Are there any good ski areas in the Pacific Northwest?
110158
The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington State. \nWhistler Blackcomb in B.C. where the 2010 winter Olympics are being held
143851
The definitive answer to your question is Whistler, British Columbia, about 75 miles north of Vancouver.  The Whistler Blackcomb resort averages about 30 feet of snow annually. Of that 30 feet, they usually get around 3 feet every May.\n\nAdd to this the simple fact that Whistler is, far and away, the largest ski area in North America.  Both mountains have over a full mile of vertical drop.  There are more than 200 trails, serviced by over 30 lifts covering over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain.  Only the Vail, CO area comes close with over 5,000 acres, making Whistler about 40% larger. \n\nWhistler typically runs their winter operation until the first weekend in June.  Then the trails are cleared of snow to operate as a mountain bike park.  Don't frown -- if you've got the right gear, you can even go skiing through the summer on the glaciers!
742335
Why go to Shasta or Mammoth when Tahoe is barely two hours away?\n\nDo yourself a favor and never, ever go to Boreal again. that place is beat. My favorite places in Tahoe are Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Kirkwood. As a beginner you would probably really like Northstar. Their amenities are amazing and it's a great place to learn.
377519
If you're open to anywhere on the eastcoast and are willing to travel then why not try ski resorts in the west.  Just jump on a plane come to Utah and ski Alta. Its 20 minutes from the airport and is the best skiing in the world.  After just a few runs you'll quit your job and move out here.  There is nothing worth skiing on the eastcoast.  You'd be better off tying a rope behing your car and towing yourself around some snowy  streets. Hey wait thats actually pretty fun.
458069
Washington,California,Montana,Wyoming,South Dakota, Nebraska,Arizona, and South Carolina. Even when you are from Kansas--there`s no place like home!! Each state has its merits. Any Pacific coastal state I like,but I keep being drawn back to the mountain states. I could not name one. Montana--few people,so much space. Northern California-not too hot,not too cold,lots of liberal people. Washington--mountains and ocean !! It is a tough choice to make,because I am divided between beauty and economy. I wrestle with this same question often. I am going to have to just say any state in the Pacific northwest,for hunting,fishing,camping,hiking, snow and watersport.
949668
I did a trip to Tofino last winter and it was amazing.  People told me there was unreal skimboarding in the greater Vancouver area, but not too much surfing.  There is surf north of the island as well.  Probably completely uncrowded, and not highly explored, but it should have great fetch.  If you're in that area, it's definately worth exploring.
206293
The region is sometimes called the "Pacific Northwest."
863118
A good place to go with the whole family is Utah. It's pretty out of the way and inexpensive and there are resorts all over the place. I grew up there and my family has skiers and boarders and we all do just fine. This site will give you links and information about each of those resorts (there are 13).\n\nhttp://www.utah.com/ski/resorts/\n\nMy personal favorites are the ones up in Park City, about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City. These are Park City Mountain Reort, The Canyon Resort, and Deer Valley (skiing only). \n\nThe resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons, about 20 minutes from Salt Lake City are beautiful and the snow is always fluffy and powdery and easy for beginners and experienced riders.\n\nI will warn you, East Coast skiing and West skiing are very different. In the west, some of the green runs are similar to the blue runs on the East Coast. Just a word of advice.\n\nI hope you get to go to Utah, I grew up there and I learned to snowboard there and I wouldn't go anywhere else now that I've skied Utah.
1046946
Lake skiing:\n\nNorth bay: Clear Lake or Lake Berryessa\n\nSouth/East Bay: Lake Don Pedro (plus there's three other lakes right up around Angels Camp that are nice).\n\nThat said, I think the best bay-area water-skiing destination is the Sac River Delta.  Smooth water, you can always find a quiet area to ski and though the scenery lacks big mountains, it's only 30 minutes to Disco (Discovery Bay - where you can get a boat) from Walnut Creek.  Fun fun fun.
