One day to ski--recommendations?

[skimama]

Love this site--I've been planning a quick visit to the northeast and have been trying to figure out if I'll be able to find decent snow to get in some skiing with my 2 teenage sons. Glad to see your season is not over yet!

So: the plan is to fly to Boston the afternoon of Tuesday 3/27, drive SOMEPLACE, ski all day Wednesday, drive back to Boston Thursday.

I am an intermediate skier who has (sadly) only skied in the Midwest. My 18- and 14-year old sons snowboard, the older one has been to Utah and Colorado but the younger one not outside the Midwest.

Any recommendations on where we should ski and stay? (1) Would prefer someplace less corporate and more uniquely New England, (2)Money IS a factor, (3) All things equal, would prefer less travel time . . . but I'd be willing to travel further if the snow would be significantly better.

Thanks!

 

[snowmonster]

Welcome to the boards, skimama. Close to Boston ski areas that fit the bill would include Wachusset (1 hour), Crotched Mountain (1 hour plus), Pats Peak (1 hour plus) and Sunapee (1 hour thirty minutes). No slopeside accommodations at these places but there are inns and lodges nearby. You can't go wrong with any of these places.

Have fun!

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

could you fly into Burlington, VT instead?

 

[hammer]

Welcome to the boards, skimama. Close to Boston ski areas that fit the bill would include Wachusset (1 hour), Crotched Mountain (1 hour plus), Pats Peak (1 hour plus) and Sunapee (1 hour thirty minutes). No slopeside accommodations at these places but there are inns and lodges nearby. You can't go wrong with any of these places.

Have fun!

I don't think Crotched is open on weekdays now.:sad:

I was at Pats Peak on Sunday and the snow conditions on the groomers were the best I'd seen all season. If you go on a weekday you'll miss the crowds as well.

I haven't been to Sunapee or Wachusett since the storm but I'd guess that conditions on the groomers would be great at either place.

You picked a great time to hit an area closer to Boston...enjoy.

 

[mishka]

Love this site--I've been planning a quick visit to the northeast and have been trying to figure out if I'll be able to find decent snow to get in some skiing with my 2 teenage sons. Glad to see your season is not over yet!

So: the plan is to fly to Boston the afternoon of Tuesday 3/27, drive SOMEPLACE, ski all day Wednesday, drive back to Boston Thursday.

I am an intermediate skier who has (sadly) only skied in the Midwest. My 18- and 14-year old sons snowboard, the older one has been to Utah and Colorado but the younger one not outside the Midwest.

Any recommendations on where we should ski and stay? (1) Would prefer someplace less corporate and more uniquely New England, (2)Money IS a factor, (3) All things equal, would prefer less travel time . . . but I'd be willing to travel further if the snow would be significantly better.

Thanks!

if any ski resort to choose for Wednesday AND save money most definitely Wildcat....it not the closest to Boston probably a good 2h driving ....on Wednesday at Wildcat 2 for 1 and ticket price will be $29 per person I'm sure will not be difficult to find 4-th person at the door

 

[BeanoNYC]

could you fly into Burlington, VT instead?

My first thoughts exactly. Where are you flying in from? I guess Stowe is closest to Burlington, I defer to others on that, though.

 

[bobbutts]

I don't think Crotched is open on weekdays now.:sad:

I was at Pats Peak on Sunday and the snow conditions on the groomers were the best I'd seen all season. If you go on a weekday you'll miss the crowds as well.

I haven't been to Sunapee or Wachusett since the storm but I'd guess that conditions on the groomers would be great at either place.

You picked a great time to hit an area closer to Boston...enjoy.

Pat's Peak last day of the season is 03/25

1.5 hr drive
Sunapee (nice, but smallish and not steep. good grooming)

about 2 hr drive for you would be (in order from best to worst IMO):
Cannon (classic, big, great views)
Waterville Valley (nice wide cruisers and resort village)
Loon (groomed and lacking personality, swanky)


Slightly longer
Mt. Wash Valley
Wildcat - (great views, classic NE terrain)
Attitash, Bretton Woods, Cranmore (I don't have much personal experience)

VT is a longer drive, but has gotten more snow recently..

The 2 hr places and Mt. Wash valley have great views for the most part and will be open with plenty of snow, can't go wrong with any of those really.

I'd skip the smaller places people are suggesting even if they were open, why would you come all the way here to ski a hill the size of what you have back home??

 

[JD]

Bolton. Great exposure for spring conditions, good snow pack. Inexpensive.

 

[KevinF]

Love this site--I've been planning a quick visit to the northeast and have been trying to figure out if I'll be able to find decent snow to get in some skiing with my 2 teenage sons. Glad to see your season is not over yet!

So: the plan is to fly to Boston the afternoon of Tuesday 3/27, drive SOMEPLACE, ski all day Wednesday, drive back to Boston Thursday.

I am an intermediate skier who has (sadly) only skied in the Midwest. My 18- and 14-year old sons snowboard, the older one has been to Utah and Colorado but the younger one not outside the Midwest.

Any recommendations on where we should ski and stay? (1) Would prefer someplace less corporate and more uniquely New England, (2)Money IS a factor, (3) All things equal, would prefer less travel time . . . but I'd be willing to travel further if the snow would be significantly better.

