New England Ski Resorts

by Nick Stamoulis

Smart Destinations, creators of the all-inclusive Go Card attraction products have launched the New England skiing and snowboard product, the Go Ski Card. The Go Ski Card includes ski tickets and full day pre-paid ski lift passes to 14 ski area resorts in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Go Ski Card New England can be purchased online by visiting www.GoSkiCard.com .

Go Ski Card New England includes ski lift tickets 14 Mountains in New England ski area. Vermont ski area resorts include: Ascutney Mountain Resort, Bolton Valley Resort, Jay Peak Resort, Mad River Glen. New Hampshire ski area resorts include: Attitash Mountain Resort, Bretton Woods Mountain Resort, Gunstock Mountain Resort, Pats Peak Ski Area, Ragged Mountain Resort. Massachusetts ski area resorts include: Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Ski Butternut - The Berkshires Family Mountain, Blue Hills Ski Area. Maine ski resorts include: Shawnee Peak Ski Area and Saddleback Maine. There are many additional savings beyond the pre-paid lift tickets. Blue Hills Ski Area, for example, includes free lessons and rentals. Ascutney, Attitash, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak and the Mount Washington Resort at Bretton Woods offer discounts on lodging.

Go Ski Card is available in 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7-day increments for use in any combination of days between December 15, 2005 and April 15, 2006. Each Go Ski Card is valid for one person per mountain per day and a Card can be used multiple days at one mountain or at any mix of mountains over the winter season. Pricing for the Go Ski Card varies depending on the number of days purchased. Child (age 5 through 12), Junior (age 13 through 17) and Adult (18+) Go Ski Cards are available. Corporate discounts - based on bulk order quantities - are available to organizations to pass along to employees or members. All Go Ski Cards come with a free, full-color ski guidebook with descriptions of the participating New England ski area mountains, plus ski trail maps, ski mountain statistics, ratings of slope difficulty, and a listing of all special offers.

“Skiers and riders understand the value of this product immediately,” notes Cecilia Dahl, president of Smart Destinations. “A full-day lift ticket at these great mountains - at these prices — is exciting, and the values only get better the more you ski. There are no blackout dates, and prices on children’s cards make the Go Ski Card ideal for families and large groups, as well.”

Go Ski Card can be in Boston at the Go Boston Card Visitor Center at the Ferry Terminal behind the Boston Harbor Hotel at 60 Rowes Wharf or calling 617-742-5950.

Online Only Sale! Visit: www.GoSkiCard.com .

Article source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=98347

by Jennifer Weiss

The perfect place for an all-season vacation retreat filled to the brim with more recreational pursuits than you could possibly imagine, Killington, Vermont is the ideal haven for any true outdoor lover. With one of the premier ski resorts in New England at its disposal and a stunning expanse of breathtaking terrain that is ripe for exploration, visitors to this area will never be disappointed with their Killington adventure. With its wide selection of runs spread out across seven mountains, Killington Resort can provide guests of all skill levels a challenging and invigorating ski and snowboarding experience. There are 53 trails available to accommodate those suited for the Easier slopes while the more experienced can enjoy 67 More Difficult and 80 Most Difficult trails that are sure to leave them breathless. The variety of terrain on the 200 trails allows beginners to practice their form on wide open cruisers while experts head upwards for a heart-pounding ride down narrow runs complete with moguls and trees.

With an entire mountain dedicated to parks, pipes, and freeriding, guests of Killington Resort will never endure a dull moment on the mountain. Bear Mountain offers five terrain parks of varying degrees of difficulty, meaning no matter how long you have been working on your moves, you can experience a thrilling adventure that suits your abilities. The superpipe is also a new addition to Bear Mountain and the perfect place to catch some air or learn from more experienced riders.

While the Resort offers many other winter outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and dog sledding, visitors to the area can head to the Mountain Meadows Cross Country Ski Resort for an exhilarating ride in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains. With 58 kilometers of groomed cross country trails that can accommodate a variety of skill levels, everyone from beginners to advanced skiers will have a wonderfully scenic adventure through forests, over flatlands, and past rock formations.

