Snowmass...giant mountain and lift ticket gets you on 4 different mountains (snowmass, aspen, buttermilk & highlands). Wife can take short bus ride into Aspen to shop or just people watch. Just skied 5 days there last week. Longest wait in a lift line was less than 5 minutes. Can be pricey to get to but worth it.

First of all there is no V&A, its simply VA, technically VRI. Sorry pet peave.
For wife, and your pleasure I would recommend the following. Vail/Beaver Creek, Aspen/Snowmass, Breck, Park City Area, Heavenly. Enough skiing for you, plenty of nightlife, but most importantly lots of stuff for the Mrs.

The great advantage of Ski Apache is that it will be open with or without snow.

Taos.
Crested Butte to isolate kids on green runs
Telluride....Park City

Grew up skiing Colorado resorts my whole life, well last year I went to Utah (The Canyons) for the first time with some friends. It ended up being the most epic ski trip I have ever been on. The snow there was just out of this world, my buddy and I did some tree runs that I don't think will ever be topped! Anyways I loved it so much out there I'm heading back to Park City next week

Sunchaser, what are your thoughts on Ski Apache vs Taos?



And what is VA or VRI?

Utah - Salt Lake Area for sure.....best snow by far.

Brighton, Solitude, Canyons, Alta, ect ect.....You have like 8 resorts within like 30 mintues of each other.

Vail associates (previous to 1997)

Vail resorts inc (since)

It's just like dial aride became village transportation which then became handeled by a 3rd party and then back to village transport.

[This message has been edited by Testingeffectag (edited 12/24/2011 9:15a).]

I know the Ski Apache mountain like my backyard. On a budget it's your best choice bc you can drive, have cheap lodging and good snow. It's a well balanced mountain with difficult down to bunny slopes. Nightlife is meh, but there is a casino nearby and lots of shops and spas for the wifey. All are in town away from the mountain. I'd rate it a 6 with Tahoe being a 10.

I have been to the following places, but I don't ski:

Garmisch
Berchesgaden
Incline Village
Southlake Tahoe
Ruidosa
Whistler
Winter Park

And yes I was there during ski season. All nice areas.

Taos is a great place to ski. Great ski school. Some great double diamonds if adequate snow.

Ski Apache is a good place for a youth group.

Ski Apache is easily my least favorite resort. Terrible layout and the ride up and down the mountain to the resort is the worst drive in the world. Ruidoso is a nice town, but I would recommend anywhere other than that.

In Utah I prefer: Alta, Snowbird, Canyons
In Colorado I prefer: Vail, Keystone, Winter Park and Copper Mountain. Haven't been to Beaver Creek, but I really want to try it out.

Wolf Creek in CO is the best snow I've seen. Breckinridge, vail and keystone are tourist traps

Just don't trust the doctor on staff at Anglefire, but the ski patrol is pretty nice.

I've only skied twice in my life, and the second time resulted in a cool trip down the mountain in a ski patrol sled.

The way Wolf Creek is situated, it gets TONS of snow every year. Some sort of local climate thing. It's on a big glacial type valley that has a lot of terrain variation. You have to drive a little ways to the lodge from Pagosa Springs, so big deal. Rent a subaru.

PAgosa springs isn't Vail, but it's a decent little town.