Most avid skiers are out on the slopes before Christmas, getting in their downhill skiing and mogul jumping before the New Year. By January, the ski season starts to peter out, less people show up at ski resorts, and the slopes start to empty. For some, January marks the end of ski season—but not for some of the more savvy skiers. Skiers who want to save a few bucks and avoid the crowds on the slopes, in the resort, or even at the bunny hill know something other skiers may not be aware of: Two of the best months for enjoying the slopes are January and February.
Ski resorts dot the country and choosing one is based on all sorts of individual preferences. The three chosen for this column include a popular family resort, a romantic getaway spot and a resort that promises not to break the bank.
With an impressive 400 inches of snowfall atop the highest summit (11,053 feet) in California, Mammoth Mountain is a popular family ski resort offering numerous trails from beginners through expert runs and a variety of winter activities including snowboarding and snowmobiling. Part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, Mammoth Mountain offers impressive scenery and more than 3,500 skiable acres—along with a 3,100 foot vertical drop!
Experts will quickly take to and enjoy these slopes immediately, but if you need to brush up or have novices in your group, the resort offers skiing and snowboarding classes for kids and adults, and private lessons, too. To learn more, visit www.onthesnow.com/california/mammoth-mountain-ski-area/ski-resort.html.
With Valentine’s Day just around the bend, Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado is the place you want to be when romance is on the agenda. Located in a box canyon that offers breathtaking landscapes, the ski resort is surrounded by “beauties,”—hotels that know how to rev up the romance factor. Telluride’s scenic beauty is so well known, in fact, that it has become a wedding destination for numerous couples.
Many lodging options, from spectacularly preserved Victorian hotels to townhomes provide couples with the amenities they seek—five star mountaintop dining and world-class wines and champagne bars, for starters. Depending on where you decide to hang your hat, couples can find such amenities as comfy sheep skin blankets, rooftop hot tubs and the cozy fireplace settings known to ignite romance. Award-winning spas are found here as well—so don’t forget to pack your favorite robe! To learn more, visit www.ski.com/blog/best-ski-resorts-for-romance.
Budget-friendly Whitefish Mountain Resort at Big Mountain, Utah boasts everything family-oriented skiers look for—especially good prices. Two special packages for January and February are currently on offer. The January White Sale, running through January 30, allows skiers to book two days and get a third free. The second offer, the Eat-Ski-Sleep event, allows bookings at just $84 per person, per night with a two-night minimum stay required. To get your skiing in at prices that won’t hurt your wallet, visit http://skiwhitefish.com/stay-and-play/lodging.