Thanks!

Unfortunately, the classic "uniquely New England" areas aren't all that close to Boston. The closest one is Cannon (just over two hours). Wildcat and the areas of the Vermont Mad River Valley (Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen) also are that way, but all of those are closing in on four hours or so from Boston -- i.e., really really long day trips. There have been discussions on this board regarding the suitability of Cannon for intermediate skiers. You're going fairly late, so who knows what Cannon's snowpack will be like by then.

Others have mentioned some of the closer areas. Wachusett and Crotched are fairly small areas, and you might get bored. Mt. Sunapee is reasonably large, there is no ugly base village. It's not very high on the challenge scale, but they do blow a LOT of snow, so their base depth will be up there, which bodes well for late March skiing.

As others have said, Waterville Valley and Loon are also around the two-hour mark from Boston. The areas in southern Vermont are rather "corporate", which sounds like they aren't what you're looking for.

Personally, I'd say Waterville Valley or Mt. Sunapee. Keep an eye on their snow report pages and decide from there.

 

[dmc]

Killington... For the variety.. And proximity to Boston.

 

[BLESS]

ihaving been to most places mentioned, I'd go with Cannon, Attitash, or Wildcat. Their proximity to boston is the main reason. ( also I think these places offer more overall terrain than some of the others mentioned)

 

[WWF-VT]

Love this site--I've been planning a quick visit to the northeast and have been trying to figure out if I'll be able to find decent snow to get in some skiing with my 2 teenage sons. Glad to see your season is not over yet!

So: the plan is to fly to Boston the afternoon of Tuesday 3/27, drive SOMEPLACE, ski all day Wednesday, drive back to Boston Thursday.

I am an intermediate skier who has (sadly) only skied in the Midwest. My 18- and 14-year old sons snowboard, the older one has been to Utah and Colorado but the younger one not outside the Midwest.

Any recommendations on where we should ski and stay? (1) Would prefer someplace less corporate and more uniquely New England, (2)Money IS a factor, (3) All things equal, would prefer less travel time . . . but I'd be willing to travel further if the snow would be significantly better.

Thanks!

You could drive on 3/27 to Vermont's Mad River Valley. Approximate drive time is 3.5 hours from Boston. Lots of potential low cost lodging options and you will definitely find yourself in the "less corporate and uniquely New England" environment. Ski at Sugarbush where you will have lots of different skiiing and riding options for a group with mixed abilities. Over three feet of new snow this weekend has conditions looking good for the next few weeks. The New England / Vermont character of the Mad River Valley and snow conditons will more than compensate for the extra travel time.

 

[RISkier]

This isn't a day trip. The original post says they'll drive up Tuesday, ski on Wednesday, and return Thursday. That certainly brings the VT areas into reasonable play and given the snow they've had of late, I think one of the VT areas would be a good choice. I'd take a close look at Killington, Sugarbush, and Stowe.

 

[danpop]

Killington, VT.

It is pretty easy to get to from Boston. I-93 North, I-89 North, and then Rt 4 West. I did it recently; easy drive, about 2.5 hours.

It has a lots of terrain for any ability. Lots of snow now (they claim 34"); mid-week is not crowded.

 

[skimama]

Thanks for all the quick replies!
The main reason for the trip is college visits, so that's why we are flying in & out of Boston. I wouldn't mind a longer drive (say, 3.5 vs. 2.5 hours) if it means much better snow, atmosphere and/or deals.

 

[hammer]

I missed your arrival date...thought it was this week :dunce: so scratch my recommendation for Pats Peak. With the warm-up forecast for this week, IMO your best bet would be to go further north if possible.

I've never been there, but if you do an AZ search on Burke in VT you will find a lot of good recommendations. I think it also meets your drive requirements.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

Burlington has St. Mikes and UVM!!!!!!!

 

[f2racer]

Close to Boston ski areas that fit the bill would include Wachusset (1 hour), Crotched Mountain (1 hour plus), Pats Peak (1 hour plus) and Sunapee (1 hour thirty minutes).

Agree with snowmonster that these are the best choices if proximity to Boston is the main driver. The problem for all of them with the exception of Sunapee is that you'll ski all the terrain within a couple of hours (or even an hour depending on how hard you ski). Wachusett does have $10 off midweek if you pay with an AmEx see my post on "Skiing on the Cheap".

If your OK with a 3 hour drive, you may want to consider either Sunday River or Sugarloaf in Maine.

 

[WWF-VT]

Killington is realistically 3 hours from Boston - all highway until Rte 4 . Sugarloaf is a 4 1/2 to 5 hour drive from Boston.

 

[KevinF]

If your OK with a 3 hour drive, you may want to consider either Sunday River or Sugarloaf in Maine.

Sugarloaf in three hours from Boston? That sounds like an awfully optimistic drive!

I'd cross Killington off the list of potential places. Yes, there is some great skiing there, but the original poster isn't going to find it in the one day she has available. I've always felt I've done a fair amount of traversing to get from place to place at Killington.

If she's ok with the extra drive, then I'd head right for Stowe. They'll almost certainly have better conditions then anything in NH in late March. Navigating the mountain is easy, and it's as classically New England as New England gets.