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Skiing and snowboarding are two of most popular Snowsports. While the culture in this community is appealing to those outside of this community, those already in it want to continuously make it better. While here at My Wicked Dude, we are all about the adventure, the community and the face shots, health experts through multiple studies have discovered that skiing and snowboarding is an amazing cardiovascular workout, it make riders feel better, helps burning calories, improves flexibility, and many more benefits such as increasing strength, speed, and endurance.
This is our thought on the top 5 places to ski, snowboard and explore other winters sports that you find appealing. Without further ado, here we go
1. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Lauterbrunnen is the biggest ski area globally, and it has some of the most challenging slopes and fantastic terrain in all of Europe. It is located near the village of Lauterbrunnen, which means it has one of the best resorts for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level skiers and snowboarders. The mountain has wide-open bowls and gentle glades that are great for learning how to carve a turn. There are also a variety of blues, reds, and blacks, which are appropriate for all skill levels. The mountain also has a "Paradise" area with more mellow trails and wide-open spaces for novices and first-time visitors. The hotel in Lauterbrunnen is excellent, too.
Closest Airport: The nearest airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH), about 50 miles south. From there, it's about an hour and a 15-minute drive to the resort.
What is the food like in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland? The food in Lauterbrunnen is excellent. It has something for everyone. Traditional Swiss foods like Roast Beef, Chard, Gruyere Cheese, Saucisse Provencale, Baguette and many others. Western foods like Pizza, Pasta, Chicken, Steak, Fish, Fondue, Desserts, Ice Cream, etc., are also available. There is also a large Asian population in Lauterbrunnen, and they have their own restaurants where you can get Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Korean, and other ethnic specialties.
Where to stay: There are lots of options when it comes to hotels in Lauterbrunnen. The Best of Lauterbrunnen lists 9 hotels. They include The Metropole, Grand Hotel Davos, Grand Hotel Portherred, Goldener Hirsch, Schweizerhof, Les Deux Alpes, Chalet Edelweiss, and others. All hotels are first-class, and most have outdoor heated pools and hot tubs. The best place to stay in Lauterbrunnen is the Les Deux Alpes, the only 5-star hotel in the entire village. The hotel has huge rooms, an indoor pool, and a fantastic breakfast buffet. The outdoor heated pool is fantastic, too.
Best time to go: The best time to go to Lauterbrunnen Switzerland is from February to April. The resort gets packed with people from all over the world during the winter months. Except for July and August, the village is almost empty for the rest of the year. That gives you more peace to practice your skiing and riding.
2. Aspen, Colorado, U.S.A. Aspen has some of the best ski and snowboard terrains in all of North America. It is also known as the most expensive skit town in America. Aspen Colorado has some of the friendliest and most helpful people. The town of Aspen itself is charming. It's a small, upscale mountain resort with tons of art galleries, boutiques, high-end restaurants, fancy spas, and other delights. When going to Aspen, Colorado, you need to bring the right ski/snowboard gear. It's important to know what types of clothing and gear are required depending on the type of snow and mountain you are going to. It's also essential to carry the right stuff for staying warm and dry. Aspen and the surrounding mountains get extremely hot and sunny in the summer. Even during the day, it can be hot. If you are a lady (or guy), be sure to pack something nice to wear that won't get ruined by sweat and sun.
Closest Airport: Aspen is located just west of Denver, which means it has two airports for getting there. Denver International Airport and Aspen/Pitkin County Airport.
What is the food like in Aspen? This Colorado town gets a lot of press for its Food and Wine Classic, but there are so many little mom and pops spots around and great things to do year-round to enjoy nature and the great outdoors. The food and beverage scene is fun and spans from simple pleasures to amazing dining. Besides, who doesn’t like food.
Where to stay? Aspen/Snowmass Village is a collection of high-end hotels, restaurants, art galleries, upscale shops, and other amenities. There are many choices when it comes to where to stay in Aspen. The Best of Aspen lists 37 hotels. They include Aspen Chalet, Aspen Creek Lodge, Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inn, Hotel Jerome, Hotel St.
Best time to go: The best time to visit Aspen is from December to February. The town would be buried under fresh powder, and runs are fresh
3. Zermatt, Switzerland Zermatt is located at the base of the Matterhorn Mountain Range. The Matterhorn is one of the Seven Summits, and it is the highest mountain in both the Alps and the European Union. The town itself is a tourist trap, but the skiing and riding are fantastic. The Matterhorn dominates the landscape of the region. The Matterhorn is always in view no matter which way you are looking. Matterhorn means "Great Monster" in Swiss German. The Matterhorn is indeed a great monster. It's one of the most famous mountains in all of Europe. Almost everything of note in Zermatt is in the Old Town area. The old town has cobblestone streets, lots of restaurants, spas, boutiques, and other tourist attractions. It's an enjoyable place to walk around and take it easy. You won't have to rush anywhere.
Closest Airport: The closest airport to Zermatt is Geneva, which is about 151 miles away but because Geneva is a gateway for skiers travelling to Switzerland, it can get busy and flights can be expensive during peak season. Another option is the Zurich airport is about 154 miles away. Both airports are well connected to the Swiss train network.
