“Let It Snow” is the appropriate anthem for these traditional mountain resorts of Vermont and New Hampshire.
At Christmas time, the Inn is a shameless archetype: a roaring fireplace, a great room overflowing with holiday cheer that invites a feeling of home, and, of course, plenty of well-behaved snow outdoors – the perfect setting for that Irving Berlin favorite, “White Christmas.”
We all know that movies are just pretend, but there really are places like the Holiday Inn. Whenever I dream of a White Christmas and the alpine sports, the family ski vacations in New Hampshire and Vermont I have enjoyed for more than four decades come quickly to mind.
Family Oriented Retreats
This sense of intimacy and tranquility extend to the trails and slopes of the region’s smaller, family-oriented mountain destinations. New Hampshire’s Black Mountain in Jackson, Cranmore in nearby North Conway, Bretton Woods further north, in the shadow of Mount Washington, Waterville Valley, across the Kangamaugus on the southern side of Crawford Notch, and Stratton in nearby Vermont are built to human scale, and so are their parking lots.
Many resorts trace their origins to immigrants from Austria who came to New England looking to recreate an American edelweis in the White and Green mountain ranges. For decades they have catered to generations of New Englanders: weekenders who travel from Massachusetts and locals lucky enough to ski almost-deserted slopes during the week.
As a kid, these places were my home away from home. Today, they remain small enough so that children can ski anywhere — alone or with friends — without becoming lost or trapped by bad weather. The ski lift networks have forsaken the quirky conveyances of another era. Mt. Cranmore’s famous skimobile has been replaced by a chairlift without a soul, as has Wildcat‘s two-person gondola, smaller than John Glenn’s Mercury spaceship. Even the older chairlifts are more than adequate. The vertical dimensions of these places simply do not permit the seemingly endless rides uphill common out West.
Spartan & Unpredictable Skiing
Mountain services retain much of their roots in an era when skiing was not thought of as a leisure sport. The restaurants, always diversifying their menus, are spartan – adequate as a place to buy or bring a lunch, yet not inviting enough to keep you off the mountain for too long.
While you can’t ski for days on end without skiing the same trail twice, you won’t end up in another country if you take a wrong turn either. There is plenty of terrain for beginners and intermediates, who, no matter where they ski, are never far from the base lodge. Experts looking for a challenge will find none of the powder and steepness that the West offers at its best. The rewards are different in the East — skiing fast on hardpack down narrow trails, dodging the occasional spot of blue ice that escapes the groomers. The region’s unpredictable terrain is the challenge forcing skiers of all levels to sharpen their technical skills.
My three kids have been spoiled by numerous trips to Colorado and Utah. They like the packed powder and the sunshine, and who can blame them? But I am an inveterate champion of the advantages of skiing in New England, and they are also discovering that the region’s charms can be infectious.
Tough Conditions Train Tough Skiers
Yes it can be cold, very cold. Bitter cold. We skied one Christmas at Waterville and near by Tenney Mountain, a terrific place for kids with incredible prices and a friendly attitude. Josh, then 4-years-old, had to be watched constantly for frostbite. But he earned lots of `mountain man’ points braving the chill. Like most well-dressed kids on the slopes, he was oblivious to the weather, just happy to ski the Quadzilla chair and ride the J Bar, cruising down the bunny slope in search of little jumps while keeping a safe distance from less experienced cousins.
Bretton Woods faces Mt. Washington, New England’s tallest peak and epicenter of some of the worst weather on the planet. One December, we skied in a misty rain, which created a fantastic fog that added to the downhill challenge. One day last year, the wind blew so hard, most lifts had to be closed at 3pm. As we set out that December morning, it was below zero, and some of the kids preferred sledding and tobogganing at the Mt. Washington Hotel nearby. But Josh and his friends weren’t deterred.
“We’re still going skiing,” he said. Music to my ears. We alternated runs down Swoop and Zealand with hot chocolate breaks and a lunch rather longer than the kids wanted at the Top O’Quad restaurant, where we could see the clouds swirling at the summit of Mt. Washington. That night, part of the roof blew off the Mt. Washington Hotel.
Old-Fashioned Bretton Woods
Bretton Woods is suitable for beginning and intermediate skiers of all ages. Most operators today strive to flatten all terrain to a predictable sameness, but that didn’t seem to bother my kids or their friends and cousins, who took great pride in locating small jumps and other skill-building pursuits.
