by Robert Borges on August 24, 2022
Ski season is fast approaching and the slopes are beckoning. But let’s face it, heading to the mountains on a regular basis can be a time-consuming schlep. For ski-lovers, wouldn’t it be so much more convenient to simply find one of the best ski towns to live in, and settle down?
Here are some of the best ski communities to retire, each jam-packed with a variety of lifestyle-specific amenities, stunning mountain vistas and panoramic views, and most importantly, just a snowball’s throw from a variety of the country’s best ski resorts.
A pristine mountain community nestled in Idaho’s West Central Mountains, Tamarack Resort truly has something for everyone—families, active adults, retirees, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. As the state’s first year-round resort destination, the community offers some of the best skiing in Idaho with 50 runs, 3 high-speed chairlifts, and 300" average snowfall. In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, the community features Nordic and snowshoe trails, world-class hiking and mountain biking, ziplines, axe throwing, and a plethora of water activities on Lake Cascade.
This four-season destination in the family-friendly resort town of McCall, ID, is surrounded by thousands of acres of unspoiled high-country wilderness, convenient to alpine skiing and snowboarding, hiking and camping, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, boating on the glacial waters of Payette Lake and fishing the nearby rivers and alpine lakes. The community includes 20 kilometers of groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and is just10 minutes from the Brundage Mountain ski area (with free shuttle service for club members).
Two hours from Boston and minutes away from Hanover and New London, Eastman encompasses more than 3,700 acres of environmentally protected woodlands with nature trails, an 18-hole championship golf course, a full-service community recreation center and a sparkling 345-acre lake with boat docks and six private beaches. The Eastman Nordic Center offers more than 37K of groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, plus a groomed sledding hill and lighted ice-skating rink. Cross-country lessons are available, along with ski, skate and snowshoe sales and rentals.
If you’re looking for the best ski town to retire in, it’s tough to top this charming little Swiss-themed ski community, located in the picturesque Heber Valley just minutes from Park City, UT. Voted as Utah’s favorite town, Heber City a hop, skip, and ski jump from the world-class skiing of Park City’s Deer Valley and Robert Redford’s iconic Sundance Ski Resort. Red Ledges offers quintessential ski town retirement without the crowded atmosphere.
