Ski suggestion - Deep Creek Lake or Liberty?

[Anonymous]

We'd like to take the kids skiing, they've never been before. Considering Deep Creek Lake and Liberty. Would love to hear comments comparing the two or suggestion new places close to Washington DC. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Deep Creek Lake

[Anonymous]

on this topic - DH and I are considering bringing our kids (3.5 and 6.5) skiing, but neither DH nor I ski. How practical / expensive is this to do? We are completely open to it and learning with the kids may be fun, but scared of expense???

Anyone else done this? any other suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I second Deep Creek. It has WAY better snow. Way way way better. Deep Creek actually gets a lot of natural snow, whereas Liberty gets very little most years.

For the person asking about skiing.... My husband and I both ski. We have two boys (3.5 and 5.5). I know there are little munchkins out there skiing at ages 3 and 4, but I think for the vast majority of kids, that is very premature. My 5.5 is just about old enough, but we'll probably wait another year. He is a bit on the timid side.

A good test (and much cheaper than skiing) is to take them ice skating. If they can't ice skate (or even walk around in skates on the ice), they're not ready for skiing, and it will only be frustrating for them. And what does your 3.5 year old think of sledding? Mine is pretty bold in most respects, but he hasn't really taken to sledding (not sure if its the cold, or the speed). But if he doesn't sled happily, he won't ski happily.

Even for adult beginners with far better coordination, learning to ski means lots of time picking yourself up out of the snow. Getting up from a fall is somewhat tricky, and I think most 3.5 year olds would just be frustrated with the process. Skiing is a big time commitment: It will take you 20 minutes to get the kids all dressed, another 30 minutes to get skis and boots and get them on... and then they'll get in the snow and immediately fall down. For most 3.5 year olds, this is the point (if not sooner) that they decide they're "done" -- and you haven't even gotten started yet!

Especially if you are from a non-skiing family... wait a few more years. Learning to ski all together will be GREAT FUN... in a few more years.

[Anonymous]

Only because OP asked for other suggestions as well will I mention that I'd skip Liberty and Deep Creek and head to Seven Springs in PA. Seven Springs is similar in distance to Deep Creek and is the ultimate east coast family ski resort. In addition to the skiing, they have a huge lodge with an indoor pool, indoor putt-putt, bowling, arcade, sleigh rides, tubing, and so on. We love Seven Springs because it offers so much more than just skiing. If you're really set on the two options mentioned, definitely Deep Creek.

[Anonymous]

My husband prefers Ski Liberty for taking the kiddo (who is 5) - it's so much closer for day trips - and especially if you haven't taken them before, they have a good children's program, and they aren't terribly expensive - and you can do a half-day and get home before nightfall with a tired out kiddo. They went today - and he did quite well. He had a parent and child half-day lesson last year, and this year he did a 2 hr lesson on his own. DH said he went down off the ski lift without holding on for most of the way this time, and both sounded really happy. They are on their way home now after having left at 7:15 this morning.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone comment on Wisp in Maryland? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Are you going for a couple of days or just one day? Liberty is a day trip. deep creek lake is not.

For first timers i would go during the week (not holiday) and go to whitetail. we had a great experience there with our first timers.

[Anonymous]

OP here: the trip would be over a weekend.

[Anonymous]

Consider Whitetail - check the webcams before you go (as with most area ski resorts).

We like Whitetails since it's only a 90 min. drive so it's totally do-able.

In addition, if the kids end up not liking skiing or throw a fit (uggh!) just trek on over to the snow tube hill. It's always nice to have a Plan B like snow tubing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second Deep Creek. It has WAY better snow. Way way way better. Deep Creek actually gets a lot of natural snow, whereas Liberty gets very little most years.

For the person asking about skiing.... My husband and I both ski. We have two boys (3.5 and 5.5). I know there are little munchkins out there skiing at ages 3 and 4, but I think for the vast majority of kids, that is very premature. My 5.5 is just about old enough, but we'll probably wait another year. He is a bit on the timid side.

