DON’T SKI? RESORTS HAVE OTHER WAYS TO UNPACK FUN

Spa days, sleigh rides among mountain of ideas to prevent boredom

Some people thrive on hurtling down a snowy mountain with a couple of long blades strapped to their feet.

Others prefer a less-gravityfueled winter vacation experience — or one that involves being near a fireplace. At Ski Trip Advisors, a ski vacation concierge service, clients ask about non-ski activities about 30 percent of the time, said managing partner John Steed.

“We work with a lot of families and typically there will be some folks who are very enthusiastic and want to ski every single day,” he said. “Oftentimes there’s a mix where certain people in the party want to ski one or two days but also want to experience additional activities.”

For groups with a mixed interest in skiing or snowboarding, it’s important to be strategic about picking a spot, said Rick Reichsfeld, president of the mountain vacation specialist Alpine Adventures.

“There are certain destinations that are better for that,” he said, highlighting Innsbruck, Austria; Whistler, British Columbia; Aspen,

Colo.; Park City, Utah and Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada, as good choices. Higher mountain destinations that are more isolated might not be the best choice if someone in the group doesn’t want to ski, he said.

So for the ski wallflowers out there, don’t worry the next time you get talked into a vacation on the slopes; there’s no need to be bored.

Chase some other snowy thrills

Still feel the need for speed? You don’t have to pursue an adrenaline rush on skis or a board.

Some resorts offer a zip line or alpine coaster, giving a real windin-your-face feeling without the need to concentrate on staying upright. Snow tubing and dog sledding can also be exhilarating. Steed says snowmobiling is one of the most popular requests from his clients.

“Most resorts and resort towns have learned to really embrace the nonskiers over the years,” he said. “So they’ve learned to offer onmountain activities for those folks.”

Enjoy outdoors at your own pace

Slow(ish) and steady more your style? Consider cross-country skiing, which, OK, technically is still skiing, but without the risks of speeding downhill. Cross-country

skiers propel themselves across flat or somewhat hilly terrain instead of taking a lift up to the top of a slope and then heading down. If skis are absolutely out of the question, snowshoeing might be a more comfortable option.

Sarah Plaskitt, founding director of the specialist ski travel agency Scout, said winter walking in regular snow boots on trails is another good option.

“In some resorts in Europe, you can actually go up walking trails to a mountain restaurant where the skiers can meet them for lunch,” she said. “That’s a really great way for the group to get together in the