It’s one of the great winter thrills. Riding a soaring chairlift to the summit of a postcard-perfect mountain, then swooshing through pristine powder, all the way to the bottom. And even better than skiing? The après-ski, back in the village. Here are six of the best places in the country to ski, snowboard, or just get cozy by the fire (or in a hot tub).
See and Be Seen
One of only three places that have hosted the Winter Games twice (1932 and 1980), Lake Placid in the heart of upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains is a wonderland for those who love to get outside. Looming over it all, Whiteface Mountain offers some of the best skiable terrain east of the Mississippi. But you can also skate the Olympic Oval, zoom down the toboggan chute, or play a little pickup hockey out on Mirror Lake.
Western Grandeur
The first time you see the Grand Tetons, you won’t quite believe your eyes. Like a range straight out of a 19th-century romantic painting, the peaks seem just a little too perfect. A remote corner of Wyoming once home to hardy types like ranchers and loggers, Jackson Hole retains its Old West feel. There, amidst national forests and very close to Grand Teton National Park, you can get out on wilderness trails for some Nordic skiing or snowshoeing. Then, enjoy some well-earned relaxation at Amangani, which means “peaceful home,” where guest rooms feature fireplaces and big, deep-soaker bathtubs.
Interstate Skiing
Straddling the line between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is one of the few places where you can start your ski run in one state—and finish in another. Take your pick from 15 different ski areas. And make sure to enjoy the almost-surreal beauty of the sapphire-blue namesake lake, soaring above its granite cliffs in a hot air balloon, or skimming across the waters on a scenic boat tour. Finish with some time at The Landing, which sits right on the lake’s southern shores, where the spa features treatments tailored to après-ski, -bike, and -hike.
In the Limelight
Once a rough-and-ready mining town, Park City stepped into the spotlight in 2002, hosting the mountain events for the Salt Lake City Winter Games. Here, the stars come out during the annual Sundance Film Festival. And while there’s plenty of places to strap on the skis, with eight different resorts in the area (The Canyons, Deer Valley, and the namesake Park City Mountain Resort are favorites), you can get your adrenaline pumping in other ways, too. For example: the Flying Eagle Zip Line, which spirits you through all that pristine mountain air, down the slopes in a hurry.
New England Coziness
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Nestled into Vermont’s picturesque Green Mountains, Stowe is a lovely New England town, from its white church steeples to its Colonial storefronts. A total of 116 trails cover the face of Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield—the latter standing as the highest mountain in the state. You can also go fat-tire biking, ice fishing, dogsledding, or just sit back and take a horse-pulled sleigh ride. And a place to spend the night? Stowe is also home to the Trapp Family Lodge, built by the actual von Trapps from the classic film “The Sound of Music”—their descendants still run this distinctly Austrian-style alpine resort.
This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
