Dec. 18-25 near NYC for never-ever family? Advice PLS?

If youre spending a whole weeks time, I would definitely not recommend Hunter (although Hunter is really the only ski area I ever ski when taking a day trip from NYC - mostly because it has alot of fairly steep terrain compared to anything else nearby, and you can avoid the crowds fairly well if you do laps on Hunter West - but youre with a group including some people that haven't skied). As much as I am not the biggest fan of Killington anymore, I did grow up skiing there often, and there is plenty of stuff to do outside of skiing. Stratton is also a fairly nice mountain, a bit smaller than Killington though and roughly the same price (unless I'm mistaken - they're both expensive though). I think Killington would perhaps have better snowpack in late December than Stratton, but again I'm probably biased since I know Killington much better. Mount Snow and Okemo I find to be kind of boring, but thats just a personal opinion, and Stowe (which I think is the best ski area in Vermont) is a bit far to drive from New York City (figure 7 hours probably), although I would definitely recommend it. Killington, if i recall correctly, used to take me about 5 or 5.5 hours to get to from Brooklyn, so you can subtract a little bit of time coming from Manhattan probably - depending on traffic. I spent a lot of time in the ski school at Killington when I was younger and have only good things to say about it. Probably among the 4 resorts you are considering I'd opt for Killington.

Sven
 
Hiya again! Okay, my proteges have decided on Bromley, 12/18-22, hopefully they'll see some real snow!

Any suggestions on CHEAP 2 bedroom condo or 2 Motel rooms, 15 minute drive to the mountain? And, ski shop OFF-mountain for equipment rentals?

GRACIAS!
 
Are you making arrangements for lessons ahead of time too? With 4 kids it may not cost anymore to hire a private instructor than signing them all up for ski school. As they have no experience with snow, let alone skiing, the instructor can also provide more warm-up breaks and tailor things a lot better for them. Chances are you won't be getting a newbie instructor that way either.

About the only downside I can see is that the person would have to handle the age difference, where a school may have better age groupings. Chances are though that as a first time skier the older kids would be in a group with younger skiers as well, which they may not like.
 
So what's the scoop on lift lines at Okemo and Stratton during the Dec. 22 thru Dec 27 time frame? Are they really bad on the 26th and on?
Also, what is open on Christmas eve and Christmas day as far a shops and eateries go?
 
I have skied all of those areas during the holidays. I have to say the lift lines aren't that bad.. All of those resorts have a modern high speed lift system. I find that the cafs are crowded and so are the restaurants at night.. Just eat at off hours.. Lunch at 11:00..
 
ricks":yflp7e0z said:
So what's the scoop on lift lines at Okemo and Stratton during the Dec. 22 thru Dec 27 time frame? Are they really bad on the 26th and on?
Also, what is open on Christmas eve and Christmas day as far a shops and eateries go?
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OK, I'll weigh in on that one. I go to Stratton at Christmas only because my (non-skiing) wife prefers the (outageously overpriced) Equinox in Manchester.

Let me be restrained -- Stratton sucks, and with global maximum at Christmas. Forget about the upload stats -- the lines are awful because the lifts are poorly placed. Okemo has a much more optimal placement of lifts. One can generally forget about total vertical during Holidays, but I will flat-out guarantee you that you will get more at Okemo than Stratton.

Stratton also maintains a trully unique marketing strategy: (a) you pay literally the highest price in the East ($72 last year, I think), but (b) those who join Speedy Bears (I love marketing ...) get their own separate lift lines to stay away from the riff-raff who paid only $72.

So, I raise these issues with some Stratton marketing guy on the lift one time. He tells me that "they want to stop the busloads from New Jersey". (I happen to be from Connecticut, but tell him I am from NJ just to put him on edge ...). I tell him (a) I do not care what the aggregate net worth is on my chair, and (b) I believe skiing ability is inversely correlated with net worth (I am an exception -:). He says I do not understand marketing. We are both right.

btw, this is the best forum I have ever seen -- the reports here leave me both laughing and in awe of people's ablity and dedication ...

