“Disclosure: Sponsored by Capital One. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Capital One.”
All summer long Capital One and I have been working to inspire your travel #BucketLists. It’s time to think about ski #BucketLists!!
As soon as the first leaf falls, every powder hound on the planet starts planning for an epic winter.
How about this year we think big, really big? These #BucketList ski adventure ideas will make hitting fresh pow on your home mountain look like child’s play. Let’s make Warren Miller beg to make movies about us.
Get out your pens, this is your winter to-do list:
#1 – Make your own mind-blowing Warren Miller type ski video
What skier doesn’t get psyched watching Warren Miller flicks? It all starts with a new Go Pro Hero 3 and some mad editing skills. So far, I have some great footage I shot of Jonny Moseley throwing himself at my feet, now to find the right soundtrack for it.
Here is a great Go Pro “how to” from Snowmama and TV Producer April Simpson. Have a great ski video? Share it with me.
#2 – Heli-ski at Four Seasons Jackson Hole
Never having dropped from a helicopter to ski before, the Four Seasons seems like the perfect place to start (a Four Seasons is a good place to start, well, anything). According to my research it would seem that using chair lifts is so last year, all of the cool skiing is done far, far from the bunny slopes. You can book a back country guide to lead you to pristine snow, or you can soar above it all on a heli-adventure tailored to your skill level.
#3 – Snow Cat Ski at Three Forks Ranch
Along the lines of, the cool kids don’t ride chair lifts; Three Forks offers what the Wall Street Journal calls “Pampered Private Access”. This luxury resort just north of Steamboat in Colorado spans 20,000 acres and features a real working cattle ranch. Those looking for an exclusive ski experience can lay fresh tracks on 20 private cut runs that can be groomed upon request. The Vacation Gals reviewed not only the skiing but the gourmet food and spa.
#4 – Arctic Circle Ski Cruise in Norway
Imagine cruising to the edge of the ice in summer when daylight never ends. That’s right, you can ski all day AND all night just 600 miles south of the North Pole. Ice Axe Adventures offers the ultimate luxury ski adventures with a cruise to Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago. Days are spent hiking to icy pinnacles and descending in to virgin snow, “nights” are spent relaxing onboard the ship. The word “arctic” comes from the Greek “arktos”, which means bear and the Svalbard archipelago has one of the largest polar bear populations in the world. With more than 2,000 of these marine mammals, those white puffs you spot are more likely bears than overdressed ski bunnies.
#5 – Summer Ski at Puma Lodge in Chile
Opened in 2011, the Puma Lodge five star resort claims the title of “Powder Capital of the Andes”. This ultimate ski getaway is only a 90-minute drives south of Santiago and is the biggest private heli-ski center in the world. The area surrounding Puma Lodge is reserved for heli-skiing by Puma Lodge Guests only. Now THAT is exclusive.
#6 – Dolomites Gourmet Ski Holiday
Ski the Italian slopes by day: drink local Italian wine by night. Perfezione. The Italia Outdoors Food & Wine 2014 itinerary is limited to 10 people and features intimate ski and dining experiences. The trip is billed as exploring the “authentic Italy, both on the slopes and off”. I would therefore expect a hot Italian in tight ski pants. Since Trentino Alto-Adige boasts more Michelin star restaurants than any other region in Italy, you know the apres ski snacks will blow pretzels and beer out of the water.
#7 – Schuss Down the Pistes in Chamonix, Verbier and St. Anton
Since I know nothing about skiing the alps I assume one would dress like Audrey Hepburn in “Charade”, carry a monogrammed flask and use the terms “schuss” and “piste” at every opportunity. Rumor has it that there are co-ed clothing optional saunas in St. Anton, it is a #BucketList after all. Mrs. O Around the World checked out the newly re-opened Chalet de Flore and inspired my Verbier dreams.
#10-Watch my daughter follow in her Olympic grandfather’s footsteps
My children have all beens skiing since they could walk. My dad was a downhill skier in the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley. His teaching method was not the warm and fuzzy type. I grew up skiing the old fashioned way, with a frozen pb&j for lunch and no lift ticket (I’m an excellent hiker), my dreams included hot cocoa and a ride to the top of the hill. My #BucketList may have changed but my ski dreams remain the same; that glorious feeling of flying through air so crisp you can snap it with your fingers.
What’s on your winter travel #BucketList? Use your Venture card (I do), you can book flights, hotels and travel packages with NO BLACKOUT DATES. So pick one, or all, of these #BucketList ideas and make them happen.
Check out Capital One’s Tumblr for more #BucketList travel inspiration.
Though I am clearly a paid spokesperson for Capital One, both my husband and I have our Venture cards that we got after doing extensive research. We think the Venture card is best for travel, and so does Money magazine as they have listed them in the “best” issue for three years in a row.