Tag Archives: ski

The Gift of a Season Pass

Forget about racking your brain trying to find cousin Al the perfect holiday gift.  Never mind giving Uncle Jim and Aunt Irene the same fruitcake-of-the-month subscription for Christmas.  This year, give your hard-to-buy-for loved ones the gift of a season pass. It doesn’t matter if your gift recipient is a seasoned traveler or one who only hits the road twice a year, a season pass to a ski resort or amusement park is a practical present which can be used throughout the year. For decades, season passes were marketed exclusively to locals, but now the tide is changing.  Several popular … Continue reading →

Get Set to Ski

The West Coast has been hammered by a series of storms causing widespread property damage.  Still, there is a silver lining for some enduring Mother Nature’s wrath.  In Lake Tahoe, nearly 30 inches of fresh snow has fallen, allowing ski resorts there to open early.  Likewise, Utah’s Wasatch Range has already received more than 4 feet of snow prompting Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird to open for business. If you are a snow bunny, Old Man Winter’s early arrival is fantastic news.  Many of the nation’s major ski destinations are hoping the snow and cold sticks around for a while … Continue reading →

Save on a Winter Ski Vacation

I much prefer sunbathing on a tropical island than skiing down an icy slope. However, the deals being offered by ski resorts across the nation right now are so incredible, they actually made me reconsider my upcoming Hawaiian vacation… for like 30 seconds. If you are aching to feel the rush of flying down the face of a mountain at highway speeds, without having to drain your wallet, then you might consider the following fabulous winter ski deals: COLORADO If you are a serious skier, then you can save big by purchasing Vail Resorts’ $599 Epic Pass. The deal offers … Continue reading →

Making Cold Weather Fun

Being transplanted from sunny Hawaii to the frozen tundra that is Wisconsin has forced me to embrace (okay, tolerate) cold weather. Dealing with frigid temperatures is no fun, but when you’ve have kids, you can’t hibernate for the entire winter. To cure cabin fever, consider a winter outing with the entire family. Learn how to cross-country ski, snowshoe or ice-skate. The outdoor activities will give your kids a chance to burn off some steam, and help you spend quality family time in nature. Some options for winter fun include: UTAH Soldier Hollow Cross Country Ski Resort, located in Midway, Utah, … Continue reading →

Spring Break Fun

Personally, I would never consider taking a spring vacation to a ski resort, but that’s mainly because I am surrounded by snow and cold for roughly eight months of the year. For other families (like my brother’s) an ideal spring break consists of hitting the slopes and snowshoeing along finely groomed trails. If you are looking to take a ski vacation this spring, consider the following options in beautiful Utah. SNOWBIRD RESORT This resort offers full-service slope-side luxury lodgings suitable for serious skiers and snowboarders, as well as beginners. The resort is known for its extreme slopes, but also features … Continue reading →

Affordable Family Ski Adventures

Nothing says fun like shooshing down a freshly groomed mountain on a sunny winter day with family and friends. Now, imagine how much more fun you could have knowing that you could hit the slopes without breaking the bank. In an effort to attract travel-weary, penny-pinching families right now, ski resorts from Maine to California are offering cost-saving deals, with Salt Lake City-area resorts offering some of the most incredible bargains. In addition, since 11 ski areas are located within an hour of the airport, competition among city hotels yields substantial savings too. Another way to keep money in your … Continue reading →

Family Fun in the Snow

It’s Thanksgiving and we already have snow on the ground. I suppose that should come as no surprise considering we live in Wisconsin. Still, I was kind of hoping that Mother Nature would wait until at least December 1st before pelting us with the white stuff. Of course, the thousands of snow lovers who eagerly await the first flake of the season do not share my opinion. They are the ones the Appalachian Mountain Club is welcoming with open arms this season. In fact, this year the club is extending its new family weekend series through the winter with programs … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Family Fun Indoors and Out

For some people Thanksgiving is one of the few chances they get to visit with out-of-town relatives. If you are reuniting with your favorite cousin, a nomadic uncle or just welcoming home your college-coed son this Thanksgiving, consider doing more than just sitting around the house gorging on goodies. The long holiday weekend is the official kick-off to a number of seasonal activities, including ice-skating. Several outdoor rinks open to the public on Thanksgiving. In San Diego, where November temperatures often top 60 degrees, the outdoor Ice Arena is already open for business. If you prefer snow to ice, then … Continue reading →

Snow Skiing in the Middle of Summer and Where to Get Bugged Out in the Big Easy

It may be sweltering hot in your neck of the woods, but somewhere in the world people are packing on layers of Lycra under their parkas and getting ready to cut into fresh power on snowy slopes. If would rather glide down a mountain on snow skis than navigate wakes on water skis then consider heading to the Southern Hemisphere this summer to tear down the slopes of Argentina and Chile. Some of South America’s most popular ski resorts, such as Bariloche, Argentina, Portillo, Chile, Valle Nevado, Chile, and Termas de Chillan, Chile (where a new casino and volcano-heated spa … Continue reading →

Don’t Put Away Your Skis Yet

Residents and travelers to Wisconsin aren’t. Parts of the state just got slammed with a whopping 16 inches of snow in less than 24 hours. So much for a spring thaw. But the Midwest is not the only place in the world where you can take advantage of late-season powder. Slopes from Colorado to Vermont to Austria are offering spring ski deals that are worth checking out. Here are a couple money saving deals that might inspire you to take a final run down some of the world’s most famous mountains: MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA It’s one of North America’s most … Continue reading →