I think part of my problem was that I was over thinking what I had to do too much right leg does this, left leg does thatI just couldnt seem to put the two techniques together. Troy is the third highest point in Netherlands at an elevation of 1,818 feet. Fresh off $3 million in improvements last year, the resort also features a 10,000-square-foot Sundance Chalet and Grill for aprs-ski fare. The Chestnut Mountain Resor t is among the best Illinois ski areas for people of all ages. We may not have the same dizzying, ear-popping altitudes as Utahs Snowbird or Colorados Vail, but us Midwesterners still have plenty of ski-worthy slopes at our fingertips. . We went to Sundown Mountain a few days after Christmas. My large family has been going to the same ski resort (Chestnut Mountain in Galena, IL) since I was a teenager. Near the Kentucky and Ohio borders in southeastern Indiana, this resort features 23 trails across three parks that are a mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced. SUNDOWN MOUNTAIN (Dubuque) - 2023 What to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor As mentioned above, Sundown Mountain is on the edge of Dubuque, however there is a whole range of things to do and see in the Downtown area. There are also a couple of vending machines in this location. At Sundown, there's more than one ski lift and I found that to be a wonderful perk for beginners that wouldn't be an option at Chestnut. During ski season the lodge is warm and offers a great variety of quick food for lunch. It's certainly not Colorado, but considering it's the Midwest, it's very nice for a day, evening ski or weekend getaway at reasonable prices. Im quite lucky that with my day job I get Fridays off work. Each mountain has three food-and-drink options, from ribeyes and Chicago-style stuffed pizza at Indianhead Mountains Elkhorn Dining Room to pig candy (seasoned and sweetened bacon) at Blackjack Mountain. Chestnut Ski Resort Galena, IL Boasting an impressive array of amenities, accommodations, comforts and activities, Chestnut Mountain is the choice Illinois travel destination. Location: Wijster I love winter but would you believe I havent tried skiing? Offers may be subject to change without notice. How big is the difference between the northern and southern - Quora Wausau, WisconsinDistance from Chicago: 275 miles; 4-hour driveLocated within the chilled-outRib Mountain State Park overlooking the highest point in Wisconsin, this resort offers more room to roam than the crowded confines of popular alternatives like Cascade along with Wisconsins highest vertical drop measuring 700 feet. Non-Competitive Team - $350.00 This level includes all training sessions. Among the highest points are Vaalsberg, Schimperbosch, Brandaris on the island of Bonaire, Klingelberg, and Jamanota on the island of Aruba. I ended up paying 4 times the price for an all area lift pass that I didnt even use as this is what was automatically given to me, despite the fact I had bought a 1 hour first timer ski lesson. A 500-foot vertical drop and Olympic-class, groomed Nordic ski trails are also at the resort. This level includes all training sessions and entry and coaching at the 4 WIJARA Race League events (Chestnut Mountain, Sundown Mountain, Cascade Mountain and Tyrol Basin). Overall, very good for midwest ski area. Chestnut Mountain perches high on a ridge overlooking the Mississippi River near the historic riverport of Galena. The 12 mountains in the Netherlands - HotspotHolland If you already have to ski day pass, you can upgrade to include tubing for $5! The lessons are drop-in and the times are posted online which I found very convenient. NOW BOOKING Weddings, Reunions, Graduation Parties, and MORE! Chestnut's over 220 rolling acres and 475-foot vertical drop are home to 19 ski trails and a 7-acre terrain park, The Farside, featuring over 25 rails and structures. Going out adjusting guns, making sure that we push down the snow we are making, keeping track of the guns and making sure they work properly. Airport shuttle, three restaurants, three bars, apparel shop, rentals, lessons with magic carpet to make going up the mountain easier for beginners, ski patrol, ATM, laundry service, and daycare. What Is A Lawful Permanent Resident In The USA? Premier Galena Resort Destination | Chestnut Mountain Resort 100% snowmaking on EVERY trail, excellent grooming and . Practices Tuesday & Thursday 6:15- 8:30pm & Optional Free Nastar Runs on Saturdays 