What to Look for in a Midwest Ski and Ride Vacation
Snowmaking and night skiing are important factors to weigh for ski and ride vacations in the Midwest. Before you book a winter vacation in the region, it’s best to have a look at the offerings of each ski area.
Please note, every Midwest resort in the Vail portfolio has 100% snowmaking coverage. 100% of each mountain is also open for night skiing.
Lift Tickets / Season Passes
Your family has several options for purchasing lift tickets on your Midwestern ski and ride vacation.
Epic Pass holders enjoy access to all ten resorts in the Midwest. As such, you are free to mix and match your visits to these ski and ride areas at your convenience. You can also use your Epic Pass at larger resorts in places like the Rocky Mountains.
If you don’t feel the need to invest in a season pass, you can also purchase lift tickets directly through each resort. Depending on your needs, single-day lift tickets are sold online as well as at ticket windows at each Midwest resort.
Equipment Rentals
Don’t worry if you don’t own ski and snowboard equipment for your whole family. Resorts in the Midwest provide the latest ski and ride gear, including skis, boards, boots, helmets, and more.
Rental shops will teach your family about ski and snowboard technology so they can make the best gear choices possible. With this knowledge in hand, new skiers and riders can hit the slopes with confidence and style!
With Epic Mountain Rewards, Epic pass holders get 20% off all rentals at resorts in the Midwest.
Lodging Options
A Midwest weekend getaway is a great way to break up the monotony of winter. By spending a weekend near your favorite ski and ride resort, your whole family can enjoy hotel amenities like indoor pools, hot tubs, and saunas. You will also support local business by staying at hotels near your favorite Midwest resorts.
Package Deals
To get the best possible value on Midwest ski and ride vacations, you should purchase an Epic Pass or book directly through a resort website.
With Epic Mountain Rewards, Epic pass holders get 20% off all lodging at Midwest resorts and beyond.
If you book through a Midwest resort website, you can also get the latest lodging deals in the area. In like fashion, getting your rental equipment from your Midwest resort of choice is the best way to save.
Which Midwest Ski and Ride Resort is Best for Me?
Whether it be snow tubing, terrain parks, or expertly-groomed trails, the Midwest makes for great ski and ride vacations. Midwest resorts are a great place to sharpen your skills and build your confidence on the mountain.
To the north in Minnesota, Afton Alps has 300 acres of skiable terrain and a variety of excellent restaurants. Further south in Indiana, Paoli Peaks offers incredible skiing and riding, as well as snow tubing with easy access from both Tennessee and Kentucky.
Difficulty Level
Everyone agrees that the Midwest is a great place to learn to ski and ride. Importantly, most Midwest resorts have beginner lifts like tow ropes and magic carpets - making it easy for even the youngest kids to get a ride to the top of the mountain.
With expansive groomed runs, the Midwest is also well-suited for intermediate skiers and riders. Depending on your skill level, you can work your way up to steeper runs when you feel more comfortable.
Nearly every resort in the Midwest has expert level-runs like Black Diamonds. If more challenging runs like tree skiing and riding is your goal, be sure to check out Mt. Brighton in Michigan or Mad River Valley in Ohio.
Terrain Parks
As people in the Midwest know well, you don’t need big mountains for incredible terrain parks. In fact, Midwest ski areas have produced many professional park skiers and riders over the years.
Notable terrain parks at Midwest resorts include:
Please note, terrain parks are open both day and night at all Midwest resorts.
Snow Tubing
If you have family members that don’t ski and ride, there are still great activities at Midwestern winter resorts. Snow tubing is fun for kids and adults alike. In fact, snow tubing can be a great way to introduce winter resort experiences to your children.
Midwest resorts that have snow tubing include:
Most Midwest resorts offer snow tubing in 2-hour sessions that are sold separately from standard lift tickets.
Snowmaking
Even if the weather doesn’t produce much snow, ski and ride resorts in the Midwest can guarantee excellent conditions on the slopes. Every resort in the Midwest is integrated with comprehensive snow-making operations, ensuring 100% coverage on both ski slopes and snow tubing parks.
When covering the slopes, these advanced snowmaking systems are capable of using 3,000 gallons of water per minute.
