It was 25 years ago that a chair lift with a stranger at Wild Mountain changed my life.

Her name was Ann Shelp. It was a quiet Tuesday morning at this tiny ski area about an hour north of the Twin Cities, and Shelp had been doing runs with a group of fellow ski instructors.

“I’ve seen you coming down the last few runs here,” she said, as our ride began on the long-since-retired rickety lift. “You should come teach for us.”

By “us” she meant Skijammers — a local children’s ski school that transported students on winter weekend mornings to a different Minnesota ski area for a day of ski or snowboard lessons. It was the ultimate family ski experience: parents trained as instructors or chaperones, teaching their children to ski while also enjoying the Upper Midwest’s premier ski terrain on their own. I was hooked.

Within a few years I would earn my own teaching certification, and by 2013 I was a snowboard instructor at Vail Mountain in Colorado. But I still call Minnesota home. From my years of training and traveling the state as an instructor, to accompanying my daughter now participating in the competitive U-18 Alpine racing scene, I’ve shredded nearly every inch of skiable terrain in the Upper Midwest.

The state officially boasts 18 alpine “ski areas,” not to mention several Wisconsin-based properties within driving distance of the Twin Cities. But when people ask me, here’s my guide to where I’d recommend spending the winter with friends and family as the snow begins to fly.

Owned by Vail Resorts, this area along the St. Croix River offers more than 300 acres of skiable terrain, 17 chairlifts, three terrain parks and 50 trails. The runs here are short, of course — it’s the Midwest — but Afton does offer terrain for all levels of experience, from beginner runs to short steeps and even moguls to keep your legs fresh for the trips out West. I taught for three seasons in the children’s ski school here and was always impressed with the amount of training and experience of my fellow instructors. They teach all ages — you can book group lessons together — and they also offer multiweek lessons and equipment rentals. The resort last year opened a new tubing hill. Afton also allows season pass holders discounted rates and tickets at other Vail Resorts properties nationwide (aftonalps.com).

Another small destination known for its children’s programming and lessons, this ski area is managed by Three Rivers Park District. Teenagers love it for its metro location and tow-rope terrain park that lets up-and-coming tricksters shred lap after lap without having to wait in long lift lines. And families love it for the drop-off/pick-up ease of the commute (threeriversparks.org/location/hyland-hills-ski-area).

“The Troll” in Dresser, Wis., is just minutes east of Taylors Falls, Minn., and has 22 trails spread over 80 acres. It’s best known for its late-night skiing, along with its family-friendly atmosphere and genuinely goofy energy. They even offer “parent-assisted lessons” for skiers ages 3-4 and snowboarders ages 4-5 that teach parents/guardians how to ski/snowboard with their kiddos. I can’t hit the jumps like I used to, but the area historically hosts a whippersnapper of a terrain park where I may or may not have seen my life flash before my eyes once or twice (trollhaugen.com).

It’s hard to believe one of the best ski areas is right here in southeastern Minnesota, nestled in the nooks and valleys west of Red Wing. This classic Minnesota ski area claims 50 trails on its 140 acres, where I did some of my earliest racing. I’ve spent many moments airborne while turning laps in their dynamite terrain park — and they even have a “back bowl.” Always worth the trip (welchvillage.com).

With more than 100 acres and 26 trails, this relatively small Minnesota classic near Taylors Falls has seen upgrades in infrastructure and guest service over the past few years to easily make it a great snowy daytrip. A must on the checklist every winter (wildmountain.com).

The crown jewel of Minnesota’s destination ski resorts, Lutsen sports four peaks and even a gondola, and is 4½ hours north of the Twin Cities. It’s the premier ski/snowboard destination of Minnesota, with lodging options abounding at the resort and along the North Shore. With more than 1,000 acres of terrain and 95 trails, you’d be hard-pressed to find better views of Lake Superior and “lake effect” snow in the Upper Midwest.

Did someone say road trip? In just over two hours from the Twin Cities, you can hit this classic, city-owned ski hill set high above Lake Superior on the edge of Duluth. The recreation area boasts 22 trails on 175 acres, a death-defying terrain park, and some 700 vertical feet. And there are few better views of the great Gitchee Gumee than from perched atop Spirit. It’s worth the trip for the breathtaking views alone (spiritmt.com).

I can’t recommend this state agency-owned property on Minnesota’s Iron Range enough, with 35 trails on more than 200 acres — including some just fantastic Midwest tree runs. The Giants team are masters in the art of snow grooming, which means trail conditions are consistently mint. It can feel like the middle of nowhere, but you won’t want to come home after a weekend here. There’s a reason Minnesota hosts its state high school racing championships here every year.

It’s no accident that one of the most famous Nordic skiers in the world, Jessie Diggins, is a Minnesota native. Minnesota boasts some of the best Nordic skiing in the country — both classic and skate — everywhere from city and state parks to the City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis each February. Trails on my list include any number of the Three Rivers Parks trails (threeriversparks.org), lakeside trails in Minneapolis (loppet.org) and numerous trails in St. Paul to keep my winter self full of fresh air and vitamin D.

My absolute favorite Minnesota destination is some four hours northwest of the Twin Cities near Detroit Lakes: the acclaimed Maplelag Resort in Callaway (maplelag.com), with ski-in/ski-out trails over hundreds of acres of the great Minnesota North.