travel
winter break
POWDER PLAY
Looking for a cool getaway? Treat your family to a winter
wonderland at one of these ski resorts. The time to plan is now.
SNOWSHOE
This ski resort in West Virginia is a drivable distance from Alabama and
offers 251 acres of skiable terrain on 57 trails in three ski areas for your
swishing and swooshing pleasure. Other amenities include a variety of
lodging options, a spa, restaurants and equipment rentals, and if you and
your family are beginners, the expert instructors at Snowshoe can teach you
skiing and snowboarding basics. The ski season here starts in mid-December
and runs through mid-March, and the resort guarantees that it has “more
skiable terrain open than any other skiing destination in the Southeast.” If
not, you get a day of skiing free. Check the website for the special activities
and events happening during your stay.
INSIDER TIP: Encourage your teen to join the fun at Snowshoe’s Teen Center,
20 Below.
SNOWSHOEMTN.COM
STEAMBOAT
This northwest Colorado resort is known for its family friendly atmosphere,
and a recent six-year-long, $30 million improvement process has made the
skiing at this spot better than ever. Expect to fly over fine powder-like snow
on skiable areas that encompass 2,965 acres over an entire mountain range.
The resort also has more than 100 bars and restaurants, so there’s something
to fit every taste. If your teen (or you!) is a snowboarder, Steamboat is the
place to go. The resort’s Terrain Parks feature walls, a superpipe and more for
freestyle fun.
INSIDER TIP: Try the Tomahawk run, a blue-level trail with a wide slope
and rolling hills that provides a gentle thrill for intermediates and pure
“speed demon” fun for those ready to point their skis straight and just go.
SAFETY FIRST
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