884250
Sledding/Tubing\nMeadow Mountain Tubing Hill\nEnjoy tubing on the original 'locals' ski hill. A surface lift gets you to the top. A must do when in Vail! Safe and fun for the entire family.\nLocated at I-70 and the Minturn exit, open 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  There is food available: soup, hot dogs, coffee and hot chocolate.\nCost is: TBD per hour\nFind more information  on Meadow Mountain Sledding.\nPhone: 970-827-4155.\n\nHorseback Riding\nEnjoy a winter horseback riding adventure in the snow-covered backcountry while viewing the incredible scenery and wildlife. Take in an evening under the stars in a sleigh pulled by Belgian draft horses. Dinner packages available.\n4 Eagle Ranch - 970-926-3372\nSeasons at the Green - 970-476-8057\n\nGore Range Snowshoe Hikes\nFrom animal tracks to the mountain pine bark beetle, the Nature Discovery Center is your source for all things wild - including guided snowshoe tours with an expert naturalist. Located in an all-seasons yurt at Eagle's Nest, the NDC is open seven days a week from 10 - 4 p.m. Hikes daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. For information and custom programs call 970-479-4675. The Nature Discovery Center is a partnership between Gore Range Natural Science School, Vail Resorts, and the US Forest Service.\nCreate your own adventure! Unguided hourly snowshoe rentals are available Tuesday-Saturday after 2 p.m. from the Adventure Ridge Pavilion for $5 an hour.\n\nthere is tons of shopping... you could go to a spa... out to eat etc...  check out vail.com for more info.
20588
There are a number of places to dive.  I would suggest visiting a local dive store (LDS) and checking: a) on any books they have on local shore dives; b) any shop dives they do (typically these are free shore dives); and c) any local charters they do.  Heck, visit more than one LDS (i.e., fifth dimension, silent world, UWS, etc.)\n\nI think Titlow beach near Tacoma is nice as is the Edmonds underwater park.  Octopus hole and Sund Rock on Hood Canal can also be decent.  Many do the Alki area as well.  I would probably pick Edmonds but that is personal taste.  (Full dsiclosurte:  I have not done any in the San Juans, Strat of Juan de Fuca, etc. which are all likely to be much better)\n\nIn any event, the shop dives are a great way to find out about an area and do the dive with a  group who knows the area.  Then you can decide if you want to put it on your regular rotation.  The local charters (i.e., Bandido, et. al.) are also a good way to see some non-shore based sites.  Finally, the books describe many great locations.\n\nTwo final observations:  Currents matter around here and it is best to dive at slack or ebb -- check a current table and plan your dive accordingly.  Viz is better in the winter and, I think, tends to be better at high tide.
922467
move to Utah Or jackson hole wyoming,  colorado is for skiers
23282
I would recommend looking at the ski resorts in the Salt Lake City area. \n\nThere are many of them with all varieties of terrain. SLC airport is the central hub of all air transportation across the country so it should be easy to get to and cheap as well. \n\nIt should only take you 45 minutes to get to the closest resort and accomidations are reasonable due to competition with other resorts and hotels.\n\nI would look at Snowbird, that's where I learned to ski and I love it.
237055
Nevada. Right on the border (it's near Sacreamento), there's Lake Tahoe. Awesome skiing place.
697815
Hitch hike out to Oregon and get a FUN job at a ski resort and make up your mind after you have learned how to ski. Best of luck to you!
234524
A  ATV SHOP OR A SKI LODGE WOULD BE MY BEST BET
827568
the Capitol campus (Olympia),\nGolden Gardens Park (Seattle),\nKalaloch Lodge (Kalaloch, on the coast about 70mins north of Ocean Shores),\nLake Quinault Lodge (Lake Quinault, in the Olympic National Park),\nor perhaps even Snoqualmie Falls...\n\nOf them all, I'd suggest Lake Quinault, as it's the perfect setting for an outdoor wedding, despite being a bit of a drive.