Lake Placid, NY – What makes a perfect family ski vacation? Is it a mountain large and diverse enough to satisfy all abilities, preferences and choices? Or, is it a quaint village with historical values, a feeling of remote tranquility, invariably warm and hospitable locals, and a festive atmosphere? Perhaps it’s an ample choice of … Continue reading Lake Placid: Family-Friendly Olympic Heritage
Avoriaz, France – Perched atop of an enormous cliff only an hour and a half from Geneva airport, the custom built village of Avoriaz is a unique skiing and snowboarding destination with an atmosphere all of its own. The unique architecture of the wooden buildings make this a strangely compelling place to visit, and the … Continue reading Avoriaz: The World’s Largest International Linked Ski Resort
Courchevel, France – “Have an espresso. It’s quite good.” This sage advice came from Skip King, an old friend and the American press attaché for the Courchevel Tourist Office. He had just flown in from Boston, and he didn’t look much better than I felt. A nine-hour overnight flight from Miami had brought me here … Continue reading Coeur de Courchevel
Gavarnie, France – What can you say about a day when you summit the highest peak in the French Pyrenees under the bluest, most cloudless sky that you have ever seen, and then afterwards, following a short rappel, you have a nearly 5,000 vertical-foot ski descent on soft spring snow on a giant mountain all … Continue reading Pyrenees Haute Route: Venturing with Vultures
June Lake, CA – Less than a thirty-minute drive from gigantic Mammoth Mountain lies June Mountain. June is a small resort that falls squarely in the category of “hidden gems.” June’s terrain is ideal for families who want to ski together, especially if the group includes some boarders. Groups with a number of beginner and intermediate snow sliders will … Continue reading June Mountain: A True Alternative
Stoneham (QC), Canada – “If you don’t slow down, you’re going to give me frostbite!” Such was Rob’s concern as we speed down perfectly groomed corduroy at Québec’s Stoneham Mountain Resort. It was the American Thanksgiving weekend, and we had escaped the crowds by heading north of the border. When you want to get away … Continue reading Stoneham: Destination Resort or Suburban Delight?
Crested Butte, CO – Crested Butte is in many respects the “anti-Colorado resort,” bearing little resemblance to the bustling areas along I-70. Its isolation by road, over four hours from any significant population center, has preserved a small town ambience. The terrain is also like nothing else in the state. Its centerpiece, the North Face, is almost indecipherable by trail … Continue reading Crested Butte: The Anti-Colorado Resort