The pace at Bretton Woods is also slow. At most of these smaller destinations, skiing is viewed as a skill to be developed over a lifetime, not one week. My younger daughter, Morgan, took her first lessons at Bretton Woods, at their wonderful one-stop-shop that combines equipment and ski school.
She might have learned more elsewhere, but her first experience on skis was fun – the most important achievement for any ski school. It instilled in her a love of the sport, and its expensive ski outfits, that she still retains many years later.
Cranmore Builds Confidence
At Cranmore, the 40 trails have been widened and slopes groomed with the novice to intermediate skier in mind. Skiers can follow the sun by starting the day on the East Slope and moving over to the North and South slopes (which sit side by side!) as the day progresses. When I skied mid-week last year with Josh, we had the mountain to ourselves. From the top, we skied Rattlesnake to Lower Ski Meister, once, twice, countless times.
A perennial favorite was the 2.3-mile Harvey Gibson trail, a highway-sized track that snakes around the outer perimeter of the mountain at a downhill pace guaranteed to build the confidence of any strong beginner or intermediate.
Stratton Has Cruising Terrain
Josh learned to ski at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, an easy two-hour drive from Manchester, New Hampshire.
The skiing from the top was some of the best I’ve experienced in the East in many years. Stratton is a cruising mountain, with 90 trails covering more than 600 acres and 73% of that is beginner or intermediate terrain. There is lots of moderate steep but easy-flowing terrain off the top under the Gondola or the Snow Bowl quad or on the Spruce and Tamarack trails, which could be considered a smaller version of Steamboat’s famous Heavenly Days slope. I had the upper slopes, with their wonderful views of Bromley nearby and Mt. Snow in the distance, almost to myself.
Stratton was high on the list of friends who sung its praises as a family-oriented destination. During our pre-Christmas stay, there were just five kids in the entire ski school – a number that balloons to more than 200 during the holidays. Josh had virtually one on one attention from a new but committed instructor for two of his three days on skis.
Morgan skied the American Express lift and the Betwixt trail under it, with her instructor and one other girl her age. Stratton’s long, varied, good intermediate terrain was guaranteed to increase her confidence, and it did. She didn’t mind that none of the intermediate trails were open from the top at our visit.
For all of these welcome advantages, there are tradeoffs. Even if there is enough snow at any resort, many trails and lifts may not be open until the weekend. An absence of natural snow meant that none of Stratton’s evening mountain sledding and snowboarding diversions were open. Check each resort’s website for snow conditions and non-peak rates before deciding.
I paid another visit to Stratton a few years ago. This time I left the kids home and met some buddies for a couple of unharried days of mid-week skiing. Stratton offers some wonderful deals for flexible skiers. For example, during the 2005-2006 season, two to five-day lifts and lodging packages are available from $59 per person, per night.
The snow was terrific and the mountain all but empty on the days we skied. The lift-lines under the gondola and in the trees nearby were our favorites, but I also enjoyed skiing the Kidderbrook – Sunriser trails, serviced by two six-person chairlifts. This area, anchored by the Sun Bowl Lodge, offers a less crowded alternative to the main base and a parking facility.
Black Mountain, White Christmas
My current New England favorite is Black Mountain, just outside the New Hampshire village of Jackson. Jackson is a great little place, home to a world class ski touring facility, one ski shop, a diner and real estate office, and if I recall correctly, the venerable Wildcat Inn where kids are welcome to sip hot cider and listen to the local, apres ski talent.
A covered bridge, straight out of central casting, welcomes visitors off of Route 16. For decades the Wentworth Inn ( 800/637-0013 ) in the center of town stood derelict, its yellow buildings in various states of decay. Luck saved it from the fate of other grand hotel buildings in the town that met their end by fire or a wrecker’s ball.
Today, the inn has been restored, down to the ice sculptures that grace the wrap-around porch. A piano sits opposite the fireplace. Newspapers from Boston and New York sit untouched nearby.
Even in February, if you listen closely, you might hear Crosby crooning “White Christmas.”
TO SKI PEAK OR NON-PEAK?
Skiing early in the season, mid-week, or between the popular winter vacation periods has its advantages. Everything is cheaper, from accommodations to lift tickets. At Black Mountain, there were less than 30 cars in the parking lot on the sun-filled days that we skied, and that included mountain staff! We never waited in a lift line.
There are tradeoffs. At Stratton, we were staying in a two-bedroom condo in the Village Watch complex that advertised itself as “ski in, ski out.” True enough, but the chairlift outside our condo was not operating. There was no snow and not yet enough traffic to justifying making it.
