It's the delicate little flakes that make roads, driveways and sidewalks treacherous avenues for travel during the winter. It's the four-letter word typically associated with Buffalo and makes its inevitable appearance each and every year. That's right, snow.
For many adventurous students, snow is a seasonal friend as heavy snowstorms mean ski slopes are open for business and wintry fun is only a short trip away.
In approximately 45 minutes, skiers and snowboarders can make their first stop on a mountain tour of the Western New York south towns at Kissing Bridge. Rising high in the middle of Colden, N.Y., Kissing Bridge offers all the great services of an upscale ski resort at a fraction of the price.
Kissing Bridge boasts 36 slopes and nine ski lifts that stretch across 1.25 miles of steep hillsides. Along with plenty of trails, the park also has plenty of jumps, rails and other obstacles for anyone looking to add style to their moves.
While Kissing Bridge is one of the smaller resorts in the area, it's still equipped with full rental facilities, along with shops to purchase and repair equipment. There are even two on-site lodges for patrons to take off their boots, grab some hot chocolate and sit by a hot fire.
Daily four-hour and eight-hour lift tickets average $36 and $48, respectively. If eight hours of snowy fun still isn't enough, Kissing Bridge also offers an "unlimited" lift ticket which costs $52 and is valid until they close.
Students willing to travel a little over an hour for an escape from homework can go further to the south in Ellicottville, where Holiday Valley and Holimont make up Western New York's favorite ski village. These resorts are more upscale than Kissing Bridge, but slope riders will find fun and excitement regardless of where they go.
Holiday Valley can be found just one mile south of Ellicottville. The resort offers 56 slopes, 13 ski lifts and 282 acres of land for skiing and snowboarding - almost twice as much as Kissing Bridge.
Rental, retail and repair shops are available for visitors who need them, along with three lodges where patrons can take breaks. The terrain park includes jumps, a halfpipe, Rail Park and a section for beginners called Snoozer.
Both Holiday Valley and Kissing Bridge have also included on-site tubing parks for visitors who want a different way to hit the slopes. These rides will cost students at least another $15, but are an exhilarating way to end a trip to the mountains.
Weekday four-hour lift ticket rates at Holiday Valley average $44, while the eight-hour pass costs $47. On the weekends, an eight-hour pass can be purchased for $54. Rooms at the Inn at Holiday Valley can be purchased for overnight stays at prices in the range of $133 to $185 per person, depending on the night.
Considering how unpredictable Western New York winter weather can be, staying overnight is a convenient option and will make the experience more relaxing and less time constrained.
If travelers take the western road out of Ellicottville instead of heading south, they will soon find themselves at the doorstep of the Holimont Ski Area. Holimont is a private ski resort that offers familiar services, but it's only open to non-members Monday through Friday.
Holimont Ski Area has 50 trails, nine ski lifts and 140 acres of land for skiing and snowboarding. A full day lift ticket for non-members is $45 and a half-day ticket purchased after 1 p.m. costs $41.
Cross-country skiing and terrain parks can also be found at Holimont, along with a skating rink that's open Friday and Saturday nights. Patrons can visit the ski shop that offers retail equipment as well as rentals, or take a break and have a snack inside the signature Chalet.
Each of these Western New York ski centers is the perfect place for beginners and veterans alike to escape classes for a few hours or even a few days, but make sure to dress warm and bring a heavy wallet for those unexpected expenses.
