Inspired Ideas
We know how precious your holiday is to you so why not make the most of your time out and experience 2, 3 or 4 destinations in one go, driving or flying from one stop to the next!
We have a wide range of resorts on offer for you dedicated Skiers and Riders, and the perfect places to match them with to ensure you get the holiday experience you deserve.
Combine Whistler with a week exploring the tropical paradise that is Hawaii, or beautiful Boston with the slopes of Vermont and New Hampshire. The sights and sounds of San Francisco are a perfect partner for Lake Tahoe, where the Lake is the scenic backdrop to the acres of terrain on offer, or a fantastic 3 centre holiday in Canada where you can ski or ride the slopes in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper - it all depends on how much you want to spoil yourself!
So, do you feel greedy, want to experience the best of all this, but don't have months spare to do it? Perhaps you are a non-driver, or you demand something snappier than the leisurely exploration of a flydrive. Or maybe you just want to pack in as many diverse and distant parts of the world in one holiday as you can? If so your wish is our command, all you need to do is call our reservations team with your choice of destinations, hotels and how long you want to spend in each resort, then hey presto we will work our magic!
Here are some fantastic ideas that might just inspire you!
San Francisco and North or South Lake Tahoe
Combine a week in the 'City by the Bay' exploring the myriad delights of this cosmopolitan destination with a week's fantastic skiing in North or South Lake Tahoe, just 200 miles up the road! San Francisco simply oozes fun; it's diverse and exciting, combining many cultures under one roof. Head to Japantown to explore the 5 acre shopping, dining and entertainment complex at its heart, Chinatown for great dim sum and the predominantly Hispanic Mission with its colourful collection of taquerias, Mexican bakeries and speciality shops.
Ride a cable car up and down some legendary steep hills or simply explore on foot, discovering over 350 stairways, each revealing an unexpected perspective on the city below. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and you'll find some beautiful sandy beaches, Muir Woods and Bodega Bay, where Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Bird's' was filmed.
Keep on going and you'll hit Lake Tahoe, an incredible winter playground with world class spa hotels, gourmet dining and 24-hour gaming. Heavenly, is one of America's largest ski areas, spanning California and Nevada and boasting 360 inches plus of snow per year.
In North Tahoe is Squaw Valley USA, another world-class resort with 4,000 acres of skiable terrain spread over 6 peaks and a lively European-style village at its centre for that all important Après-ski!
Northstar is perfect for families and intermediates with abundant grooming and exceptional snow conditions, plus one of the best Snowboard parks in North America. Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing, sleigh rides and ice-skating, Lake Tahoe offers all of this and so much more!
Los Angeles and Mammoth
There's something to do on practically every street corner in Los Angeles, an iconic city you've seen so much in the movies, you're bound to feel at home straightaway! Rich in culture, it is home to Chinatown, Koreatown, Little Ethiopia, Little Tokyo and Thaitown. It's also where you'll find the rich and famous, hanging out in Hollywood of course and Beverley Hills. Shop 'til you drop at Rodeo Drive or head out to Mulholland Drive to admire some spectacular city views. Universal Studios Hollywood will appeal to all ages as will the original Disneyland in Anaheim. See whose hand fits yours at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and head down to Baywatch Beach in Santa Monica to dip your toes in the ocean!
From one of California's top cities its only 325 miles north to one of California's top skiing destinations, Mammoth. An impressive mountain, rising 11,000ft, this is one of America's largest ski areas with over 3,500 acres to negotiate and an immensely long season - from November until sometimes the end of July! Consistent heavy snowfalls ensure steep and deep skiing with award-winning ski schools at your disposal and some of the best terrain parks, one of which was voted the number one Snowboard Park in California.
Mammoth Lakes town is the nearby village with a selection of over 50 restaurants, catering for most tastes and pockets it boasts a lively atmosphere with many restaurants featuring live music, ranging from rock to jazz and blues.
Boston and New Hampshire or Vermont
Skiing is a favourite winter sport in New England but first spend some time in Boston, one of America's oldest cities. Almost European in feel, it can easily be explored on foot, kick-starting with the 2 ½ mile Freedom Trail, which takes you past many of the city's historic landmarks. You can also relive the Boston Tea Party, one of the most important events leading up to the American Revolution and visit the Museum of Fine Arts. Fenway Park is another must-see, home to the Boston Red Sox as is lunch at Cheers, formerly the Bull and Finch Pub and the inspiration for the hit TV series.
A shopper's paradise, head to Newman Street to find elegant shops and galleries, Copley Square for upmarket stores and Downtown Crossing to wander amongst cobbled lanes.
After soaking up the sights, head to New Hampshire or Vermont for some fine winter sports. In New Hampshire, choose between Loon Mountain and North Conway. Loon Mountain is just 2 hours from Boston with plenty to challenge even the most experienced skier thanks to the hair-raising Black Diamond Run!
Families are also well catered for and après ski is as lively or as low-key as you please. North Conway is also conveniently close by, offering over 7,000 acres of ski terrain. Divided into 5 separate but interconnecting resorts, Wildcat boasts some superb backcountry whilst Black Mountain suits all abilities.
