Great Skiing Outside Alberta

With more than 15 ski resorts within four hours of Calgary, there is no shortage of quality shredding nearby. However, with variety being the spice of life, sometimes it pays to get on a plane and chase down an entirely new ski or snowboard experience. In the spirit of fresh experiences and fresh snow, here are five destinations full of promise.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Hardcore Loco

There are few mountain resorts in North America that compare to the steep, burly terrain of Wyoming’s Jackson Hole.

Located deep in the jagged Teton Mountain range, Jackson is the epicentre for legitimate big-mountain skiing and snowboarding in the Lower 48. The legendary steep-and-deep destination has produced some of the biggest names in the snowsports industry, from the legendary big-mountain skier Doug Coombs to the current king of snowboarding, Travis Rice.

With an open-boundary policy rarely found at U.S. resorts, Jackson Hole locals have everything they need to become the strongest skiers in the world. As professional snowboard photographer Tim Zimmerman says, “Jackson Hole is where pro snowboarders go to find out they suck.”

Forget the celebrities and the multi-million-dollar estates owned by Persian Princes, Jackson Hole is ground zero for skiers and snowboarders who put turns before everything else. Whether you’re one of the above-mentioned hardcores, the filthiest ski bum that ever lived or just someone who considers himself or herself a skier first and a tourist second, Jackson Hole is a must-do.

The Jackson Hole tram is a veritable landmark in the ski industry, having ferried passionate skiers to Rendezvous Mountain for more than 40 years. (A new tram was put in 2008.) Hit up the Hobacks for great fall-line snowboarding or, for those with a taste for adventure and the appropriate safety gear, hike Granite Canyon to see where the core locals are shredding.

Follow up a day of scaring yourself silly with après at the resort’s rowdy drinking establishment, the Mangy Moose Restaurant & Saloon. Then head for dinner at Pica’s Mexican Taqueria if you’re seeking spice, or the Snake River Grill if you want to spoil yourself. Fall asleep knowing you’ve just ticked off one more box on any true skier or snowboarder’s bucket list.

Salt Lake City, Utah: Powder in Paradise

Canada’s Kootenays and Rocky Mountains are famous worldwide for their unique “cold smoke” snow, but there’s one other place in North America that contends for the powder crown.

Salt Lake City and the iconic snow havens within a half-hour drive of the city centre are a prerequisite for aspiring powderhounds. Featuring the separate ski resorts of Snowbird, Alta, Brighton and Solitude, Salt Lake City plays home base to some of the deepest skiing in North America, if not the world.

With an average snowfall of 13 metres, Alta is the most legendary of these resorts. Unfortunately, Alta is one of three ski resorts in the U.S. that still bans snowboarding. Snowboarders will have to hit up Alta’s more tolerant (and arguably better) neighbour, Snowbird. Both resorts occupy the snow-rich slopes of the Wasatch Mountain range’s Little Cottonwood Canyon, and are synonymous with extremely light and plentiful snow.

Famous ski hills are great, but with fame comes crowds. For fewer people and more fresh tracks, head just down the range, where Big Cottonwood Canyon boasts the quiet slopes of Brighton and Solitude. Both resorts receive the same ridiculous amount of Utah’s trademarked “Greatest Snow on Earth,” but attract significantly fewer skiers and snowboarders, leaving deeper turns and friendlier slopes for powder-preferring families.

Considering the close proximity to Salt Lake City International Airport and the choice of four different but equally snowy resorts, Utah is a trip worth taking.

Lake Tahoe, Nevada/California: A Family Affair

On the border of two states and featuring seven separate resorts, Lake Tahoe is the premiere ski and snowboard destination in the southwestern U.S.

With a huge variety of options, Lake Tahoe is a classic family vacation spot. More than 300 days of sunshine a year ensures enough vitamin D to keep everyone happy, and the ski scene features a wide range, from a significant ski school support system to some of the richest training grounds for some of America’s most famous freeski professionals.

When it comes to keeping the kids spinning and flipping, Northstar-at-Tahoe is the resort to head to. With an award-winning, year-round terrain park scene, you can unleash the kids in this famous park while exploring the ski hill.

Otherwise, families looking to experience one of the most famous ski hills in North America can hit up Squaw Valley. As home to some of the best skiers and snowboarders in America, Squaw is the place for your kids to spot their heroes. The famed KT-22 chairlift will bring more experienced riders to the same slopes that made ski legends Scott Schmidt and Shane McConkey famous.

