One of the largest ski resorts in the eastern USA, Killington in Vermont is a very popular winter spot.
Killington is one of the largest mountains in the region with seven peaks. Six are interconnected by a system of 87 miles of trails. The seventh, Pico, is on the same lift pass but a short drive away. The vertical drop is a remarkable 3,050 feet and one of the most impressive in the state of New England.
The terrain is wide-ranging making it a good all-round resort for all levels and over 200 slopes to choose from. The nursery slopes are excellent for beginners as are the wide, open pistes while intermediates can enjoy the variety of long blue and green runs.
Advanced intermediates might find nearby Pico more of a challenge as its blue runs are not far short of black while expert skiers stick to Killington and Snowdown for their double-black runs. They can test their limits in the "Outer Limits" area which boasts "the steepest mogul slope in the east" while the "Fusion Zones" allow advanced skiers to learn off-piste skiing.
Snowboarders are well catered for, with three half-pipes, two snowboard parks and a boardercross course. There is also a new Super Pipe at the Killington base, 420 feet long with 12-foot walls. There are 10 km of trails for cross-country skiers too.
All in all, the skiing and boarding is nothing short of excellent.
Like many New England resorts, Killington can suffer from a lack of natural snow but its snowmaking facilities are excellent. Temperatures can be extremely cold and weekends can be busy as it's only three hours from Boston.
Killington doesn't offer as many non-ski activities as other resorts although spas, sports centres, tobogganing and the rest are all available. Some people choose to drive down to Manchester where designer factory outlets allow you to stock up on Armani and DKNY.
Its winter season is December to April but often runs from October to June thanks to its extensive snowmaking facilities.
Après-ski is very lively and the resort has a good range of bars and restaurants. The five miles of Killington Road are crammed with bars and nightspots, offering live music, food and dancing - one of the most famous is The Wobbly Barn.
Not far from Killington is the little town of Rutland which also boast several good restaurants. For walking distance accommodation, there are ample lodgings available from hotels and suites to chalets and apartments. Killington is a reasonably-priced resort although costs can rise at weekends.
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