7 Ski Town Dos and Don’ts for a Better Trip

The ski town. It’s a place of magic, contradictions, and complexities that simmer just below the surface. For you, the prospective vacationer, Jackson or Telluride might seem like a skiing-flavored version of Disneyland, with beautiful vistas and top-notch skiing to match. That assumption’s mostly correct. But visiting a ski town is about more than just parachuting in, soaking up some powder, and jetting out at the end of the week. These locales often have rich histories and wild characters.

In that spirit, these are a few ski town dos and don’ts. Hopefully, they’ll help you be a better guest and enjoy an interesting, more unique trip.

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Do: Befriend the Locals

Mountain towns are home to some of the best people you’ll meet. They’re hardworking, savvy, and know how to have a good time. To last in a place where rent is inching higher and the winters are cold, you have to have a go-getter attitude. 

Now, don’t assume the local bartender or person on the chairlift owes you companionship, but if they’re open to chatting, then chat you should. Ask them about their favorite places to go. See if you can join them for a lap or two. Maybe, if you guys really hit it off, you could invite them back to the hot tub at your hotel—that’ll really score you some bonus points. 

Don’t approach these interactions transactionally, though. The best way to really know and understand a place is through conversation, not checking bucket list items. Learn how your new friend came to live where you’re visiting, and what the challenges they deal with are. Vacations that only revolve around five-star hotels and chairlifts can make mountain towns seem one-dimensional. Chatting with Bill, the wizened ski tech, will make that picture a bit more vivid and memorable. Kindness and curiosity go a long way.

Don’t: Blow Up the Spot

We live in a digital age. Amidst it, there’s an enduring temptation to chronicle and share our favorite moments. This isn’t a bad sentiment, but when you’re in someone else’s backyard, pause before posting. That rule applies to hidden bars, secret powder stashes, and lesser-known backcountry zones. Hush-hush hideouts exist as reprieve from the masses, and odds are good there are several local skiers who would prefer to keep them that way. 

Judgment calls exist, though. Plenty of spots throughout better-known ski towns are already well-trafficked. Making a pit stop at the top of Jackson Hole’s famous Aerial Tram? Go ahead and post a selfie. Dropping a geotagged photo of a secret shack in the woods should be avoided, though.

Do: Venture Off the Beaten Path

With the previous “don’t” in mind, one of your goals during a ski trip should be to find the places few others know about. They come in different shapes—like the nearly invisible portal through the woods that opens into a powder paradise, or a quiet coffee shop with mean pastries—but share a similar, church-like atmosphere. Getting away from crowds delivers a unique high. 

Finding these slices of quietude may not be easy, though, particularly at destination mountain towns and their accompanying resorts. You might need to trawl old guidebooks, review internet forums from 2005, or rely on that local friend, Bill, whom you already met. But the search is part of the fun, and the payoff will feel more worthwhile if you had to earn it. 

Taking this angle doesn’t mean the entirety of a ski trip should be spent bushwhacking, though. Popular places are usually popular for a reason. That restaurant with a line out the door? Don’t feel bad about queuing up there, too. The chairlift with hundreds of skiers in line on a powder day? Be patient and ride it—the skiing’s probably great. Consider making your visit more than a tour of the greatest hits, though. Mountain towns have plenty of nooks and crannies.

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Don’t: Act Like You Own the Place

This piece of advice could be boiled down to two words: be nice. Tip generously. Smile and ask your bootfitter, barista, or ski instructor how their day has been. Be gracious when something goes wrong. Since powder snow is a finite resource, skiing can make people amped up and a bit aggressive. You can help bring that temperature down. Trust us, the folks who keep the lights on at ski resorts, restaurants, and bars in ski towns everywhere will appreciate it. 

That extends to your own experience. The lift lines might stack up. The weather might not cooperate. Your flight could be delayed. Perfection, despite what the Instagram posts or brochures say, is unobtainable, even in a picturesque mountain valley. So, go with the flow and embrace the sometimes chaotic nature of skiing. Roadblocks can become moments of serendipity that lead you somewhere new. If not, they’ll hopefully find a place in your mind as funny, fond memories.

Do: Look for Local Events

Skiing is the star of a mountain town visit, but it isn’t the only cast member. Concerts, comedy shows, and other local events should be on your radar, too. These run the gamut from Palisades Tahoe’s big-time Tahoe Live festival to casual bluegrass throwdowns. Choosing an evening or two to hit the town can add some texture to a trip beyond the pursuit of snow.  

Don’t: Visit During the Holidays, if Possible

The holidays, at some mountain towns, have become unfettered powder frenzies with droves of visitors and sprawling restaurant reservation lists. December, coincidentally, also isn’t the best time to ski; mid-winter usually delivers better conditions. It just so happens that working people and their kids happen to have the last few days of the year off. Try to avoid this period, if you can.

Outside of peak times, the crowds, for one, will be thinner. Secondly, by showing up later, you’ll give the ski resort more time to build its snowpack and open terrain. Arriving in December only to realize that a few groomed trails are open isn’t the best feeling. Having to share those meagre trails with thousands of other snow-starved skiers is worse. Aiming for a midweek trip in January, February, or March should deliver better results.

Do: Go To a Museum

Throughout North America, ski town museums have cropped up, documenting how quiet, unknown valleys transformed into places that draw thousands of visitors each year. For instance, you might be fascinated by the Park City Museum, which houses exhibits about mining and lets visitors peek inside the jail beneath the historic City Hall. Another museum near Park City, the Alf Engen, tells the story of Utah’s famed ski industry.

Chatting up a few locals can provide a window into the present or recent past. Museums tunnel further back, giving a voice to the skiers and other residents who came before.

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