After a day on the hill, Tahoe’s options really shine. When the family needs to fill up, head to Taco’s Jalisco for some of the best Mexican food in California, or sidle up to the benches of Fireside Pizza Co. in Squaw Valley — the restaurant is one of the best family options in the area. Head to Mamasake sushi restaurant to experience fresh fish, great Japanese cuisine and the latest ski and snowboard movies on its many televisions.   

Every parent knows kids need variety on vacation. With seven ski resorts, Tahoe also boasts the off-hill bonuses of those resorts: bowling, water-slides, hot tubbing and even mini-golf in the spring. Plan a day off the hill to take advantage of it all, and book a babysitter for the night so Mom and Dad can win some chips in one of the shiny casinos along the Nevada side of the lake. All of this makes Tahoe a winning combination for families in need of a getaway.

Aspen, Colorado: Indulgence in the Rockies

There are few ski towns as prestigious and as celebrated as Aspen. From the seminal mainstream ski flick Aspen Extreme, to the antics of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in Dumb and Dumber, this is a town that has spent decades in the spotlight as America’s favourite ski town.

With a host of brick heritage buildings featuring the latest in Gucci, Prada and plastic surgery techniques, Aspen can be mistaken for a poseur’s paradise. However, four impressive ski hills boast enough acreage to keep serious skiers happy while more casual travellers rack up the credit cards.

Aspen is well-suited for families, but shines as a romantic getaway for couples with a taste for the refined. Looking for fresh, unique sushi fare followed by rose Champagne in the hot tub? Aspen’s got it. Want to get fitted for a Hugo Boss suit in the morning and snowboard sun-soaked groomers in the afternoon? The concierge will set that up for you. If you’ve got the money, the best of Aspen is at your fingertips.

If you don’t have money, Aspen still has options. While by no means cheap, the picturesque town still offers reasonable lodging and food options. Catch the Winter X Games in late January to witness the best snow sport athletes in the world, or try Aspen Gay Ski Week for a raucous party rarely found in ski towns.

There is no shortage of celebration in Aspen, whether it’s for you and your loved one, or for you and the rest of the town.

Mont-Tremblant, Quebec: La Belle Party

Canadian ski towns are generally a simple, down-to-earth affair. While they might feature a great après bar and a couple of decent restaurants, the focus is almost entirely on the skiing. But not at Tremblant.

Located an hour and a half north of Montreal, Quebec’s coolest ski resort comes complete with boisterous nightlife with a serious side of culture. Great food, lively bars and sexy party people dominate Tremblant, placing it firmly in Whistler territory when it comes to nightlife.

Add in an extra language, a host of art galleries and the unique flair Quebec is known for, and you have a destination that puts as much into celebrating as it does into shredding.

This Quebec skiing institution possesses something rare in the eastern ski scene — an actual mountain. The area played host to the first chairlift in Canada, and the heritage of skiing has deep roots here. With 645 metres (2,116 feet) of vertical, Tremblant arguably offers the best Canadian skiing east of Banff.

While skiers and snowboarders can expect less steep-and-deep than the Rockies, that shouldn’t stop serious skiers. From the well-spaced glades of the north side to the wide-open super-smooth groomers on the south, Tremblant offers enough to keep most people entertained for a few days.

One warning: it doesn’t just get cold here, it gets Quebec-cold. This probably explains Tremblant’s incredible party reputation, because after the lifts stop turning, and sometimes even before lunch, Tremblant’s village comes alive.

Look closely at the seemingly cookie-cutter village and you’ll see a lack of franchises and a wealth of lively spots to eat, drink and enjoy Quebec’s joie de vivre. Hit up Microbrasserie La Diable for great pub food and microbrewed beers that put most brews to shame. Sit at the bar long enough and the bartenders might just flow you a couple free shots. Right next door is a pizza spot called Ya’oooo Pizza Bar that rivals any ’za joint in Canada.

For something different, head into the town of Tremblant and visit Le Bernardin. A French restaurant with tasty food, great wine and amazing value, this is a popular local’s-only spot. Follow up any of these with a visit to Le P’tit Caribou to see how a real ski town party is supposed to go down. Expect blurred vision, loud music and the very real possibility of public nudity.

And when you wake up in the morning and can’t remember how you got there, don’t be afraid. You are far from the first.