10 Best ski resorts for the upcoming season

Beaver Creek is the perfect family-friendly ski vacation to take this winter. The slopes meet a quaint, intimate village at the bottom, providing five-star cuisine, decadent shops, world-class ice skating and even fresh cookies. With ski classes offered to all ages, beginners and experts alike, and the famous World Cup Birds of Prey run , this is a trip meant for the entire family.

Located in the high mountains of North Carolina, Cataloochee has been around for 52 years and has 17 fun and exciting slopes and trails to experience. With lift tickets as low as $39 for the day, Cataloochee offers some of the most affordable prices when it comes to East Coast skiing.

Travel north to Vermont where you'll find Killington — the largest ski resort in the east. Known as "The Beast," Killington offers variety unlike any other. With six mountains and 140 trails, dog sledding, live bands and festivals, sleigh rides and more, you could easily spend a week here and not run out of things to do and explore.

Voted best place to ski and snowboard by Sierra Sun, Squaw Valley is just a stones' throw away from gorgeous Lake Tahoe. If waiting in lines is what you fear most, this is the place for you. Squaw Valley has the most technologically advanced lift systems in all of North America, meaning your time will be spent exploring the six peaks and 3,600 skiable acres. This was also home to the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.

Vail is the largest single-mountain resort in the country, providing over 5,200 acres of skiable slopes. Skiers gather in the evenings for drinks, dining and nightlife at Vail Village, which sits at the base of the mountain. Vail is prestigious, luxurious, and world-class, perfect for those looking to dine and unwind in style.

Telluride is the pedestrian's dream ski resort. Its old town is connected to another town, Mountain Village, by a free gondola that runs until midnight. Between the rustic charm of the town, the enchanting views of the mountains and more than 1,700 acres of skiing, Telluride is by far one of the best ski towns there is.

Home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Park City Mountain Resort is a real-life winter wonderland for families. Their motto is "The family that bombs down mountains together stays together," and they mean it. With an incredible kids' program, it's no wonder Park City was voted best family-friendly resort in North America by onthesnow.com.

Utah is known for its extreme skiing and luxurious resorts. Snowbird averages 500 inches of snowfall each year with 85 runs to accommodate beginners and experts alike. The resort offers 15 restaurants, five bars and a full-service spa, making it a perfect couples' getaway

Jackson Hole has been described as one of the most photogenic locations on the planet. In addition to its beauty, Jackson Hole boasts brand-new hotels, a wide variety of dining options and 2,500 acres of ski runs. If elegant charm is what you're looking for, look no further than the wondrous Jackson Hole.

Aspen Mountain has been around since 1947, and with all it has to offer, it's easy to see why. Aspen provides world-class skiing, exquisite dining and is the number one choice of the rich and famous. The terrain is fantastically groomed for the intermediate skiers and even houses hundreds of acres of terrain on the backside of the mountain for the experts. Planning a winter vacation in Aspen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won't forget.