Cool Sales to Hot Ski Areas

Chicago to Aspen, Jackson Hole and Steamboat $179 on United - and your boards fly free, of course! Having lived in Jackson and currently residing in lovely Steamboat Springs, *and* having skied at most of the US' major ski areas, I can unequivocally say that these two are the best. I can also unequivocally say that these flights are unheard-of-cheap.

Jackson has more than its share of crazy couloirs and the steep stuff, and Steamboat boasts an awesome terrain park and lots of rocking chair runs (though it has its share of the bodacious black diamonds) and Aspen has a few fine ski areas, sunny and views to die for, and incredibly expensive (but fun to browse) shopping.

Nightlife? I personally prefer Jackson's Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and Steamboat's Mahogany Ridge Brewpub (yep; named for "skiing the bar") to Aspen's celebrity-seeker studded hangouts. Snow? Steamboat has that famed champagne powder, Jackson is so c-c-cold that you'll never see slush and Aspen has some lovely backcountry touring.

Durango and Vail are also on sale; I find Vail to be the big yawn, but it does have some sweet slopes. Durango is a blast and can be done on the chintzy cheap, but the ski area's a bit of a hike from town. (Wolf Creek Pass, though even farther away, gets a ridiculous amount of snow and a new area for extreme skiers and boarders is said to be opening this winter in Silverton, about an hour north and up up up; it has one chairlift, an insane amount of vertical drop and views to drop your jaw.)...(read more)