10am-1pm, $250 per racer includes Coaching for all practices & Unlimited Free Nastar Runs on Saturdays, Must be able to ski intermediate hills in control, Hard-sided helmets are required to race per USSA ski racing regulations, Racers need skis (no twin tips), boots & poles, Sundown Mountain Race Junior Race team is a proud member of WIJARA (Wisconsin/Illinois/Iowa Junior Racing Association), Contact SRTBoard@gmail.com or SRTeamCoordinator@gmail.com, Medals are awarded each race to the top 5 racers of each age class, Free Nastar Timed Racing Saturdays 10am-1pm. $59 per person lift ticket and rental all days on Sundays. Overall, Sundown Mountain was an awesome discovery and a fantastic ski resort for beginners (and probably even advanced skiers, as we saw many on the more advanced hills flying by and doing tricks) families, groups of friends, or really just anyone looking to have an amazing time. Thanks for sharing great pictures. Would recommend it if you are looking for a nice inexpensive ski resort that isn't overly crowded. Overall, Sundown Mountain was an awesome discovery and a fantastic ski resort for beginners (and probably even advanced skiers, as we saw many on the more advanced hills flying by and doing tricks) families, groups of friends, or really just anyone looking to have an amazing time. We were sitting trying to figure out how we were going to get through this. Im now an online ESL tutor, a job where I can technically work from anywhere in the world! With 17 runs and 12 lifts across 150 skiable acres, 30% of the runs are Black or Double Black Diamondso it helps if you know what the hell youre doing. We were driving around to see his place of work and stumbled upon this ski area by accident (my friend does not ski). It also has great views of the top of Turkey Ridge blue run, which has a couple of rails, making it great for people watching and a little rest! snow was good people are friendly and the terrain park is good. Did you know that you could go skiing in Iowa!? We were so please with their staff, they treated us like family. Sundown Mountain Reviews | OnTheSnow Most day trippers from Chicago stick to Chestnut. With destinations in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and more, here are 10 of the best ski resorts in the Midwest for your next winter getaway. It's, there. Is there a shuttle service from the Liberia Airport to and from the resort? A ski resort's overall star rating displayed here is not calculated based on a simple average but takes several factors, including the age of a review, into account. Thompsonville, MichiganDistance from Chicago: 312 miles; 4.5-hour driveInstead of being crammed into some broken down old lodge, you can rent badass private homes or high-end condos and throw your own socially distant aprs ski party at this Thompsonville stunner. Just across the border in Illinois, you'll also find Chestnut Mountain Resort, which is 35 minutes closer to Chicago! Since we were not wearing skis or gear on the mountain, a particularly outgoing instructor asked us if we were trying to find our children and offered to help us. (5 green runs compared to 2). Come along for the ride! We liked the layout right away as the set-up of the 2 main lodges is more condensed than at Chestnut; close enough to one another to walk in heavy ski boots back and forth from the beginner area to the lodge where food & drinks are located to take breaks. Get Directions to Sundown. The package will run until March 1, 2020 weather dependent and is only good for inn and courtyard rooms. That itll just come naturally next time! When you think of ski resorts, they are often associated with being expensive, especially when it comes to lift passes! But it does provide for some nice practice runs about as close to home as you can get. Skiing in Iowa is most definitely a thing! Even though last year had been their busiest season yet, Gordon said he is hopeful they will have another successful year. and it was the best decision of this trip. Getting down the mountain via one of 15 snow tubing lanes also provides a fun alternative to the traditional wedge-and-scoot. One thing that surprised me the most when I moved to Iowa, was that there was actually a ski resort! Chestnut Mountain has 19 ski slopes and 2 terrain parks. