How to enjoy a ski resort vacation without hitting the slopes
Many people will assume that if you’re visiting ski country, you must be a skier.
However, packing up your skis and hitting the slopes every winter might not always be in the cards, especially when you consider the cost of gear and ski passes. And, if skiing and snowboarding simply aren’t for you, that’s OK too.
Although my family loves to ski, we always look for other ways to enjoy the area when we visit ski towns — especially if mountain conditions aren’t great.
If you want to spend winter in the mountains but skiing isn’t your jam — or if you just want to hang up your skis for the day — know that there are so many other reasons to book a ski resort getaway.
Go tubing
Even if you’re not strapping on ski boots, you can still have fun in the snow by tubing down the mountain. Some tubing hills even require you to take a lift (or magic carpet ride) up to the top of the slope.
This activity isn’t just for children. Whether you’re 6 or 60, you can always feel like a kid when you’re tubing down the mountain.
Well-known tubing mountains include Camelback Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania; Keystone Resort in Colorado; Cranmore Mountain in New Hampshire; and Hunter Mountain in New York. Some places even offer Cosmic Tubing in the evenings, such as Oregon’s Mount Hood Skibowl, which features more than 600,000 LED lights, laser light shows, black lights, colored lights and music.
Read more: Why Snowshoe Mountain is a perfect getaway spot — in both winter and summer
Take a sleigh ride
Sleigh rides are another great way to enjoy the winter — especially with a cup of hot chocolate in hand. In Stowe, Vermont, just down the street from the base of the mountain, you can have your pick of sleigh or carriage rides. Some resorts even offer evening sleigh rides for an exclusive midmountain dining experience. You can find this at many larger resorts, including Beaver Creek, Keystone, Steamboat and Deer Valley.
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Related: Everything you need to know about skiing at Stowe Mountain
Strap on the snowshoes
If you want to exercise without facing a vertical drop, strap on some snowshoes and start exploring. You might even find a resort or hotel that offers snowshoe tours, which are the perfect way to get comfortable with the sport. At The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, you can even embark on a guided snowshoe maple sugar tour.
Related: Best credit cards to use on ski trips
Spend the day snowmobiling
Consider a day spent snowmobiling. With no shortage of snowmobiling trains near most ski resorts, there’s a plethora of options for this exhilarating activity. Snowmobiling will allow you to take in breathtaking views and enjoy the nature around you. If you’re nervous to ride alone, many places have the option to ride on a single or double — or even the opportunity to pair up with a guide.
Although many places only offer snowmobiling to adults and teens, there are a few places that allow young children to participate, too. At the family-friendly Stratton Mountain, kids between 7 and 14 years old can drive Mini Z snowmobiles at the base of the mountain. Or, for a longer trek, kids as young as 4 years old can enjoy a true one-hour snowmobiling tour at Okemo and Killington Mountain.
Explore the ice
Get an ice axe, harness, rope and crampons (a metal plate that attaches to your shoe to aid in walking on ice or climbing) and you’re ready to try ice climbing. While experienced climbers might be able to simply venture into the mountains, many ski towns offer an “Ice Climbing 101” course to guide you along the way with all the equipment provided. Best of all, you don’t need any climbing expertise to try this sport.
You can even find a climbing park for kids in Ouray, Colorado, about an hour from both Telluride and Silverton Mountain.
Bike on the snow
While Stowe Mountain Resort might be well known for its ski slopes, it also offers some of the best mountain biking trails in the country. Rent a fat tire bike, which will allow you to enjoy some of the same trails but on the snow. Take the bikes around the mountain and venture into the village.
A growing number of resorts are introducing ski bikes, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to bike in the snow during your winter mountain vacation.
Explore the village
With mountain towns getting more and more popular these days, you’ll find many formerly rugged mountains are now paired with amazing villages filled with restaurants and shops. But some really go above and beyond, offering everything from ice skating to fireworks and even live performances.
West Coast resorts, such as Beaver Creek in Colorado and Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, offer the largest villages with a plethora of shops and dining. While the East Coast doesn’t always have the same village feel, there are a few hidden gems. At Stowe Mountain Resort, in the middle of the Spruce Peak Village, you will find a fun rink that offers complimentary ice skating, a candy store for kids and parents alike, and a huge adventure center with rock climbing.
Or if Topgolf is your jam, reserve a time slot at the Grand Hyatt Vail in Vail’s Timber Ridge Village.
Head into town
Don’t limit yourself by spending your time solely at the mountain. At Park City Mountain, you have the Olympic Park just a few miles away. Not too far down the road from Stowe Mountain Resort, you’ll find the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, The Vermont Terry Bear Factory and numerous maple sugaring farms. Also in Vermont, you can find classes for making your own candles or medicinal tonics near Smugglers’ Notch.
Be sure to explore each charming mountain town to find activities and cultural attractions you might not find at home. If you didn’t rent a car, many resorts offer buses throughout town to get you where you need to go.
Related: How to plan your ski trip with points and miles
Indulge in apres ski
Indulge in the food, drinks and camaraderie of apres ski even if you didn’t hit the slopes. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve seen more great outdoor options pop up with seating, heat lamps and fire pits. Some resorts even offer igloo dining. What’s better than sitting outside with friends or family, with the mountains in the background and a drink in hand?
During our ski trips, we thoroughly appreciate the opportunity to sit outside after a long day of skiing — with a cocktail or even hot chocolate in hand.
Related: 7 mistakes to avoid when planning a ski trip
Bottom line
No matter where your interest lies, ski resorts offer something for everyone — both on and off the mountain. Even if you’re not a skier, you can still enjoy the mountain ambience and find plenty of activities in the resorts and nearby towns to keep you entertained without ever hitting the slopes.
