|
|
|
|
Alaska
California | _ | | _ | | |
If you haven't been to South Lake Tahoe recently, you're in for a surprise
Gone are the old motels and t-shirt shops, replaced by a vibrant village, up-scale lodging and exquisite restaurants. Heavenly has turned this quirky ski town into a double-black-diamond destination. Rising 3,000 feet above famous Lake Tahoe, few mountain resorts can compete with Heavenly's scenic beauty and exhilarating on-mountain experience.
Heavenly is truly one of the most unique ski destinations in the world. The destination offers more to do both on and off the mountain than there are hours in the day. With the perfect blend of sunny California days and wild Nevada nights, we're redefining the term "wildlife".
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |
Located just south of South Lake Tahoe Kirkwood is just far enough off the beaten path to be a hidden gem to destination travelers. Known for receiving more snow than anywhere else in the states (638" 4 year snow average) Kirkwood offers some of the most epic array of Tahoe terrain. Featuring 12 chair lifts to access 2,300 acres of terrain with 15% beginner, 50% intermediate and 35% advanced & expert terrain everyone will find uncrowded slopes to suit them best. The biggest news for the year came with the recent approval of our Mountain Master Development Plan which ensures Kirkwood will continue to be in the sights of any Tahoe traveler. The Development Plan includes a high speed quad upgrade to our back side (chair 4) of the mountain improving access to our intermediate cruiser runs, a new ridge top restaurant and additional services to our Mountain Village.
South Lake Tahoe is the nearest big city with 24/7 entertainment and a good choice for a central Tahoe location. Less than 35 miles away Kirkwood offers the perfect retreat from the sometimes chaotic feel of South Lake. Transportation to Kirkwood is simplified with private shuttles for your groups of 20 or more and a public shuttle for the individual travelers. When lodging in South Lake your guests have multiple choices for world class Tahoe resorts with the nearest being Heavenly ski resort featuring their famous gondola picking guests up directly from Stateline casinos. What you may not know is that guests who take a private or public Kirkwood shuttle from South Lake find themselves on the snow in the same time as those who board the Heavenly gondola!!
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |
11,053-foot Mammoth Mountain dominates the Eastern Sierra skyline and the minds and hearts of it's die-hard skiers and riders. Yes-Mammoth is big. Whether you ski or ride, are young or old, beginner or advanced Mammoth is the perfect destination. In 2003, Skiing Magazine rated it #1 Terrain Park with 75 acres, 3 parks, 3 pipes and 8 runs. The endless bowls and steeps could satisfy any advanced skier or rider and new in the 2006-07 season major renovations and on mountain improvements include adding Eagle Ridge Learning Center- Mammoth's third full-service Ski and Snowboard School.
Mammoth boasts one of the longest seasons in the country from November to June, 3,500 skiable acres and 3,100 vertical feet. Combine this with 400 annual inches bathed in 300 days of sunshine and you have a skier/riders paradise.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
ENJOY THE NEW NORTHSTAR RESORT
The eagerly awaited Village at Northstar made its debut in the 2005-2006 season with phase 1 of the new village now complete featuring 72 luxurious slope side condominiums, specialty shops, and restaurants. Just 45 minutes from the Reno airport, Northstar is a destination created with families in mind. The 9,000 square foot ice rink is the place to gather with outdoor fire pits, a s'mores kiosk, boutiques and restaurants surrounding it on all sides. Kid's activities don't stop there with an on mountain tubing center and an adventure park.
The mountain has a something for all skier levels from Mt Pluto known for its abundance of groomed runs, moderate pitch and views of Lake Tahoe to the north-facing Lookout Mountain with great snow quality featuring steep groomers and bump runs. If it is terrain parks you're into, Northstar has six parks, each with an amazing variety of jumps, hips, rails, boxes, a Halfpipe and 420' superpipe. Experience the new Northstar Resort!
|
| | | _ | | _ | | | |
Squaw Valley Blossoms With New Base Village & Improvements
Squaw Valley USA is enjoying a renaissance with its transformation into a world-class, four-season vacation destination. The change is as expansive as the 4,000-acre resort itself and guests will experience the makeover from the moment they arrive. The largest and most visible change is the opening of Phase II of the resort's new and expanded pedestrian base village. Combined with Phase I, the Village at Squaw Valley now offers a total of 286 new slopeside luxury condominiums, seventeen boutiques and shops and seven additional restaurants and eateries all contained in a meandering, European-style village.
|
| | | | | |
Colorado | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Experience the Power of Four
Aspen/Snowmass, anywhere else this would be four separate vacations. It's not just one mountain. It's Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. Decide which mountain fits your passion. Four choices and nearly 5,000 acres. Snowmass, so many runs, so much variety - cruisers, steeps, glades, off-piste, terrain parks, superpipe and the longest lift-served vertical rise in the United States. Rising out of the heart of downtown Aspen and famous for its steeps, bump and incredible views, Aspen Mountain and its double-black and tree runs are fun for skiers and snowboarders alike. Known as the locals' favorite mountain, Aspen Highlands features extreme terrain, groomed cruisers and breathtaking views of the Maroon Bells. For the ultimate ski/snowboarding experience, hike up and drop into Highland Bowl. Home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2007 (for an unprecedented six consecutive years!), Buttermilk is also a premier mountain for beginners. While experts frolic in the X Superpipe and terrain park, the rest of the family can cruise on the wide, rolling trails. Aspen/Snowmass. Experience the Power of Four.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Experience the Power of Four
Aspen/Snowmass, anywhere else this would be four separate vacations. It's not just one mountain. It's Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. Decide which mountain fits your passion. Four choices and nearly 5,000 acres. Snowmass, so many runs, so much variety - cruisers, steeps, glades, off-piste, terrain parks, superpipe and the longest lift-served vertical rise in the United States. Rising out of the heart of downtown Aspen and famous for its steeps, bump and incredible views, Aspen Mountain and its double-black and tree runs are fun for skiers and snowboarders alike. Known as the locals' favorite mountain, Aspen Highlands features extreme terrain, groomed cruisers and breathtaking views of the Maroon Bells. For the ultimate ski/snowboarding experience, hike up and drop into Highland Bowl. Home of the ESPN Winter X Games through 2007 (for an unprecedented six consecutive years!), Buttermilk is also a premier mountain for beginners. While experts frolic in the X Superpipe and terrain park, the rest of the family can cruise on the wide, rolling trails. Aspen/Snowmass. Experience the Power of Four.
|
Hotel Jerome Spring break On Us Promotion | | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Crested Butte has grown from a booming mining town in the 1880's to one of the most respected ski mountains in the country, without losing that genuine mountain hospitality. Experts will find numerous steeps, chutes, and cliffs to explore off the Extreme Limits and The Headwall, and can experience steep 'n deep, backcountry-style terrain off the North Face lift. Intermediates and beginners will thrill to the abundant cruisers under Paradise and Keystone lifts. The village and town are dotted with excellent restaurants and night spots, quaint specialty shops, and art galleries to round out the skiing experience. If you're looking for the authntic mountain town experience, you'll find it at Crested Butte!
Guests will enjoy several million dollars' worth of improvements throughout
the resort this year (from base area facelifts to expanded snowmaking to lift
upgrades), with ever more dramatic transformations to follow. Innovative
architectural teams are polishing plans to essentially re-create the central
ski village from the ground up.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
This season is an exciting one here in Breckenridge. New this year, Breckenridge Ski Resort boasts the highest chairlift in North America, reaching 12,840 feet.
The Imperial Express SuperChair accesses 400 acres of famed expert and advanced intermediate terrain previously only accessible via hiking and provides panoramic vistas of the Ten Mile Range. Accessed from the top of 6-Chair, skiers and riders are whisked up 939 vertical feet to the legendary above timberline terrain of Imperial Bowl, North Bowl and Whale's Tale and to the resort's in-bounds extreme terrain located in the Lake Chutes. The new high-speed quad brings the total number of lifts to 28 and increases the resort's lift-serviced terrain by 25 percent. The new lift combined with Breckenridge's rolling crusiers, which are groomed every night, the steep bumps runs on Peak 9, the award-winning terrain parks and pipe and a historic town that tells the story of Breck's spirit of adventure makes Breckenridge is truly the perfect mountain town.
(All Breckenridge Resort photos courtesy of Vail Resorts, Inc.)
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |
Copper is the perfect vacation destination for Colorado skiing and
snowboarding. Copper is easily accessible - located just 75 miles west of Denver in the heart of Summit County, Colorado. Copper is Summit County's
largest ski area with over 2,400 skiable acres and averages 280" of snowfall
during our ski season. Of all the Colorado ski resorts, Copper has plenty to
offer for all ages and abilities. The new Copper Village features plenty of
incredible lodging options, shops, restaurants, bars and family activities.
All of the lodging is just steps away from the mountain and gives you access
to the Copper Mountain Athletic Club.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | | At 9,097 Feet, nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, sits Frisco, CO, the Main Street to the Rockies and your hub for viewing the changing season's colorful show. Along with the beautiful colors,businesses throughout town will be offering Autumn Spectacular 9,097 Deals on lodging, dining and shopping plus. Make your plans now to visit Frisco, CO.In the summer and fall, the Recreation Area hosts mountain bikers and hikers who enjoy trails winding through the forest and along the shores of Lake Dillon. A ball field with a view of surrounding mountains and picnic areas attracts families and groups. In the winter, the Peninsula is home to the Frisco Nordic Center and a playground for cross-country skiers, snowshoers and biathletes. Discover 25 miles of pine forested shoreline around 3,300 acre Dillon Reservoir, encircled by the Swan Mountain and the dramatic Gore and Ten Mile ranges located at the end of Main Street in Frisco.
Frisco Nordic Center
With more than 46 kilometers of trails for skiers of all abilities, the Frisco Nordic Center is considered one of the best in Colorado.
Located at the Peninsula Recreation Area, the Nordic Center is at once convenient and authentic, offering a first-class facility for skating, classic skiing and even snowshoeing, all in a true Rocky Mountain setting.
A variety of lesson programs are offered, along with rental and demo equipment, and each season the Nordic Center hosts several races for all types of competitors. The Nordic Center is typically open from mid-November to early April. Frisco is central to 5 premier Colorado Ski Areas including: Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland. Vail, Beaver Creek and Ski Cooper are less than 1 hour away allowing you to stay in Frisco and save money on lodging.
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
KEYSTONE. Pure. Simple. Pleasure.
The `lazy days of summer' is a relative term at Keystone. Experience what the Rocky Mountain's have to offer all in one place - Keystone, Colorado.
Two award-winning golf courses wind along the Snake River and up through alpine meadows. Nearly sixty miles of trails - from scenic singletrack to screaming downhill runs - provide some of the best mountain biking in the country. And then, of course, there's all the hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, festivals, films, concerts, and so much more to do.
It's a good thing Keystone has 300 days of sunshine each year. With everything there is to do at Keystone, you'll need it.
