If you love old fashioned villages and quaint towns, New England ski
resorts are sure to make you happy. Narrow trails, rugged slopes, and
classic Yankee characters make the Northeast a great vacation
destination.
Sugarloaf/USA
Sugarloaf/USA is like a chameleon. This famous Maine ski resort can
seem upscale and elegant by day, with spacious condos at the edges of the
slopes and restaurants featured in Bon Appetit Magazine. After hours,
the base lodge can be the hangout of ski bums telling stories of local
skiing legends called Captain America and Groovy Garbage. By day, the
slopes are covered with pink-cheeked, friendly people of all ages,
enjoying the slopes. By night, you can dine on fresh Maine lobster, and
then finish your evening with locally brewed beer and raucous
boot-stomping entertainment at favorites such as The Bag & Kettle.
At Sugarloaf/USA, every skier has a great vacation because one thing
remains constant: Sugarloaf/USA is for real skiers.
Sugarloaf/USA offers the only lift-serviced above-treeline skiing in
the East, and it's your best bet if you're hoping for powder snow.
People who really want to ski head to Sugarloaf/USA every winter.
However, this ski area is ready for the crowds. 15 lifts can transport
nearly 22,000 passengers per hour, to over 130 trails covering 1400
skiable acres. With 2820 feet of vertical drop--the most continuous in
New England--and a 3.5 mile Tote Road trail from summit to base,
Sugarloaf/USA is easily one of the country's favorite ski resorts if you love
pristine slopes and great snow.
Vacation at Sugarloaf/USA at any time from mid-November to early April,
and you'll be pleased that you did. It's just four hours from Boston,
but you'll think that you're light years away from hustle, bustle, and
stress, and pretty darned close to ski heaven.
By contrast, you may prefer a smaller, quieter New England ski vacation
at Gunstock Mountain in central Gilford, New Hampshire. Eight lifts and
two tubing tows serve 50 trails in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
Add snowshoeing, some great cross-country trails, plus night skiing
that's a local favorite, and you've stepped back into an era when life was
far more fun.
Gunstock Mountain is at the heart of New Hampshire's Lakes region, and
close to Lake Winnipesaukee, providing even more recreational
opportunities. Snowmobiling and ice climbing are winter specialties, and the
unspoiled landscapes will make you forget that you're just two hours from
Boston. If you like comfortable family-style ski resorts, Gunstock
will be a favorite destination year after year.
But, if you'd rather escape the snow and ice during your winter
vacation, head south for a relaxing break from chilly winds and gray skies.