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More than 65 million Americans will hit the ski slopes this winter, and according to the National Ski Areas Association, they will have 480 ski areas to choose from to ply their sport.
That’s good news for skiers and their snowboarding companions, who number nearly 12 million. But what about the millions of us who don’t ski or snowboard or, for whatever reasons, have retired from the slopes?
Go anyway. The slopes are no longer just for skiers.
Activities vary by location, but a near-universal standard at ski resorts is quality food and beverage. Those of us who enjoy a splendid meal and accompanying libation near a crackling fire can nearly always find fine dining near the slopes. And any ski area, whether a full-service resort or a limited-frills ski mountain, is set up for non-skiing winter visitors. Snowfall and frigid temperatures don’t hinder off-ski activities. They enhance them.
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Many resorts offer snowshoeing, fat-tire bike riding and tubing. Others feature special astronomy night programs for stargazers. Off-the-slope attractions include sleigh rides and snowmobiling, hiking, ziplining, eco-tours and on-site spas.
An aeriel view of Snowmass Village in Aspen, Colorado sparkles after the sun goes down.
Jeremy Swanson/Aspen Snowmass
At Aspen Snowmass in Colorado, for example, guests can ride the Alpine Coaster, a mile-long elevated track through the forest with top-end speeds of up to 28 miles per hour. For visitors less inclined to snow biking, snowshoeing, tubing, or other bracing outdoor excitement, indoor activities at many resorts range from trivia night and various games, all with proximity to food, drink, and fireplace in comfortable surroundings.
Non-skiing visitors might also consider locales where off-slope activities of interest to non-skiing visitors are easily accessible but not part of the slope property.
Two skiers stop to enjoy the view at the top of Whiteface Mountain in New York's Adirondack Mountains.
Roost/Whiteface
Whiteface Mountain in Upstate New York offers about 300 acres with 94 trails and 25 miles of skiing but little else. Visitors will have to travel a few miles for a full range of amenities, but most won’t mind the short trip to famed Lake Placid or the nearby quaint hamlet of Wilmington.
“I’ve been skiing at Whiteface since I was a kid, and I think of this as a place for those who want to ski by day and enjoy a fun winter community in the afternoon and evening,” said Jennifer Maguire, who grew up in the area. “If you want to take a day off from skiing, there are plenty of options in nearby Lake Placid and also in Wilmington, just a mile or two from the mountain.”
“Wilmington, just two miles from the base of Whiteface, offers quaint accommodations, dining options, and unique retail establishments, perfect for exploring,” said Jane Hooper, communications manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism in Lake Placid.
