If you will be in Michigan, you should definitely visit
Nubs Nob Ski Resort. Nubs Nob has what is
considered to be the Midwests best snow, and the
resort has a reputation for being a family friendly
mountain. Generations of families have brought their
children here for their very first ski run.

The mountain layout is fairly simple with an elevation
of 1338 feet and a vertical drop of 427 feet. There are
43 trails serviced by eight chair lifts. Boasting one of
the best skiing and snowboarding schools in the
country, both private and group lessons are available.
If you are brand new to the sport, you can even learn
to ski free, and take advantage of Nubs Cubs
Childcare Center while you learn.

Dont make the mistake of thinking that intermediate
or expert skiers wont find any challenges waiting for
them at Nubs Nob! The terrain is varied, and you will
find challenges. Night Skiing is also available. The
Ski School offers training programs for advanced
skiers who are interested in racing, and many racing
events are held at the resort. You can signup for race
leagues at the resort, and many league events are
planned each season.

Equipment rental is available, and there is a General
Store right inside the lodge, where you can purchase
gloves, hats, and neck warmers among a variety of
other items. You should also visit the technology
center to have your skis tuned or repaired.

You wont go hungry either! Nubs Nob Cafeteria is
open for breakfast and lunch, and if you brought your
own lunch, you can eat in the brown bag room.
Nubs Winter Garden serves grilled burgers when the
weather allows. Pintail Peak Warming Hut is located
at the top of the Black Lift. Here, you can enjoy
amazing views while enjoying home made soups and
sandwiches.

Nubs Nob is the place to go if you want to have a
great family ski vacation or if you are already an
expert skier interested in racing and skill events.
There is plenty to do and see. In fact, you may find
that you have a problem deciding which activity to
participate in first! Dont worry about missing
anything, though if you want to ski now and board
later, you can do that. Most events are planned for
the weekends, so arrange your schedule so that you
are able to attend or participate in the planned events.

Around a year ago, I went on a skiing vacation to France and had a great time by all accounts. The best part was that I went with all my friends, all of which had varied abilities, but were all eager to give it a go. Some of my friends compete in competitions and the like, whilst others have only been on the slopes a few times in their life. The fact is that we were all really looking forward to it, and we were all sure to enjoy ourselves whilst we were away. Unfortunately, we dont spend much time together, as we all go to different colleges, whilst others are trying to make it through the rat race.

When we decided to book the holiday I was delighted to hear that everybody was able to make it, and that everyone had promised to save up enough money to really enjoy themselves while we were away. The cost of booking the holiday worked out at around $300 for accommodation for the week as we were going to be staying at a backpackers location, and it was only going to cost $150 for return flights. We really felt like we had struck a bargain, and we were even more delighted when we heard that the cost of living would be really cheap when we got there. We had decided to save up $1000 each, which meant that we would have more than enough spending money for when we arrived.

I have to say, I never quite expected Europe to be such an excellent skiing destination for people like us with mixed abilities. Sure, there are the Alps, but I thought these were only the playground of the expert skiers. How wrong I was! There are simply loads of different places in Europe you can go, regardless of your skiing ability, and youre almost guaranteed to have a great time. Also, the facilities right on the resorts are out of this world. It really is a great place to go skiing.

We arrived in France, and we were firstly shocked at how laid-back it all seemed. It was some surrealist painting, except in motion, with strange, stereotypically French characters passing by. Regardless of this initial culture shock, we soon got our skis on and experienced the awesome slopes for ourselves. Trust me – France is a great place to go skiing with your friends, and a great place to go on a vacation if youre looking to have a good time.

We chose France for our vacation, but there are loads of great European ski resorts, and in fact, some people even say that Europe is the home of the sport, and it is easy to see why. If youre looking for a great time, go for Europe, to experience a wholly different way of life, and skiing that is simply second to none. Check out your travel agent for good deals, and remember that the more flexible you are, the cheaper your holiday. By booking up the flights at the last minute, you can end up saving loads with some of the budget airlines, and by being totally flexible, you can avoid peak times, which means you can avoid peak prices. Your vacation in Europe doesnt have to cost the earth, but it can be a once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget.

