New England ski resort recommendation

[BadBrad]

I live near Baltimore, and I want to try to take a short ski trip to New England, probably Vermont, this season. I would drive up with my wife and baby. I'm looking for a place with reasonably priced lodging on or near the slopes, good trails for carving, and good shopping so my wife will be able to find something to do. She will be taking care of the boy while I hit the slopes.

We have been to Killington a few times, and we usually have a good time there. The restaurants are nice, and it's not too far from decent shopping. I've heard that there are better resorts for carving, though.

So, any recommendations for a resort along with a recommendation for nice inexpensive lodging?

[tex1230]

really depends how far you want to drive. Stowe would be my choice because there is a free shuttle to the mountain from town and you can find moderately priced hotels around and there's alot to do in town.

Stratton is great - some decent prices at the Inn at Stratton. Probably the most expensive overall though

[BadBrad]

I think just about anywhere in VT or NH would be driveable in a day.

What do y'all think of Sugarbush?

I was skiing in Montana last year, and someone working in the rental shop who was from the east coast highly recommended Mt. Snow. How is it?

The shuttle from town sounds like a good idea overall, except that it would be nice if I could meet my wife and kid for lunch during the day. Ski in/out lodging would be best, but I suppose she could drive up to the slopes for lunch.

[Jack M]

Stowe over Stratton.

Killington would be the biggest within reasonable driving distance for you.

[patmoore]

I'm partial to Okemo but you'll find more hardbooters at Stratton.

[scrapster]

I haven't been to Sugarbush in years, but its a great mountain. Actually, its two mountains--Sugarbush and Sugarbush North (an no, its not just two faces of the same peak as many EC resorts try to get away with.)

I've stayed at a few nice places in the Mad River Valley/Waitsfield, but I couldn't tell you about affordability. Also, there's not much night life there. Still, its New England winter at its finest.

[Dave ESPI]

If you have family, Jiminy Peak is a great place...... If you want diverse slopes, and all around enjoyment that is.

* plus I work there, so of course I can hook ya up with discount passes and ski/stay packages too !

If you just want to get away and focus on hardboot carving , Id say Bromley is good too.

[JoeK.inVt]

I was born & raised here in SoVt (I'm 37), so Ive gotten to know the place. This is what I can tell you:

Yes Killington is big, but it's quantity over quality.

Stratton is nice, also close to shopping, but high end (expensive).

Stowe is similar to Stratton (maybe nicer).

Sugarbush is nice, but kinda remote.

Mt. Snow is a good mountain, can't say much for the town (like Sugarbush, but not as remote).

Bromley is small, but good(I grew up there), also inexpensive and a short drive to Manchester (shopping and restaurants, I grew up there).

My favorite is Okemo. I have worked there for a year and moved to Ludlow about 2 months ago (previously drove 1/2 hour from Londonderry). Okemo is family owned (not corporate), they actually care about their employees, and that makes an obvious difference in customer service. Also, Ludlow reminds me of what Manchester was like before it was commercialised in the late 80's to early 90's. Don't get me wrong, Manchester is nice, but I think it was nicer (more authentic Vermont) when I was a kid.

Over the last 20 years I have worked at Bromley, Stratton, Pico, Killington, Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl in Tahoe, and now Okemo.

It all depends what kind of place you like, but I would recommend Bromley or Okemo.

[*Ace*]

You really can't go wrong.

Go where there is good snow.

[davekempmeister]

love that place. $25 lift tickets the past few years. weekdays of course.

[scrapster]

Stratton is considered a great snowboard mountain, but I remember quite a few flats there which surprised me. It reminded me of Gore in NY in that respect.

Glad people are mentioning the lesser-known VT hills too. I give a thumbs-up to Pico, and a big thumbs-up for Magic Mountain. Magic (the last time I was there) had the most no frills base lodge I've ever seen. But it was a really challenging and diverse hill.

Isn't Bromley the only southern facing resort in VT?

