Take that Jackson Hole. Better luck next time, Banff.
North Conway, N.H., was named the best ski town by the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, topping Mammoth Lakes, Calif., and fellow New England winter mecca, Stowe, Vt.
“A ski town in its own right — the slopes of Cranmore Mountain Resort are just a few blocks off of the White Mountain Highway, the town’s main street — North Conway is also a convenient base for day-tripping to other classic New England ski areas like Black Mountain, King Pine, and Attitash,” USA Today wrote said. “Formidable Mount Washington, the tallest peak in New England, can be explored by snow coach or the venerable Cog Railway, and the town’s cozy hotels and B&Bs promise a warm welcome after a winter day outdoors.”
Other award categories included best ski restaurants, best ski hotels, best ski shops, best ski schools, and best ski resorts (Cannon Mountain in Franconia, N.H., ranked seventh among the resorts).
It is worth noting that each top 10 list includes this disclaimer: “When you buy through a link on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.”
Nominees were “submitted by a panel of experts” and narrowed down by editors to a final slate. When the nominees are announced, the public can cast votes for their favorites (readers are allowed to vote for one nominee per category, per calendar day) over a period of four weeks, according to USA Today.
The rankings described Stowe as a “quintessential New England village and an ideal ski town rolled into one.”
“Laid out along the course of the Little River, the town is home to the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum as well as resorts like the Trapp Family Lodge, the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, and the elegant Topnotch Resort, but also plenty of more modest options. Dining choices likewise run the gamut from elegant to casual; the von Trapp Brewery and Beerhall is the go-to for German brews and food. The main street morphs into the access road leading to Mount Mansfield and the Stowe Mountain Resort.”
Also in Stowe, the Pinnacle Ski and Sports was named the best ski shop, the Cliff House Restaurant was rated the eighth-best ski restaurant, and Topnotch Resort ranked sixth among the best ski hotels.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
Rounding out the 10 best ski towns were destinations out west. Banff, Alberta took fourth place; Jackson Hole, Wyo., ranked fifth; Red River, N.M., came in sixth; Vail, Colo., was seventh; Steamboat Springs, Colo., ranked eighth; Taos, N.M., was ninth; and McCall, Idaho, took 10th place.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.
