Ski Resorts in USA

Added: 09/16/2005

The general issue that always remains open for all travelers is where to go. The key determinant is what type of terrain one likes best. For deep powder and challenging inclines, along with mild weather, head to Lake Tahoe and the Village at Squaw Valley, where it is not uncommon to have ten feet of fresh snow in a single night. Skiing in the East Coast tends to have icier conditions, the shorter runs are ideal for intermediate skiers.

It's October, the temperatures are dropping and in the early morning the ground is covered with frost. To some people this is merely a portent of runny noses, shoveled sidewalks and crawling through traffic in blizzard after blizzard. To others, however, it means only one thing: skiing. For these skiers, or snowboarders, depending on your tastes, now is the time to rummage around for your gear, affix the rack to the top of the car and start waxing. It is also the time to book your ski vacation.

Unless you happen to own a home in Telluride, Aspen, Sun Valley or any one of those other happy locations, where geology and meteorology combine to form perfect skiing conditions, you will probably need to travel to your favorite Double Black Diamond run. In each case, start planning your trip in advance.

This time of the year, during the peak season, rooms fill up so fast at the best resorts. Ideally, you might be able to plan more than one ski trip, maybe even to more than one place. For people on the East Coast, it might be a good idea to take a few weekends in Vermont warming up before hitting the deep powder of the Rockies or Tetons.

Anyway, one should start planning his winter skiing vacations with finding out the best place to go. It is hard to find a more picturesque town than the village of Stowe, Vermont - and then skiers should book a stay at the Green Mountain Inn. If you are looking for powder, wide open bowls and glades, as well as the greatest sustained vertical drop (4,128 feet) in the U.S., then Jackson Hole and the Amangani is the place to go.

Before you buckle on the skis, however, a little pre-conditioning might be in order. To get those quads and hamstrings into ski-ready shape, many gyms across the country offer ski-specific workouts. Some resorts, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Colorado, a division of Marriott International, offer a pre-season sports-conditioning package.

Because of the high price involved, choosing the right ski resort for a holiday is never a light choice, because it is about much more than just the trails, snow conditions, and incline. The best ski resorts offer much more than simply a place to rest weary bodies at night and warm toes and feet. For many people, what they do après-ski is just as important as the hours you spend schussing down the slopes. Eating gourmet food -and plenty of it- is also essential, for sheer enjoyment and replacing all the calories lost during the day. Extras like spas and gyms are also very useful for relaxing strained and tired muscles. And when the body is aching too much to hit the slopes, or if the kids want a break, a resort should also offer plenty of other winter activities, from sleigh rides to snow-shoeing and ice-skating.

Well-groomed slopes, snow capped mountains, and some of the best ski runs in the world offer unparalleled exhilaration along with the best in accommodations.

Whether you are seeking extreme downhill velocities, or serene cross-country excitement, you'll find the ultimate high mountain adventure with world-class accommodations and lodging right here!

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