Best ski resorts in the West

The snow-covered slopes of the great mountain ranges of the west provide excellent skiing.
From the Canadian Rockies to the southern slopes of Utah, opportunities for winter sports abound.

LAKE LOUISE/ BANFF, ALBERTA, CANADA
In Banff, you can ski at three different ski areas in the Canadian Rockies--Mount Norquay/Mystic Ridge, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise. Mt. Norquay is known for its vertical and moguls. Ski here from November until May. The average snowfall here is over 30 feet so there's plenty of snow to go around on the 3000 acres of terrain for beginners and experts. You can also experience extreme skiing if you bring you avalanche beacon and shovel.
PROS: scenery, moguls, powder, extreme cliff skiing

PARK CITY, UTAH
Park City is one of Utah's thirteen world-class ski resorts.
Located only 36 miles from the Salt Lake City airport, the slopes are easily accessible from one of the west's largest airline hubs.
Recently named one
Park City has set a standard in environmental sustainability by reducing its carbon output by nearly 3,800 tons during the 2006-07 season. The ski area covers 3,300 acres. Skiers can enjoy eight peaks, nine bowls, and four terrain parks along with North America's largest superpipe.

SUNDANCE, UTAH
Sundance is the only ski area that offers classes in both skiing and jewelry making. It's located an hour's drive from Salt Lake City.
In addition to alpine skiing, you can snowboard or cross country ski. Sundance slopes feature 42 alpine runs from novice to experienced, as well as 26 kilometers of groomed cross country and 10 kilometers of snowshoeing trails.
Sundance is great ski area that balances art and recreation.

WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Whistler has the largest vertical drop in North America-5,280 feet and over 100 restaurants when you're done for the day. In season, 16,000 skiers traverse 7,000 skiable acres, but there is plenty of room for everyone. Area also features backcountry and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, heli-skiing and sleigh rides. You can ski on a glacier year-round. The elevation of 7000 feet will be the site of the XXI Winter Games in 2010. Whistler offers numerous amenities for families, ski in/out accommodations, and a lovely pedestrian village.
PROS: Glacier skiing, charming village.

BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO
Breckenridge is great for beginners. The town is a great place to walk around.
With 146 trails for skiing, a great nightlife, and lots to do off the slopes as well, Breckenridge is a great family ski area.
PROS: Great for the "bunny" hills and nice town atmosphere.

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING
Jackson Hole is a mountain for expert skiers, and not for the faint of heart. Becoming more famous with celebrities, this is still a mountain for expert skiers.
Skiing, snowboarding, 4100 feet vertical ride in one of the lifts!
PROS: Expert mountain, few crowds.

BIG SKY, MONTANA
Big Sky has some of the best skiing in the United States. Seventeen lifts create short lift lines. Also great for après-ski. Ready for a thrill? Check out their half-pipe.
PROS: Short lift lines, great après ski.

TAOS, NEW MEXICO
The Taos ski area is located at 9,000 feet on over 1,000 acres, providing skiers with a vertical drop of over 2,600. A great hill for advanced skiers with over half the runs rated expert. No snowboarders allowed. The ski school is also great.
PROS: No snowboarders (unless you're a snowboarder!).

VAIL, COLORADO
Vail is the largest ski area in the United States. It sits on over 5,300 acres. It boasts174 trails seven bowls, and 30 lifts. If you don't want to ski, you can dogsled, ice-skate, go snowmobiling or snow tubing. With a great village life, filled with luxury, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, Vail is a great ski destination.
PROS: Everything from a great mountain to great shopping, art galleries, celeb sightings

LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA
Tahoe is made up of seven premier ski resorts: Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Squaw Valley. Located close to the Reno International Airport, Tahoe is very family friendly and offers the deepest base snow levels in the USA. Many resort packages offer day camps for kids. The resorts offer cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities, such as dog sledding, snowmobile tours, and tubing. Tahoe is a great year-round recreation destination.
PROS: Dog Sledding! Good trails for intermediate and advanced.

Whether you're headed east or west, north or south, head up to the top of some of these fabulous ski resorts for a great and memorable vacation.

From the Canadian Rockies to the southern slopes of Utah, opportunities for winter sports abound.

Top ski resorts in the world

Love deep powder, fast runs, short lift lines, and great après-ski?
Here are suggestions worldwide to entice you downhill, cross-country, and on those boards.

