Mt. Baker Ski Resort

Mt. Baker has been known to claim that it has the best snow base in North America – despite the sometimes uneven snowfall. While you can go to the resort for a getaway weekend, it’s also close enough to Seattle (three hours) and Bellingham (one and a half hours) to do a day trip.

It’s typically not crowded unless it’s the weekends, and there’s fresh powder. So, if possible, head to resort during the week.

Mt. Baker has a few amenities for a small ski resort, including a café, ski rentals and shops. Group and private ski instruction are also available onsite. Kids six and under can get a free lift ticket. Besides skiing, your kids – or the kids at heart – can go sledding, snow tubing or snowshoeing. For tubing and sledding, head to Highwood Lake, and park at Heather Meadows Lodge to take advantage of these free activities. For snowshoeing, go to Artist Point, which is also accessible from Heather Meadows parking lot.

The easiest places to eat are right in the resort, and you do have quite a few options to satisfy every taste bud.

Breakfast Places

• Wake ‘n Bakery is a great bakery with plenty of quick bites – whether you’re looking for breakfast or something to cure a sweet craving. 6903 Bourn St, Deming, WA 98244

Our Favorite Lunch Spots

• Heather Meadows Cafe is located right on the second floor of the Heather Meadows Day Lodge. It offers everything from soup to salad to sandwiches. If you’re in the rush, you can even grab a pack lunch. Mt Baker Hwy, Deming, WA 98244

Dinner

• There’s nothing like great Italian – especially after a long day on the slopes. Milano’s Pasta Fresca & Bar Veneto offers up a wide selection of tasty Italian dishes and cocktails. 9990 Mt Baker Hwy, Deming, WA 98244

Apres/Nightlife

While there aren’t many nightlife options at this small resort, you can find a couple of places to go, including the following:

• With its rustic atmosphere and old-timey fixture, Grahams Restaurant is the place to go. Grab a seat at the bar, and have a conversation with a stranger – and make a new friend. 9989 Mt Baker Hwy, Deming, WA 98244
• North Fork Brewing Company is where you want to go if you have a beer aficionado in your group – or just a enjoy a really good cold one yourself. With beers created in the style of light and black Lagers, barrel-aged Belgian style Sours and British Ales, it’s an experience you won’t forget. 24 E 2nd St, Riverhead, NY 11901