Okanagan is a mountain range that runs through
valleys close to three mountain ranges.During the
summer this is the perfect place to do some camping,
but when winter hits you will have great skiing
weather and conditions. There are small resorts that
are scattered throughout the area. The climate here
will make for great skiing down the slopes and through
the trails.
These scattered resorts are very quiet and peaceful.
Lifts are available, but they are limited to specific
times and dates. These resorts have great skiing
around them, even though they are small. This area
of mountains offers the most consistent
weather conditions, and the resort offers lodging for
everyone that cares to stay - at a reasonable price.
The mountain ranges offer different trails and skill
levels, but most of all they provide you with the
skiing vacation of your dreams. During the winter,
temperatures in the Okanogan range often drop to
zero degrees. The items you bring will need to keep
you warm at all times and safe no matter which trail
you may choose to ski.
If you will be traveling to the North East, you must
not miss Lost Valley Ski Resort. Located on 300
acres in the middle of Maine, the resort offers many
different types of terrain, hills, streams, bridges, and
fifteen well maintained trail systems.
The Lost Valley Resort is best suited to beginners
and intermediate skiers, but there are more thrilling
trails available for expert skiers as well. There are
three lifts to accommodate skiers, including two chair
lifts and one surface lift.
Equipment can be rented for all sports that are
catered to at Lost Valley Resort, including ski
equipment, snowboarding equipment, mountain bikes,
and paintball equipment. Ski and snowboarding
lessons are also available for private parties and
groups.
At the lodge, you will experience a warm family
environment with outstanding food and beverages.
This is an absolutely wonderful place to bring a family.
There are training programs, adaptive ski programs,
racing events, a snowboard terrain park, mountain
biking, and a huge twenty acre paintball park. Lost
Valley Resort is also a great place to hold meetings,
family reunions, weddings, and other special events.
Catering is available.
If you are looking for a great place to go for your
family ski vacation, Fun Valley, Iowa is the place to
go. This resort caters to families and beginner level
skiers, but it is also great for intermediate and expert
skiers as well. There is something to suit all levels at
Fun Valley.
The top elevation at Fun Valley is 1201 feet, with a
vertical drop of 200 feet. There are six lifts, including
three chair lifts and three surface lifts. The new
learning center is something to see – and experience
if you are a beginner. Tubers and snowboarders are
welcome, and there is an excellent terrain park
available. Rental equipment, including tubes and boards,
is available.
Fun Valley offers outstanding group rates for groups
of ten or more. Birthday packages are also
outstanding for kids twelve and under. Every
Wednesday and Thursday night, the resort offers a
student night, with greatly reduced rates. Buddy Pass
Friday’s are also popular – bring your friends and you
will all save on lift tickets. Coca-Cola sponsors Sprite
Saturday’s at Fun Valley, where you can participate in
three activities for one flat affordable fee. Sundays are
Family Four Pack Day.
If you are in or near Washington State, you should
definitely check out Crystal Mountain. With an
elevation of 7004 feet and a vertical drop of 3102 feet,
Crystal Mountain actually sits below Mount Rainier,
which has a top elevation of 14,408 feet. Between
the months of November and April, several feet of
fresh powder falls on Crystal Mountain, due to the
cold Cascade storms common to the area.
This is rough terrain, and there is little offered to
beginners as far as the ease of the trails go. But
lessons are available, as well as rentals for ski’s and
other equipment. At Crystal Mountain, there are more
than 2300 acres and fifty trails, making this the largest
ski area in the state of Washington. There are ten lifts
available: 2 high speed six passenger lifts, 2 high
speed quads, 2 triple chairs, 3 double chairs, and 1
children’s surface lift.
The season runs from the middle of November to the
middle of April, when the most snow fall is
experienced. There are several places to choose for
lodging, meals, and nightly entertainment, but the
biggest attraction is the skiing, of course.
