By Brandon Presser February 3, 2020
With the holidays now over, we gleefully enter into that sweet spot of the winter season when the rush of vacationers subsides; prices lower and pistes become less crowded.
For those with a ski trip on the brain — whether that means playing hooky upstate, or hurling yourself out of an aircraft while chasing perfect pow — our shortlist of early 2020 picks promises to fulfill everyone’s downhill-ing dreams.
Easy drive: Monticello, NY
Located less than 100 miles from Manhattan, Holiday Mountain‘s biggest asset is its convenience; in two hours’ time you’re slaloming in the Catskills. The slopes may only be of the bunny variety — a great place to learn your “pizza and french fries” — but the après ski options are varsity league.
Put a fresh twist on the pub crawl and go brewery-to-brewery through the neighboring townships trying the latest draughts from Roscoe Beer Co, Catskill Brewery and Shrewd Fox.
And while Holiday Mountain’s proximity makes day-tripping a viable option, the DeBruce, only 30 minutes away, is primed to snag ski bums for a night or two. Rates at the 14-room manse include a generous breakfast and a legendary multi-course dinner involving flash cards, board games, innovative wine pairings and farm-to-table fare boasting the best of each season’s harvest.