best areas for non skiers

[ZYDECORICH]

just wanted to get an idea of what you guys feel is the best area for non skiers. when i've skied in new england it was mostly in college and we went to the mountain and crashed at a house somebody knew. that was pico, killington, mount snow, okemo, mrg, and stratton. i didn't really get a chance to check out the surrounding areas. in those days we would ski, party,sleep, do it again, leave. i'd like to take the whole family now but not everyone wants to ski everyday unlike me. the girls want to shop and go to lunch, the kids want a day off to play or do something else, and ma and pa want something in between. its been a while. looking for a place with a town, couple of cool bars, resort with a good teen activities, maybe something for the older folks. I've heard smugglers was a great family place. stratton i know has changed. would love to ski in and out but not a must. new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine, canada? guidance? help!

 

[billski]

You want to keep the landlubbers busy while you slide the slopes but keep them close by? Lake Placid/Whiteface is tops in my book, followed by Stowe. These are real ski towns with tons of stuff to do in town.

 

[deadheadskier]

I would agree with Bill, though I've only been to Placid in the summer. Lived in Stowe, plenty to do there.

Manchester area of Vermont and North Conway area of NH would be two other recommendations.

 

[billski]

We vacationed summers in NC way for 7 years. Lots to do in summer.
No conway for shopping sure. But I'm not sure you would find a lot for kids to do otherwise in the winter. I would like to be wrong on this one.
never done any schlepping in Manchester. What is there for kids to do?

 

[Skimaine]

Avoid Maine. Not much to do at SR and virtually nothing to do SL other than ski/ride.

 

[snafu]

+1 Manchester - was just there this past week for the first time, its like Vermont's welcome center for New Yorkers with alot of outlet stores that are within walking distance of each other. It surprised me how big the town was and how many shops it had. Its also in a beautiful valley with Bromley only minutes away. Stratton is right there too with all the shops etc it has at the base.

 

[WWF-VT]

Stowe - shops, ski museum, Ben & Jerry's and Burlington an easy drive

 

[RISkier]

I agree with the Lake Placid and Stowe suggestions. It's been years since I've been in Lake Placid, and never spent much time there, but it certainly seemed like a fund town with lots to offer. Stowe fits the bill very well also. Depending on what folks want, I'd add the N. Conway area as well. N. Conway itself doesn't really have that NE charm but there's lots of shopping, dining, etc.

 

[frozencorn]

I agree with the Lake Placid and Stowe suggestions. It's been years since I've been in Lake Placid, and never spent much time there, but it certainly seemed like a fund town with lots to offer. Stowe fits the bill very well also. Depending on what folks want, I'd add the N. Conway area as well. N. Conway itself doesn't really have that NE charm but there's lots of shopping, dining, etc.

Gotta disagree with that assessment. While the strip mall-outlet stretch doesn't do much for the quaint feel, you get a different sense in North Conway village, and certainly Jackson.

 

[tjf67]

Lake Placid is going to have the most to do for the people who are skipping skiing. For those that are skiing you have a 3.3k vert olympic hill to ski.

 

[bigbog]

.........

Avoid Maine. Not much to do at SR and virtually nothing to do SL other than ski/ride.

Oh man/girl, you've Got to be Kidding!!..:lol:. Truth is, while at Sunday River one could spend good part of day over at Freeport! or in Portland...but other than that..Skimaine's correct... that's it for the Tahoe type of experience...as far as shopping in Maine...
I was thinking more of either Attitash, Bretton Woods, or Cranmore....with North Conway providing shopping/dining(food/drink) galore.
$.01

 

[freezorburn]

+2 Manchester VT. From there you got Bromley Stratton Majic Also Killington @ 1 hour away.

 

[snowmonster]

+ 1 for North Conway.

For alpinists: you have slopes for all abilities from Cranmore to Wildcat and, in the spring, Tux and the rest of Mt. Washington.

For nordics: ski trails around Jackson

For eating: good eats around North Conway

For shopping: Settler's Green and surrounding areas. Everytime I go for my spring hikes up Tuckerman, you won't believe the number of friends volunteering to do the drive with me. They drop me off at Pinkham at around 830 then return at around 430 or 5. Problem is the trunk is so full of shopping bags!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Camelback..there's a casino and an indoor waterpark minutes away along with Shopping outlets..

I was surprised by all the non-skiers in Jackson Hole..

 

[bigbog]

...

+ 1 for North Conway.

For alpinists: you have slopes for all abilities from Cranmore to Wildcat and, in the spring, Tux and the rest of Mt. Washington.

For nordics: ski trails around Jackson

For eating: good eats around North Conway

For shopping: Settler's Green and surrounding areas. Everytime I go for my spring hikes up Tuckerman, you won't believe the number of friends volunteering to do the drive with me. They drop me off at Pinkham at around 830 then return at around 430 or 5. Problem is the trunk is so full of shopping bags!

Yep..thanks snowmonster,
Jeez...forgot Wildcat..and.the whole Presidential_Range, everything ~10mi outside of North Conway...
It's quite an area....one of the major natural landmarks of NewEngland..

 

[hardline]

durring midweek at stowe over the years i have meet lots of non skiers. that just come up to get away.