Big Sky Ski Vacations

With all that Big Sky, Montana has to offer skiers, it is amazing that so few know about its existence! Known for its wide open slopes and short lift lines, Big Sky Ski Resort has one of the largest lift served vertical drops in the United States. Over 5300 acres of ski slopes and trails await skiers, with over 33 feet of snowfall each season.

Big Sky Ski Resort features twenty three lifts, 220 trails, and a 4350 foot vertical drop. The top elevation is 11154 feet. Along with the ski lifts, there are also two cable car lines available. While there are beginner slopes, most of the slopes are geared toward intermediate and expert skiers.

There are many places to lodge in Big Sky Resorts Mountain Village, which rests at the foot of the impressive Lone Peak mountain. Enjoy Sleigh Ride dinners, ice skating, parties, snowmobile tours, and a variety of community events. At Big Sky, there are no strangers. Big Sky, Montana is one of the highest rated Ski Resorts in the United States, and there is something here for everyone.

Lost Valley Ski Vacations

If you will be traveling to the North East, you must not miss Lost Valley Ski Resort. Located on 300 acres in the middle of Maine, the resort offers many different types of terrain, hills, streams, bridges, and fifteen well maintained trail systems.

The Lost Valley Resort is best suited to beginners and intermediate skiers, but there are more thrilling trails available for expert skiers as well. There are three lifts to accommodate skiers, including two chair lifts and one surface lift.

Equipment can be rented for all sports that are catered to at Lost Valley Resort, including ski equipment, snowboarding equipment, mountain bikes, and paintball equipment. Ski and snowboarding lessons are also available for private parties and groups.

At the lodge, you will experience a warm family environment with outstanding food and beverages. This is an absolutely wonderful place to bring a family. There are training programs, adaptive ski programs, racing events, a snowboard terrain park, mountain biking, and a huge twenty acre paintball park. Lost Valley Resort is also a great place to hold meetings, family reunions, weddings, and other special events. Catering is available.

Fun Valley Ski Vacations

If you are looking for a great place to go for your family ski vacation, Fun Valley, Iowa is the place to go. This resort caters to families and beginner level skiers, but it is also great for intermediate and expert skiers as well. There is something to suit all levels at Fun Valley.

The top elevation at Fun Valley is 1201 feet, with a vertical drop of 200 feet. There are six lifts, including three chair lifts and three surface lifts. The new learning center is something to see – and experience if you are a beginner. Tubers and snowboarders are welcome, and there is an excellent terrain park available. Rental equipment, including tubes and boards, is available.

Fun Valley offers outstanding group rates for groups of ten or more. Birthday packages are also outstanding for kids twelve and under. Every Wednesday and Thursday night, the resort offers a student night, with greatly reduced rates. Buddy Pass Friday’s are also popular – bring your friends and you will all save on lift tickets. Coca-Cola sponsors Sprite Saturday’s at Fun Valley, where you can participate in three activities for one flat affordable fee. Sundays are Family Four Pack Day.

Aspen Ski Vacations

Aspen Mountain has long been known as the playpen of the rich and famous – and it is. But it is also a great place to take a family ski vacation. Christmas in Aspen is especially wonderful! Aspen Mountain rises above the town of Aspen, with a top elevation of 11215 feet and a vertical drop of 3269 feet. There are 76 trails suitable for beginners, intermediates, and experts, accessible by eight lifts, including seven chair lifts and one cable car line.

While Aspen has much to offer skiers, as well as those who enjoy the night life in a ski town, you should expect lots of crowds and lift lines on the slopes. Again, this is the playpen of the rich and famous, and many people choose this ski vacation spot simply for that reason – as well as for the great runs and nightlife.

There are numerous places to stay in and around Aspen, with more than 100 restaurants to choose from as well. Ski instructions and equipment rental are abundant in the area, and snowboarders are welcome.

The Great Aspen Resort Ski Vacations

When you think of all the ski resorts in the world one of them stands out inyour mind. Aspen offers a variety of ski areas for all levels and it covers 4,500 acres or more spread over four mountains. This resort is known for itsnightlife because of the downtown area and the quieter Snowmass resort areahas something to offer everyone.

Aspen provides all the restaurants and bars you could ever want or need You can take a stroll through this luxurious city and find many boutiques and much more. There is a lot of history in many of the buildings that are in the downtown area. One of these buildings is the Ute bank; this building can bedated back to the silver area around the 1800’s.

With everything that there is to do in Aspen you shouldn’t find yourself getting bored. Aspen is located in Colorado, and with the various mountain ranges, you are sure to find slopes that are suitable for your level. Snowmass is one of the most popular resorts in the world, so be sure to make reservations well in advance.

