Have Yourself a Merry Ski Town Summer

Mountain towns are the place to be in the Winter; soft snow gently falling as you sit by the fire, après ski, and of course, powder days, make mountain resort destinations seem like the ultimate playground for all ages. But, what if I told you that the magic continues even when the lifts stop running? Mountain towns are some of the best places to spend the Summer, as more and more tourists are finding out, with even more outdoor activities open to visitors beyond skiers and snowboarders, and plenty of attractions to keep guests coming back for more. While there are a few more weeks to enjoy some slushy Spring turns, it’s already time to start planning a trip back to the mountains when green runs have nothing to do with ability level.
Take Your Pick
There’s plenty to choose from when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors in a mountain town; hiking, biking, camping, rafting, floating, fishing, climbing, slacklining, need I say more, are all possibilities when things warm up in the mountains. And you don’t have to go it alone- just like in the Winter, resort towns have all the guides, shops, and rentals to make your dreams a reality when it comes to getting into the alpine and enjoying yourself. The best part is that the easiest way to access the surrounding wilderness is completely free; just go for a hike! It’s great, no equipment needed (except for some appropriate footwear, water, and sunscreen), and you can head high into the hills and experience the mountains in a totally different way than when they’re covered in snow.
Mountain Biker’s Paradise
While I suppose this touches on the plethora of ways to enjoy the mountains, mountain biking really deserves special recognition for getting visitors up on the hill during the Summer. Specifically, resorts like Whistler, Park City, and Keystone have pretty amazing downhill mountain biking courses that offer a chance to make some turns through your favorite tree runs via a different gravity-assisted vehicle. In the Southern Hemisphere, the downhill mountain biking scene is probably even bigger than skiing and snowboarding in places like Queenstown. And you don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie to give it a try, most of these places offer guided tours to try to sport on some of the less difficult terrain the mountain has to offer.
Music, Festivals, and Food
And if for some reason nothing mentioned in previous parts of this article strikes your fancy as a reason to head to the mountains this Summer, consider the fact that plenty of resort towns have a lot going on to keep locals and tourists dancing, eating, and generally having a good time. Vail offers a free concert series throughout the Summer at Ford Park, and also plays host to the GoPro Games. Telluride’s Bluegrass Festival has evolved from a local’s rite of passage into a huge venue that gets sold out in minutes. The Aspen Food and Wine Classic has become an internationally recognized event within the culinary industry marking one of the highest standards of food and drink. And these are just some examples of the bigger festivals; check out any ski town’s calendar of events for the summer months to get an idea of all that’s going on in town when things warm up.
Photo Courtesy of Bob Winsett/Vail Resorts.