You play for FREE when you stay at Keystone. As a Keystone Lodging guest, you receive a FREE Adventure Passport loaded with coupons for activities and adventures (mountain bike clinics, golf clinics, yoga, guided hikes, adventure treks and more).
Mountain Biking at Keystone- World Class Downhill and Hundreds of Miles of Trails
The Keystone Bike Track consists of some of the country's best downhill trails with progressive terrain for riders of all abilities. Take your bike up a chairlift and gain access to some of Colorado's most exhilarating expert downhill challenges with rock gardens, rock drops and high-speed features. Beginner and intermediate bikers can enjoy roller coaster rides over bridges and berms without the steepness or rock gardens you'll find in other areas of the park.
And, Keystone is the hub for hundreds of miles of world-class single track. The Keystone Bike Park trails combined with the trails branching from the Colorado Trail provide seemingly endless riding opportunities.
Keystone Takes Golf to New Elevations
Golf in the Colorado Rockies couldn't get any better than what Keystone has to offer at Keystone Ranch and The River Course. But if you find 36 holes on your own is not enough, try a clinic to perfect your short game - a free activity included on the Adventure Passport. Take advantage of the affordable golf and lodging packages at Keystone and play our championship golf courses that overlook picturesque Dillon Reservoir, the Continental Divide, and majestic Buffalo Mountain. Keystone Resort received three consecutive Silver Medals from Golf Magazine as one of America's Best Golf Resorts and was named as one of the nation's Top 75 Golf Resorts by Golf Digest.
Keystone Ranch Golf Course
This course is known not only for its challenging holes, but also for the views. With vistas of the Gore Range, the Keystone Ranch Golf Course winds through lodgepole pines, around sage meadows and across a nine-acre lake. It is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular courses in the country.
Robert Trent Jones, Jr. was the mastermind behind the par-72 course, which takes a Scottish links-style design on the front nine and a traditional mountain valley layout on the back nine. A historic ranch homestead lies at the center of the golf course, housing a AAA Four-Diamond TM restaurant and the golf clubhouse.
The River Course at Keystone
The highly acclaimed River Course premiered in 2000 and six years of play have made it that much better. Not only has the course grown into its setting, but its fairways and greens have also matured. The first tee features a 100-foot drop, while the rest of the front nine provides water hazards and wide, open fairways. The back nine features dramatic elevation changes and views of Lake Dillon, the Gore Range and Buffalo Mountain.
Golf course architects Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry designed The River Course with environmental sensitivity and playability in mind. They preserved wildlife corridors and wetlands, while minimizing runoff and erosion and incorporating native plants. And they included five sets of tee boxes on every hole. Both golfers and native wildlife have benefited from the thoughtful design of The River Course.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |
When Olympians gather in Utah it's called the winter games.
When they gather in Steamboat it's called Thursday.
There are several things you can count on when you vacation in Steamboat. Rich western heritage, small town hospitality, and snow, lots of it. With an average of nearly 30 feet of snowfall every season, you can expect to relish in many satisfying powder days. But it's not just any snow in Steamboat, they have the driest and fluffiest snow in the world. It's so different, they coined the phrase Champagne Powder®. In fact, meteorologists have measured Steamboat's Champagne Powder® as having 70% less moisture content than average snow. If you have a hard time believing it, visit Steamboat and get a taste for yourself.
|
Ski Steamboat and SAVE | | | _ | | _ | | |
The celebrated soul of this historic town remains spirited and uncompromised. Once bustling with miners in search of gold and silver, over a century later both locals and tourists are enchanted by its history, beauty and charm. Majestic peaks cradle this tiny town, just eight blocks wide, 12 blocks long and peppered with colorful Victorian homes and clapboard storefronts.
Something for Skiers and Riders of all Ability Levels:
Traversing from east to west, the terrain shifts from expert to beginner, keeping skiers and riders in areas suitable to their skills. The east end of the mountain provides a formidable challenge for experts, the middle of the mountain offers plenty of cruisers and corduroy for intermediates, and the west side offers gentle runs where beginners can play.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Vail's 43rd season promises to provide skiers and riders with new programs, events and experiences that deliver something for everyone.
Vail offers 5,289 acres of the most exciting and vast adventures you can imagine. On a busy day Vail averages just four people per acre- there's plenty of elbow room. Choose from perfectly groomed corduroy trails to Volkswagen-sized bumps on the Front Side or head straight to one of the seven colossal Back Bowls to make your own powdery first tracks; you've got six miles to explore. Blue Sky Basin is an experience all its own with 645 acres of gladed trees, cornices and naturally formed trails that feel miles from civilization. Everyday skiers and riders find something new. For traditional terrain park lovers, the Golden Peak Terrain Park and Pipe is home to big-time events with a superpipe, numerous jumps and hits and a unique log rail park. Three smaller parks, Bwana, Mule Skinner and Hunky Dory, allow a more progressive approach with features that stand lower to the ground. With more than 300 days of sunshine, 346 inches of natural snow annually and 34 lifts to get you there, at the end of the day only you will know where you found your secret adventures in Vail. And if you're not sure how to begin the Vail Ski & Snowboard School has many specially designed programs that will comfortably propel you into your next adventure.
(all photos of Vail Mountain resort courtesy of Vail Resorts,Inc.)
|
Enjoy up to two free nights at the Arrabelle at Vail Square, a RockResort! | | | _ | | _ | | |
Beaver Creek turns 25! Hailed by SKI Magazine readers as one of the top resorts in North America, Beaver Creek is gearing up for what promises to be an exciting silver anniversary season.
Reminiscent of a secluded European alpine village, Beaver Creek combines the polish and refinement of a five-star resort with a relaxed, family atmosphere. The resort's village-to-village ski and snowboard experience is complemented by a mountain-top snowshoe and cross country ski park, world-class spas, a year-round outdoor ice rink, sleigh ride dinners, family programs and more. Beaver Creek is home to some of the West's most celebrated Rocky Mountain restaurants and pioneer chefs. The resort is located just 25 miles East of Vail/ Eagle County Airport offering nonstop jet service from 14 major U.S. destinations.
(All photos of Beaver Creek are courtesy of Vail Resorts, Inc.)
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Very few things actually improve with age. Fortunately, Mary Jane Mountain, Winter Park Resort's famed terrain for bumps and spectacular tree skiing and riding, is one of them. "Thirty years young," Mary Jane will grace this season donning a new high-speed six-pack chairlift in place of the Summit Express quad, even better tree skiing and riding through enhanced glading, an updated look to her Club Car bistro-style restaurant and more effective on-mountain signage designed to get you to where you want to be faster and with more efficiency.
Just 67 miles outside of Denver, Winter Park Resort has earned the distinction of "Colorado's Favorite" with an average annual snowfall of 349 inches, a #1 ranking for bumps three years in a row by Skiing Magazine, and a loyalist following unlike any other mountain. With an upcoming season choc full of live music, festive parades, bump events and a Mary Jane look-a-like contest, Colorado's Favorite is sure to become everyone's favorite mountain for incredible bump skiing, endless tree lines, infinite powder stashes and one all-season-long rockin' birthday bash.
|
| | | | | |
Idaho | _ | | _ | | | The American Original
There can only be one original and since 1936, Sun Valley has held that distinction. Born out of a desire to bring the magic of the European ski resorts to America, Sun Valley quickly became a phenomenon and still holds the charm that attracted so many back then. | | | _ | | _ | | | More Powder...
Fewer Skiers
Located in the heart of Idaho's magnificent west-central mountains, Tamarack Resort offers an extraordinary blend of mountain, meadow, and lake amenities in one exquisite location.
Tamarack's Ski Mountain boasts a 2,800-foor vertical drop and features world-class alpine skiing, backcountry skiing, snowboarding, Hells Canyon SuperPipe, and No Business Terrain Park.
Despite the size, Tamarack has captured and embraced the spirit of a boutique adventure resort, where every guest feels a special connection to the land and the people he or she encounters. | | | | | |
Montana | _ | | _ | | | We invite you to vacation at Big Sky Resort, Montana's leading destination. You'll enjoy the exceptional lodging accommodations, fine dining and fantastic skiing and riding. In addition to the extensive recreation opportunities Big Sky is known for it's breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife and gracious hospitality. Located midway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone Montana, we share the same splendor as Yellowstone National Park.
Big Sky Resort in Montana offers you three mountains graced by over 400 inches of annual snowfall to delight skiers and snowboarders. The signature Lone Peak rises to a lofty 11,166 feet with European-style expert terrain accessed by the Lone Peak Tram. Andesite Mountain has some of the resort's most notable intermediate trails, some comfortable south-facing beginner trails, several expert tree runs and a giant half-pipe and terrain park with rail slides. Flat Iron Mountain is on the eastern shoulder of Andesite and offers even more variety.
Big Sky has a total of 3,600 expansive acres, 4,350 jaw-dropping vertical feet and over 150 named trails. Big Sky also has a reputation for short or non-existent lift lines makes this truly a place all your own. We hope you'll experience it for yourself this winter. Now with the option of the Lone Peak Pass, the combined total with Moonlight is 5,300 acres! | |
Nevada
Utah | _ | | _ | | | Whatever your ability, Alta is for you! Alta Ski Area provides the skiing; private businesses provide the rest, including lodging, dining, helicopter & backcountry tours, massages and church services.
Deep powder snow, rugged terrain and spectacular scenery are world renown charateristics of Alta. Its best kept secret is the great beginner and intermediate terrain. The wide variety of awesome terrain and snow conditions provide skiing opportunities for every level of skier.
Lodging options are limited in Alta, so we included options in both Snowbird, which is adjacent to Alta, and The Marriott Residence Inn which is at the mouth of both Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons and a 20 minute drive to Alta. | | | _ | | _ | | | What started with one rope tow in 1936 has now become a world-class Utah skiing mountain resort offering a wide variety of terrain covered by an incredible amount of snow. For the 2007-2008 season Brighton will be the first to offer high-speed access to 100% of its terrain! Perhaps it is the only mountain where friends or families can ride together on the same lift and then peel off onto different trails - beginner, intermediate, or expert - and all meet at the bottom to ride the lift together again.
| | | _ | | _ | | | THE LINE BETWEEN ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY HAS BEEN DRAWN
Located in the legendary ski town of Park City, The Canyons is one of North America's largest single ski and snowboard resorts, providing you with an endless number of options. With 3 world-class lodging properties, 8 mountains, 3,700 acres of diverse terrain, 152 trails, 17 lifts and the Greatest Snow on Earth, it's no wonder The Canyons is your Ultimate Winter Playland.
This season, bigger just got better. The Canyons has invested over $10 million in improvements to the resort. Including the installation of the all-new DreamCatcher lift that opens an additional 200+ acres of pristine glades and natural trails. Upgrading the Tombstone express to a high-speed 6-pack and completing a major expansion of Red Pine Lodge increasing its capacity by 50%.
