Alpine Valley in Ohio is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Alpine Valley, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
A mere 30 miles from Cleveland, Ohio, lies
, a ski resort in the state's snow belt that has provided fond memories for generations of families. "Snow Fun! For Everyone!" is the Alpine Valley motto, which it strives to live up to by providing lessons, a nice carving experience down "Main Street," a snow-tube park and a terrain park. Most visitors drive to the resort, which is 10 miles from Interstate 271 and Mayfield Road East. The nearest airport is Cleveland-Hopkins International.
The Mountain
Alpine Valley has a
of 1,500 feet and a vertical drop of 230 feet. The area, which is composed of 72 skiable acres, averages 120 inches of annual snowfall, more than any other Ohio resort, and has 100 percent snowmaking capability. Five surface lifts, a double chair and a quad chair take guests up to the 11 trails, the longest of which is 2,000 feet. Expert skiers may not flock to Alpine Valley, but families and beginners do. The resort offers night skiing and tubing.
Trails And Lifts
The resort is
between intermediate and advanced runs -- intermediate runs are in the middle of the mountain, and expert runs encompass both sides. A beginner area is next to the tube park. Snowboarders of all levels can enjoy the fun at the Wicked Terrain Park, which has rails, boxes and table tops. Anyone taller than 42 inches can glide down the tube-park runs. A tube lift means no exhausting trudging back up the hill.
In The News
Alpine Valley is proud of its professional ski instructor team. Its ski school is registered with the Professional Ski Instructors of America, and instructors at the school are certified. More than 100 ski instructors teach students to ski or snowboard in an accelerated learning program that allows them to experience the slopes after only one hour. Besides teaching people to ski, Alpine Valley also instructs experienced skiers and boarders to teach at its
.
Cost
Alpine Valley is an
; a half-day adult session costs $30, and a full day on the slopes costs $35 on weekends and holidays. The price is even less during the week at $25 for half a day and $30 for a full day. Discounts apply for seniors and children younger than 6. Adults can rent a complete ski set for $25 or a snowboard package for $27. Renting items separately costs $12 apiece. A two-hour snow tubing session costs $15.
range from $205 to $384, with special family rates available.
cost $35 an hour. Kids lessons and Xtreme Park Lessons are also available.
Apres-Ski
Though Alpine Valley is only 30 miles outside of Cleveland, the resort does not have much to offer aside from snow fun. There is a cafeteria and full service bar within the resort, but for lodging, guests must look elsewhere. Alpine Valley recommends several
in the area including the Holiday Inn, Punderson Manor, Red Maple Inn and Renaissance Quail Hollow.
WATCH: Alpine Valley
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Some adventurous snowboarders and skiers carve up the slopes at Alpine Valley.