How to make a day on the slopes even more perfect? Pair it with a wintry festival, and let the fun continue long after après. From beer events to wine fêtes and pretty much everything in between, these celebrations will fill your cup (and plate). Plus, you might nab a few celebrity chefs’ autographs along the way.

Check back. We’ll update this list if dates change or new information arises.

Taos Winter Wine Festival, Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

January 26-29, 2023

The 35th Annual is a three-day weekend highlighting Taos’ culinary artistry and wines from around the world. Look for a reserve tasting, chef luncheons, après-ski tastings, wine dinners, and more.

Beaver Creek’s Winter Culinary Weekend, Beaver Creek, Colorado

February 2-5, 2023

The of food and wine will celebrate Beaver Creek’s many luxurious culinary experiences with cooking demos, innovative wine and spirits events, and gourmet wine-pairing dinners.

Jackson Hole Food and Wine Winter Fest, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

March 2-4, 2023

As if a three-day trip to Jackson wasn’t already magical, with the you can add a caviar-and-champagne tasting, a grand tasting, wine dinners, and cooking classes to your ski day lineup.

Taste of Vail, Vail, Colorado

April 5-8, 2023

Seminars, wine tastings, and après sip sessions populate the long weekend but the banner event—The Mountain Top Picnic—is legendary. Take the gondola up or ski over to Eagle’s Nest, and taste to your heart’s content.

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It’s not all that often that your accommodationĚýis the cheapest part of your ski weekend. But if you’ve never considered hostels to be an option, you’ve been overspending: boutique bunkhouses are multiplying in the United States, and they often offer many of the same amenities you’d find in a nice hotel at a fraction of the price.

These hostels in prime ski areas in the U.S. and Canada are all under $100 a night. That’s cheap enough to justify taking a vacation day to ski for a third day. Or call in sick—we won’t tell anyone.

Loge Camps

Mount Shasta, California

Ěýis a small chain that buys old hotels and motels and renovates them into hipper spaces. Its Mount Shasta location, about 15 minutes from the slopes, offers traditional bunk-style hostel rooms as well as private, dog-friendly options (from $50). Expect to find a chill vibe here, where you might even make a few new friends at theĚýbrand-new cafĂ© and bar andĚýfire pit, to the sound ofĚýoccasional live music. Come spring, the property will also introduce a few campsites.ĚýCross-country skisĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ snowshoesĚýwill be available for rent on-site starting this month (from $15).

Park City Hostel

Park City, Utah

Stay minutes away from Park City’s ski resortsĚýfor a tenth—or less—of the cost of staying at a localĚýon-mountain resort. Ěý(from $33)Ěýis close to free public transportation that runs to all of the nearby ski areas, and it also runs its own trips to Snowbasin once a week. There are bunk rooms,Ěýprivate rooms for couples and families, a spacious common room and kitchen with a fireplace and pool table, and plenty of areas to store your gear.

Homestyle Hostel Vermont

Ludlow, Vermont

Ěýis just a mile from , and you’ll find amenities here you’re likely not used to from a hostel. All guests get complementary breakfast and can take a free shuttle from the property to the mountain. In addition to traditional bunk rooms, itĚýalso offers aĚývariety of private accommodations for couples, families, and larger groups (from $55). Rooms are outfitted with white-noise machines to defend against snorers, and there’s an on-site restaurant, open on the weekends, so you can eat close to home after a long day of shredding.

The SnowMansion

Arroyo Seco, New Mexico

, in the artsy village of Arroyo Seco, has rooms varying from bunks for single travelers to private rooms for up to tenĚýpeople (from $38). It’s about 20 minutes from both Taos Ski VillageĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ the town of Taos—well worth an afternoon of exploration for its art galleries, incredible food, and historic homes. The hostel offers a particularly good deal for skiers who need to travel with pets: forĚýan extra $30 a day, you can leave your pet at the hostel while you’re skiing, and the staff will walk them and make sure they have fresh water.

