Ivana De Domenico On The Best Ski Trips in the Southwest

Whether you’re looking for a group retreat, romantic getaway, or family break, a ski resort can present the ideal winter vacation. Even if you are not keen on hitting the slopes, many ski resorts offer a variety of fun activities to fit your budget and lifestyle. If you live in the Southwest, or plan on visiting the region, here are five of the best skiing trips in the Southwest.

Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

Boasting one of North America’s highest-rated ski schools as well as one of the country’s highest lift chairs, Taos Ski Valley combines Native American and Spanish culture, a historic town, and more than 100 ski trails ranging from beginner to advanced levels. In addition to the slopes, you can enjoy hot air balloon rides and hikes to experience breathtaking mountain views.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, California

The setting of the 1960 Winter Olympics and one of the nation’s largest ski areas, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows offers more than 6,00 acres, 16 bowls, 270 trails, and 42 lifts. Other fun activities include snowmobiling, ice skating, snow tubing, and wall climbing. You can also ride the aerial tramway 2,000 feet up to High Camp to enjoy a hot tub, swimming pool, shopping, dining, and spectacular area views.

Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona

Featuring Arizona’s highest vertical drop, Arizona Snowbowl has operated as a popular ski destination for nearly 80 years. In addition to skiing, you can also take advantage of snowboarding, disc golf, and dining with mountain views. As a bonus, Arizona Snowbowl is conveniently situated within an hour’s scenic drive of the Grand Canyon.

Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

Nestled in a canyon in southwestern Colorado, Telluride features a charming, historic town that is connected by the free gondola lift ride to the popular ski range, Mountain Village. Here, you will find more than 2,000 acres where you can ski to your heart’s delight as well as many other fun winter activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and snow biking.

Park City Mountain Resort, Utah

This world-class resort is home to the nation’s largest ski area that includes more than 7,300 skiing acres, 13 bowls, 348 trails, and several terrain parks. What’s more, you can enjoy thrilling adventures like the Alpine Coaster and the Flying Eagle zipline in addition to a fine dining experience that combines delicious dishes, sleigh rides, and incredible nighttime views of the mountains.

About The Author:
Ivana De Domenico is a researcher, scientist, and world traveler dedicated to discovering the new and different. Fluent in five languages and having visited every continent except for Antarctica, Ivana likes to immerse herself in the locales she visits, becoming thoroughly acquainted with local culture. She enriches her trips through her passion for photography, and particularly loves sampling all the cuisine she can. Outside of her travels, she has published many scholarly articles with an emphasis on biological sciences. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.