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You Told Us: Which resorts have the best nightlife

February 14, 1997

Last week, we asked "Which resorts have the best nightlife?" The responses, which covered resorts from coast to coast, made us want to leave the office and paint the towns. You can scoot through them below. But first, take a moment to answer next week's question: What should you look for in a ski instructor?

Mail from the Trail Archive

MiCasa or yours?
I have to say one of my favorite places to eat after a long day on the slopes is MiCasa in Breckenridge, Colorado. They have some of the best Mexican food around. But first swing by the Whales Tail for some peel-and-eat shrimp and a beer.

Neal Cohen
neal@cutters.com

A roll of the dice
The best nightlife of any ski resort in America is unquestionably in the Lake Tahoe ski area. Where else can you mix great skiing, 24 hour casinos, great restaurants, and revues? It's hard to choose a favorite spot, but I would have to say either Harrah's Casino and Resort or Caesar's Tahoe. There is nothing like pounding the slopes all day and coming back to the bright lights and spectacular atmosphere of a Nevada resort!

n-scott@tamu.edu

All about Aspen
Aspen, without a doubt. The food, drink, and cover prices may be higher than at most resorts, but the nightlife is more like New York, Chicago, or LA's than a small mining town of 6,000 residents. I will also mention that everything is within walking distance (not so at Vail), the view of the mountain from downtown is spectacular during torchlight descents (not so at Steamboat), most bars and restaurants are right on the two blocks of pedestrian mall (unlike Breckenridge), and the Tipsy Taxi (nowhere else). Businesses, taxi companies, and the police would rather give you a free cab ride home and back to your car the next day, than let you ruin anyone's vacation with an accident. The downside of Aspen: too many posers in fur coats, those who aren't willing to walk or ride the buses have a tough time finding parking, and getting into the trendy restaurants without a reservation can be impossible.

Arnaud Dumont
dumonta@colorado.edu

Outdoor cooking and dogsleds
After a great day on the slopes, our mountain resort must have nightlife for our youngest daughter (ten years) and our oldest daughter (twenty years), and some great outdoor hot tubs for my wife and I.

Panorama Resort in British Columbia has nightlife for all ages. This slopeside resort has western bars, a great nightclub, arcades, minigolf, kids' videos, a huge outdoor cooking area, sleigh rides, dogsled rides, outdoor hot tubs and much more!

Our family has been to a lot of different mountain resorts, but Panorama Resort is our favorite for nightlife activities after a great day on the slopes.

Mac Anderson
mac.anderson@dlcwest.com

Vail is fun
Vail, Colorado has the best nightlife, fun and is quaint. Lake Tahoe also has great skiing and nightlife.

shirley a stoltz
shirley.a.stoltz@cdev.com

Read the list
Skiing is absolute sublime paradise because one can retreat away in the woods to be alone or join open festive gatherings at various lodges, condos, and pubs. The best ski resort night life is as follows, in order:

1. Winter Park, Colorado

2. Breckenridge, Colorado

3. Angel Fire, New Mexico

4. Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Ya know, the party is really what YOU make it, so bring food and drink and a lively attitude with you and the night life is perfect anywhere. What it is about is skiing and the best slopes can be found in Taos, New Mexico and Wolf Creek, Colorado.

Richard Cimino
cimino@qnet.com

Chutes and shopping!
Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid have the greatest collection of "things to do" before you ski, after you ski, and in place of skiing -- from alternate winter activities such as skating, tobogganing on a chute that spills you out onto the ice of Mirror Lake, to sled dog rides, to luge or bobsled riding or racing, to relaxing in a pool or a spa. There are a great assortment of restaurants from the mundane pizza shops to the great steak places to the plush living of a resort such as Mirror Lake Inn. And the shopping!!! It's a great place and has my vote for #1.

Dave Naysmith
dave@lvhs.org

Which comes first?
When it comes to skiing, social events and nightlife are the second most important factors -- after slope conditions. I spent a week in Jackson Hole this winter and was surprised that the nightlife there was almost non-existent. If you really wanted to find something and tried hard, you would probably find some square dancing events here or there. No thank you. The skiing though, was superb!

Allon Mason
akm10@cornell.edu

Banff is best (and friendly too)
I have found the best ski town nightlife in Banff, Canada. Nothing compares to the many bars and restaurants. Everyone is real friendly. Great town.

Jon Riley
jriley2gbc.grownc.on.ca

And the mountain ain't bad
In the East, no question! Lake Placid (and Whiteface Mountain) is the best for food and entertainment. The mountain ain't bad either. From NYC, it's only 30 minutes further than Killington. Go for it!

RBULLE
rbulle@aol.com

Did someone say night skiing?
I've spent 10 years skiing in Colorado. And if you don't want to drive all the way to Aspen and Vail and pay overblown prices, GO TO KEYSTONE!! Nice looooooooong runs, high speed lifts, miles of gorgeous terrain and night skiing!! Great for skiers of all types.

Joe Derry
Derry.Joe.S@tci.com

Ditto
I have skied Keystone several times and its night skiing is the best I have ever experienced. My hats off to them for doing a great job.

Mike Mizer
mikmizer@novia.net

And from Florida....
This a great way to still be a part of the skiing community when you live in central Florida!

Irby Moore
irby@digital.net

You Told Us: Which resorts have the best nightlife

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