When it comes to the dual pasttimes of skiing and golf, North America is a veritable oasis. The continent is awash with peaks and valleys and the kind of clement weather conditions that allow outdoor zealots and nature lovers alike to take part in a diverse array of pursuits. Whether you want to hike, fish, mountain climb, kayak, bike or even hang glide, areas from the Rocky Mountains to the Adirondacks are replete with ways to stay active and in touch with the environment.
Ski resorts and golf courses however, remain the most popular options for vacationers from British Columbia to Quebec and Maine to California. Check out the rest of our top ten places to do both – ski and golf – on the same day, as we round out our list.
The name Snowbird pretty much tells the story of this pristine section of the state of Utah. Famous for some of the most rugged and eclectic geography in the world, let alone North America, the home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games is a wonderful ski resort destination. The Snowbird Ski Resort has been open since 1971 and sits on the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. With over 12 m of snowfall per year on slopes that cover 10 km2, Snowbird is awesome. When weather permits, you can actually tee it up and swish down the slopes on the same day, not to mention take part in a number of other sports and recreations.
The Rocky Mountain state is perhaps most famous for resorts like Aspen and Vail – both playgrounds for decades to some of the most affluent, powerful and recognizable people in the country, if not the world. With heavy snow that heralds fine skiable powder, Colorado residents know how to take advantage of winter’s bounty. Located within the San Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains in the southwest portion of the state, Durango Mountain Resort has been a hotbed of outdoor fun since 1965. The resort has 85 trails and several terrific golf courses. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the likelihood that you can ski and golf on the same day is strong.
Alberta, Canada is a province with raw, wild and vast landscapes – from shortgrass prairie to networks of rivers and lakes, boreal forests and even badlands. The Rocky Mountains of course, make a notable incursion in Alberta and offer fabulous tourist allure. Banff National Park was the first in Canada and contains glacier fields, alpine forests and links to three other excellent parks in Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho. Lake Louise Mountain Resort has been ground zero for championship ski events and today, with Banff as a whole, represents one of the best destinations for golf as well. The two sports tend to overlap for lucky visitors to the area in the month of May.
The Sierra Blanca, or White Mountains, is a volcanic range in incredible New Mexico. The state, long known for a fusion-like cultural heritage that blends strong Hispanic, Native and other influences, is also headquarters for memorable outdoor vacations. In a state that has the Rio Grande, Lincoln National Forest, Aztec ruins, Gila cliffs and arid, rosy deserts, it’s somewhat of a surprise to many that you can experience wonderful ski and snowboard slopes in New Mexico. But you really can – especially in the Sierra Blanca. The Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation runs the Ski Apache resort, one of two in southern New Mexico. The area is also the annual host of the New Mexico Open Golf Championship. If you can avoid the inherent distractions of the exquisite scenery, skiing and golfing on the same day in the Sierra Blanca is an unforgettable affair.
1. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
As the future host of the Winter Olympic Games in 2010, the anticipation in Vancouver, British Columbia and indeed, Canada, is palpable and on the rise. Why did the multi-faceted West Coast city win the honor? In large part, because of Whistler Blackcomb. The twin peaks provide the province with the best ski resort in North America – at least in the opinion of several publications and hundreds of thousands of ski bums. Whistler Village has become a notable destination point for apr?s-ski trendsters, perhaps on par with Jackson, Wyoming and Aspen, Colorado. The ski season runs until early June believe it or not, when you can zoom down the slopes in your t-shirt and shades. There is even summer skiing on Horstman Glacier, which means of course, time for prime golfing at one of several challenging courses in the area. For peerless opportunities to ski and golf – and even water ski – on the same day, Whistler Blackcomb easily tops our North American list.
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Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Great Info!