Article Travel Leisure Tip

When most people think of ski resorts
they naturally picture mountains full of fresh fallen snow and people huddled around a roaring fire enjoying a cup of hot cocoa. While this image is certainly accurate
and ski resorts are some of the most popular of all vacation destinations
the prices of these resort getaways can often be beyond the means of the budget traveler.

There is another way
however
to enjoy these upscale resorts for a fraction of their in season costs. Many ski resort locations stay open all year round
and the prices of lodging
meals and local entertainment often drops precipitously after winter has passed.

Visiting a ski resort in the middle of the summer does not mean there will be nothing to do. In fact
many people prefer visiting these resorts in the off season
since their mountain locations provides for a comfortable
activity packed getaway.

For instance
most ski resorts have ample hiking trails through beautiful mountain vistas. All those great cross country ski trails become wonderful hiking and biking trails after the snow has melted
and the scenery can be even more spectacular
and more comfortable
without the cold and snow of winter.

Besides hiking and biking
there are a great many other activities to be offered as well
including horseback riding
fishing swimming
and other outdoor activities. In addition
many ski resorts use their ski lifts as fun summer sky rides
and open their slopes to such summertime activities as tobogganing down the side of the mountain. The kids in particular love these fun rides.

Another great thing about visiting a ski resort area in summer is that the mountain location often means cooler temperatures. Even when the lowland temperature is stiflingly hot
the temperature in the mountains can be refreshingly cool and comfortable. Of course
it is important to check the monthly weather for your destination and to avoid the rainy season

There are ski resorts in many states around the country
and the northeastern and western parts of the country have a great wealth of these resorts. While many of them stay open year round and offer a host of off season activities
not all do
so it is important to verify the summer activities of the resort you are considering.

It is also a good idea to research the activities that are offered by each resort. With the concentration of ski resorts in some areas of the country
it will be easy to compare the various offerings and choose the one that best suits your individuals needs.

It is also important to research the surrounding area and see what else there is to do when you are not at the resort. While many ski resorts have plenty of activities to keep you busy for days
you will probably want to venture off the property at least a few times.