Near or far, here are 5 amazing ski slopes worth the schlep

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.

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