TONS OF SNOW, AWESOME TERRAIN, NO CROWDS, AND COLD BEER. WHAT THESE SKI AREAS LACK IN SUSHI BARS AND CELEBRITY CHEFS THEY MAKE UP FOR IN CHARACTER, SOUL, AND SKI DAYS THAT GO DOWN IN HISTORY. GET OFF THE BEATEN CAT TRACK. YOU WON’T REGRET IT.

Let’s get one thing straight. Most of the ski resorts you’re about to meet don’t consider themselves part of the destination market. There’s no big PR machine churning away behind the scenes, spewing news of renovated hotels, pop-up vodka bars, and Olympic athlete partnerships.

Why these resorts? Our criteria were simple: large enough to offer true variety and a diverse ski experience, intimate enough to retain a hometown ambience and cultivate a true sense of community. Simply put, these mountains kick butt and take names (but not reservations—no need for those).

So if it’s a real ski vacation you’re after—the kind where you spend most of the time, you know, skiing, we just might have something for you.