It was cold in New England the first week of 2008. And I mean bitter cold as in high’s of 18 degrees Fahrenheit in Massachusetts.

So go further north to big mountain ski country and you can lop off a good few more degrees from that high!

However, it’s January in New England and so we should be used to it by now. Just put more wood on the fire or turn up the thermostat and chill out! Right?

Well, for some, this is the ideal time to load the skis on top of the car, pack the boots in the trunk and head out for a winter wonderland of skiing, snowboarding, or whatever your favorite outdoor activity is in snow country.

And I like to do the skiing thing as well - but haven’t progressed like my sons to snowboarding - yet.

So for today’s post I thought I’d concentrate on a few ski areas from around New England and provide updates on them for you.

First stop is Massachusetts…

WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN RECOGNIZED BY SKI MAGAZINE:

Small and compact Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts isn’t a ski mountain you’d expect to see mentioned in the same breath as big-name Western resorts, but it made the “Top 50 Resort Guide” in Ski Magazine’s annual round up.

Wachusett made the Top 10 in the categories of “family programs,” “accessibility,” and “grooming.” And it also faired well in other Top 10 categories for Eastern North American resorts for “lifts,” “customer service,” and “weather.”

The fact is getting in and out of Wachusett is usually a breeze as everything is on one level and with a great nightskiing program, this is the little mountain with a big heart. And it’s close to Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. For more details go here: http://www.wachusett.com

AVOID THE CROWDS AT MOUNT SUNAPEE:

Mount Sunapee in Newbury, New Hampshire is located just far enough away from Vermont’s Route 91 corridor, and New Hampshire’s popular Route 93 ski route to keep away the large crowds many resorts close to those routes attract.

The result is a big mountain with lots of trails, including the friendly 2-mile long Ridge Trail. This is a great family mountain with many beginner and intermediate trails, and snowboarders can hear the new 4,000-watt sound system in the SoBe Freeride Zone. More information here: http://www.mtsunapee.com

BETHEL RESORTS JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING:

Bethel in Maine is one of the few ski towns in the east that can compete with those in the west - Stowe in Vermont and Lake Placid, NY, are others that spring to mind. Bethel has, at its doorstep, a number of ski mountains located in this scenic western lakes and mountains region of Maine. And all of them cater for family and those seeking plenty of intermediate slopes.

Ski Mountains close to the town include Sunday River, Mount Abram, Lost Valley, Shawnee Peak, and Black Mountain. Lost Valley was the first in Maine with night skiing, and Shawnee is not only the longest-running ski area in Maine, but has gone “green” with its use of wind power.

You can spend a week in Bethel and never ski the same trail twice. Bethel not only offers multiple ski areas but plenty of shops and restaurants which means if you don’t ski that much then there’s still plenty of places to enjoy and have fun. More details here: http://www.bethelmaine.com

SMUGGLER’S NOTCH RESORT:

Smuggler’s Notch resort in Northern Vermont has a reputation for family friendly skiing along with top-notch skiing, and prides itself on offering attractive family vacation packages. Many of the ski and travel magazines have recognized their children’s and teen programs, service, and entertainment activities. “Smuggs” seems to offer as many indoor activities as outdoors, and new additions for 2008 have been made to their FunZone and child care center’s playground.

Smuggler’s Notch is located on the other side of Mt. Mansfield but does not have access from the Stowe ski resort area as the road is closed during the winter. So you have to skirt around the mountain range to get in. But the extra miles is worth it if you fit the profile of preferring a young family resort.

“Smuggs” offers a useful “Guide to Planning the Perfect Winter Family Vacation” which you can download from their web site, and which includes directions, ticket prices, and packages available. Get the guide here: http://www.smuggs.com/

This is a good time for planning a New England family ski vacation and I hope thos post has provided some additional options for destinations.

Ski by in a few days when I’ll offer more activities and destinations to get you through the long New England winter.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
Attractions for New England Vacations

Tags: bethel, maine, massachusetts, mount sunapee, new england, new hampshire, skiiing, smugglers notch, vermont, wachusett mountain, winter