Best beginner resort

[x10003q]

You bring up an interesting point. I can see your point, but I would say the opposite, that taking a beginner to a larger mountain can enhance the experience. You can ski a green anywhere, but I would think it makes it more exciting to do it on an "Olympic mountain". That's why he's looking for resorts in VT, and not the Poconos.

Whiteface sucks for beginners. The little beginners area is nice, but when you are ready to step up to some longer runs there is only 1 green trail off the HSQ Facelift. There is no green off the Whiteface gondola. Gore would be a way better choice for your wife, but Gore has no slopeside lodging yet.

 

[vinnyv11]

I say Bolton is a great option because it has a lot of green options and trees, etc for you. Plus you can get reasonable accommodations on mountain.

I personally loved smuggs even though I didn't get to do it all. They have assume variety of terrain with the kid stuff coupled with some great advanced terrain and a multitude of glade and wilderness runs.

Just my two cents. My wife is exactly as your describing and she melted down on great northern at killington but loved Bolton. Long drive I came from Philly area.

Link to my trip report: http://www.paskiandride.com/forums/...-valley-and-mount-snow-0303-0306/#entry291772

Hope that's not against forum rules to post a link to another forum.

 

[xwhaler]

How about Pico? Nice, quiet vibe with a great selection of green and blues off a high speed quad. Could sample all the restaurants on the Killington access road easily as well.
Also agree with Bolton though----thats a good place for low crowds, fairly mellow terrain and chances for consistent snowfall/deep snowpack.
A condo on Bromley would be good too....with perhaps a side trip to Magic

 

[bdfreetuna]

Take her to Stratton. Even if she accidentally skis into one of their double diamonds she won't notice any difference from the blue square right next to it. This has to be the easiest mountain in Vermont.

Bolton is a good one though, plenty of good blue terrain but also awesome woods and some steep trails so you can have fun too.

 

[BenedictGomez]

To fit the exact criteria you requested (which always seems to be completely ignored by 5th or 6th post in these threads), I'd go with either Smuggler's Notch or Bolton Valley.

If you would like more apres ski activities or non ski day activities for your wife, I'd go with Stowe.


My 2¢?

Bolton Valley would be an excellent, non-crowded, affordable, beginner ski friendly, often overlooked option here, and it's only 30 minutes to a myriad dining and shopping options in Burlington.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Throw another one in there....Pat's Peak is a fun little mountain that definitely caters to beginners. Taught there for a few years in college and they always did a great job with beginners packages and what not.

 

[skiNEwhere]

Where are you located? NJ? If that's the case you're gonna probably have a 5+ hour drive to Whiteface, fyi

 

[drjeff]

Your best bets for slopeside and decent beginner skiing and easiest drive from NJ are Mt Snow and Stratton. Both have great snowmaking, lifts and grooming. I happen to hit Stratton more than Mt Snow, but either would be a good choice.

I know that many here will be amazed to see my post this, but honestly for a beginner, between Mount Snow and Stratton, when you factor in all the other parameters, especially the slopeside lodging part, I'd say Stratton over Mount Snow.

Stratton has much more of an inventory of slopeside lodging than Mount Snow does (atleast for now...), and the pod of beginner terrain near the base area of Stratton is a bit more consolidated and isolated from the rest of the masses on the mountain than at Mount Snow.

Snowmaking wise - a draw

Off hill dining + shops, Stratton has a few more within walking distance of the base area with their village, Mount Snow has a few more within a few miles of the base area - basically a draw

Off hill activities - pretty much a draw

Plus compared to some of the other GREAT VT resorts mentioned in this thread, when heading up from NJ, you'll spend less time on the drive up/back than with more Northern Resorts.

 

[ScottySkis]

Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk 2

South Vermont resorts are all perfect, if want more chance of natural snow then north VT. is the place to go. I personally like Mountsnow, they have nice h otel on the hill and cheaper places a mile off the road with bis shuttles. Great 6 pack bubble chair to keep you warm on windy days, north face for expert nice blue crusing on main faces, Stratton and is also good but further north and Okemo is also nice but more north. Gore is also good you probably have to stay in the valley. Have fun were ever you choose.

