Holiday Valley

Holiday Valley, located about an hour south of Buffalo in the mountains of western New York, has long been known as a skiing destination — and for good reason. Its 60 slopes, some slicing right through the forest, make it the ultimate winter resort. There are even opportunities for nighttime skiing. Other cold-weather activities include snowboarding, tubing and rides on the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster, a 4,800-foot-long joyride that includes 15 curves and 12 waves.

But Holiday Valley is a recreational destination no matter the season. Its Double Black Diamond Course, open until Oct. 31, offers 18 holes of scenic and challenging golf. Its Sky High Adventure Park includes an Aerial Park — the third largest in the U.S. — with 13 up-in-the-air courses of varying difficulty and 43 zip lines, including side-by-side ones where you can race your friends.

Also in the Adventure Park is a Climbing Forest with holds strapped to tree trunks and the Mister Happy Gem Mine, where kids can pan for gemstones. (The Adventure Park remains open until Oct. 25.) Mountain biking is also available until the snow starts to fall, with a 4-mile challenging loop connecting to more than 35 miles of trails through nearby state forests. (Bikes with electric assistance are available.)

Accommodations include the slope-side Inn at Holiday Valley and the Tamarack Club with suites of one to three bedrooms, as well as options to stay in nearby condos, townhomes and chalets. An on-site spa and restaurants mean that you never have to leave the resort, but you should. The exceedingly charming town of Ellicottville offers diversions of its own with many quaint shops, eclectic restaurants and nightlife, all with those magnificent mountains hovering above you in the distance.  

6557 Holiday Valley Rd., Ellicottville, New York, 716/699-2345, holidayvalley.com