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Luckily, Sundown Mountain Resort and Chestnut Mountain Resort are nearby. Haha! We had previously stayed at Eagle Ridge in Galena yearly to be close to the ski resort but a few years ago on an extended trip, we ventured into neighboring Dubuque, IA (less than a 30 min drive from Galena) and fell in love with the charming & historical Hotel Julien, where we now stay for ski weekends. Website. Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque, Iowa is one of the best Midwest ski resorts and the premier destination to take your family skiing and snowboarding this winter! Saddle up, cowboy. The mountain attracts a large number of tourists mountaineering, and hiking. In winter, however, its the closest thing Chicagoland has to a respectable ski establishment. This year however, we discovered the hidden gem that is Sundown Mountain in Dubuque, IA! So when Mother Nature does not do the work for them, they have to do it themselves. Elkhorn, WisconsinDistance from Chicago: 90 miles; 1.5-hour driveYou probably know Alpine Valley as that place where you saw Dave Matthews that one time in high school. Winter Activities. Chestnut Mountain Resort - Galena, IL - Hotel Guides Boy were we blown away! Answer (1 of 2): Not big, nor small. Food area is a small cafeteria-like spot inside one of the lodges (similar to Chestnut although Chestnut also has an additional full restaurant on-site). Chestnut Mountain Resort - Galena, IL - Step Outside Seven out of ten times we are normally open by Thanksgiving, so this has been an unusual year, Michael Murphy, the resorts general manager, commented. Parking was much easier than at Chestnut which is not impossible, it just can be difficult with how busy it is there. The seven-acre Far Side Terrain Park, complete with its own triple, features a quarter-pipe, two halfpipes, and lots of rails, kickers and jumps. New Families . They have baby slops for people like me and big slops for those with more experience. I have skied before in the midwest (e.g., Boyne resorts in northern Michigan), but had not heard of Sundown Mountain. Beautifully carved through 85 acres of scenic cedar trees with state-of-the-art snowmaking, Sundown Mountain Resort is one of the best Midwest ski resort destinations and the only Midwest ski resort granted the NSAA Award of Excellence. There are 11 ski runs at Seven Oaks including a bunny hill for beginners and a couple of terrain parks. Sundown does the best with well what they have. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We were doing good for about 5 minutes then we realized the slope was way more then we could handle. Visiting Dubuque around Christmas? Best Skiing Near Chicago: Top Resorts & Mountains in the - Thrillist Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque, Iowa is one of the best Midwest ski resorts and the premier destination to take your family skiing and snowboarding this winter! Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The vertical drop on Indianhead Mountain is 638 feet, and Blackjack Mountains is 490 feet. Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque open for winter season - KWQC It's a little odd that you have to buy lift tickets and pay to rent equipment in one building and then go to a second building to actually get the equipment, but the process went fairly quickly for us. Sundown Mountain Webcams - All Live HD Cams - OnTheSnow The north is Protestant, the south is Catholic. Lifts were never crowed nor were the slopes. I had to force her to take a break at the lodge to have a quick lunch. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities for all seasons, like ski and snowboarding. We enjoyed watching the more advanced skiers and snowboarders on the bigger slopes from the lodge. Read up on pros, cons and other comments in reviews left by fellow skiers and riders. If youre a newbie and dont think youll get off the bunny hill, its actually cheaper to get just a pass for the beginners area. 2 and a half hours was probably just about my limit as a new skier. (local-speak for Upper Peninsula) in the Keweenaw Peninsula, where the annual snowfall means you dont need snow-making equipment, Mount Bohemia ranks as the fifth-tallest point (at 1,465 feet). Staff at Chestnut, on the other hand, hope to open for the season this weekend. As weather cools down, ski resorts in the tri-state area look forward to reopening this week, Both Sundown and Chestnut Mountain resorts have been closed as of last week because of high temperatures. Dubuque, IA 52002. Chestnut Mountain Resort, Galena, Illinois Topher Donahue/Getty Images Perched near