Published March 5, 2026 12:25PM
The post-it note on the toaster oven–use only when the sun is out–was the unexpected proof that this escapade was worth the white knuckles. Idaho’s historic Burgdorf Hot Springs promised to be an off-grid oasis accessible only by snowmobile, with weathered cabins surrounding natural hot pots deep in the Payette National Forest. But an hour earlier, as I slammed out wicked whoops on my first-ever ride, I gritted my teeth over leaving behind a possible bluebird day on Brundage.
Yet Burgdorf held up its end upon arrival, with “Mad Max”-on-ice off-roaders, hot pots with ample bonhomie, and yes, a sun-stoked toaster oven. Smitten with the rare, genuinely rustic, I had somehow become a masochist who liked my hot springs soak with a taste of Type 2 fun.
Whether we’re looking for an adrenaline-fueled side quest or complete relaxation, weather, wanderlust, or weariness eventually pulls us off the slopes. We asked skiers and boarders with loads of ski areas under their bindings–what are the best ways to take a day off?
The recs came flying in: fat tire biking in Crested Butte, Colorado, horse-drawn sleighs through Wyoming’s Elk Refuge, even cruising around Lake Tahoe. But these globe-trotters captured five distinct down-day mindsets, proof that, however you choose to come off the mountain, there’s a version of pause that fits.
When You Want An Easy Win For a Young Family
State park sled runs with village vibes in Canaan Valley, West Virginia
Florida-based travel writer Terry Ward is no stranger to winter. She’s camped among narwhals on Canada’s Arctic floe edge, scuba dived frigid waters from Svalbard to Silfra, and skied plenty of runs. Over the last decade, adventures have only amplified as she watches the world unfold through her children’s eyes. For a snow fix with small-town charm, Canaan Valley in West Virginia is an easy win for her Sunshine State kids.
They didn’t need an expansive—or expensive—mega-resort to find their footing; the gentle learning terrain at Timberline Mountain and Canaan Valley Resort State Park, with magic carpets and easy lifts, did the trick. She also knew little legs couldn’t charge hard all week. Off the mountain, the sled run at Blackwater Falls State Park—the longest on the East Coast—delivered shrieks of delight. The quarter-mile conveyor through the forest eliminated any complaints about climbing.
Nearby, the 31 miles of trails and the cozy cabin at White Grass Ski Touring Center brought back nostalgia for Ward. “It feels European, this little hut with soups inside, an open fireplace in the middle, like something you’d find in the Alps.”
When You Love Nature and Still Want Snow Underfoot
Night sky snowshoeing with a naturalist in Bend, Oregon
Tim Neville admits he’s got a local bias for Bend, Oregon. But even with at least 17 countries in his skiing creds (that he can recall), the contributing editor to Outside spends more than 30 days skiing at nearby Mt. Bachelor. Neville revels in this Cascades town’s off-slope options, like the make-your-own-chocolate bar at a local boutique or Bend’s ale trail. Yet this bonfire snowshoe tour gets Neville back out on the snow.
Guided by a naturalist under high-country skies, it’s an easy snowshoe trek to a snow-carved amphitheater. You’ll gather with dessert and hot cocoa (don’t miss the hazelnut espresso vodka top off) around a crackling fire in the deepening winter darkness. The guide details the constellations, planets, and the movement of the solar system overhead, turning the night into an open-air planetarium that’s been known to win over even the sulkiest teen.
When You Want to Join the Community
A night at the Roxy Theater in Missoula, Montana
“I’m quite the nerd outside of my ski life,” says Nathaniel Solberg, manager of Gull Ski and Snowboard, the state’s oldest shop. He’s alluding to his consuming PhD film program. Yet as he celebrates ski culture’s parking-lot lunches and mom-and-pop slopes before chuckling about how his 92-year-old grandma helped run the ski shop in the 1920s, it’s clear he’s still tapped in. Solberg embodies many in the industry: ski when you can, stop when you want, and unwind in locally run spots.
While he’s no stranger to wine-tasting on the road (Mount Hood May passes, anyone?), nothing beats the silver screen for Solberg. When he’s not at Snowbowl or the slightly tamer Discovery Basin and Lookout Pass, he grabs “dirt-cheap” pizza at The Bridge in Missoula and heads to The Roxy.
You don’t have to be a self-described “cinephile dirtbag” to love this community-owned, non-profit theater. With playful “triple organic popcorn,” $3 Hamm’s, and the monthly “Trash Vault” of fun-bad cinema, Solberg promises a chill crowd from all walks of life. The theater also runs regular ski films to a big turnout, with Gull’s “Full Send Snow Series” selling out.
When Your Legs Are Cooked
A smorgasbord of Nordic spa services in Mount Bohemia, Michigan
“When I’m on a ski trip, the last thing I want to do is something physical on an off day.” Outdoors writer and photographer Aaron Theisen has spent more than 20 years chasing stories and raw beauty in mountain ranges around the world. When he breaks, he’s looking for something social and relaxing beyond a day drinking bender. That almost always includes a soak.
While Theisen is no stranger to cramming into a Motel 6 hot tub with friends, he’s drawn to the Nordic spa’s contrast at Mount Bohemia in the Upper Peninsula. “Famed for having no beginner terrain, the base area sauna is the antithesis. It’s a pinnacle of the Finnish sauna culture, which is a huge part of the social fabric there.”
Based on the traditions brought by Nordic immigrants in the late 19th century, options let guests cycle through hot, cold and rest treatments. Warm up in saunas and steam rooms–like the Finnish panoramic or eucalyptus steam cabin–before bracing brief dips in the cold plunge or waterfall. The cabins’ setup also features an exfoliation room, a Moroccan steam room, and a mineral mud room, surrounded by outdoor pools and hot tubs.
When You Want It All For Everyone
Any way you can winter in Heber Valley, Utah
Nicole Feliciano, founder of Ski Moms, took a private Facebook page and turned it into an award-winning podcast because she saw a need: sharing mom-to-mom advice for the women who make winter vacation magic happen. Feliciano knows the community wants places with variety to satisfy the whole family.
For Feliciano, Heber Valley, Utah, shines as a base for Deer Valley and Sundance Mountain. “What stands out is how intentionally family-forward it feels.” Midway–a playful, all-ages retreat with Swiss-inspired architecture and a village ice rink–offsets busy Park City.
The real appeal is Soldier Hollow, a legacy of the 2002 Olympics. Nordic ski passes and the longest tubing lanes in Utah keep everyone busy. Two Swedish-style saunas, complete with cold plunges, are perfect for those who want to take a break. Yet the real Soldier Hollow treat starts at nightfall.
“The Nordic Yurt delivers one of the most memorable dining experiences in the valley.” Strap on snowshoes for a lamplit walk to a dining yurt, fire pits, and valley views before tucking into a four-course chef-prepared meal.
