10 Best Small-town Ski Destinations in America

"From upscale shopping to Olympic-caliber slopes, major ski towns like Park City and Vail have plenty to offer. But if you've been there and done that, it may be time to forgo hot spots in favor of some small-town skiing. Besides, there are more than 450 ski resorts in the United States-and most of them lie in the kinds of little towns you won't find on your favorite celebrity's Instagram."

"It has fewer than 1,700 full-time residents and comes with a main street that looks like something from an old Western movie. It's also home to some of the best skiing in Colorado. Crested Butte Mountain Resort, an Epic Pass mountain just north of town, features 1,547 skiable acres and 165 trails-a whopping 37 percent of which are graded for experts only."

More than 450 ski resorts in the United States are located in small towns that combine charm with strong skiing. Small destinations compensate for limited size with character and quality snow. Crested Butte, Colorado, has under 1,700 residents, a Western-style main street and Crested Butte Mountain Resort with 1,547 skiable acres, 165 trails and 37 percent expert terrain, averaging 208 inches of snowfall annually. Waitsfield, Vermont, has about 1,800 residents, traditional New England features and Mad River Glen, a cooperative-owned resort from 1948 that largely bans snowmaking and forbids snowboarding, with Sugarbush nearby. Bethel, Maine, is another small northeastern village with about 2,500 residents.

Read at Travel + Leisure