First step, look off the beaten path. While the major destination resorts
sell out months in advance at top dollar for February vacation, some smaller
family resorts don’t charge an arm and a leg, and don’t get the big crowds.
Ski areas like Bolton Valley in Vermont, or Mount Abram and Saddleback in
Maine, can be better bets for shorter lift lines and lift tickets for less
(Saddleback is $40 a day, $30 for kids, for 2,000’ of vertical). Check out
New Hampshire’s family size ski areas like Gunstock, Ragged and Crotched,
the Granite state vacation is a week later than other New England school
systems – thinning out the number of kids on their slopes.
Think small for big savings. King Pine in New Hampshire offers all inclusive
vacation week stays at their Purity Springs Resort during vacation week.
It’s like Club Med, only tinier than the French Alps. Families learning to
ski can get lodging, lift tickets to the 350’-vertical ski hill at King
Pine, three meals a day and use of the heated pool, all for about $120 a day
for adults, $40 for kids. February at King Pine is a “wild winter
celebration” with fun family races, equipment demos, night skiing, snow
tubing, fireworks and bonfires.
The Appalachian Mountain Club offers families an alternative to the steep
($$$) slopeside condo. Families can take part in AMC’s winter adventure
program at either the new Highland Lodge at Crawford Notch – with skiing at
nearby Bretton Woods, or lodging at the Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch
with nearby skiing at Wildcat, Black or Attitash. What’s unique about these
lodges is the rustic, wholesome environment – something most families have
lost touch with. Breakfast and dinner are included and served family style
in the main hall, a chance to meet other folks and share stories of
everyone’s day outdoors.
At these AMC centers, families can share a room (not bunking with strangers
of the hut hiking days I remember as a kid). Some of the AMC highlights
planned for winter guests are naturalist-led animal tracking tours, winter
skills seminars, and even an overnight hut to hut snowshoe adventure.
Last chance, for a snow dance. If you didn’t book last fall (maybe you
should have), call ski resorts now and find out about any last minute
vacancies or cancellations for a night or two at your favorite resort. We
have been surprised to find midweek openings at Grand Summit hotels – you
can steal away for a few nights during the vacation week and satisfy the
family’s craving for carving with two or three days of skiing without
breaking the bank on a week’s worth of premium lodging.
I used to encourage families to go to Quebec during the American holiday,
but that was when the exchange rate was more favorable (for us) at these
French speaking resorts.
Call your long lost ski buddy. Last and least out of your wallet, look up
your friend with a slopeside condo, or a house in ski country. Offer to
bring breakfast and dinner if you can stay for a few nights.
Make the most of your tracks. Be sure to book-end any overnight lodging with
skiing on both our arrival and departure day to maximize your time on the
slopes (while minimizing your lodging tariff). And of course, hit the slopes
early – the best skiing during peak holidays is when the lifts first open
(and other families are still sleeping or searching for someone’s lost
mitten).
Finally, if you find a sweet deal this February, consider booking it for
next year. Some properties honor this year’s rates for next season if you
reserve with a small deposit as you check out. Then next year’s trip to the
mountains is all mapped out.
