Ask any skier what the best ski town in the U.S. is, and you'll get answers that likely say more about what type of skier the person is than the actual destination. But that's to be expected—the U.S. offers a wide variety of places where you can hit the slopes, from the luxurious ski town of Beaver Creek, Colorado to the nightlife-fueled Killington, Vermont.
Understandably, it can be hard to know where to go, especially if you're new to planning ski trips. Fortunately, the 10 recommendations below on the best ski towns in the U.S. can help point your planning in the right direction.
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Best for Bragging Rights: Silverton, Colorado
Sure, the average skilled skier or rider can make it down a double black with a bit of luck, patience, and the right conditions. But if you couldn't care less about groomers, head to Silverton, Colorado. Nearby Silverton Mountain Resort is known almost exclusively for backcountry and sidecountry skiing. Experts can look forward to days full of heli drops and face shots, though beginner and intermediate athletes may be happier in-bounds at nearby Purgatory Resort. After the lift (yes, just one lift) stops spinning, head into the small town to make friends with your fellow skiers, who are also likely to be at the top of their game. While this ski town attracts the best, don't get cocky: if you can't handle steep and deep, go somewhere else.
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Best for Nightlife: Killington, Vermont
Famous North American ski towns like Whistler, British Columbia, and the five base areas of Vail, Colorado, may get most of the attention when it comes to nightlife, but if you're looking for a nightlife scene that starts at aprés and doesn't stop 'til the lights go off at the bar, head to Killington, Vermont. It's the largest ski resort east of the Mississippi, attracting serious skiers from cities like Boston and NYC.
Après starts at 3 p.m. (hit the umbrella bar on spring days or the always-packed Lookout Tavern on winter afternoons), then it's off to late-night staples like the Wobbly Barn, Pickle Barrel, or The Foundry at Summit Pond to keep the energy going into the night with 2,000 of your closest friends. The only real downside is convenience—while nearby Rutland has a very small airport, it only connects to Boston, and most skiers and riders to the K-show will drive in for the weekend. Don't expect to sleep much.