Winter is upon us, and ski operators and resorts are gearing up for some busy months ahead when ski and snowboard enthusiasts frequent the slopes in search for fresh, soft powder. The ski destinations below, are my top picks for North America (in no particular order):

Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, featured in the Jim Carey comedy classic “Dumb and Dumber”, is the place to be if you want to ski with the rich and famous. Aspen is an ideal upscale ski vacation destination for all types of skill levels.

Banff National Park, Alberta
Banff is one of the most spectacular looking mountain resorts in the world. With Sunshine Village and Ski Norquay in close proximity, Banff is the tallest place in Canada. With plenty of nature and slopes, Banff has a lot more than winter sports. In fact, it has one of the best golf courses in North America as well.

Banff National Park, Alberta

Vail, Colorado
With a slogan of “Like nothing on earth”, Vail surprisingly lives up to its name, and then some. It is one of the largest ski terrains in North America with 5,289 acres of ski terrain. In fact, only Whistler/Blackcomb eclipse Vail’s ski area in size. In the heart of Colorado, a couple of hours from Denver, Vail is one popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia
Consistently voted “Best North American Ski Resort”, Whistler is a winter destination for anyone and everyone. Skiing, shopping, golfing, pampering and culinary experiences, Whistler offers all that and a great social scene with plenty of night life. And of course, it is the largest ski terrain in all of North America.

Whistler Mountain, British Columbia

Park City, Utah
Utah is a surprising consideration for conferences and gatherings. But one look at Park City and you will know why. Park City consists of three main resorts – Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and The Canyons Resort. The Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts were the major locations for ski and snowboarding events at the 2002 Winter Olympics even though they receive less snow and have a shorter ski season than do other destinations in this list. The biggest draw of Park City is that it is the primary location of the Sundance Film Festival. Among its other accolades – it is also the home of the United States Ski Team. Just one thing I should warn you about. Utah has strict laws regarding alcohol consumption. As such, all drinks served are typically diluted and have a much lower percentage of alcohol.

Taos, New Mexico
In north New Mexico, near the Colorado border, lies Taos Ski Valley, with one of the best Ski schools in the country. Until recently, snowboarding was prohibited here but in 2008, that restriction was listed. Family owned and smaller than most of the other ski destinations on this list,  Taos has an equal ratio of expert and beginner terrains, but don’t let that fool you. The terrain seldom straightens out and remains steep for the most part.

Mammoth, California
Mammoth Mountain is home to the tallest ski resort in California. It is notable in that it gets an unusually large amount of snow, about 400″ annually.  At 3,500 acres, it’s more than three times the size of the so-called “Beast of the East”, (Killington), and certainly lives up to its name. Mammoth lies in close proximity to the Oregon stateline to the north and Nevada to the east. So it is accessible by road from major cities like Sacramento, Portland and Reno.

Killington, Vermont
Killington is considered the largest ski area in the east. It offers the largest variety of terrain with seven interconnected mountains which makes it a haven for snowboarders and cross-country skiers.

Beaver Creek, Colorado
The third Colorado favorite is Beaver Creek, which has won the Best Overall Customer Service Award from the National Ski Association four years in a row. This is a quaint area which, while not as vast as Vail nor as celebrated as Aspen, remains a fast fave for those looking for peace, seclusion and skiing with their families. At the base of the slopes lies a large skating rink, the Family Ice Arena, where kids and adults can warm up before heading to the slopes.

So, now that winter is here and you have this list of top ski resorts, where will you be going? Book now to get great deals on ski vacations.

The United States of America is a land of great wonders. No where else in the world do you find such an eclectic and wide array of destinations all encompassed within one country. Often, when one considers exotic locations around the world, images of Machu Picchu, Agra, Santorini and Alexandria come to mind. However, the United States is perhaps the one and only country in the world that offers everything for everyone. Disagree? Here are the top ten places to visit in the US. Let me know if you still disagree after you finish reading:

Grand Canyon – lets start with one of the true wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is one of the most significant geological sites of our time. It holds in its vast gorges, history dating back thousands of years. The Colorado River, that carved out most of this canyon still runs fiercely at the bottom and offers thrill seekers the opportunity to navigate some serious level 5 rapids. Hiking, donkey riding, climbing, swimming, rafting, and sightseeing are just some of the many activities you can engage in while visiting Grand Canyon. I can truly say, as someone who has been to Grand Canyon many times, that it is a one of a kind place in the world.

Grand Canyon, AZ

Rocky Mountains – Colorado (and even Utah) have some of the best ski slopes a ski enthusiast can hope to find anywhere. In fact, these slopes rival those of Switzerland. Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Aspen, Deer Valley, UT – offer skiing for all skill-levels. Colorado and the Rockies have everything for the outdoor adventure seekers. Miles of white water, hundreds of ski slopes and world famous mountain bike trails in Telluride.

