Best resort for a non-skier

[philly_bluenose]

I need some advice.

My wife doesn't ski so much since she hurt her knee and back.

Our children (aged 16, 15 and 6) and I love to ski (all day) and really enjoy Killington, but my wife doesn't find much to do there when she's not skiing.

Can anyone recommend a resort in the NE that would suit my wife, but still have good, varied skiing for the rest of us ?

 

[Edd]

North Conway is a good base of operations. Cranmore is right in town and Attitash is 10-15 minutes out. Wildcat, Shawnee Peak, and Bretton Woods are all 30 minutes or less. If the bigger mountains are important, Sunday River, Loon, and Cannon can be reached in 60 minutes or less.

North Conway is a real town with restaurants and shopping galore.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Whiteface/Lake Placid-In my opinion nothing is close. It's also the opinion in just about every survey result put out by every ski rag. It isn't just #1 for off hill acivities in the NE, it's #1 in North America. Your wife will love it there.

 

[Riverskier]

North Conway is a great town and an outlet shopping Mecca! If your wife is into that sort of thing. A couple others that come to mind, though I haven't visited:

Stowe- Luxury accomodations, spas, off mountain activites, and a great town. I have never skied Stowe, but it is on the top of my list of places I would like to visit.

Whiteface- Big mountain (most vertical in the East), and it sounds like there are more off hill activities in Lake Placid than anywhere else in the East.

I am sure other who have actually visited these places could provide a lot more info, but they may be worth looking into.

 

[St. Bear]

North Conway is a good base of operations. Cranmore is right in town and Attitash is 10-15 minutes out. Wildcat, Shawnee Peak, and Bretton Woods are all 30 minutes or less. If the bigger mountains are important, Sunday River, Loon, and Cannon can be reached in 60 minutes or less.

North Conway is a real town with restaurants and shopping galore.

Whiteface/Lake Placid-In my opinion nothing is close. It's also the opinion in just about every survey result put out by every ski rag. It isn't just #1 for off hill acivities in the NE, it's #1 in North America. Your wife will love it there.

North Conway is a great town and an outlet shopping Mecca! If your wife is into that sort of thing. A couple others that come to mind, though I haven't visited:

Stowe- Luxury accomodations, spas, off mountain activites, and a great town. I have never skied Stowe, but it is on the top of my list of places I would like to visit.

Whiteface- Big mountain (most vertical in the East), and it sounds like there are more off hill activities in Lake Placid than anywhere else in the East.

I am sure other who have actually visited these places could provide a lot more info, but they may be worth looking into.

If I can throw in my two cents regarding these posts:

Whiteface/Lake Placid will have more activities for her to do, but you may be mad for missing them yourself (like the Olympic stuff), while North Conway has stuff she could do on her own and both of you would probably be glad you weren't around (shopping).

That's not to say that Whiteface doesn't have shopping and North Conway doesn't have other attractions, I'm just talking about the main differences.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

If I can throw in my two cents regarding these posts:

Whiteface/Lake Placid will have more activities for her to do, but you may be mad for missing them yourself (like the Olympic stuff), while North Conway has stuff she could do on her own and both of you would probably be glad you weren't around (shopping).

That's not to say that Whiteface doesn't have shopping and North Conway doesn't have other attractions, I'm just talking about the main differences.

That's crazy talk, just sayin;-)

 

[snowmonster]

Agree on North Conway. If she's into shopping, she'll have a field day in the outlets.

Also agree on Stowe. Aside from the resort and spa amenities and the town itself, if your wife is looking for more, Burlington is within a 30 minute drive.

 

[Sky]

I guess it would make sense to know what your wife would prefer to do. North Conway, as explained, is great for "shopping". But if she doesn't want to drive alone and be out in the cold going store to store...it may not be a good option.

Does she want internet access so she can either work or surf?

Does she like the Spa deal?

"Nice" places to do the Quality Hang @, "with" terrain for the rest of the fam....check Bretton Woods and Stratton.

