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When you’re trying to decide where to
go for that dream winter vacation abroad, there’s plenty
of places to choose from. Winter resorts are very popular
destinations, and it can be difficult to choose from the hundreds
of places all proudly boasting the best powder snow, the most
beautiful views, the least crowded lifts and every other enticement
they can think of.
The most popular ski destination
The undisputed king of winter wonderlands
is of course Switzerland. No other country has made more out
of its alpine heritage than the tiny mountain federation,
with its charming, old-fashioned villages, its towering mountains
and picture-perfect snowy slopes. Switzerland may have four
seasons like the rest of Europe, but most people only ever
remember the winters and the snow.
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Whether its downhill skiing, cross-country
skiing or just a gentle glide through snow covered forest,
the country offers every imaginable snowy experience, along
with an après-ski culture justly famed for its exuberance
and delights.
For many winter sports enthusiasts, a trip
to the Swiss Alps at least once in their lives is a cherished
dream and despite Switzerland’s general image as a hideously
expensive country to live in, it is still a surprisingly affordable
vacation destination: the Swiss mountains are liberally sprinkled
with hotels and residences to suit every budget, from luxury
resorts to spartan but comfortable chalets, and the ski resorts
are very competitively priced to cater to the hordes of ski
enthusiasts who descend on the slopes every winter.
St Moritz, Lausanne, Zermatt — these
are just a few of the major resort towns which host the country’s
annual influx of winter lovers, but there are many, small
towns and out-of-the-way resorts where you might not only
pay less, but enjoy a quieter time, surrounded by fewer people.
Skiing on the other side of the world
Another popular ski destination, on the other
side of the world, is Queenstown, New Zealand. In a country
famed for picture-postcard scenery, the landscape around the
town is worth at least a poster or two, with its sharp-edged
mountains swooping down to the edge of lake. There are over
five snow fields within two hours drive of Queenstown, the
Remarkables mountain range nearby and the fields of Mt Hutt
and Coronet Peak within easy reach.
In New Zealand, you won’t find massive
on-site resorts ala Switzerland — most skiers will commute
from nearby ski towns, spend the day on the slopes, and then
drive back. This isn’t as much of a hassle as it first
appears, as it provides the wonderful opportunity to go skiing
in the morning, play a round of golf in the afternoon, and
gorge yourself at a barbeque in the evening!
There are also a number of wilder options
for those moments off the snow field. Not for nothing is Queenstown
known as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand — almost
any hare-brained stunt you can think of is probably offered
by some tour operator somewhere in the town. Want to jump
out of a helicopter — onto the glacier?
Sure, you can find it. Want to go bungee jumping?
Well, Queenstown practically invented the stunt. And if you
think your courage isn’t up to such wild antics, there’s
a fantastic number of bars to help you get your courage up.
On the West Coast
If you’re looking for a ski resort in
the United States, there is almost an embarrassment of wealth,
as the county has literally hundreds of snow fields. If you
happen to be in Seattle, Washington, the choices are easier.
In a state famed for the outdoor-oriented lifestyle of its
natives, it comes as no surprise that there are a number of
major snow fields within easy reach of the city. Steven’s
Pass, Mt Baker, the Snoqualmie Pass, Crystal Mountain —
these are just a few of the popular ski destinations in the
state.
The most popular and most family oriented
of these ski resorts is the Summit-at-Snoqualmie, a long-established
resort about an hour outside Seattle. The resort offers a
Summit Learning Center and a day-care facility, which is great
for frazzled parents looking for some time on the slopes together.
The resort is located at Snoqualmie pass (50 miles east of
Seattle off I-90) and boasts of four ski areas with more than
65 ski runs, enough to exhaust even the most dedicated skier.
There are also slopes set up for night-skiing, if you’re
feeling adventurous.
A snowy landscape, fierce sunshine
Of course, all these popular ski resorts are
great and everything - but what if you want to find a place
a little less well known? A little out of the way place where
the snow is just as wonderful, the scenery just as spectacular,
but with less people to jostle against and fight for the slopes?
There are any number of such gems tucked away
into the quieter regions of even the most popular ski destinations,
where the only people on the slopes are the locals or a few
well informed visitors. One such ski destinations in Europe
is the Gambarie, which is located in the sun drenched Calabria,
the picturesque southernmost extreme of the Italian peninsula.
Popular with Italians, but virtually unknown
outside the country’s borders, the Gambarie is perhaps
the most spectacular snow fields in the country. Due to its
location deep in the Aspromonte National Park, the area is
far less commercialized than its better-known counterparts
overseas, but what it lacks in glittering entertainments,
it more than makes up for in pure, outdoorsy pleasure.
The snow field offers over 10 km of gentle
downhill slopes, there are many cross country trails, and
the area is known for its breathtaking views, with the distant
sea always a constant background. The snow field itself is
well equipped with ski lifts and chair lifts, and an artificial
snow project underway to add more delight to a day on the
slopes.
If visitors want to stay on-site, there is
a comfortable hotel only a few metres away from the slopes,
while a bit further afield, there are a wider variety of accommodations,
ranging from villas to farmhouse stays.
Despite its isolation and relative obscurity,
the Gambarie is a great spot for ski-bugs looking for a more
unusual winter vacation destination, without the commercialism
of the bigger resorts. Then again, those resorts do offer
greater accessibility and wonderful convenience. Both options
have their advantages, but whichever one you end up going
to for that dream holiday, remember that the most important
thing is to have a GREAT time!
The
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