Top 10 Ski Spots: Slopes With the Most!

 

Now that it’s winter in most of the Northern Hemisphere, there’s no shortage of jetsetters and ski-lovers looking to discover the best ski spot.  But, depending on your passion… you’re either more interested in the amenities or the terrain.  Perhaps even both! 

With that, here’s journeyPod’s list of top ski destinations (in no particular order) for all types of enthusiasts.  Now… polish your skis, grab your Gore-Tex, bundle up and head to any one of these hot spots: 

Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado – Well-known and highly recognized for its history, diverse terrains (for all levels), great restaurants and famous nightlife, Aspen/Snowmass is one of the top resort destinations!  The area boasts four mountains that offer over 5,000 acres combined – including: eight terrain parks, four halfpipes and over 300 marked trails from more than 40 lifts.  The mountains are:  Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk.  For those ski lovers interested in something different, the area also offers snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, hot air balloons and dog sledding options.  

Val Thorens, French Alps – Considered the highest ski resort in Europe, Val Thorens is located in the French Alps at 2300m altitude and is the most international ski resort in France.  The resort is surrounded by several high peaks (near or over 3000m) and a number of its cable cars and chair lifts go almost as high.  If you’re staying onsite, you can literally put the skies on in your room, climb over the balcony and there you are on the slopes!    

Park City, Utah, USA – Boasting incredible snow conditions and over 3,000 ski-able acres, this destination spot has every type of run possible – along with a great nightlife, wonderful shopping and excellent restaurant choices.   No wonder it’s a favorite! 

Ischgl-Samnaun Skiing Area, Austria & Switzerland – Another top skiing destination in Europe, Ischgl is a small village in Austria with a resort (Silvretta Arena Ischgl-Samnaun) that is connected with the ski resort of Samnaun – across the border in Switzerland. Together, this is the largest skiing resort in the Alps.  Offering a longer-then-usual ski season, the area features an abundance of unbelievably-beautiful scenery and a great selection of food and drinks. And, for all you entertainment buffs – there are concerts in the ski area during winter season. A true ‘lifestyle metropolis’! 

Snowbird/Alta, Utah, USA – Snowbird is an unincorporated area based in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Salt Lake County.  It is also right next to Alta – both of which have been ranked by SKIING Magazine as the No. 1 resort in the U.S. – every year since the two joined at Sugarloaf Pass.  Think:  secluded, old-faschioned sking; no snow boarders allowed. If you want a real raw skiing experience, this is your place! 

Lake Tahoe Region – Located between California and Nevada, this ski region tops out at 11,000 feet (above the clouds).  With an area that consists of 7-top rated ski and snowbird resorts, including:  Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose-Ski Taho, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Squaw Valley USA – you can ski into Nevada or California. All the resorts are renowned for their variety of terrain for all levels of skiers, the quality of the snow (powdery heaven) and the awe-inspiring scenic views – along with the area’s amenities, extensive lodging, dining options and the exciting casino nightlife.  

Ski Dubai, U.A.E. – You didn’t think you could, did you?  Well, you can!  Skiing is available in Dubai!  Situated on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai offers the world’s third largest indoor ski slope, measuring 400 meters and uses 6000 tons of snow.  The plus side here is that you’ll always know what the weather conditions will be like.  The environment inside is very impressive and provides a great attraction destination – especially when you recognize that it’s inside of Dubai Emirates Mall!  Indeed, we did say mall.  Featuring a revolving ski slope, an artificial mountain, ice bridge, cable lift, snow maze, ice slide and polar bears – this is definitely an interesting destination choice for ski-lovers.   

Zermatt, Switzerland – Located at the northern base of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a mountain village that is one of today’s greatest ski centers of the world.  The town is nestled in a deep valley enclosed between steeply mountains and dominated by the huge pyramid of the Matterhorn.  It boasts cobbled streets, horses and a fresh and clean environment – because of its “no cars” rule.  Considering the eco-friendly environment, expect fresh alpine air and lots of bustling pedestrians – everyone here travels by foot or skis.  An amazing destination, particularly for all you green enthusiasts! 

Killington, Vermont – The King of East Coast resorts, Killington features over 100 trails spanning six mountains. It is the largest ski area in eastern North America serving as many as 17,000 skiers in one day.  The area featurs the highest and most varied mountain terrain in the region (95 miles for skiing and snowboarding) and is also well-known for its shopping, entertainment and dining.   

Flims – Laax Grisson, Switzerland – Famous for its winter sports (mainly skiing and snowboarding), Laax Grisson is one of the largest interconnected resort complexes in the Alps.  The area also plays regular host to international competitions such as the FIS World Championship in skiing and the Burton European Open in snowboarding – so you can imagine what you’d expect here!  Now, what are you waiting for?  Sharpen those skis and get out there!  Shouts out to Anja, Becky, Dennis, Shawn, and Chris for their discerning international knowledge of skiing around our world.