I don't recall much off-mountain stuff @ Okemo, but maybe the Jackson Gore portion has something.

Tough thing to match...I'm looking for the same thing pal. Now, if I could find a hot sunny beach at the base of great skiing...my quest would be at an end. :>

 

[deadheadskier]

Have not been to Whiteface, but in New England I'd say Stowe if for nothing more than it's proximity to Burlington and all it has to offer.

 

[Talisman]

I guess it would make sense to know what your wife would prefer to do. :>

This information would really help in case, of example, she liked libraries more than shopping or a spa day Middlebury Snowbowl might be a better choice. A little more information and a custom solution is possible.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Lake Placid is the real deal for EVERYONE in the family Whiteface for the skiers , then North Conway several mtns to ski and shopping for her

 

[BigK]

Agree on North Conway. If she's into shopping, she'll have a field day in the outlets.

Also agree on Stowe. Aside from the resort and spa amenities and the town itself, if your wife is looking for more, Burlington is within a 30 minute drive.

Burlington isn't 30 minutes away from Stowe.

 

[tarponhead]

Whiteface/Lake Placid-In my opinion nothing is close. It's also the opinion in just about every survey result put out by every ski rag. It isn't just #1 for off hill acivities in the NE, it's #1 in North America. Your wife will love it there.

This is such a no-brainer.... Have fun at WF. Do stay in Lake Placid though. The extra 15 minutes spent driving to WF then compared to Wilmington is SO way worth it for the non-skiing spouse.

Stowe is really nice, but not WF,

 

[philly_bluenose]

Thanks guys. Sounds like WF and Lake Placid is favourite at the moment. LP seems to have a greater diversity of activities compared to some of the other suggestions.

 

[HD333]

Is Tremblant to far? Tons to do in the village for a day.

 

[x10003q]

Is Tremblant to far? Tons to do in the village for a day.

You beat me to it. It is hard to go wrong with Tremblant.

Also if you have time: Quebec City. There is plenty to do in town while the excellent skiing choices are Mt St Anne at 30 minutes, Le Massif at 50 minutes, and Stoneham at about 25 minutes. Quebec City is beautiful and the food is awesome.

 

[WWF-VT]

Is Tremblant to far? Tons to do in the village for a day.

Why drive to Canada for a faux-European village / mountainside mall when you can get a real New England village and better skiing at Stowe ? Lake Placid / Whiteface and Stowe are two worthy destinations for both the off-hill fun and and on mountain challenges that should be the focus of a family ski trip.

 

[severine]

I will say that I followed B along on 2 ski trips while pregnant so I have some first-hand experience with this.

The first was to Stowe. Since I don't mind driving, while he skied, I drove down to Ben & Jerry's, the big Cider farm (forgot the name), even into Warren and Waitsfield, and also up to St. Johnsbury to see the Dog Chapel (with my dog!) and hit Cabot on the way back. Plenty to do.

The second was a trip where he skied at Cannon and Loon. We stayed south of the two (forget the town exactly but it was the condo of a fellow AZer) and while he was there, I drove the scenic way by Mount Washington over to North Conway, then took the Kanc back to the Lincoln/North Woodstock area at the end of the day to pick him up. I liked the drive so much that, IIRC, I did the loop twice each day, plus a little outlet shopping in North Conway. Had I been feeling up to it, though, Franconia Notch would have offered some non-skiing outdoor activity to do.

Just throwing my 2 cents in even though it looks like you have it narrowed down since I've been there with the non-skiing ski trip.

 

[drjeff]

Stratton/Bromley isn't a bad choice either with Manchester and it's outlets, shops and restaurants a short drive away

Also, if she's not skiing, are winter outdoor activities in general not in her favor?

 

[Vortex]

I suggest something with a bus route or shuttle service. Easier to get around and you don't have to worry about getting lost or Driving in what is good weather for a skier, but could be nasty for the non skier. Sunday River does this, Waterville does it also.