Xplorie’s Favorite Winter Sports Destinations
November 23, 2021
The year has flown by and if the record-breaking skier days of the 2020-2021 winter season are anything to go by, it’s time to start planning your winter ski vacation soon! Escape to the mountains, reconnect and make memories with friends and family, and immerse yourself in exhilarating outdoor activities at our favorite winter sports destinations for the 2021-2022 ski season.
Colorado
Breckenridge
Breckenridge Ski Resort Opening Date: November 12th
Summit Elevation: 9,600 ft
Breckenridge is a charming, historic gold rush mountain town, the first ski town in Colorado, and one of the most popular ski resorts in the US. Breckenridge has a rich history, a vibrant arts and culture scene, over 300 cafes, bars, restaurants and shops, wineries and breweries, the highest distillery in the world, indulgent spas, and world-class winter sports activities. The perfect blend of relaxation and outdoor adventures geared for the whole family.
Breckenridge’s world-class skiing and snowboarding caters to all abilities with 2,908 acres of diverse terrain over five stunning alpine peaks. Peak 8 is the signature peak, the original Breckenridge ski area base village with the iconic Horseshoe Bowl and the tallest chairlift in America. Peak 6 has above treeline bowl skiing for intermediates and some of the steepest terrain in Breckenridge for experts. Peak 7 is a favorite for snowboarders with wide-open cruisers and Peak 9 offers wide-open groomed greens and blues for beginners. Peak 10 is where you’ll find the experts with black diamonds, tree skiing, and challenging moguls.
Catch some air in Breckenridge!
Enjoy a snowy sleigh ride!
There’s plenty to do in Breckenridge besides skiing and snowboarding. There are miles of backcountry trails for snowmobiling, two Nordic centers for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and fat-tire biking, sledding hills, indoor rock climbing, exciting escape rooms, ice-skating, and an abundance of tours. Take a self-guided walking tour of the Breckenridge Historic District and charming Main Street, snowshoe through an old gold mine, snowmobile to the top of the Continental Divide, snowcat through the forest or explore the backcountry on a winter horseback ride, dogsledding excursion, or guided winter fly-fishing tour. The highlight of every Breckenridge vacation is a starlit sleigh-ride and dinner with hearty food and old-fashioned fun in the snowcapped peaks.
Stay in Breckenridge or nearby Frisco and enjoy Breckenridge’s top activities, tours and attractions for free when you book with Alpine Meadows. From ski-in/ski-out luxury to budget-friendly condos, they’ll match you to the perfect vacation home for your Breckenridge winter vacation.
Winter Park
Winter Park Ski Resort Opening Date: November 17th
Summit Elevation: 9,121 ft
Winter Park is nestled in the Colorado Rocky Mountains approximately a ninety-minute drive from Denver. Fondly referred to as “Colorado’s Favorite Playground” and consistently voted the #1 Ski Resort in North America by USA Today, Winter Park boasts 3,000 acres of diverse terrain for skiing, snowboarding, and off the slope winter activities.
Incredible views to be seen in Winter Park.
Winter Park Resort is a family-friendly ski destination with seven unique territories, seven terrain parks, and backcountry trails catering to all levels of skiers, snowboarders, and free riders. Meandering green runs and the Starter Park for beginners, powdery bowls and challenging rails for intermediates, and the famous Mary Jane moguls and extreme Cirque for an adrenaline-infused adventure in Winter Park.
Off the slopes visitors to Winter Park can soak up views of the Continental Divide as you cruise through the Arapaho National Forest on a snowmobile, book an old-fashioned sleigh ride or a snowcat tour through Jones Pass and enjoy hours of family fun sledding and tubing at the Historic Fraser Tubing Hill or ice-skating at the Village at Winter Park. Scenic Nordic trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing can be found at Snow Mountain Ranch, Devil’s Thumb Ranch, or Granby Ranch, and the Fraser River and nearby creeks provide a tranquil and scenic spot for winter flyfishing.
Enjoy family fun snow tubing!
Winter Park ski accommodations range from slope-side condos and ski-in/ski-out homes near the Winter Park Base Area to budget-friendly accommodation at The Viking Lodge, family vacation homes in the quaint town of Fraser, and gorgeous lakefront rentals on Grand Lake, all with free, local activities, attractions, and tours.
North Carolina
Asheville
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort Opening Date: December 10th
Summit Elevation: 4,600 ft
The scenic mountain town of Asheville has mild winters with occasional snow flurries and light dustings of snow in the valley offering the best of both worlds in the winter months. The mild winter weather means it’s the perfect time of year to layer up, hike the trails and enjoy Asheville’s summer adventures without the heat (and bugs!) and easy access to winter sports activities only minutes away.
Wolf Ridge Ski Resort is the closest ski resort to Asheville, nestled in the shadows of Big Bald Mountain only 30 minutes from Asheville. This small family-friendly ski mountain caters primarily to beginners and intermediates with 15 runs on 54 acres, lighted slopes for night skiing, on-site rentals and a mountain lodge with a cafeteria and fireplaces to refuel and warm up. Wolf Ridge has a dedicated tubing hill just south of the resort with 350 feet of snow tubing fun, day or night.
Test your snowboard skills at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort!
Beautiful Biltmore Estate in the snow.
