Snow Skiing Resort towns?

Lisa Fishman · #1 10-21-2003, 09:59 PM

Hi. For the snow skiiers out there: What is your favorite ski resort town? Why do you like it so much? Do you keep going back to the same town year after year? I've only been skiing once in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada and LOVED it so much I want to go again. I've heard great things about Deer Valley and Park City, Utah. I know Colorado is great too, but not too accessable from the Denver airport, where as the two Utah towns are not to far from Salt Lake airport. What about ski resorts in the northeast US?

queequek · #2 10-21-2003, 10:47 PM

I like Interlaken, Switzerland (hee hee) but of course I cannot go there every year. Maybe sometime when I am rich!
I've heard in the Northeast, try the Mt. Washington (Vermont). But here in Iowa, there is not many ski resort around (Go flat fields!), but we go up to Minnesota, there are some nice ski resort.
Man, wish there is snow already!

DeltAlum · #3 10-22-2003, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa Fishman
I know Colorado is great too, but not too accessable from the Denver airport, where as the two Utah towns are not to far from Salt Lake airport. What about ski resorts in the northeast US?

Think you've gotten some bad information about Colorado Ski Areas/towns.

Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Vail and Breckenridge are within 60-90 minutes west of Denver International Airport either right on or not far off Interstate 70.

In terms of "towns," I really like Breckenridge simply because it was a real town before it became a resort -- much like Park City -- except that, at least in my opinion, it hasn't mushroomed like Park City since the first time I visited there in the 1970's.

Keystone, Vail and Copper are more resorts than towns -- having been built around ski areas.

As I recall, Snowbird is pretty much a resort, while next door neighbor Alta is more of a town.

Skiing is great at all of them.

I learned to ski years ago at Killington in Vermont and have to say this. Skiing the East vs. the West is like two different worlds. Cold and Ice in the East and blue skies and powder in the West.

TechAPhi · #4 10-22-2003, 04:04 AM

GREAT topic!

I think the best resort (total package) I've ever been to is Whistler/Blackcomb, but the snow is a little too wet for my tastes.

The best snow ANYWHERE I've been* is at the decidely un-glamorous, Wolf Creek in Colorado. Despite that fact, or perhaps because of it, Wolf Creek is my absolute favorite place to ski. I go there at least once a year -- I try to go skiing at least three times a year: Once early in the season, once in mid-season and once in the spring.

This year I am planning to go to Whistler/Blackcomb for a week and Summit County (Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin) for a long weekend.

DeltAlum: Have you been to A-Basin? I notice you are from Colorado.

And, Lisa, I concur with DeltAlum, there are many resorts convenient to Denver. In addition to Summit County, isn't Loveland right nearby, DeltAlum? I know someone who attended the Airforce Academy and he said it was one of his favorite places to ski in all of Colorado.

* I've been to:

* Breckenridge (Colorado)
* Copper Mountain (Colorado)
* Keystone (Colorado)
* Ski Apache (New Mexico)
* Ski Santa Fe (New Mexico)
* Taos (New Mexico)
* Whistler/Blackcomb, (British Colombia)
* Winter Park (Colorado)
* Wolf Creek (Colorado)

KillarneyRose · #5 10-22-2003, 09:15 AM

Heavenly in Lake Tahoe is awesome because of the incredible view of the lake and great snow. But I'd have to say my favorite place is Sunday River in Bethel, Maine. Much smaller, very laid back and homey small town atmosphere.

mu_agd · #6 10-22-2003, 09:18 AM

i always went to Loon and Waterville Valley in New Hampshire. I like both of them a lot.

I also went skiing at big bear mountain in california once. i thought that was great skiing, plus i loved how it was so warm there.

dzandiloo · #7 10-22-2003, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
In terms of "towns," I really like Breckenridge simply because it was a real town before it became a resort

Love Breckenridge-the town is so picturesque & there are some nice greens that you can just take your time on....It was the first place I ever went skiing, so it'll always have a special place in my heart. We were there during some International Snow Sculpture festival, and it was pretty cool to see those huge blocks of ice up & down the streets waiting to be shaped.

My husband owns a ski apparel shop in Lubbock, so we are hoping for a very cold winter & a good ski season!

Aside from Breckenridge, I've only been to New Mexico (Angel Fire & Ruidoso).... Not crazy about the NM places so far, but Ruidoso is only 5 hours away from Lubbock so we go when we can.

Its time to take the kids for their first trip, but I'm wondering where to go...I heard Keystone was a good place for kids...is that true? I just worry about them getting plowed by snowboarders.

DeltAlum · #8 10-22-2003, 11:10 AM

Andi,

I'd say Keystone or Winter Park for new skiiers. Winter Park is harder to get to because you have to either go over Berthoud Pass, which can be a pain in bad weather, or go way out of your way to the West. However, while the kids are in ski school at WP, you can go ski Mary Jane which is right next door.

TechAPhi,

You're right, I forgot about Loveland, which is the closest to Denver. Tends to be a little windy and icy. Just over the Divide is A-Basin.

The neat thing about Summit County (mentioned above) is that the lift tickets can be used at any of the resorts. (Or at least they used to be -- anyone tell me if that's still true?) Plus, there a lot of other neat apres-ski stuff to do.

Lil' Hannah · #9 10-22-2003, 11:48 AM

Man, now I can't wait to go skiing.

I like Sugarbush in VT.

I hope to go out west this winter.

ThetaGrrl · #10 10-22-2003, 01:05 PM

I LOVE winter park! It is absolutly beautiful there, and if you are willing to make the trip, it's worth every minute of the drive.

WhiteDaisy128 · #11 10-22-2003, 01:24 PM

Chamonix, France

CutiePie2000 · #12 10-22-2003, 03:13 PM

Don't forget Banff, Alberta!

DeltAlum · #13 10-22-2003, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThetaGrrl
I LOVE winter park! It is absolutly beautiful there, and if you are willing to make the trip, it's worth every minute of the drive.

Or, you can take the Ski Train or AMTRAK from Denver on the weekends.

White_Chocolate · #14 10-22-2003, 04:23 PM

vermont is kind of remote but great

TechAPhi · #15 10-23-2003, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
The neat thing about Summit County (mentioned above) is that the lift tickets can be used at any of the resorts. (Or at least they used to be -- anyone tell me if that's still true?)

DeltAlum: Last time I was in Summit County, that was true. I think your lift ticket was valid for Breckenridge, Keystone and A-Basin.

I have a separate lift ticket in my scrapbook for Copper Mountain.

I used my multi-resort ticket to day ski at Breck and night ski at Keystone -- what an experience!