Home to Starbucks and the world-renowned Space Needle, Seattle, Wash., is also known for its alfresco activities for residents and visitors alike. With its abundance of natural wonders such as mountains and forests, Seattle and its neighboring towns provide ideal settings for both alpine and Nordic skiers.
The Stevens Pass Ski Resort combines the adventures of skiing along with a complete dining and retail experience from November until April. After a morning of of skiing on top of the slopes of Mt. Baker, visitors can explore any of the resort's fast food or fine dining restaurants. The ski area also has two retail shops, Fall Line Sports and The Edge. Visitors can expect a large amount of snowfall sometimes totaling 382 inches in one season. Members of the resort's management team are currently working on a plan to include mountain biking in summer among its future activities.
Stevens Pass
Summit Stevens Pass, U.S. Highway 2
Skykomish, WA 98288
206-812-4510
stevenspass.com
The Summit at Snoqualmie is located roughly 45 minutes from Seattle and is renowned for its alpine skiing. The ski resort is surrounded by 2,000 acres of forest and nestled along the base of Mt. Baker. In addition to skiing, the resort offers snowboarding, snow skating and provides overnight lodging for its guests. The lodging experience is akin to a hotel experience with more than 80 rooms and amenities such as a pool and sauna. With more than 450 total inches of snowfall each year, visitors are ensured of an ideal skiing setting, which lasts from November to April. During the season, the resort is open until 10 p.m., six days a week.
Summit at Snoqualmie
1001 State Route 906
Snoqualmie Pass, WA 98068
425-434-7669
summitatsnoqualmie.com
Located approximately 80 miles from Seattle, Crystal Mountain is the city's largest ski resort with 2,600 acres of of skiing and snowboard terrain. Crystal Mountain has the distinction of hosting the 1965 National Alpine Championships and spent more than 30 million dollars in renovations in recent years. The resort continues to add to its prestige through civic endeavors such as the Ski Green Program, which promotes renewable energy. Skiing is not the only attraction at the resort. Overnight lodging, weddings, and retail shopping are just a few of the additional offerings, not to mention dining at the Summit House Bistro. With its location at high altitude, diners can enjoy views of the resort and the state of Washington. Unlike many of the state's ski resorts, Crystal Mountain is open in the summer from mid-June to mid-September.
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
33914 Crystal Mountain Boulevard
Crystal Mountain, WA 98022
360-663-2265
skicrystal.com
