So, you want to go skiing this year. Do you know where or when you want to go? Lucky for you, Sundance Vacations is here to help! Let me introduce you to some of our awesome properties located near some of the best skiing the West has to offer. First you need to decide when you want to travel. When does ski season start? Well, Mother nature is the one who decides that. It’s usually early November through April but has begun as early as October and has snuck into May and June in the past. They say the best time to ski is late February to mid-March. This time of year usually provides bigger snowfall amounts and fresh powder on the slopes. Now that you know when to go, lets figure out where to go.
Colorado
The Christie Lodge
The Christie Lodge is a fan favorite at Sundance Vacations. The spacious one- and three-bedroom suites offer comfortable apartment-style accommodations and a welcoming ambiance in every season. In the winter, enjoy world-class snow sports at nearby Vail or Beaver Creek Mountain Resorts, or snowmobiling, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the White River National Forest. According to snowpack.com, some of the best ski destinations are near The Christie Lodge in Vail! Vail, Colorado is rated number two on their list of 10 best places to ski!
Vail Mountain Ski Resort
Vail Mountain is the 3rd largest ski resort in the world with over 5,280 acres, 31 lifts and three terrain parks. They offer three sections at the resort: the Front-Side, Blue sky Basin and the Back Bowls. The Front-Side is perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers looking for a relaxing ride. Blue Sky Basin is for the expert skiers and has cornice drops, seven bowls, extensive mogul runs, trees and open powder fields. The Back Bowls can be a bit scary at first because they are located above the tree line and can provide challenging visibility during a snowstorm.
Beaver Creek Ski Resort
Beaver Creek is a well-known major ski resort in the Western U.S. They are known for their amazing welcoming atmosphere, and they have over 1,800 acres of terrain and 150 trails to excite every level of skier. They offer a ski school with veteran instructors to teach you how to master the mountain with ski and snowboard lessons. The 2021-22 Passes are back on sale, and are reduced by 20%! There are a number of different passes to choose from that will fit your family’s needs.
If that’s not enough to excite you, McCoy Park will be Beaver Creek’s newest family-friendly learning terrain zone coming to life in the 2021-22 season! They will offer 2 new chair lifts, 17 new trails and 250 fresh acres of skiable terrain. Why not try something brand new this year?
Shuttle Service
Fresh Tracks Transportation, located in Breckenridge offers a daily shuttle schedule that is perfect for day trips! There are six world class ski resorts within an hour of one another in this area! The best part is your lift ticket is valid at every single resort! Talk about a savings! With their shared ride service, transportation to these ski resorts have never been easier or more affordable. You can take a 45-minute shuttle from Fresh Tracks Transportation from Vail to Breckenridge, and they offer trips to the resorts in the surrounding area as well.
Wyndham Pagosa
Wyndham Pagosa, located in Pagosa Springs offers clean and spacious 1 and 2-bedroom suites equipped with full kitchens. The units offer a blissful sanctuary for you, your friends and family. The resort offers 8,000 acres of land to enjoy. Did you know Pagosa Springs is just 23 miles from the Wolf Creek Ski area? This area is known to have “the Most Snow in Colorado”, where over 465 inches of snow falls on average each season! Pagosa means ‘healing waters’, and the soothing hot springs in the area are wonderful.
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Wolf Creek Ski Area is located in the San Juan Mountains and is located just about 30 minutes from North Pagosa Springs. The resort offers 77 trails over 1,600 acres and has a vertical drop on site that is 1,604 feet tall! It’s a family favorite resort for those who are traveling to Southern Colorado. They have a variety of mixed terrain such as gentle slopes, cruisers, bumps, glades, cornices, and bowls. Your entire family can enjoy the days here. The summit of Wolf Creek is the Alberta Peak at 11,904 feet.
Utah
Park Regency
Park Regency is the perfect family getaway. Take the complimentary ski shuttle to the slopes for a day of skiing. In warmer weather, the kids will enjoy a mountain bike ride in the great outdoors, and then the whole family can swim in the indoor, heated pool. Spend a few hours in the fitness center and relax those muscles in the whirlpool/spa tub. Enjoy a barbecue in the picnic area. The concierge will help arrange your day, whether on-site or off. The property includes high-speed wireless Internet access in public areas and movie rentals.
