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| Photo by Patricia Cich Lee |
With autumn finally cooling the weather outside our New York offices, now is a perfect time to start looking ahead to the coming ski season. If you’re stuck for something new to do on (or off) the slopes, here are four quick ideas within easy striking distance of the lower 48 to get you inspired for the winter.
Skijoring at the St. Regis Aspen
If you’re looking to tackle a new winter sport, the St. Regis Aspen’s new skijoring package may be the perfect opportunity to stretch your comfort zone.
Skijoring, for those unfamiliar with the Scandinavian sport, is the practice of using a horse or dog to pull a cross-country skier across the winter landscape.
Skijoring at the St. Regis Aspen, which begins January 2015, and will use dogs. A certified professional dog trainer will assist in training guests and their dogs in skijoring. Those without a canine companion can borrow one from the Aspen Animal Shelter.
A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Aspen Animal Shelter.
Frontiers International Travel Moves Into Heli-Skiing
For those looking for more of an adventure this winter, Frontiers International Travel is offering the company’s first hosted luxury heli-skiing tour in Alberta, Canada, on January 14-19, 2015. The trip is in conjunction with Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH).
Guests will stay at the Bobbie Burns Lodge, which offers dining, fitness equipment, professional massages, hot tub and sauna. The four-day hosted heli-skiing trip starts at $5,995.
The Bobbie Burns Lodge offers access to both the Purcell and Selkirk Mountains, with runs in the trees and glaciated terrain. The area's valleys also enfold several micro-climates.
Frontiers International Travel's brochure on the full itinerary is embedded below:
Décimo Nightclub Is Back on Vail Mountain
Of course no ski vacation would be complete without an excellent place to après. And what better venue than the mountain itself?
This winter, Vail Mountain is bringing back the Décimo mid-mountain nightclub experience. Check out the video tour:
Décimo, which debuted last March, sits 10,250 feet above sea level and will return for six nights only this season. Previous performers include three-timeGrammy nominee, DJ, producer and artist Paul Oakenfold.
Guests access Décimo via Gondola One in Vail Village, which has heated cabins for the ride up the mountain. The club also offers VIP tables and bottle service.
Currently scheduled Décimo dates for the upcoming winter season include:
• Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014
• Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015
• Friday, Jan. 30, 2015
• Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
• Friday, March 6, 2015
• Thursday, April 2, 2015
New “Ski the Lake” Package at The Landing Resort Lake Tahoe
A little closer to the West Coast, The Landing Resort & Spa Lake Tahoe has launched a new Ski the Lake ski package, a personalized three day - three-night ski experience with a choice of four Lake Tahoe ski areas.
The package includes a personalized ski equipment fitting by Black Tie Ski Rentals in the guests’ room, eliminating waiting in line. Guests will then be transported via Mercedes to the Heavenly Gondola for those skiing Heavenly, or to the town transportation center for shuttle service to Sierra at Tahoe, Kirkwood or North Star. Guests will also receive a 50-minute couple’s massage at the Spa at The Landing and one of their days on the slopes.
The package also includes breakfast at Jimmy’s Restaurant for all three days. Skiers will be staying in one of The Landing’s Premium Lake Rooms which feature walk out-decks and heated marble floors.
The three-night Ski the Lake Package for two can be booked now for 2014/2015 ski season (beginning December 5, 2014). Package rates start from $2,500 for two people (double occupancy) and include two lift tickets each day for three days of skiing (six tickets total) at guests’ choice of Heavenly, Sierra at Tahoe, Kirkwood or Northstar, three days of rental equipment for each person; complimentary ski storage with boot warmers and valet service.