Bucket List

Skiing and Snowboarding in the USA

What would winter be without skiing and snowboarding? These fast-paced sports shine a light on what might otherwise be a frigid and gloomy season. Speeding downhill takes your mind off of everything, even the cold temperatures! To find some of the best ski destinations in the world, just head to the western part of North America. Topping the list is Colorado. Nothing compares to skiing in the renowned Rockies. Aspen, Vail, Telluride, and Breckenridge—your skiing dreams can come true in these wintry wonderlands. Colorado is also home to nine out of ten of the highest ski mountains in the United States. However, the glamorous crowds and bustling nightlife that can be found at some of the exclusive Colorado ski resorts take a visit to the Rockies far beyond skiing. Neighboring Utah is famous for its Olympic trails at Big, and Little, Cottonwood Canyons. Plan some time to explore Snowbird and Alta; these resorts deserve a full-blown ski vacation, not just a short weekend trip. Moving to the northwest, you’ll find some of the snowiest mountain resorts in Washington state. Or take advantage of the affordability and wide open spaces of Montana, where skiers swoosh down more acres per person than anywhere else in the country. The East Coast may have less snow and smaller mountains compared to the West, but there are definitely some excellent ski destinations to be found! Green Mountains, in Vermont, and White Mountains, in New Hampshire, are both stunning as well as easily accessible from the major cities. Carve out your favorite terrain in Killington—the largest ski resort in the eastern United States—which is spread across six mountains. Or check out Whiteface Mountain near Lake Placid, New York, a 1980 Winter Olympics venue and U.S. Olympic Training Site. Ski on the historic grounds of New Hampshire’s Bretton Woods, where the international monetary system was crafted after World War II. Ritzy or woodsy, east or west, find your favorite ski destination in North America, and go!