Ski Resort Recommendations

[PixelPaul]

I've never skied in the Northeast before, and I'm looking for some resort recommendations. I have a friend visiting from a tropical climate this winter, and her dream is to see snow and go skiing. Although in talking with her I get the idea that it's not the actual skiing that she is most interested in, but more the winter mountain lifestyle she has seen in the movies. Like fresh fallen snow on pine trees, fine dining, shopping, resort with fireplace, etc.

I started to search Google for resorts, but I'm a bit overwhelmed where to start. I hoping for some suggestions of some places to start my search, based on the following criteria:

1. Preferable location would be New York, Vermont or New Hampshire.

2. As mentioned above, actual skiing is probably the least important variable. Although a beginner friendly slope or two would be nice

3. Someplace that has a kind of 'ski village' nearby, with shops, fine dining, etc.

4. Lodging on the slopes or in village

5. Other non-skiing outdoor activities to do: sleigh rides, tubing, ice skating, etc.

6. Reliable (as much as can be) natural snow

7. Preference would be smaller place than mega ski resort

Thanks in advance!

 

[dlague]

Well my first thoughts are North Conway area since there are several ski areas to begin with. I assume that she is not a skier or not very proficient Cranmore might be good and Attitash is not far either, even Bretton Woods is feasible with their wider trails.

If you want more rustic, I would lean towards Stowe where the town of Stowe is more quaint and if you feel like it Burlington is 45 minutes or so away.

Killington has a more vibrant apres ski scene along Killington Road.

I am also thinking White Face/Lake Placid but the mountain might be more of a challenge.

 

[crank]

Lake Placid would definitely fit the bill and I am sure they have a bunny hill.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Lake Placid is the best ski town in the East, although it's remote, and feels remote. The resort itself (Whiteface Mountain) is as good as any, although the town is a few miles away from the resort, it's the most walkable ski town and all the activities you could ask for including some cool Olympic stuff like Luge/Bobsled tracks, Ski Jumps, as well as an Olympic village kind of theme to a lot of things up there. Whiteface is mostly known for long groomers, some of them are steep. There's actually a lot of terrain here for beginners/intermediates on the lower mountain -- better than most. And the lower mountain chair takes you to the base of 3 higher mountain chairs in each direction. The view is amazing and perhaps she'll get her courage up to ride some higher chairs. It's in the Adirondack high peaks and quite a dramatic mountain with high elevation so the snowfall is comparable to central Vermont and Northern NH (which ain't bad usually).

2nd pick would be North Conway NH... nice town, plenty to do, and a variety of ski areas of varying sizes. If the snow is really good you can ski places like Black Mtn and Cranmore on a budget and plenty good for beginners and intermediates. You also have some bigger hills around with higher elevation and lots of snowmaking if it's a bad season.

Plan B is a lot more flexible, Plan A might be better if you plan it right.

 

[x10003q]

If you are coming from Ohio, Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY would be perfect for your description and also close to you. Ellicottville is a great winter party town. The skiing will be less interesting than going further into NY, VT, or NH. If you want a slope side in Vermont, Stratton also fits your description. There is lots of slope side lodging with a village at the base of Stratton with some decent food/bars.

 

[bdfreetuna]

I would also consider Quebec if this is a romantic interest and you aren't concerned with travel time too much.

 

[tnt1234]

budget? How long is the trip? What's the max drive time for what major city?

Best guess would be lake placid (though I've never been....we almost went a few times and it sounds like what you want...).

Tremblant might be good too, but long drive. Stowe is a great town as well, with some high end spots, which might be what your friend is looking for.

Stratton on paper might fit the bill, but the 'village' IMO is smaller than you think, and kind of tame.

Interesting challenge. Keep us posted!

 

[deadheadskier]

Most of the good ones have been covered.

My vote would be for Stowe based on your reliable natural snow and fine dining criteria. Stowe exceeds the other top two I'm thinking of in those categories, which would be Lake Placid and N. Conway. LP, might be slightly better on the dining front, but not the natural snow. Stowe is better for both snow and dining than N. Conway by a pretty good measure in both categories. Stowe is also the most expensive of the three destinations if that's a factor.

Stratton is another good suggestion, but it is a Faux Village at the base of the mountain. The types off hill type activities you are after are more located in Manchester, which while great, is a good distance drive away from Stratton proper.

Okemo might fit what you're look for too. The village of Ludlow is actually pretty charming with lots of dining options and it is the closest real town next to a ski resort really in the East save for maybe Lincoln, NH with Loon. I prefer Ludlow to Lincoln. Ludlow feels more like a real town, where as Lincoln feels more like shops and stores along a busy road. Massive amounts of slopeside lodging at Okemo, but more of the condo variety. Not a lot of classic ski lodge type properties though like you find in Stowe, LP or N. Conway.

