Cover Story: Ski Travel Savings Guide

Planning the Perfect Skiing Trip for WeSalute’s Military & Veteran Families

With the next Olympic Winter Games right around the corner in 2026, and cold weather and snow the theme throughout this month of January, interest in winter sports is soaring. For those eager to experience the thrill of the slopes firsthand, this opens doors to exciting adventures at premier ski destinations across the United States with WeSalute. 

If you are looking to fly to your next vacation spot make sure you get the most bang for your buck. Head over to the WeSalute Marketplace to see how you can save with popular airlines like United and JetBlue with WeSalute+. 

While the industry faced challenges in recent years, including the impact of the pandemic, it has shown resilience. The global ski market size was over $1.70 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow to $2.26 billion by 2034. This positive momentum suggests a promising season ahead.

Inspired by the Games' athletic prowess on the slopes? Check out these winter travel destinations across the U.S. for 2025.

Travel to America’s West

While the spotlight may have shifted from the last Winter Games in the U.S. back in 2002, Western U.S. ski destinations continue to attract a global audience.

Skiers and snowboarders on top of Hidden Peak ready to ski down at Snowbird Ski Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Range near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah: Salt Lake City, which hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and will host the games again in 2034! The Park City venue is located just 36 miles from Salt Lake International Airport, and is an inviting location for sports fans to check out the former Olympic venues that hosted the world’s best. It is also the home to three world-renowned mountain resorts - Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons. Every season brings an endless array of recreation and entertainment to the area. High mountain slopes convert effortlessly from world-class skiing to world-class mountain biking offering diverse terrain for all skill levels.

For the non-skier or just for fun, Park City is home to many fun bars and nightclubs, over 100 restaurants and countless shops and galleries. It has also become a year-round destination – from championship golf to Olympic bobsled rides; from the Sundance Film Festival to the Park City Art Festival, there is a lot to do for skiers and non-skier alike. 

Colorado: For travelers, it’s all about visiting the nation’s most health-conscious state. The obvious first port of call is Denver, at the eastern edge of the Rockies and the biggest city for six hundred miles. But for skiers, the majority of the resorts that have made Colorado the continent's foremost skiing destination snuggle into the mountains to the west of Denver.

For stargazers, there’s Aspen, as the prime winter destination for the stars. But for the ultimate ski experience, there’s Vail. Compared to most other Colorado ski towns, Vail, 122 miles west of Denver off I-70, is a new creation. Beaver Creek, meanwhile, offers something for everyone. These areas regularly rank within the Top 10 Ski Resorts in major ski surveys. 

The Allure of Historic New England

In the east, some snowstorms and bitter cold have throngs of ski enthusiasts hoping for a long and white ski season. The allure of New England skiing remains strong, with its charming towns and high-quality resorts.

A family group of skiers take the chairlift up Sugarbush Mountain to ski downhill in the winter time in Warren, Vermont USA.

Consistently a favorite, Vermont offers a blend of classic New England charm and top-tier skiing. It represents a close drive for the New York City and Boston metropolitan areas, and a state full of top destinations. It does an excellent job at managing the crowds, too. No city manages a population of more than forty five thousand, and much of the terrain is covered by mountainous forests, (hence the state's name which comes from the French vert mont, or “green mountain”). It demonstrates the quintessential image of small-town Yankee America, with its white churches and red barns, covered bridges and clapboard houses, snowy woods and maple syrup.

The ski resort of Killington, in the center of the Green Mountains halfway between Woodstock to the east and Rutland to the west, has grown out of nothing since 1957. Killington has the longest ski season in eastern North America and provides optimal skiing for skiers of all levels.

Head over to the WeSalute Marketplace to save when planning your next trip! For those that are new to the outdoor lifestyle, check out benefits like this one where you can save up to 65% with Outdoorly on adventurewear! Find great ski gear with Obermeyer and Liberty Skis, too.