Spring skiing on the east coast??

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to plan a March week getaway with just my older kid (7). He's new to skiing; I used to be decent at it but haven't been in a decade or so. I'd like it to be east coast to keep costs down (we can road trip up to VT, ME, etc) and have a good ski school for him, and I'd ideally like to have a non-ski option for an afternoon or two of us just hanging out together. Any recommendations? Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Personally I consider it WAY too painful to drive to VT / NH / ME. Southern VT is at least 10 hours depending on how often you stop, so basically you'd spend 2 days of your trip in the car, which sucks.

My advice would be Snowshoe WV. Four hours drive, good ski school. Downside is not much to do that's "non-ski". There is a kid play area with video games and some other activities that a 7yo would probably like.

[Anonymous]

Agree w PP that driving would be tough, esp without someone to switch off with. I took my kid to Tremblant for his first ski experience. It was just the two of us, b/c DH hates cold. It's a flight, but same time zone, mountain isn't too high (no elevation sickness), and if you fly into Tremblant airport, there is a shuttle to transport you door-to-door without having to navigate snowy roads. We did Fairmont Tremblant for ski in/out, which was great because you don't have to haul two sets of ski gear everywhere. And they have really fun non-ski options, like dog sledding, ice skating and tubing.

[Anonymous]

Snowshoe would have all that you need. I wouldn't drive to Vermont for a beginner. Start small.

[Anonymous]

Snowshoe isn't even all that small.

For a new 7yo skiier, even Ski Liberty is plenty of hill.

[Anonymous]

But in March the weather may be iffy.

[Anonymous]

Stratton VT is a good choice for March. Snowshoe will be pretty weather dependent, especially if it's late March. Stratton is about 8 hours since it's in southern VT and we've done it after a 3/4 day of skiing (eg, leave at 2 pm). It's a nice mountain with a small base village and decent lodging options.

[Anonymous]

I love New England and don't mind driving for decent skiing but I agree with others.

If your kid is new to it, don't bother driving far.

[Anonymous]

Your best bet for March skiing is out west. IF New England has very snowy winter there will still be snow there. But you won't know until it happens.

[Anonymous]

Is cost an issue?

[Anonymous]

Tremblant. Longer drive, but the best mountain on the east coast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Snowshoe would have all that you need. I wouldn't drive to Vermont for a beginner. Start small.

In March?

We went to Vermont in March one year, and it was totally mush.

Our favorite is Sugarloaf in Maine, which will definitely have snow at that point in the season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Snowshoe would have all that you need. I wouldn't drive to Vermont for a beginner. Start small.

In March?

We went to Vermont in March one year, and it was totally mush.

Our favorite is Sugarloaf in Maine, which will definitely have snow at that point in the season.

NP here. A beginner only needs the bunny hill and a few greens/blues. Snowshoe will have this.

If you actually knew about New England skiing, you'd know that at any point in time, a mountain in VT could have better conditions than a mountain in Maine, due to about a dozen factors.