 

[steamboat1]

Why does everyone always diss Killington? I think they have one of the best beginner pods in New England. Snowshed & Ramshead are pretty much beginner only terrain & are separated from the rest of the hill so your wife won't have to deal with more advanced skiers/riders. Then there's Great Eastern, the longest beginner run in the east accessed by a nice warm cozy gondola. She could ski right from the summit of Killington Peak if she wanted. I know Great Northern is rated as a beginner run but I think it's more an intermediate run. She wouldn't need to ski it from the summit as she did your last visit since the mountain is pretty much 100% open now. As for ski in, ski out accommodations they have condo's along the Great Eastern trail as well as Sunrise Village. There are other condo's close to the mountain that have regular shuttle service to the lifts in addition to the Grand Hotel all located nearby. If that's not enough there is a ton of other options along the access road. As for dining options I don't think any other area has more except for maybe Stowe & if your looking for a little night life Killington is consistantly named #1 in the east for that. As for more advanced terrain for yourself I'll let Killingtons reputation speak for itself.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Plus compared to some of the other GREAT VT resorts mentioned in this thread, when heading up from NJ, you'll spend less time on the drive up/back than with more Northern Resorts.

I've never understood this argument, unless you're doing this drive every weekend all season long, then the drive hours and gas money would pile up. Alternatively, if your group is beginner or low-intermediate then you're not going to benefit as much from the additional drive time either.

But if you're only going up once or twice or three times per winter, and spending 2 or 3 days on snow, why you wouldnt drive 2 more hours for a substantially better ski experience is something I've never grasped.

 

[bdfreetuna]

^^
Good points re: K .. I forgot they have so much beginner terrain probably because I don't really ski it.

It's not an intentional diss people are just thinking more of mountains which don't have trails like Devil's Fiddle and Escapade thrown in the mix.

 

[Smellytele]

Why does everyone always diss Killington? I think they have one of the best beginner pods in New England. Snowshed & Ramshead are pretty much beginner only terrain & are separated from the rest of the hill so your wife won't have to deal with more advanced skiers/riders. Then there's Great Eastern, the longest beginner run in the east accessed by a nice warm cozy gondola. She could ski right from the summit of Killington Peak if she wanted. I know Great Northern is rated as a beginner run but I think it's more an intermediate run. She wouldn't need to ski it from the summit as she did your last visit since the mountain is pretty much 100% open now. As for ski in, ski out accommodations they have condo's along the Great Eastern trail as well as Sunrise Village. There are other condo's close to the mountain that have regular shuttle service to the lifts in addition to the Grand Hotel all located nearby. If that's not enough there is a ton of other options along the access road. As for dining options I don't think any other area has more except for maybe Stowe & if your looking for a little night life Killington is consistantly named #1 in the east for that. As for more advanced terrain for yourself I'll let Killingtons reputation speak for itself.

He did say he had gone to K before and his wife did not have a good time and he wanted to try something else. Although he did say it was early season and not much was open... Why do people have to always push Killington on people and get so defensive of it? :smile:

 

[x10003q]

I've never understood this argument, unless you're doing this drive every weekend all season long, then the drive hours and gas money would pile up. Alternatively, if your group is beginner or low-intermediate then you're not going to benefit as much from the additional drive time either.

But if you're only going up once or twice or three times per winter, and spending 2 or 3 days on snow, why you wouldnt drive 2 more hours for a substantially better ski experience is something I've never grasped.

You answered the question in the first paragraph! The OP's wife is a beginner.

Nothing says fun to a new skier like a 6+ hour drive home on a Sunday night after skiing all day.:wink:

 

[trackbiker]

I would stay away from Mt. Snow for a beginner. Long John is essentially the only green trail down from the top and it is the most crowded trail on the mountain on weekends and gets skied off quickly.