The Crystal Mountain Express Buss service runs on
weekends from the middle of December to the middle
of March. You will be picked up from your lodge and
dropped off at the base plaza – where you can begin
a full day of fun on the slopes. After a day of skiing,
you should definitely head over to East Peak
Massage & Fitness to take advantage of the hot tub,
sauna, showers, and even the game room. Massages
are also available, with a reservation.
If your kids aren’t quite ready for the black diamond
trails – but you are – you can register them in the
Kid’s Club. The Kid’s Club is open from 8am to 4pm
each day for children aged four to eleven years old.
The kid’s aged 4 – 11 will be supervised while they
ski on a ‘kid appropriate’ slope, and snowboarding
is also available for children aged 7 – 11 years old.
Your child will have fun, while being supervised and
taught. The cost of the care includes a four hour
lesson, a lift ticket, lunch, and supervision. Rental
equipment is available for the kids for an additional fee.
Everyone has fun at Crystal Mountain. It is a great
place for a family vacation, but again, the slopes are
more for intermediate skiers and expert skiers –
although beginners will have fun as well. Just use
good sense, and avoid trails that you don’t feel like
your ready for.
Alaska, which has always been a source of awe and
mystery, has some of the best skiing in the world,
and the Alyeska Resort is one of the finest resorts
in the state. With a top elevation of 2751 feet and a
2501 vertical drop, the area gets an average of 631
inches of snow annually.
Although this is some of the best skiing in the world,
you won’t find the slopes overly crowded, and there
are no long lift lines. There are nine lifts, including
six chair lifts and two surface lifts, and one cable
car line. There are 68 trails for beginners,
intermediates, and experts, with the majority of the
trails designed for intermediate skiers.
Night time skiing is allowed, which makes your ski
experience more adventurous and thrilling. You will
see snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers, and
of course, the famous Northern Lights. This resort is
ranked number nine of the top twenty-five killer ski
trips by Skiing Magazine.
The season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid
November, and runs through mid April. This area of
Alaska boasts the longest daytime areas in the
United States, with approximately sixteen hours of
daylight each day during April. During December,
however, there are only about seven hours of daylight
– which makes night time skiing necessary if you
are going to get in the time that you want to spend
on the slopes.
The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to stay! Here
you will enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly
entertainment is available as well. There are other
nightlife spots in the area as well, that are not
associated with the Hotel.
If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier
Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two
lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the
family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park.
The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for
snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities
that can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska
Resort include flight seeing, helisking, ocean
cruising tours, dog sledding, ice climbing, back
country skiing, mountaineering, and polar bear
viewing.
At the Alyeska Resort, the ultimate winter vacation
can be experienced. Brave the elements, then return
to the Hotel for some pampering. Get a taste of what
Alaska is really like, and what skiing is meant to be!
There are activities for the entire family to enjoy, and
there are many area sights and attractions to be
enjoyed as well. This really is an awesome winter
family ski vacation!
The world famous home of skiing, Austria, is an ideal resort for anyone who enjoys skiing. The fresh alpine slopes, combined with picture-postcard scenery, and a grand culture of centuries old make Austria an ideal holiday destination, whether or not you simply adore skiing like me!
Austria is home to a wide variety of ski resorts, catering for all abilities and tastes. From the lavishly expensive to the bargain basement (yet still of a consistently high quality), Austria has it all, from the highest peaks, to the snowiest landscapes, and with a bit of research you can find some really great deals.
When in Austria, you’d be mad not to ski the alps. The dream of many skiers, the alps span several European countries, and is a must-ski for an enthusiast. Spend a good few days in Austria, and dedicate at least one of them to skiing the alps. You won’t regret it, I can promise you that!
If you put in the research work before you leave, you will generally be able to find some top quality accommodation at low prices. Whether you are booking within a ski resort, or nearby, you should consult the internet to find last minute deals which might help you save money. A good tip to bear in mind is that the star rating given to accommodation does not indicate quality. You might be better off in a one star than a three star for example, given that the star only represents the level of facilities. Additionally, lower star ratings are usually cheaper, so you can benefit from quality, reduced price accommodation if you know where to look. Whatever type of accommodation you opt for, if you are flexible enough to leave for your vacation instantly you will benefit from good deals. Hotels often cut their prices at the last minute, on the basis that some money for a room is better than no money, and so if you’re prepared to get away as soon as possible, you will find it can be really cheap, and you can still have a great time all the same.