Rick
 
Rick":3j8hog67 said:
btw, this is the best forum I have ever seen -- the reports here leave me both laughing and in awe of people's ablity and dedication ...
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Hey, we try. :wink:
 
Just looked into Magic Mountain, seems nice enough.

For my never-evers, which is better, Bromley or Magic (for learning and New England charm)?

Thanks.
 
i would not recommend magic for never evers. they have reportedly made A LOT o infrastructure improvements... but it remains to be seen if they can actually get most of their green circle and blue square terrain covered by january, let alone xmas break. i am expecting good things, but until i see reports this winter to verify things have indeed changed, magic must continue to be a mountain that is not recommended for folks requiring early season snow making coverage.
 
riverc0il":1y2wybzg said:
i would not recommend magic for never evers. they have reportedly made A LOT o infrastructure improvements...
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I was on some VT lift last year with someone who told me story about being on a lift at Magic the previous week when it flat-out died and and it took a couple of hours to get everyone down. It also true that serious skiers rave about the terrain. Magic is for Mad River types, not Okemo/Stratton seekers ...

Rick
 
Rick":23b34nr6 said:
riverc0il":23b34nr6 said:
I was on some VT lift last year with someone who told me story about being on a lift at Magic the previous week when it flat-out died and and it took a couple of hours to get everyone down. It also true that serious skiers rave about the terrain. Magic is for Mad River types, not Okemo/Stratton seekers ...
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magic did have an evac recently, but most ski areas have had evacs at one time or another, no area is immune. magic is definitely a good mountain for mad river types, but magic is also under rated as a good cruiser mountain. if it wasn't for infrastructure issues and the lack of a lower mountain beginner only lift, i might even rate magic higher than bromley overall. magic's problem is they are rough around the edges and unreliable lacking some needed enhancements to show making. the mountain itself is excellent for all abilities and has enormous potential if the new owners can make the right investments.
 
Thanks rivercoil, great heads-up. I'll stick to Bromley, although someone suggested Granite Gorge in NH?
 
Gpaul":y0i5ddmg said:
Thanks rivercoil, great heads-up. I'll stick to Bromley, although someone suggested Granite Gorge in NH?
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if you want to drive all that way to ski 200 vertical feet, sure, probably a great area. ;)
 
Well, due to Mother Nature I've been re-thinking the Bromley thing, and came up with an alternative: OKEMO.

They seem to have snowmaking down to a science, the town of Ludlow is quite nice, and the new Jackson Gore area seems like a beginners' haven.


What say ye? Need your advice again amigo(a)s.

Of course, Stowe is still on my list, although for cheap accomodations I can't find anything with a shuttle, and I don't want my never-evers to drive to the mountain.

Gracias!
 
I have been to Okemo to many times to count.. We always have a great time. It's my kids favorite mountain. We usually stay at the Jackson Gore base. It is a great hotel with a great outdoor pool. And the ski valet ain't bad . You can't go wrong with this choice.
 
Gpaul":2soforvb said:
Well, due to Mother Nature I've been re-thinking the Bromley thing, and came up with an alternative: OKEMO.

They seem to have snowmaking down to a science, the town of Ludlow is quite nice, and the new Jackson Gore area seems like a beginners' haven.
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In our experience Okemo has the best grooming in the NE. Over the past 15 years, we have skied there 3-4 days/years with friends who live nearby. The surface is usually the best in the area. For example, three years ago Okemo experienced the cycle of

day 1) 0F & windy,
day 2) 55F & hard rain,
and then day 3) -12F & bulletproof ice.

Even on day 3 Okemo was able grind almost all of the ice once. By day 4 they had restored to the ice into a surface suitable for all skiers. Other skiers who had skied nearby Killington reported it was still bulletproof. Of course, weather cycles like this do not make for pleasant skiing, but Okemo does try much harder and it pays off with a higher quality experience.

Cheers,
Jeff
 
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