Need Information for Pre Christmas Family Trip

[Jill]

I am seeking information on the ski areas in the northeast. We will be traveling Dec 18th for 4 to 5 nights, have 13 and 15 year old kids. Went to Waterville Valley a couple of years ago........it was nice maybe want to try something different this time. Love the tubing, so we need a place we can do that, we are true flat terrain Floridians with not much experience with skiing so we do not like a lot of people racing by us making us nervous. Any information anyone could provide would be great. After reading some of these posts, what about Loon, Sunday River........

 

[ChileMass]

Dear Jill - welcome to AZ.com!

Have fun on your trip - you can't really go wrong at any of the major resorts. Loon is great and an easy destination as it's right off I-93, only 2+ hours form Boston with no traffic. Loon is a bit more basic than a lot of other Eastern resorts, though, in my opinion. Great skiing, really nice accomodations, it has a terrain park, but it's kinda limited. As the Dad in my group, I really love Loon, but I go to cruise blue squares. Teenage kids would probably prefer Sunday River. Sunday River is a a haul from any major airport (a good 4.5 hours from Boston, 2+ hours form Portland - don't let the website hype fool you), and it's definitely geared toward a younger crowd. The terrain parks and mogul runs are extensive, and the boarder/freeriding vibe is everywhere. This is the place for young families, kids who insist on modern layouts, and college/post-grad vacationers. It's certainly a lot of fun if that's what you are looking for. Killington is similar and much easier to get to.

For a more family-oriented getaway (but not boring) check out Stowe, which is the classic New England ski experience. Bretton Woods (NH) is another upscale family destination, but it has little challenge. You and your husband would probaly love it, your kids might be bored. A hidden gem is Jay Peak for the volume of snow they get. When other hills have none, Jay gets dumped on. Sugarloaf is an incredible skiers/riders' mountain, but it's even further than Sunday River, and the accomodations are limited.

Recommendation - go to Whiteface in Lake Placid. Great hill (3100' of vertical), great town, excellent accomodations and restaurants, lots of off-hill stuff to do, lots of recent improvements including an upgraded terrain park, great history, and very accessible (2.5 hours from Albany or Montreal) right off I-87. Lake Placid does Xmas in a big way and you'll love it.

And - you can do research and book accomodations right here on good ole AlpineZone.com - see the Lodging tab above......

Have a great time! :beer:

 

[Vortex]

That is still early season and crowds may not be that bad yet. I would Suggest Sunday River, because they will have alot of terrain open early and for a big resort crowds seem less to me no matter what time of year.... Waterville will reamin the same as it always is easy to find everyone and plenty of off hill stuff to do with no driving necessary.
I'm Loon's biggest fan just depends on how much they get open early. If its cold they make snow like crazy, at marginal temps they don't make as much snow as the Asc resorts.
If going to Loon they have great shuttle services, so you son't have to stay on resort property. May save a couple of dollars that way and then you can all come and go as you please back and forth from the resort.. If you stay at Loon 35 min to get back to Waterville to go to town square see fireworks do the sleigh rides(Candy store is my daughters favorite) The tubing may or may not be ready by then at loon, but it is wild, my kids 8 and 10 were intimidate by it last year. They do at night as well as day for teenagers and adults it is fun.
Last point staying in Lincoln area you can go to Waterville, Loon, Cannon and Bretton woods in about 40 min. Cannon is only 15 min. If frills aren't a big thing stay at the Parker Motel Cheap and wonderful people. We left elmo they a few years back they sent it to me and on the honor system asked me to sent a check for postage. You will have to drive 10 to cannon 10 to Loon. Good Luck.

 

[thetrailboss]

I've got to run here, but I can tell you that me, an expert skier of 15 yrs, and "Ms. Trailboss," a second season skier, are spending our ski vaca at Sunday River. Great "ski week" deals--$299 per person (with 10 percent off that) gets you lodging, lesson, and tix. Great deal and very diverse terrain that will be well covered by then.

Look them up...www.sundayriver.com

Good luck!

P.S. I'd say Burke, but they don't have snowtubing quite yet :wink:

 

[First Tracks]

For a more family-oriented getaway (but not boring) check out Stowe, which is the classic New England ski experience.

I'd definitely cast a vote for Stowe -- you can't beat it for old-fashioned New England charm. Their new learning area at Spruce Peak this season would also be perfect for your family, Jill -- lots of elbow room without more advanced skiers speeding past. Now, all we need is snow to ensure that it'll be open for the timing of your visit, but frankly that's so close to the holiday that unless this warm, wet garbage that we're receiving continues until then, it'll be open.

Another hidden gem is Jay Peak for the volume of snow they get. When other hills have none, Jay gets dumped on.

As a former 8-year employee of Jay, I can't honestly say that I'd recommend it to Jill. It's remote, there's little else to enjoy there besides the skiing (on the US side of the border, anyway), and there's not a heck of a lot of interesting terrain for Jill and her husband. Northway and Ullr's dream, the easiest routes of the summit, or Montrealer (the easiest way from the top of Stateside) have some pitches that have intimidated more than one low intermediate. Low intermediate options at Jay are severely limited -- it's either a flat runout near the base, or advanced intermediate and above, with little in between. And unless we suddenly switch to a heavy natural snowfall weather pattern within the next week or so, Jay's limited snowmaking power will severely limit the available terrain by the third week of December. I love Jay, but I'm not sure that it'd be ideal for Jill and her family.

Recommendation - go to Whiteface in Lake Placid. Great hill (3100' of vertical), great town, excellent accomodations and restaurants, lots of off-hill stuff to do, lots of recent improvements including an upgraded terrain park, great history, and very accessible (2.5 hours from Albany or Montreal) right off I-87. Lake Placid does Xmas in a big way and you'll love it.

Another terrific recommendation. I penned a feature article on Placid as a family destination that's available online (click here if you're interested in reviewing it). It also includes an online video presentation, about 8 minutes or so in length, that we created featuring the family skiing as well as many of Placid's off-the-hill attractions. How does riding an Olympic bobsled sound instead of tubing? :wink:

Have a great trip, and let us know how it went after your return!

 

[RISkier]

My wife and I love Stowe, terrific village with lots to do off slope. BUT, I'm not aware of any tubing at Stowe. I don't know that there isn't tubing, just not aware of it. Based on the original post, we need to be recommending places with nearby tubing.