Need suggestions on destination

[New Daddy]

I'm planning a trip for the Presidents Day week and need suggestions on destination.
I've been to Stowe, Sugarbush, Wildcat, Killington and Brettonwoods, but I am willing to re-visit any one of them or try a new place as long as the following criteria are met:

(1) plenty of beginner/low intermediate runs for the missus
(2) plenty of double diamonds for myself
(3) good kid's program for my 4-year-old son
(4) reliable day care for my 8-month-old baby.
(5) few people (wishful thinking during the Presidents Day week?)

As it will be difficult to eat out with two little ones, dining or apre-ski activities are of secondary importance.
I'm also willing to drive as far as Sugarloaf or Whiteface, if it's really worth it.
Suggestions?

 

[riverc0il]

How about Smuggs? Always rated really high for families with youngesters.

 

[deadheadskier]

Where are you driving from?

 

[New Daddy]

Where are you driving from?

Oops... Boston.

 

[deadheadskier]

Sunday River would be a very good option. Their expert terrain is underrated in my opinion. They spread the crowds out surprisingly well. Even on the busiest of days you'll seldom find much of a lift line on Aurora or White Cap. Also at SR, if you wanted to venture off for the day, Wildcat's not too far. Sunday River has far more difficult on mountain expert terrain than Wildcat with the exception of Hairball.

If I had an intermediate level wife and young kids, I'd take them there over Sugarbush or Stowe. I say that with Stowe being my favorite area in the East and Sugarbush being top five.

 

[mikestaple]

Loon - hahahahaha. There will be less traffic on 93 at 8am, then at Loon during President's week.

You really, REALLY, have to haul to avoid the crowds that week. I have taken the family to Sugarloaf that week - specifically he last half of the week and then stayed through Sunday and Monday - and the crowds weren't bad (although Sugarloaf sticks it to you on the housing cost) - I'm assuming you need a condo for the kitchen and space etc. Check out, I think, it is Hobbit Court - H something; ask for it when you book it - it is literally 20 yards to a chair and then the ski school is on that hill.)

And YES the drive is worth it.

My 4 year olds learned to ski there. They loved it, loved the instructor, etc. I don't have any experience with the day care for infants though (i think it is right near the bottom of the Whiffletree chair.)

You could take the chair with your wife to the top and you can race down the front on the black and double blacks and she can take anyone of a number of great blue runs to the bottom. Plus you have the whole King Pine area too.

 

[New Daddy]

If I had an intermediate level wife and young kids, I'd take them there over Sugarbush or Stowe. I say that with Stowe being my favorite area in the East and Sugarbush being top five.

Stowe and Sugarbush are easily my two favorites. But wouldn't they be really crowded during the Presidents Day week?

 

[deadheadskier]

Sugarbush has more places to 'hide' than Stowe and avoid crowds from my experience.

Smuggs was recommended, I'd give it a NO F'N WAY on holidays. Smuggs has the WORST lift lines anywhere during weekends and holidays. It always gets high marks for kids programs, some of the best in the country, it has some KILLER expert terrain, but very lack luster intermediate cruising terrain for a mountain its size.

Like I said, take a look at Sunday River. With an intermediate wife and young children, I would choose it over Stowe and Sugarbush. I would also choose it over Sugarloaf in that you have less likely hood of severe weather. Sugarloaf is great, but its reputation for bad weather and wind holds is not without merit.

 

[vonski]

In terms of crowds, Sugarbush is only really busy on the first Saturday and Sunday in my experiences, but if you go over to Ellen then there are no crowds to speak of on either of those days. Plenty of woods and even low pitch woods that you could show your wife.

 

[Geoff]

If the recent trend continues, Killington isn't all that busy during holiday weekends. Snowshed, Rams Head, and the K1 gondola are a mess. The rest of the mountain is typically less busy than an average Saturday. All the blacked out season pass people are elsewhere.