All of this is located just 32 freeway miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport and just minutes from historic downtown Park City. This means you'll spend more time skiing / riding and less time getting to the resort.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Deer Valley Resort revolutionized the ski industry in 1981 by providing the attentive service, gourmet food and luxury accommodations one would experience at a fine hotel. Deer Valley was honored in 2001 and 2005, by being named the #1 ski resort in North America by the readers of SKI magazine, and they proudly hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games slalom, aerial and mogul events. Exceptional customer service, consistent quality and attention to every detail are all part of the Deer Valley experience. And their four mountains, offering a wide variety of terrain, allow guests more than ample opportunity to indulge in the annual 300 inches of light, dry Utah powder.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Ogden City was an official Venue City for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. All qualifying and medal rounds for men's and women's curling were held at The Ice Sheet located on the campus of Weber State University.
Seventeen miles east of Ogden, Snowbasin Ski Resort hosted all of the alpine speed events including the men's and women's Downhill, Super G, and Combined competitions, as well as the speed and technical alpine events for the Paralympic Games that followed.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Host site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City offers a wide variety of skiing terrain, consistent snow conditions, and easy access via Salt Lake City International Airport. Park City receives 350 inches of Utah's "greatest snow on earth" annually.
With 3,300 acres of the Greatest Snow on Earth,your journey around the Resort's nine bowls and 100 trails will challenge you in the steep `n deep powder, through the bumps, between trees, across rails, over jumps and atop manicured corduroy runs for everyone from first-timers to black diamond experts. While you're here, learn the latest techniques for better turns from passionate ski and snowboard instructors. And, don't miss the resort's four top-rated terrain parks, "Signature" groomed trails, energetic base area, fresh on-mountain dining, and unique Town Bridge, the on-snow gateway to Historic Main Street. Park City Mountain Resort is your passport to the best that winter has to offer.
Photos courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort. | | | _ | | _ | | | There is no place like "The Bird"! Averaging over 500 inches of light, dry Utah powder annually, Snowbird is a true mecca for ski enthusiasts and families alike. This resort offers some of the best powder skiing and some of the most challenging terrain in the world, yet beginners and intermediates will enjoy the area as well. Snowbird is a cozy, slopeside, pedestrian village, harmonizing naturally with the rugged beauty of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Accommodations, restaurants, shops, skiing, and all other activities are within easy walking distance. Snowbird is also one of the world's easiest resorts to get to, with Salt Lake City International Airport only 29 miles away.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Experience four of the greatest resorts in the Rockies when you purchase a Super Pass. Go to a different mountain everyday! Plus, the Super Pass gives you free transportation vouchers to get from Salt Lake City to the mountains and back! No rental car is needed. This Super Pass is only available to people who pre-purchase the ticket before arrival, and this ticket is not for sale at any of the resorts! Salt Lake City is the only place in the nation that puts the ambiance of the city within 40 minutes of the greatest snow on earth!
The Ski Salt Lake Super Pass may be redeemed for an all-day lift ticket at Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, or Solitude and includes the Snowbird Tram and Brighton Super Ticket (9am-9pm when night skiing is available). The Super Pass also includes round-trip transportation on UTA buses, ski buses, and TRAX light-rail.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Solitude Mountain Resort is a short 28 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport located high in the Wasatch Mountains where over 500 inches of Utah powder falls and breathtaking slopes rise 8,000 feet above glacier-cut Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is only 12 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon from Wasatch Boulevard.
What it's known for: Solitude is known for its lack of crowds, great variety of terrain, award-winning trail planning, and an intimate European village featuring elegant lodging, exquisite dining, and impeccable service.
Best kept secret: Honeycomb Canyon, accessible by both Summit, and Powder Horn lifts, is one of many historical mining areas that existed over a century ago. If it were possible to take an x-ray of this canyon, it would resemble a honeycomb. Besides its historical significance, it is the home to the best off-piste powder skiing at Solitude with its open bowls, chutes and tree runs.
| | | | | |
Wyoming | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Welcome to Jackson Hole. Amazing in the winter, absolutely spectacular in the summer!
Jackson Hole and Teton County are located in the Northwest corner of Wyoming and serve as the southern entrance to Yellowstone National Park and the gateway community to Grand Teton National Park.
The town has an old west feel with lots of shops, restaurants and art galleries while the valley offers a wide variety of activities to suit absolutely anyone and everyone.
Visitors come to Jackson to tour the national parks as well as enjoy world class fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, biking, wildlife expeditions and river rafting.
The town of Jackson and the surrounding community offers a broad range of accommodations ranging from campgrounds, budget motels to 5 * luxury hotels as well as a wide variety condominiums and private homes for rent.
The valley is served by the world's only airport in a National Park with daily jet service from several US gateways including Chicago, Denver, Dallas and Salt Lake City.
Throughout the summer the community also offers a large variety if art shows, festivals, outdoor music concerts, community theaters as well as The Grand Teton Music Festival.
We may be The Ski Organizers, but we have a lot of experience selling Jackson Hole and we can help you plan that perfect Jackson Hole Spring Summer or Fall getaway.
|
| | | | | |
Canada | _ | | _ | | | Ski Banff @ Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine Village has over 7,700 acres of terrain surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Banff National Park. Unlimited variety & consistent snow are key elements to these three world-class ski resorts.
Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff-Lake Louise-Sunshine promises memorable skiing and snowboarding amidst the world's most awesome scenery. Within the protected wilderness of Banff National Park, you'll find three ski areas and two mountain towns alive with spirit and hospitality (Banff and Lake Louise) - all just 90 minutes from Calgary International Airport.
These three superb ski areas connected by a convenient shuttle and are accessible with one lift ticket. Outdoor activities include snow shoeing, heli-skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, curling and tobogganing. Enjoy hundreds of restaurants and over two hundred retail outlets.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Big White is situated on the edge of the Monashee mountains, a mere 56 km from Kelowna, the largest city in the Okanagan Valley. The village accommodates Canada's most modern totally ski-in/ski-out resort properties and provides you with everything you'll need for a great vacation within walking distance.
Voted `Best Weather' by Ski Canada Magazine, you too can feel the difference natural snow makes as you cruise the long rolling groomers, hit the powder bowls or watch your mates ride the rails and try their luck at the Olympic sized super pipe. Big White is the second most popular resort in super natural British Columbia, one of the world's greatest snow sport states.
Big White is fun for the whole family. Once the chairlifts stop, Big White comes alive with exciting activities for all ages. Join in the torchlight parade, watch the fireworks spectacular, win prizes at the kids' carnival night, and meet new friends at the "Taste of Big White" or around the open air fire pits.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Fernie Alpine Resort is the resort powder lovers dream of, with an average annual snowfall of over 29 feet! With over 2500 acres of terrain and over 2800ft of vertical, 5 spectacular open bowls, ridges & glades, there is endless adventure on this mountain. A wide variety of brand new on-mountain ski-in/ski-out condo-style accommodations have been developed, as well as, improved base area facilities. Skiing Magazine put it best when they said, " Fernie Alpine Resort is another magical place where temperatures are mild and snowfalls massive!"
| | | _ | | _ | | | Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, North America's newest snow resort, opened in the 2000-01 season. Located on the western side of the Rocky Mountain Trench, Kicking Horse is quickly gaining a reputation for exciting terrain covered in legendary Rocky Mountain champagne powder snow.
Ski or ride the Canadian Rockies' biggest vertical and 4,133 feet, all lift accessed and fall-line. The 8 passenger gondola takes you up 3,800 vertical feet in 12 minutes to maximize you on-snow time. Take the challenge of top to bottom runs or access the Stairway to Heaven chair to stay in the high alpine with its sensational soft snow.
The home of the Eagle's Eye Restaurant, enjoy smart skiers lunches or intimate dinners in Canada's most elevated dining experience at 7,700 feet. There is something for everyone at North America's "secret no more". | | | _ | | _ | | | Deep in the heart of Western Canada's legendary helicopter-skiing country, Red Mountain Resort provides the kind of skiing experience rarely found anymore.
Red Mountain is one of the oldest ski resorts in Canada. Nestled in the Monashee Mountains in southern British Columbia, the town of Rossland began its life as a gold-mining town. Now, the slopes surrounding the town draw avid skiers and snowboarders to its steep terrain and especially to its backcountry areas. The resort offers a "ski anywhere" terrain policy opening up some of the best off-trail tree skiing in North America.
The resort includes two mountains, Granite and Red Mountains, covering 1,200 acres of skiable terrain. This place is heaven for experts. One-third of its 83 trails are marked for "extreme caution," offering thrills for the more adventurous. The resort offers a vertical drop of 880 meters (2,900 feet). Only 10% of the runs are good for beginners and are mostly located in the Paradise area. However, some of these are at high altitudes and provide great views. Forty-five percent of the resort's trails are marked for intermediates, most of which are in the Paradise area, as well.
At Red Mountain, expert snowboarders are in heaven, too. They are drawn by the "snowboard anywhere" policy opening up some of the steepest and most extreme terrain in the country. Most snowboarders come to Red Mountain for the freeriding. Heli-skiing has been recently added to the list of delights offered by the resort.
In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, winter visitors enjoy snowmobiling, backcountry touring, and cross-country skiing (25 kilometers/16 miles of trails).
The town of Rossland itself is small and quiet. It doesn't have a resort feel to it, but rather boasts the authenticity of a real town with long-time residents. The resort's crowd-free runs and some of the most extreme terrain in the world invites anyone with a taste for adventure to grab their skis and snowboards and head for Red Mountain.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Completed in 2002, the Delta Sun Peaks Resort is a world class, luxurious, year-round destination resort located approximately 50 miles from the Kamloops International Airport. With breathtaking views on all sides, it is the only 4-Diamond property in the interior of British Columbia and is located in the heart of Sun Peaks Village.
The Delta Sun Peaks Resort is a luxurious, full service hotel offering a variety of services and facilities for guests to relax and enjoy. Take advantage of the 3 outdoor hot tubs and enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains or enjoy a meal at the award winning Mantles Restaurant. The restaurant is open daily and a children's menu is available and ages six and under eat free. A Children's Creative Centre is available with toys, games, and activities. A Business Center, catering, special event and conference facilities are also available.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Welcome to Silver Star Mountain Resort, located in the interior of Super Natural British Columbia, Canada's skiing and snowboarding mecca. This Resort offers 115-plus runs on 3,065 skiable acres, serviced by over 12 modern lifts. Most notably, Silver Star annually enjoys over 700 cm (23 feet) of light, dry, powder snow. Combine that with an average temperature of -5C (23F) and the result is truly unbelievable skiing and boarding. From easy, cruiser-friendly Vance Creek to expert-haven Putnam Creek, there is literally something for everyone. With its rare mid-mountain location, this uniquely colourful village offers a variety of fantastic ski-in, ski-out access.
