Ron's Best Ski Resort Experiences Around the World

Ronald is President of the Swiss Confederation Institute and he lives and works in the Wolf Laurel Resort area
surrounded by national forests, the Appalachian Trail and Wolf Ridge Ski Resort on one side and the Preserve at Wolf Laurel on the other.

Ski Dixie is based at Wolf Laurel Ski Resort in Asheville, NC

In my previous career as a financial marketing expert, I had the opportunity to travel to most mountain resorts across the U.S., Canada and throughout the Alps. Here are my personal favorite picks for unique, quality accommodations, restaurants and entertainment. Note, I'm certainly not recommending the biggest or most expensive options but rather the most unique and memorable based on my experiences. As you can tell, my mountain interests are high elevations, tremendous views, unique access and great skiing.

Murren, Switzerland - The Jungfrau Region & James Bond 007

 The Hotel Blumental in Murren, Switzerland - If you are looking for a traditional Swiss hotel in a picture-perfect Swiss village, then visit Murren and stay here.  The prices are very reasonable by Swiss standards and the restaurant and lounge have good food and entertainment. Note there is also a disco down in the basement.

I've stayed here in the summer and winter and simply love the place. Other resorts have far better winter skiing than the local slopes in Murren but great skiing is very accessible by train just across the valley in the Jungfrau Region.  There are 200 km of hiking trails in the summer and 53 km of ski slopes around Murren and 213 km in the entire region. Note this is a car free village and only accessible by mountain railway or gondola thus adding to the charm of my favorite mountain  village in the world. Also the Schilthorn is where 007 skied down from in one of the older Bond movies, always one of my favorites.

Zermatt, Switzerland - Home of the Matterhorn

The Riffelalp Resort 2222 - This 5 star hotel is located above Zermatt, Switzerland with fantastic views of the Matterhorn and only accessible by the Gornergrat mountain railway out of Zermatt to the top of the mountains.  During the winter, there is even a small train from the railroad stop to the front of the hotel but it is a short walk.  You are on top of the world but this location in the middle of world class skiing and hiking does not come cheap. You are guaranteed 5 star quality in accommodations and in the restaurants and lounge.

Deer Valley, Utah - America's Most Exclusive Public Ski Resort

The Goldener Hirsch - You would think you are in Austria with the excellent restaurant menu, prices and high level of service and luxury accommodations. But the skiing is far more convenient in Deer Valley compared to Austria as the hotel is right on the Deer Valley ski slopes as compared to the original Goldener Hirsch in my favorite European city of Salzburg. By-the-way, the city combines European charm, history and restaurants with wonderful skiing nearby skiing terrain and you can be picked up at your hotel for a wide choice of nearby Austrian ski resorts. You can't go wrong with the Goldener Hirsch in either Deer Valley or Salzburg but be prepared for kuxury hotel prices at either venue.  While in Utah, be sure to visit Temple Square as well as the ski resorts of Alta, Snowbird and Solitude. In Salzburg, try the Salzberger Nockerl desert and take in the dinner concerts above the town in the castle.

Solitude, Utah - The Greatest Snow on Earth

The Inn at Solitude Resort and Silver Fork Lodge - This is the best skiing and scenery in Utah and within a short walk you'll find yourself in a ski village right out of the Alps or an old western mountain lodge.

Second, Solitude is only a few minutes from Salt Lake City and the other resorts in the Wasatch Mountains east of the city. If you want to feel like you're in a European village in the Alps like Murren, Lech or Zermatt but never leave the U.S. then ski here and stay at the Inn at Solitude Resort. On the other hand, if you're in the mood for old west adventure, then stay a mile or so away at the Silver fork Lodge where prices are lower.

Try St. Bermand's for great country French cuisine. I know as I lived a mile from the French border in Switzerland and for good ole American food, my best Thanksgiving dinner ever was in the Silver Fork Restaurant.  At Solitude you'll have great ambiance, skiing, and excellent food, all a short drive from SLC.

This is personally my favorite ski resort in America!!! Everyone knows about the great powder of Alta and Snowbird but Solitude gets just as much and they are often the first resort to open in Utah. If I could afford to live anywhere in the entire world,  it would be Solitude Resort.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada - The Best Ski & Hotel View in the World

I believe the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has the most striking views in the world during both summer and winter and I've been here in both seasons. The skiing is vast even though the ski area actually receives less natural snow than Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia but with their cold temperatures and snowmaking capacity, it really doesn't matter. The hotel is wonderful and we have spent several holidays  there and we've always had plenty of snow.

