Ten Getaways for Skiing

Mammoth Mountain, California
Mammoth is California's favorite mountain resort, located in Central California on the Eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Mammoth is a four-season destination resort with world class activities, lodging, amenities and services.

Mammoth has perfect weather for spring snow - freezing at night and warm during the day. The altitude varies between 8,000 and 11,000 feet. Some of the lower lifts may close, but the upper mountain remains open. The new village that has grown at the base of the mountain by the town has changed the après-ski experience of this resort, creating much more to enjoy rather than purely skiing. Call 888.SNOWRPT for daily conditions.

Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
This is a better mountain for spring skiing and snowboarding than for mid-winter skiing. Located between the Ski and Sport building and the bottom of the Red Lift, experience the snow like never before! Snowblast Tubing Park, where the rubber meets the snow, is full of fun with an 800 foot ride full of rollers. Nearby, the town of Bend is filled with art galleries, shops and filling restaurants.

Lake Tahoe, California
A handful of the Tahoe resorts offer wonderful spring skiing and snowboarding. Kirkwood is perhaps the best with the highest altitude, followed by Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows with excellent exposures. These areas allow visitors to combine sunny skiing and snowboarding with dramatic scenery and excellent nightlife, especially on the south shore of the lake.

Summit County, Colorado
This county claims the highest altitude resorts in the state. The main resorts include Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper, Keystone, Loveland and Ski Cooper.Summit County is a unique area that includes four world-class ski areas, beautiful Lake Dillon, and year-round fun family activities in the White River National Forest.

Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
This area, especially the upper slopes, normally makes it almost to Memorial Day, however, its coastal proximity means variable spring weather. Blackcomb's big bowls and the glacier make this a perfect place to enjoy skiing and riding in the sun. Take a scenic gondola ride to the Roundhouse Lodge, followed by a short walk to an open-air chair lift ride to the peak of Whistler Mountain at 7000 feet. You'll find 360 views, snowy glaciers, volcanic rock formations - don't forget your camera!

Val Thorens/Les Menuires, France
TVal Thorens, at 2300 metres the highest ski resort in Europe, Les Menuires and small but pretty St Martin are excellent gateways to the vast Three Valleys ski area. Val Thorens is a sportsman's resort and the most remote and highest in the vast Trois Vallées area. Val Thorens also enjoys the only glacier skiing in the Trois Vallées with excellent summer skiing. From Les Menuires guides bring spring skiers up early in the morning then push off of Pointe de la Masse (2880 meters) sliding over the early morning crust towards Les Cretes then down to St. Martin de Belleville.

Tignes/Val d'Isere, France
Here, skiing continues past spring throughout the summer and the ski instructors will take groups up each morning and leave then to enjoy guaranteed warm afternoon skiing on La Grande Motte glacier. The altitude keeps even spring snow crisp. Twinned with Tignes, Val d'Isère serves skiers and boarders well, has some blood-curdling beyond-black runs, and enjoys a very lively nightlife.

Chamonix, France
Not one of the picturesque mountain villages in the Alps, Chamonix rates superlatives for its extreme skiing. Many French skiers claim Chamonix is really a spring and summer resort. Avid skiers, snowboarders, and partiers flock to this popular resort, and they are not disappointed. The scenic Chamonix Valley is nestled among some of the highest mountain peaks in the Alps, including the famous Mont Blanc massif (4,810 meters/15,632 feet). Chamonix is known for its fantastic off-trail skiing and snowboarding opportunities, as well.

Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is a tiny village, situated at the foot of the Matterhorn in the German-speaking canton of Valais in southern Switzerland. Zermatt is renowned as one of the best ski resorts in the Alps and is the favoured place to ski by many skiers who come here from all over the world. Located just 10 kilometers from the Italian border (Cervinia), you can go skiing in Switzerland in the morning, have lunch in Italy an hour later and be back in time for a tasty cheese fondue at one of Zermatt's restaurants, that evening.

Oetztal Arena, Austria
The Oetztal Arena comprises four villages: Sölden, Hochsölden, Zwieselstein and Vent. With access to the glacier, the area is a safe bet for action-filled winter holidays. Sölden is the main village of the Ötztal Arena and one of the most renowned winter sport resorts in all Austria. Peaceful and located right next to the Giggijoch ski area, at an altitude of 2,090 m, Hochsölden towers high above the valley and offers high quality accommodations with a very special touch. A paradise for Freeriders, Freestylers and Racers with plenty of boarders' facilities. A brandnew highlight for all freestyle fans is the Obstacle Funpark in the Giggijoch ski area located above Hochsölden.