On top of that, the internet is home to a variety of low cost airlines which run ‘no frills’, no ticket services. In my personal experience, I have found these airlines to be as good as their more expensive competitors, and just as efficient and comfortable. One word of caution about any airline: make sure they are equipped to handle skiing equipment. Some companies will charge a surplus for your skis, so it is important to ask before you book as to arrangements for bulky or large and fragile goods.
Another highly recommended purchase is insurance for both your equipment and yourself. Things do go wrong, on holiday as well as at home. It is important, therefore to make sure you are covered. Particularly when you are placing your equipment in an airplane hold, or when you are indulging in a dangerous sport like skiing, insurance is important for ensuring you don’t end up high and dry. You can find good deals if you shop around, and it really is worth the few bucks to get that piece of mind, and actual backup in case things go wrong. In a word, it is essential. Don’t leave home without it!
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler, British Columbia, is a gorgeous alpine resort in the shadow of Blackcomb Mountain. Rated as the number one ski resort in both Canada and North America in recent years, the Whistler Blackcomb resort is one truly not to be missed. British Columbia is home to many of the world’s best ski resorts, and Whistler Blackcomb certainly reaffirms this. The impeccable reputation of the resort is only further bolstered by the eight thousand acres of pristine skiing, and over thirty-five feet of powder white snow which falls every single year, making Whistler Blackcomb the destination of choice for savvy ski enthusiasts the world over.
When it comes to skiing facilities, you’d naturally expect the Whistler Blackcomb resort to have it all. Catering for a broad cross-section of skiing abilities and tastes, there are over one hundred different runs to keep you occupied on your stay. The natural beauty of these resorts is obvious, and the facilities just add to the overall experience. In the lap of luxury, you can experience world class skiing, indulging in connoisseur black diamond runs, and lightening fast ski lifts. With an astonishing 57,000 skier per hour capacity, the Whistler Blackcomb resort is not only high quality, but also in high demand by those in the know across the world. And after you’re active day, relax in the warmth and comfort of the resorts bars and restaurants, where you can share a joke or two over an open fire when it’s cold outside. For most people, it really doesn’t get much better than that, and that’s why the resort has attracted such acclaim, on top of its excellent skiing and snowboarding facilities.
But don’t worry if you don’t know how to ski - the resort also boasts activities like golf, a health spa, gourmet restaurants, attractive walks and hiking. There really is something for everyone at the resort. Additionally, if you’d like to learn to ski, there really is nowhere better. The Whistler Blackcomb resort also employs a one thousand-strong teaching staff, making it one of the biggest skiing and snowboarding schools in North America, and indeed in the world. Whistler Blackcomb boasts an unparalleled number of world class instructors, which serve to ensure a high standard of training for all the school’s participants. Additionally, with a range of training and tuition programmes available, the Whistler Blackcomb resort truly is one of the best locations in the world to improve your skiing skills.
The Fairmount Chateau Whistler is a truly unique skiing experience, making use of its beautiful natural resources, and a flair for quality and service. Any vacation at the Chateau Whistler will be an experience not to be forgotten, and with a wrought-iron reputation, you’ll find many skiers choose to go back year on year for their annual vacation.
If you’re looking for a good tip for vacations to the Chateau Whistler, you could do worse than to book direct through their website. By cutting out the middle man you are paying only the hotel price and no commission, which means you can benefit from a much cheaper stay. Additionally, on the Fairmount website, you will find last minute bargains and offers which are simply unbeatable anywhere else, so you might just find that your once in a lifetime skiing experience costs a lot less than you had anticipated.
