Western Resorts

fatherb

fatherb

Active member
i searchbarred and couldn't find anything, so sorry if this is a repost. My family and i want to go on a trip out West one of these upcoming seasons, and living in Massachusetts, we've never really skied a ton of powder,and we've never been skiing in the west. I want to go to a place that has fun terrain, and good gladed trails. My dad also likes moguls so it'd be nice to have some good moguls. I also really want to go a place with good powder, around waist deep since we've never been in super deep stuff before. Park is less important, but i wouldnt mind having a decent one. I want there to be some decent cliffs, but nothing too big, because i will being skiing with my family. Jackson Hole looked like a good choice to me, but my mom wants to go to Colorado, but i am open to any suggestions. thanks!
 
if youve never skied out west and you dont really know what youre getting into, maybe save jackson hole for trip number 2 or 3 unless you kinda want someone in your family to die

 
What are the ages in your family, and what are your families desires for activities when the lifts close? On what you said about what you want from your skiing portion, Crested Butte is a good choice, but it's kinda isolated once you are there for after skiing. Sounds like you got a Mom who may want shopping and stuff to do when off the hill. As far as powder goes, it's just a luck thing for the most part. Either it snows or it doesn't, however, some place get more than others and different kinds of weight to it. When Steamboat gets it, it's crazy good.
Another option is to go to Summit County, CO. It has about 7 areas all within 45 minutes of where you stay. Copper is cool as a family something for almost everyone. Breck has legendary park and terain. Vail is just west less than an hour for your Dad's mogul fix. Keystone and more. Another little factor to summit is that you can buy a seasons pass for Copper and Winterpark for about $300 if you are taking a longer trip and want an excuse to go back. Copper and Winter park are a bit apart, but you could hit Winterpark on the way in or out (closest real resort to Denver Airport) and ski the cult classic Mary Jane. I also think that pass gives you Fridays at Steamboat as well. This plan would be a lot of driving and/or switching hotels.
For families (I have a family, 3 kids and a wife), I feel Park City, UT is the best family vacation destination I have been to. I usually was there in the spring, but we did score one powder day that is likely my best day ever with it on a last weekend in March. It's a cool town with three areas all within 10 minutes of each other.
Hope that helps.Shep
 
thanks, + K

My mom would probably want some decent shopping, and all my dad cares about is good food. As long as there are a few things to do after skiing we should be fine. Me and my brother are 14 and my dad is 50.
 
if i were you id go to big sky/moonlight in montana. has the most terrain and the snow gets real deep sometimes
 
ide have to say either summit country CO (i would stay in Breck if it were me) or PC area Utah.

its really up to you. having been in your shoes before, DO NOT, expect to go out west and own everything on the MTN your first time. its a whole new ball o wax, and you will need to get your sea legs.
 
My family is going to Montana (Big Sky) in the spring. Only bad thing about going to montana, is that flights are more expensive then going to Colorado. And i think that Keystone, Colorado is much more park oriented then it is family when i was there. If you can go to Canada, try going to Banff. Good shopping, great food, and the mountains are beautiful. Nothing like you have ever seen before.
 
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