Vail Bunkhouse

Minturn, Colorado

Ěýis between Vail and Beaver Creek, about tenĚýminutes from each resort, in a small town with a lot of character and plenty of walkable dining options. Unlike a traditional bunk room, where privacy is at a minimum (if it exists at all), the beds here are a bit more podlike, with a wall that covers about two-thirds of the bed and a curtain to close it off entirely (from $52). This provides a bit of insulation from snorers and makes forĚýa super-cozy place to snuggle up with a book or journal. The property also offers a six-bunk room that can be rented in its entirety for a group of friends or familyĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ a four-bunk room that converts into two bunks and a king-size bed. Guests receive a 20 percent discount onĚýrentals from , which are brought right to the hostel.

Bivvi Hostel

Breckenridge, Colorado

is about as posh as it gets for a hostel. When you walk in and see the bright-blue antler chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling and the massive stone fireplace, you might wonder at first whether you’ve wandered into the wrong place. But you haven’t—for a fraction of the cost of other Breckenridge hotels, and just a ten-minute walk to downtown, you can snag a supercomfy twin bunk here, free homemade breakfasts,Ěý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ access to the hot tub (from $70). If you want to get fancy, the hostel also offers private rooms, including one with its own tub.

Whistler Pangea Pod

Whistler, British Columbia

Ěýoffers 88 spacious one- and two-person pods in eightĚýseparate rooms, including one for women only (from $43). Pods have full-size beds—so two adults can share one—and lockable luggage storage. There’s also space to keepĚýskis and bikesĚýin the so-called Toy Box.ĚýPangea Pod has a rooftop patio to enjoy theĚýview, and an on-site restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails.

The Hostel

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Ěýundeniably boastsĚýthe best location on this list andĚýa screaming deal at that—it’s right in Teton Village, about a one-minute walk to the gondola at Jackson Hole. Both private rooms and bunks are available, as well as an array of amusements to help you get to know your fellow skiers, like Ping-Pong, pool, shuffleboard, and foosball tables (from $32). The propertyĚýalso has an area to wax your skisĚý˛ą˛Ô»ĺ accommodates pets in private rooms forĚýan extra $10 a night.

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Skiers love dogs so it makes sense that each year ski resorts and mountain town hotels become more dog friendly. Cindy Hirschfeld, Aspen, Colorado, resident and author of , a Colorado travel guidebook for dog owners says, “These days, dogs are certainly considered part of the family. And people want to include the whole family in their vacation.''

Hirschfeld points out that many mountain towns, like Stowe, Vermont, and Jackson, Wyoming, have very liberal leash enforcement, and that many communities like Aspen have cross-country trails with designated “poop loops,” where dogs are allowed to get a workout alongside their owners.

Mount Bachelor and Mount Hood Meadows in Oregon both recently designated off-leash areas adjacent to their parking lots to accommodate owners who can’t stand to leave their pets at home (or are staying in hotels where dogs aren’t allowed to be left unattended). Perhaps the most dog-friendly of all resorts is Snowmass, Colorado, where dogs are allowed access to the entire mountain, even during operational hours, if leashed and accompanied by owners—good news for anyone who wants to earn their turns, and even better news for dogs. Here, Hirschfeld dishes on her favorite dog-friendly ski resorts, plus doles out some pro hacks to make travling with Fido go as smoothly as possible.

Ritz-Carlton at Bachelor Village, Beaver Creek

If you left your dog at home but still crave canine companionship, theĚýĚýin Beaver Creek has a pair of house Saint Bernards—Bachelor and a new Bernese Mountain puppy named Belle. The pair appear in the lobby every day from four to five for visiting, and Belle will be available for guests to take for walks this summer. Guest’s pets are welcome, too, with a $125 cleaning fee for the first three nights and an additional $25 thereafter. They are not allowed to stay in the room unattended.Ěý

Stowe Mountain Lodge

With a deeper snowpack than most western resorts, Stowe is the place for easterners to ski this winter. Dog owners should book the slopeside . The 300-room hotel has welcomed dogs since it opened in 2008. The hotel charges a one-time $125 cleaning fee, but provides a dog bed, food and water bowls, and a bag of treats for each canine guest. For recreation, the community’s most popular dog walk, Smuggler’s Notch road, is just a five-minute stroll from the hotel. Though dogs can’t be left unattended in the rooms, the concierge can arrange dog-sitting at a rate of $15/hour. When accompanying owners, however, dogs have a wide berth at the hotel. Especially popular is the upper lobby, where drinks and a bar menu are served. “You’ll see people with a plate of mussels by the fire, and their dog is lying right next to them,” says hotel spokesperson Leslie Kilgore.

