Beaver Creek Mountain, CO

With a summit elevation of 11,440 feet, Beaver Creek Mountain makes our list of top skiing lifestyle destinations this year because of its all-around variety of trails and features. The mountain is unique for having one of the few snowshoe and cross-country trail complexes at the top of its mountain rather than at its base. Beaver Creek Mountain covers nearly 2,000 acres including 148 trails (43% Int., 38% Adv.), two bowls, and a superpipe. A children's ski and snowboard school offers group instruction for ages 3 to 17. Beaver Creek is located only 25 miles from the Eagle County Regional Airport and 130 miles from Denver International Airport.

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Diamond Peak, NV

If taking in high-altitude panoramic views around Lake Tahoe on a mountain that gets 300 inches of snow a year is part of your dream skiing vacation this season, then you will want to try Diamond Peak Ski Resort. Located near Tahoe's trendy Incline Village, Diamond Peak mirrors Beaver Creek, but on a smaller scale.  There is a trail for every skill level, including tree skiing, open bowls and glades for experts. Diamond Peak has a vertical drop of 1,840 feet, 30 trails (46% Int., 36% Adv.), and a Child Ski Center. Its high-speed lift system moves over 38,000 people per hour. Diamond Peak is located only 35 miles from the Reno/Tahoe International airport.

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Even though it is the largest ski destination in North America, Whistler remains and often untried destination for many ski enthusiasts.  But, you have to do it at least once.  Its location is ideal.  If you’ve never been to Vancouver, then you’ll get a double treat on this trip.  Whistler is located only 75 miles from the Vancouver International Airport which is easier to get through than most U.S. ports. Whistler boasts 100 trails (55% Int., 25% Adv.) on more than 4,700 acres.  It’s huge.  It’s fun. It has more variety of activities than any other destination on our Top 10 list—attractions like fresh-track, and heli-skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, and snowshoe.

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Trying to pick one out of all the outstanding ski destinations in Utah is something we almost decided not to do. But to leave Utah off our Top 10 list of 2008 ski destinations was not an option.  So, our pick this year is a Utah resort with something unique to offer--tranquility.  No long lift lines, No crowded runs. But you will get panoramic vistas from a 10,035 foot summit overlooking 1,200 acres of skiing on 64 trails (50% Int., 30% Adv.), plus 12 miles of cross-country skiing in an area that gets 500 inches of snowfall per year. Make this ski park one of the top 10 you experience in your skiing lifestyle lifetime. You’ll find Solitude 35 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport.

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If Solitude doesn’t do it for you, then perhaps a little piece of Heavenly will.  Located on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly is California's largest ski resort.  It offers the better of two worlds—300 days of sunshine and 300 inches of snow per year. At 10,067 feet, Heavenly has the highest peak in Tahoe.  Its 95 trails (45% Int., 35% Adv.) cover 4,800 acres. Backcountry skiing, dog sledding and open-air ice skating round out the unique experience that this resort’s location makes possible.  It may not be heaven, but it is Heavenly. You’ll find Heaven-ly 54 miles from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

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Shawnee Peak, ME

Finding a unique ski destination in the northeast isn’t easy these days. Most of the resorts are vanilla. Same terrain. Ubiquitous lodges (Mt. Snow may be the exception), condos, hotels and restaurant row.  You know the drill. But, here is a find, Shawnee Peak in tiny Bridgton, Maine. A mainstay in the region for 70 years, Shawnee Peak represents the true skiing getaway. You would be smart to book yourself into one of the area’s classic bed and breakfast houses well ahead of time, because you won’t find a lot of big hotels nearby. You’ll be down Maine all the time—a very local experience. But, there are 40 trails (45% Int. %30 Adv.) and the annual snowfall is a respectable 110 inches. You’ll even find the rare kind of narrow, winding trails on the back side of the mountain. Sweet. Try to schedule your trip during Winter Carnival.  And, if you are reading this from driving distance to Shawnee Peak you can try Carload Dayz--$64 all-day skiing per carload. Remember the old drive-in theatre promotions like that? Well, now you’re getting the feel of Shawnee Peak.

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Crystal Mountain, MI

We agree with Ski Magazine, Crystal Mountain in Michigan is the best ski destination in the Midwest.  It offers the most complete skiing vacation you’ll find anywhere.  And, it is family owned.  Crystal Mountain has 45 downhill slopes and trails, plus 40 kilometers of cross country.
In addition to being named the magazine’s number one resort overall in the Midwest; Crystal received No. 1 in Midwest Lodging, No. 1 in Midwest Dining & No. 2 in Midwest Family Programs honors.

Killington, VT

Okay.  You can’t get around it. With the addition of Pico to its family of, now, 7 mountains (we would have picked Pico for its own uniqueness), Killington is the largest skiing destination in the east. You get access to 200 trials with one lift ticket, 1,215 acres of skiable terrain.  To put Killington into its proper perspective versus other destinations in the northeast, it boasts “more snowmaking coverage than most other eastern resorts have in total skiable terrain.” What this means is, Killington as always is dependable.  You go. You ski. You sauna. You eat (there are 100 restaurants in the area).  You ski. You have fun. What we have always liked about Killington is its classic narrow New England trails. And, a major advantage of its size and ownership is the amount of terrain that can be allocated to different interests from snowboarding and freestyle to a 430 foot long ‘Superpipe’ with 18 foot walls.

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Lake Placid, NY

We include Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid New York in this year’s Top 10 list partly because this stalwart resort is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, but mostly because it frequently overlooked as a must do skiing destination. Home to two Olympic Games, and surrounded by the surprising majesty of the Adirondack Mountains, Whiteface offers the complete range of on slope activities, plus some unique holdovers from the Olympics, like bobsledding and ski jumping competitions that are still held each winter.  Its remote location ensures an uncrowded experience and an unpretentious environment. The trails have character, while the Olympic Mountain (4,867 feet) has the steepest vertical drop in the East (3,430 feet). There is a 3.5 mile intermediate run as part of an overall 18 miles of skiable terrain.

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Loon Mountain, NH

Perhaps the best family skiing experience in the East, Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH is a great skiing destination for both its on-slope experiences, and some of the best off-slope amenities (great condos, timeshare resorts, hotels and B&B’s) as well.  This is always a very surprising vacation. It also offers easy reach to additional skiing areas like Sunday River and Sugarloaf. There are 47 trails on 225 acres. Most trails are classic-- narrow and winding through mountain woods, with some easily manageable by novices as well as intermediates.  So everyone gets a good time here.

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