With winter quickly approaching and the holidays just a few short months away, we’re sure you’re starting to think of the possibilities of some winter fun on the slopes. Whether you’re into skiing, snowboarding, or just going on a fun sleigh ride, we have all of the information on the top destinations in the world! There are so many travel sites out there that give you their idea of the best ski resorts around, so we’re just going to give you a few of our favorites for all levels of fun.
Let’s start here in the U.S. and Canada
Colorado boasts some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world! Two of the top ski areas are Aspen and Vail. Both cities offer a unique blend of culture, history, sports, entertainment, great restaurants, and wonderful hotels. Aspen dates back to the late 1800’s when silver mining was the thing to do. It is probably the most famous ski town in the country. With over 4,823 acres of land and over 40 ski slopes. Vail is more of a European style ski village, which is home to the largest ski mountain in America. No matter which area you decide to go, your skiing experience in Colorado will be dreams come true.
Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah – Home of the 2002 Olympics, Deer Valley offers different terrains spread over four mountains so every skier can have a great experience! From down-hill, helicopter skiing and snowboarding, Deer Valley is definitely a must!
Let’s head to the East Coast to Killington, Vermont. Located in central Vermont, Killington is known as the largest ski and snowboard area in the East. There are seven interconnected mountains, which provide unparalleled diversity of skiing and the greatest vertical in New England. Snowboarders are challenged with the longest terrain park in the East.
High elevation vistas, mountain-to-mountain exploration on more than 87 miles of trails and the charm of Vermont are just the beginning of a Killington vacation.
Staying in Vermont, Stowe Mountain Resort is located on Mt. Mansfield which is Vermont’s highest peak. The resort offers a variety of terrain spread out over two mountains. Spruce Peak, which offers intermediate and novice terrain and Mt. Mansfield which offers terrain for all ability levels.
Looking for a Canadian ski experience? To quote, “Whistler-Blackcomb is good indication that the Gods of Winter exist and have joined forces to bestow North America’s best resort upon British Columbia.” Host to the 2010 Winter Olympics, these two mountains provide what some call the best skiing in North America. Whistler's charming village offers everything snowboarders and skiers crave; cafes, international stores and over 100 restaurants that cater to all tastes including Chinese, French, Greek, Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Thai cuisine. Over the past decade, Whistler was consistently voted "Best North American Ski Resort" by North Americans & the Japanese repeatedly rank it as their favorite international destination
Now that we have covered North America, let’s explore the slopes of Europe. There are so many areas to choose from, we’ve decided to start in Zermatt, Switzerland. Most people would rank Zermatt as Switzerland's top resort. A remarkably peaceful getaway, the village is peaceful thanks to its car-free environment. Amazingly beautiful, Zermatt has the world's second largest lift-served vertical drop and receives huge snowfalls thanks to its altitude.
Another favorite of the avid skier is skiing in Austria. While St. Anton is considered the crown of “Europe’s liveliest ski resorts” and Innsbruck is home to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, it Kitzbuhel, is considered the "Pearl of the Alps" and is the most famous holiday resort in the Austrian Tyrol.
Last but not least, if skiing the French Alps is more of your liking, why not try Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France? Host to the world's first Winter Olympic Games in 1924, Chamonix ranks among the elite of contenders for the title of "world's most famous ski resort." Located at the foot of Mont-Blanc, it's the highest peak in the Alps and the second highest in Europe. Chamonix Mont-Blanc holds bragging rights both for its lift-served vertical drop of 9209 feet and for having one of the world's longest runs (Vallée Blanche), at 13.7 miles. No wonder this was an ideal choice to set the standard of the winter games.