Mount Snow, located in Vermont, is the one of the
largest ski resorts in the Eastern United States.
Featuring 26 lifts and more than 135 trails, the top
elevation at Mount Snow is 3600 feet, with a vertical
drop of 1700 feet. There are 20 chair lifts and six
surface lifts available.

Snowboarders are welcome at Mount Snow, and
there is a kids only terrain park as well as a special
tubing park. The Grand Summit Hotel and Crown Club
sits right off the slopes, and guests enjoy a heated
outdoor pool and ski in/ski out accommodations. There
is something to suit everyone at Mount Snow.

Many different winter ski vacation packages are
available. Many of these packages are really great
deals designed to save families money. Child care is
available at Mount Snow, and the youngsters will be
well cared for, and learn to ski as well. The adults
arent left out of the learning process either! Both group
and private lessons are available.

Mount Snow is very family oriented. At Mount Snow
a unique back-to-base trail system is used that
keeps everyone in your family from getting lost. Kids
under six ski and ride for free. When an adult buys a
3 – 5 day ticket during mid-week, their kid receives a
free ticket for that same time period as well. During
January, the Kids Ski & Learn Free weeks seem to
be the most popular family deals.

Mount Snow features a full service health spa that
you should take full advantage of. A variety of
massages are offered, as well as various skin
treatments. Spa packages are also available, and the
spa caters to couples as well, and wedding parties are
also welcome. There is also a fully equipped health
club and fitness classes are offered. There is always
something to do at Mount Snow even if doing
nothing but relaxing is on your agenda!

Winter activities at Mount Snow also include
snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing, cross country
skiing, and sleigh rides. There is a ski shop on the
premises and rental equipment is available. There are
several restaurants and bars on the mountain to
choose from as well. Again, Mount Snow is family
oriented. You will find that this is a very safe environment
for your entire family, where you can relax and have fun
without any worry. Be sure to ask about the family deals
when you call for reservations or information.

If you will be traveling to the North East, you must
not miss Lost Valley Ski Resort. Located on 300
acres in the middle of Maine, the resort offers many
different types of terrain, hills, streams, bridges, and
fifteen well maintained trail systems.

The Lost Valley Resort is best suited to beginners
and intermediate skiers, but there are more thrilling
trails available for expert skiers as well. There are
three lifts to accommodate skiers, including two chair
lifts and one surface lift.

Equipment can be rented for all sports that are
catered to at Lost Valley Resort, including ski
equipment, snowboarding equipment, mountain bikes,
and paintball equipment. Ski and snowboarding
lessons are also available for private parties and
groups.

At the lodge, you will experience a warm family
environment with outstanding food and beverages.
This is an absolutely wonderful place to bring a family.
There are training programs, adaptive ski programs,
racing events, a snowboard terrain park, mountain
biking, and a huge twenty acre paintball park. Lost
Valley Resort is also a great place to hold meetings,
family reunions, weddings, and other special events.
Catering is available.

LAAX in Switzerland stands over 30 000 feet high, with skiing and snowboarding facilities that suit everyones needs from beginners to world champions. LAAX has hosted all the big events in snowboarding and skiing, welcoming thousands of tourists from around the globe each week. LAAX was one of the first major skiing locations to get on the map, when in the 70s skiing holidays started to rise in popularity for western travelers – LAAX was right their, waiting to ride the wave. Millions of visitors later, LAAX are renowned for their 3rd slalom known only as Death Mountain by some. With glaring views down the steep, tangling mountain-side it is no wonder Death Mountain scares even the most resilient of skier.

With excellent facilities for everyone LAAX recently hosted the snowboarding world open, in which over 10,000 people took part from 60 countries around the world. An interesting element of this was that over 100 entries came from south Asia and Africa showing the rise of the sport, and the exposure of the location on a global scale. LAAX was voted number 1 skiing location around the world, by Ski Press Magazine that also notes LAAX as having the third best Snowboarding facilities and, as being the best new comer to Freestyle snowboarding. The popularity of LAAX, has also lead to continued investment from the company operating the slope, building an amazing ski lift that can handle weights of over 80 tonnes as it climbs 30 000 feet up the mountain face. The ski lifts unique attribute is its balancing technology that allows the ski lift to carry massive amounts of weight disproportionately whilst keeping a balanced angle and speed.