[ursle]

Isn't Bromley the only southern facing resort in VT?

okemo & mt snow face south

[trailertrash]

okemo & mt snow face south

really? i thought most of mt snow faced east? rt 100 goes n/s and most of the mtn faces that road.

[ursle]

really? i thought most of mt snow faced east? rt 100 goes n/s and most of the mtn faces that road.

yer right, when I google earth them they face more east, I only mention them because they lose their snow so fast in the spring on sunny days

[JoeK.inVt]

Most Vermont resorts face east. Bromley is the only one I know that faces south. Stratton is north-northeast. Pico faces north. Okemo has a small south face (southeast actually).

[queequeg]

My vote would go to Stowe. Nice town, fun mountain. Stratton gets crazy crowded (though I mostly go there on the weekends). I really like Mt.Snow too, though there isn't much around it (otherwise thats where my vote would go overall). Okemo is more family oriented than the other mountains, although some people on here have had some issues with the ski-school instructors feeling the need to play the role of overzealous-speed-cop with an attitude towards anyone moving at a good clip, though I've always had a good time there.

I've hear sugarbush is super great but I've never been.

Killington has a lot of trails, but there are a lot of cat tracks and the village around the mountain is not so charming IMO.

[*Ace*]

Bromley does face south, hence thats why its called the 'Sun Mt.'

The sun is good and bad.

The sun keeps you nice and warm, keeps the terrain nice and bright.

It also warms up the snow and makes it very slushy by the end of the day.

If you go to Bromely, make sure you bring something soft for later in the day...

I would vote Bromley as a VT local hill. Not as many tourists on that mt., cheaper lift tickets, smaller lift lines.

Just make sure you get there early for first tracks...

[Przemek/Brooklyn]

Ok Here is my perspective (very subjective)

okimo: too flat

straton: almost too flat

mount slow: waaaay to flat (only interesting terain is north face but lifts are slow and trails are icy and boring after a while)

Kilington: has few good runs but very spread out (when they groom bear mountain it is great)

stove: Few good runs but gondola run is too flat.

sugerbush: never been to.

Broomly: nice little mountain but when condition are not good, they are really not good there (south facing)

fly west or europe.

[scrapster]

Well, if we're going to go as far north as Stowe, I'd throw Jay Peak into the mix. It seems to be the choice for Vermonters trying to escape the crowds coming from the south, and has some of the best natural snow in the state. Don't know how it is for carving though--classic NE resorts tend to like narrow trails.

Looking over these lists, I still vouch highly for Sugarbush and Sugarbush North. They're really fantastic mountains and well worth he trip. And if you want to throw on the tele's, you can hit Mad River next door. (Yes, I'm still ticked over MR not allowing snowboards, but I still have to respect them for fighting to do things differently in a time of mega resorts.) PS- the Mad River single chair blog is IMO probably the best winter weather forecast in the state.

[Steph]

seems like you've got more than enough of everyone else's opinions for where to go. If your looking for people to ride with, there is always at least a handful of riders at Stratton on any given day...even mid-week.

Also, I must just say that as for Magic Mtn, its a great place for powder days, however I can't even fathom carving there, since they don't really groom.

[willywhit]

I live near Baltimore, and I want to try to take a short ski trip to New England, probably Vermont, this season. I would drive up with my wife and baby. I'm looking for a place with reasonably priced lodging on or near the slopes, good trails for carving, and good shopping so my wife will be able to find something to do. She will be taking care of the boy while I hit the slopes.

We have been to Killington a few times, and we usually have a good time there. The restaurants are nice, and it's not too far from decent shopping. I've heard that there are better resorts for carving, though.

So, any recommendations for a resort along with a recommendation for nice inexpensive lodging?

if you're ONLY looking for carving, blue groomers, okemo, mt snow or Flatton. If you wanna ride the whole mountain, Sugarbush or Jay Peak. If you wanna spend alot, Stowe. Killington and Stratton are pricey as well.

Suicide Six if you wanna kick it old school VT style.

http://www.skivermont.com/alpine/resort/suicidesix

Woodstock is a classic New England town.