Killington Travel Guide: Travel and tourist information, things to do and see in Killington

Killington is the largest ski mountain in the Eastern United States, with 7 mountain peaks, six of which are interconnected. The seventh, Pico Mountain, is a short drive away but on the same lift pass.

Killington has fantastic snowmaking facilities and terrain for all grades of skier. Beginners have a very good ski school to use, and excellent if sometimes crowded nursery slopes. Intermediates have plenty of easy cruising, while experts should head for the 'Outer Limits' for reasonable challenges. There are also 'Fusion Zones'- essentially unbashed pistes for more advanced skiers to learn to off-piste. Boarders have lots of options, with 3 half-pipes, 2 parks and a boardercross course. Cross-country skiers will have plenty of territory to cover as well. Childcare is also first-class.

On the down-side, as with all its New England cousins, it can suffer from a lack of natural snow, freezing temperatures and weekend city crowds (it's only 3 hours from Boston). Because of this weekend trade, prices can also be steep and the locals can be slightly unfriendly. The resort is a rather sprawling place, with very little in the way of off-snow pursuits. The piste map and on-piste markings mean some confusing touring as well. That's all the negative stuff done.

There is lively après-ski over the weekend and a reasonable range of eateries (off- mountain are much better than on-mountain). Essentially, Killington is a great resort if the weather conditions are right. It is also far closer for the European market than the Rockies.

Locality:

Killington is in the north east United States, in the south-central part of Vermont state. (it is 156 mls NW of Boston and its international airport. 85 mls S of Burlington regional airport). It is in the heart of the gentle, scenic, wooded Green Mountains. It lies either side of a long, fairly broad valley that ascends to a mountainous dead-end.

Ski Information:

Highest lift: 1293m (4242ft), Lowest lift: 323m (1060ft), Vertical drop: 970m (3182ft), Number of lifts: 31, Uplift capacity: 52361 p/hr, Number of slopes: 200, Beginner: 30%, Intermediate: 39%, Expert: 31%, Total piste length: 87km, Snowboard parks: 1

Population: 295.734.100
Languages: English 82%, Spanish 11% (2000)
Currency: US dollar
Currency code: USD
Local Times:
U.S.A. - District of Columbia - Washington DC

U.S.A. - Florida - Orlando

U.S.A. - California - San Francisco

U.S.A. - New York - New York

U.S.A. - Nevada - Las Vegas

Country Dialling Code: +1
Voltage: 120V 60Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 parallel flat prongs

2 Parallel flat prongs with an earth connector

The USA is home to several of the world's most exciting cities, some truly mind-blowing landscapes, a strong sense of regionalism, a trenchant mythology, more history than the country gives itself credit for and, arguably, some of the most approachable natives in the world.

America was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1492 and for 500 years people have travelled here seeking a better life in the 'land of opportunity'. The land was fought over by colonial powers for centuries and finally won its independence from Britain in 1783. Despite the near annihilation of the Native American population, one of the bloodiest civil wars the world had seen, and racism (Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924 and racial segregation was the norm until as late as the 1950s), the American people have succeeded in forging one of the worlds most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic heavyweight of the world.

The country is made up of 48 contiguous states of the continental USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of Canada, and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, 2,000 miles (3,219km) out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories, which include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway Islands and US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly in the great cities such as New York and Washington, as well as sunshine states such as Florida, California and Hawaii. However the mind-blowing landscapes, found in the wealth of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are what make the USA so unique. With all this on their doorstep, it's easy to understand why a significant proportion of Americans have never bothered getting a passport.

Killington Travel Guide

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