Tag Archives: USA

5 of the cheapest ski resorts in America

Mount Shasta is among the cheapest ski resorts in America ... photo by CC user 41205764@N08 on Flickr

While skiing and snowboarding is a thrilling sport that many students enjoy on their winter break from college, it doesn’t come cheap. Gear (whether rented or bought new), lodging, food and lift tickets all exact a heavy toll on one’s wallet, making getting away seem a fleeting dream to many.

Don’t lose heart, as there are still resorts across America where one can get a lift ticket for a reasonable price. The resorts below are among the cheapest ski resorts in America, so scourge through your couch for change and return those beer bottles, and you might have that snowsports trip that you’ve been longing for recently…

But, before getting all exited and booking your ticket after reading the post, make sure you apply for your ESTA visa before heading there or you’ll be just dreaming about hitting the slopes on the plane back home.

1) Bridger Bowl (Montana)

A 2,600 foot vertical drop, 350 inches of snow annually, and there’s rarely ever a wait at the lifts … sounds like a place that you would shred in your dreams, or at least when you are out in the real world with a job? Nope. As it turns out, you can ski or board Bridger Bowl for the paltry sum of $49.

Even better, your apres ski will have you living it up in Bozeman, one of America’s highest ranked college towns for parties, atmosphere and overall quality of life. Ummm … one plane ticket to Bozeman please!

2) Powderhorn (Colorado)

Colorado may be filled with snow resorts, but most seem to be obsessed with becoming the next Vail or Aspen, making them unsuitable for our purposes.

For those of us that take skiing or boarding seriously (so much so that our gear bills leave us close to broke), places like Powderhorn are a breath of fresh Rocky Mountain air, as this area offers some of the best technical skiing in the state, as well as views of the rusty red rocks that herald the start of the deserts of the American southwest.

At only $61 for a lift ticket, you won’t believe your luck as you blast through powder stashes in challenging glades that get tracked out in hours at other resorts.

3) Mount Shasta Board and Ski Park (California)

Located in the shadow of Mount Shasta, California’s 14,000 foot sleeping volcano, you’ll find a ski and boarding park that offers something that’s really hard to find in this state these days – an honest-to-goodness deal.

For $49 for a weekday adult lift ticket, you can shred 275 inches of powder (and with El Nino set to roll through this winter, it may be a lot more than that!) over 425 acres of controlled terrain, during the day or at night.

With 75% of all trails being rated beginner or intermediate, Shasta is also a friendly place to bring your neophyte friends to get them hooked on the powder bug, and with an excellent snowsports school here, they’ll be planning a return trip with you before you know it!

4) Burke Mountain (Vermont)

In the northeast, Vermont has some of the best skiing, as the Appalachians has blessed them with some truly epic pistes. With the price inflation induced by affluent New Yorkers and Bostonians though, you may find that your wallet will be a lot lighter after visiting your average hill here.

Burke Mountain is the rare convergence of a quality hill at an unbeatable price, as $64 will buy you access to a peak full of runs that will test your mettle. 86% of the runs at Burke rank as intermediate or harder, keeping out the yuppies that cause collisions with their inattention, leaving only those that revel in a true mountain experience.

5) Dartmouth Skiway (New Hampshire)

In case you are wondering if there a college that actually has a snow resort in its backyard … yes. Yes, there is.

Dartmouth College in New Hampshire owns a hill 20 miles north of its campus in Hanover, using it to train its collegiate snowsports athletes, but also allowing the general public to carve up its nearly 1,000 feet of vertical for no more than $47 per lift ticket.

Looking for a reason to take a road trip up to see your Greek brothers or sisters in the ol’ NH? Now you have your excuse!

BONUS: Grouse Mountain (British Columbia, Canada)

While this is a list of American ski/boarding areas, we realize some of you have your passport and want to visit our Canuck cousins this winter. While you might be frightened by the cost of living up there, there are even snow areas here that are totally affordable.

Mix in a visit to friends at UBC with an outing to Grouse Mountain on the North Shore of Vancouver. With 1,300 feet of vertical, massive Pacific dumps of snow, and a killer view of one of North America’s most modern cities below, it is a killer deal, especially when you can get a lift ticket for no more than $58 CDN (~$64 USD).