Warm weather visitors will appreciate Gifford Woods State Park and its convenient access to the well-known Appalachian Trail. While many individuals pass through the park as they make their way from Georgia to Maine (or vice versa), you can trek this extensive piece of history from the Long Trail and view some of the amazing foliage and wildlife of the region. Those searching for a less arduous journey, however, will find that there are numerous other day hikes available throughout the park where they can catch sight of the breathtaking Deer Leap Mountain and stunning waterfalls.

The Resort is not only an exciting winter destination, it is also the place for plenty of excitement when the warm sun beats down on Vermont. At the Killington Adventure Center, guests can enjoy water slides, mini golf, hiking, and many more activities long after the snow has melted off the mountains. And afterwards, visitors can head to one of the numerous restaurants Killington has to offer for delicious cuisine and a relaxing atmosphere.

Whether you have dreams of cruising down the soft powder of a towering Vermont mountain or hiking part of the Appalachian Trail, Killington has everything you need for an outdoor vacation getaway. To truly escape into the great outdoors by enjoying easy access to everything you love about this area, consider Killington rentals for your accommodations needs. With all the comforts of home at your fingertips and the fabulous pursuits of the Killington Resort a stone’s throw away, you can realize the most convenient and relaxing vacation you ever imagined.

About the Author

HomeAway.com has the most comprehensive selection of vacation rental homes on the Internet. For an alternative lodging option, consider Killington rentals for your next trip to Vermont.

by Fruzsina Csery

Why skiing? Because it is not only enjoyable, but is a great way of fitness: skiing is a great form of exercise requiring a level of skill, balance, and flexibility. Skiing is also great way to strengthen and tone several muscle groups. What can be such a big fun like skiing? The mountains, the views, the blue sky and breathing clean mountain air…unless you are in an indoor sky slope in Dubai. But if you would like to have real adventure, go outside.

Vermont is New England’s winter sports capital and Vermont Ski Areas attract thousands of skiers every ski season. It is not an exaggeration that Vermont has the hottest skiing resorts in the eastern US. You can explore the best ski and snowboard resorts in the eastern US in Vermont.

Vermont is a very important feature of U.S. ski history. The first alpine ski lift in America was in Woodstock, and many Vermont Olympians have lifted ski medals on the podium. Cross-country skiing caught on at the Trapp Family Lodge and telemark skiing began its renaissance here. Vermont is home to the first U.S. Olympic gold medal winner in nordic skiing, Bill Koch, as well as outstanding alpine skiers such as Betsy Snite, Andrea Meade, Suzy Chaffee, Billy Kidd and several members of the Cochrane family. The Green Mountain State is a heaven for ski apostles of all tastes and experience levels.

If you would like to go to a very well equipped and large area, try Killington first: this place offers the most skiing … Killington is the largest ski & snowboard area in the East. Killington offers most variety of terrain served by the East’s highest capacity lift system. Six interconnected mountains and nearby Pico Mountain, provide unparalleled diversity of skiing and the greatest vertical in New England. Snowboarders are drawn to the challenge of the longest terrain park in the East.

Killington also features nearby lodging, convenient services, family activities, some of the best ski shops in New England. Within the region there are also a variety of shopping delights — factory outlets, antique shops, artisan workshops, craft fairs and rustic country stores.

You’ll find easy access to the resort by ground transportation services or by resort shuttle systems. You’ll have a great experience if you visit Vermont, don’t miss it!

About the Author

Fruzsina Csery wrote this article for Property Listings in Vermont

by Paul la Vella

With winter approaching, many skiers are preparing for their yearly trips to their favorite ski resorts. This 2007-2008 ski season however, could prove quite a challenge to resort owners, especially in New England. One serious problem affecting the New England ski industry, as well as the rest of the world, is the effect of global warming. Warmer, shorter winters mean less natural snow and potentially fewer months of operation for seasonal ski resorts.

