New England
The hype for the holidays begins its annual crescendo. How does such a
festive occasion turn into social obligations, turf wars with in-laws,
and mountains of shopping, baking and decorating? I would rather be
skiing.
Some of our best holidays have been slopeside, escaping the season of stress and just being together as a family, doing what we love. What better place to celebrate the beauty of Christmas than on a snow-covered mountain? After all, the true spirit is in sharing each other’s company, not tearing open gifts and gorging on fruitcake. If pressure mounts to be with extended family, invite the grandparents along to make it a multi-generational getaway, the trip is everyone’s collective gift – a one size fits all.  If your
children have concerns over Santa, stockings and chimneys, you can
assure them that the big guy in the Red Suit has the latest GPS which
interfaces with his good list software so he can pinpoint the precise
location of the naughty and the nice. Finding a good deal on lodging and lifts can sweeten the notion of a ski holiday, especially if you travel the weekends and weeks up to Christmas Sunday. Resorts don’t get the crowds till the day after Christmas, so they offer enticing deals (and vacant trails) prior to the peak week and New Year’s weekend - when everyone else comes out for their first turns.  Ski
areas we have visited set the mood in early December for merry making
with tree lighting, decorations, hot cocoa and cookie parties, and
snow (even if it is man-made). Here are some ski resort packages that can make your holiday special, create healthy customs and eliminate some of the traditional tension. Smugglers’ Resort in Vermont has Value Weeks Dec 9-17 with lift and lodging rates of $99 per adult, per night, $85 per youth (3-17) including lift tickets, ski camp for kids, a lesson for adults, and use of all Smuggs’ facilities like the FunZone, the tubing hill, and indoor swimming pool for après ski, plus 50% off daycare for youngsters. You can even select a local fresh tree to decorate your condo or bring home.  If
the snow-covered village of
Stowe sounds
idyllic for a family ski holiday, you can mail your child's letter for
Santa to the Stowe Area Association. During the week of Dec. 16 to 23,
families visiting Stowe will be invited to see Santa, who will have
your child's own handwritten letter. Stowe has sleigh rides,
candy-cane making demonstrations, and Christmas book readings planned,
plus cutting your own Vermont Christmas tree. Of note: purchase your
Stowe lift tickets 14 days in advance and you can save 10-20%,
depending upon dates.A family ski weekend at Attitash in North Conway is available from $69 per person, per night on their First Tracks Package through Dec. 22 including lift tickets and lodging at the slopeside Grand Summit Hotel. Attitash is an ideal location if you are fortunate enough to hold tickets for the wonderful Polar Express event scheduled for Dec. 3 and 10. If you play hooky from school (and work) on Friday, Dec. 16, you can ski Attitash free that day, then stay two-nights on the First Tracks package for a 3-day pre-holiday weekend.  There
are few more majestic settings than The
Mount Washington
Hotel. The grand hotel, surrounded by the towering Presidential
Range, will host a Victorian Christmas with Dickens’ carolers and
sleigh rides on Dec. 16 weekend. The Hotel will celebrate a “Family
Christmas” Dec. 23-25 with special Elf tuck-ins, tree lighting and
Santa’s arrival by sleigh. Combine those trimmings with the backdrop
of skiing at Bretton Woods – sure beats mall shopping and cooking for
the in-laws.Maine’s Sunday River has exceptional snowmaking muscle, making it a good early December locale with 5-night Sunday-Friday lift and lodging packages starting at $299 per person arriving Dec. 4, 11 or 18. Santa Sunday at the River is Dec. 4, hundreds of Santa look-a-likes gather for a day of schussing for charity.  Sister
resort Sugarloaf
offers the same $299 per person midweek Classic Ski Week package with
lodging, lifts and lessons – plus free skiing after 12:30 upon arrival
Sunday. Dec. 10-11 Sugarloaf hosts a Holiday Craft and Arts Show so
you can shop in the Base Lodge, and also sample the latest skis out on
the slopes since The Loaf has free Demos all weekend long. Early Sugar
nightly packages are available at $69 per person for lodging, lifts
and a lesson at Sugarloaf Dec. 16-25. We find that heading to a resort just prior to the holiday does wonders to extend the season’s celebration. When we stay home, everyone is in their own zone, me in the kitchen, my husband at the computer, the kids plugged in to games and videos. Taking the gang skiing, we get our December adrenaline flowing in a natural setting (instead of a crowded store), and make the most of our vacation time together. All of our family traditions are transported to our rented condo, having confirmed the fireplace. So skip the progressive eggnog parties, bag the mall, and give your family the gift of skiing before the peak holiday week. |