A Winter Skiing Weekend Getaway! 
by Tara Cantore
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Living in New England gives families the perfect opportunity to take a weekend ski getaway at one of the many ski resorts in the area. There are several resorts that are close to home in Connecticut, as well as out of state. Even if you and your family are not experienced skiers, you can still venture on a weekend ski vacation. Daily lessons are available at many resorts for beginners, to those who are more advanced in the sport. Many ski resorts also offer other activities, such as pools, spas, shopping and dining. Whether you are a ski enthusiast or are looking for a fun-packed weekend, the following offer premier skiing opportunities.

Skiing in Vermont

Ascutney Mountain Resort is located in southeastern Vermont. This ski area offers diverse skiing and snowboarding terrain for all family members. The resort offers a variety of children’s programs daily as well. These programs allow children to have their fun, while parents can enjoy a day on the slopes.

The Mini Olympians program is for children ages 4-6. This program is for all ability level skiers. Kids will learn to ski in a fun, supportive atmosphere guided by the resort’s enthusiastic children’s program staff.

Young Olympians is a program designed for children ages 7-12. This program is for all ability level skiers and snowboarders. It will provide the children with a significant amount of on-mountain instruction and discovery, combined with the opportunity to meet other children of similar age and ability levels.

There is also childcare options for parents. Ducklings Childcare is for children ages 6 weeks and up. Children participate in games, arts and crafts and other activities in an atmosphere of fun and discovery.

Flying D.U.C.K.S. Childcare and Skiing is for children ages 3-6. This program retains all the features of Ducklings Childcare, but also includes a skiing orientation each session. Children will be able to become familiar with the equipment and begin their introduction to snow on the gentle slops of D.U.C.K. Soup.

When skiing at Ascutney Mountain Resort visitors can stay at the resort without ever having to leave over the course of their stay. Ascutney offers a variety of activities, amenities and accommodations that are all slopeside. The resort packages for the weekend include lodging, lift tickets and additional resort activities and amenities. The lodging that the resort offers includes one, two and three bedroom condos. These condos include a full kitchen, living room with sofa bed, dining area and fireplace. Other amenities at the resort include a sports and fitness center with an indoor olympic-sized pool, sauna, hot tub and tennis, racquetball and basketball courts.

The resort is geared toward family recreation. They offer tubing and ice skating on their village pond. Every Saturday, the resort has a bonfire where families can sip hot chocolate and enjoy the fresh mountain air. There is also a billiard’s room, arcade and game room, a kids movie night and much more.

Ascutney Mountain Resort is located six miles off I-91 in Brownsville, Vermont. For more information and rates call 800-243-0011 or visit www.ascutney.com.

Another family-friendly resort located in Vermont is Burke Mountain. This ski destination offers a variety of daily skiing and snowboarding programs for children. Ski programs include Bear Chasers for ages 4-12. This program gives children a safe and fun environment to ski in. They will be grouped by their ability. Specially trained children’s coaches will keep the kids enthused about skiing with games and skiing drills.

Bear Cubs is a program for beginning skiers ages 3-5. It offers a private hour lesson and daycare. The children’s coaches will teach them the first steps in skiing. At the end of their lesson their coach will bring them back to the cub den daycare for playtime.

Beginner Ski Special is a program for the first-time skier who is 6-12 years old. This package includes a 1 1/2 hour group lesson, rentals and J-bar ticket.

For those children who still need some supervision but want to rip it up on the upper mountain, there is the Mountain Ski Rangers program for ages 10-14. Coaches will take the kids on a mountain adventure, cruising bumps, jumps and powder.

Burke also offers similar programs for snowboarding. Bear Shredders is for ages 6-12. This program gives your child a safe and fun environment to ride in. The children will be grouped by their ability.

Beginner Snowboard Special is geared for kids 6-12 who have no snowboarding experience. This program is offered as a package that includes a 1 1/2 hour group lesson, rentals and J-bar ticket.

Mountain Snowboard Rangers allows children ages 10-14 to go up the mountain with coaches as they jump and bump down the trail.

Burke Mountain is located on Route 114 East in East Burke, Vermont. For more information call 802-626-3322 or visit www.skiburke.com.

Connecticut Ski Destinations

There are ski resorts that families can enjoy that are located right here in Connecticut as well. Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall is located among the beauty of the Southern Berkshire Mountains. It features 24 trails for skiing and snowboarding. Twelve of the trails are available for night skiing as well.

This ski area offers a variety of packages for those who are new to skiing, as well as those who are more advanced. Learn to Ski involves a beginner slope lift ticket, ski rental equipment and a 1 1/2 hour lesson. Mohawk offers a similar package deal for those who are beginner snowboarders.

For those with more experience there is the Mountain Master Ski Package. This has an all area lift ticket, ski rental equipment and a 1 1/2 hour lesson. There is a similar snowboarding package.

Mohawk Mountain offers cozy slope side dinning by the fireplace at Pine Lodge Restaurant. The main lodge also offers food in a cafeteria style atmosphere.

Mohawk Mountain is located at 46 Great Hollow Road in Cornwall. For more information call 800-895-5222 or visit www.mohawkmtn.com.

Ski Sundown, located in New Hartford, offers 15 trails. Fourteen of the trails contain night lighting. The facilities at Ski Sundown include a fully equipped rental shop with adult and children’s skis, snowboards and boots, as well as a repair shop.

Lessons for skiing and snowboarding are offered daily. For the first time skier or snowboarder there are lessons for those 7 and up. The first time package includes an eight-hour lift ticket, equipment rental and a 1 1/2 hour group lesson.

Specialty lessons are offered for children ages 4-6. These lessons are for any skill level and include a child lift ticket, ski lesson and ski rental package.

The lifts are open daily from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Ski Sundown is located at 126 Ratlum Road in New Hartford. For more information call 860-279-SNOW or visit www.skisundown.com.

Mount Southington has a fun-filled family atmosphere. It offers a variety of skiing terrain. The ski slopes offer everything from gentle novice runs off the summit to steep, narrow cruisers through the forest. Special mountain features include a Terrain Park for the high flyers and The Glacier children’s learning area.

The Glacier children’s learning area is reserved solely for children’s programs at Mount Southington. There are a variety of programs that are offered for children here. Polar Bears is a four-hour session that runs on weekends from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Children are grouped according to their skill and age. Each child stays with the same instructor for the entire day. Every lesson’s focus is to have fun and improve skills no matter what level skier they are. This session is for children ages 6-12.

The two-hour Snow Foxes session follows the same format as the Polar Bears session. This package is perfect for the young skier who is short on time and/or stamina, or for parents who would like to ski with their children for part of the day. Lessons run from 10 a.m.-noon or 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The one-hour Penguins program serves as an introduction to skiing for children ages 4-5. Each Penguin will be introduced to the equipment and introductory skiing skills. Lessons are held from 10-11 a.m. or from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Mount Southington is located at 396 Mount Veron Road in Plantsville. For more information call 800-982-6828 or visit www.mountsouthington.com.

By visiting one of these family friendly ski destinations, you may discover a new hobby or perhaps start a winter family tradition of skiing. Whether you are a ski novice or a expert, a weekend ski vacation getaway is sure to be a hit with your entire family.

This article was originally printed in the December 2005 issue of Connecticut Parent Magazine