The popularity of LAAX is not just shared by avid skiers and snowboarders. Top music names and DJs also come to LAAX to experience the amazing events first hand. With the rise of snowboarding many of these musicians feel they can appeal to a certain audience out on the slopes, especially under the cover of darkness, with only flood lights keeping the mountains alive. The DJs provide entertainment as the crowd snowboard and ski into the morning sunlight. The views and the experience are utterly amazing, and are a sure way to ensure top class entertainment for the young travelers who visit LAAX.

However it is not only the night-time DJ sets and fireworks that sparkle for the young skiers; there are also plenty of locations tailored to their needs off the slopes as well. With local pubs, clubs and even swimming pools the young ones are sure to enjoy themselves off the snowy mountains of LAAX. Despite being an amazing location for younger skiers the location also appeals to those who have never been skiing before. They have multi-lingual training facilities and indoor centres where they train first-time skiers up before taking them to the slopes. They also have amazing training facilities for advanced skiers, facilities that would undoubtedly be used by the worlds top skiers and snowboarders at the world events that are held at the slope almost every year.

The local hotels and accommodation are amazing because unlike most skiing locations, they dont limit the skiers and snowboarders to a single choice. There are youth hostels that are perfect for those looking to ski on the cheap; there are 5 star hotels for those looking to live the lap-of-luxury and there are many options in between. LAAX is home to more than just pubs, clubs and swimming pools, with banks and supermarkets also at realistic walking distance. LAAX is said to be at its peak during August, however this is said to be true for most of Europes top, skiing locations. That is why it is advisable to find a quieter time to visit, preferably a short time following the busy spell. The great thing about coming after the peak is that you are able to come for around half the price of another time of the year.

A sparkling jewel of San Diego, the La Jolla
area is a picture perfect post card with several
beaches along more than seven miles of coast
against an array of rolling hills known as Mount
Soledad.

Being a part of San Diego, La Jolla is only
15 minutes from the downtown district. Along with
beautiful scenery, the area also offers many fine
restaurants, art galleries, hotels and resorts,
and many other attractions such as the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography.

The Birch Aquarium is also a part of La Jolla,
giving you the chance to enter the exciting world
of sharks, living coral reefs, and many other undersea
exhibits. This aquarium showcases the mysteries of
the ocean and what actually lives there.

The shoreline of La Jolla consists of rocky headlands
seperated by pristine coves and sandy beaches. All
along the beach, you can find many different hotels
and resorts, designed to make your stay a little bit
better.

The North Pacific Beach extends to La Jolla, traveling
from the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. If you travel
north of this area, you’ll find yourself on the
beaches of La Jolla.

By going to the south end of the La Jolla shoreline,
you’ll find Windandsea Beach. Windandsea Beach has
long had a reputation for surfers paradise, although
the steep beaches and rocky cliffs can be very
dangerous if you aren’t aware of them.

Close to downtown La Jolla, there is an area called
Casa, which used to be a children’s pool. Now days,
the area has been taken over by seals and sealions.
Although children can’t swim here anymore, it’s a
great pastime to lay on the beach and watch them play.

Traveling along the La Jolla shoreline, you’ll find
the tide pools. These pools are great to look at,
although you shouldn’t touch them. You should visit
during low tide and be sure to wear rubber soled shoes,
as they can get quite slippery.

The cove in La Jolla is very beautiful, although one
of the smaller beaches in San Diego. On either side of
the cove, there are sandstone cliffs. This helps to
add an isolated feel to the cove.

Throughout La Jolla, the Shores Beach is the widest and
longest beach. If you look off to the distance on the
beach, you can see the Scripps Pier. Also on the beach,
there are novice scuba classes held throughout the summer
months.

With plenty to offer you and your family, the beaches of
La Jolla are among the best in San Diego. There’s plenty
to do and see here, with dining and swimming. For a
great visit to the beach, La Jolla seems to simplify the
best of life in California.

