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I am wanting to go snow skiing and am thinking of Snowmass, Steamboat or Big Sky. I also want to rent a snow mobile and go for the day on our own with no tour guide. Which one would be best.
Big Sky ski resort
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I can't speak to the snowmbiling, But I've skied at all three places--they're very different.
Big Sky is the smallest and gets the fewest skiers. Besides for the tram, there are rarely any lift lines. A ski patroller told us that runs that would get bumped up in other places don't at Big Sky because there aren't enough skiers to make that happen. There is no town to speak of, and not very many restaurants at the base. There are buses to take you to restaurants, and the most frightening ride I've ever had was on one of those--we thought the bus was going to end up off the road on its side in a field.
Steamboat is a ranching town, which gives ift a feel different from just a ski town. It's one of our favorite places. The mountain is about a 15 minute ride from town, but the free bus system works very well. There are also lots of shops and restaurants at the base.
Snowmass is a manufactured "town" outside of Aspen, so you can take advantage of the nightlife of Aspen, if that's what you like. It's the largest of the three areas you mentioned.
One factor I'd consider is how easy it is to get to each area from where you live.
Thank you and waht about the actual skiing part, you loved them all? We plan on getting a place with a kitchen so that we can cook our own and also looking at the ski in/out type of condo. What do you think or are they about the same and it jsut depends on the price now?
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Correction on Big Sky - it is actually the 2nd largest ski resort in the nation, outside of Vail. Over 4,000 acres. When you describe it at "smaller", perhaps you are talking about the base village which can be a little sleepy. But the skiing itself -- excellent. Excellent.
You can't go wrong with Steamboat or Snowmass, either. I'd probably rule out Snowmass if you want to do snowmobiling. Yellowstone (Big Sky) is known for its snowmobiling, but I think there are some very good options around Steamboat as well.
Of the three, Steamboat is the more authentic ski town. Great western town. If I was going with a non-skier, I'd do Steamboat or Snowmass. If it is all about the skiing, I'd do Big Sky.
http://www.familyskihub.com