Looks like Wintergreen no longer calls their program "Guaranteed Learn to Ski." That's probably my fault. They should've just changed it to "Guaranteed Learn to Ski, Except for Dudes in Their 40s With a High Center of Gravity."

Nice place, though.

Deep Creek
Canaan
Timberline

Not an hour drive but nice drive and nice places

Yep - Liberty and Whitetail for a first time experience. Day trip is fine (may need to get up early though).

IIRC Liberty has a "mommy and me" lesson (or something like that, perhaps gender neutral) for first time skiers. You go with your kid(s). slope couldn't be flatter, so low stress. We did it for our daughter at about age 7 before taking a serious ski trip, and worked like a charm. She loves skiing now at age 12.

Ski Liberty. Not really worth staying overnight. Kids have had excellent instructors.

We took our kids to White tail its 1.5 hours from DC. Go for the day and come back. Skis lessons, school there. It paid off when we went out West for family ski trips.

Get a 1 hr private lesson.

I am looking to book a low-key ski weekend in Jan or Feb for my family. My kids are 6 and 9, with no ski experience. Checked out WISP resort, but the ski school options are all-day and I don't think my kids will go for it. Any other suggestions within 3 hours from DC? Place to go for the best experience? Ideas about where to stay (I assumed we'd stay at the resort, but wondering if airbnb would make more sense)? TIA!