What is the food like in Zermatt? A day on the slopes will raise anyone’s appetite, and I’m sure you want to eat almost anything after a day out there. Rest assured that there will be no shortage of world-class cuisine for après ski dining. From family-friendly and rustic mountain restaurants to Michelin-starred dining experiences in Zermatt. There is a little bit of everything for everyone, from Vegetarian, Italian, Canadian, American and what not.
Where to stay? For first time visitors, we recommend the downtown area of Zermatt, but if you are feeling a bit adventurous, you can stay in Tasch. If you are with your family, staying on the resort is usually what we recommend.
Best time to go: For skiers, snowboarders, and winter hikers, we recommend visiting Zermatt any time between the end of November and the middle of April.
4. Innsbruck in Austria Innsbruck is the capital of the Tyrol region of Austria, and it is located about 2-1/2 hours west of Vienna. Innsbruck is one of those rare cities that is a world-class destination for skiers and non-skiers. There are so many great things to do in Innsbruck, and you could easily spend a week here without even touching on a fraction of what it has to offer. You can get to Innsbruck by train or by bus. Trains are high-speed, and they leave from either Vienna or Salzburg. The trip by train takes about 2-1/2 hours. Buses take longer than trains, but they run frequently, and they go almost everywhere in Austria. There are more than 200 restaurants in the park where you can dine before or after your thrill rides. In addition, they have a nightclub, a cinema, and other entertainment. It's wise to book your room well in advance if you want to stay here during the busy winter season.
Closest Airport: The nearest airport to Innsbruck is Innsbruck (INN) Airport which is 2 miles away. Other nearby airports include Memmingen (FMM) (73 miles away), Munich (MUC) (77 miles away) and Venice Treviso (TSF) (117 miles away).
What is the food like in Innsbruck? Austria and the Alps have their own unique style of cuisine, which is a spinoff of the German cuisine. Innsbruck does offer a good bit of Viennese-style foods, as well, like traditional pastries, strudels, and cakes, which you'll find throughout the city, as well as Gruner Veltliner wines, beer, and varieties of schnapps.
When in Innsbruck, you'll have to try Kaspressknödel, a cheese dumpling that is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Other local dishes include Tyrolean bacon dumplings, spinach dumplings and "Schlutzkrapfen" (crescent-shaped ravioli with potato filling).
Where to stay? Some of the best areas to stay during your visit would be the Old Town, Axams, Hotting, Pradl, Patsch, Lans, Seefeld or the Zillertal Valley. If you want to be closer to the lifts, we recommend staying closer to the Hafelekar Ski Lift in Innsbruck.
Best time to go: The best skiing conditions are usually in mid-January and the least crowded times are in the beginning of December and late March. The higher the mountain and larger ski resort—the higher the price. Ski resorts in Carinthia and Styria are considered to offer better value than in Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg.
5. Telluride, Colorado, U.S.A. Telluride is located near the town of the same name in southwestern Colorado, about 4-1/2 hours north of Durango. Telluride gets a lot of snow, which makes for fantastic skiing and riding. It also makes for a great basecamp when you explore the wonders of the San Juan Mountains and their neighboring ranges. You can take the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad up to the top of the mountains and then explore all the great places to hike, climb, and mountain bike. The people living around Telluride are great, and so is the hospitality. Telluride has something for everyone, and it remains one of the best places to ski and ride in the United States. There are dozens of great hotels and lodging options in Telluride. Telluride also has an excellent medical facility if you get sick or injured while you are there.
Closest Airport: The closest international airport to Telluride is Denver International Airport, but you can fly closer to the Telluride Resort via Telluride Regional Airport, just six miles, or Montrose Regional Airport, a scenic 65 miles from Telluride.
What is the food like in Telluride? Telluride is very well known as a ski destination, but this small mountain town is a secret culinary and foodie hot spot. After a long day on the slopes works up that appetite, if you want to catch a casual après-ski bite or a multicourse fine-dining meal, Telluride’s wide variety and diversity of food make everything taste better at high altitude.
Where to stay? You can stay in main Telluride, or you can stay in Mountain Village. Mountain Village is different to Telluride in that, that’s where majority of the large hotels, luxury condo complexes and sprawling mountain estates are. Many of the residences in Mountain Village offer direct ski access, or slopes within just a few minutes’ walk.
Best time to go: The best time to ski in Telluride is early January and most of March.
Essential gears for skier and snowboarders
Check out our checklist of gear that we recommend that you bring to whatever winter wonderland you to to.
Check out some of our destination experience and be on the lookout for future trips to this beautiful ski towns.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article has given you some ideas on where to go if you are looking for the perfect place to enjoy skiing and snowboarding. It's not all about skiing. You can enjoy a great vacation no matter what you like to do. So, get out there and have some fun. Go to a place that sparks your imagination and allows you to stretch your wings. Don't be afraid to try something new. Take some time off to enjoy life and live a little. If you do this often enough, I promise your zest and enthusiasm for life will be stronger than ever. It will become a self-reinforcing cycle. The effect will be like a fine wine; the older you get, the better you feel about life. We hope in the process, that you find your passion and find your tribe.