Family Ski/Fun Vacation

[tcharron]

I'm looking at different destinations for myself, Steph, and my two sons for the last week of February. I've gotten quotes from Bretton Woods and Smugglers Notch, but do people here have a 'recommendation' for an affordable place to go with plenty to do? Smuggler's Notch is attractive because there is simply so much to DO there, but Bretton Woods offering 'Kids stay and Ski free' is pretty tempting cost wise.

I've seen a recent thread on 'if money was no object'. Reverse side. What locations offer the most bang for the buck, for a family?

 

[snoseek]

what kind of skiers are you and your family? where have you been and liked or disliked?

 

[SnowRider]

when my family planned a vaca for february smuggs was asking for a hefty fee. If you are looking for nightlife maybe killington? I have limited knowledge in this field. I do however know that smuggs does have a lot to offer.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

I can vouch for Smuggs. Was there last Jan with my family (wife, 3 yr old and 1 yr old) we had a great time. Nice ski in/ski out condo with kitchen (save a ton of money being able to make meals there) close to the day care facitlity and to the base area. We didnt touch the car in 5 days....our 3 yr old loved the kids camp, we dropped her off at 9am and we had to pull her out of there at 430 as she didnt want to leave....great pool/hot tub/fun zone/ice rink...lots to do, great terrain, great staff....we are going back this Jan...you get what you pay for, I honestly dont think its terribly expensive.

 

[tcharron]

what kind of skiers are you and your family? where have you been and liked or disliked?

Well, I've just started skiing after 15 years, so I'm a massive insurance liability. Steph is lower intermediate, along with Billy. Jean-Luc is a beginning snowboarder.

Personally, I like non-crowds, or at least lots of room.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Well, I've just started skiing after 15 years, so I'm a massive insurance liability. Steph is lower intermediate, along with Billy. Jean-Luc is a beginning snowboarder.

Personally, I like non-crowds, or at least lots of room.

As others have said Smuggs is a great family place. That said, no place offers more for the family to do then Whiteface/Lake Placid.

http://www.orda.org/newsite/

WF has it's own seperate beginner area, lots of Blue terrain, and is well know for being one of the least crowded major ski resorts in the Northeast. Check it out once and you and yours will be back.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

I agree, WF has a great town, outside ice rink, lots of fun...Smuggs has no town, so you are pretty much staying at the resort, but thats fine, after a hard day skiing, a bottle of Cabernet, hot tub and a big meal, I'm done by 9 anyway!!!!

 

[RISkier]

Skiing wise, I think Bretton Woods fits you well. There's a beginner area that's segregated from the main network of trails and there are nice green trails off every (virtually every?) lift. Most blues are just right for lower intermediates. Except for the main lift and trails right out of the lodge, I've never found crowds to be much of a problem at BW either. It's really a very mellow mountain. That said, the amount of terrain they, or anywhere else for that matter, have open is relatively limited right now. Off slope would depend on where you're staying. Perhaps I don't know the area very well but there doesn't seem to be much off slope activity right near BW. The Mount Washington Hotel is kind of a city unto itself, but very pricey. Not sure there are many other off-slope activities for the family (somebody correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[ajl50]

As others have said Smuggs is a great family place. That said, no place offers more for the family to do then Whiteface/Lake Placid.

http://www.orda.org/newsite/

WF has it's own separate beginner area, lots of Blue terrain, and is well know for being one of the least crowded major ski resorts in the Northeast. Check it out once and you and yours will be back.

Can't agree more. Nothing beats lake placid for a town. There are nice stores to shop in, a perfect mountain town to walk in, kid friendly activities like bobsled riding and dog sled rides across mirror lake.
Plus there is a great diversity of lodging options. I went up late feb/early march '05 and stayed in the Hilton for like 65 a person a night (sun night to Thursday night) and that included meals and buffet breakfast. It was awesome and it snowed like 20+ that week.
Last year we went up and got a condo for like 275 a night that slept four adults and could have slept six.

The point is can't beak lake placid for a family.

 

[ChileMass]

Lake Placid - great town, super mountain, lots of off-hill stuff to do.
Stowe - has the old-time VT charm a lot of families are looking for.
Tremblant - #1 rated ski village in the East many years in a row.
Killington - big hill, lots to do, lots of people.
Sunday River - smaller version of Killington, but a cool hill.
Bretton Woods - kids stay/ski free is hard to beat. Intermediate hill with amazing views.

And now for something completely different - consider:

Attitash - better hill than Bretton Woods and closer to North Conway for diversions.
Mont Orford (Quebec) - should have snow, 3 mountains to choose from, lots of off-hill stuff, 15% currency exchange is nice. My family and friends go there every Feb vaca week.

 

[tcharron]

Mont Orford (Quebec) - should have snow, 3 mountains to choose from, lots of off-hill stuff, 15% currency exchange is nice. My family and friends go there every Feb vaca week.

WOW they have a nice package there.

http://www.orford.com/activites.php?id=443&sec=3

100 bucks a night, per adult, WITH free kids stay and ski.

Only downfall would possibly the drive with kids in car for ~6 hours

 

[ChileMass]

WOW they have a nice package there.

http://www.orford.com/activites.php?id=443&sec=3

100 bucks a night, per adult, WITH free kids stay and ski.

Only downfall would possibly the drive with kids in car for ~6 hours

Orford rules. It's 4 hours almost exactly from my house just east of Worcester, MA. Where is home for you? It's worth the drive.

 

[ccskier]

Don't forget your passports if it is after the first to get into Canada.

 

[ChileMass]

Don't forget your passports if it is after the first to get into Canada.

That's only if you fly. No passport needed to drive into Quebec until Jan 2008.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

Smuggs is a 7hr drive for me with 1.5 yr old and a 4 yr old...thank god for DVD with wireless headsets!!! We leave LI around 330 on a Friday afternoon to get off the island, stop have dinner just south of Hartford on 91, change the kids in the the pj's, they get 1 movie then they fall asleep for the remainder of the trip...not too bad

 

[ajl50]

Ahh road trips in modern times. I remember when my parents had no DVD's and we drove from Philly to Lake Placid. Dad would time it so he could listen to Mike and the Mad Dog up till albany. That was my dvd.

 

[Brettski]

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood afternoon everybody...how are you today?

 

[skicone]

Our family joins with another ( 4 adults, 6 teens) every year for a ski vacation. I would agree that Lake Placid-Whiteface provides more bang for the buck than Stowe. We had fun at both though. This year we are trying Bolton Valley. Killington is NOT the place for families, while Sugarbush is slightly better for families, IMHO.

 

[Brettski]

I took the family to Loon last year...made trips to Cannon and Sunday river from there