best place for ski vacation for beginners?

[Anonymous]

We are looking to take our kids skiing for 3-4 days over winter break.

They are in elementary school and have never skied before. We have one super-coordinated, fearless, strong athlete and one somewhat uncoordinated scaredy-cat, so we really have no idea if they will both take to it and have to be dragged off the slopes or if they will be exhausted and done after 3 hours. DH & I can both ski but have not in YEARS, and for various reasons I'm not sure if I'm even going to, though DH is a good skier and definitely will be skiing, on his own and with the kids. Kids would also like to try snow tubing.

I'm looking at lots of places online, but I have never skied in this area and I'm not familiar with any of these mountains and not sure what would be a good fit for us. I realize that during a holiday week it will be really crowded so I'm wondering if we should try for a smaller place like Bryce in the hopes that will be less crowded - or would be get bored with it since it's small and we're going for several days.

Nice accomodations are important - would love to have a condo/townhouse or house with fireplace and kitchen, as opposed to just a hotel room, if possible. If there was an indoor pool and some other activities available, that would be a big plus.

I've looked at:
Snowshoe (too far?)
Wintergreen
Seven Springs
Bryce
Massanutten
Wisp

Any recommendations - on these or other places??

[Anonymous]

My only advice to you is that if decide to go out west, avoid the high altitudes like Breckenridge, CO. I'm not used to the high altitudes and all week I was suffering from altitude sickness.

[Anonymous]

No, we are going somewhere in driving distance.

[Anonymous]

I like Snowshoe as a destination. Many condo units (probably most are condo actually), a little central plaza with a couple of shops/restaurants, Split Rock Pools, a kid entertainment area, etc. We've stayed at Allegheny Springs which I recommend. We get a studio (not a jr studio) and it is a good size unit with a full kitchen, dining area, living area, fireplace, heated outdoor pool and hot tub and is located right at the top of the mountain (Snowshoe is upside down in that the village is at the top of the mountain).

[Anonymous]

We go to Snowshoe every year and love it. It is a little bit of a drive, ~5 hours. They have tons of group and private lessons for kids. Accommodation options are great, but some can be expensive so definitely look at a variety of options. Most places have kitchens, many have fireplaces.

[Anonymous]

Try Wisp in Western Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try Wisp in Western Maryland.

Good for beginners. Nice accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Snowshoe is the only place within driving distance that would give you a true ski village feel with ski in/ski out options. And it has good beginner and intermediate slopes, decent to good food, some fun activities including an awesome indoor/outdoor pool.

[Anonymous]

Agreed on Snowshoe, but you want to do the lessons at the lower area, not at the top.

[Anonymous]

I'm a fan of Massanutten for beginners. Just make sure you get accomodations in the condos or townhouses, not the hotel. There are a couple of indoor pools, waterpark, activities and tubing. I would expect it to be crowded during the holidays but that's the case anywhere fun for the holidays. My dd6 enjoyed and ski instruction program. We never actually ate on site but there are chain type restaurants and shopping nearby.