By Larry Olmsted

Like much of the travel industry, skiing and snowboarding suffered mightily from the pandemic with an early end to the 2019-2020 season, and last winter severe travel and capacity restrictions hampered resorts in this country, while most of Europe’s lifts never opened at all. Even summer skiers were stymied, as the premier Southern hemisphere destinations, Chile, New Zealand and Australia, remained shut down to travelers all season long.

So, if you love skiing or snowboarding, you probably have a severe case of pent-up demand, and this winter finally promises to be something more like normal, so I for one will be hitting the slopes with a vengeance. If you are planning a trip this winter, you can do the same old same old and visit your favorite big Western resort, but if you want to spice things up, here are some hidden gems and unique twists on the ski trip genre that can open your eyes to new … continue reading

Award-winning travel journalist Larry Olmsted is the author of “Real Food, Fake Food.” He is a Contributing Editor to US Airways Magazine and Cigar Aficionado Magazine and “The Great Life” columnist for Forbes.com. His newest book is“Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happer, Healthier, and More Understanding.”