Best place for a white Xmas in the US

Discussion in 'Anything Goes' started by OZ VFR, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2013
    Messages:
    1,176
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Old Toongabbie, Australia
    Map
    My daughter is going to UBC this year.
    It will be the first time she is away from the family during Xmas, so we've decided to visit her for Xmas 2018.
    The plan is to meet her in the US in December, spend Xmas there and then fly back with her to BC and spend a few weeks exploring western Canada.
    My idea was to meet in Cuba, then fly to Canada, but my wife is set on a white Xmas as we normally spend Xmas here sweating.
    My two older girls and I ski, so would like to include this in our stay, but would like to keep price down, and not fight huge crowds.
    Any sugestions on a nice quiet location that has the best chance of being sunny and is very picturesque?
    Happy with a small city/town feel where we would be made at home and experience a great white family Xmas.
     
  2. Getn off

    Getn off New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    109
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Mickey Town, FL
    Map
    That, my froend , is a tall order. Not going to be able to plan a small town feel white xmas and sunny anywhere!
    This year on xmas, Seattle had a nice snowfall, but no sun. DC was cold, 15*f , some sun, but no small town feel or good skiing. Same with most of the NE.
    Salt lake or Denver would be your best bet.
    You could luck out in places like Albequerque, or Los Angeles, but that is so hit and miss.
    Hell, just drive south of the border to Bellingham. May not have sun and snow down low, but Mt Baker is top notch...on level with Whistler.
    Good luck!
    Troy
     
    Gator likes this.
  3. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    There are a few ski hills in Vancouver itself but you are not likely to see a white Christmas. The odds are more that there will be rain. Whistler is arguably one of the world premier ski locations but is expensive. You can find dozens of ski hills in BC that are really not that far from Vancouver (Where UBC is) which are less used and far cheaper. Matter of fact, Hemlock Valley (now called Sasquatch) has the deepest snow base of all the BC ski resorts and is far less crouded. Lodging within 3/4 commute to there is extremely low in comparison to Whistler or Vancouver.

    The Okanagan Valley is a great place to base yourself for a skiing adventure. There are a few ski hills that you can get to on a shorter commute. Vernon, Kelowna, and Penticton are just three of a few communities that have ski hills. The Okanagan Valley is nestled between two mountain ranges and has a definite four season climate. You are almost guaranteed to see a white Christmas there and they are less inclined to have wet weather there and sunny skies with snow on the ground is quite possible.

    Mount Baker in the North West of Washington State is a fairly popular ski resort. I really can't tell you much more about skiing in Washington. I would suggest they have lots of skiing there. While bike touring through Washington and Oregon, I can say, I find the people in small town Washington/Oregon, are hard to beat for hospitality and friendliness.

    We have spoke before and hope we will some more as the time nears.
     
  4. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2016
    Messages:
    1,984
    Likes Received:
    342
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Orlando
    Map
    Hey Oz, I just got back from spending the holidays at Big Bear in the Poconos of northeast Pennsylvania where we had a great white Xmas. It was very quiet there - see vid I made below looking across the Delaware River from the Pennsylvania side to New York. The ski lodge was very busy though and we had lots of fun tubing and skiing - however I'm not that great a skier so I was terrified at times - LOL. If you're any kind of decent skier though you might get bored. You could go there in conjunction with a visit to NYC which is about 100 miles to the southeast.

    Here's a link: http://ski-bigbear.com

     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2018
  5. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2013
    Messages:
    1,176
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Old Toongabbie, Australia
    Map
    Thanks folks, keep them coming.
    I realize a white sunny Xmas in the best skiing region, but not too crowded or expensive might be a tall order.
    Thanks for the very kind offer Randy, but there are five of us, 9, 18 and 21 year old daughters (it's what happens when you spend your teenage years wishing "when I grow up I want to be surrounded by woman"), plus the wife and I.
    I wouldn't want to crowd you out of your own house. We will definetly catch up though as we will hire a car and explore western Canada.
    My wife has an uncle that lives in Utah and he has offered us a place, but after catching up with him this Xmas we've decided he is not the sort of person we want to spend time with, what a negative bigot! Aparently if we go to New Orleans, we will be shot. If we go to San Francisco we will be constantly harassed by the thousands of homeless. Everyone in California is either gay or a drug addict, and Nevada is the Devils abode.
    I might just cower in my own bed in the foetal position instead.
    Colorado sounds good, but we have a good 6 months to plan our trip so it might change.
     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2018
  6. OZ VFR

    OZ VFR Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2013
    Messages:
    1,176
    Likes Received:
    385
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Old Toongabbie, Australia
    Map
    New York was one of our choices Greg, but My daughter is going there this March, she has been appointed head delegate from her university to a UN convention.
    So she wants to see somewhere new, and the wife wants a white Xmas.
     
  7. GatorGreg

    GatorGreg Honda Fanboy/LitiGator

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2016
    Messages:
    1,984
    Likes Received:
    342
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Orlando
    Map
    Congrats to your daughter! Another place I've been skiing that I'd recommend in the eastern part of the U.S. is Massanutten resort in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia - it's about 125 miles southwest of Washington DC which is also an interesting place to visit if you've never been - some good museums, etc. Here's a link to Massanutten's website: https://www.massresort.com/
    Both Big Bear and Massanutten have snow machines so you'd be pretty much guaranteed a white Xmas even if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate :D
     
  8. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,100
    Likes Received:
    530
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Reseda / LA
    Map
    Hey, we have a Big Bear with a ski area too. I was confused for a sec. Don't think they are open yet.
    Los Angeles is not the place for a White Christmas. Was in the 60's and 70's F here.
     
  9. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    Hey. He sounds my kinda man (NOT) I block people like that out of my life. Like said before, lets keep in touch. Your whole klan is welcome to come out here for a lunch on your way to Hemlock (Sasquatch) We can handle that. I can always come into Vancouver too. We are driving Vancouver Saturday morning for lunch. Dim sum actually.
     
  10. Laker

    Laker New Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    May 18, 2009
    Messages:
    394
    Likes Received:
    96
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Ontario
    Map
    Saskatoon is nice.... I kid. (No offense meant to Saskatoonites)
     
  11. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    I don't know what there is in Saskatoon, but my sister and hubby used to live there. They moved to Vernon BC many years ago when they retired. Lived there for several years then packed up and moved back to Saskatoon. I think The Guess Who had a song "Running Back to Saskatoon". There has go to be something about that city that attracts so many. I just don't see it and I have been there a few times now.
     
  12. 3dcycle

    3dcycle New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2010
    Messages:
    143
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    st johnsbury vermont
    Map
    you should check out Vermont/ New Hampshire plenty of snow most the time for xmas, this year better (more snow and colder)than some recent years, plenty of ski mountains with small town charm.
     
  13. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    Whistler north of Vancouver is an awesome place and town.
     
  14. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    I have hiked and climber all up in that area, one of the most beautiful places in all North America. Climbed Baker and Shuckstan the year that the world record snowfall was recored on Baker.... 100 FEET. We were hiking approach trails that were buried under 20' of snow in August. Crazy.
     
    Getn off likes this.
Related Topics

Share This Page