Just imagine relaxing in front of a flickering fireplace, eating elegant meals by candlelight, taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride, enjoying a couples spa treatment and sharing beautiful mountain vistas with your significant other. Sound romantic and perfect for Valentine's Day?
It is and can be found at ski resorts across North America, according to the experts who regularly update Ski Snowboard America & Canada, the country's best selling ski guide, and its Web site, skisnowboard.com. Add in the exhilaration of skiing or riding together down snowy trails, and a ski vacation becomes the perfect getaway with your sweetheart, Valentine's Day or not.
The Skisnowboard.com and Ski America and Canada award-winning contributors present resorts that offer the perfect combination of dreamlike atmosphere and picture-perfect views together with beautiful lodging, cozy dining, charming towns and picturesque trails where couples can ski or snowboard together. For romantic resorts in the West, Sun Valley, Crested Butte, Taos, Jackson Hole, and Banff/Lake Louise top the list. In the East, they recommend lovers head to Quebec City, Bretton Woods, Manchester/Stratton, Tremblant or Lake Placid to find the perfect wintertime setting to heat up romance.
Skisnowboard.com and Ski America & Canada provides all the information needed to plan the perfect romantic getaway. The guidebook and Web site include details on the lodging, restaurants, dining and activities at more than 75 of the top destination resorts across North America.
According to Charles Leocha, the editor in chief, "Skisnowboard.com gives much more than mere statistics such as the number of trails and vertical feet." He continues, "This site paints a complete picture with images, insights, flavor and prices that bring you the true personality of every resort. And phone numbers are included, too, to make things simpler."
Most Romantic in the West
, has long been one of the most romantic destinations in the country since it was created over a half-century ago. Skisnowbord.com states, "Sun Valley has a European accent mixed with the Wild West."
, is a picture-perfect mining town at the base of a great mountain suitable for skiers and riders from super-experts to beginners. Here there are cozy fine dining spots to meet every taste and the walk down mainstreet is a step back in time.
combines the magic of the Southwest with the joy of skiing. The ski area provides high altitude trails and panoramic vistas with wonderful mountain restaurants. The city is filled with unique upscale inns, scores of art galleries and cutting-edge dining experiences.
evokes the Western spirit of romance and blends it with spectacular panoramas, steamy spas, luxury hotels and an authentic Old West town. The skiing and snowboarding is some of the best in the country. Few experiences are as inspiring as the sleigh ride through a herd of thousands of Elk.
set in the midst of the majestic Canadian Rockies, blends great ski areas with a delightful town filled with gourmet restaurants and the palatial Chateau Lake Louise.
Deer Valley in Utah, Santa Fe in New Mexico, Telluride in Colorado, Alta in Utah, and Breckenridge in Colorado complete the rest of the top 10 in the West.
Most Romantic in the East
surrounded by the resorts of Mont-Ste.-Anne, Stoneham and Le Massif, provides a European atmosphere of narrow, cobblestone lanes, lamplit cafes, and French hotels where according to these experts, "Couples stroll arm and arm...Singles search for l'amour."
has brought historic romance back to life in the White Mountains. The refurbished grand hotel presents a movie-set dining room, classical and swing music, dancing through the night together with the state's largest ski resort.
offers the quintessential New England experience with white-steepled churches, quaint general stores and traditional, cozy bed and breakfasts; coupled with great skiing.
about two hours north of Montreal, has crafted a new mountain village with atmosphere in "18th Century French town style, based on the narrow streets, old buildings, cozy restaurants and quaint shops of Old Quebec City."
the host to two Winter Olympic Games, far in northern New York, is a small town that hasn’t been ruined by the glare of the international sports spotlight. The romantic town setting on the banks of the pristine lake, the Olympic aura and wonderful lodges encourage love.
Jackson in New Hampshire, Mad River Valley in Vermont, The Balsams Grand Resort in New Hampshire, Stowe in Vermont and the Eastern Townships in Quebec round out the top 10 in the East.
Skisnowboard.com is the most comprehensive Web site focused on destination ski and snowboard resorts in North America. Ski Snowboard America & Canada, published by World Leisure ($24.95), is the leading guidebook to destination winter resorts in North America. It is available in bookstores, through and .