazing. These adjacent resorts trap powder like a catcher’s mitt snags balls. One ticket allows access to both areas. snowbird.com
Bucket list: Mammoth Mountain in California. Watch the Weather Channel and be prepared to book your ticket when the storm track beelines for Mammoth, whose epic dumps are often measured in feet, not inches. mammothmountain.com
For the foodies
East: Stowe, Vermont. Indulge in Plate’s California-meets-Vermont’s blend of hearty flavors and healthful food, to the surf-and-turf at the Bistro at 10 Acres, to the small plates at Green Goddess Cafe and more: Stowe’s culinary options are many. stowe.com
West: Telluride. A prosciutto di Parma Panini and crisp glass of rosé would taste good most anywhere. But from the deck at the on-mountain Alpino Vino (11,966 feet), complemented by the jagged silhouettes of surrounding mountains, it’s sublime. Add the myriad dining options in town, and gourmands are in bliss. tellurideskiresort.com
Bucket list: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The question isn’t what to eat in Jackson Hole, it’s where. The magazine Dishing JH (in print and online), founded in 2011 by two local foodies/writers, has all the answers. One favorite? Teton Thai for hot soup after a cold ski day. jacksonhole.com
Destination resort
East: Sunday River in Maine. One of Maine’s largest ski resorts, Sunday River is located six miles from the charming village of Bethel. sundayriver.com
West: Big Sky in Montana. About 45 miles from Bozeman, Big Sky is enormous - 5,800 acres with a 4,350-foot vertical drop. A down-to-earth vibe prevails, and resort officials estimate there’s about two acres per skier on an average day. Translation: no lift lines and powder that lasts for days. bigskyresort.com
Bucket List: Crested Butte. Deep in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, Crested Butte is a former mining town turned vacation mecca without selling its soul. There are no chain restaurants, big-box stores or even traffic lights in this picturesque town, and the mountain serves up unrivaled skiing and riding, eateries and more. skicb.com
In search of steeps
East: Mad River Glen in Vermont. “Ski it if you can,” Mad River’s motto, sums it up: These steeps are among the best - period (i.e.; not just in the East). Unfortunately, snowboarders can’t experience the rush. They’re still not allowed here. madriverglen.com
West: Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Scout your lines during the 4,139-vertical-foot ascent on Jackson’s beloved aerial tram before emerging into a playground of narrow chutes, open bowls and glades so tight they require Jedi navigation powers. Leap (carefully) into Corbet’s Couloir and then bang a left at the bottom into Tensleep Bowl. jacksonhole.com
Bucket list: Silverton Mountain. One chair serves this entire no-frills “resort” in southwestern Colorado, and guides are required most of the season. You’ll hike up to 13,000 feet (or higher) and then descend some of the country’s steepest terrain. silvertonmountain.com
Family-friendly
East: Okemo in Vermont. Featuring two “bubble” chairs (with retractable covers to protect riders from the elements), scores of ski-in/ski-out lodging and a staff trained to cater to families, a trip with kids of any age is a breeze. okemo.com
West: Squaw Valley in California. Starting with the mid-mountain base featuring heated pools and hot tubs (seriously), the mountain’s diverse terrain (plenty of greens, blues and blacks for all), outstanding instruction, a kid-friendly base village, and the best cookies in ski country (Wildflour Baking Co.), Squaw delivers. squawalpine.com
Bucket list: Steamboat. Two words: night skiing. Two more: ranch dinner (at the top of the gondola). Actually, it would take many words to describe Steamboat’s commitment to delivering friendly service, impeccable amenities, outstanding skiing and innumerable off-slope activities. aspensnowmass.com
Easy access
East: Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire. About 100 miles from Boston, Ragged recently spent $5 million to replace an old triple chair with a high-speed quad, revamp the lodge and increase dining options. raggedmountainresort.com
West: Park City, Utah. Step one: fly into Salt Lake International Airport. Step two: Hop on a $45 shuttle. Step three: Drive 40 minutes and land in Park City, home to two world-class resorts (Park City and Deer Valley). parkcitymountain.com
Bucket list: Vail. It’s 120 miles from Denver International Airport to Vail on Colorado’s notorious Interstate 70, but don’t worry. The Colorado Mountain Express offers door-to-door service, and once you arrive in Vail, a pedestrian village at the base of superlative skiing and snowboarding, cars are unnecessary. vail.com
Budget-friendly
East: Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire. Full day tickets top out at $84 during peak periods, but Sunapee’s got lots of tips on how to avoid paying full price, such as frequent-skier cards, Sunday and Wednesday specials and more. Check out the steals and deals on the website. mountsunapee.com
West: Loveland. Straddling the Continental Divide, Loveland delivers high alpine skiing and riding on a shoestring budget, with day passes ranging from $53 to $65 and $429 season passes (which includes three free days at Monarch Mountain, Crested Butte, Purgatory and Powderhorn). skiloveland.com
Bucket list: Targhee, Wyoming. With $272 four-packs, $75 day passes and free skiing for kids 5 and younger, this remote resort on the east side of the Tetons won’t break the bank. grandtarghee.com
This subjective list represents the author’s personal experiences over the past two decades as she has evolved from a ski bum in Jackson Hole to a ski mom of two boys living in Boulder.