the banks overlooking the Mississippi River, the 220-acre Chestnut Mountain Resort boasts a 100-room. We couldn't have done it without him!! Accident number 2 = I brought the bunny hill chair lift to a standstill after I managed to get my skis tangled up with my instructors! Visit Sundown Mountain and celebrate our 50TH SEASON of winter this year! I can't believe she made it beyond the 1st bunny hill onto the second beginner area that let's you ride the ski lift up even as a beginner! Race Teams - Sundown Mountain Resort Sundown Mountain (Dubuque) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Come for the day or kick back at the Mackenzie Lodge, conveniently stashed just below all the trails, where an outdoor heated pool, hot tub, and roaring fire pits offer many opportunities to get warm. Full Review Boyne Falls, MichiganDistance from Chicago: 358 miles; 5.5-hour driveStretching across a massive 415 skiable acres near the northern tip of Michigan, the Midwests most famous ski resort is tough to beat. Sundown Mountain | Mount Crescent | Seven Oaks, 16991 Asbury Rd,Dubuque, IA 52002 Tel:563-556-6676, Opening Date: Usually around Thanksgiving week. Planning a Sundown Mountain ski trip or just heading up for the day? Jim coached us the whole way down! Its also an absolutely ideal location for kids to learn how to ski and snowboard before dishing out the big bucks to go to the huge, expensive ski resorts in the US. The mountain is home to some animals such as lizards, iguanas, and some birds. Besides the equipment being great, the lessons are an hour and a half long which is longer than most places, including Chestnut. When I return Ill be tempted to visit at the same time, even if it is slightly more expensive, just to avoid the crowds. She often seeks out wine bars, coffee roasters, cheesemongers' shops, art museums, antiques and vintage stores, yarn shops, and sprawling parks when she travels. Thats what Im hoping for! The mountains are important physical features and provide a unique landscape in Netherlands. I did skiing and my daughter tried snowboarding for the first time ever. The mountain, though it has been dormant for a long time it is considered potentially active due to groundwater heating. Chestnut, with the hotel and Village Ski Center located on top of the ski hill, features a 475-foot vertical drop, which is big in this part of the Midwest. Ive had more experienced riders give me good tips, nearly every time I go there. Such activities include mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, and bird sighting, as well as watching wildlife. Nineteen ski and snowboard trails cut through solid rock bluffs range up to 3,500 feet in length and are geared to all levels. Dubuque Christmas Events To Get You In The Christmas Spirit: Iowa. Within the 200-acre resort are 60 trails, 74 runs, and a 700-foot vertical drop. Just about 20 minutes to Omaha, or two hours West of Des Moines, Mt. Kristine Hansen is a design, food and drink, and travel writer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Field of Dreams Movie Site Guided Home Tour in Dyersville, Small-Group Vineyard and Orchard Tour with Wine Tasting in Muscoda, Canoeing and Kayaking in Mississippi Wildlife & Fish Refuge, Participate in a Fun Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Zombie Scavengers, Cedar Rapids City Scavenger Hunt Excursion by Zombie Scavengers, Iowa City Scavenger Hunt: City of Literature, Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by 3Quest Challenge, Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Davenport by Crazy Dash, Davenport City Scavenger Hunt Excursion by Wacky Walks, Explore Cedar Rapids with a Unique Scavenger Hunt by Wacky Walks, Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Cedar Rapids by Operation City Quest. Sundown Mountain Resort Live Cam, Snow Reports - Ski Cams USA Sundown Mountain (Dubuque) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Your racer will train right along side of the competitive team learning skiing fundamentals . Ive been a couple of times! Yay! If it helps, I'm from the nort. She did not want to stop snowboarding! As weather cools down, ski resorts in the tri-state area look - KCRG Warm Cabins great for groups and lovely restaurant and rental store. Chestnut Mountain has 100 slopeside rooms in close proximity to an indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi. All of the equipment was in great condition, just as at Chestnut. I have