It's easy to see why some of the best freeskiers in the world grew up with Silver Star as their backyard: the varied terrain and award winning TELUS Park are a freerider's dream come true! Geared towards rider progression, TELUS Park features a wide range of tabletops, hips, funboxes, rails, S & C boxes, wall rides, plus a halfpipe. A dedicated big air site allows development for more advanced riders, while the race centre and dual mogul courses provide high-speed thrills for those who like it fast. Combine park tunes, a host of freestyle events, plus a brand new "Park Bully" groomer that will provide more of the immaculate grooming that Silver Star is renowned for, and you can see why TELUS Park Silver Star is truly a breeding ground for freestyle talent.
Silver Star also offers exceptional Nordic skiing. Many Olympic teams including the USA, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand have already choosen to train on the resort's 105 km of trails, in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be hosted by Vancouver & Whistler. With a variety of terrain and an average temperature of -5 C Silver Star is perfect for comfortable long-distance skiing. The resort also boast two fully certified biathlon ranges and 4 km of lit trails for night skiing.
There are so many exciting activities at Silver Star, you'll want to extend your holiday just to fit them all in. Whether you want to test your prowess on the mountain, trying out "hero powder" on the double black diamond runs, or just relax beside a romantic stone fireplace, the choices are endless. At Adventure Park, you can speed downhill on truck-sized inner tubes, the kids can ride their own snowmobile and Brewer's Pond is ideal for a classic Canadian game of hockey or a leisurely ice skate. If you are looking for something different, why not view the scenery around Silver Star's beautiful village on a thrilling snowmobile ride through the picturesque snow covered trees? Or perhaps you'd prefer to discover the natural wilderness of the mountain on an unforgettable guided snowshoe tour or sleigh ride. Whatever you choose to do, you will have a fantastic time at our world class resort. Silver Star has something for everyone. Whether you want to relax, unwind or experience the thrill of the mountain, you'll find it all at Silver Star.
The charming, Victorian inspired village offers convenient ski-in, ski-out access to Silver Star's boutique retail shops, restaurants and cafs. The magical village offers an excellent selection of hotels, a purpose-built international ski hostel, award-winning vacation homes, and suites and condos each with their own unique style and warm hospitality. This pedestrian only, mid-mountain village provides ski-in, ski-out access from every doorstep.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Mont Tremblant Resort is located in the beautiful Laurentian mountains of Quebec, Canada. It offers the perfect setting for your winter vacations and summer escapes. With over 600 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain, a picturesque village and the best public golf courses in Quebec, there's lots to see and do. Find lodging and special vacation packages right here. Experience winter and summer at its best at Mont Tremblant !
| | | _ | | _ | | | When Whistler Mountain opened in February of 1966, few people understood the impact the resort would eventually have on the North American snow scene. How could they? No one had ever attempted anything on such a large scale before. Today, Whistler Blackcomb virtually defines the big-mountain resort scene with the highest vertical, biggest acreage, most glaciers, best glades, a renowned terrain park and, arguably, the world's best mountain bike park. The longest winter season in North America in combination with summer glacier skiing and riding, alpine sightseeing and hiking, and the Whistler Mountain Bike Park make Whistler Blackcomb a year round, world class resort destination. | | | | | |
Austria | _ | | _ | | | Chosen as the site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games, Innsbruck considers skiing part of its city's life. Innsbruck is one of the few resorts in Europe with a snow guarantee. Free buses shuttle you from downtown to nearby ski areas. Among them Igls and Mutters will appeal to the novice and intermediate skiers with long, wide-open trails; Patscherkofel at 7,490 feet and Hafelekar, which is reached by a series of lifts at the edge of town, offers steep, challenging runs for the more advanced skiers; Axamer Lizum, expanded for the 1976 Olympics, has a wide variety of trails for everyone, especially the Women's Downhill Course which is a favorite of intermediate skiers; Stubai Glacier, with 18 lifts, 35 miles of well groomed and marked runs and a vertical drop of 4,790 feet guarantees great skiing year round. The famous cross-country area Seefeld is within easy reach. Other close by activities include sleigh rides and tobogganing or an exciting ride on the Olympic Bobsled run. Innsbruck's night-life, shopping, museums and more will keep you busy after skiing. You may also enjoy some of the daily excursions to Vienna, Venice, Salzburg, Bavarian Castles, Kitzbuhel and St. Anton available to all guests of Innsbruck. Situated on a plateau overlooking the Inn Valley and the Olympic town of Innsbruck, Igls offers the refined atmosphere, the alpine hospitality and modern comfort the connoisseur is looking for. Located at the foot of the Patscherkofel, Igls offers proximity for alpine and cross country skiing. Nearby Innsbruck (3 miles) offers all the shopping and entertainment of a lively city.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Gateway: Munich
Kitzbuhel is the most famous holiday resort in the Austrian Tyrol. Lying 800 meters above sea-level, it's surrounding scenery breathtaking and the town itself, which is some 700 years old, is full of charm. Visitors of Kitzbhel are offered the opportunity to practice all kinds of sports and hobbies and enjoy traditional entertainment. All this has made Kitzbuhel famous worldwide. Over a century ago, in the winter of 1892, skiing began in Kitzbuhel. The most famous skier of all time, Toni Sailer is now the director of the "Red Devils" ski school, one of six ski schools and lives in "Kitz". Each year the spectacular "Hahnenkamm Downhill" is staged and thousands of excited spectators crowd the "Streif" to cheer on the fearless downhill skiers. The new snow making facilities on the Streif, guarantee excellent snow conditions. 56 lifts run in and around the town joining the various peaks but for the ever-increasing number of non-skiers who holiday in Kitzbuhel, a never-ending amount of activities are offered including miles of pathways through the surrounding countryside for walkers; a skating rink, curling alleys, the "Aquarena" which houses two excellent swimming pools, a sauna, a solarium, as well as a massage center, a casino and indoor tennis courts. The following scheduled excursions are available locally: Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich, Venice, and Rattenberg. For those who have come to enjoy the "apres-ski" and evening entertainment, Kitzbhel is the place. Come experience genuine Tyrolean "Gemutlichkeit" in Kitzbuhel.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Lech and its higher neighbor Zurs are the most glamorous and expensive resorts in Austria. Their shared slopes could fairly easily be linked with those of St.Anton - but then their rich and royal visitors would be forced to mingle with hoi polloi from their equally famous but less exclusive neighbor.
Lech is for those who don't mind fur coats, do like well groomed, snow sure, cruising slopes, and are content to enjoy a winter holiday in pampered comfort and style in a traditional Alpine village. There are challenging slopes available (mainly off-slope) and the tougher slopes of St.Anton are only a short bus- or car-ride away. But it is the part-timer, who enjoys the aprs and the strolling as much as the winter sports who will get the most out of the resort. It helps to have a deep pocket.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Gateway: Zurich/Munich
A traditional Alpine ski village which has kept pace with the times, St. Anton combines the charm of Austrian hospitality with lively aprs-ski activities and some of the most beautiful ski runs in the Alps. St. Anton's 2 ski schools are famed as the largest ski schools in the world. It's 300 instructors can teach you how to master the famous Arlberg technique. Peaks over 9,000 feet, a vertical drop of 5,000 feet and runs up to 5 miles long offer a challenge to everyone. Beginners and intermediates will enjoy the open snow fields accessible by the Rendlbahn gondolas as well as comfortable trails among the Kapall and Galzig complexes. The Galzig-Valluga cable cars carry skiers to the more challenging runs from the Vallugagrat to the village of St. Christoph. Your St. Anton ski pass is also valid in Zurs, Lech, Stuben, St. Christoph, Sonnenkopf (Klsterle) and Zug. The aprs-ski life is quite diverse including sunny outdoor cafes, late night discos and traditional Tyrolean entertainment.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Gateway: Munich
The tzal Arena is a spledid mixture of four fabulous ski resorts - all different and with their own individual character. But all offering the excitement, fun, and traditional hospitality that go to make up the perfect winter sports holiday. Slden is the vibrant international ski resort par excellence. Hochslden more quiet and more compact, Vent is in an idyllic location and Zwieselstein is a heaven of peace and tranquillity. Each in their own way have won a place in the hearts of many visitors who would not dream of skiing elsewhere - and the key to sucess is the utter dependability of the snow in the tztal Arena. It's unique situation means masses of snow arrives on cue each winter, with 22 lifts serving a lovely range of slopes for all abilities. But just to underline the fact that snow is assured, there is skiing on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers with a well-planned
system of 10 ski lifts. This means that season is in full swing here while many other resorts are still waiting for snow to arrive. In autumn it is a training Mecca for National ski teams to train - and for anyone who can't wait to get back on skis. The villages have a great range of apres ski, and the well equipped sport centre can take care of any excess energy.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Gateway: Munich/Salzburg
Zell am See-Kaprun is easily reached from Munich. Nestled between a lake and the Schmittenhohe Mountain, Zell am See-Kaprun offers the best of two worlds: excellent skiing during the winter season and superb glacier skiing combined with water sports in the summer. A large selection of shops, nightclubs and restaurants keep the aprs ski time busy and exciting. Free ski buses bring you to the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier and all base lifts of the Zell am See-Kaprun ski area. Excursions via rail or bus to Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna, Venice and other points of interest are available.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Gateway: Zurich
Founded in the 14th century, Lech, surrounded by 9,000 foot mountains, retains its medieval charm while its slopes bask in international fame. This idyllic setting offers downhill runs from both sides of the valley right to the center of town. Tree-free steep descents and wide open bowls provide great skiing for all levels. Your lift ticket links you with nearby Zurs, Zug, St. Anton, St. Christoph, and Stuben. Lech & Zrs have it all: world famous ski schools, guided ski tours, heli-skiing, snow-boarding, paragliding, child care at ski kindergarten, winter hiking, cross country skiing in untouched nature, ice skating and Austrian style curling, toboggan run, horse drawn sleigh rides, outdoor cafes , late afternoon tea dances, and entertainment that runs until almost dawn complete the picture. Who could ask for more?
| | | | | |
Bulgaria | _ | | _ | | |  | |
The town of Bansko is situated nearby the river Glazane (left feeder of Mesta River) in the north- eastern foot of Pirin, right bellow the highest and most beautiful part of the mountain. Its name comes from the old Bulgarian word "ban", which means "master". It is just 160 kilometers away from Sofia and 6 kilometers from Razlog. Bansko has developed into a favorite ski & snowboard destination, thanks to the excellent ski facilities combined with the unique architecture and history.
The town of Bansko is located on 925 m. above sea level, and its skiing area is on 2000-2600 m. The Pirin mountain has a predominantly Alpine character and highest peak in the area is Vihren 2914 m.
The ski pistes are located in two main ski - centres- CHALIN VALOG (1100-1600 m) and SHILIGARNIKA (1700-2500 m). They are approximately 10 km above the town on the northern slopes of Pirin, and are easily accessible for approximately 25 minutes ride on the new Gondola lift which starts from Bansko. The total length of the marked pistes is 70 kilometers.
Although the resort is famous for not more than 10 years it has a lot to offer to its guests. The resort has excellent snow conditions with great snow cover from December until May.
