| Resort | State | Rating | Nearest Airport | Our Review | Pros | Cons | |
| Steamboat Springs | CO | Exc. | Hayden - 30 mins | Read Review | Ski School, less traffic, lots of blue terrain, authentic ski town. Nearly 70% of terrain is blue and green. | Airport is small, not much nearby once you get out of town | |
| Winter Park | CO | Exc. | Denver - 2 hrs | Read Review | Can take a train from Denver, lots of terrain, good blue/green area. Many easy lifts. Closest major resort to Denver. | Can be crowded on weekends, must drive through mtn pass to get to Winter Park. | |
| Big Sky | MT | Exc. | Bozeman - 1 hour | Read Review | Excellent Ski School and after-hours "kids club". Massive ski terrain to choose from. Family friendly restaurants. Short drive from Yellowstone if you want to take a day off from skiing. | Big Sky can get cold; Bozeman doesn't have the jet service that other cities do. 45 mins from airport. | |
| Deer Valley | UT | Exc. | Salt Lake City - 1 hour | Read Review | Ski only (no snowboards), excellent groomed terrain, great powder quality. Very exclusive and cozy feel. Resort limits number of daily skiers, so no crowds. SKI Mag's #1 resort for 2007. | Expensive. Ski school can fill up quickly, poor choice for snowboarders. Can be too upscale for some families. | |
| Copper Mountain | CO | Very Good | Denver - 90 mins | Read Review | Easy access from major freeway, alternate resorts in area, excellent green/blue terrain . | Crowds on weekends, no "authentic" ski town. Weekend traffic from Denver on I-70 can be bad. | |
| Grand Targhee | ID | Very Good | Jackson, WY - 90 mins | Read Review | Few crowds, great snowfall and powder quality, excellent instructor-to-student ratios in the schools, family-friendly activities. Daytrip to Jackson Hole is possible. Folksy resort. | Remote, fewer restaurants, smaller resort. After 2-3 days you may find yourself going back to all the same eating spots. Limited activities for the non-skier. | |
| Snowmass (Aspen) | CO | Very Good | Aspen - 15 mins | Read Review | Excellent kids programs, ski school start at toddler level, outstanding dining options. Lots of terrain to choose from when you combine all the resorts in immediate area. Airport is right next to resort. | Expensive destination. Crowds can be a factor on holidays and weekends. High "glitz factor" if you are on the Aspen side of the mountain. | |
| Taos | NM | Very Good | Albequerque - 2 hours | Read Review | Great ski school, Teen Center, cultural activities in addition to skiing. Ski only. | Remote. Not a good choice for snowboarders. | |
| Solitude | UT | Very Good | Salt Lake City - 40 mins | Read Review | Close proximity to a major airport, well-thought-out ski programs, other great resorts in close proximity for day-trips. | Terrain is bit on the small side for the west; not alot of expert terrain if that is desired. | |
| Lutsen | MN | Very Good | Duluth - 2 hours | Read Review | Best in the Midwest. Good variety of runs, several ski-in accomodations. | Remote. No ski-town nearby - all apres ski is right at the resort. | |
| Vail | CO | Very Good | Denver - 2 1/2 hours or Vail, 30 minutes | Read Review | Huge terrain. Unlimited amount of skiing for each skill level. Well established ski school and kids programs. Several other resorts nearby if Vail conditions or crowds are bad. SKI Mag's #2 resort for 2007. | Can become very crowded on weekends, during spring break, and Christmas. I-70 mountain pass can close. | |
| Jackson Hole | WY | Very Good | Jackson - 30 mins | Read Review | Authentic town - lots to do for the non skier. Abundance of terrain. Most airlines now have direct flights to Jackson. Grand Targhee relatively close if snow at Jackson is poor. | Lots of intermediate and expert terrain - not so much for the beginner. Can be colder than other locations. | |
| Sun Valley | ID | Very Good | Sun Valley - 15 mins | Read Review | Wild west setting. Town of Ketcham offers activities for non skiers. Crowds are contained. Over 1/3 of runs are greens. | May need to fly into Boise, 2+ hours away. During warm winters, lack of snow can be a larger factor here. | |
| Breckenridge | CO | Very Good | Denver - 1 hour, 45 mins | Read Review | Relatively close to Denver and Denver airport. Great, authentic town feel. Good family atmosphere with many dining choices. | Terrain considered too easy for some. Closest resort to Denver, so can get very crowded on weekends. | |
| Sugarloaf | ME | Very Good | Boston - 4 hours | Read Review | True "village" feel. Everything you need is right at the resort. Movie nights, seasonal sleigh rides, plenty of easy terrain. | Very remote. Fly to Boston then drive 4 hours. Unlike other resorts, there are no "back-up plan" ski areas nearby in the event of poor snow or crowds. | |
| Smugglers Notch | VT | Very Good | Burlington, VT - 45 mins | Read Review | Very family focused. Easy access from Boston or NYC. Quaint feel with great kids programs. Quiet. | Older, slower lifts. Little nightlife other than family restaurants. Burlington airport is small w/ few long flights. | |
| Northstar at Tahoe | NV | Very Good | Reno - 30 mins | Read Review | Most forgiving and enjoyable of the Tahoe resorts; more and more amenities each year. Innovative school and family pricing options. Drivable from Bay area. | Snow in that area has tendancy to get icy and heavy without frequent snowfalls. Crowds can be a factor on weekends and holidays. |
