My fiancee and I are starting to get stir crazy in our little Boston apartment, and we owe each other some sort of little vacation (since we agreed on that in lieu of christmas presents). We were sort of thinking of a ski weekend, but we’re open to ideas. Stuff involving the outdoors is good, anything involving shopping is out.
Anyone have recommendations on good places to go skiing? It’d have to be at a place that’s beginner friendly – she’s had a handful of lessons, and I’ve got modest experience on the finest [del]landfills[/del] hills of Southeast Michigan. We’ll probably be impressed by the dinkiest hills around. Other than that it’d be nice if there was a good place to stay nearby, and not too crazy crowds.
An ex and I would occasionally feel the need to get away around this time of year. Neither of us skied, and we never wanted to go someplace so far away that travel was a pain, but we found several places nearby that were wonderful. Jaffrey, NH was really nice. Rowley was great. The Wayside Inn in Sudbury was an A+++ place to stay, but getting reservations is a bitch. But well worth trying.
I’ve been to Killington – it’s BIG. Huge ski area that accommodates all levels, with one beginner’s trail that’s literally miles long (and has a warning that, if you take it at the end of the day, might leave you stranded away from where you started. But I believe there are buses that can get you back.
You can certainly get ski weekends elsewhere without the huge. Bretton Woods markets itself as family-friendly, and has lots of easy runs. Loon and Waterville Valley are places with lots of runs of varying ability.
You might want to go to North Conway, N.H. There are lots of ski mountains nearby, so you’re not limited to one. There’s an actual town there (not just a “ski village”) with stores and restaurants* (and lots of outlet stores – you could spend the weekend shopping instead of skiing). And the Mount Cranmore ski area is literally in town. (Sadly, the weird “Skimobile” non-lift system no longer exists)
*Loon is actually by Lincoln, N.H., which is also a town in itself. And it still has a bookstore.
Ugh, avoid Killington if you want a to avoid crazy crowds. The mountain has some nice terrain, but the layout of the mountain, the crowds, and the general atmosphere take away from the experience. I’ll only ever go there on a weekday, and probably not without a complementary ticket.
Sugarbush, Stowe ($!), and Smugglers Notch would be better options IMO for a slightly longer drive. Great terrain, Smugs in particular has some excellent novice terrain, better atmosphere, more of a getaway location IMO.
Allow me to recommend Bretton Woods, which not only has skiing, but an AMAZING zip line canopy tour (and, yes, it’s open during the winter). And you can stay at the Mt. Washington Resort, which is old school excellence.
Oh, if you’re headed to Bretton Woods, and taking a lesson, ask for Eddie Murphy (yes, really, it’s his name). Tell him his son sent you. That is a really a great mountain.
That is a really a great mountain.