This story was Published in The New England Ski Journal Published: January 2003

By Heather Burke

 

Being asked what there is to do at ski resorts “besides skiing” always gives me pause. You ski all day, soak in some hot water (spa, pool, or tub), have dinner, hit the pillow, then repeat the next day. That’s how my Mom trained me, so now my husband and I continue the ski regime with our young skiers.

When asked to report on fun non-skiing activities at ski resorts, I realized we might not achieve our usual daily 30,000-feet of vertical, but accepted the task for its fun potential.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort was an obvious choice, since this self-contained Vermont resort continues to rake in awards as a haven for families.

Smuggs Resort Guide efficiently maps out fun by the hour, and then “guarantees” it. At Smuggs, skiing is just one of the many amenities for kids and parents. Our family of four hit the slopes first thing (hard to break old habits) so we would have the afternoon to tackle the extensive roster of games and off-slope diversions.

Choosing between Tubing, Snowmobiling, the Pool, and the Fun Zone led to a family vote. The Fun Zone won the kids’ vote, no contest.

Under an inflatable dome, we found a brightly colored amusement park of slides, obstacle courses, mini-golf, jousting, a climbing wall and ping-pong – all kid friendly. Our two kids would have been thrilled to stay here for hours, it looked like some families were camped out for the day.

I confess I had a blast jousting with my husband, trying to knock him off his pedestal with a big padded baton. Hey, it’s not all about the kids.

Bill Stritzler, managing director at Smugglers, admits the Fun Zone was hatched during a low snow season; they brought in some inflatable games and toys to keep families happy. It was such a success; they have made it a permanent offering.

We pulled our kids out of the Fun Zone after two hours (promising to return later) as we had reservations for the Family Snowshoe Trek. The modern snowshoes were easy to adjust and adapt to, and the winter walk by the mountain stream was a beautiful escape into the quiet woods, along the periphery of the bustling condominium village.

Then there was the hot chocolate party by the bonfire with Mogul Mouse. You can walk to all these activities within the jam-packed slopeside community. We did not partake in Sir Henry’s Tube Sliding, or ice-skating, or “kids night out.” Suffice it to say our kids were ready for a relaxing dinner in our well-equipped condo and a comfy bed. With a TV in every room and a big Jacuzzi tub, more non-ski activities, they were in heaven.

On our way to the adult nightlife with Good Time Charlie, my husband and I passed through the teen center to find a very wholesome gathering of supervised teens hanging out listening to music. When my kids mature to this hard-to-please age bracket, I hope to have them in such a positive atmosphere. Smugglers’ really knows how to keep kids of all ages entertained and safe.

In a weekend, you can’t cram in everything Smugglers’ offers. We tried. A weeklong stay is a better plan. The Club Smuggs package includes most of the activities and lift tickets to the three mountains of incredible skiing. Yes, let’s not forget Smugglers’ skiing.

Just over the mountain from Smugglers’ lies Stowe, another award-winning resort. We decided to check it out for its non-vertical family distractions. We packed up and drove an hour around the mountains (Smuggler’s Notch pass is closed in winter) to the beautiful town of Stowe. The Golden Eagle Resort, on the Mountain Road half a mile from town and 10-minutes to the ski area, is well suited for active families.

This 80-acre property offers its guests sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, a playground and ice-skating parties. For indoor fun, there is a heated pool and hot tub, and a bright and cheery game room that my son proclaimed much better than most (free foosball and billiards swayed his decision).

Every afternoon, tea and hot cocoa are served at the Golden Eagle’s cozy main living room. Special “Eagle” happenings include kids pizza and movie nights, so Mom and Dad can enjoy Stowe’s fine restaurants.

The Golden Eagle is a 10-minute walk to town along the boutique-lined Mountain Road, or by taking the Rec. Path (one of former President Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light”). There is also a well-scheduled shuttle service if you don’t wish to walk or drive.

We stopped in the Stowe Area Association, had a sample of Cabot Cheddar cheese and learned of the landslide worth of activities and events in and about town from concerts to museums. There was an ice-skating party, dog sledding, the town tobogganing hill, “u-paint-it pottery”, and a ski museum. Another family vote led us to some shop browsing followed by a visit to the newly opened Vermont Ski Museum.

This museum in the beautifully renovated old Town Hall is a wonderful collection of skiing history. The kids can sit in a vintage single chair, or a defunct gondola, see out-dated ski equipment and outfits (like mom and dad used to wear), and learn about our past Olympians and skiing soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division. I personally enjoyed the library of ancient ski publications, while the kids watched a ski flick on the huge plasma screen.

Other family activities recommended by the friendly Stowe Area Association staff included a 10-minute drive south of town to the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory for a snowshoe and ice cream tour - burn off some calories with a trek then see how ice cream is made and finish with a sample. Similar kid-pleasing tours and samples can be had at nearby Cold Hollow Cider Mill and the Cabot Creamery.

The newly added “Swimming Hole” (located steps from the Golden Eagle) looks like a Vermont barn with requisite silo from the exterior, but is in fact an aquatic fitness facility that could consume your kids for hours. As you enjoy a day of water fun here for $12, you can thank Jake Burton, snowboard entrepreneur, for funding this impressive community pool with a separate kiddies pool and waterslide.

Days in Stowe conclude with deciding which of the many superb eateries to patronize. Pie in the Sky is the popular place for fantastic family pizza, go early or order take as its gets pretty hectic.

The Cactus Café is a festive Mexican joint serving delicious fare, they welcome families with a kids’ menus, and superb margaritas for the grown ups.

For the vertically addicted members of your family, Stowe has a Friday night $25 deal including a 5-9pm night skiing ticket, pizza and soda, plus a ski movie. Stowe’s night skiing is healthier than sending the teens to the video arcade or the local movie theatre.

Stowe is a splendid family friendly town, despite its reputation as a romantic New England ski town (that is just a bonus for the parents). And the skiing at Stowe, I almost forgot, continues to be the best in the East. The quad often opens at 7:30am, so you can get your vertical and have plenty of time for the aforementioned “fun.”

Both of these Vermont resorts have enough activities to make your head spin. By sampling the things to do without boards, you eliminate kids who are “bored.”

A quick look at other ski resort brochures tells me that most have added tubing, snowshoeing and ice-skating to their repertoire to round out the ski vacation experience.

A few hours on the slopes, a non-ski family activity, then a soak in the pool, and your wee-ones will need some pillow time to rest their smiles. And you will be right behind them.

If You Go:
Smugglers Notch Vermont can be reached at 1-800-451-8752 or visit www.smuggs.com

The Golden Eagle Resort in Stowe Vermont can be reached at 1- 800-626-1010 or by visiting www.goldeneagleresort.com 

Stowe Ski Resort can be reached at 1-800-253-4SKI or www.stowe.com 

For events and activities in Stowe, contact the Stowe Area Association at 1-877-GOSTOWE or www.gostowe.com

The Cactus Café on the Mountain Road in Stowe can be reached at www.cactuscafestowe.com or 802-253-7770
 

 

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