Top 5 Places to Ski in the Summer

1. Les 2 Alpes, France - This popular mountain in France is open in the winter from the beginning of December, to the end of April. In the summer, Les 2 Alpes is open from mid-June, to the end of August. Although the lifts only run some of the time, the mountain is open year-round for anyone that wants to ski. The lifts run up to 11,811 ft high and has the largest skiable glacier in Europe. Les 2 Alpes is the 2nd oldest ski resort in France next to Chamonix, another populous ski resort. This resort has an amazing view of many mountain ranges in France.


2. Zermatt, Switzerland- Zermatt is a renowned ski resort for skiing, climbing, and other alpine activities. Much of it’s local economy is from the many tourists that visit the town. A very famous mountain in the Alpes is called the Matterhorn, which is next to the resort in Zermatt. The year round population is 5,770, but with so many tourists coming to ski, the population changes.




3. Ski Portillo, Chile - This resort is located in South America, in the Andes Mountain range. Ski Portillo has 35 runs and 14 lifts, reaching as high as 10,860 ft. This ski resort in Chile is most well known to hold world cup races for athletes all around the world. Athletes on the US Ski Team and other teams around the world ski here and race here for world cup points. Ski Portillo is between Chile and Argentina, but access is usually limited due to very heavy snow falls. Portillo is open from mid-June to early October, ranking as the 3rd best place to ski in the summer.





4. Mount Hood, Oregon- Mount Hood is located 50 miles east of Portland. Here, you can swim or canoe in one of the many lakes, hike to beautiful waterfalls, and best of all, ski! The mountain goes to about 11,240 feet high. The ski resort is one of the few in the world that is open all year round. It is a small ski resort, but an excellent glacier to ski on with a great snow pack. A lot of ski racers go to this resort to train for the upcoming winter season.




5. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia - Located north of Vancouver, Canada, Whistler Blackcomb is one of the biggest resorts in the US. It has a peak-to-peak gondola, running from Whistler to Blackcomb and claiming the name of highest and longest unsupported cable car in the world. It is one of the most-visited resorts in the world, with over 2 millions visitors a year. This mountain held the 2010 Olympics with super g, downhill, giant slalom, slalom and super combined. Whistler Blackcomb has over 200 runs and their longest run is 6.8 miles long.

Top 5 cute, fun gift ideas for Valentine’s Day by Naomi and Caroline P.

Oh, no! It’s Saturday the 13th and you still don’t have a gift for your sweet heart. If Valentine’s Day is creeping up, and you have no idea of what to get, or what to do here are a couple of fun ideas to win over your valentine. From treats to cards your special someone will definitely be impressed!

1) Write a thoughtful poem, and show that special someone how much you care about them. This poem should be happy and cheerful. If you’re confused on what to write start off writing about the happy memories you had together. Write the poem on cute construction paper, you can decorate this poem in anyway you want. This gift is and simple and cute way to show someone how much you care about them.

2) Make them something sweet, such as brownies or cookies. Make fun and cute treats that you can enjoy together. These sweets can be simple and thoughtful. If you want to make these treats extra special decorate a cute container and put them in. Attach a sweet note or card to show your true appreciation.

3) A plan a fun, romantic date. This date can be low key, and simple, or it can be elegant and romantic. If you want to get to know the person better, a simple and low key date should be fine. Plan, on going to the movies or out to dinner, dress wear should casual, this date should be a fun way to get to know them, plan on having a good time. If you have known this person for a while, and you have the same interests, plan on going full out. Plan a very romantic and elegant date, get your hair done, get a dress and have an amazing time. This date should be planned ahead of time.

4) Plan a day at home! Although going out is nice, staying home will show them you are the perfect person to relax around. If you don’t want to spend all day inside you can take your sweetheart skiing in the morning, then you can spend the rest of the day lazing around, watching movies, or just eating some pizza.

5) Plan a fun day with friends. Valentine's Day can be stressful, finding the perfect thing to do, the perfect gift, etc. If you don’t want to be alone on Valentine's Day, plan a fun day with your friends, this is fun and easy way to be independent. You don’t have to worry about all the expectation and complications, have fun! Have a girls day, plan on shopping, getting your nails done and anything that interests you. Everyone wants to have fun a Valentine's Day.

Any of these ideas will ensure that you and your cutie/friend will have a great day. Valentine’s Day is all about showing someone how much you love them so make sure you do it in the perfect way. These are just a few ideas of what to do on Valentine’s Day, there are endless ways to show your special someone how much you appreciate them.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit New York City

Tired of the small, quiet town of Park City, Utah? Want to escape to an exciting city with beautiful parks and gardens, but also tall skyscrapers? With so many places to visit and explore, here are five reasons as to why New York City is the perfect travel destination for you!

1. City vibes: In New York City, just by stepping out of your apartment or hotel, you immediately get the city feel. It's almost as if you can feel the energy. This feeling is indescribable, but it’s always refreshing and inspiring. You feel this way when you see the chic, city style, taxis, people rushing to get to work with their coffees, and the huge skyscrapers and stores. You can’t help but feel completely inspired because the people around you seem so passionate since New York City is all about opportunity.

2. People: The people that surround you affect the way you feel. If you’re living in a town where everyone is the same, it might get a little boring. In New York City you see a combination of so many different and diverse people. There are definitely some crazy people, but you see a ton of people with their own unique styles, looks, and personalities. In NYC nobody is afraid to express themselves through their clothing and attitude. The people in New York also make you feel motivated and pursue your dreams because that’s why people go to New York; opportunity. When you see dedicated people you can’t help but feel inspired! Just people watching is entertaining!

3. What will you recognize?: There are plenty of places and people in New York City that have either been in movies, TV shows, news, etc. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will most definitely see something or someone you recognize. It is always better to see something in person (unless it’s bad!) If you somehow don’t see anything you recognize, don’t worry! Experiencing New York City on it’s own is something special.

4. Authentic Foods: Have you ever tried the world’s best pizza and bagels? You haven't if you've never been to New York! After a long day of exploring, you may want to sit down and eat. The city is so big that no matter what type of food you want, it’s probably in a restaurant somewhere close to you. You can almost always be sure that whatever food you’re eating was made by someone who comes from that country.

5. Monuments: Inspiration and opportunity is all in New York City, but you can’t forget the outstanding monuments. Besides all of the incredible skyscrapers and stores, there is also the 9/11 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park and so much more. These monuments are absolutely breathtaking. We are able to go back in time and remember the past because that every monument is special in it’s own way. The 9/11 memorial is absolutely heart-wrenching and beautiful. The Statue of Liberty will make you remember America’s amazing history. The history of how the Empire State Building was built is truly inspirational and jaw-dropping. Central Park is beautiful, luscious, and is a great place to have a picnic, ride a bike, run around, or get away from the city for a while. All of these things reminds us of how thankful we should be of where we live and how much we have.

Overall, New York City is by far one of the best travel destinations in the world! There are countless things to explore and experience. No matter how long you are there, there is still more to see. Try new things, learn about our country’s past, and get inspired. After your stay, you will return to your hometown feeling refreshed with new ideas and hopefully, you will feel a little bit better about what you have and where you are.

Works Cited:

Brukman, Jesse. "16 Reasons Everyone Should Visit New York City at Least Once." Thrillist. N.p., 11 Aug. 2015. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.


By: Mia Rapella and Mackenna Doilney