 

[steamboat1]

He did say he had gone to K before and his wife did not have a good time and he wanted to try something else. Although he did say it was early season and not much was open... Why do people have to always push Killington on people and get so defensive of it? :smile:

Who's pushing K? I'm just offering my honest opinion. He did say his wife is a beginner. Name another ski area that offers two separate base areas including lifts & lodges dedicated exclusively to beginner terrain. You can't.

And that doesn't even include Skyeship base area which could also be included.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

I recommend Bromley, some good easy cruisers off the top as well as good blacks and blues too for you. The Bromley Sun Lodge is a ski in ski out hotel at the base area. The town of Manchester Center is about a 10 minute drive and has a lot of outlets and shopping.

 

[RISkier]

I’ve really enjoyed Mount Snow but I too don’t think it’s a great layout for a true beginner. As noted, Long John is the only green from the summit, it’s the main connection between the main base and Carinthia, and it feeds several intermediate trails. It’s one of those “easiest trails from the summit” that carries way too much mixed traffic. I don’t really recall the green terrain at Stratton so won’t comment on it. My wife and I did not like the purpose built feel of the village. That may simply reflect our preferences. Likely very convenient, especially if you stay in the village; we just thought it didn’t have much character. We’ve spent a lot of time and too much money in Stowe. Spruce is really well designed for beginning skiers. Toll Road is a very long gentle green from the summit of Mt. Mansfield that is very pretty. And although the lift is old and VERY slow, the Toll House area is almost all green terrain and gets almost no skier traffic. The town of Stowe has much to offer though it tends to be expensive. A non-skier can go to Stowe and have a good time. Also, there’s not much for ski-in ski-out options unless you break the bank and stay at the Spruce Lodge. I haven’t really spent enough time at other VT resorts to comment meaningfully. Others have suggested Bromley and based on what I’ve read that came to mind as having potential for your needs.
I know you’ve basically dismissed Bretton Woods and it misses on some points. There’s not much right in the vicinity unless you stay at the resort. But, IMO, the layout is brilliant for beginners and early intermediates. There’s a separate isolated beginners area with its own lift. There are a bunch of long fall-line green trails on the main mountain. There is at least one green trail down from virtually every lift. And most of the blues are light blue that are very nice for skiers progressing from green to blue terrain.
You could also take a look at Mount Sunapee. Sunapee can be a complete zoo on weekends but it has an isolated area for beginners. Probably kind of isolated if your wife decides she wants to quit early or not ski at all.
Cranmare also came to mind. Another place I’ve never skied but it is right in Conway so you’d have tons of off slope options. And as I recall it has a reputation of being pretty beginner friendly. No doubt other folks here would have much more direct knowledge of how well it might meet your needs.

 

[KevinF]

Yes exactly and besides i want her skiing on SNOW not ice like NJ and PA is famous for. Ugghhh ive ski'd way to many years on that crap and nothing scares a begginer more than the sound of stopping on ice

Having taught for a while, I found the thing that scares beginners more then anything is having to share the slope with faster skiers. Having "beginner" slopes that are basically the run-out of other trails or -- worse yet -- cross over other trails sucks for beginners. You want to find a place where the beginner trails are sufficiently isolated to the point that there's no reason for non-beginners to go there.

Stowe is the area that I'm most familiar with and they have a beginner area that's way off to one side (i.e., the Toll House Double). Non-beginners never go there as it doesn't take you anywhere "interesting". There have to be other beginner-friendly trail systems around, but that's the first one that comes to mind.

 

[spring_mountain_high]

Stowe is the area that I'm most familiar with and they have a beginner area that's way off to one side (i.e., the Toll House Double). Non-beginners never go there as it doesn't take you anywhere "interesting". There have to be other beginner-friendly trail systems around, but that's the first one that comes to mind.

+1 on this from experience...my wife is a 'rarely-ever'...several years ago we went to stowe and rented a condo at the base of the toll house area and it was perfect for her...it was ski-in-ski-out...i spent an entire day with her in the toll house area and she loved it...she lapped easy mile and toll road all day and we basically had the area to ourselves...after that day, her first in 5 years, her legs were dead and i had the rest of the week to explore mansfield and spruce...good times...plenty of non-ski activities around town too