The Summertime Beauty of These 10 U.S. Ski Resorts
When the snow melts, you can still enjoy your favorite ski resorts. These days, resorts all around the United States are competing for tourists by expanding their warm-weather activities.
When the snow melts and the temperatures quordle rise, the best mountain towns in the United States become the site of a plethora of exciting events and activities, from golfing to hiking to ziplining to whitewater rafting to fly fishing to live concerts to culinary festivals. And there are less people around in the winter, so you can go out and enjoy the pure mountain air and stunning landscape.
These 10 exciting U.S. ski areas are also great for summer travel. The best part is that many of them have hotel costs that are far lower than those during the high season.
Wyoming's Jackson Hole
Even after the snow has melted, Wyoming's winter landscape is breathtaking, with colorful flowers filling the valleys and hills, local species abounding, and the temperature just right for outdoor activities like hiking and bicycling. In addition, the town's location between Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks makes it a prime base from which to explore the surrounding alpine and forested areas.
At Jackson Hole's annual Summer Festival, the best chefs, winemakers, and distillers in the nation get together with the best local cooks for a weekend of activities and tastings. (Save the winter issue in your bookmarks, too!)
Horseback riding across the countryside, an adrenaline-pumping via ferrata, gourmet meals at Teton Thai and Piste Mountain Bistro, a relaxing spa treatment at the Four Seasons, and a honky-tonk night at the legendary Million Dollar Cowboy Bar are a few more attractions. Take the tram up to 10,450 feet and enjoy brown sugar butter waffles and breathtaking views at Corbet's Cabin.
The Remarkable Resort Community of Park City, Utah
While the Sundance Film Festival and the country's biggest ski resort may get the most attention, the summer in this historic mining town is really remarkable. In addition to Utah's biggest mountain coaster and fly fishing on Provo River, the resort offers 400 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian riding. Summer bobsledding, zip lining, difficult ropes courses, and extreme tubing are just a few of the other exciting activities available at Olympic Park. In addition to its natural beauty, Park City is home to a slew of events celebrating everything from local art and music to artisanal beverages and seasonal food.
Colorado's Aspen
During the summer, visitors to Colorado's most well-known Rocky Mountain town may enjoy anything from an international food festival to the thrills of the adjacent Lost Forest adventure park. Get your hiking boots on and explore 25 miles of stunning Snowmass trails, soar over Aspen with a paraglider, watch the sun set from a hot air balloon, or climb the face of a mountain. Next, take a leisurely walk around Restaurant Row and the rest of the quaint downtown neighborhood. Expert advice: Take a break to take in the stunning scenery of Maroon Bells, two of the most photographed mountains in North America that rise 14,000 feet over the pristine waters of Maroon Lake.
Sugarloaf, Maine.
Sugarloaf is a paradise for sportsmen and women, including the biggest ski area east of the Rockies and one of Maine's best golf courses. From the après series offering local craft beer and live outdoor music to the world-class mountain bike racing of the 2022 Enduro World Series in August, summer at "the Loaf" provides a laid-back, small-town vibe with a fun-filled program of activities. Flagstaff Lake is a great place to go kayaking, fishing, and for other outdoor activities including golf, zip line, and hiking. The number of local businesses open for business this time of year is more than ever before.
Utah's Snowbasin
One of the oldest mountain resorts in North America, Snowbasin is a 3,000-acre outdoor playground with 3,000 vertical feet of rough terrain to explore year-round. Visitors may sightsee and access more than 20 trails by foot, bike, or gondola, as well as play mini golf on an 18-hole course surrounded by the magnificent Wasatch Mountains. Needles Lodge, the resort's highest restaurant, overlooks the Ogden Valley and beyond from an altitude of 8,700 feet. Live music events including Blues, Brews, and BBQ, as well as the German-themed SnowWiesn Oktoberfest, fill Snowbasin's schedule to capacity.