Skiing in Kopaonik, Serbia is becoming a growing trend for skiers looking to move away from the commercial skiing facilities of Central and Northern Europe in search of more naturally occurring skiing trails. With a snow range of 1770-2017 metres and a village positioned 5,000 feet above sea level Kopeonik in Serbia is seen as the answer to many skiers’ dreams. With a three hour journey from the nearest airport Kopaonik is surely worth the effort, having cross-country skiing, night skiing, skydiving, sleigh rides, ice-skating, indoor tennis and many other activities for the winter sports enthusiast to enjoy.
The mountain climbs 35,000 feet into the cold Serbian sky, whilst ski lifts only climb to 6,617 feet. The skiing facility is yet to host a major skiing event; despite being home to several international snowboarding competitions and cross-country skiing as well. The living quarters are apt for pricing that would delight the weariest of tourists. Skiers can experience national cuisine such as Burek (pastry, cheese, spinach) and Pljeskavica (grilled mince) for well under $10 a meal. The old favorites such as burger, chips and pizza are still on the menu, and the price of $1.50 a beer might delight some holiday makers looking to do slightly more than just ski! The living area can handle over 5,000 tourists at the same time, whilst the bars and clubs around the area make the holiday destination more suited to the younger holiday-maker. Another issue that is quite prominent is the mistake that many make in travelling to Kopaonik to celebrate Christmas – the celebrations are of slight comparison to western culture, despite its labelling as a winter heaven.
With different piste types Kopaonik caters for beginners, intermediates and experts with the following ratio.
? 15 beginner
? 8 intermediate
? 6 expert
Having 21 lifts and an uphill capacity of 15,000 (an hour) Kopaonik is more than capable of catering for its millions of visitors each year. With slopes facing N, N/E and N/W you can be sure to experience the densely populated villages that surround the region. Thriving from the tourism the mountain provides, Kopaonik has recently became home to a 4 star luxury hotel providing entertainment and accommodation to skiers and executives alike.
With the longest run covering 3.5 KM and expert tuition on hand, Kopaonik has recently benefited from its appointment of English speaking instructors across skiing and snowboarding disciplines. The advanced runs down the Kopaonik mountain-face are a primary incentive for many skiers to choose Kopaonik as their skiing holiday destination. The 6 runs that fit into this category must be epitomised by the Konaci - which a local holiday village was recently named after.
The Konaci has an angle of 79 degrees at a certain point, which it is said that - if you go too slow, and fail to position yourself correctly, it would be perfectly feasible to fall forwards merely travelling in a straight line. The Konaci sees skiers travelling at speeds of over 50 MPH and jumps that allow airtime of over 8 seconds. The Konaci is praised and feared by the top skiers from Europe and further a field. Despite this, the run featured in the 2005 snowboarding event that took place in the Kopaonik mountains.
With snow falling on the slopes between August/September all the way through to early March, skiers should plan their trip with that in mind. The slopes of Serbia and the warm generous nation make Kopaonik an ideal holiday destination for any traveler looking to have a good time on a set of skis. The package deals start from around $400 a week, whilst amazing savings can be made through booking online.
The destination expects 10, 000 visitors a week by 2009, and with its intention to develop further runs across every piste you can be sure that Kopaonik, Serbia will be a skiing location that will stay firmly on the map.
The Courchevel 1850 resort in France is one of the best ski resorts in the world if you happen to be a beginner. Yes, we were all beginners once, and no one knows better than the Courchevel 1850 resort, that if you get the beginners right, the intermediates and advanced will follow. With over 50% of all runs dedicated specifically to beginners, it is a haven for those learning to ski, or looking to refine their skills and expertise whilst on vacation.
Rumoured to be the most expensive resort on the French Alps, this isn’t strictly the truth. You can find really good deals if you know where to look, and there are really good discounts for group bookings, although you get what you pay for, so don’t expect a cheap vacation. Courchevel is part of the Three Valleys resorts, and itself is divided into four distinct areas from the bottom to the top: 1300, 1550, 1650, and 1850. In general, the further up you go, the more expensive your trip is likely to be, so it is wise to consider going slightly further down, where you can still find some amazing skiing, both off piste and cross country, as well as some great downhill runs. With an astonishing 65 ski lifts across the resort, the Courchevel is an enormous skiing resort, and attracts a wide variety of tourists from across Europe, and indeed the world.
