48 Hours Skiing in Vermont with Kids
Growing up in Canada, I was just a few hours from the Vermont border but somehow have never set foot in the State. So, when I received an invite to join the 3rd Annual Momtrends Ski Weekend at Mount Snow, I didn’t hesitate to say we were in.
With two very excited littles in tow, we packed our rental car on a Friday afternoon and headed North to the Green Mountain State. Plenty of snacks, silly car games and a hefty dose of Wow in the World got us through the 6 hour journey (traffic - ick) and when we arrived we were greeted by a giant roaring fire and a cluster of some of my favorite mamas. Perfect.
Catching the first glimpse of the mountain.
Accommodations
We stayed in a 1 bedroom slopeside suite at The Grand Summit Resort Hotel which was ski in/ski out at the base of the mountain. With kids, there simply isn’t any better set up. Our room had a bedroom upstairs with an amazingly comfortable King sized bed and en suite and downstairs had a full kitchen, pull out sofa for the kids and plenty of space to hang out at the end of the day.
Braving the crowds at the base of Mount Snow
Skiing
We signed the littles up for ski school for 2 days and we wish we could have stayed for more. The rentals were well organized, fast and friendly and we had the kids (and ourselves!) suited up in under 20 minutes. Once we headed outside to meet up with the instructors, the kids were immediately matched up with the appropriate group based on their levels and they put us at ease that they were in good hands. We’ve been to other ski schools that felt so chaotic that I thought my kids would disappear but the Mount Snow staff were kind, attentive and uber professional.
Hudson getting ready to hit the slopes.
Harlow is all set to ski!
Sadly, I am dealing with a broken foot that won’t heal (a story for another day) so I didn’t make it out onto the slopes but according to my hubby, Mount Snow offered some of the best trails that he has experienced on the East Coast. It has a small mountain feel with big mountain quality trails. Taking either of the high speed chairs to the scenic 3600ft summit gives a multitude of options down, including the beautiful cruiser trail Long John that is a treat for all skill levels. There are so many trails of various levels that you never have to come down exactly the same way, and have 3 different base areas to head back up and explore from. Pro tip: the line-free Ego Alley chair in front of the Grand Summit Resort can get you almost all the way up and down continuously if you want to squeeze the most ski time in your day.
Mount Snow has recently completed their West Lake Water Project which gives them the most powerful snowmaking system in the Northeast. Apparently it rained almost 2 inches in the days leading up to our visit but you would never know based on the incredible amounts of fresh powder that was created for an impressive amount of open trails to explore. In fact, Mount Snow was awarded Ski Magazine’s 2019 Editor’s Choice Award for Best Snow.
Plenty of powder at the top.
A unique perk to Mount Snow is that the mountain is designed to purposefully keep the snowboarders happy in the Carinthia all-terrain park which means that skiiers and snowboarders won’t go head to head and makes it a more pleasant experience for both. My hubby also loved the new Carinthia Base Lodge that is a brand new $22M facility complete with a sit-down restaurant, two bars with extensive local beer selections and several grab & go food options which is a welcome respite after a morning of skiing.
The main village at Mount Snow.
If you are a beginner skiier, the mountain participates in an amazing deal called the Peak Discovery Program. For just $139, you get three days of lessons, rentals and lift tickets that are good at 7 mountains across the Northeast, including Mount Snow, Hunter Mountain, Attitash, Wildcat, and more.
Amenitites
Given that I couldn’t enjoy the mountain, I decided to indulge in some quality “me” time. I sat fireside for 2 days catching up on work, reading and being the unofficial ambassador as people came in off the slopes to warm up.
I also snuck away to the Nature Spa that is tucked away on the 1st floor of the hotel for a massage. I opted for the Sorely Kneaded 50 minute massage with Rachel and my only regret was not opting for the 75 minute option. She was fantastic and I would recommend you seek her out.
The pool and hot tub at The Grand Summit Lodge.
We also tried tubing for the first time! I wasn’t a fan to be honest (so fast!) but my littles couldn’t get enough.
Getting There:
Mount Snow is Vermont’s closest big mountain resort located about 4 hours and 15 minutes from Downtown Manhattan.
Team Deane
If you’re planning a family ski trip this winter, I highly recommend you check out the Momtrends Ski Guide for packing lists, mountain guides and all the latest must-have gear.
Until next time Vermont! xo