Viceroy Snowmass

Home to the aforementioned liberal uphill and dog policies, Snowmass is ski dog paradise. The best spot for Fido to stay is the , slopeside at the resort. “It’s ridiculously pet friendly,” says Viceroy spokesman Campbell Levy, who brings his own 100-pound Bernese to stay in the hotel frequently. Dogs can stay in the room unattended, though Levy suggests you alert management and leave the do-not-disturb sign out when you do so. There is a one-time (per stay) charge of $150.00. Dogs are provided with a dog bed, leash, doggie bags, Viceroy Bandana, and a five-ounce bag of treats. There are also water and food bowls provided in the rooms. If you can’t make it back in time to let your pup out for a walk, dog-walking is available via the concierge for an additional fee. Come summer, dogs are allowed in the Snowmass gondolas.

Hotel Telluride

Like Stowe, Telluride is a dog town. There are groomed trails throughout the valley where dogs are allowed, and one of Telluride’s most popular dog-friendly winter hiking trails—the Jud Wiebe—starts just a few blocks from the . Dogs are allowed on city busses and even in the complimentary gondola from town to Mountain Village. There is a $50 cleaning feeĚý(or $100 for two or more nights) for dogs, but they can be left unaccompanied in the rooms, and according to spokeswoman Amanda Acosta, if you don’t have a crate, the front desk is happy to keep your pooch with them while your room is being cleaned. “We’re happy to work with owners to make it work with pets,” she says. In addition, , and you can get a $20 rebate on your pet fee.

Inn at Keystone

The charges $25/night for dogs and welcomes them with a bag of treats and a copy of . Pets can be left unattended in the room but must be leashed in the hallways and lobby. Don't miss “Yappy Hour,” which takes place in the lobby bar during afternoons—dogs are welcome to lounge by the fireplace while you graze on appetizers and drink cocktails. There are trails right behind the hotel and dogs are welcome on-mountain for uphill travel on a leash outside of operating hours.

The Little Nell, Aspen

Upon arrival at the posh in Aspen, guests can register their pets and receive a brass identification tag stamped with the hotel's address and phone number. They’re also given a Little Nell leash, sanitary bags, pet wipes, food and water bowls, dog beds, pet menu selections (tenderloin of beef with scrambled eggs and brown rice or grilled salmon with carrots and brown rice is $12), a petiquette handbook of guidelines, recommended pet-friendly hiking trails and gourmet doggie biscuits. That all costs $100 with an additional $25 fee per additional night. Aspen is notably pet friendly, with dogs welcome in most shops, and on Buttermilk Mountain and Snowmass mountains, as well as several of the valley’s , including Labrador Lane at the Snowmass cross-country center and Bernese Boulevard at the Aspen Golf Course.

Limelight Hotel, Aspen

Upon check in at , dogs receive a leash, bone, collapsible dog bowl, bandana and their own Frisbee, available for use in Wagner Park, across the street in downtown Aspen. There is a $25 pet fee per night and dogs must steer clear of the lobby during the hotel’s famous breakfast buffet.Ěý

Heading to the slopes with your pooch? Hirschfeld offers a extra few tips.Ěý

How to Travel Happy with Your Dog

1. Notify the hotel ahead of time to be sure you are booked into a pet-friendly room. If not, upon check-in, your reservation may be voided if all such rooms are already occupied.
2. Bring a travel crate. Some hotels will only allow dogs to be left unattended if in their crate. Crating tends to keep dogs more quiet, and allows housekeeping to straighten up rooms without any fear of altercations.
3. Look for nearby cross-country trails that allow dogs. A 30-minute skate ski is a quick way to tire a dog out before or after your own trip to the slopes.
4. Slopeside lodging is ideal so you can pop in during the day to give the dog some relief.

