Snow Bound:
The Best of Late Winter Activities
Yearning to catch a last dose of winter fun? Check out the United States’ top spots for skiing, tubing and sledding.
By Zachary Laks
As you await the new blooms of spring, take time to get out and make the most of winter. Some of the best cold-weather fun can be had later in the season as temperatures ease up, crowds lessen, and soft, sun-soaked snow lingers. These deep-winter months are perfect for a day racing down a ski slope, reaching thrilling speeds on a tube or sledding the sought-after hills. Pack a canteen of hot cocoa (and sunscreen for those bright days at high altitudes!) and set off to some of the best destinations in the nation to revel in the snow.
A skier makes the first tracks on the slopes of Aspen Snowmass
ASPEN SNOWMASS / DANIEL BAYER
Sick Ski Slopes
Aspen Snowmass in Snowmass Village, Colorado
Colorado is known globally for its world-class ski resorts, with more than 30 dotting the Centennial State. Aspen Snowmass is one of the largest in the U.S., with greater than 5,700 acres of skiable terrain across four mountains, all accessible with a single lift ticket. Aspen is a reliable snow destination with a season typically lasting through mid-April. This upscale skiing destination has long attracted celebrities and ski aficionados. Many also flock here for the apres-ski scene, which offers high-end dining, designer shopping and many AAA-rated accommodations.
Nighttime at Michigan’s Boyne Mountain Resort—overlooking Boyne Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa
BOYNE MOUNTAIN RESORT/BRIAN WALTERS PHOTOGRAPHY
Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, Michigan
Michigan is home to 40-plus ski resorts—with many located in the Huron Mountains of the Upper Peninsula—but Boyne Mountain Resort in the Lower Peninsula is among the most popular in the state. This family-friendly ski area near Boyne Falls amps up the fun with 415 skiable acres, 65 trails, five terrain parks and an impressive 10 lifts. Additionally, it welcomes Nordic skiers with 35 kilometers of cross-country trails and keeps the action going inside at its indoor waterpark.
Granite Peak Ski Area in Wausau, Wisconsin
Among Wisconsin’s 30 or so ski resorts, some operating from late November through late March, Granite Peak Ski Area is the state’s largest and among its most popular. The sprawling ski destination covers 400 acres of skiable terrain with 58 trails—catering to a variety of skier abilities—four terrain parks, seven lifts and nearly 100% snowmaking capabilities. This is one of the few Midwest resorts with night skiing, an opportunity that helps you make the most of your ski getaway.
Snow tubing fun
ADOBE STOCK
Top Tubing Venues
Coca-Cola Tube Park at Winter Park Resort
in Winter Park, Colorado
Fast and furious, Coca-Cola Tube Hill at Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado, is a renowned tubing destination that thrills riders through mid-April. An extensive course of four lanes sends racers speeding down the slopes and along banked chutes. The covered magic carpet lift makes multiple runs convenient, and the two-person tubes are great for sharing the experience with someone special. Change the vibe with the park’s popular night tubing runs, offering after-dark runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the end of March.
Hawksnest Snow Tubing in Seven Devils, North Carolina
Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, find the sprawling slopes of Hawksnest Tubing, the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast. This is the ultimate snow tubing road trip, a little under two hours from Asheville and 2.5 hours from Charlotte. Head here for a day packed with fast-paced tubing glee with up to 30 tubing lanes spanning 400 to 1,000 feet. The resort uses high-tech snowmaking equipment to ensure optimal running conditions, extending the tubing season through March. This is a popular regional family destination; reservations fill up fast, so be sure to book ahead of time before making the trip.
Sunburst Winter Sports Park in Kewaskum, Wisconsin
A quick, 50-minute drive from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sunburst Winter Sports Park is one of the premier snow tubing destinations in the U.S. The mountain park features a staggering 45-plus tubing lanes, making it the largest tubing park in the world by lane count. Riders reach dizzying speeds of up to 30 mph as you race down from an elevation that reaches 90 feet. Two people-mover lifts effortlessly bring you back up to the top of the run, making the tubing park ideal for multiple rounds of family fun.
Winter fun at Beech Mountain Sledding Hill, North Carolina
ToDd Bush Photography
Sledding Hill Hotspots
Beech Mountain Sledding Hill in Beech Mountain,
North Carolina
Head to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains for a rousing day of sledding fun on the Beech Mountain Sledding Hill. This tucked-away sledding spot is in the town of Beech Mountain, about two hours from Asheville and Winston-Salem, near Beech Mountain Resort. Open to kids ages 12 and younger using only plastic sleds, this free-of-charge, open hill is maintained throughout winter. Beech Mountain is one of the highest towns in the eastern U.S., with an average snowfall of 64 inches per year, which makes for excellent sledding conditions extending through mid-March.
Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Fast, free and fun for the family, Theodore Wirth Regional Park is the Minneapolis sledding destination. This large, urban park is conveniently located a few miles from downtown, with easy public transit and parking options. Plus, it offers two sledding areas. The free option is on the 10th fairway of the park’s golf course. If you don’t have a sled, you can borrow one from The Adventure Shop. The broad hill is steep and thrilling, with plenty of space to accommodate the many smiling sledders. (Note: If you prefer tubing, the park offers that as well, at a different location in the park and for a fee.)
Ruby Hill Park in Denver, Colorado
Denverites are no strangers to the snow. In fact, many look forward to powder-filled days, even if they must stick close to home instead of heading into the mountains. Thankfully, they find plenty of slopes right in town. One of the best spots to be shared, with visitors bringing their own sleds, is Ruby Hill Park in southwest Denver, near the South Platte River. One of Denver’s largest and most popular sledding hills, it features long, open runs that send sledders gliding for hundreds of feet. It’s a free park, so the hill can get crowded later in the day and on weekends.
Visit AAA.com/Travel to search for accommodations in the above destinations.
Start saving and skiing today! Visit AAA.com/Ski to buy tickets to a variety of nationwide ski resorts.
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