Most New Yorkers would probably file indoor ski mountains among "things we never knew we needed." But if developers have their way, the NYC metro area will soon be home to not one, but two of these modern monstrosities.
The revamped New Jersey Meadowlands complex is set to open an indoor slope later this year near Giants Stadium. Now comes word that developers plan to bring another enclosed slope to Long Island.]]>
We love that scene in "The Great Outdoors" when John Candy takes the kids to the dump to watch the bears feed off garbage. Things start getting a little out hand after the bears mount the hood of their car, remember? Funny, sure, but it's not necessarily the way we'd go about bear watching. Luckily the folks at Whistler/Blackcomb resort have come up with a better way to do some wildlife spotting.
Bear expert Michael Allen has been studying the animals in British Columbia for the last 15 years. His work with bears has been internationally recognized, and he's the host of the BBC's Natural World program "In the Company of Bears." For $190, Mike will take you out at sunset--in a 4x4 and on foot--to see bears in their natural habitat without having to worry about being disemboweled or otherwise maimed.
You'll drive and walk through old growth Hemlock forests and high-alpine meadows to see bear dens, bear daybeds and--if you're lucky--a mother and cub playing together. Something this precious is usually only reserved for the fronts of Hallmark sympathy cards, so steel your nerves to fend off the tears.
Related Stories:
· Whistler Bear Viewing tours [Official Site]
· Ski Resorts in Summer coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Kradlum]]]>
We've always been curious about bobsledding and the Olympians who make up the US team. The entire sport seems to be shrouded in mystery: Who are these people that become Olympic-level bobsledders? Seems like a serious boarding school sport, up there with fencing, badminton and sneering.
For us non-blue bloods, the Park City Mountain Resort offers a moderately daring and inexpensive alternative with the summertime Alpine Slide. For $11, you can select one of four different courses to race down on your own sled. Unlike bobsledding no helmets are required and if it gets too scary, you can pull the brake.
The 3,000 foot course down the banked concrete track is not exactly like racing 90 degrees up an ice wall at 60 mph, but for a casual summer afternoon, it does the trick. As long as you're over four feet tall, you can be the captain of your alpine slide ship.
We recommend arranging a four-person race with your friends, adding a fifth to stand on the side mid-course somewhere and wildly ring a cowbell for that Olympic rush. After about 27 of those 3.2 Utah beers, you'll be raising the stars and stripes and belting out the national anthem in no time.
Related Stories:
· PCMR Alpine Slide [Official Site]
· Jaunted at Sundance: Riding at Park City Mountain Resort [Jaunted]
· Park City Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: PCMR]]]>
Going to a ski resort in the summer sounds like a half-baked idea that your dad comes up with to save a couple bucks while getting some fresh air. Can't you just imagine standing at the base of a mountain while dear old dad waxes on about how beautiful it must be all covered in snow? Next year, kids!
But what if your old man was craftier than that and took you to the new 3,100-foot Heavenly Flyer zip line at Heavenly Mountain Resort? It's the longest zip line in the lower 48 and hits speeds of 50 mph on the way down. It would be a lot cooler if you had to hold on for dear life like on the zip lines you grew up with, but insurance companies get kind of grouchy about stuff like that: You'll have to settle for being strapped into a seat.
For $30 a ride, this is a unique way to experience some of the best views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. No doubt taking in the sights from 50 feet up at 50 mph will make for unforgettable daddy issues for decades to come.
(Btw, the Flyer doesn't re-open for the summer season until Friday, June 13.)
Related Stories:
· Heavenly Flyer [Official Site]
· Summer Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]>
We really like skiing and boarding. But that doesn't mean we want to spend our whole vacation just getting to the mountain. Our Ski Areas Near Airports Map will help you maximize your time on the slopes.
While the rest of the country slogs its way through a long and merciless winter, Lake Tahoe's ski resorts are getting pounded with near-record snowfall. Weekend storms dumped an extra three feet of fresh powder on top of an already high base level--over 12 feet at some spots!
Spring skiing has always been popular at Tahoe, and every year some lifts stay open until May despite balmy temperatures. With the snowpack at the highest its been in decades and La Nina likely to bring abnormally cooler weather, this year looks to be even better.
The North Lake Tahoe Express will get you from the airport to the slopes in about an hour, so those looking for a quick weekend jaunt need not involve an automobile; it'll keep your carbon footprint small, too. Then again, with snow like this, we 're starting to wonder what the hell Al Gore was so worried about.
Related Stories:
· Lake Tahoe Snow Conditions [Official Site]
· Easy-to-Reach Skiing: Squaw Valley [Jaunted]
· Easy-to-Reach Skiing: Northstar-at-Tahoe [Jaunted]
· Skiing coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Telstar Logistics]]]>
We really like skiing and boarding. But that doesn't mean we want to spend our whole vacation just getting to the mountain. Our Ski Areas Near Airports Map will help you maximize your time on the slopes.
Even though it spends months without much daylight, Lillehammer still manages to draw tourists to its slopes every year. Guess that's what happens when you've hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics.
Located less than two hours from Oslo's airport, Lillehammer is the ideal spot for skiers who want slopes more challenging than you usually find in cross-country-loving Norway. Lillehammer's old Olympic complexes give you downhill and has other winter sports, too.
Hafjell Alpine Centre is the largest alpine ski network left from the town's Olympic days, with 30 trails and 15 lifts. Though smaller in size, Sjusjøen Skisenter is the town's newest resort, having opened up in December 2003. Be forewarned: While Hafjell attracts serious skiiers of all ages, Sjusjøen is family-friendly, and we know what that means: too many bunny slopes.
For hardcore cross country trails, start at Birkebeiner Skistadion, the starting point for the sports '94 Olympic races. Want to go all out? Set up a biathlon at Birkebeiner's year-round facility. Get a group together and shoot it out with teams, relay exchanges and even penalties. Just be sure to leave your own gun at home.
Related Links:
· Lillehammer Tourism [Official site]
· Ski Areas Near Airports Map [Jaunted]
· Skiing coverage [Jaunted]
· Norway coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Forcery]]]>
We really like skiing and boarding. But that doesn't mean we want to spend our whole vacation just getting to the mountain. Our Ski Areas Near Airports Map will help you maximize your time on the slopes.
Bogus Basin is one of only a handful of non-profit ski resorts in the States, which is why its website ends in an o-r-g rather than a c-o-m. And while we find web addresses fascinating, you might like Bogus Basin because it's about 20 miles from Boise Airport.
Now just because the resort is operated by a skiers collective doesn't mean it's shabby. An 1,800 foot vertical drop allows for long, groomed cruisers, and a broad swath of terrain is designed for glade skiing. Bogus Basin catches about 225 inches of snow a year, meaning it usually stays open well into April.
Full-day tickets are a reasonable $46, and Bogus Basin stays open till 10 pm, so you can still get hours of skiing in even if your flight doesn't arrive until the afternoon; night passes are just $20.
Related Stories:
· Bogus Basin [Official Site]
· Skiing coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Bogus Basin]]]>