#sierra-resorts

#sierra-resorts

Canada's national sport, ice hockey, is a major attraction, with seven NHL teams representing cities across the country. Experiencing a live hockey game in historic rinks is highly recommended.

Breckenridge will host its first-ever Wildflower Week from July 2 to July 12, celebrating the arrival of colorful blooms in the mountain meadows. The event will include a farmer's market, live music, and kids' crafts, along with wildflower hikes led by naturalists and floral cocktail classes.

"There's nowhere else in the world where you can sit down with a drink and watch skis being made right in front of you," Ted Eynon said, CEO of Meier Skis, in the announcement. "We've always believed in making the ski-building process visible. The Couloir turns that into something people can experience."

The horses were in full view across the resort boundaries, even getting pretty close to the lifts, captivating skiers with their unexpected presence.

Takasu, Japan, features superpipes with walls often cut to 23 feet, providing extra amplitude for training. The region's snowfall and grooming ensure consistent transitions.

The Canterbury region woke up to the coldest day of the year so far, with windchill making residents wonder if it's time to turn on the heating and bring out the winter bedding and heated blankets.

Whitefish/Kalispell, Montana: United Airlines has expanded its direct service from San Francisco to Glacier Park International Airport, a short drive to world-class Whitefish Mountain Resort and the smaller, family-owned Blacktail Mountain Ski Area. You won't find either on the Epic or Icon passes, which means fewer skiers and shorter lift lines. The proximity to Flathead Lake, even larger in surface area than Lake Tahoe, also means stunning views and a phenomenon called snow ghosts when ice crystals form on the pines.

Both avid and casual skiers know that winter requires preparation. If you want to ski as many days as possible, you must have a game plan. After all, skiing is an expensive sport, so budget is typically one of the top considerations. But before you book flights, hotels, and lift tickets, or decide if you want to invest in an Epic Pass or Ikon Pass, you'll need to identify which ski resorts you want to explore over the course of a few months.

You won't find either on the Epic or Icon passes, which means fewer skiers and shorter lift lines. The proximity to Flathead Lake, even larger in surface area than Lake Tahoe, also means stunning views and a phenomenon called "snow ghosts" - when ice crystals form on the pines. Both resorts have long, lazy runs for multigenerational skiers and boarders but also challenging terrain for advanced skiers and riders.

The ski season in Colorado is being described as the worst in 50 years, with resorts opening less than half their usual terrain for much of the winter.

Spring in Tahoe rewards timing, and Truckee puts many good options within reach. From downtown, four major resorts sit just minutes away, and about a dozen ski areas are within roughly 45 minutes.

The reservation system will give skiers and riders more confidence that a parking spot will be waiting for them before they even leave home, helping reduce the uncertainty that can come with busy weekend and holiday visits.

Mt. Baker is the PNW's snow vacuum. It's close enough to the Pacific to get storm after storm, and the North Cascades do what they do best: force moist air straight up, wring it out, and bury everything in sight. Maritime storms roll in wet and heavy, then pile up fast when they hit terrain.