Asheville is a gateway town to the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains and there’s an abundance of activities to enjoy when you’re not perfecting your style on the slopes. Warm-up on a winter waterfall hike or explore the Blue Ridge Parkway on foot (or snowshoes!), fly-fish the streams and creeks, or take a scenic drive to discover the top drive-by waterfalls in Asheville. Tour the home and gardens of Biltmore Estate or the winter lights and decorated gardens at the North Carolina Arboretum, rock climb or zipline at the Adventure Center of Asheville, or book an enchanting journey to the North Pole on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Polar Express.
Asheville consistently ranks one of the 10 Coziest Cities in America with coffee shops, tea rooms, chocolate lounges, breweries, cozy wineries, and sunset rooftop bars. Whether you’re booking a romantic weekend in Asheville or a family ski vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Carolina Mornings and Coldwell Banker King offer the best selection of cozy Asheville mountain cabins with long-range mountain views, cozy creature comforts, and easy access to free winter attractions and activities in Asheville.
Boone
Beech Mountain Opening Date: December 5th
Summit Elevation: 5,506 ft
You’ll find more High Country ski slopes and snowy adventures in the nearby mountain town of Boone, north of Asheville on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Boone is a small mountain town steeped in Appalachian culture and history and surrounded by natural attractions for lovers of the great outdoors.
Winter fun in Boone!
Boone has three ski resorts in close proximity for winter sports activities. Sugar Mountain Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in North Carolina with 115 acres, 20 ski slopes, a terrain park, tubing park, outdoor ice skating rink, and guided snowshoe tours. Ski Beech is the highest ski area in the east at an elevation of 5,506 ft with 95 skiable acres, 17 trails for all ages and abilities, and a one-stop-shop for all things skiing and snowboarding. The smallest of the ski areas near Boone is Appalachian Ski Mountain with 27 acres, 10 slopes, and freestyle terrain for boarding.
For a day off the slopes in Boone, tube the lanes of the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast at Hawksnet Snow Tubing on Seven Devils Mountain, ice skate at the outdoor ice arena at Beech Mountain, take a scenic drive to Grandfather Mountain, and brave the Mile High Swinging Bridge with views of the snowcapped peaks, or visit the lamas and alpacas at Apple Hill Farm. There are plenty of snowshoe trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains and a winter hike to Linville Falls always reaps rewards in the winter months.
Plenty of time for winter sports in Boone!
Stay with High Mountain Cabin Rentals for the finest Blue Ridge Mountain vacation cabins in Boone, Blowing Rock, and Banner Elk with free Xplorie activities for each day of your stay in North Carolina’s High Country.
Utah
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the gateway to some of Utah’s finest ski slopes and winter sports. The fascinating religious history and world-class attractions of Salt Lake City combined with the natural beauty and exhilarating winter sports in the Wasatch Mountains makes this a top winter destination for a city break mixed with a little adventure.
Salt Lake City is conveniently located approximately 30 miles from Brighton and Solitude Resorts in the Big Cottonwood Canyon, the world-famous slopes of Alta and Snowbird in the Little Cottonwood Canyon, and three world-class ski resorts in Park City. The Cottonwood Canyons receive an average of 547 inches of “the greatest snow on earth”, making this one of the snowiest places in the world. Brighton (1,050 acres) and Solitude (1,200 acres) are nestled at the end of Big Cottonwood Canyon with trails for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, some of the best corduroy in Utah, and the historic Silver Fork Lodge overlooking the cliffs of Honeycomb Canyon. The Alta Ski Area and “The Bird” are top US powder destinations famous for expert powder skiing yet still offering trails for all levels. Sorry boarders, no snowboarding allowed at Alta!
Shred the slopes in Salt Lake City.
Winter bikers explore the trails.
Off the slopes, you can tour the historic and religious attractions at Temple Square and Capitol Hill, enjoy hours of family fun at Salt Lake City’s top tourist attractions, stroll the nature trails at Red Butte Gardens or head to the hills. Salt Lake City is surrounded by outdoor splendor with miles of trails for hiking or biking, the Provo and Weber River for flyfishing, and scenic drives in every direction.
Stay with iTrip in Salt Lake City and you’re centrally and very conveniently located to cruise the slopes of a top Utah ski resort every day and enhance your stay with free local activities during your stay in Salt Lake City.
Park City
Opening Date: November 19th
Voted the “Best Ski Resort in the USA for 2021” by MtnScoop, Park City needs no introduction to winter sports enthusiasts. Park City is one of the best-preserved mining towns in the US and offers visitors heaps of wild-west charm in the historic Main Street, over 150 restaurants, cozy cafes, brewpubs and saloons, vibrant aprés ski, an in-town chairlift with impressive views, and three major resorts offering the best in the west!
Family ski time!
Free in-town transportation makes it easy to get between the three resorts and Christy Sports has all the gear you need to get on the slopes. Park City Mountain offers 7,300 acres with 330 runs, Canyons Resort has 4,000 acres with 182 runs and skier-only Deer Valley has 2,026 acres with 103 runs. The Park City resorts have something for every level of skier and snowboarder with easy beginner areas, thrilling double diamonds, terrain parks, and natural half pipes.
Winter activities and attractions abound off the slopes. Snowshoe the Park City winter trails, snowmobile to mountain peaks, cross a dog-sledding tour off your bucket list, and ice-skate in the heart of Park City. If you’re visiting Park City with kids, Gorgoza Park is always a hit with tubing lanes, snowmobiles, and a fun playground for the little ones.
Explore endless trails with snowshoes!
Xplorie partners with professional property managers in Park City to supersize your vacation with the best places to stay in Park City and fun local activities in one perfect package.
