North Conway, N.H., was once again named the “best ski town” by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
North Conway topped the top 10 list of ski towns, and another New England ski destination — Stowe, Vt. — came in eighth place.
“Beyond fresh snow and convenient access to the slopes, what makes the best ski town? For some, it’s having access to fantastic restaurants, bars, and shops,” USA Today said. “For others, it’s about great accommodation options, a small-town vibe, or a historic atmosphere.”
USA Today said the nominees were chosen by a panel of experts and narrowed down by editors to a final slate. Once the nominees in an award category 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.
Categories range from BBQ restaurants to subscription boxes to gluten-free beers. This year’s ski and snowboarding categories included the best ski resorts, ski hotels, ski restaurants, ski shops, ski schools, as well as the best places to go snowboarding and best destinations for snow.
(It’s also 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.”)
In the best ski town category, North Conway topped the list for the second straight year.
“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 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.”
Mammoth Lakes, Calif., came in second place, followed by Jackson Hole, Wyo., Truckee, Calif., Breckenridge, Colo., Lake Placid, N.Y., Aspen, Colo., and Stowe in northern Vermont.
“Stowe is a quintessential New England village and an ideal ski town rolled into one,” USA Today said. “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 von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, 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; von Trapp Brewing & Bierhall 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.”
Rounding out the top 10 best ski towns was Bend, Ore., in ninth place and McCall, Idaho, in 10th.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.