BIG SKY, MONTANA

Big Sky has some of the best skiing in the United States. Seventeen lifts create short lift lines. Also great for après-ski. Ready for a thrill? Check out their half-pipe.
PROS: Short lift lines, great après ski

CHAMONIX, FRANCE

Mont Blanc's legendary Chamonix located on the highest peak in the Alps-- over15, 000 feet--hosted the Olympic game in 1924. It's home to one of Europe's longest runs, the Vallée Blanche, at 13.7 miles. Chamonix also offers backcountry skiing, hang gliding and glacier ice climbing.
PROS: Vertical drop of over 9000 feet, lots of powder, celeb sighting, wonderful city to explore by night.

CORTINA, ITALY

There are 50 resorts in this area, located in the Dolomite mountain range. Cortina d'Ampezzo has 52 lifts and 87 miles of groomed runs. They also provide bobsledding, snow rafting, tobogganing. One of the first ski resorts, his mountain hosted the 1956 Olympic games. Watch out for cell-phoning skiers on the slopes.
PROS: No traffic in the village, lots of chic Italians

COURCHEVEL, FRANCE

Courchevel, knows as the largest ski resort in the world, is made up of four villages, each is named by altitude. The highest is Courchevel 1850, which also features ice-skating, tobogganing, ice climbing, and a ski-jump.
PROS: France! That means great food

ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND

Zermatt is located in a picturesque and is not as crowded or well known as some of the other Swiss resorts. It boasts the second largest vertical drop in the world.
PROS: Peaceful car-free village, huge vertical drop

GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND

Chairlifts to six resorts over four valleys. Three 5-Star hotels host skiers for the 155 miles of downhill on 70 chairlifts.
PROS: Celeb sighting, gondola

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

Becoming more famous with celebrities, this is still a mountain for expert skiers. Skiing, snowboarding, 4100 feet vertical ride in one of the lifts. May not be the best for families with beginning skiers.
PROS: Expert mountain, few crowds

KITZBUHEL, AUSTRIA

Know as the "Pearl of the Alps" this alpine village dates back 700 years. Skiers have been enjoying these slopes since 1892.
PROS: charming alpine village

LAKE TAHOE

The six peaks that make up this ski are very family friendly. Many resort packages offer day camps for kids. Tahoe offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities, such as dog sledding, snowmobile tours, and tubing.
PROS: Good trails for intermediate and advanced, ski-in and out condo, family friendly

GULMARQ, INDIA

Ski in Kashmir? You have two British Army Officers to thank for setting up a ski club here in 1927. Three lifts, one chairlift and the highest lift served resort in the world-- 6,600 feet. The offer tobogganing and the only heli-skiing in Asia. Just ignore the police presence.
PROS: inexpensive, good for beginners, no crowds, low-key

SAPPORO, JAPAN

It is easy to access the ski slopes outside Sapporo, where you will find good powder, night skiing, and a gondola. Highland resort offers English language instruction.
PROS: good for beginners, easy access

VAIL, COLORADO

Vail is the largest ski area in the USA, with over 5,300 acres. It boasts174 trails seven bowls, and 30 lifts. The area also offers dog sledding, ice-skating, hockey, snowmobiling, snow tubing. Luxury, terrain, and celebrity sightings. Not to mention great restaurants and nightlife.
PROS: Art galleries, celeb sightings

STOWE, VERMONT

Stowe's two ski areas, Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak feature the largest vertical drop in New England. The village features 90 shops and 60 restaurants.
PROS: picturesque

LAKE LOUISE, CANADA

In Banff, you can ski at three different ski areas--Mount Norquay/Mystic Ridge, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise. Mt. Norquay is known for its vertical and moguls.
PROS: scenery, moguls

WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Largest vertical drop in North America-5,280 feet and over 100 restaurants when you're done for the day. Many ski-in and out accommodations. In season, 16,000 skiers traverse 7,000 skiable acres, but there is plenty of room for everyone. Area also features backcountry and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, heli-skiing and sleigh rides.
PROS: Glacier skiing, charming village

Whether you're headed east or west, north or south, head up to the top of some of these fabulous ski resorts for a great and memorable vacation.

Planning a ski trip?
Options abound.
Follow these helpful tips to find the right ski trip for you.

Resorts vary from beginning to expert, from day resorts to all-inclusive, basic to luxury accommodations, and from bunny hills to Olympic quality runs.

