Local Tips: Big White

Jim Loyd, Big White's Sales Director, has lived, worked and raised a family in Big White. We asked Jim to share his local knowledge and recommendations, on how to make the most out of a holiday to Big White.

Lift and Runs
Jumps and Bumps: Dragons Tonque off Snow Ghost Express, Flagpole off the Powder Chair and International off the Bullet Express.
Cruising Runs: Big White has 118 runs, with many cruising runs. A few favourites are: Blue Sapphire, Sun Run and Exhibition.
Glade Skiing: The Whitefoot Bowl on the Falcon Chair, Sun-Rype bowl off the Gem Lake Express and the Black Forest Glades of the Black Forest Express. Come and explore.
Powder Days: Amazing!! Big White known its Champagne powder snow. In the trees or on the runs, everywhere is sensational! The Cliff is like heli skiing!!
Terrain Park: TELUS Park is the Okanagan's largest, lifted terrain park, which boasts a snow cross course, rails and features of all sizes.
Late Afternoon: Top of the Alpine, Sun Run says it all, or Born to Run off the Snow Ghost Express
Early Morning: Paradise, Sundance, Powder Keg and Kalina's Rainbow are all great warm up runs.
Most Challenging: The Cliff, an epic steep run on a powder day!

Restaurants
Great Value: Copper Kettle Grill has something for everyone from burgers and steak to choices for the kids.
Pizza: The Underground Bakery is the best with their hand made crust, and they deliver!
Steak: Kettle Valley Steakhouse not only has great steaks but also serves venison for the more adventurous diner.
On Mountain: All of our restaurants are on-mountain. The Swiss Bear in the Chateau Big White has a European flair.
Sushi: A small selection of sushi is served at Beanos Coffee Shop in the Village Centre mall. Beanos also make the best coffee.
Fine Dining: 6 Degrees Bistro is a great place to enjoy fantastic food paired with excellent wine and a cosy atmosphere.
Family Restaurant: Sam's Dining Room is a quiet place for a family get together and don't forget the gun barrel coffees for mum and dad!
Lunch: Gigi's lunch special. $10 for a panini, plus a choice of 2 out of 3:soup, salad, fries.

Bars
Apres: Happy Valley Day Lodge is the place for apres, with live music from 4-6pm for families and for those wanting to partake in a few beverages.
Cocktail: Gigi's has a great comfortable lounge with a fantastic bar and professional mixologists.
Pub: Snowshoe Sam's in the place to go for a beer and watch the game. Rated Canada's #1 Apres ski bar for good reason.
Night Club: Snowshoe Sam's often has live music and a great place to party the night away.
Dance: Sam's and Raakel's is where most live music is and where we rock out on the dance floor
Deck View: Carver's Deck looks over the valley to the Monashee mountains, it's absolutely spectacular.

Activities
Off Mountain Activities: Activities include dog sledding, snowmobiling, horse drawn sleigh rides, tubing, skating, snowshoeing and spas to name a few.
Kids Activities: Our top notch kid's centre has the most friendly instructors and staff and run several evening kids activities including skating parties, and movie nights.
Shopping: There are several retail shops for any items you may need from skis to jackets to socks. A souvenir shop and delicatessen are also located on the mountain. There is even a grocery market in case you have forgotten anything.

Events
Weekly: Ours events are very family oriented and one of our most popular is Carnival night, followed by Big White's Got Talent where anyone can come out a show us their talents. Another great one if our famous fireworks show.
Season: The Christmas eve parade is one of our biggest events of the year, with on-mountain business getting involved and a huge guest turnout. And don't forget Australia Day, Big White style, no one does it better on snow!

Panorama British Columbia, Canada.

There is probably no resort more underrated or overlooked in North America as Panorama Mountain Resort. Few people are aware of Panorama's many assets, and for the skiers and boarders that frequent this ski resort the most - this is exactly how they would like to keep it!

Even on a relatively busy day at Panorama you feel like you have almost exclusive use of Panorama's 2890 acres and 120 runs. The peak of Panorama represents the 3rd highest vertical rise in North America, a place where expert skiers and snowboarders regularly plunge down gladded runs blanketed in dry, fluffy powder snow.

At lower elevations the terrain is more suited to the less adventurous or inexperienced skiers and riders, with plenty of nice cruising runs over a large area. At the end of a long day on the mountain, Panorama's unique slope side hot springs are the perfect way to relax those weary muscles, or if the apres scene is more your thing then maybe you will feel more at home in pub style bar for a few drinks with the locals.

This well kept secret may not stay that way for long, so get out there and enjoy it while you can!

Edwina's Favourite Aspen Après Ski: Part 2

by Katie

In Part 1, Edwina shared some favorite places in Aspen after a day's skiing. Here in Part 2 are some more favourites to add to the list!

Lobby Bar at the St Regis
An enormous roaring fire, complimentary hor dóeuvres on Sunday evenings and live music make this comfortable, sophisticated start, or end for that matter, to the evening. You may even spot one of St Regis' many celebrity guests - or at least smell their cigars as we did...

Ellina at 430 E. Hyman Ave
A cosy, basement level restaurant with rustic stone walls and delicious Italian fare. Excellent service and seriously good food.

Remede Spa at the St Regis
This must be what it feels like to have all your Christmas' come at once...indulgent just doesn't begin to describe how special this spa is. From Eucalypt-infused steam rooms, to cool pools with waterfalls, amazing treatments and an oxygen lounge with cloud-like beds (to aid with the altitude, or just bliss you out) - this is a VERY special place.

Victoria's Espresso & Wine Bar at 312 S. Mill St.
Nothing like the coffee making skills of an Aussie!! This place is run by an Australian and is the place to grab a morning coffee or breakfast on the way to the slopes, or indeed a beverage at the other end of the day. Terrific also for nice sandwiches, salads and snacks without all the fries loaded on the side.

What are your favourite après spots in Aspen?

Edwina's Favourite Aspen Après Ski: Part 1

by Katie

Edwina, who works with us in the product department here at Travelplan Ski, has given us her tips on her favorite bars and restaurants in Aspen so that you can make the most of your Aspen off mountain experiences!

Edwina and friend at Cloud Nine

39 Degrees at the Sky Hotel
Locally known as the Sky Bar, this bar starts hopping early and is a popular meeting spot every night of the week. A great place to start the evening prior to heading on into the Aspen night. Great bar food and a lovely big fireplace for warming up.

Nell's Bar at the Little Nell Hotel
A cosy, busy bar catering to slightly older (but young at heart) crowd - rates 5 stars in the people watching stakes. Take a seat and observe the fascinating face (often "lifted") of the slightly older party crowd of Aspen. Age is no barrier to fun here!

Matsuhisa at 303 E Main St
Outstanding Japanese food with each plate presented like and art work. The sushi does not get any fresher - a unique and delicious menu.

Cloud Nine on Aspen Highlands
Ski into Cloud Nine for a special treat. There are not many places in the world where the view can almost take your appetite away, but this is one of them. Relaxing on the sundeck, glass of wine in hand, with the Maroon Bells in the distance, it doesn't get must better than this. A must for every Aspen visitor!

What are your favourite après spots in Aspen?