Best Slopeside Ski Village

[deadheadskier]

If we're talking PURE slopeside access to a village where you park the car for the week and don't have to worry about scraping your wind shield for a week and can keep yourself entertained, there honestly is only one worth mentioning on the East Coast and that is Tremblant.

Stratton, Smuggs and to a lesser extent Sugarloaf all have 'mini' villages around the base worthy of relieving bordom for a day for the non-skier.

If I were to book a vaca in the north east with the best off hill options for non-skiers, I think of four places: North Conway, Stowe, Lake Placid and Manchester, VT. With all of these, if you wish to lodge close to the action of the town, it will be you, the rider, who does the traveling to the mountain - while your guest is in town.

To the best of my knowledge, Tremblent is the only place where you can have the best of both worlds - skiing right outside the door for you and off hill entertainment right outside the door for you guest.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Mount Saint Anne is cool as hell too. You're not on a slopside village but Quebec City is very close and is a fantastic place. The village at Tremblant is modeled after Quebec City.

Even tho this has nothing to do with the subject I agree that QC is an amazing place. Really feel like you are in old Europe.

Regarding the thread the Loaf has the most beds at the base in the east, 10,00 but it really isn't set up like a village. The Bush has sort of a village but could be setup much better.

 

[Brettski]

I would have thought Sunday river had the most beds slopeside....

Man those South ridge townhouses are sweet...

 

[RISkier]

If we're talking PURE slopeside access to a village where you park the car for the week and don't have to worry about scraping your wind shield for a week and can keep yourself entertained, there honestly is only one worth mentioning on the East Coast and that is Tremblant.

Stratton, Smuggs and to a lesser extent Sugarloaf all have 'mini' villages around the base worthy of relieving bordom for a day for the non-skier.

If I were to book a vaca in the north east with the best off hill options for non-skiers, I think of four places: North Conway, Stowe, Lake Placid and Manchester, VT. With all of these, if you wish to lodge close to the action of the town, it will be you, the rider, who does the traveling to the mountain - while your guest is in town.

To the best of my knowledge, Tremblent is the only place where you can have the best of both worlds - skiing right outside the door for you and off hill entertainment right outside the door for you guest.

When one thinks about it, the combination of slopeside convenience and interesting village are in short supply in NE. I'd think the North Conway, Stowe, and Lake Placide ideas would be among the best for the non-skier(s) but the villages are some distance from the skiing. I'll add a couple of other options:

Haven't stayed there so correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't Okemo come pretty close. There's slopeside lodging and the village is pretty close. Don't think the town of Ludlow really compares with some of the other options. And depending on what the non-skier wants and how deep one's pocketbook, I could see the Mt. Washington at Bretton Woods to have some appeal for a non-skier. Not much other action in the area, however, and the terrain at BW is great for lower intermediates but is pretty tame for more advanced skiers.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I would have to go with Tremblant.

 

[gores95]

If you have to be slopeside then I would vote for Tremblant or Stratton. Haven't been to Stratton since Intrawest took over but from the pics the base resembles Tremblant in terms of retail establishments/lodging.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Stratton built the clock tower and the beginnings of the village with the bavarian theme many years ago. Early 70's.

I went to college nearby and it was there. One of my buddies after graduating(1974) began selling time shares and condos at Stratton back then.

I also remember Stratton building a huge condo complex and they got into alot of trouble with the state as the bridge they built to get to the developement dammed up a stream. Have know idea who owned it back then.

 

[Bumpsis]

I have to vote for Sugarloaf here. The non skiing wife could easily spend a good portion of the day in the Health club. Between a massage session and the outdoor hot tub there is lots of other things she could do, like actually have a good work out.

Getting sloshed at the bar maybe an alternative.

How did you end end with a non skiing spause?
I found mine on a club ski trip. It really, well, eliminated the ski/non ski issues. :wink:

 

[JimG.]

How did you end end with a non skiing spause?
I found mine on a club ski trip. It really, well, eliminated the ski/non ski issues. :wink:

Easy there, my wife didn't ski until she met me, and to this day she is quite happy on the bunny slopes.

Whether she skis or not isn't the issue, the issue is whether or not she let's YOU ski. I never miss a day of skiing because of my wife...wish I could say that about anything else in my life I'm responsible for like my job or my kids.

Did I mention that I really love my wife?

 

[RossiSkier]

my wife didn't ski until she met me

Same here. Now she digs the culture and loves to wedge the bunny slopes. Also she found that skiing was very closely connected to shopping, a sport that she is an expert at.

 

[JimG.]

Also she found that skiing was very closely connected to shopping, a sport that she is an expert at.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

 

[ChileMass]

Killington
Sunday River
Sugarloaf

None compares to the villages at Breck, Park City, etc., but each is fun in its own way.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Killington
Sunday River
Sugarloaf

None compares to the villages at Breck, Park City, etc., but each is fun in its own way.

They are both pretty cool ski towns. I think I like Park city a little better. How about you?

 

[Brettski]

OK, so all bets are off...How about the "village" at Whistler/Blackcomb?

 

[ctenidae]

There are villages at ski areas?
I guess that's what all those buildings are for. Who knew?

 

[ChileMass]

Killington
Sunday River
Sugarloaf

None compares to the villages at Breck, Park City, etc., but each is fun in its own way.

They are both pretty cool ski towns. I think I like Park city a little better. How about you?

I've had lots of fun in both, but my wallet liked Breck a LOT more than Park City. You can't eat anywhere in Park City for less than $100 per couple. Breck is expensive enough but Park City is ridiculous. There are fun clubs in both and you can go all night at either, even in Utah. I guess if pushed to choose, Breck gets my vote just because I like Summit County so much. If you really want to cut loose (back in the day) Breck gets the nod.

 

[RISkier]

Killington
Sunday River
Sugarloaf

None compares to the villages at Breck, Park City, etc., but each is fun in its own way.

They are both pretty cool ski towns. I think I like Park city a little better. How about you?

I've had lots of fun in both, but my wallet liked Breck a LOT more than Park City. You can't eat anywhere in Park City for less than $100 per couple. Breck is expensive enough but Park City is ridiculous. There are fun clubs in both and you can go all night at either, even in Utah. I guess if pushed to choose, Breck gets my vote just because I like Summit County so much. If you really want to cut loose (back in the day) Breck gets the nod.

Haven't been to Breck so can't compare but we didn't find Park City all that expensive. We ate Mexican one night and with beers and margaritas (SP) we dropped around $40. We ate buffalo burgers at the No Name Saloon one night, they were only about $8 or so with fries -- liked them so much we went back a second evening. Ate at the Wasatch Brew Pub and I don't think the food was more than $20 or so for both of us. There are high end restaurants in PC and we ate at one that wasn't nearly worth it, but we found several places that really weren't expensive.

 

[Marc]

Plan a trip to Killington, they'll have that village up and built before you know it! Just ask them! It should be within a year or ten now!

[/pot stirring]

 

[frozencorn]

Sunday River? Village? Really?

 

[kickstand]

Kickstand of our board has a place he rents and uses there. He is the best resource IMO on the area on that side of the Kanc. I know the otherside quite well. Send us a pm if more info needed.

thanks for the kind words, BobR.....

Bill, if you want any info about the North Conway area, let me know. Happy to help out...