The list of the 10 Best Ski Towns in North America for winter 2023-24 has been released, and Banner Elk is named a top ski town for the second straight year.
USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards ranked Banner Elk at No. 6 this year, following a No. 5 ranking the previous year. Of the 10 ski towns chosen, Banner Elk was once again the only town in the South, and one of only three on the East Coast.
A panel of industry experts nominated 20 towns for the honor, with the Top 10 determined after a month of voting at 10Best.com. The Town of Banner Elk earned recognition by the experts and voters because of “excellent mountain terrain ideal for skiing.” The praise continued: “Besides hitting the slopes, you can take a ride down the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, go wine tasting at Banner Elk Winery, indulge in great food, or go snow tubing.”
Here’s the full list of 10 best ski towns in the United States and North America:
Red River, New Mexico- Banff, Alberta
- Bend, Oregon
- North Conway, New Hampshire
- Stowe, Vermont
- Banner Elk, North Carolina
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Truckee, California
- Whistler, British Columbia
- Taos, New Mexico
To see the previous year’s list of winners, go to this page on the 10Best.com website.
Back-to-Back Honors for Banner Elk as a Top Ski Town
Banner Elk again made the list following an extensive public vote conducted at 10Best.com. Voting received promotion across USA TODAY Travel Media Group’s digital and mobile products, as well as via social media.
“Skiers and snowboarders have come here for more than 50 years because of all the fun we offer on and off the slopes, and it’s an honor to again be named one of the best ski towns in North America,” said Nancy Owen, director of the Banner Elk Tourism Authority. “We are proud to be located between Sugar Mountain Resort and Beech Mountain Resort, two great ski resorts that continuously upgrade and improve their facilities across the board.”
The 10Best award also recognized Banner Elk for offering visitors two different ski resorts to choose from.
10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The core of the site’s uniqueness is its team of local travel experts: a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields, but discriminating in their tastes.
All contest voting is conducted digitally.