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It’s no Super Bowl, but we’d say it’s a hell of a lot more fun to watch. The return to Colorado this year, February 2-15 in Beaver Creek. Here, our reasons to join the frenzy if you haven’t already:

1. We Have Home-Snow Advantage

Since World Cuppers started racing in Beaver Creek in 1988, the U.S. has had an impressive amount of success there. A Yank has stood atop the downhill podium more than any other country but one.

Austrian wins: 6
U.S. wins: 5
Swiss wins: 4
Norwegian and Italian wins: 2

2. Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin Will Duke It Out for Homecoming Queen

The two most intriguing skiers on the World Cup tour both call nearby Vail home. But there can only be one queen of the mountain. Here’s how they stack up:

Lindsey Vonn
Age: 30
World Cup wins: 64
Events at 2015 World Championships: Downhill, super-G
Secret weapon: Bionic knee

Mikaela Shiffrin
Age: 19
World Cup wins: 10
Events at 2015 World Championships: Super-G, GS, slalom
Secret weapon: Youth

Our pick: Vonn. Shiffrin is winning races at an astonishing rate, but Vonn has already surpassed her record for the all-time women’s World Cup record. She’s determined to pull off a victory here.

3. The Men Will Take Flight

The most exciting event is the men’s downhill (February 7) on , considered one of the more treacherous courses on the World Cup tour. Love to see guys fly? Keep your eyes on two of the six jumps: Golden Eagle and Red Tail.

Golden Eagle: In 2007, reigning World Cup champion Aksel Lund Svindal hit this going 72 miles per hour, flew 197 feet, and somersaulted into the safety netting—one reason FIS is mandating that skiers wear airbags this year.

Red Tail: It’s a crowd favorite for two reasons: it’s right in front of the spectating area, and it’s the site of some spectacular crashes.

4. Bode Miller Could Win (or Crash)—and Will Definitely Run His Mouth

At age 37, Miller may be in the twilight of his career, but he’s still one of the most exciting—and unpredictable—­skiers on the tour. Plus, he has awesome hobbies (he plans to get into horse racing when he retires) and says stuff like: “I’ve been crashing forever.… But am I going to back off? No. ­Because I like to do it this way, and I don’t give a fuck if I crash.”

5. The Fantas­tically Cheesy Theme Song

The collaborated with Mississippi country artist on “Fly.” ­According to a press release, Azar took only “a few hours” to come up with it. That’s not surprising when you consider lyrics like this:

“With legs of steel … all you need is ­gravity.”

6. We’re Guided by Satellites

GPS devices attached to the American athletes allow the team to gauge rates of acceleration and deceleration through every section of a turn. “We now have a better idea of when to ski a more direct line and when to take a rounder line,” says men’s head coach Sasha Rearick.

7. Because, As Every Racing Fan Knows, Ringing One of These Like a Maniac Is Totally OK.

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Early Season: November-December
Best New Trails: Sugarloaf, Maine
Best Dawn Patrol: Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Best Hike-To Terrain: Crested Butte, Colorado

Midseason: January-February
Biggest Party: Vail, Colorado
Best New Lift: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Best New Glades: Big Sky, Montana

Late Season: March-April
Best Powder: Squaw Valley, California
Best Spring Skiing: Taos, New Mexico
Best Terrain: Snowbird and Alta, Utah

Plus:
Best Family Resorts
Best Deals on the Mountain
Best Heli-Skiing
Best Rest-Day Activities
Best Ski-Racing Camp
Best Backcountry School
Best Comedy Festival
Best Après-Ski Waterpark
Do It All Season

Ěý

Best New Trails

Sugarloaf, Maine

Last season, Sugarloaf, like many New England resorts, received 22 inches during a Christmas blizzard. That’s no guarantee, but if it gets anything close to that this year, you’ll have an additional 135 acres of open glades off the mountain’s King Pine chairlift at your disposal. You’ll want to be first on the hill, which is easiest if you’re staying at the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel (doubles from $291; ), just steps from the Sugarloaf SuperQuad lift. Once on top, ski the Jagger run to Misery Whip, a steep gully that guarantees face shots on any powder day. Then head to the new terrain: nearly 2,300 vertical feet of open glades with 35-degree chutes like Cant Dog, a quick left off the lift. Smart Idea: The new Skyline quad replaces the Spillway East double chair that derailed last year—and reaches the top in about half the time.