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we really appreciate your comments and have just updated this story in response. Thanks for keeping us up to date! – editors
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Hello,
I am giving away a free 30 minute Spanish class via Skype (conversation, grammar, etc. depending of your Spanish background. It could be from zero level to very advanced). I have more than 25 years of teaching experience and Spanish is my native language. So, don't miss this chance and write me to fit a schedule. Regular online Spanish classes via Skype are just $5/hour. I hope you will find the lesson very instructive and could ask for more lessons, but if not at least you will get your free lesson.
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There are so many great ranches that it is a fun challange to find the right one for you…but I have to say that the Dude Ranchers' Association website and directory are a very big help…you will find quality ranch vacations that will match what you are looking for. I recommend contacting the Association for more information.
Story tapes allow the driver to be amused and entertained along with the troops. The website Audible.com has a selection of stories for children and families and it allows you to preview a story to see if you like the reader.
A & J Aparments are no longer a vacation rental.
Sage Mountain Villas, the area code would be (284) not (809) we have not used that area code in many many years and is now used but the Dominican Republic.
Hello to all ! Great site. I am new here greetings to all from Poland.
Hello to all ! Great site. I am new here greetings to all from Poland.
These are all great options and sound like lots of fun. We've been planning to visit New Zealand and the Butterfield & Robinson vacations seem to be right up our alley.Thanks for the suggestion it sure beats me stressing over the details.
If you're looking for a place to stay try to have a look on http://www.rivierAds.com. Hope this helps.
For the bargain hunter, the beauty of Yosemite can still be enjoyed with an inexpensive stay at Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging. The resort is now offering <a href="http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com">Yosemite lodging</a> starting at only $39 for two nights for a yurt that can accommodate up to five people. Yosemite cabins start at only $49 for two nights for a basic cabin that can accommodate four people. With the Yosemite National Park entrance fee of $20 per car for unlimited entries for seven days, a family can spend less than $100 for two days of Yosemite-area lodging and admission to the park. These special rates are available at http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/yosemite-lodging-camping-specials.html during the fall and winter season. Some restrictions apply. Yosemite Pines (http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com) is an RV resort, campground, and lodge located near Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Pines offers <a href="http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/yosemite-camping-rv-tent.html">Yosemite camping</a> near Yosemite National Park with full hook-up RV and campsites. Yosemite Pines also offers Yosemite lodging and <a href="http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/yosemite-lodging-cabins-yurts.html">Yosemite cabin rentals</a> near Yosemite National Park with cabin and yurt rentals. Amenities include a clubhouse, gold mine, gold panning, petting zoo, swimming pool, hiking trail, general store, children’s playground, horseshoe pit, and volleyball.
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You can find information about the Caribean zone at http://www.Cahuita.cr
D.C. is incredible. I love going there for the cherry blossom festival and I have also been lucky enough to get a tour of the White House's West Wing.
The Verizon Center is a great place to see concerts, and the metro is such an easy and convenient way to get around.
I'm lucky to live just a couple hours away in Colonial Beach, a great little riverside resort town.
I always wanted to visit Jamaica with my kids (boys 7 & 12), but lots of people really discouraged me with horror stories about the safety and attitude of locals towards tourists. I was told if we decide to go just make sure we stay inside our resort. We love exploring and learning new things so this keeps me away.
Thanks,
busymom
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Hi Guys,
Just joined up, thought i would say Hi 🙂
Claire
You can contact this tour operator in South Africa that specializes in African Safari. http://www.journeyintoafrica.co.za/
Hi. I like your story. I'm here in Växjö on a study abroad semester from SFSU. I found a nice Miyata 12 speed and totally refurbished it, including a new free wheel and brake levers. My main question is how easy it is to get on Swedish highways? I giving serious thought to riding to Copenhagen via Malmo from Växjö. I'm sure I can make an average of 80 miles a day but I would really like to just hop on a highway and tread right to Malmo. Do you know if Swedes allow riding on larger roads? I had a some problems with this in the states.
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Thank you for the interesting piece about Provence, and for giving us the courage to consider a French holiday with OUR teenagers the coming summer! It sounds like it was a great time for all. Looking forward to following your further family holidays.
The Gaylord Resort is a great place, although it's a bit far from downtown Nashville. But if you don't mind driving a bit, it's an empire unto itself and older kids can amuse themselves for hours just exploring the place.
