Ski Destinations
Let's hit the slopes!
Some of you asked for information on ski destinations. Unfortunately, that is not my area of expertise, so I recruited the best skiing aficionado I know for assistance - my friend, Greg. Greg provides insights from his years of skiing across the US, Canada, and Europe, including his favorite ski destinations, hotels, and general tips below.
How long have you been skiing and which countries and states have you skied in?
I grew up near Montreal, Canada and started skiing at the age of five at a tiny ski hill with a single T-bar. Both of my parents were enthusiastic skiers, and learning to ski wasn’t optional in our household. Skiing has been a lifelong passion for me.
Greg skiing in Whistler, BC
Over the last few decades, I’ve skied in dozens of resorts in Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, as well as British Columbia and Alberta. I still have a soft spot for Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Quebec where I skied frequently in my youth. My European ski jaunts have included several trips to Switzerland and Austria. And there are still many mountains on my bucket list!
Which are your favorite ski destinations and why?
A short list of my favorites include: Alta and Snowbird (Utah), Aspen, Vail (Colorado), Whistler (British Columbia) and Lech Zürs (Austria). To me, these mountains are the “whole package”… awesome terrain, a wide variety of trails, great facilities, and each of them has a unique ambience.
Mineral Basin in Snowbird, UT
Alta is my ideal no-frills ski experience… skiers only (no snowboarders allowed!), wildly abundant snowfall and a very “natural” feel with lots of trees and none of the “superhighway” trails found in bigger resorts. Snowbird is Alta’s bigger neighbor a mile or so away, which offers a similar experience with more open terrain (and snowboarders are allowed).
Aspen is a very special place, a beautiful historic town, top-notch skiing and incredible on-mountain amenities. Vail offers its famous “back bowls”, vast open terrain that goes on forever. There’s nowhere better to be on a powder day! Whistler is an enormous resort with a youthful feel with extensive apres-ski options and ample terrain for skiers of any ability. It also benefits being only two hours from Vancouver, one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. Lech Zürs is part of the vast Arlberg region of Austria, the birthplace of skiing, and some of the most stunning scenery I’ve ever seen.
Convenience
Where is the most convenient place you enjoy skiing that can be reached within an hour of the airport?
Hands down the most convenient place for me to ski is at any of the major mountains in Utah. There are at least six resorts within an hour of Salt Lake City airport, including Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, Brighton and Solitude. Direct flights to Salt Lake City are plentiful from most major cities.
The airport was recently updated and is easy to navigate. You can be on your skis within a couple of hours of touchdown. By contrast, most Colorado resorts require a longer drive from Denver or a connecting flight, which can result in delays. If you’re going for a quick 3-day weekend on the slopes (which is my usual), Utah is a great choice.
Something For All
Where is the best place for both beginner and advanced skiers and snowboarders?
All of the major ski resorts I mention here cater to beginners and advanced skiers alike, so you can’t go wrong with any of them. I’ll give a special shout-out to Aspen, which has four separate mountains, including Buttermilk, which is especially well-suited for beginners, and my favorite, Aspen Highlands, which has some epic double-black diamond runs off the “Deep Temerity” chair that I've found to be among the most challenging anywhere.
Almost any major ski area has beginner slopes and an accredited ski & snowboarding school, but some of the larger resorts really stand out. Vail has one of the largest and most extensive ski schools in the country with superbly trained instructors and slopes for anyone from beginner to expert. Park City and neighboring Deer Valley in Utah are also excellent, and can offer group or private lessons and plenty of gentler slopes for the novice skier (note Deer Valley is skiers only, but the others cover both boarders and skiers).​
The most important thing for beginners is to get as much on-mountain experience as possible, so even if you only have access to a smaller mountain near your home city, just go out there and spend time on the slopes. You’ll gain confidence and be ready for your next big-mountain adventure!
Accommodations
What are your favorite places to stay in those destinations?
Part of Alta’s appeal to me is its remoteness tucked at the top of a narrow canyon about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, UT. There are only a handful of hotels, most of which are at Snowbird, including The Cliff Lodge with 3 restaurants, outdoor heated pool, amenities, and ski-in/ski-out access. The Iron Blosam and the Lodge at Snowbird are also on-mountain.
They have spacious rooms and are reasonably priced. Keep in mind that there is no bustling apres-ski scene, etc., so anyone seeking action-packed nightlife may want to head to nearby Park City instead. ​
Hotels in Aspen are notoriously expensive, especially the ski-in/ski-out locations at the base of the mountain. If you’re ready to splurge, The Little Nell and the W Aspen are right at the base of the mountain and are excellent apres-ski destinations. The Hotel Jerome, a few blocks away (via free shuttle) is a wonderfully restored historic building and its well-known “J Bar” is a popular nighttime destination.
At Whistler, I recently stayed at Nita Lake Lodge, a very attractive hotel that’s a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the main village. My room overlooked the small lake behind the hotel which was a lovely setting. The ski lift was only a five-minute walk away.
Vail has a vast number of hotel options, however one of my favorites is the Sonnenalp, an elegant Swiss-style hotel in the heart of Vail Village with wonderful amenities. In Lech Zurs, I just returned from a stay at the Hotel Erzberg, a family-run four-star hotel, that was a fabulous experience from start to finish. I can’t recommend it highly enough for the food, ambience, convenience and value.
Do you have any travel tips for someone planning a ski or snowboarding trip?
Just about all major resorts will rent you everything you need to be well equipped on the slopes, at a reasonable price (especially rental establishments that are off-mountain). So don’t worry if you don’t have the latest gear, you’ll be able to find what you need.
Book your airport transfers, shuttles or rental cars well in advance. If you’re renting a vehicle, do your best to ensure you get all-wheel drive (AWD). Some roads will be restricted to AWD vehicles in snowy weather. If you’re unfamiliar with the area you’re going to, or nervous driving on slick roads, it’s best to take a shuttle/taxi/bus to your destination and leave the driving to the pros.
Most ski resorts are at altitude, and if you live near sea level, you’ll feel the effects of altitude when you arrive. So remember to drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration! And take it easy, especially the first day or two, avoid over-exertion and be kind to yourself!
Greg, thank you very much for sharing your ski destination insights and being the first guest contributor!
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