Best Dawn Patrol

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

The key to tackling 8,171 acres of powder is a good breakfast at the Roundhouse Lodge beneath Whistler Peak. An $18 trip up the village gondola at 7 A.M. covers your ­bacon and eggs plus an extra hour of skiing with your regular lift ticket. Last year, the deal was an especially good investment, consider­ing that the resort got seven feet—seven feet!—of snow the week of Christmas. Once the lifts open to the masses, break out your cell phone. Whistler’s new, free mobile app tracks trail and lift openings throughout the day. Try to catch Blackcomb’s 7th Heaven lift early: it serves some of the mountain’s best glades, cliff bands, and open bowls. Then crash at the Pan ­Pacific Whistler Mountainside (doubles from $194; ), just a short walk from the gondolas. Smart Idea: Sign up for one of Whistler’s adult ski-school classes. They’re limited to four students, which means plenty of individual instruction.

Best Hike-To Terrain

Crested Butte, Colorado

No resort gets a bigger La Niña bang for the dump than Crested Butte, which often has thin cover until February. But last year, 62 inches fell between December 16 and 23, allowing early access to the mountain’s best terrain, Third Bowl, which could open early again this year. To make the most of the bowl’s 75 acres of hike-to terrain, ride the North Face lift, then make the 20-minute trek to the top before dropping in. There, you’ll find 45-degree lines, powder pillows, and cliff bands. Sound intimidating? Hire an instructor from the North Face Guide Program ($120) and learn to rip the steeps with confidence. Afterward, soak and steam at the Elevation Hotel’s fully loaded spa (doubles from $249; ). Smart Idea: The newly opened CS Irwin Lodge outfits backcountry cat-ski trips on 1,000 acres of prime terrain up Kebler Pass ($500 per day; ). Trips leave from downtown Crested Butte in cats outfitted as state-of-the-art touring coaches.

Biggest Party

Vail, Colorado

Last season, Vail got 56 inches of snow between January 17 and 23. With anything close to that, the inaugural Winter Teva Mountain Games (February 9–12) should be a powder paradise. An offshoot of the summer Mountain Games, the winter edition will include events like ice climbing and telemark skiing, and the requi­site concerts and parties. Stay near the ­action at the Lodge at Vail (doubles from $469; ) or the Tivoli (doubles from $422; ). Smart Idea: On powder days, head to Beaver Creek. It has a reputation for easy groomers, which is why the Grouse Mountain area, 1,838 vertical feet of steeps, often stays untracked.

Best New Lift

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole

Skiing Jackson’s upper mountain—home to its famous steeps and stashes—has always required descending all 4,139 vertical feet to the village tram dock. Now the new Marmot lift, which starts one-third of the way up, allows skiers quick laps on Casper Bowl, a series of 40-degree open shots and powder pillows that generally ski best in January. Of course, less lift time means less rest, which is why we recommend you treat yourself to a night at the fashionably green Hotel Terra (doubles from $319; ). Refuel with the fiery yellow beef curry at Teton Thai. Smart Idea: Enroll your kids in the TGR Fall Line Camp, where pro freeskiers like Dash Long teach groms how to install a helmet cam and go big. (December 29-31; $645, including lift tickets and lunch).

Best New Glades

Big Sky, Montana

The resort’s recent expansion is small but impressive. These five new trails on ­Andesite Mountain include Shady Chute, a 2,000-foot tree shot through 40-degree steeps, and Wolf Den, a slightly mellower 35-­degree pitch. Plan your trip anytime in January, the resort’s snowiest month, when 50 to 100 inches of fresh powder typically blanket the Gallatin Range. But be sure to take a few rides up Lone Peak Tram, which tops out at 11,166 feet and provides access to 4,350 vertical feet of steeps, chutes, and thigh-burning bowls. Thankfully, Big Sky also just opened 3,000-square-foot Solace Spa and Salon, conveniently located beneath Huntley Lodge (massages from $95; ). Smart Idea: A $98 ticket gets you ­access to Big Sky and the adjacent Moonlight Basin (), where you can ski 60 new acres of sparsely gladed terrain. Located off the Iron Horse lift, the nine trails offer up 35-to-45-degree ­pitches and trails as long as a third of a mile.

