North American Adventures

In North America there are innumerable acres of skiable terrain at your disposal, set in stunning and dreamlike settings that will thrill the inner adventure seeker of even the most experienced skiers.  

In Colorado alone there are 26 top class resorts, with the State famous for being in possession of some of the best downhills in the world as well as challenging bowls, thrilling moguls and fantastic opportunities for off-piste skiing. The same can be said for Canadian resorts such as Tremblant, Mount Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village.

Moreover, these world-class resorts boast an incredible variety of exciting winter-related activities such as hot air ballooning, cat rides, sleigh-rides, ice climbing, dog-sledding, snowmobiling.  Here we take a look at some of the best:

Winter Park

Flying into Denver will leave you on the cusp of an astonishing amount of world-class skiing resorts. The closest of which is the Winter Park Resort set in the Rocky Mountains with over 3000 acres of award winning terrain that will test even the most ardent skier. The terrain is mainly geared towards advanced skiers, with 56% of Winter Park covered by black runs.

Alternative snow activities here include snowshoeing, snow-cat tours, tubing, ice skating, sleighing and dog sledding. 

Off the slopes, meanwhile, expect to be greeted by swimming pools, hot tubs, cinemas and a wide array of shops, fine dining and luxurious/upmarket hotels.

Aspen

Aspen for adventure seekers:

• Hot air balloon rides
• Black diamond runs
• Terrain parks
• Public NASTAR course
• Snow-cat "Powder" tours
• Cross-country skiing

Aspen for family adventures:

• Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center
• Family Zone with children's trails
• Terrain park with half pipe and children's race arena
• Snow-cat rides
• "Old West" storytelling around the campfire
• Ice-skating
• Indoor climbing wall

If upmarket is your thing, Aspen of course leaps straight to the front of the queue. Simply astonishing lodgings and five-star hotels combine perfectly with some of the best skiing terrain the continent has to offer. If black diamond runs sound up your street, look no further than the Aspen Highlands. The now-famous ‘Deep Temerity’ chair lift ranks as the quickest in Colorado, transporting you to the highest point in the resort in a mere seven minutes.

Again, the non-ski related activities are bountiful, with hot-air ballooning a particular must.  And, if you do take to the skies, you will see all four mountains that make up the Aspen/Snowmass resort area including Aspen Mountain - arguably the most famous.

For over 60 years skiers of all-abilities have been treated to some of the world’s most enjoyable and challenging runs. However, those that enjoy being pampered perhaps favour Aspen Mountain even more due to the collection of boutique shops and gourmet restaurants.  Here you will also find a number of exquisite Swiss cabins featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, offering staggering views of the awesome Rocky Mountains.  On-site, also expect to find bars playing live music, theatres and cinemas, as well as many seasonal festivals and events.

Copper Mountain

Located close to Aspen is another of the planet’s most famous ski spots – Copper Mountain. Due to its proximity to a number of Colorado cities, many locals favour Copper in the winter months showing just how high a regard is given to this resort and its slopes.

Copper boasts an impressive 125 trails of which 54% rank as black diamond runs for advanced skiers. Tubing is also popular at Copper thanks to the small hill at the bottom of the Superbee lift. 

Visitors can also enjoy ice skating on West Lake, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and long sleigh rides through the pretty valley.