Want a guilt-free way to indulge yourself with food while exercising? Cross country (XC) skiing and snowshoeing are some of the best forms of aerobic exercise, but if you go on a "Gourmet Ski Tour" on your XC skis or snowshoes, you may very well eat your way to fitness at a number of trailside food stops. What a grand time so go ahead, eat, ski, and be merry - appetizers, wine, champagne, fondue, entrees, desserts, and more. Check with ski area websites for specifics on the following programs.
Check with the websites for specifics on the following programs. Here's a cross section of the culinary XC ski events that are planned this winter across the country with a varied menu of fun and fine cuisine.
EAST
Smugglers Notch in VT has the Snowshoe Adventure Dinner at the mountain summit on Tuesdays. The Maple Experience is on Tuesdays on a tour to learn about maple sugaring and get to take home a sample and the Sugar on the Snow snowshoe tour is on Wednesdays. The Hot Chocolate Warm Up is daily at 3:30 PM with a bonfire.
The Chocolate Festival at Mt. Washington Valley Ski & Snowshoe Center in Intervale, NH in late February is an inn-to-inn affair at about 12 stops to experience your chocolate fantasies including moose and fondue. Go on a tour of any length and actually gain calories, even if you ski as far as 20 kilometers. A shuttle is also available for those that have overindulged at the event dubbed the "Sweetest Day on the Trails."
CENTRAL
Treetops Resort in Gaylord, MI has the Skiable Feast Getaway Package that features a winter gourmet adventure with 5 buffet food stations along 6 km of trails. It is offered at 8 AM - 2 PM on 7 dates on Saturdays during January-March. Also the Wilderness Sleigh Ride Dinner is on Saturdays at 5-9:30 PM on a tour to the cabin for a culinary adventure.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, MI has the "Around the World Wine & Ski Tour" is a new event with XC skiing, and Ribs & Blues food music event, and the Gourmet Chili Bard. Look for the Fill at the Grill and Fire on the Mountain food events.
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ironwood features cuisine from local restaurants that can be purchased at a nominal fee for a food court with local restaurants at the Taste of the Trails on the ABR trails in March.
MOUNTAINS
Just Desserts at Enchanted Forest XC Center
Just Desserts Eat & Ski in the Enchanted Forest in Red River, NM in late February features goodies from 20 different local restaurants at three trailside stations with up to 100 desserts within a 4 kilometer loop. Their motto is, “It’s not a race, just a gorge fest.” Look to the Enchanted website to see if this program will be available this year.
Look to the Galena Lodge in Ketchum, ID for the Full Moon Dinners on nights with the full moon, whereby you can go ski or snowshoe ($5 snowshoe rental offered) and then return to lodge for a 4-course dinner. There are also special Wine Dinners, Holiday Dinners, and Valentine's Day Dinner scheduled from mid-December to mid-March.
At Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash, CO, is known for its cuisine in the lodge’s Ranch House Restaurant & Saloon recipient of the 2021 Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence and 2020 OpenTable Diner’s Choice Award for Best Special Occasion Restaurant; and Heck’s Tavern (causal American fare for overnight lodging guests).
The Rendezvous Trails in West Yellowstone, MT features cuisine that is homemade and from local restaurants that can be found along a designated route on the trails at the Taste of the Trails in February. Pay in advance at West Yellowstone retailer Free Heel & Wheel.
Frisco Nordic Center in CO has the Ski, Eat and Be Merry event in February with a progressive dinner along the trails featuring food, drink, 3 bonfires and luminaries on a 2 km loop.
WEST
Bear Valley Adventures in CA hosts the Wine Tasting in the Meadow in late November to sample local wineries with appetizers.
Tahoe XC in Tahoe City, CA has the Fish Taco Night is a fundraiser in January at the Sunnyside Restaurant & Bar in Tahoe City.
Cypress Mountain outside of Vancouver, BC has Fondue Dinner Snowshoe Tour, S’Mores Tour, and Cheese & Chocolate Fondue Tour all scheduled with a snowshoe trek to the Hollyburn Lodge Building to start in January. These programs include rental equipment, trail access, and guides/instructors.