Best Powder

Squaw Valley, California

After getting hammered with a record 811 inches of snow last season—241 in March alone—Squaw becomes even more powder-friendly this year: digital information boards will report when runs and lifts open (catch 50-degree Headwall right after the rope drops); on-mountain restaurant Funi’s will feature grab-and-go food; and a ski-rental fleet of ultrawide K2 Pon2oons will keep ­everyone floating high. Stay at the Village at Squaw Valley (doubles from $179; ), which features cozy rooms with real fireplaces and is just steps from the resort. Smart Idea: In ­September, execs at Squaw and Alpine Meadows, which are separated by a single ridgeline, ­announced the smartest plan in skiing this year—a ­merger. Starting this year, you can ski “Squalpine” on one lift ticket.

Best Spring Skiing

Taos, New Mexico

Typically dry during a La Niña year, Taos always skis well in March. This summer, to make the most of whatever winter brings, the family-owned resort thinned trees on the north-facing glades between Longhorn and Al’s Run—1,400 vertical feet of sustained steeps. The 45-minute trek to the top of ­Kachina Peak, which often holds cold powder late into the spring, is always worth the ­effort. Stay at the Bavarian Lodge for an old-world vibe (doubles from $335; ) or in town at El Monte Sagrado if high-concept bathrooms and après massages are your thing (doubles from $279; ). Smart Idea: ­Schedule your trip to coincide with the March 24 Spring Beer Fest. Local and international brewers offer their libations in the resort center. Chaos ensues.

Best Terrain

Snowbird and Alta, Utah

Last year was insane: close to 800 inches of fluff fell, and Snowbird stayed open until the Fourth of July. Here’s your game plan to beat the crowds: spring for the $92 AltaBird ticket, which works at both mountains. First, hit Mach Schnell off the Snowbird tram—up to 45-degree steeps through open glades and bowls covering 2,100 vertical feet all the way to the bottom. Then ski Baldy Ridge, which connects Snowbird and Alta. Once you’re at Alta, make the half-hour boot-pack up East Castle; it’s always the latest to open. At the end of the day, crash at Alta Lodge (doubles from $352; ). It’s not flashy, but the service and food are amazing and have kept guests coming back for decades. Smart Idea: Rent a Flaik tracker ($20) at Snowbird’s activities center to record your ski metrics, like speed and vertical, and share them online.

Best Family Resorts

Five places to take the kids

Best Terrain for Young Jibbers: Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont
This season, the mountain teamed up with Burton Snowboards to develop Riglet Park. Specifically designed for kids, it features the Treehouse, an elevated platform with ramps, rolling hills, miniature rails, pyramids, and a mini halfpipe.

Best All-Ages Party: Keystone, Colorado
During Kidtopia Family Weeks, Keystone offers movie night, arts and crafts, a chance to meet the avalanche rescue dogs, and a maze-and-slide-equipped snow fort.

Best Family Instruction: Fernie, British Columbia
At Fernie, you don’t drop your kids in ski school then take off for the day; you join them. (Don’t panic—you can also off­-load them and dash.) Family coaches work with the kids on basics while also teaching parents some instruction tricks. One good one: have your child hold a lunch tray with a few items on it and try not to spill while skiing. ­Lessons from $49;

Best Kid-Friendly Terrain: Deer Valley, Utah
This place is so thick with on-­mountain playgrounds, it drew up a separate children’s trail map ­charting out the whoop-­de-dos and banked turns of Bucky’s Backyard and the Candyland racecourse, where the gates are shaped like candy canes.

Best Place to Ski the Glades Together: Steamboat, Colorado
Open glades like the Shadows, with trees spaced 50 to 60 feet apart, offer a great stepping stone to tighter tree skiing. Feel uncomfortable doing the teaching but want to keep the family together? Book a family lesson (from $390). ­

Best Deals on the Mountain

Tickets, lodging and meals

Alyeska, Alaska
The Ski Alaska package includes four nights of lodging, three days of lift tickets, and breakfast. $399 per person;

Northstar, California
Two weekday lift tickets and a studio condo at Shaun White’s new ­training ground: $105 per person.

