Popular wintry destinations

We know it’s coming: winter. Officially, not until the winter solstice on December 21^st, but for all practical purposes, it was here around the first of November, with the first serious snowfall of the season. We grumble a bit, hunker down and resign ourselves to riding it out, again. Many of us circle that week on the calendar when we will be flying to someplace warm. But others celebrate the arrival of the snow, and if they circle any dates, they’re thinking about going where there’s even more of it.

            The National Ski Areas Association says Americans made more than 65 million journeys to play in the snow last year, with more expected this winter. More than six million were to the Midwest, and surprisingly there were four million to the Southeast, not exactly known as a bastion of winter fun. But some southern locations were among those cited as the most unique and popular wintry destinations:

·         Blowing Rock, N.C. This family-oriented resort has been around for more than 60 years. Several ski-lift options include one that’s a hand-pull contraption. Three terrain parks and a skating rink offer winter fun for the whole family.

·         Ober Mountain, Tenn. Snow tubing begins here before Thanksgiving and lasts into March, with ski and snowboarding season lasting almost as long. An aerial tramway connects downtown Gatlinburg with the mountain.

·         Ski Santa Fe, N.M. Thirty minutes by car from the city, this winter resort has 86 trails and on-site horseback riding and wellness activities. The resort’s beginnings go back to 1936, with a ski-lift tow rope powered by an automobile engine.

·         Taos Ski Valley, N.M. With abundant steep, challenging terrain, the area offers great skiing and a town with real Old West flavor, originally settled by miners in the 19^th century.

·         Ketchum, Idaho. Downhill and cross-country skiing in this northern Rockies area rivals that found farther south in Colorado, without the crowds.

·         Antelope Butte Ski Area, Wyo. Nearly two dozen ski runs down Bighorn Mountain aren’t all this area has to offer. The town of Shell got its name from the large number of fossil shells found in the area. Visitors can also see the tracks of dinosaurs and geologic formations going back 2 billion years.

·         Park City, Utah. The largest ski resort in the U.S. covers over 7,300 acres of diverse terrain, offering ski runs that start as high as 10,000 feet with more than 3,200 feet of vertical drop that challenges advanced skiers. More than 330 trails and 40 lifts draw skiers from all over the world, including those who came for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Lodge at Blue Sky, a 3,500-acre private ranch, has been recognized as one of the world’s 50 best hotels.

·         Mount Baker, Wash. Rated the snowiest ski resort in the world, this place consistently receives the highest volume of snow on the planet and claims the record for most snowfall in one season, 95 feet. Just south of the Canadian border, the area boasts isolated slopes that attract skiers who enjoy challenge combined with solitude.

·         Aspen, Colo. Many winter enthusiasts want to go where they might possibly rub elbows with celebrities, and Aspen’s four mountains, luxurious hotels and resorts, not to mention the town’s boutiques and gourmet restaurants, fit the bill.

·         Mauna Kea, Hawaii. A winter skiing getaway in our 50^th state? Yes, indeed. Mauna Kea is one of five volcanos in the state and is revered as sacred by native Hawaiians. It’s name means “white mountain,” referring to the perpetually snow-capped peak. Skiers and snowboarders are in for a unique experience when they come up here during the December-to-February season, because they’ll share the peak with telescopes from 11 countries in the world’s largest astronomical facility.

Ready to get in some skiing this winter? Give us a call, and we’ll get you to the slopes!