 

[crank]

Saddleback. We went there season before last for Pres. Week. Longest line was a minute or 2. Plenty of reasonable lodging in Rangely about a 10 minute drive from the hill. Lots of sleds around though. there are some condos at the hill too.

 

[arik]

I agree on the no way for Smuggs, bad lines. Mount Snow maybe, it will be crowded but the lines are easily avoidable.

 

[billski]

I agree on the no-way for Smuggs, bad lines. Mount Snow maybe, it will be crowded but the lines are easily avoidable.

Entirely missed the pres day criteria. I'll give a nod to no-way-smuggs too. Also, if your family is cold-adverse, they may not go for Saddleback. You're gonna be beating crowds no matter what you do. While Bush and Stowe have plenty of uphill capacity, you'll find the base facilities will be packed.

My experience on crowded days is that green-serviced lifts will be fine. Anything blue will be nuts. For YOUR challenge, go for the singles line, even with another. Even the 4-runner single line at Stowe isn't bad on a crowded day. Haven't experienced the new Stowe lodge at peak times, so can't say for sure. If you really want no-threat, easy green at Stowe, do the Toll House. It's the slowest double in the world, no real base lodge - you can use the hotel game room for changing, or just go back over to mani lodges. What's nice about Toll House, for a timid skier is that it is a NO-THREAT zone. What I mean is you never have to worry about anyone slamming into you, swooshing past you (impossible to do anyways), and because it is so lightly traveled, it does not bump up. So, if you've got a really timid or nervous skier, on a busy weekend, its a nice place to be.

I would look seriously at Sunday River.

 

[riverc0il]

I was not going to recommend Smuggs due to the crowds. But Pres Weekend? Everywhere is going to be crowded and have lines. Though I think billski has a good point that if you are skiing off on your own away from the family, the lack of a singles line at Smuggs could be a bit of an issue since they only have doubles.

Sunday River is a good option. Skiing is not as good as Stowe and Sugarbush though but you have already been to those mountains and I assume you are looking to try something different. SR does offer a lot of variety and has a lot of places to go so you can ski there a few days in a row without getting bored.

 

[deadheadskier]

I was not going to recommend Smuggs due to the crowds. But Pres Weekend? Everywhere is going to be crowded and have lines.

With Smuggs only having double chairs, the line for Madonna will be 30 minutes, the line for Sterling will be 45. No avoiding it.

 

[Smellytele]

Jay with day trips to Burke

 

[riverc0il]

Jay with day trips to Burke

Those two mountains would not rank high on my list of recommendations. Jay does not have a good beginner area, IMO. Their beginner selection is right in the middle of the run out so you have lots of experts wizzing by at high speed. Also, not a great mountain for lower intermediates in general which is also a fault of Burke as their blue squares ski rather steeper than average. So the beginner/intermediate misses may not enjoy Burke though Burke does have a nice isolated beginner area.

 

[andyzee]

I'd go with Burke.

 

[JPTracker]

Those two mountains would not rank high on my list of recommendations. Jay does not have a good beginner area, IMO. Their beginner selection is right in the middle of the run out so you have lots of experts wizzing by at high speed. Also, not a great mountain for lower intermediates in general which is also a fault of Burke as their blue squares ski rather steeper than average. So the beginner/intermediate misses may not enjoy Burke though Burke does have a nice isolated beginner area.

I disagree on Jay. Jay is great for experts and has a good beginners area but only lacks in the intermediates. As far as crowds during presidents week they are very small. Because of their small bed base, the fact only Mass has that week off and it is to far for day trips from Mass the crowds during the week are small. Rarely a lift line. The down side to a small bed base is lodging is hard to come by for that week. We have gone up there for the last 15 years for Presidents week and have enjoyed every one.

 

[riverc0il]

Let me specify a little more... they actually have a decent amount of beginner terrain. But I think the issue is that it is not a separate area and beginners need to content with more advanced skiers whizzing by them constantly. If I had a little tyke, I would want to find a more sheltered learning area. Even for trails that are away from the metro and trails that non-beginners would not ski... skiers and riders need to traverse busy trails to get to them.