Minnesota Has Two of Top-Ten Ski Resorts in the Midwest

Travel + Leisure has rolled out a list of the best ski resorts in the Midwest for 2024, and I think they could have added another one or two from the Bold North.

I grew up in Minnesota, grew up skiing in Minnesota. A big thank you to my parents for getting me into it when I was young. Young when learning was easier, and falling to the ground was a shorter trip.

As a Minnesotan I grew up with a serious case of U.P. envy -- always thinking that Michigan's upper peninsula had the best downhill skiing in the Midwest. The U.P. is good, but we can hold our own here in Minnesota. I guess the snow isn't always whiter on the other side of the fence.

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Travel + Leisure's Top-Ten Ski Resorts in the Midwest for 2024

In no particular order, these are the best spots in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa for hitting the slopes in 2024 and 2025.

• Cascade Mountain: Portage Wisconsin
• Mount Bohemia Ski Resort: Mohawk, Michigan
• Chestnut Mountain Resort: Galena, Illinois
• Granite Peak: Wausau, Wisconsin
• Perfect North Slopes: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
• Mad River Mountain: Zanesfield, Ohio
• Boyne Mountain: Boyne Falls, Michigan
• Snowriver Mountain Resort: Wakefield, Michigan
• Giants Ridge Recreation Area: Biwabik, Minnesota
• Afton Alps: Hastings, Minnesota

Nothing against Giants Ridge and Afton Alps; both deserve to be on the list -- but where's Lutsen? Or Spirit Mountain?

Minnesota has nineteen ski areas that are part of the Minnesota Ski Areas Association. I have always wanted to hit them all in a season for a cool bucket list project.