Even if you prefer not to go skiing at a ski resort in America, there are many other winter activities to enjoy. You might be surprised how many fun things you can do, whether on or off the slopes. While certain activities may not be available at all of America’s best ski resorts, you’ll have plenty of options for your entire stay.
Winter Fun at Ski Resorts
Après-ski
Certainly not just for skiers is après-ski, the French term for “after ski.” In other words, it’s what to do after skiing, most commonly having food and drinks with friends. After all, on a full day on the slopes, skiers and snowboarders will be thirsty and have an appetite. A popular social event that gained popularity in the 1950s, après-ski is available in every American ski resort. If you need another explanation, consider it an extended winter happy hour.
Alpine Coaster Rides at Ski Resorts
Only a tiny percentage of the 480 ski resorts across America feature a year-round mountain coaster. On the other hand, if you happen to visit one of these select view resorts, a coaster ride can be thrilling. Built on tracks along the side of a mountain, these toboggan-like coasters can reach up to 30 MPH while going through twists and turns. However, you can slow down this thrill ride by applying the brakes. Among the best alpine coasters are the Breathtaker at Snowmass, Colorado, and the Ridge Rider at Heavenly Valley, Lake Tahoe
Related: Famous Ski Resorts for Your Winter Bucket List
Fine Dining
Aside from après-ski, which is generally casual, you can enjoy fine dining at many top American resorts. You can dine at restaurants that offer Michelin-quality food items. You will enjoy gourmet dining at places like Goldener Hirsch in Deer Valley, Mariposa in Deer Valley, Cascade at Timberline Lodge, and Vulcania at Mammoth Mountain. By all means, you’ll also have other dining options outside your ski resort. For example, in Aspen, exceptional restaurants like Bosq, Element 47, Matsuhisa, and Prospect exist.
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Fitness Centers
Although most of your attention will be on activities like tubing and sledding, many ski resorts have fitness centers and classes. Despite this, visiting a fitness center or taking a fitness class may be at the bottom of your list of things to do. After all, why be stuck in an indoor exercise room with so many other winter activity options? Be that as it may, there will be people taking advantage of fitness equipment like treadmills, elliptical trainers, and weight machines. That’s to say nothing of yoga or Pilates classes and, in some instances, playing basketball.
Game Rooms/Kid Centers
Every American ski resort has something fun to do, regardless of age. This is especially true for kids who can ski and play games in a game center. In brief, you might see pool tables, ping pong tables, arcade games, air hockey, and more. Best of all, there is little or no entrance fee to play games, depending upon the time and day you visit. But you might have to pay a fee for other kid-friendly activities besides game rooms, like bowling or miniature golf. As for suggestions, Bretton Woods, Keystone, and Smugglers Notch, Vermont, are among the most kid-friendly.
Kid Friendly Summer Activities
In addition to the fun and games for kids in the winter, there are summer activities worth mentioning. For instance, ziplining, adventure parks, rock climbing walls, and bungee trampolines are open only in summer. Other fair-weather activities include gem panning, ax throwing, disc golf, and escape rooms. As for adults, tennis, golf, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting are among the fun things you can do. Of course, coaster rides are also available.
Gondola Rides
Yet another alternative to skiing is a scenic mountain ride onboard a gondola. On a typical gondola ride, you’ll typically board at the base of a mountain and then ride up to the summit. Once at the top, you can enjoy the resort’s panoramic views and surrounding areas. As with any ski resort, the duration of the ride and prices will vary. If you’re seeking ideas, gondola rides at Heavenly Valley, Telluride, Snowmass, and Palisades Tahoe are all outstanding. Of course, there are many more, like Mammoth Mountain, California, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and Whiteface, New York.
Ice Skating
If ice skating is among your favorite winter activities, you won’t have trouble finding a great ski resort with a rink. For instance, the ice rinks at Keystone Colorado’s Dercum Square and on Keystone Lake are among the largest in America. Among other ice rinks are at Sun Valley Resort, Vail Ski Resort, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you need to rent skates, all resorts with an ice rink can accommodate you.
