In the Northern Hemisphere, winter has arrived, and with it, the ski season. A 2016 report showed that 13 million skiers and riders totaled 53.6 million skiers on North America’s slopes. And that doesn’t count the snowboarders and other extreme snow sports lovers. With that in mind, if you love to ski—or even if you’re just thinking about getting started—we’ve rounded up some great ski destinations in North America for you to visit.
Whistler
Open for nearly half the year, British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb is located about 75 miles north of Vancouver. It provides a massive amount of land—more than 8,100 acres of it—for winter ski and snowboard enthusiasts of any level. You can also go tubing, snowmobiling, and ziplining. There are even challenging hiking trails for those who like to hoof it (or snowshoe it) during the cooler months.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge, Colorado, was ranked #1 in U.S. News’s Best Ski Destinations in the USA. It’s a pretty quick drive from Denver (80 miles) and ski town Vail (40 miles). The town boasts nearly 3,000 skiable acres and a 13,000-foot summit. With an average of 175 inches of snow each year, there’s plenty of powder to shred all winter long. You can refuel after a long day of skiing or snowboarding at one of the town’s many microbreweries (and even a micro-distillery) or restaurants and bars.
Park City
Park City, Utah, located just 35 miles from Salt Lake City, was the home of several 2002 Winter Olympics competitions, proving that the area should be, on your top ski destination list. The Utah Olympic Park is still a major training facility for winter athletes, including the U.S. Ski Team. Boasting two top-notch ski resorts, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort and getting 300 to 400 inches of snow each year, conditions are excellent for any winter sports enthusiast. Both Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort offer on-site licensed childcare facilities. One thing to be aware of: Deer Valley prohibits snowboarders.
Jackson Hole
Surrounded by miles of national forests and Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is a great place to spend a winter holiday. Although the area was a logging and ranching town for a long time, the area is beginning to encourage the rise of tourism. Although Jackson Hole may not be as glitzy and glamorous as, say, Aspen or Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boasts 2,500 acres of ski runs, 4,139 feet of vertical drop, and more than 400 inches of snowfall each year.
If you’re an American or Canadian looking for great ski destinations, you don’t have to look far. You may not even have to dig out your passport for your next great winter vacation.
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