While skiing in Italy in the lovely Dolomites region, you can also contribute to the healthy upbringing of the region’s cows by staying at one of the Residence Hotels Dolomites accommodation. Until the end of winter, anyone staying in one of the eight Residence Hotels is contributing to the wellbeing of a cow, helping it to live and graze happily throughout the summer months.

Residence Hotels are located throughout some of the Dolomites most beautiful areas: Madonna di Campiglio, San Martino di Castrozza, in the Val di Fassa and in the Val Gardena. The areas have significance to the region’s agriculture, being a source of traditional Italian alpine products and foods.

While tourists enjoying their winter skiing, and indulge in some apres ski, the cows then get to come out and play in the summer months, feasting on mountain herbs and grasses at high altitudes.

Continue reading: Adopt a cow on holiday in Italy

If you’re looking for a quaint town and beautiful Italian ski resort in Bolzano, region of Alto Adige, check out the town of Castelrotto in the heart of the Val Gardena. The town is one of a population of only 6,400 people, meaning you can spend an authentic ski holiday in this part of Italy.

You can spend your time either skiing on slopes up to 3,000 metres, or discover the local traditions of the Castelrotto Italian winter wonderland. Both downhill and cross country skiing is available, as well as ice skating and sled hire. See the Castelrotto.org site for more details.

Continue reading: Skiing in Italy: a slice of Austria in Val Gardena

Besides fabulous snow tracks, the Gardena Valley offers a cuisine which is second to none. Many of its restaurants such as Anna Stuben (Gardena hotel’s restaurant at Ortisei) are now promoting an interesting project called Fair cooking which is part of the global fair trade movement which aims to help producers in developing countries and promote sustainability. This year skiiers in the Gardena Valley will also have the opportunity to have their meals right there on the piste, enjoying hearty helpings of fish and other Val Gardena delicacies at such Mountain huts as Rifugio Comici, Baita Daniel (Seceda) and Miline (Selva) which has got a special mention in the prestigious Gambero Rosso guide!

Continue reading: Val Gardena: great skiing and good food

After Cortina, more Dolomites ski resorts are opening in November, with the Dolomites Superski area opening on the 28th. It includes 12 skiing areas over 1,200 metres of slopes, and the Valle Isarco will also open, on December 5th (seen here is this beautiful photo from Dolomiti SuperSki).

This area of the Dolomites, including Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val di Fiemme, S Martino di Castrozza, Moena and Civetta, is now on the UNESCO list, and in the words of Reinhold Messner “The Dolomites might not be the highest mountains in the world, but they are certainly the most beautiful”.

New things for the 2009-2010 ski season include the Dolomites Super Freestyle Day from mid-January, free ski passes for children up to eight years old and 30 percent discount for teenagers up to 16. A world premier is the “Marchner” chair lift at Plan de Corones, with heated seats (this one is definitely for me!) and the “Bullaccia” Telemix lift now accommodates families and skiers who don’t want to take their skis off.

The Cianross lift at San Vigilio di Marebbe, out of service since 2007, will be open again with eight-seater cabins to access the Corn and Cianross slopes. There is a new ski slope at Val Di Fiemme which includes a slope covering about 460 metres of different altitude and a maximum slope of 59 percent, and to top it all off there is the Christmas market at Santa Cristina from December 1st.

Continue reading: Skiing in Italy: Superski Dolomites open from November for 1,200 km of skiing heaven

If you’re looking for a child-friendly ski resort in Italy, take a look at the Val Gardena resort in the Dolomites in Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region. With plenty of fun for adults too, it should give you a happy and accident-free family ski holiday.

The Val Gardena has seven ski schools, all of which have baby classes and kids ski areas, with specialised instructors in teaching children to ski. The resort has been established to provide for children on ski holidays and recently won a regional government award for its efforts.

The ski resort is supported by local hotels and accommodation with family rates. Any hotel bearing the symbol of a bear offers 50 percent discounts for children 2-6 years and 30 percent discounts for children 6-12 years. For more information on the Italian ski resort, and snow conditions, see the Val Gardena website.

Continue reading: Skiing in Italy: Val Garden ski resort in the Dolomites

Every year the people of Santa Cristina, in the heart of the Gardena Valley, eagerly wait for the local Christmas market to take place; the market never fails to draw thousands of curious visitors who love to spend the day browsing arts and crafts booths which display wooden/glass Christmas decorations, wooden sculptures depicting exquisite little cherubs made by local artists and beauitfully crafted Christmas candles. At the market, visitors will also be able to buy delicious cinnamon cakes and pepper bread and on San Nicolo’s Day (December 5), Santa himself on his sleigh will ride through the village distributing delicious sweets and tons of nuts to the children! At Santa Cristina, Christmas always arrives early!

Continue reading: Christmas in Italy: Christmas market at Santa Cristina, Gardena Valley