A good test (and much cheaper than skiing) is to take them ice skating. If they can't ice skate (or even walk around in skates on the ice), they're not ready for skiing, and it will only be frustrating for them. And what does your 3.5 year old think of sledding? Mine is pretty bold in most respects, but he hasn't really taken to sledding (not sure if its the cold, or the speed). But if he doesn't sled happily, he won't ski happily.

Even for adult beginners with far better coordination, learning to ski means lots of time picking yourself up out of the snow. Getting up from a fall is somewhat tricky, and I think most 3.5 year olds would just be frustrated with the process. Skiing is a big time commitment: It will take you 20 minutes to get the kids all dressed, another 30 minutes to get skis and boots and get them on... and then they'll get in the snow and immediately fall down. For most 3.5 year olds, this is the point (if not sooner) that they decide they're "done" -- and you haven't even gotten started yet!

Especially if you are from a non-skiing family... wait a few more years. Learning to ski all together will be GREAT FUN... in a few more years.

I have to disagree (at least in our case). My very uncoordinated (can BARELY skate) 7 year old is a really good skier for her age. She skies intermediate runs with no difficulty. She has been skiing since she was just shy of 4. The first year she only took lessons for 2 days and did not ski with us. The second year (when she was 4, she went to week long ski school) and has done so every year. I think kids can ski young if they want to and if they are properly trained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second Deep Creek. It has WAY better snow. Way way way better. Deep Creek actually gets a lot of natural snow, whereas Liberty gets very little most years.

For the person asking about skiing.... My husband and I both ski. We have two boys (3.5 and 5.5). I know there are little munchkins out there skiing at ages 3 and 4, but I think for the vast majority of kids, that is very premature. My 5.5 is just about old enough, but we'll probably wait another year. He is a bit on the timid side.

A good test (and much cheaper than skiing) is to take them ice skating. If they can't ice skate (or even walk around in skates on the ice), they're not ready for skiing, and it will only be frustrating for them. And what does your 3.5 year old think of sledding? Mine is pretty bold in most respects, but he hasn't really taken to sledding (not sure if its the cold, or the speed). But if he doesn't sled happily, he won't ski happily.

Even for adult beginners with far better coordination, learning to ski means lots of time picking yourself up out of the snow. Getting up from a fall is somewhat tricky, and I think most 3.5 year olds would just be frustrated with the process. Skiing is a big time commitment: It will take you 20 minutes to get the kids all dressed, another 30 minutes to get skis and boots and get them on... and then they'll get in the snow and immediately fall down. For most 3.5 year olds, this is the point (if not sooner) that they decide they're "done" -- and you haven't even gotten started yet!

Especially if you are from a non-skiing family... wait a few more years. Learning to ski all together will be GREAT FUN... in a few more years.

Not quite. Kids have a lower center of gravity so A) falling down isn't as traumatic since they are closer to the ground and B)it's actually easier for them to get up b/c of their lower center of gravity.
Kids' skis are short too so they don't get nearly as tangled up as you might think.

I'm sorry this poster had such a bad experience with getting his/her kids out to the slopes. We've had a wonderful time with our little ones (3.5 year old) so OP - don't let this post discourage you. DH and I are both avid skiers so maybe our outlook and teaching style (and patience) are a little different that the PP's.

I second the suggestion about Whitetail. Close to DC, friendly staff, bunny slopes to moguls, and high speed lifts. And yes, the tubing park is a great alternative is your little one protests skiing.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids started at 3 and were quite competent by 5 (intermediate hills). The key is ski school, and finding a good one. As to deep creek/wisp vs liberty I'd probably go to deep creek for a weekend. Seven Springs also a good suggestion. You can also try Timberline or Canaan in WV (closer than Snowshoe). Liberty or whitetail are good for a day. I don't think whitetail has a good ski school so not sure i'd start kids there.

[Anonymous]

Thanks All (Im the poster that asked about taking / teaching kids). I appreciate it and LOOOOVE tubing...perhaps we wind up doing that the whole time!

[Anonymous]

I totally second ski school! Your milage may vary, but I am not good at teaching things like skiing/skating to my kids. Besides, ski school is really fun at most places.