1. Taos Ski Valley; Taos, NM
Gently nested 9,000 feet up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico, Taos Ski Valley offers a rugged and natural ski experience. You and your buddies will have access to over 1,300 acres of the best powder around, plus the unique hike-to terrain offers a rugged experience. The only draw-back to this location is that the majority of the trails are rated to expert, so if you go here be prepared to go big.
Getting There: Fly into the airport in Albuquerque and drive 2.5 hours north to the town of Taos. The valley is located 15 miles in the mountains north of the town.
Don't Miss: The Salomon Extreme Freeride Championships take place Feb. 28th – Mar. 2nd. You have the opportunity to watch elite skiers and boarders catch extreme air and land awesome flips off of Kachina Peak.
Lodging: There is ample lodging around the Taos Valley ranging from condominiums, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. The prime of lodging is the Taos Mountain Lodge. Reserve a room and enjoy an outdoor hot tub, a soothing massage, and a crackling fire.
2. Sun Valley Resort; Sun Valley, ID
Is there anything more manly than a Nord? There is not. In addition to hosting the Nordic Festival, Sun Valley Resort is a well-hidden local treasure boasts 2,000 acres and a 3,400-foot drop at the edge of the Sawtooth National Forest. Though the average 220 inches of snowfall is a tad on the scant side, the superb trails, staff, and views far make up for it. In fact, if you choose this location it is recommended you take the 56-car Roundhouse Gondola up to the Roundhouse Restaurant on Bald Mountain's summit for a Northwest lamb burger and stunning views of the mountains.
Getting There: Alaska Air offers daily direct flights to Sun Valley from Los Angeles and Seattle. Additionally, SkyWest flies direct from Salt Lake City.
Lodging: The Sun Valley Resort offers a host of cottages and condos, in addition to the Sun Valley Inn. The Inn boasts an exercise center, an outdoor pool, a close-by restaurant, and a lounge.
Don't Miss: The Sun Valley Resort is home to the Norwegian Olympic team's annual Nordic Festival. This week long event features Nordic skiing, demonstrations, seminars, and the Boulder Mountain Tour Race.
3. Whistler Blackcomb; Whistler B.C. (Canada)
If big numbers are your name of the game, look no further than Whistler Blackcomb. Boasting an average snowfall of 469 inches annually, over 8,000 acres of trail, and almost 5,500 feet of vert. Whistler Blackcomb has plenty to keep you busy. Whistler also sports 16 huge alpine bowls, boarder-friendly terrain parks, half pipes, and a killer nightlife. This resort will definitely have everything you could want from a killer ski strip.
Getting There: Fly into Vancouver then drive north 1.5 hours to Whistler.
Lodging: Indulge yourself at the Coast Blackcomb Suites. The location offers complementary breakfast and Wi-Fi in addition to breathtaking views of the mountainside and a rustically cozy interior.
Don't Miss: If there's ever a time you want more out of your trip, you can hit the tube parks and charge down a 1,000ft. incline face-first. You can also visit the cool shops in Whistler village, and for the non-skiers there's a host of dog-sledding events.
Oh, one last detail: the ski/snowboarding equipment. You don't want to have to drag your gear along (have you checked the airline baggage fees lately?) and you don't want to waste any of your precious vacation time standing in slope-side rental shop lines. Check out the ski rental delivery service offered by Outdoors.io. For about the same price as a traditional rental shop, your gear is delivered and fit in the comfort of your hotel or condo. And when it's time to leave, they come to you, scoop everything up and take it away.
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