Telluride, Colorado - A Great Colorado Mountain Resort and Town

The New Sheridan Hotel in Telluride has been a favorite of mine since the early 1980's. Yes, its gotten far more upscale and I've gotten a lot older but it still feels like it did back then.  Now, I don't get a cheap room with the bathroom down the hall but the New Sheridan Bar hasn't changed at all.  In fact, they claim it looks much like it did back in 1895.  I'm not up on the restaurants but you can't go wrong staying here and skiing in Telluride, my favorite ski resort in all of Colorado. By-the-way, watch out for how the altitude can affect you in terms of eating, partying and skiing as the town is at a high elevation and I almost spent one evening many years ago in a snow bank.

Unique Skiing Experiences Within Driving Distance For Southern Skiers

Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada - Fantastic Skiing Plus French Culture & Cuisine

I can't say enough about Mont Tremblant Ski Resort now owned by Intrawest. Intrawest and it's many resorts offer the best consistent mountain resort experience in the world as I've visited and skied most of their resorts and owned property at one. Tremblant is the most interesting ski resort in the East and my personal favorite. All the accommodations and restaurants in the resort are excellent and you can take your pick depending on your interests and financial requirements. Two suggestions, first, you must see the N'Ice Club, an ice & snow lounge if you visit in the winter. Second, spend quality time now just on the slopes but in the village.

The resort is rated, the #1 ski resort in Eastern North America for restaurants, service and activities. There is so much to do here and it is well worth the drive from down South and it is only around 7 hours from New York or Boston. This is my favorite ski resort in the East.

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire - A Historic Hotel Plus the Only Train Skiing in America

Bretton Woods Ski Resort is my second favorite resort in the East and they have really expanded terrain and the length of the ski season during the last few years. Stay at the historic Mount Washington Hotel and be sure to try the train accessed skiing on the Mount Washington Cog Railway,  just to say you've done it.  My personal preference for a Northeast ski trip would be to stay 3 nights here, 2 nights in Quebec City visiting the local resorts there and then 3 nights at Mont Tremblant. You can read more about their unique  train skiing experience here although I must confess, the article is a few years old and written when I was living in Switzerland. Although I've been to Mount Washington many times, I haven't done the ski train yet.

Beech Mountain, North Carolina - Eastern America's Highest Incorporated Town & Ski Resort

Archers Mountain Inn - My favorite inn for romance in the NC mountains and you can't beat the exposed beams and fireplaces in most of the rooms, not to mention the views. Check the inn out along with the Jackalope's View restaurant.  My very favorite restaurant in all of western NC is The Louisiana Purchase in Banner Elk.  They have an extensive wine list, great jazz music and the best Cajun food north of New Orleans and I once lived in New Orleans.  The downside is it's located in a nondescript roadside shopping center in Banner Elk and I'm sorry to say I drove by it for years without stopping for that very dumb reason. Don't be deterred  by the outside as once in the door you'll find yourself thinking you're in New York or New Orleans rather than right between the ski areas of Sugar and Beech Mountain.

Snowshoe, West Virginia - The Best Ski Resort South of New England

The Foxfire Grille is right in the village across from the Highland House condo complex where I formerly owned a condo. This is a great place to eat and enjoy the evening. I'm not current on the ownership but it was owned by the same couple who ran The Red Fox Restaurant which was my favorite on the mountain and for that matter in the entire Southeast. I would often ride the 6 plus hours from Asheville to Snowshoe Ski Resort just to ski and eat at the Red Fox. I'm not up on the situation there at the present time but Snowshoe has the best skiing South of Vermont and New Hampshire in my opinion.

Click Here For More About Ronald Holland & His Passion For Mountains & Skiing

Take the Wolf Grand Tour in 2007! - A fun, relaxed, no pressure alternative to see the broad range of of real estate opportunities, homes and lots in Wolf Laurel, Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, Breakaway Village, the Peaks at Wolf Ridge,  the Haw Ridge Summit airport community and the  Preserve at Wolf Laurel including Buck Town, Steeplechase and The Ridges.. What could be better than a  brief private tour of all the resorts together followed by wine or sparking grape juice and cheese on a mountain top with long-range views that seem to go on forever?  We are only 35 minutes from exciting Asheville, NC recently named by Frommer's, the most respected name in travel writing as one of the top 12 destinations in the world for 2007. Do Your Own Due Diligence! -  No sales pressure, just balanced information as we drive you and your family through the different communities answering your questions on prices, views, winter access, climate and lifestyle as we highlight the unique advantages, differences & amenities of each resort in a fair and balanced manner as we do not represent any particular resort or development. CLICK HERE for more information and to schedule your complimentary private Grand Tour of our resort area.

 

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