44 Technoalpine snow cannons cover most of the slopes and make the ski season last longer. The maximum pleasure from the various ski pistes is guaranteed by 12 Kassbohrer slope maintenance vehicles. Thus the slopes offer runs and tracks for all types of skiers and will suit both beginners and experts.
The snowboard lovers can enjoy the first on the Balkans fun park where people from all over the world are lead by the passion of the extreme. They can build jumps suiting their taste and abilities.
Every day skiers and snowboarders can take part in the competitions on the new piste on Shiligarnika.
The lift and pistes operator in Bansko takes care for the maximum comfort of the skier and snowboarders with the exclusive 8-seats Gondola cabin lift by Dopplemayer, five high speed squads of the latest Doppelmayer models, one 3-seat lift by Poma, 7 drags and 10 baby drags. The total length of the lift equipment in the resort is 26 kilometers. All ski equipment can be used by one chip-card from SkiData.
Huge monitors showing pictures from the different pistes is based on the starting station of the Gondola. Thus people are informed for the wind and temperature conditions before climbing up on the slope.
Slalom and Giant slalom runs are available. Bansko offers a cross-country track with a total length of 5 km. A 3 km ski run Rollbahn track is situated
2 km far from the town. More about the ski runs and lifts in Bansko!
APRES SKI
The unique combination of a well developed mountain resort and a living historical town turns it into an elegant place for entertainment. Virtually every house has its own story to tell, which indeed can turn your vacation into a journey to the Bulgarian traditions. The traditional Bansko taverns (called "Mehana"), with their exceptional charm and style offer local atmosphere by their cuisine and good selection of Bulgarian wines. Most of the local "Mehanas" even offer live folk music. Many local cafes and bars offer refreshments. Discos and night clubs work without time limit, and usually close early in the morning.
Information on the RESTAURANTS in Bansko FOOD AND DRINK IN BANSKO Bansko mountain resort is remarkable regarding restaurants and nightlife.
During the active winter season the resort is full of visitors enjoying their mountain holiday.
Numerous high class restaurants with perfect service and sophisticated menus can be found in most of the 5 and 4 star hotels.
More than 200 traditional mehanas offer wide range of local and national delicious specialties and selected drinks.
The traditional Bansko Taverns often provide live shows with orchestra and entertaining program with folklore motives, which create unique atmosphere that can only be felt on spot.
Several aprs ski bars offer refreshments and snacks on the ski zone, and in the resort. Wild parties and unforgettable moments are guaranteed in the local clubs and discos.
BulgariaSki team highly recommends some of the top local bars and mehanas in
Bansko resort. Check out the list of taverns and bars we have prepared for
your convenience! Special surprises and discounts are available in the
restaurants listed below.
- 1. Balkanci Restaurant - BulgariaSki.com Team highly recommends Balkanci
restaurant as the newest serbian restaurant
- 2. Ethno Restaurant Welcome to the unique Bulgarian restaurant, Ethno,
located in "REDENKA GOLF&SKI CLUB".
- 3. Casa di Mare The team of "CASA DI MARE" invites you to the most
attractive restaurant in Bansko
- 4. Parmigiano Restaurant Visit one of the newest restaurants in Bansko,
which will take you to the romantic atmosphere of Italy.
- 5. Kasapinova Kashta - address: Yane Sandanski str., Bansko
Kasapinova House is a traditional Bulgarian folk restaurant providing
home-style cooking served in 19th century folk-style environment.
- 6. Chobanov Han - 13, Tzar Simeon str., Bansko
"Chobanov Han" tavern has a capacity of 250 indoor seats and another 350 in
the charming summer garden
7. Mehana Chardaka - 16 Pirin Str, Bansko
Mehana Chardaka is a lively place right at the town's centre.
All appetizers are prepared in front of your eyes.
- 8. Mehana Chevermeto - 4, Vazrajdane square, Bansko
Chevermeto is located in the very heart Bansko - on Vazrajdane Square and is
built by the rules of local architectural tradition
- 9. Mehana Valevitsata - 75, Glazne str., Bansko
Located within a short walking distance of the cabin lift's first station,
Valevitsata Tavern welcomes its guests in the Bulgarian style and mountain
hospitality.
- 10. Lovna Sreshta Tavern - 29, Simeon Molerov str., Bansko
"Lovna Sreshta" tavern is located in the home place of one of the voievodes
of Ilinden rebellion - Simeon Molerov.
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Sofia Bulgarian: is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,270,010 (making it the 14th largest city in the European Union), and some 1,386,702 in the metropolitan area, the Capital Municipality.It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of the country.
One of the oldest cities in Europe, the history of Serdica-Sredets-Sofia can be traced back some 7000 years ago - prehistoric settlements were excavated in the centre of the present city - near the Zar's Palace, as well as in the suburbia like Slatina and Obelia. The well preserved town walls(especially - their substructures) from antiquity date back before the 7th century BC, when Thracians established their city next to the most important and highly respected mineral spring, still functioning today. Sofia has had several names in the different periods of its existence, and remnants of the city's millenary history can still be seen today alongside modern landmarks.
Sofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. It is situated in western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The valley is the largest one in the country with territory of 1,186 square kilometres (457.9 sq mi) and average altitude of 550 metres (1,804 ft). Three mountain passes lead to the city, which have been key roads since antiquity, connecting the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black and Aegean Seas.
A number of low rivers cross the city, including the Vladaiska and the Perlovska. The Iskar River in its upper course flows near eastern Sofia. The city is known for its numerous mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the last century.
It is located 150 km (90 miles) northwest of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city, 390 km west of Burgas, 472 km (294 miles) west of Varna, Bulgaria's major port-cities on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The city is situted at less than 200 kilometres (124 mi) from the borders with three
countries: 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Kalotina on the Serbian border, 113 kilometres (70 mi) from Gyueshevo on the frontier with the Republic of Macedonia and 183 kilometres (114 mi) from the Greek border at Kulata.
Places of special interest
The city also offers many places of special interest such as the Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library (which houses the largest national book collection and is Bulgaria's oldest cultural institute), the Sofia State Library, the British Council, the Russian Cultural Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, the Hungarian Institute, the Czech and the Slovak Cultural Institutes, the Italian Cultural Institute, the French Cultural Institute, Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes, and the Open Society Institute. Families with children used to be able to enjoy Sofia Land, the nearly nine-acre amusement park adjacent to the Sofia Zoological Garden (founded in 1888). Unfortunately the park was closed in 2006.
Sofia currently enjoys a booming film industry as the filming ground of several international film productions. Vitosha Boulevard, also called Vitoshka - ranked as the world's 22nd most expensive commercial street - represents numerous fashion boutiques and luxury goods stores and features exhibitions by world fashion designers. Sofia's geographic location, situated in the foothills of the weekend retreat Vitosha mountain, further adds to the city's specific atmosphere.
Tourist attractions
Some of Sofia's popular tourist attractions include among others:
RELIGIOUS SITES:
- The late Roman Church of St George (4th century), situated in the courtyard of the Sheraton Sofia Hotel.
- The early Byzantine Church of St Sophia, built in the 6th century.
- The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the early 20th century in memory of the 200,000 Russian soldiers, who died in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878 St Nedelya Church The tiny Church of St Petka of the Saddlers from the 14th century featuring some fine frescoes.
- The Banya Bashi Mosque, built in the 16th century.
- The Sofia Synagogue, the largest in the Balkans.
- The Russian Church, Sofia (Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker), built in 1914 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES:
- The Bulgarian National Historical Museum, noteworthy for its Thracian treasures.
- The National Archaeological Museum.
- The National Gallery of Foreign Art.
Miscellaneous places of culture
- The Ivan Vazov National Theatre.
- The outdoor book-market on Slaveykov Square.
- The National Palace of Culture cultural and congressional centre - the largest multifunctional complex in Southeastern Europe, inaugurated in 1981 and situated in a lush green park surroundings.
OUTDOOR SIGHTS:
- The Monument to the Tsar Liberator commemorating Alexander II of Russia.
- Sofia's central boulevards paved with Viennese yellow cobblestones.
-
Vitosha MountainVitosha mountain, one of the symbols of Sofia, just a short drive or lift trip away, open year round. Ski and snowboard are popular in the winter, and hiking in the summer.
Borisova gradina, Sofia's main and oldest garden, the construction of which began in 1884.
Other places of interest
- Sofia Public Mineral Baths, decorated with the finest majolica tiles and completed in 1911.
- TZUM, Sofia's oldest and largest department store.
- The Largo, an architectural complex in downtown Sofia which includes the headquarters of many national institutions Sofia Zoo
| | | | | |
France | _ | | _ | | | The oldest ski resort in France is really a quaint village of 10,000 people where the tradition of fine skiing combines with the diversities a town this size can provide. Five main ski areas through the valley offer 50 lifts and varied terrain for skiers of all abilities. Le Brevent cable car begins just above the town and climbs to over 8,000 feet. Les Houches, Le Tour and sunny La Flegere is where beginners and intermediates will find many trails to ski. Les Grands Montets is the most popular area for the intermediate and the more advanced skiers. Strong intermediate and above skiers will want to accept the challenge of the Aiguille du Midi, reached by a two-stage cable car. This 7,000 foot descent on and along the glacier of Vallee Blanche includes spectacular mountain scenery dominated by Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. For non-skiing hours, shops brim with crafts, fine clothing and perfumes. Horseback riding, swimming, tennis and ice skating are available. The casino and a variety of night spots will fill your evenings. Your Mt. Blanc ski pass also includes Courmayeur, Italy, Megeve and Les Contamines, France.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Courchevel is a series of hillside villages created in modern French style. Saint-Bon and Le Praz are charming ancient savoyard villages from the 16th century. Le Praz (Courchevel 1300) is lift-serviced for convenience. At 1550 and 1650 are two lovely, sunny, family oriented resorts with direct access to all the slopes of the 3 valleys. Courchevel 1850 is haut cuisine and all night partying if you please. They even created "Villages des Enfants", a protected ski area, where everything is geared for children's safety and fun! Since Courchevel was one of the hosts of the 1992 Winter Games it benefited from accelerated construction projects for new lifts, snowmaking, grooming facilities, hotels and restaurants. The lift system includes the world's largest cable car and connects to the Trois Vallees areas. | | | _ | | _ | | | Meribel is a special case among big French resorts: it is a modern and well-equipped resort which has kept the charm of an old village in Savoy. The most recent buildings respect the rules of the traditional architecture perfectly fitted to the landscape. In the heart of the marvelous skiing area of the "Trois Vallees", perfect for the pleasure of people keen on sport and beauty, Meribel is a harmonious resort for skiing with the sun all day long. Your "Trois Vallees" ski pass allows you to ski Courchevel, Les Menuires,Val Thorens and La Tania in addition to Meribel. There are trails for all abilities from wide, gentle well-groomed slopes for the beginners, to steep trails with moguls to challenge the experts. The extensive snow making system guarantees good snow on major trails leading to the resort. For off-trail skiing, we recommend a guide who will take you to untouched slopes to ski your heart out. Cross country skiing is also popular in the 3 Vallees Region. A special 6-day nonskier pass including cable cards, gondolas and shuttle bus between Meribel, Courchevel and Brides Les Bains (featuring a casino) is a great feature allowing nonskiers to fully enjoy this beautiful region.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Megeve, well known to the world's elite, has maintained its country Haute
Savoie character despite the modernization of its surrounding areas. A
quaint pedestrian zone with boutiques and cafes, beckons for an afternoon
shopping stroll, followed by a delicious cappacino coffee with french
pastry. For the skiers, Megeve's 3 mountains (Rochebrune, Mont d'Arbois,
Jailet) offer 124 well groomed slopes, served by 81 lifts, with snowmaking
on major slopes leading to the resort. Choose between the World Cup
downhill run, bumps or cruising terrain, Megeve has something for every
ability. For lunch, you can choose one of the 30 mountain restaurants.
