Missing the Alps this Year? Create an Après Ski Lounge at Home

I have never been much of a skier, and the thought of gliding down an icy mountain with two long sticks strapped to my wobbly feet does not inspire any confidence.

Missing the Alps this Year? Create an Après Ski Lounge at Home
© Aleksandar Jankovic from Getty Images Signature on canve.com

For me, it’s all about what happens after the ski – that is Après Ski.

My limited skiing experience consists of one of the most beautiful ski destinations in the world: the Swiss Alps, where I was somehow convinced (my second time skiing) that I could make it down a pretty steep slope without issue.   I imagined taking off my skis and sliding down on my butt, instead, my ski instructor had to ski me down the hill because there was no other way to get down.

While some would have reveled in the experience of skiing the most epic location, it was the Après Ski that got me: rustic pine tree decor, the taste and scent of glühwein — a hot spiced red wine made with cinnamon, orange, and cloves — and dousing chunks of fresh bread into an oozing hot mixture of exotic cheeses.

Sadly, this year (and every year since that 2003 winter experience) I will likely not make it to the Alps.

This year I have vowed to create an Après Ski experience in the comfort of my own home for my family to enjoy.

Here are some tips for creating a cozy Après Ski vibe at home without expensive lift tickets.

  1. Create a playlist to set the mood with holiday music of even upbeat EDM (think rooftop deejays spinning classic house music for a jet-set audience)
  2. Light the fireplace (if no fireplace, put a YouTube fireplace scene on the TV) or light a firepit outside
  3. Decorate the den and living room with ski-related decor, snowflakes, wooden signs, furry pillows, fairy lights in mason jars, fragrant candles, and small pine trees or branches festooned with fairy lights
  4. Create a dinner tablescape with mini trees, candles, pine branches and pinecones, elements of nature on the table
  5. Create a menu with fondue and raclette with key Swiss ingredients: cheese and chocolate. Write the menu offerings on a mini blackboard for a restaurant effect
  6. Create warm spiced wine for the adults – mildly spiced hot apple cider or hot cocoa with marshmallows for the kids
  7. Do an outdoor activity before coming to the hearth of home – it’s as if you’ve been snowshoeing or skiing, even if it was just a walk around the neighborhood
  8. Dress the part with your favorite winter accessories – beanies, gloves, and fuzzy socks.
  9. Put on a winter movie or daredevil ski footage in the background.

By combining all these elements with your own unique touch, you are likely to create a new family tradition that can be shared for generations to come – without even stepping one ski on the slopes.

If you are a skier, be sure to check out these ski locations close to Atlanta!

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Dana
Dana is a working mom of two active boys, ages 4 and 8. She was born in Tel Aviv and raised in Atlanta. With a background in journalism, she spent 12 years chasing deadlines as a news and documentary producer, writer, international news desk editor, and web editor.  After the birth of her first child, it became obvious she was not going to be the next Katie Couric or Christiane Amanpour. She was still dedicated, but the only thing gained from the grueling weekend and overnight shifts was a case of gastritis. She remembers being "so busy" she could not step away for lunch/dinner/breakfast and would have to shove the food down while hovering over her computer. The disgusting crumbs piling up in the keyboard were hers. As luck would have it, another round of layoffs was near and she seized the opportunity (having survived a few layoffs before). Several months into her severance she was fortunate to find a job in PR and Communications, promoting a subject that felt like a natural fit.   The most important lesson she's learned since becoming a mom is: NEVER say never. "I will NEVER shop at Costco, drive a car with a carpool number, become a 'soccer' mom, live near my parents in a house in the suburbs."  She now does all those things and more she never thought she would with the utmost feeling of gratitude. 

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