World's five best big city ski destinations  Only a handful of major cities in North America and Europe offer the best of both worlds in the winter -- a nearby concentration of ski and snowboard resorts combined with big city dining, nightlife, culture, shopping and sightseeing.A "ski city" allows couples or families with varying interests to all enjoy a winter vacation. Not simply overgrown resort towns, these cities have populations of more than 100,000, bus systems and major department stores. Those not interested in skiing or snowboarding can find plenty to do, while those members of the group dedicated to downhill or cross-country can exhaust themselves. At night, everyone can enjoy the big city scene together. Scores of bars provide après-ski and hundreds of restaurants cater to every gourmet taste and every wallet. Here are the five towns with that rare, perfect balance of city life and skiing and snowboarding. Salt Lake City, Utah: A recent Olympic center, Salt Lake City, sits at the base of the Wasatch range of the Rocky Mountains within a half-hour of four major resorts (Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude) and an hour of another four (Park City, The Canyons, Deer Valley, Snowbasin). This is the powder capital of the USA. Top skiers and riders make their pilgrimage here to play in what many consider the lightest, fluffiest powder snow on Earth. The city is also one of the cultural gems of North America. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings here, professional basketball teams play here, and you can enjoy theater, symphony orchestra, dance and opera. The central city grid has plenty of shopping and the accommodations and surprising nightlife rival that of any other metropolis. And nearby Antelope Island State Park provides unique change of pace. Reno, Nevada: Long a Mecca for gamblers, Reno has become a focus for winter sports other than gaming. Within an hour's drive, skiers and snowboarders can find some of North America's best-known downhill and cross-country resorts. Surrounding the incredibly scenic Lake Tahoe are Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood, Heavenly, Sugarbowl, Mount Rose and Diamond Peak. For cross-country skiers nearby Royal Gorge claims the largest private trail system in North America with more than 300 km. of trails. For those who choose to stick close to town, Reno has far more than casinos and gaming. Here visitors find the National Bowling Stadium, the largest and most technologically advanced in the world. There is also a state-of-the-art planetarium, the Liberty Belle Slot Machine Collection, the National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art and the eclectic May Center with a collection artifacts gathered during 40 trips around the world. Virginia City, once the richest mining town in the land, is only a short drive away.  Quebec City, Canada: This city, rising like a castle on the shores of the St. Lawrence Seaway, has a colorful and long history. Three major resorts, hundreds of kilometers of cross-country networks and miles of snowmobiling trails, surround this monumental city. Mont-Saint-Anne and Stoneham are magnets for the Quebec locals with excellent trails and surprising verticals. Le Massif, about an hour's drive, is a unique mountain with runs that seem to drop right into the ice-filled St. Lawrence.There is far more to do here than ski and snowboard. In fact, those deciding to stay in the city and explore the old town may end up with the best part of the bargain. Quebec is a focus for winter joie de vivre. North America's oldest shopping street traces a path through ancient stone buildings to the river. The narrow streets of Vieux-Quebec are lined with stately homes that now house hundreds of restaurants and B&Bs. History and art is preserved in 27 museums. Innsbruck, Austria: The city-as-a-winter-resort concept began in Europe with Innsbruck, Austria. This city, the host to two Winter Olympics, has created a winter vacation center that has eight nearby ski areas served by frequent shuttle buses and another half-dozen resorts, including St. Anton and Kitzbuhel, accessible by organized tours each day. Cross-country skiers have Seefeld, site of Olympic competition, considered one of the top trail systems in Europe. The medieval city center is packed with European mystique and history. It was once a hub of the Holy Roman Empire and is filled with castles, cathedrals, palaces and museums that will keep any visitor as busy as they want to be. Shopping is excellent and there are organized tours to Italy for even more shopping adventures. Families have plenty of trains, trams and even a bobsled run to keep everyone actively engaged. Geneva, Switzerland: Those who really know skiing and snowboarding, know that Geneva is the gateway to some of the most demanding mountains on the planet as well as some of the most traditional winter vacation towns in the Alps. Only an hour from the city, Swiss, French and Italian resorts beckon. The names form a romantic litany of Alpine history-Chamonix, Megève, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornard, Avoriaz-Mozine, Champéry, Courmayeur and more. Though the town isn't organized as a skiing hub, buses and trains run with Swiss efficiency from downtown to the mountains and the highway system is fast and easy to use. Non-skiers can wander along the shores of Lake Geneva, luxuriate with a chocolate wrap at one of the city's spas, shop in the old city center for antiques, climb to the top of St. Pierre Cathedral and spend time in the Art and History Museum. Though the nightlife may be mild, the dining is exquisite. Staying in any one of these cities provides the proverbial something for everyone. Plus, getting there is a snap-all have nearby airports and easy highway access. And, accommodations range from deluxe to bargain. “Ski Snowboard America and Canada” is available from World Leisure Corp.) for $24.95. “Ski Snowboard Europe” is available from World Leisure Corp.) for $21.95. |
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