Sugarbush and the Mad River Valley is a worthy mention as well. Great natural snow, nice villages in Warren and Waitsfield, the ski area is a few miles outside of town though.

 

[rtjcbrown]

I'm going to suggest going a different direction. Seeing that you are both beginner skiers, you don't need a huge mountain. Being from Ohio, your drive to Lake Placid, Stowe, Stratton, or North Conway is going to start at 10 hours plus, in the winter. I agree with the suggestion of Holiday Valley NY, but would also add Seven Springs PA to the list of places to consider. It is only about a 3 hour drive from your area, which is perfectly reasonable for a long weekend, or a couple of nights. I would even give Snowshoe, West Virginia a look. It is a hell of a lot closer than NY, VT, or NH.

 

[tnt1234]

I'm going to suggest going a different direction. Seeing that you are both beginner skiers, you don't need a huge mountain. Being from Ohio, your drive to Lake Placid, Stowe, Stratton, or North Conway is going to start at 10 hours plus, in the winter. I agree with the suggestion of Holiday Valley NY, but would also add Seven Springs PA to the list of places to consider. It is only about a 3 hour drive from your area, which is perfectly reasonable for a long weekend, or a couple of nights. I would even give Snowshoe, West Virginia a look. It is a hell of a lot closer than NY, VT, or NH.

Seems like this trip will be as much about the town as the mountain though. Haven't been to 7 springs since I was like 10, but I don't remember there being much of a ski town feel to the area.

Never been to Snowshoe, but always intrigued by that place.

 

[Jully]

Most of the good ones have been covered.

My vote would be for Stowe based on your reliable natural snow and fine dining criteria. Stowe exceeds the other top two I'm thinking of in those categories, which would be Lake Placid and N. Conway. LP, might be slightly better on the dining front, but not the natural snow. Stowe is better for both snow and dining than N. Conway by a pretty good measure in both categories. Stowe is also the most expensive of the three destinations if that's a factor.

Stratton is another good suggestion, but it is a Faux Village at the base of the mountain. The types off hill type activities you are after are more located in Manchester, which while great, is a good distance drive away from Stratton proper.

Okemo might fit what you're look for too. The village of Ludlow is actually pretty charming with lots of dining options and it is the closest real town next to a ski resort really in the East save for maybe Lincoln, NH with Loon. I prefer Ludlow to Lincoln. Ludlow feels more like a real town, where as Lincoln feels more like shops and stores along a busy road. Massive amounts of slopeside lodging at Okemo, but more of the condo variety. Not a lot of classic ski lodge type properties though like you find in Stowe, LP or N. Conway.

Sugarbush and the Mad River Valley is a worthy mention as well. Great natural snow, nice villages in Warren and Waitsfield, the ski area is a few miles outside of town though.

I'm not as big a fan of the MRV in terms of a ski town feel in the way that Stowe, Ludlow, or Lake Placid give you. I love the MRV, but I like those other towns a lot more.

I'd definitely second suggestions for North Conway, Lake Placid, Stowe, Tremblant, and Ludlow (Okemo). Lake placid is the most removed from the ski resort, the others are pretty well integrated but tend to be more crowded than Lake Placid. North Conway is not too expensive, not too crowded, has lots of skiing options, but is an extra few hours of driving compared to the other few.

Second tier of options is Lincoln, Mad River Valley, and Stratton. I agree with you DHS, Lincoln doesn't feel as town like to me. Its a great place, but not as ski town like as some other places.

Snowshoe is an interesting proposition coming from Ohio. Natural snowfall isn't horrible, from what I hear, and the village isn't bad. I haven't been there though, so I'll let others really dissect it.

 

[mbedle]

Stowe is a great town and even though the town center is 8 miles from the resort, there are a ton of options for food, shopping, drinking between the center and Stowe Fork. Another nice thing about Stowe is the free public transportation. You basically could park at your hotel and not use your car during vacation. Download the app and it lets you know exactly where the bus is along the route. That way you don't have to stand outside waiting real long for it to arrive. Highly recommend that you go on a horse ride and hike up to Binghamton Falls. They are really beautiful in the winter. If you are into dogs, the dog sled ride is pretty cool. If you are into good food and don't mind paying for it, plan your trip around one of the summit dinners at the cliff house (they have not posted the schedule yet for the winter). If you are into rock climbing (or would like to try it) the Stowe Rocks is pretty impressive for an indoor climbing facility. Ice skating is also available at the resort.

 

[deadheadskier]

Lived in Snowshoe for a short bit. It is basically just like Stratton in terms of it's village, but located on top of the mountain. Some amazing views from up there when it's not socked in with clouds. Snowshoe is absolutely in the middle of nowhere, so if you get bored with what they have to offer in the village, there's not much else to do. Outside of the two runs off the backside the skiing is lacking. Most people would find Wachusett more exciting.