Sunday River, Maine
The Deal of the Century gets skiers two days of skiing, a lesson, one night’s lodging, breakfast, and a $25 dining card. $119 per person;

Park City, Utah
Four nights of lodging, three days of lift tickets: $316.

Powder Mountain, Utah
Buy a day ticket at Valley Market, a grocery store on your way up to the mountain, and pay $52 (instead of $60 at the ticket booth).

Mad River Glen, Vermont
Buy a Family Mad Card for $194 and receive three transferable day tickets plus unrestricted season passes for kids 12 and under.

Sugarbush, Vermont
The For20s Pass ­(no, we’re not making that up) gets 19-to-29-year-olds a season on the hill for $399.

Crystal Mountain, Washington
Day tickets and lodging at ski-in, ski-out Crystal Mountain: $149 per person.

Wherever You Ski
The discount site presents up to five deals per week, with as much as 90 percent off ski packages.

Best Heli-Skiing

Silverton, Colorado

“It’s like skiing something in Alaska—big terrain, long and steep, and the guides are really good.”
—Ingrid Backstrom, who appears in this year’s Attack of La Niña, from Matchstick Productions. $159 per helicopter run;

Best Rest-Day Activities

Haines, Alaska

“I hook up with Southeast Alaska Backcountry şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍřs, a small, rowdy outfitter. You’re still skiing pow, but it’s springtime in the valley. During down days I go fishing and crabbing.”
—Lynsey Dyer, who appears in the new movie All.I.Can., from Sherpas Cinema; $5,800 per week;

Best Ski-Racing Camp

PointZero1

Former U.S. Olympians Erik Schlopy and Jake Zamansky, along with former U.S. Ski Team head coach Phil McNichol, teamed up to start PointZero1, a fantasy ski camp that re-creates the experience of training for the World Cup. Participants receive the same caliber of coaching and ski tuning as the world’s top pros. December 5-8 (Vail) and 16-19 (Aspen); from $1,500 (lodging not included);

Best Backcountry School

Real Aspen Extreme

Ski mountaineer Chris Davenport’s Real Aspen Extreme camp teaches advanced skiers backcountry skills in a three-day progression: (1) ski the steeps at Aspen Highlands; (2) hike into the sidecountry, dig pits, and learn how to use beacons; and (3) go into the backcountry and ski untouched powder and faces up to 45 degrees. February 18-20; $1,500;

Best Comedy Festival

Telluride, Colorado

Telluride saves its best parties—Mountainfilm, the bluegrass festival, Blues and Brews—for the warmer months. The exception to this rule: the comedy festival, which takes place every Presidents’ Day weekend. Rip the hike-to Gold Hill Chutes by day; by night, check out comedians like Ed Helms in the Sheridan Opera House, one of Colorado’s classic theaters. From $25 per night;

Best Après-Ski Waterpark

The Surf in Jay Peak

When packing for Jay this season, bring your powder skis and a surfboard. The mountain received 96 inches of snow last March, and it’s also got a new 50,000-square-foot indoor water park to keep things interesting, no matter the weather. Attractions include a near-vertical 60-foot slide and a FlowRider standing wave for surfing. $35;

Do It All Season

Where to ski for an epic winter

It’s official: La Niña, with its cooler Pacific Ocean temperatures causing snowstorms in the Pacific Northwest and the northern Rockies, is back for a repeat of last winter. In early September, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration upgraded their La Niña advisory, meaning that this year’s snow outlook should be similar to the La Niña winter we had last year. That northerly storm track pounded Snowbird with a record 783 inches, and Tahoe got more than 800. Even Vail beat its old high mark with 524. Based on those stats, this season could mean deep powder for the central and northern Rockies. And while New Mexico and southern Rockies resorts like Telluride and Purgatory generally get shortchanged by La Niña, they make up for it with sunny spring corn. (Telluride got hammered in April.) Meanwhile, the East Coast has seen a dozen major storms and one “Snowmageddon” in recent years, likely due to increased moisture from melting pack ice in the Arctic.

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