Go at night, when the floodlights permit you to shred while admiring the glow of Van City below!

5 Linguistic Locations To Learn English

With architectural highlights that include the Tower Bridge, London is one of the most atmospheric locations to learn English in the world ... photo by CC user gelucho on Flickr

NEW YORK

Get to live your American dream by studying English in the Big Apple. New York is a city that never sleeps; it is full of varied attractions, architectural wonders and numerous opportunities for personal development and growth. It is a hub for numerous activities such as business, art, music and a varied array of entertainment venues. Studying English in New York exposes students to the multicultural environment that best defines New York and inspires students to be confident and determined in realizing their personal dreams.

LONDON

London is a world-class destination, rich in culture, history and full of amazing attractions that many can only dream to view. Learning English in London helps students to speak fluently, one of the easiest ways to learn any language in the world is travelling to the country of origin. London is therefore the perfect destination for learning English as students immerse in culture and use the language on a daily basis. There are numerous quality English schools in London where students can learn and sharpen their English skills. Students also get discounts in museums, theatres, some retail shops and some galleries, so you can have fun as you study English in London.

STRATFORD UPON AVON

Stratford upon Avon is a charming market town and the home to the famous English writer and poet William Shakespeare. It retains its original architecture of the Elithabethan and Jacobean eras and its stunning rural atmosphere as inspiring as it was centuries ago.

Learning English in Stratford upon Avon is effective as you will be able to practice the language in real situations when communicating with the locals. This region is also rich in culture and old-world charm that attracts visitors all over the world. You will also immerse in the English culture, which is vital in learning the language.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne is the stylish capital of Australia that boasts of electrifying sporting events, vibrant night scenes and unforgettable roof top experiences. It is an exciting city to live, work and study. Melbourne is a multicultural city where you will not feel out of place and you will enjoy local hospitality.

Melbourne has some of the best learning international learning institutions where you can study the English language effectively. Since English is widely spoken here, you get to practice the language beyond the classroom walls. Soak up in the rich culture, explore the iconic sights of the city and sharpen your English skills in this gorgeous capital.

CANADA

Canada is a gorgeous country with welcoming local people, breathtaking sceneries and bustling metropolitan cities. Canada is a multicultural country where you can easily blend in without feeling like an outsider. It offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities, cultural experiences and entertainment. It is a safe place to study the English language because it has well organized and established international schools. The English language is common in Canada and you can practice speaking and expressing yourself in real situations such as asking for directions, ordering meals and interacting with fellow students.

The Most Beautiful College Campuses in the US

While most of us try to evaluate schools on honorable criteria such as the quality of its academics, student to teacher ratio, the efficacy of student services and so on, let’s face it: we are inherently emotional creatures, and as such, we are ably seduced by beauty.  In this light, the look and feel of a college campus, from the architecture of its buildings, to the natural setting that surrounds it all indelibly colors our perception of a school.

Most of us would love to spend our college years in a place that feels like being on the set of the Dead Poets Society or Good Will Hunting, rather than be trapped in an institution so ugly the pigeons won’t even crap on it. As such, even if you are strictly making your decision based on pure logic, it’s still fun to look at pretty pictures of schools that represent the collegiate ideal (… and there’s nothing saying you can’t visit them on a road trip with your buddies)!

With that sorted, here are five schools that have been the apples of our eye for some time here at College Blender…

5) Wake Forest University

pic from wfu.edu

Filled with structures constructed in the Georgian style, this private college in North Carolina blossoms with cherry, apple and dogwood blossoms in the spring, burns with bright orange, yellow and red colors in the fall … with the occasional sprinkling of toilet paper strands when one of their athletic teams wins a major championship. This school also ranks favorably in teaching surveys on an annual basis, making this southern college a solid choice all round.

4) United States Military Academy At West Point

West Point campus

Think that joining the army means you’ll be spending all your time in uninspiring barracks?  If your training has you bound for West Point, you will be in for huge surprise. Situated in the picturesque Hudson River Valley in New York State, this imposing collection of neo-gothic buildings will imbue you with a sense of power and strength as you work your way through the intensive academic programs  that are offered here.

