You love to ski, but your partner hates it. What do you do? Is it time to end the relationship and find someone else? No, not at all – not if the person loves some other winter activity, that is. Thousands of people travel all over the world just to ski but, if you’re going with someone who isn’t into it, you can book a resort that offers you more than just slopes.
Mount Tremblant
Nestled in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec, situated roughly 130 km north-west of Montreal, the city is a young one, but home to some of the best skiing in the world. Book one of the famous Mont Tremblant chalet rentals, and you can ski, ice skate, snowboard, go shoeing, and even just sit lazily in front of the fire all weekend long.
You don’t have to speak French here, but it helps. In the summer, there’s golfing and swimming, just in case you want to make a deal with your significant other or spouse to return when the weather breaks.
Jackson Hole
When most people think of skiing, they think of Jackson Hole in Wyoming. These slopes are notoriously intermediate and advanced level, with a lot of “never evers” never-ever returning due to misplaced perceptions about the difficulty of the slopes. Yes, they do have smaller slopes and “beginner trails,” but most people come here for serious skiing action. They also come here because Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Park are a hop, skip, and a jump away.
Verbier
Everyone wants to ski in Switzerland just once, just to say that they’ve done it. The historic area of Verbier is hard to beat. It’s got some quality skiing and activities for those who aren’t powder heads. The off-piste terrain is extraordinarily challenging – some of the most challenging slopes in the world. But, if you’re not a skier, and you just want to relax, you can dine in at one of several restaurants overlooking the Alps and tweet, “hey, I’m having lunch with a view of the Alps!”
Kitzbuhel
This resort is 2 hours from Munich, and the destination of choice for those who like both downhill skiing and cross-country. You can also do some epic hiking here. Between November 30th and December 26th, there’s the Kitzbuhler Christmas Market, a smorgasbord of gingerbread creations gluhweign (a mulled wine), a petting zoo for kids, and arts and crafts – holiday-themed of course.
Queenstown
And then there’s Queenstown, New Zealand. It’s a 20+ hour flight to get here, but it’s totally worth it, just for the views. Queenstown is an old gold mining settlement, but it’s evolved into a sports mecca.
There’s skiing, hiking, bungie jumping (yes, winter bungie jumping), boating (as long as the water hasn’t frozen over), and a variety of other winter-related sports.
Kranjska Gora
You may not be able to pronounce it, but this area in Slovenia is amazing skiing. The mountains border Austria and Italy, and they are one of the oldest protected parks in Europe. You’ll also love the food here, since the country has traditionally been controlled by Italy, yet the culture remains strongly traditional – a mix of Austria, Italy, and Yugoslavia (Central Europe, Balkan, and Mediterranean traditions, respectively).
About the Author
Jenifer Peterson has a ski bum for a husband, but doesn’t share that passion. An avid writer, she likes to post articles she thinks will help others in their lives. Look for her helpful posts on many of today’s top websites and blogs.
