Гірськолижний відпочинок на Cередньому Заході

ГІР СЬКОЛИ ЖНИЙ ВІДПОЧИНОК НА СЕРЕДНЬОМУ ЗАХОДІ

Snowboarding and skiing near Chicago (Midwest)

The gist: This resort’s 120-room lodge is situated high on the bluff of Chestnut Mountain, offering breathtaking views of the Mississippi River. And even though indoor activities include a pool, sauna and game room, the real reason for visiting is to take advantage of the hill. The seven-acre winter terrain is constantly covered with the white stuff, enticing skiers and boarders of all levels. Its 475-foot vertical drop runs 3,500 feet through 19 slopes ranging from beginning to black diamond. Two Sunkid conveyor belts, two quad chairs and four triple chairs zip you to the top of the mountain as fast as you go down.

Illinois ski and snowboard slopes

Villa Olivia 1401 W Lake St, Bartlett, 630-289-1000 Travel time from Chicago: about an hour drive The gist: This local slope run by the Bartlett Park District features seven downhill runs, the perfect options to cut your teeth on the snow.

Raging Buffalo Snowboard Ski Park 19-265 Western Ave, Algonquin, 847-836-7243 Travel time from Chicago: about an hour drive The gist: You don’t even have to leave the burbs to find a hill dedicated to the oh-sotrendy sport of snowboarding. Raging Buffalo, near the Fox River in the northwest suburbs, offers half-pipes, kickers, table tops and other rad features, plus a “magic carpet” (basically a slanted moving sidewalk) on the beginner hill.

Chestnut Mountain Resort 8700 W Chestnut Rd, Galena, 800-397-1320 Travel time from Chicago: about a three-hour drive

Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports 5750 Lakeside Dr, Lisle, 630-964-2550 Travel time from Chicago: about a 40-minute drive The gist: With an “Anyone Can Do” method, beginners can learn to navigate the slopes in no time. These hills in the western burbs consist of two bunny slopes, a terrain park, and two intermediate inclines, each accessible by tow ropes.

Michigan ski and snowboard slopes

Bittersweet Ski Resort 600 River Rd, Otsego, MI, 269-694-2820 Travel time from Chicago: about two-and-a-half hours by car The gist: Boasting 20 runs and seven chairlifts, Bittersweet caters to intermediate shredders of all ages. The resort offers a ski school and a Wonder Carpet lift on the beginner hill, which makes it easy for first-time skiers to get to the top of the slope.

Crystal Mountain 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr, Thompsonville, MI, 855-995-5146 Travel time from Chicago: about a five-hour drive The gist: Said to have the best terrain in the Midwest, this destination has it all: 58 ski or snowboard slopes, eight lifts, four terrain parks, snow-sports school and daily NASTAR racing. Accommodations include 250 luxury suites, hotel rooms, condos and resort homes, with amenities such as an outdoor 20-person hot tub, a fitness center and a spa.

Timber Ridge 7500 23 1/2 St, Gobles, MI, 269-694-9449 Travel time from Chicago: about a two-and-a-half-hour drive The gist: This Michigan ski hill has been around for more than 50 years, beginning with a single tow rope before expanding to four lifts. Visitors can relax with drink and some grub at the Snowshoe Bar or take advantage of 15 trails and two terrain parks.

Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area 13421 Mann St, Jones, MI, 269-244-5635 Travel time from Chicago: about a two-hour drive The gist: This southwestern Michigan mainstay (it’s been in business for more than 40 years) features 11 slopes, a 225-foot vertical drop and a fireside lounge. Swiss Valley also offers race programs, lessons and group rates.

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Iowa ski and snowboard slopes

Cascade Mountain W10441 Cascade Mountain Rd, Portage, WI, 608-742-5588 Travel time from Chicago: about a three-hour drive The gist: Cascade maintains a top rep with snowboarders, catering to radicals with four terrain parks outfitted with obstacles, a superpipe and half-pipe, and also to families with a snow-tubing park, beginner slopes and a modest hill (460 feet). The combination of manmade and natural snow keeps the northfacing side of the Baraboo Bluffs at a happy medium – neither too slushy nor fluffy. For its size, the mountain sports 36 diverse runs–most painfully short. Ten black-diamond runs won’t wow West Coasters, but should keep skiers entertained between the mogul fields and sharp descents.

Sundown Mountain Resort 16991 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, IA, 563-556-6676 Travel time from Chicago: less than a four-hour drive The gist: The only Midwest ski slope to receive the National Ski Areas Association Award of Excellence six years in a row, this beautiful mountain takes you down a centuryold cedar forest reminiscent of Colorado or Wyoming. With 21 trails, two terrain parks and six lifts, this resort will have you up and down the hills in no time.

Wisconsin ski and snowboard slopes

Alpine Valley Ski Resort W2501 County Rd D, Elkhorn, WI, 262-642-7374 Travel time from Chicago: about a two-hour drive The gist: Touting itself as the only resort in the Midwest with three high-speed quads and four Wonder Carpets (a type of conveyor lift), this Wisconsin resort’s longest run is 2,500 feet while its vertical drop is 388 feet.

Devil’s Head S6330 Bluff Rd, Merrimac, WI, 800-472-6670 Travel time from Chicago: about a three-hour drive The gist: This South Central Wisconsin ski resort is only three hours from Chicago and contains one of the highest mountains in Wisconsin. The resort takes care of its slopes just as well as its guests; the ski slopes are groomed twice a day to make the ride down the mountain even more exhilarating.

Justin Trails Resort 7452 Kathryn Ave, Sparta, WI, 800-488-4521 Travel time from Chicago: about a four-hour drive The gist: You could easily spend an entire weekend vegging out fireside in one of Justin Trails Resort’s cozy cabins. But if you’re determined to be active, try tackling an 1,000 foot long hill on an inner tube, getting pulled on skis by dogs (it's called skijoring) and crosscountry skiing through Wisconsin’s gorgeous wide-open spaces.

Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort 11931 Fox River Rd, Wilmot, WI, 262-862-2301 Travel time from Chicago: less than 90 minutes The gist: This resort offers runs for skiers of all skill levels as well as a tubing hill with side-by-side tracks so you can race as a group. Stay nearby at the cozy Grand Geneva Resort and Spa for quick access to the slopes and relaxing amenities like a sauna.