never snow skied, but you do make it look like fun. I might be stuck on the green slope still but Id be up for that haha . Crescent is the perfect day trip for anyone who hasnt been skiing before and wants to try their hand (er, feet) at the winter sport. Great Midwest skiing for beginners & advanced. Sundown & Chestnut Ski Resorts Win Accolades as Best in Midwest 12 Awesome Things To Do In Cala D'Or, Mallorca | Cala D'Or Guide Spain, The Garden At 120: A Sky Garden Alternative | London, UK, 6 Must See Stops On A Marathon To Key West Florida Road Trip! After her lesson ended the instructor congratulated her on how well she had progressed and encouraged her to keep practicing on the bunny hill. Another side effect of the plentiful beginners was frequent stoppage of an already very long lift ride. What restaurants are near Sundown Mountain? With 58 runs spread out across 80 acres of skiable terrain plus a sizable backcountry and heaps of well-groomed cross-country trails, this family-owned resort overlooking the scenic Betsie Valley about 30 miles southwest ofTraverse City might just be one of the Midwests best-kept secrets. Thanks for the review We are so glad you had a good time on the slopes! One thing with as long as Chestnut has been here, we have a lot of families that have been here for many years, so you are seeing their kids, sometimes you even see the grandkids come through the property over the years, he mentioned. Trail Map. As Jim our savior came to help us, he was an aid for the park. Lift prices are like $25-45.The lifts are old and slow, but at least the place is never crowded. Im sure Im not the only one that would assume that Iowa equalled flat and all corn fieldshow wrong was I! 16991 Asbury Rd. Sundown Mountain Resort When we arrived Saturday we decided to let my 12 yr old daughter do the snowboard group lesson (only $15!) The cafeteria in the main lodge is small, not too much selection, with the typical burger and fries. They have a few terrain parks, naturally, but how many resorts do you know that also house a full-on tubing park? Visit our overview page for more about Sundown Mountain ski resort. The Quill supports a rich collection of flora and fauna including elephant ears, breadfruit, raspberries, orchids, tree ferns, trumpet wood, Caribbean hermit crabs, iguanas, butterflies, anoles, and snakes. This is not Colorado, don't expect high speed lifts, and 2500 vert of fresh powder, but also don't expect to pay $150 dollar per lift ticket and a arm and a leg at lunch. Ski and Stay, Galena, IL 61036 - Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa Additionally, they have a fully lit resort meaning night skiing is an option for those that are up for it! Full Review . Maybe someday. Wrap up a leg if you want to create some sympathy. For this reason, its easy for Chicagoans to plan a weekend trip here (the Windy City is only a three-hour drive away). Sundown opened for the season on Nov. 27, but has now been closed for five days because of high temperatures last week. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Four chalets are a sweet spot to stay warm and toasty while grabbing a drink or a meal. Free Wireless. The Highlands Springs Resort offers Michigans longest ski run, 10 lifts, 53 groomed runs, and, for the more advanced shredders in the group, four terrain parks. And they have a lot of openings. Don't forget to submit your own Sundown Mountain review! Still, there were a TON of beginners out of control where they shouldn't be. Short lift lines which means you'll get a lot of skiing in. that include Tips Up Food & Spirits (with two fireplaces and bowls of hot chili), Mollys Mountaintop Coffee (in lieu of making smores, order the smores latte) and The Barn (ski-in only, with a firepit). Since we've been going there forever, we never thought to look into other alternatives. They have the typical mid west terrain parks, and they do try to setup 1 short mogul run. The slopes opened with limited runs Thursday afternoon . Another "pro" is if you are a season pass holder to Sundown you can get free skiing/boarding at Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho. Well send you our daily roundup of all our favorite stories from across the site, from travel to food to shopping to entertainment. Hill is always well groomed considering the weather conditions make it tough. Over in Galena the Chestnut Mountain Resort is also opening up its slopes to the public on . The resort sports 