UNLESS ITS NOT A CROWDED DAY, I THINK THE CABLE CARS ARE A MAJOR PAIN WITH TODDLERS. I WOULD WAIT TIL KIDS ARE OLDER TO GO TO THE TROUBLE UNLESS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE AND JOSSLE FOR A SEAT.
I ALSO THINK CROSSING THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE IS FUN, BUT ALSO LOST ON TODDLERS, SO UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO IT, SKIP THAT ATTRACTION OR MAYBE JUST WALK OUT A LITTLE WAYS.
THE EXPLORATORIUM SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR A COLD, FOGGY OR RAINY DAY – IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE FOR LITTLE ONES TO RUN AROUND AND PUSH, PULL AND POKE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
if you're in Scotland you have to try the national dish, haggis, just don't tell your children what it is! It's actually quite delicious. Scots often refer to dessert as pud or pudding, but they mean the entire gamut of dessert items, not just pudding.
I think it's important to get out of the city and go into the country if you get the time. Check the calendars to see where a Scottish game might be where there will be bagpipers, the tossing of the caber, and all kinds of interesting Highland games. They take place throughout the spring and summer throughout the country and are well worth a detour.
I'd skip Poble Espanyol in Barcelona — way too touristy — unless you want to take advantage of the kids crafts activities.
Kids adore Gaudi's crazy Sagrada Familia, the high-spired church that soars above the skyline. Pay to take the elevator up and then climb down the tight spiral staircase – your kids will be thrilled.
Barcelona;s beachfront was developed during the Olympics, it's now a relaxing way to spend an afternoon with the kids after too much busy city-touring.
Another great kid pleaser is the aerial tram ride up to Montjuic where older kids may enjoy the Olympics museum or a quick stop in the Miro museum.
Villa Cosmica
Villa Cosmica is located on the south side of Puerto Vallarta, far away from the noise, where only the sound of wild birds and the whispering of the waves colliding in the ocean will awaken you every morning. Enjoy this 5 bedroom house, where all bedrooms surround a beautiful swimming pool with a Jacuzzi for 10 people and the most marvellous view to the bay is just a glance away from you. All the bedrooms have air conditioning, also our T.V. room with a game table and SKY cable at your service. Our living room, in the center of the villa is open to the breeze, under a beautiful palapa roof with a small bar to pamper all your senses.
Bedrooms: 5 Sleeps: 10 Baths: 6
Floors: 2 Parking Space: 2 Year Built: 2007
Size of Unit: 450 sq. mts.
Period Nightly Weekly Monthly
Jan 6, 2009 – Apr 30, 2009 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
May 1, 2009 – Nov 15, 2009 $978.00 $6,846.00 N/A
Nov 16, 2009 – Dec 17, 2009 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
Dec 18, 2009 – Jan 5, 2010 $1,840.00 $12,880.00 N/A
Jan 6, 2010 – Apr 30, 2010 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
May 1, 2010 – Nov 15, 2010 $978.00 $6,846.00 N/A
Nov 16, 2010 – Dec 17, 2010 $1,495.00 $10,465.00 N/A
Dec 18, 2010 – Jan 5, 2011 $1,840.00 $12,880.00 N/A
http://www.pvrpv.com
Gay Friendly Puerto Vallarta
Nestled between the lush jungle greenery of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the sparkling waters of one of the world’s largest bays, The Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta has earned an international reputation as one of the best Gay tourist cities in the world.
Being a port city and a destination for many cruise lines including RSVP and Atlantis, Puerto Vallarta is tolerant and abundant with all things gay.
The center of the activity is the charming section of old town known as The Zona Romantica. Here you will find cobbled streets, red tiled roofs and lovely white washed buildings rich with Spanish architecture. Many gay owned and gay friendly businesses including restaurants, bars, shops and art galleries for every pallet and taste, fill the narrow streets of this splendid fishing village.
Coming Events
There are no scheduled events.
Most tourists spend their day on the gay beach. With its white sand and raging surf Playa Los Muertos is the place to be and be seen. Find a deck chair, sit back and relax and let the friendly servers indulge you with great cocktails and yummy food while you unwind and watch whales and dolphins frolic in the blue ocean waters. If beaching is not for you, Puerto Vallarta offers many gay tours to fill your days. Bay cruises, horseback riding through the jungle, bike rides along the Rio Cuale and canopy tours are just a few of the many activities available.