Tahoe Ski Vacations

If you are planning a ski vacation and there are beginners in your group,
or you are a beginner yourself, you should definitely consider Tahoe Donner in Truckee,
California for your ski vacation. Since 1971, when construction first began at Tahoe Donner,
the area has come to be known as a world class cross country ski center,
but beginners are still welcome, and this is one of the better places to learn how to ski.

Located near Tahoe and Truckee, Tahoe Donner provides a family atmosphere,
and is very affordable. It features a 601 foot vertical drop, and the highest
elevation is 7353 feet. There are approximately 120 acres for skiers to enjoy,
with over 13 trails for beginners, intermediate skiers, and expert skiers.
The resort features four lifts, with two of the list being surface lifts, and two being chair lifts.

Snowboarders are also welcome at Tahoe Donner. The resort has reasonable lift ticket rates,
and there are rentals available. Here, you will also find a variety of ski programs and a ski school.
After a full day of skiing, be sure to visit the Lodge Restaurant for a wonderful
and relaxing dining experience.

Ski Vacations with Ski Clubs

There are many different types of clubs throughout
the world. In fact, there is a club or organization for
just about everything that you can imagine! Skiing is
no exception. Ski clubs are a great way to learn new
things, and to go on ski vacations with other
members. In fact, ski club members often get
discounted rates on ski vacation packages.

No matter where you live, there is a ski club near
you. This is true even if you live in a place that does
not ever get snowfall! These clubs regularly get
together for trips to various mountains, ski areas,
and ski resorts. Some are local clubs, meaning that
the slopes that they ski on are within driving
distance, while others are more national or global,
which means that they not only ski locally, if
possible, but they also plan ski trips.

Again, members of ski clubs often receive deep
discounts on ski vacation packages. Arrangements
are usually made through the club, so that everyone
is eligible for the discounts. The money that is
required from each member for the trip is usually
paid to the club, and the club passes the funds on
to pay for lodging, airfare, meals, lift tickets, and
other perks that are included in the trip. Because
arrangements are being made for a group of people
– which is usually fairly large – discounts are given.
This benefits all members of the club.

The discounts aren’t the only thing to be excited
about. These clubs get together regularly – even if
they aren’t getting together to ski. They join together
for other activities as well, such as cookouts and
fundraisers. Many ski clubs do annual fundraisers to
help less fortunate families and children at Christmas
time. Others do annual fundraisers to help preserve
the environment – which is usually a topic of great
importance to skiers who love being out in the wide
open spaces and fresh air.

While skiing is what brings these groups together in
the first place, it is not necessarily what keeps them
together. Their love of a common sport, and their
common interests and feeling of community is what
keeps them together – and it keeps them skiing
together for years and years. If you are a skier, you
should definitely consider joining a club. It doesn’t
matter – in most cases – what level you are at.
Beginners are usually welcomed, and this is a great
way for beginners to quickly improve their skills and
techniques out on the slopes.

Ski Vacations – Learning How To Ski

If your family wants to go skiing on your next vacation, but you don’t know how to ski,
go ahead and plan that ski vacation anyway! You can learn how to ski,
and you will have a great time doing it. You don’t even need to know the first thing
about skiing before you arrive at the resort – all of the knowledge you will need
is there waiting for you, and you can literally be skiing down a mountain after an hour of instruction.

Learning to ski is really quite easy. Most resorts have a ski school on the premises,
and lessons are reasonably priced. Group and private lessons are usually available.
It is a good idea, however, to schedule an appointment before you arrive at the resort.
This will ensure that you can start learning to ski the very first hour of your vacation.

Most ski instructors start by showing you how to maneuver around with your equipment.
When you are wearing ski boots, you will be inclined slightly forward –
there is a reason for this…when you are skiing down a mountain, you will be inclined forward!
Walking in ski boots the first time is a bit difficult – but it works just fine
if you learn to walk with your knees slightly bent.

The first maneuver you will learn is called the plow, or snow plow.
This is a technique that is done by literally using your skis as a snow plow.
You make the back of the skis slowing move outwards, away from your body
by applying pressure – and this stops you. You guide yourself on skies by
bending your knees and leaning in one direction or another, depending on
which way you want to go. All of these techniques can be learned in one hour,
even if you have never been on a pair of skis in your life.

The beauty of skiing is that after you have learned how to snow plow,
and how to guide yourself on the skis, you are ready to ski!
Get on the lift, head up the mountain, and give it a try.
Control your speed by snow plowing – go slow at first.
When you want to pick up some speed, draw your skis back
in to pick up a little speed, then push them back out into the plow position to control that speed.

