National Geographic lists out Top 25 Ski Towns

[deadheadskier]

4 pages in and no one stumping for Warren/Waitsfield. That's surprising given the long love affair with Bush/MRG on AZ.

If I were to rank New England ski towns, my list would go

Stowe
North Conway
Warren/Waitsfield
Lincoln/Woodstock, NH
Ludlow VT & Bethel ME tied for 5th
Manchester, VT 6th

 

[jimk]

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre

Especially if you need a miracle:smile:

 

[xwhaler]

While not as ski town centric as some others on this list, Rangeley ME is very nice and should at least make top 10 in the East. As has been mentioned before Saddleback is a 10 minute ride from town which keeps the 2 a bit disconnected

 

[Smellytele]

Especially if you need a miracle:smile:

I actually went to see that chapel for some reason as a kid with my parents.

 

[WWF-VT]

4 pages in and no one stumping for Warren/Waitsfield. That's surprising given the long love affair with Bush/MRG on AZ.

If I were to rank New England ski towns, my list would go

Stowe
North Conway
Warren/Waitsfield
Lincoln/Woodstock, NH
Ludlow VT & Bethel ME tied for 5th
Manchester, VT 6th

A while ago Outside Magazine rated Waitsfield as the best ski town in the East. Fayston is home to both Mt Ellen and Mad River Glen

 

[BenedictGomez]

4 pages in and no one stumping for Warren/Waitsfield. That's surprising given the long love affair with Bush/MRG on AZ.

You can see from the various list of responses that "ski town" means different things to different people when Denver & Ellicotteville are both suggested. In that vein, I personally don't put Warren/Waitsfield on a "best ski town" list, because they're just too small.

 

[ss20]

White River Junction is great. Nearly ever mountain in the NE is within 2 hours. Jay and Killington in 1 hour. The North Conway mountains clock in at 2 hours. MRG/ Sugarbush in 1 1/4 hours. Magic in 1 hour as well.

 

[Savemeasammy]

White River Junction is great.

Geographically, yes. Otherwise, no.

IMO, the upper valley is a great place to live if you ski/ride, but, unfortunately, none have much of a ski town vibe..


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[steamboat1]

I actually went to see that chapel for some reason as a kid with my parents.

That Basilica is absolutely beautiful inside. All the different types of marble used & the stain glass work is amazing. The tile work in the lower chapel is pretty cool too. It's a must see for anyone who finds themselves in that area.

 

[steamboat1]

While not as ski town centric as some others on this list, Rangeley ME is very nice and should at least make top 10 in the East. As has been mentioned before Saddleback is a 10 minute ride from town which keeps the 2 a bit disconnected

It's a nice town but more of a snowmobiler town than a ski town.

 

[skiersleft]

You can see from the various list of responses that "ski town" means different things to different people when Denver & Ellicotteville are both suggested. In that vein, I personally don't put Warren/Waitsfield on a "best ski town" list, because they're just too small.

Denver was not suggested as a ski town, it was suggested as a "ski city" like, say, SLC, Boston, Montreal, Seattle, Vancouver, etc. A big city with all of the big city amenities that can serve as a good base to day trip top notch ski areas. Denver was not suggested as a "ski town" that can be compared to Crested Butte, Aspen, Stowe or Lake Placid.

Ellicottville is without a doubt a ski town. Do you disagree?

 

[thetrailboss]

Yeah, SLC and Denver were not on this list.

As to Waitsfield/Warren: as much time as I spent at Sugarbush, I never really considered them to be in the same league as Stowe, Aspen, or Park City when it comes to amenities. Hell, there have been many threads here and on the SkiMRV forum that point out how night life in the MRV really sucks. And Fayston? Really?

Don't get me wrong...I love them. Reminds me of my home in the NEK with dirt roads, some farms, etc. But I would not say great "ski towns" in the sense that most folks think of ski towns.

 

[steamboat1]

In all the years I've skied Sugarbush I've never even driven down into Warren.

 

[4aprice]

White River Junction is great. Nearly ever mountain in the NE is within 2 hours. Jay and Killington in 1 hour. The North Conway mountains clock in at 2 hours. MRG/ Sugarbush in 1 1/4 hours. Magic in 1 hour as well.

We will be using WRJ this winter as its not only near the skiing you list but smack between Castleton State and Plymouth State. Ski Town? not so much. More like a good central location on the interstates. W Leb has pretty good shopping (especially compared to Vermont) and Hanover is a good place to eat, and catch a hockey or b-ball game if they are being played. If your willing to get out early and drive the choices are almost unlimited.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Edd]

While not as ski town centric as some others on this list, Rangeley ME is very nice and should at least make top 10 in the East...

Very nice? Top 10? Dude....

 

[gmcunni]

New Hartford, CT

 

[thetrailboss]

White River Junction is great. Nearly ever mountain in the NE is within 2 hours. Jay and Killington in 1 hour. The North Conway mountains clock in at 2 hours. MRG/ Sugarbush in 1 1/4 hours. Magic in 1 hour as well.

1 hour to Jay from WRJ? I'd say more like 2.


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[Savemeasammy]

1 hour to Jay from WRJ? I'd say more like 2.


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And I thought N. Conway was closer to 2.5.

Still, it's in a great geographic location.


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[thetrailboss]

And I thought N. Conway was closer to 2.5.

Still, it's in a great geographic location.


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Yeah I agree. It's not an easy nor direct drive. I lived in WRJ and liked it but got sick of having to drive an hour to go skiing. It sounds lame I know but the places I'd want to go were all at least 50 miles or an hour away. It's good for going to places on 89 or 91 or US 4. You couldn't easily get to much of NNH or the MRV. Burke was a breeze--but it was 80 miles one way. Killington/Pico was a short distance but Route 4 sucks. Always at least an hour drive for like 30 miles.


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[HowieT2]

You can see from the various list of responses that "ski town" means different things to different people when Denver & Ellicotteville are both suggested. In that vein, I personally don't put Warren/Waitsfield on a "best ski town" list, because they're just too small.

How is that? I mean the valley is small but why does that disqualify it from this list.