Best for Bluebird Days: Truckee, California
If the only goggle lens you own is dark black, plan your ski trip to Truckee, California, just a few miles north of Lake Tahoe. The railroad-turned-ski town reliably has some of the sunniest skies in the U.S., and if it's not snowing, it's usually sunny—overcast skies are uncommon. Within 20 minutes of the town are world-class resorts like Palisades Tahoe, Northstar, and Sugar Bowl, with favorites like Heavenly and Diamond Peak only a few minutes further.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport is just 40 minutes away, offering direct flights from most major cities in the Western U.S., plus Chicago and NYC. Plan your trip to avoid Saturdays and Sundays, when the town is packed with weekend skiers from San Francisco.
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The Best for Luxury Ski Trips: Beaver Creek, Colorado
If you want to be first in line for the lifts—and first in line for a warm chocolate chip cookie and Swedish massage come 4 p.m., thank you very much—head to Beaver Creek, just a few minutes from Vail. It's the best ski resort town for skiers willing to splurge, with everything from heated sidewalks to a $180 first tracks ride at dawn (lift access is not included in the price). The Vilar Center for the Performing Arts is the place to go for evening ballet or live jazz performances, and local brand Gorsuch sells über-posh cashmere sweaters for those who won't bat an eye at the $1,000 price tag.
While you certainly can brave the infamous traffic of I-70 to reach Beaver Creek in about two hours from Denver, many skiers opt instead to fly into the Eagle Country Regional Airport (30 minutes away), which connects to major cities like Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas during the ski season.