We Requested 3 Journey Specialists Their Favourite Ski Vacation spot for Individuals Who Do not Ski—and They All Picked the Identical Place

Studying learn how to ski as a child and to snowboard as a teen has introduced an immense quantity of pleasure to my life. It is allowed me to discover a few of the world’s most lovely mountains and backcountry, in all its wintery glory. However visiting the mountains is not any much less particular should you select to not strap on a board or two planks. You simply have to go to the best mountain vacation spot. And in line with the professionals we spoke to, the entire finest ski locations for individuals who do not ski are concentrated in a single state: Colorado.

Listed here are their three high picks within the Centennial State for non-skiers. 

Telluride

Telluride constantly rises to the highest of the advice record for non-skiers as a result of the mountain expertise would not hinge on carry tickets alone. “Telluride affords a large mixture of low-pressure, high-reward winter experiences that allow individuals benefit from the mountains at their very own tempo,” Jonah Drescher, veteran freestyle ski coach and former U.S. Ski Staff athlete, and supervisor of Christy Sports activities, instructed Journey + Leisure. That features all the pieces from the sledding hill at City Park to outside ice skating in each Telluride and Mountain Village, plus horse-drawn sleigh rides that finish with a sit-down dinner.

Another must-do exercise on the town for skiers on their days off and non-skiers alike is a trip within the city’s free gondola, which Drescher defined, “hyperlinks city and mountain with unbelievable views and sometimes runs till midnight.” This, he added, permits guests to maneuver between après spots, eating places, and lodging with out ever having to get in a automobile. 

Mike Hess, the founding father of Philantopia, an organization that helps nonprofits fundraise by offering trip journey packages they’ll promote at charity auctions, agrees that Telluride is the creme de la creme for non-skiers because it’s “smaller and extra boutique,” making it simpler to navigate. After all, should you do need to study, Hess famous that Telluride is residence to nice newbie slopes. “It really has one of many longest newbie lifts within the nation, referred to as chair 10,” he mentioned.

Steamboat Springs

In keeping with the professionals, Steamboat Springs affords its personal distinct Colorado charms crammed with Western heritage and ease. “Steamboat Springs is among the finest locations for individuals seeking to expertise a real Western mountain city, whether or not they ski or not,” Drescher mentioned. “It blends a relaxed cowboy tradition with full resort facilities, making it particularly welcoming for households and first-time mountain vacationers. You may discover the traditional ski resort actions alongside some nice off-the-beaten-path experiences.” 

Drescher additionally defined that Steamboat’s decrease base elevation makes it extra welcoming to those that could also be delicate to altitude, or these touring with children and older grandparents. “That decrease elevation, paired with the city’s laid-back vibe, helps individuals settle in rapidly and benefit from the mountains with out feeling worn out on day one.” 

Off the slopes, he recommends trying out Outdated City Scorching Springs, which comes with pure sizzling spring swimming pools, waterslides, and a full wellness heart, in addition to the mountain’s tubing hills, sleigh rides, and snowshoe trails. And, for adventurous non-skiers, “a dawn Champagne balloon trip over the Yampa River Valley delivers unmatched views of the Flat Tops and Western Colorado.” 

Aspen

Aspen is a mountain icon that has lengthy appealed to skiers and non-skiers alike, and that attraction is all because of its luxurious environment. “Aspen understands that winter luxurious is not about what occurs on the mountain. Winter luxurious exists within the environment,” LaDell Carter, founding associate and lead luxurious life-style journey designer for Royal Expression Travels, instructed T+L. “The après-ski tradition in Aspen is a large a part of the expertise. Think about going for a horse-drawn carriage trip up into the mountains, having a protracted lunch at Pine Creek Cookhouse, or having fun with a candlelit dinner within the midst of snow-capped peaks that really feel like a film.”

Aspen’s walkability and quite a few world-class eating places and outlets are an enormous a part of this attraction, too. As Hess put it, “There are such a lot of fabulous eating places and the procuring is world-class and endless. You can not ski as soon as and nonetheless get pleasure from all the pieces the town and mountain have to supply.”

Nevertheless, once more, should you do need to attempt your hand at snowboarding, Aspen is a good spot to present it a go. “Aspen has 4 mountains, together with one designed particularly for newbie skiers, Buttermilk. It’s a smaller mountain that has very light runs and a terrific ski college,” Hess mentioned. “The opposite mountains are higher suited to extra superior skiers. You can spend all weekend on Buttermilk Mountain studying learn how to ski.”

However, once more, as Carter added, “Snowboarding is merely non-compulsory, not necessary.”