The Courchevel 1300 is located right at the very bottom of the resort, and is truly beautiful in an unspoilt, picturesque sense. It is a fantastic challenge for beginners, and is ideal for those looking for some relaxation out of their skiing vacation. Alternatively, moving up, there is the 1550, which is seen as the playground of the locals. Here you can benefit from some amazing self catering deals, whilst still managing to find great skiing, so this is perhaps a good consideration for those with families. Again, moving up there is the 1650, home of the famous ski school, and a number of top quality restaurants. With largely chalet accommodation, this is also a great resort to choose for your French skiing vacation. Finally we have the 1850. The 1850 is home to the rich and the famous, and you’re looking at an arm and a leg if you want to ski there. Although the skiing isn’t that much better (unless you’re looking for off-piste), there are heftier queues, and the resort isn’t overly child friendly or family orientated.
Of the four resorts on the Courchevel, you are guaranteed to have a great skiing vacation whichever you choose. Each has the benefit of world class skiing, although the facilities may differ between each. It is important to decide what it is you are looking for, and then to base your choice around this, so you can make the most of your skiing vacation. Why not consider taking a few lessons in the world famous Courchevel ski school? Or how about sampling some of the extensive night life these resorts have to offer? Whether you are a dedicated skier, or have never been on a pair of skis in your life, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for on the Courchevel, and you are guaranteed a vacation to remember.
Tremblant is based in
Tremblant has also recently had 18 acres of quality, freestyle snowboarding playground custom built. With jumps, rails, ramps and half-pipes those who are familiar with this should be sure to check it out should the visit. With 94 slaloms, the Tremblant management team have been sure to cater for all levels with 31 intermediate slopes, 17 slopes for novices and mountains worth of expert, countered terrain.
Standing 870 metres tall, and with snowboarding and skiing facilities on all four faces, it is no wonder the 628 acre facility is considered the home to Skiing in the area. The facility allows for natural snow between November and April however this does not set anyone back for the other months of the year. The revolutionary Avalanche system actually turns water into snow in an instant.
So how does the system work? In Tremblant there are 885 guns, that spray a cooling gassy chemical onto the snow and the coverage is able to not only turn water into snow in minutes, but also maintain organic snow forever. The amazing system ensures that the temperature is just right: not turning the snow to ice. The revolutionary system is also used to alter the temperature of snow for big events, however its main advantage is 365 day snow, for the people of Tremblant.
The Tremblant Lift system can carry over 27,000 snowboarders and skiers per hour, whilst the Gondola and quads also aid the in the massive effort of lifting millions of people up the mountain each day.
For those of you who get hungry there are also great accessible eateries available at the top of the 870 metre mountain. Whilst most holiday makers will experience the Tremblant as experienced skiers, there are also many options available to the beginners and intermediates choosing to visit Tremblant. With over 40 beginner slopes and over 50 multi-lingual skiing instructors you really have to visit Tremblant to understand its sheer scale. Learning to ski in Tremblant is not only a great idea because of the experience of the instructors, but also because your choices are not restricted at all.
During my first visit to Tremblant I was a keen skier but I had never had the opportunity to snowboard before. During my time in Tremblant I was taught how to snowboard in one day, and by the end of the vacation I was able to attempt challenging runs on the intermediate circuits. Although my experience in skiing was helpful, I felt a lot of this came down to the dexterity of the instructors.
The accommodation in Tremblant is amazing, with 6 hotels all with excellent service and offering amazing luxury to their guests. In a hotel, where you see amazing views onto the massive mountain, you also see firework displays that they put on for the tourists each evening. In case that puts you off, I was assured the fireworks do not make any noise, apart from at the weekends. The amazing Tremblant skiing resort has never hosted a large event, and is firmly known for its ability to cater for tourists, however that has not stopped it, in its quest to host the 2009 open. Having placed a bid, we can all wait and see if Tremblant is successful.
Ski Press Weekly voted Tremlant the best skiing facility for tourists in