Northern California – California is a country unto itself. In fact, it is impossible to experience all of California in one trip. So I would consider it two separate destinations. Northern California is flanked by the ocean to the west and by the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range (with great winter skiing at Lake Mammoth) to the east. It offers some of the best wineries in the world in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Northern California is heavily influenced by Silicon Valley, home of world tecnology giants like Apple, Google, Yahoo, Cisco and Oracle. San Francisco, with the Golden Gate bridge and the infamous Alcatraz Island is known for its liberal vitality and seafood. If nature is your medicine, the Yosemite National Park is one of the best national parks in the country, and along with Lake Tahoe and Lake Mammoth, round out some of the most scenic landscapes in the western US. Moving south, there is the beautiful coastline of Monterey and Carmel, with Pebble Beach, one of the best golf courses in the world, nestled between them.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

Southern California – If you were to take a drive from Northern California to Southern California, a very scenic highway known as the Pacific Coast Highway takes you down the coast in style. As you enter Southern California, the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara greet you along the curves, with miles of white sand and curved coastline. Another two hours south, you will run into the entertainment capital of the world – Los Angeles with Hollywood, Kodak Theatre (home of the Oscars), and Avenue of the Stars. Los Angeles is also home to some of the most diverse beaches in the west, like Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Malibu, all of which have played host to the famous TV series – Baywatch. And for family vacationers, there is always Disneyland, San Diego Wild Animal Park and Zoo, Six Flags theme park and Sea World. California truly has everything for everyone.

Las Vegas – Sin City, also known as the real resting place of the King, Elvis Presley, is the only city that can truly lay claim to the title “the city that never sleeps”. Casinos are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so whatever your poison, whether it be Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, or plain old slots, you can put lady luck to the test. Aside from gambling, Las Vegas has some of the best nightlife anywhere in the world, with exclusive clubs, fine dining and the best live entertainment in the world. When you travel to Las Vegas, I highly recommend flying in at night. The view of the lights from the sky is nothing short of breath-taking. In fact, even driving there at night, you can see the lights from miles away. This entire city is like one big night club with themed hotels depicted from Pyramids, New York City, Paris, Venice and Rome among others.

– While Niagara Falls is, by no means, the largest waterfalls in the world, it is certainly the most famous. There are many ways to enjoy these falls up close, the most popular being Maid of the Mist, a boat tour that takes you within a few hundred yards of the falls. There is also a bridge that takes you straight into the belly of the falls. Niagara Falls is better on the Canadian side, so when visiting, you may want to venture into Canada.

Niagara Falls

Hawaiian Islands – Hawaii is one of the most highly frequented honeymoon destinations in the world and continues to attract not only romancing couples, but cruise enthusiasts, surfers, golfers and vacationers. It is home to some of the best spa resorts in the world, and the birth place of pipe surfing. Waikiki Beach is perhaps the most famous beach in the world, renowned for its surfing. For world travelers, Hawaii offers a unique taste of Polynesian culture that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world. While in Hawaii, you should definitely find the best local Luau, catch the pipe competitiion and visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, the scene of the most devastating attacks on the US.

Waikiki Beach, Island of Oahu in Hawaii

New York – No visit to the US is complete without a trip to the Big Apple. The financial capital of the world is the heart of America, with the best man-made skyline in the world with tall skyscrapers stretching for miles across the city. Night life is top notch in NYC, and restaurants and bars attract busy professionals every night of the week. Statue of Liberty is the icon of the American culture and it is one of many landmark buildings to dawn the famous New York skyline.

Alaska – Alaska, the final frontier, is the largest state of the United States of America by area; it is situated in the northwest extremity of North America, with Canada to the east, the Arctic ocean to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait. While, Alaska is best seen via a cruise, many people prefer to fly to Anchorage directly. Glacier National Park is one of the most spectacular sights in the world, and Alaska is the place to be if you are an avid sea kayaker. Some of the more famous activities in Alaska include salmon fishing, whale watching (Alaska is known for its Hump-back Whales), hiking and observing Polar Bears, Brown Bears and the endangered Bald Eagle.

 

Alaskan Wild

 

 

 

Miami – It is hard to find a city so vibrant with culture and famous for its parties as Miami. This is a city where if you are out of shape, you might as well stay indoors. Hot bodies of all colors adorn the beaches of Miami, Daytona and Palm beach, specially in spring and summer. The club scene is extremely active and the music is hypnotic. If you are single and ready to mingle, Miami should be your first destination.

I am at the end of my post, and yet I find myself thinking there is so much more to mention here. For example, you can see the castle of Montezuma (King of the Aztecs) in Arizona dating back to the 12th century, Museum of Astrogeology (now also known as the Meteor Crater center) also in Arizona, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Chicago with its museums, arts and the grand Sears Tower and the list goes on. So you see, the United States of America, while not considered “exotic” is a place where every traveler will find something of interest. Its landmarks, beaches, mountains, buildings, monuments, wild life and natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls make it one of the most diversified destinations in the world.