This winter, hit the hills for some high altitude fun.
Where can Seattleites combine wine-tasting, craft beer, live music and world-class skiing into a single vacation? This winter, three outstanding mountain festivals are scheduled to hit the Northwest. If shredding by day and rocking out at night sounds appealing to you, mark these dates on your calendar.
SnowGlobe Music Festival — South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
If you don’t have plans to ring in 2012, then beautiful Lake Tahoe has you covered. The lake annually welcomes thousands of revelers who come to celebrate New Year’s Eve — and as an added perk, this year marks the inaugural SnowGlobe Music Festival. Passes are still available for the show, which will feature live performances from Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Theivery Corporation, The Glitch Mob, Fishbone, Dilated Peoples and many more. Three-day passes ($149.95 per person) are available online.
Skiers can come for the show and stay for the more than 9,000 acres of downhill terrain in the area. Heavenly Valley provides the closest access to first-rate slopes, but eager riders may want to check out the runs at nearby Kirkwood or the world famous Squaw Valley. If you’re looking for another breed of adventure, the community of Stateline, Nev., is only a few miles from the festival grounds, giving partygoers the chance to experience a little casino nightlife.
When To Go: Friday, Dec. 29 to Sunday, Dec. 31, 2011
How To Get There: Low-cost flights are available from Seatac to the Reno/Tahoe airport, with frequent shuttles that will take you straight into town. There won’t be parking allowed on-site during the event; festival-goers are encouraged to purchase shuttle passes to get to and from the grounds (route instructions).
Where To Stay: Staying near Stateline allows for the best access to both the festival shuttles and the gondola at Heavenly Valley. There are several hotels, motels and vacation rentals to chose from in the area — just make sure to book your accommodation as soon as possible.
Bend WinterFest 2012 — Bend, Ore.
This Presidents’ Day weekend, load up your car with skis, snowboards and friends and head to Bend, Ore., to experience WinterFest 2012. This festival is great for all ages and features a myriad of activities, including wine and beer tasting, live music, rail jam competitions and ice sculpting demonstrations. Tickets to the festival are available at the gate for a bargain price of $8, with additional fees for the WinterFest Wine Walk.
In addition to the festivities, visitors will get the chance to cross-country ski along the Deschutes River or hit the fresh powder at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. In the evenings, guests are welcome to enjoy the local après-ski scene at Bend’s many fine restaurants and breweries.
When to Go: President’s Day Weekend (Thursday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 19)
How to Get There: The 343-mile drive from Seattle to Bend takes roughly six hours to complete. The simplest route has motorists travel south on Interstate 5 to Portland, where they can head east on Highway 84, then south on Highway 97 (detailed directions).
Where to Stay: Leasing a vacation home in either Bend or Sunriver Resort is the way to go. House rental information is available online.
TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival — Whistler, B.C.
It’s no secret that Whistler Blackcomb offers world-class terrain, top-notch restaurants and fun watering holes — but folks may not know about the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival. The 10-day festival features a number of exciting events, including the World Skiing Invitational/AFP World Championship, The Shred Show, Freeze Dance Comp and Whistler Dogfest. Visitors are also invited to make their own adventure within the 7,000-acre resort.
In addition to the sporting events, festival-goers can enjoy free concerts from Broken Social Scene, Ozomatli, Keller Williams, Lyrics Born and Tokyo Police Club, among many others. Another popular attraction is the 72hr. Filmmaker Showdown, in which independent filmmakers are challenged to produce a film short at Whistler within 72 hours — and incorporate the yet unannounced theme and prop within the production. Other art-related events include Fashion EXPOSED, Pro Photographer Showdown and State of the Art. Be sure to check the online schedule for specific dates and times, as well as ticket information.
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