Alaska, an amazing place which has always been a source of mystery and awe, has some of the finest skiing in the world. And if you are wondering where to start - look to the Alyeska Resort, located only forty miles from Anchorage, it is simply one of the best resorts in the state. The area boasts a high elevation of 2751 feet and a 2501 vertical drop, and it gets an average of 631 inches of snow each year.

While this is some of the best skiing in the world, surprisingly you wont find the slopes to be overly crowded, and in our experience, there are no long lift lines. There are nine lifts, including six chair lifts and two surface lifts, and one cable car line. There are also a total of 68 trails for beginners, intermediates, and experts, with the majority of the trails designed for intermediate skiers.

Night time skiing is permitted, which makes your ski experience all the more adventurous and thrilling. You will see not only majestic snow capped mountains, but also hanging glaciers, and of course, the famous Northern Lights. We think it is absolutely amazing, but you don't have to take our word for it, this resort is ranked number nine of the "top 25 killer ski trips" by Skiing Magazine.

The ski season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid November, and runs through mid April. This area of Alaska has areas with the longest daytime in the United States, with approximately sixteen hours of daylight each day during April. During December, however, there are only about seven hours of daylight which makes night time skiing necessary if you are going to get in some quality time on the slopes.

First you'll want to find a good hotel - we would recommend The Alyeska Prince Hotel - it is simply the place to stay! Here you can enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly entertainment is available as well. There are other nightlife spots not associated with the Hotel that are in the area as well.

There are a number of other engaging activities in the area as well. If tubing interests you, then a visit to the Glacier Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park. The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities in and around the Alyeska Resort include ocean cruising tours, heli skiing, ice climbing, light seeing, dog sledding, mountaineering, back country skiing, and polar bear viewing.

The ultimate winter vacation can be experienced at the Alyeska Resort. You can brave the elements, and then return to the Hotel for plenty of pampering. You'll get a taste of what Alaska is really like, and what skiing is meant to be! There are activities for the entire family to enjoy, and there are many area sights and attractions to be enjoyed as well. This really is an awesome winter family ski vacation!