For skiers and snowboarders, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced enough to want to tackle the toughest black diamonds, where you choose to ski will make all the difference, regardless of your skill level. South Jersey Ski Club has compiled the list “The Seven Best Ski Resort Areas in the US.” to make your ski options optimal:
Killington is the largest ski resort in the eastern United States, with the widest variety of terrain. With something special for every level, Killington also boasts over 3,000 vertical feet, so it’s no wonder this is one of our club’s favorite stops. We stayed in the Northstar Lodge with its amazing pool-sized jacuzzi. It is the largest jacuzzi in the world. Well, maybe it’s not the biggest in the world, but it’s really BIG! There’s no shortage of nightlife either with restaurants and local bands at Grist Mill, Wobbly Barn and Pickle Barrel providing some great nightly entertainment.
Stowe has forty-eight trails to test your riding skills or ski expertise. If blistering speed and vertical feet are what you’re after, then you should check out the front four. If you are looking for a more relaxing time, there are also many gently sloping slopes on offer. We visit regularly for early season demo days when all skiers and riders can try out the latest offerings from manufacturers. Sometimes we have so much fun that we return later in the season for a second visit! For more information on SJSC trips to Stowe, visit the ski schedule at: http://www.sjskiclub.com/skipage.html
Lake Placid has it all. Whiteface Mountain boasts the highest vertical of any resort east of the Rocky Mountains. Still, off-mountain activities bring many of us back year after year. What else do we do there? Skate on the Olympic oval where Eric Heiden won his 7 gold medals, cross-country ski; experience the speed of the earth riding the sled, climb to the top of the ski jumping complex; go down the slide with some friends or just enjoy dining and shopping in the quaint Adirondack towns of North Creek and Lake Placid. This is a great trip for skiers and non-skiers alike. It’s the perfect trip to take that significant other who doesn’t ski or ride a horse.
Interested in traveling west? Then try these…
Vail – The Land of Holy Dust – 346 inches on average. Combine that with 300 days of sunshine per year and you have the perfect conditions. With seven colossal bowls, there’s no end to the amount of skiing and riding you can do. After a day on the mountain, the fun is just beginning. There’s plenty to do in Vail Village: boutiques, spas, and art galleries line the cobblestone walkways. Everything from gourmet restaurants to fast food is found throughout the city. The après ski scene is fantastic. There are so many options and it’s easy to get around as the city shuttle runs all day and night to take you from the Eagle Bahn Gondola to the town of Lionshead. Beaver Creek is also a quick 10 minute drive away.
Aspen is best known for its steeps and ruts, but it still offers plenty of groomed intermediate cruising slopes and hundreds of acres open to back-end snowboarders through Aspen Mountain Powder Tours. There is basically something for everyone here. With an annual snowfall of 300 inches, there’s no shortage of powder here either. The vastness of Aspen offers four main areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Snowmobiling, cross-country powder trips, and paragliding are just a few of the other activities our members enjoy in Aspen. The après-ski options are also endless, from fine dining to fast food. Aspen has a variety of restaurants, shops, lodging, and nightlife to suit a variety of budgets and experiences.
Tahoe has a lot to offer. The base area has an incredible variety of possibilities with large casino hotels offering affordable lodging with shoes, meals and gambling for those who are interested. Heavenly is a great ski area – at the top you can look out over the panoramic view of California’s Lake Tahoe on one side and the sprawling Nevada desert on the other – but taking the stunningly beautiful lake with you is a host of other options, such as Squaw, Alpine Meadows, North Star and more. Kirkwood, another fantastic area, is just a short drive away.
“Summit County” Colorado is a “ski area” that can’t be beat. Combination lift tickets and a transportation system will keep you fully entertained on the slopes of Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Copper. Each has its own flavor; Breckenridge was a former silver mining town and is now a bustling year-round outdoor recreation center that still maintains the rustic downtown along with a modern variety of shops and restaurants. A-Basin is where you ski above the tree line and kick back with this locals favorite. Everything from tailgate parties and fun “base tub races” to challenging Double Diamond and Keystone ledges with terrain to keep you excited all day and night, as well as a well-developed night ski program. An entire community of condominium villages with outdoor gas fire pits and festivals to delight before, after and during your day of skiing.