If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next ski holiday then how about combining a couple of resorts for a North American twin centre trip?
Here are a couple of our favourite suggestions:
Fernie & Kicking Horse – The Powder Highway
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Ski Fernie & Kicking Horse on the Powder Highway[/caption]
These two resorts make a perfect twin centre ski holiday and are a great itinerary for those skiers and boarders with a real sense of adventure. You can experience the big bowl powder skiing of Fernie and its laid back town and follow that with a bit of the extreme with some of the steep chutes and ridges of Terminator bowl or CPR ridge in Kicking Horse. It’s a 4 hour drive to Fernie from Calgary and we recommend warming up the legs here before you venture to the “Horse”.
The drive up the Powder Highway between the resorts is stunning and takes approximatly 3 hours. If you want to break the journey up a bit I can recommend a half days skiing in nearby Kimberley and is on the same lift ticket as Fernie.
Another little option to throw in to the hat would be to stay for a couple of nights in Panorama which is half way on the highway and has excellent tree line skiing and a chance to heli ski with RK Heli.
Fernie & Kicking Horse Ski Accommodation
A stay at the Lizard Creek Lodge in Fernie is a real treat to start off your holiday and is right on the slopes with excellent facilities. The majority of units here have kitchens so give you the option of having some nice meals in. The Cornerstone Lodge is also worth considering and is at the base with large condo style units.
Kicking Horse as a resort is relatively compact and it is still in its early days as far as development is concerned. This means you don’t have the large hotel chains you may see in more internationally known resorts. The Highland Lodge has been a favorite of Ski Independence clients for years now and offers luxurious Canadian Lodge style accommodation with breakfast included. The Local Hero pub onsite often has live music and is an ideal place for a few après ski drinks or even an after dinner single Malt.
Tips
Get a feel for the real cowboy country with a twin centre holiday with Big Sky & Jackson Hole[/caption]
Big Sky is now officially the largest ski area in the US and links to Moonlight Basin. It’s name says it all and you have everything from steeps at the top of Lone Peak to long blues cutting through the trees. To combine this with the legendary Jackson Hole can make your holiday one of the best ski holidays ever.
Jackson town and its skiing at Teton are awesome! Get the powder skis on and get in amongst the Hobacks chutes or if you are feeling the need for adrenaline have look down or jump into Corbetts Couloir! There is a good link between the two resorts with Big Sky offering a relaxed but fun après ski scene and Jackson having a proper “Wild West” night out.
We recommend a car with this trip and to start with Big Sky first. The drive between the two resorts can take up to 5 hours but is a stunning drive going through parts of the Yellowstone national park and zipping through the corner of Idaho state.
Big Sky & Jackson Hole Accommodation
The Huntley Lodge in Big Sky is slope side in the centre of the Mountain village and has a whole host of facilities including a great bar with live music, steak restaurant and the largest buffet breakfast I’ve ever seen which is included in the rates.
In Jackson Hole I can thoroughly recommend the Parkway Inn which is in the town of Jackson and a short walk from the famous Million Dollar Cowboy bar. It has a homely feel about it with a pool and hot tubs to enjoy. Breakfast is also included here.
Tips


- Why not have a couple of days in the resort of Panorama which is half way between the Fernie & Kicking Horse and has quiet, long tree lined slopes and a chance to try heli skiing with RK Heli.
- In Kicking Horse an evening up at the Eagle Eye restaurant is a must and as you ride up the gondola with a glass of champagne you can overlook the ski area as the sun goes down. The food is amazing and the setting one of the best in the Rockies.
- Have 1 night at the Delta Calgary airport when you arrive to get up in the morning all fresh and ready for the adventure.


- Be the first up the Lone Peak tram in Big Sky after a fresh snowfall. The bowls from the top are amazing with a foot of fresh.
- Have a day’s skiing in Grand Targhee whilst in Jackson. It gets stupid amounts of snow and is usually empty on a week day. We can pre book day trips including your pass for £61 per person.
- If you think Jackson Hole’s dining will be all Steak and Burgers then you will get a surprise. There are no less than 5 fantastic Asian Fusion and sushi restaurants and the food scene has really taken off.
- Go on a snowmobiling trip through the Yellowstone National park checking out one of the most Volcanically active areas in the world.