Because New England is “down wind” from the rest of the United States, the region’s weather often consists of a full range of the rest of the country’s weather patterns. New Englanders are accustomed to having to work around the droughts, flooding, extreme temperatures, blizzards, ice storms, nor’easters, tornadoes and hurricanes. Harsh winters are nothing new; warmer winters, on the other hand, are quite challenging to these ski-industry-driven states.

This ski season, people wishing to escape the toils and turmoil of suburbia for a quick weekend ski trip may find their resort choices limited in the eastern portions of the United States, according to predictions.

Due to the persistent 18-month drought that has plagued the majority of the country, especially eastern region of the United States, some experts worry that there won’t be enough snow to draw their usual crowd of seasonal guests from ski companies like Thomson ski. Resort owners are trying to remain hopeful that the fall season will bring its usual tropical rain patterns. One resort owner has been quoted as saying “snowmaking would be considered…”

In addition to naturally occurring challenges, the New England ski industry is running into roadblocks such as seasonal labor. The Senate is currently sitting on a bill that could hinder the ability of resort owners to hire their returning foreign seasonal employees.

According to recent employment statistics, more than 122,000 foreign seasonal workers were employed H-2B program. About 51,000 of those were returning workers.

A recent change in federal law could make it more difficult for ski resorts to hire many of their foreign seasonal employees. There are eighteen ski resorts that rely heavily upon the H-2B program for seasonal employment purposes in Vermont alone. The current law limits the number of visas issued per year to 66,000. With more than 50,000 workers who currently hold H-2B visas returning to work, this puts a strain on industries that depend on their foreign employees for seasonal work.

The original federal, Save Our Small and Seasonal Business Act of 2005, allowed workers to return without counting against the cap, if they had previously held an H-2B visa. In 2006, more than 70,000 H-2B visas were issued in addition to more than 50,000 employees who returned without being counted against the 66,000 cap.

Now, as ski resorts and seasonal workers are trying to prepare for the ski season, they’re also waiting for a bill to be passed - or not.

Many seasonal tourists have become accustomed to escaping into the New England ski states. Though the 2007-2008 ski-seasons are being faced by challenges such as drought, global warming and a possible shortage of workers, resort owners remain positive. They anxiously await the usual swarm of tourists and skiers to arrive.

About the Author

Ski holidays in New England and other areas are available with various companies including Crystal and Thomson ski companies.

For Europe, Switzerland and Andorra are popular ski destinations, and travel guide YourAndorra.com offer information about Andorra ski holidays and a choice of Andorra hotels

By: Patty King

Vacations can be for relaxation and solitude, adventure or sightseeing. Whatever your mood is, you can find what you’re looking for in New England. New England vacations can entertain each member of a hard-to-please family. With four very distinct and colorful seasons and six states filled with attractions, amusements, romantic hideaways, plenty of history, shopping and eating, you can be sure that your next New England Getaway will be the perfect vacation you’ve been long awaiting.

Major attractions in New England include Six Flags amusement park, Canobie Lake Park, Faneuil Hall, Mount Washington, Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino. Other activities that are common in New England are skiing, white water rafting, golf, sailing & boating, whale watching, camping, hiking, fishing and hunting. Thousands of miles of coastline cover New England so there are plenty of beaches.

Here are some helpful hints:

Plan your vacation well. Most stressful vacations arise due to reservations that fell through, missing baggage and delayed or cancelled flights. Choose your lodging based on the activities you wish to do while on vacation. Your lodging should be centrally located to what you plan to visit. Always arrive with plenty of time for getting lost or for registration.

Quick Steps:

Decide where you are going

Decide when you are going

Decide how you are going to get there (car, plane, etc.)

Make all of your necessary reservations (air, car, hotel, etc.)

Decide on the budget for the entire trip

Start a savings plan

Decide who will take care of pets/house/garden while you are away

Decide who will pick up your mail and newspapers and hold them until you return

Reconfirm all reservations 2 weeks prior to leaving

Pack – be sure to keep all reservation paperwork handy

Stay relaxed while on vacation. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t let your kids get on your nerves. Don’t worry about things back home. And don’t schedule too many things into one day.