Late afternoon the roof top bars of the gay hotels offer entertainment and a place to enjoy and view spectacular sunsets. These lively spots are crowded with beautiful men and women drinking, laughing and sharing their stories. After the sun sinks into the ocean, it’s time for dinner. From internationally recognized 5 star restaurants to small local eateries Puerto Vallarta is a foody’s delight. At last count, Puerto Vallarta boosted over 1100 restaurants of every description. Haute cuisine to meatloaf, the list of places to dine is extensive and wonderful.
Being a top gay destination, Puerto Vallarta offers more gay bars and dance clubs than most mid-sized American cities. Cantinas, martini bars, stripper and drag shows and fabulous dance clubs await you. As some of the clubs serve until 6am, most are not busy until 1am, so it is advisable to take that all important ¨Disco nap¨ before heading out.
While the vast majority of gay travelers are from Canada and the United States, Vallarta, recently has seen an increase in gay tourists from Europe and as far away as Australia. Gay men and women world wide are discovering and falling in love with the little spot of paradise that is Puerto Vallarta, making it Mexico’s and perhaps the world’s, gay mecca.
It’s good to be gay and it’s great to travel to such a gay friendly resort town. Puerto Vallarta beckons and embraces its gay tourists and it will be a spot you will return to often.
Agree that the skiing is absolutely terrific – the tram to the top of the mountain makes this resort absolutely awesome top to bottom. But I think there is one level of skier/rider who would have trouble – the advanced beginner or beginning intermediate. There isn't as much terrain to select for this group. But it's a resort that you definitely have to experience at least once – and you might get hooked and never want to go anywhere else!
It's important to start 'em young! Of all the family vacations you can pick that can last through the decades, skiing is the very best. When the kids are little you get a break because they're having fun in ski school. When they're older and more accomplished you can ski together. When they're teens and are whizzing past you, you can still ride up the chairlift with them and have them to yourself in the condo. Then when they're in college, you get to spend quality time with them on the slopes and in the condo because you're buying your lift ticket. It's a family vacation that can continue on as a tradition until you're too old to strap on a pair of skis…
i think many accidents occur when new teen or young men (and sometimes women) who are not very experienced are out with their much-more experienced pals. They get talked into trying a part of the mountain that is too much for them and then they try to keep up. They get themselves into trouble that way and often are injured.
If you are looking into hostels and you are a family, call the hostel to get a sense of the character of the place. We went to a hostel once with our elementary age kids(not in a ski area) and it was filled with young 20 somethings and teens having lots of fun – smoking pot in the parking lot, partying, etc. Even though some hostels have family rooms, if the place is full of kids it can be uncomfortable. Some hostels do have older visitors and more families, so it pays to ask.
Don't forget to plan some time to see some of the other attractions in Monterey, like the aquarium, which has an amazing sea horse exhibition coming up and take a drive to Point Lobos to hike around and Big Sur to see some of California's most spectacular coastline. Have lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur.
Great advice and some fun ideas for new places to try. thanks for sharing your family secrets!
All of Wyoming is a great destination with kids, but my family especially loved this place because it is really a unique bit of the Old West. Definitely worth a detour!
Hello People,
I Just joined up and am trying edit my profile but i can't see the button!! probably staring me in the face lol
thanks guys
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The 25-year-old tour company Wildland Tours has a family vacation package for 2009. It will be a great multi-generational adventure for folks who like whales, puffins, comfortable hotels, and the many wonders of Newfoundland.
Just stopping by to say that the fourm seems to be a great place so i thought that i would signup and join in on all the fun
Hello People,
Just joined! I'm liking it around here 🙂 hopefully i can contribute something to the forum in future.
G
Great article- I am a resident of oregon and my family and I enjoy the coast and central oregon. Oregon has some of the best fishing in the northwest and such a diverse climate to choose from year round. The weather is very tempermental and almost impossible to plan around so bring a rain coat and sunglasses. I think this article gave a pretty good overview of everything that Oregon has to offer.
Sunriver Resort is a quality organization with a great reputation in Oregon. I have been to sunriver probebly 10 times since moving to Oregon and we have used the resort 7 times to book vacation rental accomodations. I highly recomend them and also visiting Sunriver.
Good hotel in a great location.
I find it to be a good value hotel, breakfast facilities are one of the best i have seen. Room is great for people on a budget who want the amenities and cleanliness of a 5 star. I'm very happy with our choice.
Hello Cassiano!
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Just wanted to add that we're on Central Daylight Time and now open at 9:30 am (Holiday World) and 10:30 am (Splashin' Safari). In 2009, we're introducing the World's Tallest Water Ride, Pilgrims Plunge, plus the new (free) HoliWatch program which will help separated family members find each other during their visit.