After zipping down the slopes (or bunny hills) all day, a change of pace is good. Wherever you ski in New York State, there’s a friendly village or town nearby with nightclubs, restaurants, galleries and shops inviting you to relax, browse, mingle or dance the night away.
As Skiing magazine reported: If Norman Rockwell were ever to paint a ski town, this is the one he would have chosen. Ellicottville, where Holiday Valley was voted 4th Best Resort in Eastern North America by Ski magazine, was also ranked 3rd for Après-ski fun. Just 50 miles south of Buffalo, the village offers a great mix of bistros, clubs, shopping, spas (there are four!), and two craft breweries. Along with a decidedly cosmopolitan vibe, you’ll find a homey atmosphere that welcomes families, too. Activities include snowtubing at the Holiday Valley Tubing Company.
Host to two sets of Olympic Winter Games and countless other world competitions, Lake Placid, rated #1 in Off-mountain Activities by Ski magazine for 16 years, combines international flair with small town charm. In 2009, Snow Magazine East listed nearby Whiteface as one of the Top 10 Most Scenic Resorts, and Lake Placid as a Top 10 Favorite Destination Village. Entertainment runs the gamut from live music and dancing to dogsled rides and ice shows. Main Street is lined with shops, clubs and restaurants. Unique thrills at Olympic venues include bobsledding (yes, you can ride the bobsled!), ice-skating at the Oval where Eric Heiden won five gold medals, and watching some of the most talented ski jumpers in the US fly off the towering jumps. Along with Olympic-level fun, Lake Placid is famous for its world-class resorts.
Famous for award-winning wineries, the Finger Lakes also boast family-friendly ski mountains and resorts like Greek Peak, with lots of activities like outdoor barbecues on sunny days, weekend entertainment in the pub, plus a giant indoor waterpark for kids of all ages.
In the Catskills region, filled with art galleries, antique shops and music venues, skiers and snowboarders flock to Hunter Mountain and Windham’s lodges for special events or just to dine, dance or swap stories about their adventures in the snow. The Kaatskill Mountain Club appeals to all ages with a full-service spa, four-season outdoor heated pool, and innovative cuisine at Van Winkle’s. Night-owls head down the mountain to towns like Tannersville, where some clubs party après après, into the early morning hours.
After skiing in the Hudson Valley you can spend the night in a quaint small town or head for the big city. From Tuxedo Ridge, it’s just a short drive (about 40 miles) or train ride to New York City for off-slope fun in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Only in New York could you ski all day and then take in a Broadway show that evening.
With more ski areas than any other state in the US, it’s no wonder New York gets high marks for après ski fun!