Megeve, this quintessential picturesque ski town, offers a great variety
of night entertainment with disco's swinging into the early morning hours.
Megeve offers activities for everyone: alpine and cross country skiing,
trekking, skating, flying, theater, concerts, shopping and more... Megeve
has it all!
| | | _ | | _ | | | Situated mid-way between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva, Morzine is stunning for Alpine scenery, nestled between forests and summits. Here life is leisurely, and the village has lost nothing of its original Charm and the Savoyard way of life.
Ideally placed right in the middle of the Portes du Soleil, Morzine is the gateway to a marvellous winter playground of 650 km of ski-slopes. In summer, these slopes become sign-posted footpaths for trekking and MTB. Not forgetting the miles of open spaces surrounding the ski-runs from where you can head off into the middle of nowhere.
Either for a few days or a longer holiday, both idlers and sports fans will find everything they need for a real break with family or friends - everything for a perfect, peaceful and pleasurable holiday. Sharing, laughing, playing, discovering, with loads of thrills, fresh air, great food and views. You'll have a ball!
ONCE UPON A TIME... MORZINE-AVORIAZ
THE BEGINNING OF TOURISM - THE BUILDING OF THE GRAND HOTEL
It is often rumoured that Morzine's debut as a tourist destination was due to a few obstinate well-placed civil servants posted in Geneva, who succumbed to the charms of this old village huddled at the top of the Aulps valley, and its gentle curving mountains and sheer vertiginous cliffs.
The `Grand Hotel' (first tourist hotel built in the 1920's) and its owner Franois Baud opened up a new chapter in the village's annuls. The influx of summer tourists was a breath of fresh air for local inhabitants who lived a modest life based on agriculture and the already declining slate-mines.
1934: OPENING OF THE PLNEY CABLE CAR
Ever more intrepid, tourists were slowly seduced by winter in Morzine. The thick covering of snow was a pretext for games and hitherto unknown sports:
tobogganing, ski-jring (towed behind a horse), the beginnings of downhill skiing and even ski-jumping!
In 1934, the Pleney cable-car was officially opened with great pomp and ceremony. It was only used by hikers and those in search of Alpine views, as skiing was still a sport reserved for the reassuring prairies down in the valley.
1960:THE BUILDING OF AVORIAZ
Winter sports were developing at an alarming pace and Morzine locals were in search of higher ski-fields, having already built ski-lifts on Pleney, Nyon and Chamossire.
In 1960 Jean Vuarnet became resort director, and his task was to develop Avoriaz. The building of this `little Savoyard Colorado' with its mimetic architecture was the decisive move that lead to the creation of the Portes du Soleil, thanks to close relationships formed with Champry and les Crosets. It also lent Morzine-Avoriaz its double identity which allies tradition with modernism.
MORZINE TODAY
Following in its ancestors' footsteps, Morzine today continues this tradition of charming hospitality and controlled development. Today the resort has conserved the village's old-world `look': wooden facades, sculpted balconies, slate-covered roofs. all of which are typical of Morzine. But its services and infrastructure are in line with the demands of modern tourism.
Photo Credits:
Photo 1 JP Bertin/ OT Morzine
Photo 2 JP Bertin/ OT Morzine
Photo 3 F. Reinhart/ OT Morzine
Photo 4 F. Reinhart/ OT Morzine
Photo 5 F. Reinhart/ OT Morzine
Photo 6 F. Reinhart/ OT Morzine
Photo 7 F. Reinhart/ OT Morzine
Photo 8 F. Reinhart/ OT Morzine | | | _ | | _ | | | Tignes offers fantastic world class skiing all year long. Dazzling sunlight and feathery crystalline snow are hallmarks here.Everything seems on a grand scale: the largest glacier, the highest golf links and a marvelous new funicular (underground express) enabling 300 people at a time to reach 3, 035 meters (9,995 feet) in a mere 6 minutes. Oh yes, the carving and cruising at Tignes is fantastic, especially if you do not want to do the same run twice, if you should manage to try every run at Tignes, you still have all of Val d' Isere on the same ticket! Life at L' Espace Killy is grand! If that is not enough there is: para-gliding, snow scooters, husky drawn sledges, under-ice diving, snow shoeing, ski touring and hiking.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Val d' Isere. "the authentic skiers' village", manages incredible harmony between modern tourism, local architecture and being part of one of the largest ski areas in France. As host to some events of the '92 Winter Games, more polish was added to an already magnificent gem. L' Espace Killy is so immense it seems the only way to see it all is from the space shuttle! This little village reaches to a dizzying height of 3,700 meters and encompasses over 10,000 hectares (1 hectare = 10,000 square meters) of light powder covered snowfields! If your paradise is perfectly groomed and a little gentler, the Solaise sector has the nicest beginner and intermediate slopes. The Bellavarde sector has superb access including the Funival, an underground express through the rock, to the top of Rocher de Bellevarde, with lots more great runs The Col de Iseran area provides access to the Glacier de Pissaillas. The entire region of Val d' Isere has some of the most breathtaking vistas and best skiing imaginable. | | | _ | | _ | | | VAL THORENS At 2,300 meters Val Thorens is the highest village in the Trois Vallees Region. This area is vast and varied; it has some of the best expert/advanced skiing on the planet! From La Masse (2,805 meters) or Cime Caron (3,200 meters) the steeps, the powder, and the solitude are the essence of skiing, the epitome of the experience! Intermediates can ski or board nearly everywhere due to the excellent escapes. Beginners will love the many trails available and will revel in the thrill of Trois Vallees as well! Most hotels are situated for ski in, ski out. You can also enjoy boarding, para sailing, tandem micro-light aircraft, trekking, snowmobiling or video arcades and dancing all night long. This place has the rhythm of Carnival all at your doorstep! In addition there is an immense indoor sports complex, with three tennis courts, squash courts, roller hockey, golf simulator, gym, indoor swimming pool, sauna and massage. | | | | | |
Italy | _ | | _ | | | Cortina is a world-famous winter resort that rivals any other in the Alps. Magnificently situated in a sunny amphitheater, it is ringed by spectacular peaks which rise nearly 2000 meters above the village. Cortina has offered a complete range of winter sports facilities since hosting the Olympic Games in 1956. In Cortina, life centers around the Corso, a traffic-less, shop-lined street where the late afternoon passeggiata proceeds without fail. You can browse and see the latest winter fashions, as well as purchase a gift from one of the many antique and craft shops. At the heart of the Corso is a central piazza, a church with towering campanile, and the interesting Regole Museum. Excursions to Venice, Plan de Coranes/Brunico and Pieve di Cadare are available locally. Cortina also hosts World Cup events in mid-January, bobsled races and a horse show on snow. At night, enjoy one of Cortina's exclusive night clubs and discos.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Courmayeur, Italy, is located in the western end of the Valle D' Aosta on the border of France. The old village is perched under beautiful Mt. Blanc (15,780 feet), the highest mountain in Europe. Courmayeur is a long time favorite of ours and clients ask to return year after year. The locals are friendly, the skiing and snowfall abundant, and the nightlife lively. Because of its location, on the border of France and near Zermatt Switzerland, skiers have the opportunity to ski 3 different countries in one week! Courmayeur is world famous for combining Italian and French ambiance and charm. The locals are multilingual in French, Italian, and English. Skiers enjoy fresh pasta and the local red wine at the many cozy slope side restaurants. Evenings are spent strolling the winding cobblestone streets, exploring the many shops, and relaxing in cafes and restaurants. Intermediate skiers appreciate the wide open slopes and beautiful vistas, while the Val,e Blanche, an 11 mile glacier run starting in Italy and ending in Chamonix, France, is available for more advanced skiers. | | | _ | | _ | | | Stylish and supremely Italian, yet with quiet charm, this resort offers
sunny, snow-sure conditions and lashings of la dolce vita - at a price.
Tucked into a secluded nook in Val Rendena, with slopes tumbling down into
town from both sides of the valley, Campiglio's pedestrianized village has
an intimate atmosphere. Exclusive, but understated rather than
ostentatious, it's popular with wealthy Italian families, fairly well
known outside Italy and a proper party town. That said, it feels crowded
only at Easter, Christmas and New Year, thanks to its relative isolation
when compared to other Dolomite resorts.Italians take eating, shopping and
strolling at least as seriously as skiing, so Campiglio's tree-lined
slopes are rarely busy - and by late afternoon they're virtually empty.
Italians also like to look good on the hill and Campiglio's beautifully
manicured, gentle slopes help do exactly that. The ski area can be divided
into four: Passo Grost and Monte Spinale on one side of the village and
Pradalago and Pancugolo on the other side.
Pros
High for an Italian resort, with a good snow record and eight out of ten
days of sun.
Party town, Italian style
Best snowpark in the Dolomites
Cons
Expensive by Italian standards.
Relatively inaccessible.
Limited advanced skiing.
Nearest Airports/Stations
Trento train station - 1 hour
Bergamo airport - 3 hours
Verona airport - 2.5 hoursLinked/Nearby Resorts
Linked: Folgarida, Marilleva
Nearby: Monte Bondone, PinzoloFacts & Figures
Resort altitude 1550m
Highest lift 2580m
Vertical drop 1550m
Ski-in/ski-out
Total pistes 150km
Nursery areas 2
Pistes: Beg/Inter/Adv 17/13/5
Funiculars/cable cars 0/1
Gondolas/chairs 4/12
Drags 5
Parks 2
Pipes 1
Night-skiing No
Summer skiing No
Environmental rating
Glhwein factor
Cost indicator
| | | _ | | _ | | | The Val di Fassa is a fascinating valley, surrounded by worldwide famous peaks, sited in the heart of the Dolomites in the North East of Trentino. Inhabited by Ladins, a minority people with a strong identity and own language, it is a place rich in culture and tradition and is known also as the realm of the legendary King Laurin. Experience the Val di Fassa emotion, let yourself be enchanted by breath-taking views and seduced by ancient tastes and traditions. A life style in harmony with nature.