DO YOU WANT
1. A physical challenge?
2. To be pampered?
3. To get away from it all?
4. To spend all your extra cash?
5. To have a great time on a small budget?
6. To spend quality family time?

PLANNING YOUR VACATION
1. Pick dates.

2. Decide on budget. There are many options available. Airfare will increase costs over driving.

3. Decide on type of vacation. Do you want to ski only, or have nightlife options such as fine dining or dancing, or is a hot tub on site important to you.

4. Search on Internet and through travel agents. Many packages are offered and professionals at travel agencies or on-line brokers are available to help you find a trip to meet your needs.

GET THE BEST DEAL
1. Check the Internet.
2. Check Craig list.
3. Packages are offered by numerous providers who compete for your dollar.
4. Finding a rental at a ski resort directly from the owner can lower the price considerably.

PACK PROPERLY
1. You will need skis, poles and warm winter attire. Helmets are advised.

2. Ski equipment can be rented at most ski resorts, but prices are usually lower in nearby towns.

3. Winter wear, such as gloves, coats, and ski pants can also be rented at many ski shops, but prices are high and availability is limited.

4. Make certain to purchase waterproof clothes, as well as warm ones. Thermal underwear and layers of thin clothing is preferable to one thicker coat.

5. Bring extra mittens, especially for the children. This will ensure dry, warm hands in case mittens don't dry overnight, or if one gets lost in a pile of snow.

PLANNING A FAMILY-FRIENDLY VACATION?

1. Make sure the resort offers children's ski lessons or other activities, such as sleigh rides.

2. Pack duplicates of all children's clothing so no one goes back out with wet gloves on Day Two.

3. Get plenty of sleep to heal tired muscles.

AT THE SLOPES

1. Ski safe and smart.

2. Rest those tired muscles. Relax with a hot tub or massage if available.

3. Don't take that last run when you are tired.

CANADA SKI VACATIONS

Powder? Canada has it going on!
From the Cascade Mountains to the Rockies and the Laurentians, you will find great destination ski resorts across Canada, from east to west.

Best known are Whistler, and Banff. Many offer ski packages directly from their websites, or via a travel agent.

Though the American and Canadian dollars are now equal, lesser-known areas, such as Silver, offer less expensive options for skiing in this winter wonderland.

WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Largest vertical drop in North America-5,280 feet and over 100 restaurants when you're done for the day. Many ski-in and out accommodations. In season, 16,000 skiers traverse 7,000 skiable acres, but there is plenty of room for everyone. Area also features backcountry and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, heli-skiing and sleigh rides.

PROS: Glacier skiing, charming village

LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA
In Banff, you can ski at three different ski areas-Mount Norquay/Mystic Ridge, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise. Mt. Norquay is known for its vertical and moguls. These six resorts on the eastern slope of Canada's Rocky Mountains in a high desert atmosphere, that's great for powder. Norquay is just 10 minutes from downtown Banff. Nakiska is a family friendly resort, just an hour from Calgary.
PROS: scenery, moguls

MARMOT BASIN, ALBERTA
Located just 20 minutes from Jasper, Marmot covers 1,675 acres in the Rocky Mountains, in the Jasper National Park. With 84 runs for all levels, skiers and snowboarders enjoy 3,000 vertical feet of powder.
PROS: uncrowded, great views, laid back

BIG WHITE, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Located in the Monashee Mountains in Okanogan valley, is a ski-in/ski-out resort that offers 24 feet of dry powder a year. With 118 runs, 5 bowls, 15 express chairs, and gondola, you can expect short lift lines.
At Big White, sleep in one of 17,000 beds in hotels, apartment, vacation homes, log cabins.
PROS: Voted "Best Weather" by Ski Canada Magazine. Great views

MONT TREMBLANT, QUEBEC

Two hours north of Montral is Quebec's premiers ski destination. The highest peak in the Laurentian Mountains provides runs from beginner to advanced, as well as snowboarding. Not to mention, dog sledding, winter horseback riding, ice climbing, You can even has a massage slope side. Snowmobiling, sleigh rides, tubing, and even acrobranche, an aerial forest adventure, traveling along zip lines high in the trees. Great for after ski.
PROS: Acrobranche!

Lots of powder and scenic mountains make Canada a skier's delight.
Time to hit the slopes.