Skiing is a type of sport and leisure activity that uses a ski to glide through the snow. This type of recreational activity is played in Temperate and Polar Regions mostly in Europe, Asia, and North America and is enjoyed during winter and holiday seasons.
There are several places in cold and temperate countries offering ski holiday packages. Aside from skiing, some ski resorts also offer gondola lifts, indoor climbing walls and a spa and fitness suite for the customer’s enjoyment. Lists of resorts include the top ski holiday destinations from around the world in no particular order.
1. Girdwood, Alaska
Girdwood has several ski resorts including the famous Alyeska Ski Resort, known as one of the largest ski areas in Alaska. This resort has 567 hectares of ski terrain and is a good spot for heli-skiing and cat skiing. Ski Lovers and Enthusiasts would definitely add this resort in their bucket list because this is regarded as the state’s Premier Ski Town. Alyeska Ski Resort offers great accommodations, ski packages and a wide array of restaurants which sells delicacies like Alaskan seafood dishes such as Pesto Roasted Scallop Bisque and Mesquite Grilled Alaskan Salmon. This area also has picturesque views and sceneries where one can see the Northern Lights during winters and early springs.
2. Méribel, France
Méribel, France is a home of great snowboarding and skiing terrains where one can view the French Alps and enjoy lively resorts and night life. It is picked as a favorite spot among ski lovers due to its several skiing resorts with the famous world-class Three Valleys Resort with 600 km. piste. Established by British winter sports enthusiast Peter Lindsey, Three Valleys Resort is considered as a popular ski area for British people and other European skiers.
3. St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
St. Anton am Arlberg is the home of the world’s most famous ski resorts that offers fun and lively après–ski or after skiing activities which can only be found in this area. The first cable car installed in the Alps, well-trained ski guides and experts, winter sports resorts, high-end intermediate and expert-level slopes and live music or DJ partying all night long can all be found in this place.
4. Whistler, Canada
This Northern town of British Columbia is definitely the biggest ski area in North America and is totally the place with the largest terrain parks, steepest steeps and gets the most snow in the continent. This place contains several ski resorts with Whistler Blackcomb as a major ski resort having around 8,171 acres for skiing. Resorts in this place also offer some non-skiing activities like late-night music bars, multi-screen cinemas, amenities for bobsledding and a fitness center and spa.
5. Zermatt, Switzerland
The Swiss town of Zermatt is great for skiers who would love a great skiing experience, a taste of Swiss history and a view of one of the world’s beautiful mountains, Matterhorn. This town is known as one of the World’s ultimate ski resorts, and it is also considered as one of the world’s most expensive skiing resorts. The area has three interconnected skiing zones and vertical drops of about 7,152 feet on the terrain. One could experience a ride on the cable car to see the view of the Alps via Matterhorn Glacier Paradise cable car.
6. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Cortina, a town in Northern Italy region, is called as the most beautiful in the world when it comes to ski areas. A skiing activity, good food, and delicious wine are offered in this area. The place is a must-visit to beginners, intermediate and also expert skiers from around the world because of its ambiance where one could take a glimpse of the famous Dolomites mountain ranges. Other ski areas in Cortina are Tofana and Pomedes where the former is the highest while latter is the largest in terms of the ski area.
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7. Hokkaido, Japan
In the Asian Continent, Hokkaido is a famous spot for ski lovers and tourists who want to experience great skiing and snowboarding. One popular ski area in the island is Niseko Ski Resort, known as the best ski terrain in Japan. Niseko offers a night skiing with 2,560 vertical feet of skiing. The place has several hot springs or onsens which could be a great activity or relaxation after skiing.
8. Montana, USA
Montana has famous skiing resorts like Bridger Bowl, located in the city of Bozeman and Madison Range which overlooks the mountain ranges of Montana. Aside from skiing, one can enjoy hiking through the Hyalite Canyon, one of Montana’s most-visited recreational valleys.
9. Canillo, Andorra
Canillo is a new favorite for Ski lovers and enthusiasts. It has Soldeu and Pas de la Casa, two modern ski resorts forming 195 km of piste. Ski holidays in Andorra include months of favorable skiing from December right up to April. Skiers prefer Andorra because of its high altitude skiing area and nice climate. Resorts situated here also offer good deals on great accommodation.
10. Colorado, USA
Colorado is the home of many ski resorts not only in the US but in the whole North America. This place is best for skiers and snowboarders who really want adventure, great food, and beautiful sceneries like the famous Elk Mountains. Some resorts also offer ski lessons like powder skiing and steep skiing for beginners. Intermediate skiers expect to improve their skiing skills and to become experts in this place.
Final Thoughts
It is worthy to note that skiing has become a hobby or sport of the people living in mild and polar areas and a tourist attraction. With more ski resorts opening and emerging, it is likely to help boost the tourism industry and the cultural heritage of the place and of the country and, of course, promote the physical wellness of ski fanatics, fun, and healthy lifestyle.