For sport enthusiasts the valley offers a wide range of activities in contact with nature both in winter and summer.
During the winter season the Val di Fassa is a true skiing paradise, with more than 200 km slopes and direct links to the neighbouring ski areas. In the Dolomites of the Val di Fassa you can go for a different ski tour every day: the famous Sellaronda ski carousel around the majestic Sella massif, the beautiful Great War Tour, the recent Skitour Panorama from Alba di Canazei to Pozza di Fassa, or the Tour di Emozioni in the Tre Valli ski area. From December to April modern lifts serve kilometres of perfectly snow-covered slopes, moreover innovative electronic skipasses, provide an easy access to all the ski areas.
Snowboarders will find various snow parks equipped with rails, borders, jumps and pipes where to boost their adrenaline.
Skiing at night is possible three times a week in Pozza di Fassa at the Ski Stadium Aloch and in the Carezza ski area on the Christomannos slope.
Maybe nowhere in the whole Alpine region it is possible to find the technological supports that the nine ski-areas of the Val di Fassa are provided with: 82 comfortable and rapid up-to-date lifts and almost 700 machines for the snowmaking system ensure either skiing even in the early winter season and a high standard quality of slopes, improving safety at the same time. Every night, in fact, slopes are prepared and made even by the numerous snow-cats operating to assure slopes in perfect conditions for the following day. One of the main features of the valley ski-offer is the possibility to choose every day different ski-areas and slopes while having access to the most beautiful ski-tours of the Dolomites. "The Tour of the four Passes" (the so-called 'Sellaronda') is the most famous one and it connects the four Ladin valleys of Fassa, Gardena, Badia and Livinallongo placed all around the Sella massive. Guests have at their disposal more than 200 km of slopes (more than 98% covered by the snowmaking system), with altogether 82 lifts operating: 7 cabin lifts, 7 cable-cars, 43 chair lifts (generally three or four seats) and 25 ski lifts, for an hourly capacity of 109,000 persons/hour. Fans of the cross-country skiing can exercise their sport onto the trail of the Marcialonga of Fiemme and Fassa, one of the main long-distance skiing competition in the world which, since more than 30 years, is run every year the last Sunday of January. In addition, other cross-country rinks are set up either at the "Alochet" Center of the San Pellegrino Pass or in the Ciampac ski area and, along the Avisio river, almost in any town of the valley. In particular, the cross-country skiing circuit of Pozza di Fassa (a rink of 4.5 Km) is open and even enlightened at night all over the winter season. Five ski-schools operates in the valley offering altogether more than 200 ski teachers, many qualified also for snowboard teaching and other winter activities such as touring ski, snowshoes walks, or ice climbing. For families with children, many are the winter playgrounds on the snow, placed in almost every town of the valley, where kids can enjoy and have fun while learning to move their first steps as skiers. In particular kindergartens run by the ski schools offer the possibility of leaving children to a skilled staff the whole day long.
A winter week spent in the Val di Fassa turns out to be an exciting experience also for those people who do not ski. Relaxing in refined wellness centres, feeling the exciting paragliding, swimming in the indoor swimming pool of Canazei or ice-skating in the modern Ice Stadium in Alba, these are only some of the winter activities that anybody can practice here. Snowshoe walks, winter walks along easy paths, or riding on horse-drawn sledges will provide all unforgettable moments of delight, well-being and happiness for all the people.
For cross-country skiers the valley offers a wide choice of tracks and circuits of various levels of difficulty, for a total length of slopes of 50 Km, including the famous Marcialonga trail.
Beyond skiing, The Val di Fassa in winter has an unmistakable charm to be discovered day by day.
It will be impossible to resist the temptation of a romantic ride on a horse-drawn sleigh! Let yourself be seduced by the tastes of the typical cuisine in one of the many cosy mountain huts reachable also by foot or snow shoes or at night by snow mobile. Or simply enjoy aprs-ski, top class shopping and Spa relaxation in one of the valley resorts. The majesty of the Dolomites, pleasant walks, and the Ladin atmosphere: an irresistible mix of colours, sounds and tastes make your experience unique
| | | _ | | _ | | | Val Gardena, with its wide open, sunny vistas and magnificent towering peaks, is one of the most popular and diversified regions for a winter holiday in the Dolomites. Val Gardena is about 13 miles long and runs more or less from west to east from the narrow entrance to the valley at Ponte Gardena up to Passo Gardena and Passo Sella, at the north-east of the "Sdtirol" Dolomites. Val Gardena is well connected with the rest of Italy and also with North Europe, thanks to a well equipped train network.
| | | | | |
Switzerland | _ | | _ | | | Situation
Crans-Montana is situated on a plateau in the heart of the Alps, at
an altitude of 1500m. The surrounding area extends up to 3000
metres, up to the foot of the eternal snow on the Plaine Morte
Glacier: which has a unique 360 panorama, and is easily
accessible to everyone. Skiers can enjoy skiing from the glacier
right down to the resort; the pistes will satisfy everyone from
beginners to world champions. The ski area includes a 50'000 m2
fun park, while al fresco dining on the terraces and mountain
restaurants offers the perfect opportunity to relax. There are 65
km of marked trails for walking, for snowshoe treks or cross
country skiing.
Access by.
.plane
Airports:
Geneva-Cointrin 180 kms from Crans-
Zurich-Kloten 300 kms from Crans-
Milan Malpensa 220 kms from Crans-
Sion airport 30 kms from Crans-
.car
Via the A9 motorway to Sierre, then follow the
Via the Forclaz pass, the Morgins pass, the Simplon
Via rail tunnels with vehicle transport such as
(Kandersteg-Goppenstein) and the Simplon (
.train
Switzerland: Direct connections to Basel, Bern,
Connections to the entire European network.
Fast connections :
o Italy: Cisalpino - Milan, Brig, Sierre,
o France: TGV - Paris, Lausanne
.funicular railway | | | _ | | _ | | | One of the oldest and most fashionable ski resorts, Davos is the highest city in Europe and lives up to its reputation for excellent skiing and exciting night-life. With five ski areas spread out on both sides of the valley and descents from almost 9,000 feet, Davos offers the alpine skier an endless variety of terrain. In addition, this multifaceted winter sports complex offers miles of cross-country trails, tobogganing, sleigh rides and skating on Europe's largest outdoor rink.
| | | _ | | _ | | | The hospitable mountain village of Grindelwald (1034 m) lies in the Berner Oberland - and acts as the stage for a wonderful drama. The set is composed of the ice capped peaks of the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, with visitors and tourists as the leading actors... What's more, there are endless pistes and runs for skiers, snowboarders and sledgers in winter, a giant network of hiking trails in summer, and an almost infinite variety of leisure activities. There are countless ways to explore this fascinating mountain world, through sports and activities or by adopting a gentler, more relaxing approach. You can engage in extreme mountaineering, or simply enjoy the view... A particularly amazing experience is the trip to the Jungfraujoch, the `Top of Europe', at 3,454 m Europe's highest railway station right in the heart of the UNESCO world natural heritage site.
| | | _ | | _ | | | Experience the winter wonderland of the Muerren Schilthorn alpine ski region.
In our varied skiing area the skier, snowboarder, free rider or winter hiker will always find the best route.
Mrren is situated in the highest ski resort of the Bernese Oberlands. 53 km prepared ski slopes in and around Mrren (213 km slopes in the whole Jungfrau Region), chair lifts, cable cars, 6 chair lifts, 2 t-bars, 45 installations in the whole Jungfrau Region. 35 snow machines are installed to garantie snow sure conditions from Dezember to April altitude Skiresort from 1600 to 3000 meter above sealevel.
The aprs-skier can also enjoy our alpine huts, mountain restaurants, snow bars....
| | | _ | | _ | | | Lying in the valley next to Zermatt, Saas-Fee is often overlooked, mostly because it doesn't have any train access. However, were it not for the Matterhorn next door, the array of peaks around Saas-Fee would be enough of a draw in themselves: the village is perched on a shelf of pasture at the base of a horseshoe of thirteen 4000m-plus peaks. Oozing out from between them is the giant Feegletscher - or Fairy Glacier - trickling its melt-water down through the village, and active enough in its various sectors to limit what would otherwise be spectacular skiing.
But the winter snow sports area in the Saas Valley with its more than 140 km of groomed pistes has something special for everyone: wide, smooth pistes for carvers, moguls pistes for experts, flat pistes for beginners.
Saas-Fee is one of four linked villages at the end of the Saas valley.With the opening of the new base tunnel through the Ltschberg on 9th of December 2007, the duration of the journey from the north of Switzerland into the Valais was considerably shortened. With the new junction at Visp the guests get an additional benefit of the reduced travelling time up to one hour. Buses from Visp pass through Stalden before branching off into the valley, passing first through Saas Balen, then Saas Grund, the main village on the valley floor; from here, a road branches up to Saas-Fee - which is car-free - while a few kilometers on down the valley is Saas Almagell.
From the entrance to Saas-Fee, several quaint lanes lead down (southwest) into the heart of the village, full of shops and some boutiques, but still with much character and charm. In winter, several lifts serve a handful of good blue runs at the bottom of the glacial bowl towering all around, but the main route up the mountain is via the Alpin Express, the highest underground funicular system in the world, which emerges at the top of the Mittelallalin (3500m). From here there are some good red and blue runs on the Feegletscher, the longer ones winding all the way back down to the village; summer skiing is also possible up here. Passes in the winter of 07/08 cost CHF 64/day, CHF 192/three days or CHF 362 for a week. The top station also boasts a giant ice pavilion (CHF 7 for adults, CHF 3 for children), with scholarly explications of the workings of glaciers. In winter 60 km of trails above the village remain open, in summer 350 km.
Throughout the village you may come across the name Zurbriggen on a number of shop signs; if the name sounds familiar, it's because Pirmin Zurbriggen, a local boy made good, was a downhill skiing world champion in the 1980s. Today, he owns a hotel in tiny Saas Almagell up the valley.
| | | _ | | _ | | | St. Moritz is all about `chic', elegance and exclusiveness, the place where you can literally feel the `dry, bubbly Champagne climate' on your skin. St. Moritz is the world famous holiday destination that arouses equal passion in summer and in winter. Summer consists of enjoying the natural surroundings, culture, sports and relaxing peace and quiet. Winter is Alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and much more besides, including the Engadin ski marathon, horseracing on the frozen lake of St. Moritz, curling, cricket and polo tournaments as well as the St. Moritz gourmet festival. The World Championships in Alpine skiing were held there for an amazing fourth time in 2003! Incidentally, St. Moritz (1,856 m) lies in the heart of Oberengadin's lake district, where the sun shines for 322 days a year on average. Which of course adds to the truly spectacular experience of taking a train ride on the Glacier or Bernina Expresses...
| | | _ | | _ | | | Verbier, "the resort that smiles at the sun", and the second largest resort in the Swiss Alps, is a delightful French speaking village located on a sunny plateau, in the grand circuit of the "4 Valleys" ski area. Situated between the Matterhorn and Mont-Blanc at a height of 5,000 feet, Verbier has one of the largest skiing areas in Europe. Your lift ticket is honored at the 100 plus lifts and cable cars which service over 250 miles of ski runs. This vast ski area is topped by Jumbo, the Verbier-Mont-Fort cable car, with a 150 person capacity. Ascending to almost 11,000 feet, this telepherique opens up some of the steepest mechanically accessible ski runs in the Alps. Moderate and easy runs are plentiful and the "4 Valleys'" 200 instructors are there to help you develop your skills. Verbier's ultramodern sports center enables you to play tennis, squash, ice-hockey, curling, skating and swimming. Verbier has some 60 restaurants plus 9 nightclubs and pubs, and though sporty and active, appreciates an equally calm and relaxing atmosphere. For nonskiers, nearby cities such as Montreux and Lausanne are easily accessible by public transportation. Verbier...a must for vacationers!
| | | _ | | _ | | | A very picturesque resort which has welcomed skiers since the 19th century, Wengen has probably the most spectacular scenery of any mountain resort in the world. Serious competitors are its neighbors in the Jungfrau region, Grindelwald and Murren.