As a beginner, you should stick to the trails that are designed for beginners.
At most resorts, these trails are marked with a green emblem.
Blue trails are for intermediate skiers, and after one day of skiing the beginner trails,
you may be ready for those trails. The black trails are for experts.
These trails can be dangerous for people who don’t have the skill level to handle them!
Avoid black trails until you have had a great deal of ski instruction and experience.
You will know when you are ready!

Ski Vacations – What To Pack

If you will be traveling for a ski vacation, it is often difficult to know what to pack.
You may not even have a problem knowing what to pack, but instead
have a problem figuring how to get everything that you need from your home to your destination.
Skis do not easily fit into suitcases, and if you are flying, this presents a huge problem.

Start by knowing what is available at your destination. Is there a rental shop?
How much are the rental fees for skis, boots, and poles. If it is reasonable, and
you don’t mind skiing with rented equipment, this is a viable option –
and it makes packing and traveling much easier.

If you don’t care for rented equipment, there is another option.
Find out if there are any ski shops in the area. There usually are.
Get prices on skis, poles, and boots, and then ask if they buy used equipment.
If they don’t, ask if there is anyone near by that does purchase used equipment.
Call that place to get an estimate on how much you could get for barely used ski equipment.
Figure the difference in the money you will spend on the ski equipment,
and the money you will get for the used equipment when you are finished with it.
If it isn’t much more than what it would cost you to rent the equipment, go for it!

Ski suits, ski jackets, and sweaters can be very bulky, and hard to pack.
These items will take up a lot of room in your suitcase,
and leave less room for other clothing and essentials.
If you are trying to pack for a two week ski vacation,
it will be impossible to fit everything you need into one suitcase.

There is a way to solve this. Call the lodge or resort where you will be staying.
Tell them that you need to ship a package, for yourself, to them,
and that you need that package to be there when you arrive.
Ask them if they will hold it for you at the desk. In most cases, they will.
Next, get a box, put all of your ski suits, your ski jacket,
and any other bulky items in the box, and ship it to yourself,
in care of the lodge or resort. Shipping can be overnight, two day,
or three day depending on how far it must travel.
Depending on how much the box weighs,
you will usually pay less than fifty dollars to ship a package
in the continental United States….which is a lot less than you would pay an airline for extra baggage!

Ski Vacations on a Budget

When you start thinking about ski vacations,
you will find a lot of information about various resorts and packages.
Finding terrific vacation spots isn't difficult, however,
finding ski vacations that fit into your budget can be a challenge.

To save money, look for lesser known resorts.
This doesn’t mean that these resorts won’t provide you with a fun vacation –
it simply means that they aren’t quite as well known as other resorts,
and therefore, the prices may be a great cheaper.
Also look for ski vacation packages that will include your lodging,
lift tickets, lessons, rentals, and possibly even some meals.

Be willing to make some sacrifices if money is a real issue.
For instance, instead of eating in an expensive restaurant each night,
eat cheaper fast food, or make sandwiches in your room.
Borrow equipment from friends instead of renting it.
Join a group for lessons instead of taking private lessons.

Don’t stay at a lodge, stay at a motel farther away from the slopes if necessary.
There are numerous ways that you can cut down on the expense of your ski trip.
It is all about the powder after all!

Planning a Family Ski Vacation

It’s time to plan the family vacation – and everyone
wants to go skiing. Don’t worry, skiing isn’t as
expensive as you might think, and there are
numerous resorts that cater to families, offering a
variety of packages designed to save you money.
The problem will be choosing the destination.

Most ski resorts have websites. Start the planning
process by accessing these websites to determine
where you and your family might want to go for your
family ski vacation. There are many different things to
look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most
important thing to look for is a ski school if someone
in your family will need instruction. While most
resorts do have ski schools, some don’t. Don’t
make the mistake of choosing a destination where
one or more of your family members won’t have fun,
simply because they don’t know how to ski.

Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You
want to make sure that the resort has something to
offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters
to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly
bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and
there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that
snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts
that serve all winter sports – so make sure that your
families interests are covered.

Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be
comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters
a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at
the base of the slopes – but this isn’t necessarily the
best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what
your lodging options are for the area, and choose
the one that is right for your family and your budget.
If you will be staying farther away from the slopes,
make sure that there is transportation to and from
the slopes each day!

Your family will have many more interests that you
will need to search for before deciding on a particular
destination and resort. Some of those interests may
be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling,
snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer
these activities, but some don’t – so be sure to ask
about the winter activities, as well as the planned
events during the time that you will be at the resort.
This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family
will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.