Seven Springs is basically one GIANT hotel. It's tied in with the base lodge and has a whole bunch of restaurants and bars all under one roof. The few times I've been it's basically been just a massive party. It almost reminded me of a college dorm with people leaving their room doors open and strangers just going from room to room boozing it up. Definitely not a hint of a "romantic mountain ski get away", but a lot of fun. I found the skiing at 7 springs to be better than Snowshoe.

Here's the hotel and base lodge complex.

Sent from my XT1565 using AlpineZone mobile app

 

[mister moose]

Not mentioned yet is Suicide 6 / Woodstock VT.

Suicide 6 is just out of town, and Woodstock the THE quintessential charming VT village. Lots of restaurants, shops, galleries, stores, etc. Nearby things to do include cheese making, Billings Farm Museum, (Think Rockefeller) and sleigh rides. The Woodstock Inn is a top drawer hotel, and there are lots of other cozy inns in town. Easily driveable in 30 minutes is Killington, great novice terrain and night life. Also close is Okemo and Sunapee. Suicide 6 is a good option mid season when the base is strong, not so much pre Christmas or post March 15th. If the accent is on village and not so much skiing, this is a strong choice.

That's if you want the whole mountains/quaint/pine tree Vermont thing. Otherwise I agree Holiday Valley might be almost as good for half the drive.

Also look into

Mountain Top Inn, Chittenden VT. Outstanding mountain location and ambiance. 15 minutes to Pico or Killington.

Ludlow (Okemo) is more small town, less quaint. They have some great novice terrain right off the old lodge, but it's a super highway because all traffic funnels through there. Jackson Gore is a great ski in ski out complex. An ok choice, but nightlife is going to consist of 2 bars and Netflix.

I disagree on recommending Stratton. Stowe is old school panache with a fresh facelift if you don't mind the extra drive.


*Edit:
Suicide 6 is a smaller area. A beginner doesn't need a large area, but it might fall short if you are a strong skier and want to break off and ski a larger mountain.

 

[Bosco DaSkia]

If you are coming from Ohio, I would also highly recommend that you check out Ellicottvile. It has everything you asked for.

It has 2 great ski areas; Holiday Valley and Holimont.

Both ski areas are top notch operations with state of the art snowmaking and lift systems.

Holimont is a private ski area that is open to the public on weekdays only. I love that place. There is never any body there, but it is always fully staffed and open. If you want to be treated like royalty whilst paying very little for the experience, then a weekday trip to Holimont may be just what you are looking for.

Holiday Valley has excellent ski and stay packages that run from a slope side hotel, to high end condos. Both have an excellent beginner skier setups, with long wide trails, high speed lifts and a great ski school with very good rental programs.

Both places also benefit from being smack dap in the middle of the Lake Erie snow bands. They get a butt load of natural snow to go with the stuff they make. Yet, at the same time, they don't get as much of the bitter cold that is typical in the higher mountain towns. Remember, the Saranac Lake - Lake Placid area is routinely one of the coldest areas in New York State in the winter.

The town of Ellicottvile itself is absolutely beautiful. Unlike a lot of the ski towns mentioned here, you can actually see the slopes while walking around downtown. They are only a few blocks away. It makes for an awesome backdrop while you having drinks around the outdoor fireplaces they have right on main street. The town has a great selection of restaurants and bars that run the gamut from cheap and rowdy to expensive and swanky. There are a lot of nice places to shop on the main street, all within a reasonable walking distance.

The town also has an excellent selection of lodging if you would rather stay closer to the shops than the slopes.

There are plenty of non skiing related things to do in the area. From fat tire bikes to mountain coaster rides, Snowmobiling, Sleigh Rides/Horseback Riding, Snowshoeing/Cross Country Skiing, and Tubing at the Holiday Valley Tubing Company.You'll find it all in Ellicottville, and its only half the drive time to Vt or the Adirondacs!

And if that ain't enough excitement for you, there is a fancy assed casino just down the road in Salamanca NY. I know losing money always get my heart rate up..........



I hope you have fun where ever you end up! Now is a good time to be looking for winter ski deals.


:grin:

 

[dlague]

I'm not as big a fan of the MRV in terms of a ski town feel in the way that Stowe, Ludlow, or Lake Placid give you. I love the MRV, but I like those other towns a lot more.

I'd definitely second suggestions for North Conway, Lake Placid, Stowe, Tremblant, and Ludlow (Okemo). Lake placid is the most removed from the ski resort, the others are pretty well integrated but tend to be more crowded than Lake Placid. North Conway is not too expensive, not too crowded, has lots of skiing options, but is an extra few hours of driving compared to the other few.