Car-free, with life centered on the railway (which ultimately reaches Europe's highest rail station) Wengen has the spectacular backdrop of the Eiger as well as the Monch and Jungfrau. It is one of the 'original' downhill skiing destinations pioneered by British tourists, and was the first resort in the world to offer uphill transportation (the railway to Kleine Scheidegg, completed in 1911).
The resort is the base of the famous Downhill Only Club (DHO), established in 1924 when the English visitors first persuaded the locals to keep the railway running in the winter to get a lift up the mountains, then jump out and ski 'downhill only'. Wengen is also home to the legendary and spectacular annual Lauberhorn World Cup downhill course, the longest and many believe the greatest there is.
Wengen's presence in the lists of 'most favorite resorts' for those who have visited it is an unusual one. Most other entrants will be there because of their fantastic skiing. Wengen will be there because of how you feel just being there, even before you put your skis on. The awe inspiring mountainscape above and below borders on a spiritual experience for many, which makes even the most bland skiing experience seem transcendental.
Not that Wengen's skiing is bland - far from it. Nearly 100 miles (160 km) of trails, shared with neighboring Grindelwald, are lift-linked from the village, with a further 40 km (25 miles) also on the Jungfrau Top Ski Lift pass across the valley at Murren. The main ski area (shared with Grindelwald) is the Kleine Scheidegg
| | | _ | | _ | | | Mile-high Zermmatt, an idyllic mountain village at the foot of the Matterhorn, has developed into one of the world's most famous ski resorts. Favored by it's southern exposure, sheltered by the wind and generously endowed with snow, Zermatt enjoys some of the most spectacular skiing in the Alps. The scope and variety of skiing is tremendous with a network of lifts serving trails that rise over 12,000 feet. Three main ski areas offer wide open slopes for beginners while the more advanced skiers enjoy the challenge of the internationally known Tiefbach, Aeroleid or Momatt. You can ski over the Theodulpass to Cervinia, Italy for lunch.
The new Klein Matterhorn lift, ascending to 12,533 feet, the highest aerial cablecar in the Alps has opened up new glacier ski runs which give Zermatt one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. Numerous sun-decked restaurants dot the mountainside and provide lunch as well as a rendez-vous for skiers from around the world. For cross-country and touring skiers, a variety of courses are also available. | | | | | |
Argentina | _ | | _ | | |  | |
San Carlos de Bariloche or better know to skiers simply as Bariloche is a breathtaking alpine town located on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and is kept pristine due its location - right in the center of a national park.
Skiing is actually done at the resort called Catedral Alta Patagona, which is located about 12 miles from town and is connected to the ski area by a shuttle that runs approximately every 30 minutes.
Skiers and Riders may choose from accommodations in the town of Bariloche located on the lake or at the Bavarian style base village.
Bariloche offers a resort town atmosphere with many hotels, restaurants, shopping and legendry night life, while the base village area offers a mountain town feel hotels, shops and restaurants.
Catedral Ski Resort offers skiing on 2,964 acres via 39 lifts .The bottom half of the mountain offers 53 groomed and marked trails for skiers of all abilities while the upper half of the mountain is high alpine skiing with some groomed slopes and plenty of off- piste possibilities.
Many Argentines vacation in Bariloche as this resort offers a great ski and winter experience combined with plenty of dining and nightlife.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
Tucked away deep in the Andes resides South
America's biggest and certainly one of the world's
most challenging mountain resorts. Las Lenas,
Argentina.
This resort is huge with over 40 miles of trails and a
vertical drop of 4,000 feet with 50% Advanced/Expert
terrain and 50% Intermediate/Beginner terrain.
With 12 lifts serving 43,200 acres and a hotel capacity for only
3,500 guests, you will find these slopes are uncrowded and
newly fallen snow remains untracked for days after a storm.
Completely above tree line, the resort offers huge open bowls,
long steep chutes as well as wide open groomed runs to satisfy skiers of all
levels.
The mountain is divided into two areas- the Lower
Mountain and Upper Mountain. The lower mountain is
served by 8 lifts and offers a wide variety of beginner
and intermediate terrain with many groomed options
as well.
The upper mountain is served by 4 lifts and offers
options in every direction.This is where the goods
are for advanced skiers. Hugh open bowls and steep
chutes that will satisfy the most hardcore skiers and
riders. Las Lenas offers some groomed runs off the
top and the views are spectacular.
The Las Lenas Resort is a small self-contained village with a
variety of hotels and condominiums scattered across
the valley floor. Resort amenities include a casino,
nightclub, Movie Theater, game room and pool tables,
supermarket and drug store, snow tubing hill and
several restaurants and night spots.
|
| | | | | |
ChileThe Andes Mountains of Chile are home to the ski resorts of Portillo, Valle Nevado, Termas de Chillan, and others. Portillo Ski Resort is one of the most famous ski resorts in the world. Known simply as Ski Portillo, this majestic ski resort is a haven for summer skiing. The striking Hotel Portillo regularly hosts national ski teams who train at Portillo in the summer months. Further south, and just 45 miles from Santiago, Valle Nevado shares the peaks with neighboring ski resorts El Colorado and La Parva. The Hotel Valle Nevado, Hotel Purta de Sol, and Hotel Tres Puntas form a lively ski center. In southern Chile, the ski resort of Termas de Chillan boasts both phenomenal powder skiing on incredible terrain and natural hot springs, perfect for relaxing after a day on the slopes. Here, the Gran Hotel Termas is your luxurious ski vacation home. Wherever you choose to ski in Chile, you will find incredible resorts, excellent international cuisine, and exciting nightlife.
| _ | | _ | | |
The valley of Portillo is truly unique. Near the base of Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the America's, the ski area surrounds the deep emerald blue Laguna del Inca glacial lake. The slopes tumble down from the massive shoulders of mountains that surround the resort. 12 lifts serve 25 trails offering a mix of 24% easiest, 33% intermediate, and 43% advanced/expert terrain. Portillo has skiing to satisfy skiers of all levels. Most guests visiting Portillo will reside in the Hotel Portillo- a grand hotel finished in 1949, which still retains the elegance of an era gone by. All activities revolve around the hotel and part of the Portillo experience is meeting and getting to know your fellow skiers. Many repeat guests will tell you they return to Portillo every year for this congenial atmosphere.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | | |
Santiago is the main city in the Metropolitan Region. It holds 4 millions inhabitants and it's one of the most developed cities in America. Its architecture combines historical and modern times. Also, Santiago is the country's capital and it has the best urban infrastructure in the country. Besides, it has beautiful landscapes surround it and many attractions for tourists. Founded in 1541 by Pedro de Valdivia, Santiago is the oldest city in Chile.
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |
Nestled in the magnificent Southern Andes Mountains, on the slopes of the majestic Chillan volcano,Termas de Chillan offers spectacular ski terrain and breathtaking vistas. 11 lifts access 35 groomed trails and endless off-piste possibilities for all ability levels. Lodging choices include 3 hotels including the 5* Gran Hotel as well as a condominium complex. Amenities include a world class spa with natural hot springs,dog sledding and snowmobiling.Termas de Chillan offers a true Chilean ski experience.
Casino on site at the Gran Hotel offering 100 slot machines, 3 Roulette wheels, 10 different card games, 1 eighty-seat Bingo parlour and 1 Craps table!
|
| | | _ | | _ | | |  | |
|
Laying claim to the "highest ski resort in the Andes" the popularity is on the rise for breathtaking Valle Nevado which stands 9,925 feet above sea level offering superb snow quality with the advantage of being only 37 miles from the Santiago International Airport, less then 2 hours away.
Valle Nevado is massive in acreage and all above tree line offering 23 miles of groomed pistes distributed on 39 runs from beginner to expert with a vertical drop of 2,657 feet, all served by 11 lifts including the Andes Express, famous for being the fastest in South America. If this isn't enough, you can indulge in the Snowpark and Half-Pipe (the only FIS-authorized venue in Latin America) or fulfill your dreams of poaching 6,000 feet of virgin snow on a heli decent offered through the largest heliski operation in South America. Two neighboring ski areas located in the valley just below Valle Nevado, La Parva and El Colorado, are also available by purchasing a lift pass upgrade once at the resort. With Valle Nevado's interconnected lift system, skiers have access to the largest skiable terrain in the southern hemisphere!
This self contained resort offers 3 hotels, 8 restaurants, 3 bars, a fitness center, and a heated swimming pool. Skiers and riders can choose from The Hotel Valle Nevado, The Hotel Puerta del Sol and the Hotel Tres Puntas. Breakfast and dinner are included in all hotel packages with a variety of dining options within your package.
|
| | | | | |
Caribbean | _ | | _ | | | For an island with a big reputation for restaurants, hotels, and energetic nightlife, St. Maarten is small -- only 96 sq. km (37 sq. miles), about half the area of Washington, D.C. An island divided between the Netherlands and France, St. Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the Dutch half, and St. Martin is French. Legend has it that a gin-drinking Dutchman and a wine-guzzling Frenchman walked around the island to see how much territory each could earmark for his country in a day; the Frenchman walked farther, but the canny Dutchman got the more valuable piece of property.
St. Maarten/St. Martin has thirty-seven beaches on its thirty-seven square miles. The cuisine is varied, from classic French to pizza and burgers, as well as local Caribbean fare. Blenders are busy mixing up delicious fresh frozen cocktails, guavaberry, mango, and passion fruit coladas heading the list.
It is a friendly and safe destination with a great cultural mix. It is also known for its duty free shopping. A rental car is a must.
| | | | | |
|
©2001-2009 |
|
Snow Tours, Inc. - 1281 Paterson Plank Rd- Secaucus, N.J. 07094
Phone: 201-348-2244 Toll Free: 800-222-1170 Fax: 201-348-0545
|
|