Week to week, the weather over the last few months has been
seasonally cold, hot, hot, cold, freezing, mild, snowy, sunny and so on, which
makes planning a ski trip a bit like playing the lottery. Go local. Wait to the relative
last-minute and plan a day-trip or weekend adventure to one of the many
family-friendly resorts within driving distance of the city. They still have lots of good fabricated snow
on the mountains—and that’s not a backhand compliment! For beginning and intermediary skiers
especially, all that means is there’s a lot of good snow. —
A few weeks ago my family took a three-day trip to Windham
Mountain, about two and a half hours away in the Catskills. My kids, ages 11 and 7, had never skied
before. Windham
is the very essence of a family resort and they know how to bring kids
along. The first day we gave the kids a
two-hour private lesson, which they shared. The second day they were in ski school (two hours in the
morning, two hours in the afternoon). The third day they skied independently and they couldn’t get enough of
it.
We know it’s weird to be touting skiing when the weekend
ahead promises to be around 60 degrees. But that will change soon, we’re sure. Enjoy!
Belleayre
Mountain (Highmount, NY)
Located in the Catskills just two and a half hours outside of the city, this
resort offers eight lifts and 55 trails, glades and parks. A full-day
instructional program is offered for children ages 4-12. Workshops and clinics
are also available for kids and adults to hone their skiing, snowboarding and
even cross-country skills. Visitors can also enjoy the lodging, dining and
attractions of the nearby Catskills. belleayre.com
Camelback (Tannersville,
PA)
With snowtubing, a variety of kids programs—including
CamelCare Adventureres for littlest ones—and lessons for skiers with mobility
impairments, Camelback pretty much guarantees a fun-filled education in
all-things-snow. You can also stock up on gear to finish the season strong (and
prepare for next winter!) at Camelback’s mega sales going on now. skicamelback.com
Catamount (Hillsdale,
NY)
“Real mountain fun, real close to home” is the tagline for
this nearby ski destination. With a terrain park for experienced athletes, and
a Mountain Cat children’s program for novices, Catamount is a snowy white haven
for skiers and boarders ages 4 and up. And when the snow melts, the getaway has
an Aerial Adventure Park with outdoors courses and zip
lines perfect for adventurers 7 years old and up. catamountski.com
Hidden
Valley Club (Vernon, NJ)
If you want to avoid crowds, consider membership at Hidden Valley Club. This New
Jersey destination is about an hour from the city and
focuses on creating an environment perfectly suited to family skiing and
boarding. Hidden Valley features two learning centers, as well as a snow sports
school and youth racing program. hiddenvalleynj.com
Holiday
Valley (Ellicottville, NY)
Just one hour away from Buffalo and
Lake Erie, this resort is a ski-loving family’s dream.
Delight in tubing, mountain biking, a spa and the chance to learn the history
of the Seneca Native Americans. holidayvalley.com
Hunter Mountain (Hunter, NY)
With 240 skiable acres, 11 lifts, 55 trails and nine snow-tubing chutes, this
resort is an exciting and not-too-far-away option. Programs are available for
children ages 4-17 in skiing and snowboarding, and daycare is available for
children six months through six years. huntermtn.com
Jiminy
Peak Mountain Resort (Hancock, MA)
This popular Berkshires resort boasts top-rated instructional programs, such as
its KidsRule Mountain Camps for children ages 4-14 (there’s even a program for
three-year-olds!). Little ones six months and older can enjoy indoor play in
the Cub’s Den playroom while parents take to the slopes. jiminypeak.com
Kissing
Bridge (Glenwood, NY)
Head to Western New York for a chance to ski this
700-acre, 36-slope, nine-lift snow park. Parents can enroll children in a two-hour instructional program (a hot cocoa break is
included!). The resort also boasts a downhill tubing park, several restaurants and plenty of nearby bed and
breakfasts. kbski.com
Mountain Creek (Vernon,
NJ)
Go for just the day or spend the night at this nearby
mountain. Overnight guests choose from the resort’s ski-in/ski-out Appalachian
complex featuring a fitness center, day spa and underground parking. Triple
Play Cards buy three full days of skiing for $75. Plus, kids 6 and under ski
free! mountaincreek.com
Okemo
Mountain Resort (Ludlow, VT)
Head to Vermont to experience one
of the best ski resorts in the Northeast. Featuring slopeside lodging (free for
kids), free skiing and riding for children under six, a daycare center for
children and private lessons for those as young as two, this resort is truly
family-friendly. Okemo even offers Young Adult slopes for teens and a special
Kids Night Out that indulges children in pizza parties, movies and fun
activities while parents enjoy the slopes solo. okemo.com
Ski
Butternut (Great Barrington, MA)
Beginners on these Berkshire slopes can breathe easy.
Three trails are designated Slow Zones, where speedy skiing is prohibited.
Novices ages 4-12 can receive full- and half-day instruction on weekends and
holidays. For longer-term vacations, mid-week ski-and-stay packages are a
steal. skibutternut.com
Smugglers’
Notch Resort (Smugglers’ Notch, VT)
Cruise any one of this award-winning ski spot’s three mountains, then trek over
to the FunZone, a kid-friendly recreation center complete with an indoor
playground and a mini-golf course. Condominiums come equipped with kitchens,
Internet access and in-unit or nearby laundry facilities. Free lift tickets are
available for kids ages 5 and under. smuggs.com
Stowe
Mountain Resort (Stowe, VT)
This all-inclusive ski lodge is a place to be pampered. Dine at one of its
distinctive restaurants. Indulge in star treatment at The Spa. Stay in one of
139 custom-designed rooms at the Stowe Mountain Lodge, or opt for more private
accommodations at the cozy Inn at the Mountain. Also
available are a variety of townhome rentals perfect for families. On the
mountains, kids three and up can strengthen their skills in full-day ski
instruction programs. stowe.com
Thunder
Ridge Ski Area (Patterson, NY)
Just 75 minutes from NYC, Thunder Ridge features 30 trails of varying
difficulty. Three-hour lessons for children ages 5-12 are offered on weekends
and holidays, and in a new program aimed at the preschool-kindergarten set,
little ones can learn the basics, too. Without a car? Ride the Metro-North
Railroad. And on Saturdays and Sundays through March, enjoy free shuttle
service between the Patterson train station and the slopes. thunderridgeski.com
Whiteface
Mountain (Lake Placid, NY)
Rated the No. 1 ski resort in the Northeast by the readers of SKI Magazine,
this winter paradise encompasses the slopes used at the 1980 Winter Olympics in
Lake Placid. Adventure-loving fams can try their hands (and
feet) at the Gold Medal Games Family Edition, where a few of the
adrenaline-pumping activities include bobsledding and speed skating. whiteface.com
Windham Mountain
(The Catskills, NY)
A local family-friendly mountain less than three hours from the city, Windham
boasts an abundance of trails for all levels, an ice-skating rink and a daycare
program. There are also group and private lessons available for both kids and
adults. Families can stay at the Winwood Inn or in condos. The resort is also
home to the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center,
where children and adults with disabilities can learn to ski or snowboard. windhammountain.com
Woodloch
Resort (Hawley, PA)
Sitting on 1,000 acres in the heart of northeastern Pennsylvania’s Pocono
Mountains, Woodloch is a four-season retreat that stays abuzz all winter long.
A few of the many cold-weather activities guests can enjoy are snow tubing, ice
skating and snowmobiling. Purchase a Woodloch VIP
pass for quicker access to the 18 trails at neighboring Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain. woodloch.com
