Learned some new ski moves over the winter and concerned you may lose them over this year’s summer vacation? While many may try to escape the blizzards and cold this time of year by planning a warm, tropical summer vacation, those who just can’t seem to get enough of the slopes and snow have plenty of “winter” travel options for the upcoming summer travel season.
Here are 5 summer travel destinations that will keep you strapped into your boots and hucking airs throughout the entire summer season.
1. Queenstown, New Zealand
Boasting arguably the best powder in the Pacific, the town of Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island is the region’s unrivaled adventure sports capital during both the winter and summer vacation periods. Set along the spine of the Southern Alps, resorts such as Coronet Peak and The Remarkables operate throughout the North American summer, well into late September and early October. Meanwhile, the fabled slopes of Wanaka’s Treble Cone are only an hour’s drive away.
How can you not visit a town where the only thing more famous than the ski adventures is the endless amount of chocolate? While the town of Bariloche is a popular summer vacation getaway for those in nearby Buenos Aires, during the ski season travelers from all over the globe flock to resorts such as Cerro Catedral, which is located a mere 19km from the nightlife and chocolate shops of the Bariloche city center.
3. Portillo, Chile
Only a 2 hour drive from the international airport in Santiago, no conversation of skiing in Chile is complete without mention of Portillo. Perhaps South America’s most well known ski resort, Portillo offers 35 runs that range from beginner to heli-skiing options, and the hotel associated with the ski resort is notorious for its homegrown Chilean atmosphere.
4. Falls Creek, Australia
Another summer vacation destination for local Aussies during the warmer months, during the beginning of June this section of Australia’s highlands becomes blanketed in white. The nation’s largest alpine resort, Falls Creek offers everything from downhill skiing to cross country terrain, and is located just 4.5 hours from Melbourne’s international airport.
5. Mt. Hood, Oregon
The only year round lift-serviced ski resort in the United States, Oregon’s Timberline Lodge offers summer skiing options for those in the States who may not have the time or travel budget to venture far from home. While the glacier offers spring-like snow conditions throughout the entire summer travel season, public access is somewhat limited due to the large amount of summer camps taking place on the salted slopes.