21 trails catering to all levels, and when youre ready to take a break, head over to one of their onsite lodges. With 53 runs scattered across 248 skiable acres with nine lifts and a 427-foot vertical drop, its nestled in one of the most picturesque parts of northern Michigan, just 30 minutes south of the launch point to lakefront oasisMackinac Island. When youre ready to hit the hay, take advantage of the resort's luxe lodging options which span condos, traditional hotel rooms, cottages, and entire homes for rent. Accommodations; Rates & Packages; Book Now! At the end of my hour, I probably could have attempted to have gone down Sunbowl green run in a wedge/snowplough position but why attempt to run before you can walk?! Season Passes - Chestnut Mountain Resort Anyhow, I did not throw on my skis and shush down the mountain instead, I walked around to see what was there. I went with my 13 yo son (we are both novices) on Sunday. Chestnut Mountain Resort is Galena's premier hotel and resort near Chicago. Those 2 situations were my only accidents! Chestnut Mountain Resort - Galena, IL Use this guide to learn about hotels near Chestnut Mountain Resort. Rates start at $15 for a 2hr tube rental and lift ticket. My kids liked it better than chestnut. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2021 KCRG. (Between England and Iowa has been given an upgrade!). The scenic slopes at the resort are open for night skiing and snowboarding. There were only 3 people in my daughter's snowboard lesson 'group', there were several instructors available for that drop-in time slot, which meant she was able to get a lot of one on one attention from her instructor for questions and demonstrations. On the weekends they do pizza as well. My legs seemed to be doing OK but by the end my arms were dead and I was struggling to pull myself along on the flat with my poles! All of their other weekend prices beat Chestnut as well, especially if you stay in the beginner area at Sundown and only pay $20 for that lift ticket. Friendly staff that does a good job keeping it a fun environment - you didn't have a bunch of kids making fun of people who fall or swearing and smoking on the hill. They also have live music on some evenings. All rights reserved. Theres also an onsite hotel that overlooks some of the slopes. My legs didnt feel like they were splitting apart anymore and I started to get a little confidence in myself! The Quill is the second highest point in Netherlands at an elevation of 1972 feet. They are pretty cool with people bringing there own coolers.They do have do have a bar in the main lodge, with a number of craft brews on tap, and live acts play on the weekends. Go there every year for Boy scouts, if the weather is great (cold) than the place is great skiing. With its namesake mountain at 1,460-foot elevation, the shining star at this Central Ohio ski resort the largest in Ohio is the 300-foot vertical drop. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 10 Ski Resorts within 3 hours of Chicago, Illinois - Leisurely Lifestyle The Sunset Grille restaurant serves up fine dining favorites and The Summit Food & Spirits offers the area's finest contemporary cuisine with a modern flair. The government has also designated these areas as parts of some national parks and reserves to protect its biodiversity. Address: 8700 West Chestnut Road, Galena, Illinois 61036 Rates shown below are averages. South Lodges Bottoms Up will get you fed while taking in sprawling views of the runs, and Northern Lodge is your spot to sip adult beverages and caro-load on pizza and sandwiches courtesy of Tips Up Food and Spirit. 14 Best ski resorts in and around Illinois (2023 guide) - Wapiti Travel Snowboarding. The peak of the mountain has a rugged terrain with caves on the lower elevations of the mountain. These mountains are mainly of volcanic origin formed during various periods. About. Sundown Mountain Resort Dubuque has 21 ski runs (green, blue and black diamond) and 2 terrain parks. This level includes all training sessions and entry and coaching at the 4 WIJARA Race League events (Chestnut Mountain, Sundown Mountain, Cascade Mountain and Tyrol Basin). When it comes to skiing in the Midwest, this is about as good as it gets. Mount Scenery is the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands at an elevation of 2,877 feet, and it is located within the Saba Municipality. All racers must be registered with WIJARA to be eligible to race.