About the Author:

Patty King is the Director of Sales at the Atkinson Resort and Country Club, which is a public resort offering luxurious accommodations, an award winning golf course, seasonal activities, and several restaurants, as well as state-of-the-art New Hampshire banquet halls. Visit http://www.atkinsonresort.com for more information about the resort, its rich New England history and the breathtaking NH scenery.

By: Barry Williams

Information on Ski Vacations in Aspen, Alaska & Big Sky

I am sure you will agree that, before departing on any vacation, a little information on your destination can only help. Our purpose is to provide you with exactly that regarding ski vacations!

Alaska Ski Vacations

Alaska, which has always been a source of awe and mystery, has some of the best skiing in the world, and the Alyeska Resort is one of the finest resorts in the state. With a top elevation of 2751 feet and a 2501 vertical drop, the area gets an average of 631 inches of snow annually. Although this is some of the best skiing in the world, you won’t find the slopes overly crowded, and there are no long lift lines. There are nine lifts, including six chair lifts and two surface lifts, and one cable car line. There are 68 trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with the majority of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.

Night time skiing is allowed, which makes your ski experience more adventurous and thrilling. You will see snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers, and of course, the famous Northern Lights. This resort is ranked number nine of the top twenty-five killer ski trips by Skiing Magazine. The season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid November, and runs through mid April. This area of Alaska boasts the longest daytime areas in the United States, with approximately sixteen hours of daylight each day during April. During December, however, there are only about seven hours of daylight – which makes night time skiing necessary if you are going to get in the time that you want to spend on the slopes.

The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to stay! Here you will enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly entertainment is available as well. There are other nightlife spots in the area as well, that are not associated with the Hotel. If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities that can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska Resort include flight seeing, helisking, ocean cruising tours, dog sledding, ice climbing, back country skiing, mountaineering, and polar bear viewing. At the Alyeska Resort, the ultimate winter vacation can be experienced. Brave the elements, then return to the Hotel for some pampering.

Get a taste of what Alaska is really like, and what skiing is meant to be! There are activities for the entire family to enjoy, and there are many area sights and attractions to be enjoyed as well. This really is an awesome winter family ski vacation! Enjoy your Alaska Ski Vacation.

Aspen Ski Vacations Aspen Mountain has long been known as the playpen of the rich and famous – and it is. But it is also a great place to take a family ski vacation. Christmas in Aspen is especially wonderful! Aspen Mountain rises above the town of Aspen, with a top elevation of 11215 feet and a vertical drop of 3269 feet. There are 76 trails suitable for beginners, intermediates, and experts, accessible by eight lifts, including seven chair lifts and one cable car line. While Aspen has much to offer skiers, as well as those who enjoy the night life in a ski town, you should expect lots of crowds and lift lines on the slopes. Again, this is the playpen of the rich and famous, and many people choose this ski vacation spot simply for that reason – as well as for the great runs and nightlife.

There are numerous places to stay in and around Aspen, with more than 100 restaurants to choose from as well. Ski instructions and equipment rental are abundant in the area, and snowboarders are welcome. When you think of all the ski resorts in the world one of them stands out in your mind. Aspen offers a variety of ski areas for all levels and it covers 4,500 acres or more spread over four mountains. This resort is known for its nightlife because of the downtown area and the quieter Snowmass resort area has something to offer everyone.

Aspen provides all the restaurants and bars you could ever want or need You can take a stroll
through this luxurious city and find many boutiques and much more. There is a lot of history in many of the buildings that are in the downtown area. One of these buildings is the Ute bank; this building can be dated back to the silver area around the 1800’s.

With everything that there is to do in Aspen you shouldn’t find yourself getting bored. Aspen is
located in Colorado, and with the various mountain ranges, you are sure to find slopes that are suitable for your level. Snowmass is one of the most popular resorts in the world, so be sure to make reservations well in advance.What a great ski vacation awaits you in Aspen!