3) University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin

Sandwiched between two deep blue lakes in the Wisconsin capital of Madison, there is ample room for inspiration and recreation on the campus of U of W – Madison. As if this wasn’t enough, the buildings on campus exude a traditional feel, and student life on campus has long been regarded as some of the liveliest in the nation, as the University of Wisconsin – Madison has consistently ranked near the top of party school rankings by publications such as Playboy magazine.

2) Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University

In some respects, the west coast often has it so good that it simply isn’t fair. The physical surrounds of Pepperdine University is a perfect illustration of this, as its campus in Malibu has an unbeatable view of the Pacific Ocean, with the steep foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains acting as the backdrop behind it.

This institution has buildings that take inspiration from Mediterranean and modernist schools of architecture, and palm trees and other subtropical shrubbery is found in abundance here.  One caveat: this private school has a Christian bent in its underlying philosophy, so the scenery might not be enough of a draw if you have views that collide with those held by the administrators.

1) Elon University

Elon University

When it comes to channeling the collegiate experience via the exterior and interior design, the creators and builders of Elon University have accomplished this masterfully over the years, as they have crafted a school that has ranked at or near the top of beauty rankings for decades. Much of the flora on campus is actively managed as part of the academic curricula of its horticultural faculties, aiding its placement at the top of our list as well!

Have any other contenders for the most beautiful college campuses in the US? Share them below in the comments!

3 Awesome Places for Spring Break!

While college is a fun place to be most of the time, the pressures of school can mount quite heavily at times. After all, you’re shelling out tonnes of money (often, it’s money you don’t even have) in order to gain a highly valuable piece of paper that will heavily influence the degree of prosperity that you may enjoy later in life. To add insult to injury, much of America in the second semester is often plagued by miserable weather, with snow, ice, and icy winds that just cut right through you.

Don’t you wish you were lying on a toasty beach instead this past winter, where shady palms, cold beers/fruity drinks, and the warmth of an ever-present blanket of tropical heat could have helped to take the pain of your nightmare experience with the polar vortex and midterm exams?

Don’t make the same mistake next year.

It’s July, and while all your fellow students are busy with their summer jobs, partying it up, or just chillaxing in general, now is the time to strike to get in while prices for next Spring Break are relatively low. While you will definitely benefit from getting in while demand for these vacations are still low, there is one question left to be resolved by you: where will you and your buddies be based for your week of fun and debauchery?

If that point has you stuck, let us help you out of your rut by suggesting three awesome places for Spring Break that you will never forget … ever!

1) Miami, Florida

If you started your search by checking out Miami flights for spring break, you’ve definitely picked a destination that will prove to be an unforgettable getaway for your and your mates. The South Beach area boasts one of the liveliest urban beaches in the country, with long stretches of perfect white sand, and endless masses of beautiful people out soaking up the rays.

Once the sun goes down, the nightlife a few blocks back from the beach pulses with activity, but be prepared to bring your wallet, as many places charge cover that costs at least $20, with many of their drinks costing just as much. Still, it will prove to be a classy night out, unlike the dive-bar atmosphere that you’re used to back in your college’s home town.

Miami Beach

2) South Padre Island, Texas

If you’re seeking a more down-to-earth, drink until everything goes fuzzy type of experience, then chances are South Padre Island will be more in line with your expectations. The focus here is more on having a blowout good time then who has the fanciest watch. People usually check into a hotel, party until the sun comes up, passing out until they come to, head out to the beach to tan, play in the waves, and then proceed to do it all over again until it’s time to go home.

spring break in South Padre island, Texas.

3) Cancun, Mexico

Sometimes, it takes leaving the country in order to elevate your Spring Break experience to the next level. Moving the venue for your mid-semester blow out to Cancun, Mexico achieves this beautifully, as you will be surrounded by sand so white it will blind you if you forget your shades back at the hotel room, local food that will blow Taco Bell out of the water, and the resident Mexican people gregariousness and love of life will enhance your time here, forever setting the bar for good times to a ridiculously high level!

cancun, mexico

Know of any other fun places for Spring Break? Share them below in the comments!