As New Englanders, we’re always in pursuit of the best—best sports, best schools, and best people (although we might be biased). And when it comes to our winter getaways, we’re no different.
Two New England towns recently ranked among the “10 best ski towns in the country,” according to USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Claiming the top spot is North Conway, New Hampshire.
The ski town nestled just a stone’s throw from the Kancamagus Highway and White Mountains features a bustling ski scene at Cranmore Mountain Resort, which also ranked among the nation’s top 3 spots for snow tubing. The ski resort offers something for everyone, with bunny slopes for your first ski to black diamonds for the seasoned pros. The publication notes of North Conway:
A ski town in its own right — the slopes of Cranmore Mountain Resort are just a few blocks off of the White Mountain Highway, the town’s main street — North Conway is also a convenient base for day-tripping to other classic New England ski areas like Black Mountain, King Pine, and Attitash. Formidable Mount Washington, the tallest peak in New England, can be explored by snow coach or the venerable Cog Railway, and the town’s cozy hotels and B&Bs promise a warm welcome after a winter day outdoors.
Also among the top 10 is Stowe, Vermont. Named one of the “most beautiful small towns in the world,” the charming village proves adorably picturesque in winter, yet offers some serious elevation for speedy skiing:
Stowe is a quintessential New England village and an ideal ski town rolled into one. Laid out along the course of the Little River, the town is home to the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum as well as resorts like the von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, and the elegant Topnotch Resort, but also plenty of more modest options. Dining choices likewise run the gamut from elegant to casual; von Trapp Brewing & Bierhall is the go-to for German brews and food. The main street morphs into the access road leading to Mount Mansfield and the Stowe Mountain Resort, wrote USA Today.
Top 10 ski towns in America
North Conway and Stowe are the only New England ski towns to consecutively rank on the list for several years in a row. A team of over 10 USA Today editors determine a preliminary list of towns and then the final list of ten winners is determined via vote from over 200,000 USA Today readers, bringing us the final list of this year’s top 10 ski towns in America:
- North Conway, New Hampshire
- Mammoth Lakes, California
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Truckee, California
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Lake Placid, New York
- Aspen, Colorado
- Stowe, Vermont
- Bend, Oregon
- McCall Idaho
North Conway is just 2 hours and 30 minutes from Boston and Stowe is just about 3 hours from the city.