Related: America’s Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks
Shopping
While your friends or family are out skiing, why not go shopping for something special? After all, every American ski resort features some retail shopping, whether designer clothing or souvenirs. What’s more, you can buy items that will fit any budget and, at the same time, get some exercise. In case you go shopping, all of the best-known resorts have retail stores, along with more affordable options at others. This includes New Hampshire’s Loon Mountain, Mount Hood, Oregon, Ski Santa Fe, and Taos Valley, New Mexico.
Sledding
Much like tubing, sledding is generally suitable for people of almost any age and ability level. It’s a very affordable winter activity, with prices of sled or saucer rentals much like a tube rental. If you’re a frequent visitor of ski resorts, you can even purchase a sled or saucer for under $30. At the same time, you have other options for purchase, like inflatable snow sleds, scooter sleds, and even toboggans. Among the best spots for sleds and saucers are Breckenridge, Bretton Woods, Snowmass, and Palisades Tahoe.
Sleigh Rides
Not just available during the holidays, a winter sleigh ride can be fun for couples and families with children. While prices will vary on which ski resort you visit, you can expect to pay about $65 per person on a horse-drawn sleigh. If that’s not enough, you can include a gourmet dinner and a roundtrip sleigh ride. For example, at Keystone, you can book a 90-minute sleigh ridge for $65 and $55 for children. Then, there are dinner sleigh rides starting at $130 for adults and $80 for children. Either way, please remember that sleigh rides are pretty popular, and reservations often sell out.
Snowshoeing/Tours
Snowshoeing is available at most American ski resorts, whether you want to go on a tour or with your friends. What’s more, it’s relatively easy to learn and is practical for all ages and levels of ability. If that’s not enough, renting snowshoes is much more affordable than lifting tickets and ski equipment. For example, the snowshoe package includes boots and poles for $61 at Colorado’s Beaver Creek Resort. In addition to snowshoeing alone, you can also go on a guided tour for an additional price. Other excellent ski resorts for snowshoeing are Northstar in North Lake Tahoe, Deer Valley in Park City, and Telluride, Colorado.
Snowmobile Tours
One of the best ways to see a ski resort’s backcountry without skiing is on a snowmobile. However, a snowmobile rental can be just as expensive as a ski lift and sometimes much more. Nevertheless, whether you’re riding alone or with a guide, snowmobiling can be an exhilarating experience. Yet equally important is understanding how to operate a snowmobile safely and knowing what snow conditions you’ll be in. Depending on the day and ski resort, you can expect to pay about $119 or higher for a single and $159 for a double. As for resorts, consider Vail, Park City, Mount Hood, and Ski Santa Fe, among others.
Spa and Wellness
Now and then, you need to pamper yourself by visiting a spa. Fortunately, you can find a luxury spa at most of the top ski resorts in America. Despite knowing that a spa treatment may cost more than a ski day on the slopes, many benefits exist. For example, the benefits include detoxication, increased circulation, and reduced pain and stress. The best spa facilities at ski resorts, like Aspen-Snowmass, Park City, and Jackson Hole, are apparent. That’s not to mention Palisades Tahoe, Killington, and Stowe Mountain in Vermont and Big Sky, Montana.
Tubing
Why not go tubing if you want to be near the slope action? Aside from skiing and maybe snowboarding, tubing is among the most popular winter activities. Furthermore, it’s family-friendly, as evidenced in a recent Amazon commercial. That’s to say nothing of its cost as among the most affordable winter activities. Take, for instance, Badger Pass, California; it costs just $30 for a two-hour session on a snow tube. Despite this, you must be aware of safety precautions, as snow tubing accidents are standard. Nevertheless, as long as you’re safety conscious, snow tubing is fun.
Winter Photography
Visiting a ski resort in winter is very much like a winter wonderland. Regardless of which resort you’ll see, you’ll have many opportunities to take great photos on or off the slopes. Indeed, you don’t have to be a skier to take pictures of people skiing, snowboarding, or any winter activity. Of course, any ski resort will offer captivating vistas, whether at the summit or the mountain base. In addition, it should go without saying that you can take a selfie or make an Instagram story almost anywhere in one of America’s best ski resorts.
Related: America’s Most Affordable Ski Resorts
About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University.
