Anyone who knows Peter is aware that he promotes a contrarian attitude toward travel. That means traveling to destinations in the off-season, and in the summer, ski resorts are the place to be. Here’s why…

Believe it or not, ski resorts don’t shut down once the snow melts. But they do get fewer crowds, so this is when they roll out the details and activities to entice visitors.

We’re talking about a summer full of festivals, concerts and culinary events in most of these places.

At Snowbird resort in Utah, June means its time for the annual Brewfest, followed by an evening concert and a mountain barbecue.

Northstar-at-Tahoe hosts outdoor movies every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in the summer.

Squaw Valley celebrates an art, wine and music festival in July, followed by a brews and jazz fest in August.

Beaver Creek, in Colorado, has a ton of regular programming, like a family-oriented rodeo every Thursday in July and August, and culinary demos every Saturday afternoon.

In nearby Aspen, the Food & Wine Classic in June has become one of the premier culinary events in the country.

And of course, you are on a mountain.

Most resorts will keep their lifts and gondolas open year-round, so instead of skiing back down the mountain, you get the benefit of having miles and miles of hiking and biking trails.

Learn more in our Adventure & Sports Travel section.

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