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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 (above). 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. 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 (which
live up to their name) 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!
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