Stowe and Killington are 2 of Vermont's most established ski resorts. Slightly closer to Boston is Killington, boasting no less than 6 mountains and 141 trails. It's also home to one of the largest verticals in New England and has the longest ski season in this part of America. Further north is Stowe, an all-American original, full of charm and character. Challenging trails are carved into the face of Mt Mansfield and it has a great reputation for gourmet dining!
Banff to Jasper via Lake Louise
Located just inside the gates of Banff National Park, Banff's unparalleled alpine beauty will take your breath away! In Banff you will find a fantastic village with friendly locals willing to tell you a tale or 2 of the areas history, fine dining and restaurants galore, Hot Springs and not to be missed the Banff Gondola - whizzing you up to the top of Sulphur Mountain for glorious views of Banff town and its amazing Canadian Rockies backdrop.
When staying in Banff there are 3 skiable mountains nearby which combined, offer over 7,700 acres and 240 trails with unlimited options for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Choose from wide open bowls, tree-lined glades or perfectly groomed slopes - they're all at your disposal! These 3 marvellous mountains are Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village (a definite favourite!) and Lake Louise. However Lake Louise is well worth a visit of its own, just a 45-min drive away from Banff, set against the stark backdrop of Victoria Glacier, the most photographed scene in the Canadian Rockies. Canada's largest single ski resort, it has it all with record snowfall, gentle perfectly groomed beginner runs and double black diamonds. The village at the heart of Lake Louise has a decidedly tranquil atmosphere making it perfect for those who prefer their après ski low key.
A 3 hour drive brings you to Jasper, famed for its friendly hospitality; it's also close to the spectacular Marmot Basin ski area, boasting uncrowded slopes and majestic alpine bowls containing the driest natural powder in all the Rockies. If cross-country skiing is your thing, you're in luck; Jasper has over 300 km to tempt you!
There are plenty of opportunities to spot the wildlife with cars often giving way to herds of Caribou in the village centre, and the 1st bear sighting of the season being reported in the local newspapers, it all just adds to the very special experience that is Alberta.
This trio of resorts makes for the perfect holiday, 3 very different places to visit, with beautiful scenery en route that will simply take your breathe away and leave you with a long lasting love for Canada and all it has to offer.
Québec City and Tremblant
Québec's historical capital, Québec City, is pure old world Europe, right in the heart of Canada! Perched atop a cliff that swoops down to the St Lawrence River, it's the only walled city on the continent north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entire town is something of a living museum with quaint, cobbled streets, lined with 17th- and 18th-century houses and plaques marking battles between the French and the British Empire. There are also numerous churches to admire, pretty parks to rest awhile in and lively squares. Sights to see include the Parliament Buildings, the Plains of Abraham and Place Royal.
For shopping, cafes and bars, head to the St Jean Baptiste neighbourhood and St Roch, where a glass of Caribou, the local tipple, will help to keep you warm in winter!
High up in the Laurentian Mountains but less than 4 hours from Québec City is Mont Tremblant, a quaint mountain village offering yet more of that unique Québecois hospitality. Not only does it benefit from over 12ft of snow per year, it also has the most powerful snowmaking system in Eastern Canada with 95 trails on offer and 3 snow parks for thrills 'n' spills galore.
The village itself is charming with a sense of joie de vivre you'll find irresistible, and as you would expect with its European influences fine food and wine can be found in abundance! A definite must do is the Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant, nestled on the shores of the Diable River it offers a peaceful and natural environment in which to experience Scandinavian baths and massage treatments, a perfect remedy for a hard day on the slopes.
Whistler and Hawaii
Whistler in Canada, a skier's dream! Continually voted 'best ski resort in the world' it boasts stunning snow-capped mountains, endless powder and legendary après ski. As well as a whooping vertical, there's over 8,000 acres of ski terrain with huge open bowls and woodland trails. The peak of the mountain more than caters for advanced skiers whilst intermediates and beginners will enjoy slopes and runs further down. High-speed lifts are some of the most advanced in the world including the Peak to Peak Gondola, spanning the distance between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains; it is the longest unsupported gondola at a distance of 3,024km and is a uniquely exciting experience.
Whistler Village is an attractive pedestrian-only area that's home to over 90 bars, restaurants and nightclubs offering a superb selection of après-ski entertainment!
After a week, swap one paradise for another and head to the luscious shores of Hawaii.
Hawaii comprises 130 islands in total, each and every one basking in sunshine! As well as miles and miles of sandy beaches there's tropical rainforest to explore, gushing waterfalls, magnificent mountains and exotic flowers in abundance. All this together with world-class hotels and top-notch amenities, make it an incredible holiday destination. Oahu is the most popular island of all, home to world-renowned Waikiki Beach, with great beaches, shopping, entertainment and dining options aplenty, Sunset Beach for surfing and Lanikai Beach for swimming.
In Maui, the Hana Highway is one of the best coastal drives ever and there's plenty of scope for whale watching. Maui is the most diverse of the islands and caters for families and adventurers, it is also the perfect spot for a romantic holiday just for 2!
The aptly named Big Island offers yet more beautiful coastline, championship golf courses and extensive mall shopping whilst Kauai, in contrast, remains comparatively wild with lots of secluded beaches to call your own.