15 Must-Visit Mountain Towns for Ski Lovers

cable car with skis
Photo by Kipras Štreimikis on Unsplash

With ski season in full bloom, it’s time to start planning a few trips. Winter ski season is fun for the whole family. The thrillseekers can unite on the mountain, and the less adventurous can stay behind and enjoy the local resort’s spa services and wine selections. 

Below, we’ve curated a list of 15 different options to bring all your dreams to life. Whether you’d like to head to the northern corners of Switzerland, France, or Italy or set sail for America, we have a nice selection to help you bring all your snow-covered dreams to life. 

Davis, West Virginia

timberline mountain
Image by Tripadvisor

Let’s begin with one of the lesser-known ski towns – Davis, West Virginia. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sort of place, with a population of little more than 600 people. But that’s a large part of its charm. With a brewery, a pizza joint, and a place to snag a few burritos, it has everything you need. Minutes away, you’ll also enjoy easy access to two downhill ski resorts – Canaan Valley and Timberline Mountain. 

Zermatt, Switzerland

zermatt
Image by Tripadvisor

Snow-capped mountains in Switzerland certainly seem like the quintessential ski destination. One of the reasons Zermatt is such a chart-topper is because it affords magnificent views of the Matterhorn. When you’re not swishing down the slopes, be sure to take a round-trip ride on the Gornergrat Railway. Traveling from Zermatt to the summit of the Gornergrat delivers stunning scenery. 

Leavenworth, Washington

leavenworth
Image by Tripadvisor

If you’d like to escape into a Bavarian dream, Leavenworth will take you there. Its entire downtown is designed after this theme, complete with a bevy of beer gardens to enjoy when you’re not on the slopes. Then, of course, when you’re ready to sail down a mountain with the greatest of ease, it’s off to the Stevens Pass Ski Area!

Chamonix, France

chamonix, france
Image by Tripadvisor

The name alone sounds very luxurious, doesn’t it? It’s actually a shortened version of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, given its location at the base of the famous mountain. When it’s time to give your skis a rest, take a ride on the Aiguille du Midi cable car. You’ll find yourself 12,000 feet in the air, the closest you can get to the summit of Mont Blanc without climbing or hiking it.