Big Sky Ski Vacations

With all that Big Sky, Montana has to offer skiers, it is amazing that so few know about its existence! Known for its wide open slopes and short lift lines, Big Sky Ski Resort has one of the largest lift served vertical drops in the United States. Over 5300 acres of ski slopes and trails await skiers, with over 33 feet of snowfall each season. Big Sky Ski Resort features twenty three lifts, 220 trails, and a 4350 foot vertical drop. The top elevation is 11154 feet. Along with the ski lifts, there are also two cable car lines available.

While there are beginner slopes, most of the slopes are geared toward intermediate and expert skiers. There are many places to lodge in Big Sky Resorts Mountain Village, which rests at the foot of the impressive Lone Peak mountain. Enjoy Sleigh Ride dinners, ice skating, parties, snowmobile tours, and a variety of community events. At Big Sky, there are no strangers. Big Sky, Montana is one of the highest rated Ski Resorts in the United States, and there is something here for everyone. Have a great ski vacation at Big Sky, Montana!

About the Author:

Barry Williams is the Managing Director of Sun Villas Direct Ltd, a company dealing with travel resources throughout the Globe. The core activity is Vacation Rental Holiday Homes throughout Europe, Florida & the Caribbean. Barry Williams is the Managing Director of Sun Villas Direct Ltd http://www.sunvillasdirect.com

By: Mark Scriven

Global warming and the associated changes in climate are being caused by the so-called “greenhouse” effect, which is raising the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. Global temperatures have been forecast to increase from 1.5 to 6.0 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Since nine of the ten warmest years have occurred in the past decade, skiers have been amongst the first spots lovers to be affected by the changing climate. While they are naturally concerned at how this may affect their sport, they can make choices in their skiing destinations which will increase their chance of having a good time at the snow.

Some ski resorts will get more snow

While many low-level ski resorts may have to shut down, as reduced snowfall makes them uneconomical, high altitude resorts such as Méribel and the Trois Vallées in France, where 80 percent of skiing is above 2,000 meters, will experience greater precipitation and snowfall. While many ski resorts are moving uphill and impacting on ecologically sensitive areas, high altitude Méribel is building on its long heritage of eco-friendly policies to strengthen and consolidate its green ski facilities and maintain its reputation as having some of the world’s finest ski runs.

Méribel has been pioneering and instituting environmental controls since it was established in 1938. These included green building codes such as energy-saving roof and wall insulation, and mandatory construction of underground parking. Today, traffic reduction is encouraged by the provision a free shuttle bus system and a network of cross-country pedestrian trails that connect the various resort areas. On-piste organic toilets are a recent innovation that helps reduce pollution.

Waste recycling is mandatory, vehicles run on bio-diesel, and snow cannons and trail-groomers powered by renewable hydroelectric power have been installed. At Val Thorens, the highest resort of the Trois Vallées, the lifts are also hydro-powered.

Many skiers choose to remain after the snow has melted to take part in piste cleaning work at the season’s end. As well, ecologically sensitive areas are checked for damage and replanted with appropriate species to insure, as much as possible, that biological diversity is maintained. Around Val Thorens, for example, over 200,000 trees have been planted in the last 20 years.

Global Warming could strengthen higher altitude resorts

Europe’s 2006–2007 winter season is on record as the warmest since 1950, with average temperatures 2.1 degrees higher than normal. Since resorts located below 1,500m experienced little snow cover on their lower slopes, the media was quick to report the end of skiing as a sport. But resorts, indeed regions, will continue to experience good and bad ski seasons, leading to longer or shorter periods suitable for snow sports.

With heavier precipitation, including snow, high altitude resorts will continue to be a safe bet for snow sports enthusiasts, and businesses here could well experience a boom as competition from other lower resorts declines. Of course, the greater visitation of higher areas will put strains on existing infrastructure and the environment, but the green ethic has been embraced by a new breed of dedicated skiers who see the survival of their sport tied in with the survival of the planet.

About the Author:

Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Purple Ski offer a selection of luxury catered ski chalets in Meribel.