Park City
Strap on your skis and boards at the largest ski resort in the United States! Park City Mountain and Park City, Utah are ranked as North Americas most accessible mountain destination due to its proximity to the international airport.
For those who just want to be surrounded by skiers, Deer Valley was ranked by the readers of SKI Magazine as one of the top three ski destinations in North America! Park City also has the most luxury ski-in/ski-out accommodations of any North American resort town. It also has the world’s only ski-in whiskey gastro-distillery, High West Distillery.
California
Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort
The Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort is tucked comfortably between Lake Tahoe’s most majestic mountain range, Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort offers a welcoming retreat for year-round outdoor enthusiasts. Set among breathtaking woodland scenery and towering pines, the charming lodge creates a picturesque setting for your Lake Tahoe getaway. Enjoy the well-appointed amenities, including a pool, fitness center and sauna, or step next door to the adjacent Ski Run Marina and Heavenly Mountain Resort Base Lodge. Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort is conveniently located just a mile from the casino district, and other area attractions.
Heavenly Mountain Resort Base Lodge
The Heavenly Mountain Resort Base Lodge prides itself with their superior mountain experience and the most skiable acres in Lake Tahoe. Prepare for stunning views of Lake Tahoe while taking a ride up the mountain on one of their many ski lifts. They have 28 chairlifts including; nine high speed lifts, 4,800 skiable acres, 3,500 vertical feet, which is unmatched on the entire West Coast, over 10,000 feet in elevation which is the highest in Lake Tahoe and you can even cross the state lines between California and Nevada. The terrain varies, with 97 trails that range from wide-open cruisers to plunging 1,000-foot chutes. They have an average snowfall of 360 inches a year with some of the best powder around. It’s easy to see why this is a fan favorite in Lake Tahoe. Don’t miss out on the reduced pass prices which saves you 20%.
If you’re new to the ski lingo, these little tips might just help you decide on which slopes to try. The Greens are the beginners’ slopes, Blues are labeled as medium or moderate slopes and the black diamonds or double black diamonds are extremely difficult trails. Let’s just leave those for the experts, shall we?
Top 10 Must have ski essentials
- Wool base layers
- Ski helmet
- Ski jacket
- Mittens (not gloves)
- Ski goggles
- Neck gaiter
- Wool ski socks
- SPF lip balm
- Sunscreen that won’t freeze
- Ski pants
Check out this article for more tips on what to pack for your ski trip.
Insider tips from the owners of Sundance Vacations:
As you may guess as owners of Sundance Vacations we travel A LOT!! We are offering 3 great ski destinations this season including Utah, Colorado, and Tahoe. Many of our best family memories are related to our ski trips in the Vail Valley. Amazing food is also an important part of our vacation experiences, so we offer the following restaurant recommendations if your vacation plans take you to Colorado.
Elways, Vail – Steaks are perfectly seasoned with special Elway’s seasoning blend but the signature item that we never skip is the Lamb Chop Fondue. Tender lollipop lamb chops dipped in warm, gooey cheese will absolutely cause an argument over who took the last one!
Juniper, Edwards– The Veal Scaloppini with Angel Hair Caprese is so good that our vegetarian daughter breaks her promise to the planet to enjoy this dish. Nothing more needs to be said.
Northside Kitchen, Avon – Promise not to judge, our favorite part about this causal place is the vast number of wines you can have by the glass. Like many couples, we don’t always agree on a bottle (I asked you not to judge) but we can all have our wishes granted at this gem.
Grouse Mountain Grill, Beaver Creek– Say yes to the hand rolled tater tots and pretzel crusted pork chop. We once saw VP Al Gore dining at Grouse Mountain so keep your eyes peeled for the rich and famous. Ditto, if you choose to eat at Splendido in Beaver Creek. Fancy, fancy. We sometimes have to look up ingredients on our phones.
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