What is the best location in the US for beginner skiing?
968668
Probably your best bet is Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado.  It's one of four mountains and is devoted to beginners.  The other mountains are Highlands, Aspen and Snowmass, which cater to intermediate and advanced.  \n\nButtermilk's ski school has a "never ever" program where they will rent you all the equipment (not clothes, but skis, boots, polls), get you a lift ticket and a lesson.  It's a great deal and the instructor will walk you through the rental process to answer any questions.  They are professional and know exactly what your concerns may be and will answer all your questions patiently.  For information on the program try www.aspensnowmass.com and for other Aspen mountain information try www.ski.com or www.snowmass.com.
234362
I live in Denver and have been skiing at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Winter Park. All three are great restors and a bit cheaper than Vail, which is mostly tourists. But- I think it is Tom Hanks who has a vacation home in Vail- I may be wrong though.
557838
I was going to say Honolulu, since I'm totally biased.  But based on your other requirements, maybe check out Hilo on the Big Island.  I think the population is about what you're looking for, they have a UH campus there, there would even be some snowboarding on Mauna Kea - it's high enough to get snow up there.  Of course, on an island, there's plenty of water.  Outdoor activities just can't be beat in HI, but I have heard the beaches are better on the Kona side of the Big Island than in Hilo.  I'm sure there snorkeling, boating, windsurfing, etc., though.\n\nThis probably wasn't what you were looking for.  You probably wanted suggestions more like Boulder, CO or something, but I thought I'd offer it up for consideration, anyway.
8285
You should have warm clothes, but not necesarily ski pants or jacket. Dress in layers is best. You should take lessons the first few times. Do not expect to be a pro after only one time. Stay on the easy trails until you have gone many times and can control your skis.
898592
Skiing all the way. You have way more control being able to use both legs. I've done both and I still say skiing. My favorite resort is by far Jackson Hole. Vail is way too expensive for my taste. Not to mention Jackson Hole has the biggest vertical drop in North America if you like steep.
11196
If you are a skier go to dear valley. Amazing! place for skier.\nIf you are snowboarder go to park city. You have there lots of very good tracks.\nI loved: double jack, pioneer and scout's bowl.\nThose are amazing with fresh snow.
280464
no,\n skiing is awesome. you always can do something new if its doing a new rail or jumping off cliffs skiing's better.
98415
In Southern California, your best bet is either Snow Summit or Bear Mountain (both in Big Bear). I don't think either place has great snow right now, but they're better than the other other local ski resorts (Mountain High, Snow Valley)
747124
go to an indoor skiing centre:\nhttp://www.amc-comm.demon.co.uk/ukindoor.htm
1073273
You might get lucky and ski in the Lake District - there are a couple of button lifts. Helvellyn has a lift I think \n\nOtherwise it is indoors on artficial snow or outdoors on  dry matting or snowflex. \n\nTo be brutally honest there is no 'good skiing' in England.\n\nEven in Scotland the resorts are pretty poor in terms of snowfall - I have heard they are looking at using the lifts to provide downhill MTB in summer like whistler in BC (Canada).
700476
That all depends on what you mean by "best".  If you want a resort with a nice village, lots of shops and great restaurants, then it's probably Mt. Tremblant.  If you're looking for a no-nonsense place with great terrain and a good deal, then it's definitely Jay Peak in Vermont.  Last time I was there (which was a while ago), they took Canadian dollars on par with US, making it a great deal if you're coming from Canada.  It's a fun mountain with pretty much no 'out of bounds' and great glades--they'll let you board the entire mountain.  Also has one of those big aerial trams that goes bottom to top.
98557
You should contact the United States Ski Team and/or the United States Skiing Association and maybe they can assist you.
57756
I would say skiing, and here is why:  The first day out, you want your kids to have a good time.  If they get a bad first impression, you could be in for fifteen years of boring vacations sitting on beaches or whatever non-skiers/boarders do on vacations. Anyne will tell you that the first day on a board you spend it on your rear end.  I had big purple welts the first time.  With skiing, you fall a little bit, but with separate feet you are at least standing most of the time.  Secondly, when skiing, you gradually progress over many years to become an avid skier.  With snowboarding, you either can snowboard or you can't.  The kids will want to learn to snowboard, despite the bad first day,  once they are into the whole winter sports thing.  So use skiing to get them to have a good time, then, once they are parallel skiing, let them snowboard.  about 18 years ago, when me and my brother were beginners, he switched to snowboarding.  I waited another couple years.  Now I do both expertly, and the one time he tried skiing, he broke his leg trying to keep up with me. He never mastered skiing because he couldn't appreciate the slower learning process of the sport.  kids are impatient.  If they have a bad first ten minutes they want to go home.  If it is too much work to learn something similar to something they are already good at, they won't learn it.  good luck.
618673
on the west coast, i would say Lake Tahoe or Utah.  The USOC has a facility in Colarado.   On the East Coast in New england.  remember one of the gold medal winners in snowboarding started right here in maine
97234
If you skateboard, wakeboard, or surf that would help you learn. I would recommend taking lessons your first several times til the get the hang of it. I started skiing when I was 9 and then started snowboarding when I went to college.
24634
The last time I was out there, the following places were pretty decent, none were in Indy proper, but all were within a reasonable distance:\n\nSki Paoli Peaks - Paoli, IN\nhttp://www.paolipeaks.com\n\nPerfect North Slopes - Lawrenceburg, IN\nhttp://www.perfectnorth.com\n\nPines Peak Family Ski Area - Valparaiso, IN\nhttp://www.Valpomall.com/pines/ \n\nA great resource for Indy skiing / snowboarding is:\n\nThe Indianapolis Ski Club\nhttp://www.indyskiclub.org/default.asp
922467
move to Utah Or jackson hole wyoming,  colorado is for skiers