Skiing is one of the most popular winter activities for good reasons. It offers up a chance to take in the fresh mountain air and scenic views while screaming down snowy hills and pine trees. Unfortunately, the same weather that dumps inches of fresh snow to allow you to ski in the first place, can also cause dangerous weather conditions that may close the skiing parks and keep you off of the slopes. Don’t worry though, there are many other activities to partake in besides skiing. Here are 5 fun things to do on a ski vacation besides skiing.
1. Aprés Ski
The word stands for “after skiing” and generally means relaxing with friends after a long day on the slopes. However, you don’t need to have gone skiing all day to partake in this fun activity. If you can’t make it up the mountain stay indoors and enjoy some craft beers, wine, and food with friends and family.
2. Stay inside and watch movies
One of life’s great pleasures is staying cozy by a warm fire while a blizzard rages outside. Don’t let bad weather get you down, stay inside and enjoy a relaxing evening enjoying the amenities of your lodging. Cook a nice dinner, enjoy some wine, put on a movie you’ve been wanting to see, or simply lay back on the couch with a good book.
3. Hot tubbing and spa
If your lodging has a hot tub or spa, rest your muscles and recover after a long ski weekend. Spending day after day skiing can wear out even the most seasoned enthusiast. It is advised to take a break every 2 to 3 days and rest up. This is the perfect time to take advantage of your lodgings extra amenities or take a trip into town for a day at the spa. Your body will thank you.
4. Snow Shoeing
Snow shoeing is a great way to get exercise and participate in activities outdoors when you can’t or don’t want to go skiing. To snow shoe you put on what looks like tennis rackets on your boots. These displace the weight over a wide area of snow and allow you to walk solidly on even freshly fallen snow. It provides a less strenuous walk along with the sensation of gliding over the snow. Even if the snow is falling heavily outside you can participate in this activity and go for hikes near town.
5. Snow Tubing
Perhaps you can’t ski or are recovering from an injury. Snow tubing is a great way to enjoy nature in a fun and exciting way. Snow tubing requires you to grab ahold of an inner tube and slide down a mountain side much like sledding. There are even makeshift tubing parks with lanes, racing activities, and obstacle courses. However, even the basics will get anyone’s heart rate going.
Don’t feel pressured to only ski during your mountain excursion. Take advantage of all the other activities at your disposal and enjoy yourself.
