North Conway, New Hampshire — It may not be the ski town with the gnarliest terrain, but North Conway in New Hampshire continues to be rated as the best in the USA.
Yesterday, USA Today released its annual readers’ choice picks for the best ski towns in the country. North Conway once again came on top, with its fifth gold finish since 2016.
“Being named the Best Ski Town in the U.S. is a tremendous honor, especially among world-class destinations like Mammoth Lakes, Jackson Hole, Aspen, and Stowe, said Chris Proulx,” Executive Director of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. “These communities set a high bar, and we’re proud that North Conway and the greater Mt. Washington Valley continue to stand out. This achievement reflects the collective effort of our ski areas, lodging partners, shops, restaurants and community members who work together to deliver a winter experience that keeps skiers coming back year after year.”
Here’s the complete top 10 list.
- North Conway, New Hampshire
- Mammoth Lakes, California
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Truckee, California
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Lake Placid, New York
- Aspen, Colorado
- Stowe, Vermont
- Bend, Oregon
- McCall, Idaho
There have been detractors (some would even say haters) of North Conway being the top pick in the past due to many ski resorts not technically being in the town, and a lack of snow compared to other picks. I feel like while all these towns are great, each features its own set of flaws. For example, the ski resorts people typically visit aren’t even in the towns of Jackson Hole and Lake Placid. Many deal with pretty big traffic jams, too.
I also feel like North Conway does a lot of things well. There’s a ski museum literally on the main street; it’s very walkable, and there are many winter activities in the area outside of skiing. There’s only one ski resort in town, but there are many nearby, like Attitash, Black Mountain, Bretton Woods, Loon, and Wildcat. Add in backcountry skiing options, tax-free shopping, Zeb’s, and a wide range of food choices, and I see why people choose North Conway as numero uno.
Image/Video Credits: Corey David Photography, Chronicle 5 WCVB, Cramore Mountain Resort
