I know for most the a ski break is all about the slope. But what if you could mix your skiing activities with other experiences? Like fine dining, yoga and wine-tasting, walking and great festival where some of the best artists come to entertain. For those who don't ski or just do a little then, here you won't be bored or feel jealous watching others enjoy themselves, going up and down the slopes. Well have found 5 resorts where you can slope off for a bit more than just skiing.
STOWE, VERMONT, USA
You don’t have to ski to have a great time in the US ski town Stowe, it has got wonderful shopping, dining, spas and loads of off-mountain activities.’ Indeed, there’s nothing like a firm massage to soothe away those aches and pains after a hard day on the slopes and this North American resort has more than a dozen spas and wellness centres, along with several yoga and Pilates centres. Snowshoers should head to the Nordic Centre at the Trapp Family Lodge (created in 1942 by the family on which the film The Sound of Music was based), where they can enjoy guided tours of the area as well as activities ranging from yoga to wine-tasting.
It’s also a great resort for foodies – despite its small size (there are just 4,300 permanent residents) there are more than 50 restaurants and it’s even possible to go on tours of the town’s Ben & Jerry’s factory and the local cider mill.
COURCHEVEL, FRANCE
If your interest in ski resorts extends beyond the après-ski, head to Courchevel, where FACIM (Foundation for International Cultural Action in the Mountains) has created several walkable tourist circuits designed to give visitors an insight into the resort’s history. FACIM also organises regular events such as exhibitions featuring the work of local artists. If you’re looking for adrenalin-fuelled fun, you can try your hand at ice driving (you can even learn how to drive a snow plough), while walkers can explore the 17km of walking trails and nine snowshoe routes. There’s also s huge ice rink, and Easter visitors can take part in a hunt for 7,000 eggs hidden across the resort.
TIGNES, FRANCE
The French resort of Tignes is famous for its lake but it’s more than just a pretty backdrop – in the winter months, divers of all abilities can plunge into the icy waters. Divers wear face masks, gloves and dry suits and it’s even possible to do night dives. Adrenalin junkies can also try out snow kiting (kitesurfing on skis), snow mountain biking, ice driving and dog sledding, while a frozen waterfall in Tignes les Brevieres is used for ice climbing lessons.
GRINDELWALD, SWITZERLAND
While most ski resorts offer visitors the chance to try sledging or snowshoeing, those visiting Grindelwald can try out a range of more unusual sports, including curling and velogemel, which involves zooming down the mountain on a single-track, steerable snow bike. ‘Grindelwald in Switzerland is great for non-skiers,’ says Robert Stewart, founder of winter sports blog The Skiing Department (blog.themountain department.com). ‘Highlights include views of the Eiger, trains all the way up the mountain, cosy restaurants and some of the world’s longest toboggan runs. It also has a great sports centre for ice skating and contains Europe’s largest indoor high-wire course.’
HEAVENLY, LAKE TAHOE, USA
While we’re not encouraging gambling, Heavenly’s location on Lake Tahoe (the town, the lake and the ski area are bisected by the California/Nevada state line) is what makes this beautiful ski resort such a great location for visitors who don’t ski or snowboard. Guests staying here have direct access to four casino resorts: Harrah’s is famous for its wide range of excellent restaurants, Harveys has regular cabaret nights and hosts some of the US’s top comedians, the Lakeside Inn And Casino is famous for its sports bars and the MontBleu is where you’ll find world-class restaurants and the Blu nightclub. Back in the day, even Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe were regular visitors.