Skiing in Kopaonik, Serbia is becoming a growing trend for skiers looking to move away from the commercial skiing facilities of Central and Northern Europe in search of more naturally occurring skiing trails. With a snow range of 1770-2017 metres and a village positioned 5,000 feet above sea level Kopeonik in Serbia is seen as the answer to many skiers dreams. With a three hour journey from the nearest airport Kopaonik is surely worth the effort, having cross-country skiing, night skiing, skydiving, sleigh rides, ice-skating, indoor tennis and many other activities for the winter sports enthusiast to enjoy.

The mountain climbs 35,000 feet into the cold Serbian sky, whilst ski lifts only climb to 6,617 feet. The skiing facility is yet to host a major skiing event; despite being home to several international snowboarding competitions and cross-country skiing as well. The living quarters are apt for pricing that would delight the weariest of tourists. Skiers can experience national cuisine such as Burek (pastry, cheese, spinach) and Pljeskavica (grilled mince) for well under $10 a meal. The old favorites such as burger, chips and pizza are still on the menu, and the price of $1.50 a beer might delight some holiday makers looking to do slightly more than just ski! The living area can handle over 5,000 tourists at the same time, whilst the bars and clubs around the area make the holiday destination more suited to the younger holiday-maker. Another issue that is quite prominent is the mistake that many make in travelling to Kopaonik to celebrate Christmas the celebrations are of slight comparison to western culture, despite its labelling as a winter heaven.

With different piste types Kopaonik caters for beginners, intermediates and experts with the following ratio.

? 15 beginner
? 8 intermediate
? 6 expert

Having 21 lifts and an uphill capacity of 15,000 (an hour) Kopaonik is more than capable of catering for its millions of visitors each year. With slopes facing N, N/E and N/W you can be sure to experience the densely populated villages that surround the region. Thriving from the tourism the mountain provides, Kopaonik has recently became home to a 4 star luxury hotel providing entertainment and accommodation to skiers and executives alike.

With the longest run covering 3.5 KM and expert tuition on hand, Kopaonik has recently benefited from its appointment of English speaking instructors across skiing and snowboarding disciplines. The advanced runs down the Kopaonik mountain-face are a primary incentive for many skiers to choose Kopaonik as their skiing holiday destination. The 6 runs that fit into this category must be epitomised by the Konaci – which a local holiday village was recently named after.

The Konaci has an angle of 79 degrees at a certain point, which it is said that – if you go too slow, and fail to position yourself correctly, it would be perfectly feasible to fall forwards merely travelling in a straight line. The Konaci sees skiers travelling at speeds of over 50 MPH and jumps that allow airtime of over 8 seconds. The Konaci is praised and feared by the top skiers from Europe and further a field. Despite this, the run featured in the 2005 snowboarding event that took place in the Kopaonik mountains.

With snow falling on the slopes between August/September all the way through to early March, skiers should plan their trip with that in mind. The slopes of Serbia and the warm generous nation make Kopaonik an ideal holiday destination for any traveler looking to have a good time on a set of skis. The package deals start from around $400 a week, whilst amazing savings can be made through booking online.

The destination expects 10, 000 visitors a week by 2009, and with its intention to develop further runs across every piste you can be sure that Kopaonik, Serbia will be a skiing location that will stay firmly on the map.

If you will be in Italy, you should definitely visit
Limone. Limone is one of Italys oldest ski areas,
and it is a very old village with a twelfth century
church and many other old buildings. The town is
located near the French border, and is only about
thirty miles from Nice.

At Limone, you will experience a real taste of old
Italy. The nightlife has a lot to offer, and the gourmet
food is out of this world! Food and skiing are
everything here with more than fifty restaurants,
and 46 ski runs. The top elevation is 6689 with a
vertical drop of 3033 feet. Most of the runs are best
suited to intermediate skiers, with a few that are
suitable for beginners and experts. There are twenty
seven lifts, including seven chair lifts and twenty
surface lifts.

Remember that the village is very old and the
locales like it that way. If you prefer high technology
and modern buildings, Limone probably isnt for you.
But if you want to truly experience Italy, Limone
must be on your list of places to visit in Italy.