Second tier of options is Lincoln, Mad River Valley, and Stratton. I agree with you DHS, Lincoln doesn't feel as town like to me. Its a great place, but not as ski town like as some other places.

Snowshoe is an interesting proposition coming from Ohio. Natural snowfall isn't horrible, from what I hear, and the village isn't bad. I haven't been there though, so I'll let others really dissect it.

I had thought about Okemo/Ludlow but I am trying to think of this as a vacation and Ludlow does not appeal to me as a ski town. Yes it has ski shops, a downtown area, restaurants, etc. it somehow just feels like another VT town. That could be because I grew up in VT.

Sugarbush/MRG does not have a town per se everything is spread out however, the base area is pretty good. There is Warren which is cute but tiny. All of my trips there I have always eaten elsewhere. MRG does not seem to be the right place for inexperienced - yes they do have some easier trails but limited and the base area is limited too.

I saw that Suicide Six was mentioned. Wood Stock is a very cool town and has a great vibe. However, I would not wish Suicide Six on anyone. While the skiing is good and there is plenty of terrain to satisfy the visit. It will get old quick. The lodge is TINY and that placed gets packed with race teams and they do not care about your stuff.

I still think North Conway, Stowe, Lake Placid and Killington are the solid choices. North Conway, Lake Placid and Killington have the greatest number of restaurants, and night life.

Lake Placid seems to have a lot but is about 9 miles from Whiteface and it seems Lake Placid has limited if any slope side lodging.

North Conway is a center hub for multiple ski areas but Cranmore is in town which us beginner-intermediate friendly. The slope side lodging appears to be more condo oriented. But there is tons of lodging in town. Attitash about 8 miles fromn the center of town has slope side lodging. There are also Wildcat (18 miles), Black Mountain (10 miles), Bretton Woods (29 miles), Shawnee Peak (20 miles), King Pine (15 miles).

Killington has Killington Rd which is loaded with places to entertain and eat. Slope side lodging if desired. Plus there is Pico down the road as well.

Around Stowe there is Smuggs (while only about 5 miles away during the Winter it is about a 45 minute drive due to closure of 108 ) and Bolton Valley which is about 30 miles away and Burlington is about 45 miles away. Stowe has a nice variety of restaurants but the town center is about 8 miles from the ski area. Slopeside lodging available in lodge ($$$$) and condo.

 

[Jully]

I don't know if the individual looking for the quintessential TV-esq ski life would like the Killington scene haha. It has its perks and is very lively, but its a two lane 40 mph road for multiple miles with things really far spread apart.

Fun for a night or two, but not a full ski vacation, IMO. K is a ski town, but not a ski village.

That is a fair point about Ludlow though. It might get old quick. I've only spent a few evenings there really/just passed through.

 

[granite]

If you're looking for a mountain atmosphere in winter, you could go to the Mount Washington Hotel and Bretton Woods, their own ski area. Bretton Woods would be great for a beginner-they even have free skiing on the beginner hill. The views from the Mount Washington hotel are as good as anywhere, if not the best. They also have most of the other winter activities there. Plus, it's not too far from North Conway and there are a lot of other ski areas not too far away. The Mount Washington Hotel is very expensive, but if you're looking to impress a woman; she will be very impressed with you. Drinks in their lobby bar with views of the Presidential Range are fantastic. However, if you're looking for a big party scene or night life; the Mount Washington Hotel wouldn't be the place. My other choice would be Lake Placid, so much to there including party scene and night life.

 

[mister moose]

The simple fact is that there is no all inclusive place to suit all of PixelPaul's criteria.

And more info is needed to fine tune the recommendations. He is going to have to weigh the options and think about what he's wiling to discard or drive further to.

Face it - the best ski schools/rental stock are going to be the larger resorts. The best villages are not mountainside. The best restaurants are scattered around. Activities like museums, galleries, outlet stores, quaint country general stores, breweries, cheese makers, sugar houses, antique shops, sleigh rides, sculptors are all a drive-to necessity.

So tell us

How long you're going for.
How you prioritize each of your criteria. Place them in order.
Time of year
Budgetary needs, if any.
Would you consider splitting the trip into two destinations?

And lastly...

Bring a car with snow tires, or at least AWD with good snow rated all seasons!

 

[Bosco DaSkia]

The simple fact is that there is no all inclusive place to suit all of PixelPaul's criteria.

And more info is needed to fine tune the recommendations. He is going to have to weigh the options and think about what he's wiling to discard or drive further to.

Face it - the best ski schools/rental stock are going to be the larger resorts. The best villages are not mountainside. The best restaurants are scattered around. Activities like museums, galleries, outlet stores, quaint country general stores, breweries, cheese makers, sugar houses, antique shops, sleigh rides, sculptors are all a drive-to necessity.

You haven't been to Ellicottville yet, have you?


But, you're right . More info is always helpful when planning a trip.