Ski destination for first time skiers

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

How about Massanutten? Is that good for beginners or would you not recommend it?

I'm going to Massanutten in February, mainly as a winter trip not so much as a skiing trip...But hope to get my little one in ONE lesson while we are there. The thing is...It's $120! Link: Massanutten Resort: Slope Sliders Children's Program i'd love to have my daughter to be able to say she went skiing...But if the program isn't that great i may not do it

Soo, i have the same question as you....But your 17yr old probly won't be taking classes next to my (then) 6yr old

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I read where the ski season officially ended yesterday at Lake Tahoe. It was very late this year because of the extremely heavy snowpack this year.

This year was very unusual. When we lived in the Bay Area and the kids were smaller, we tried to go skiing in Tahoe several times when school was out for Spring Break (generally the first or second week of April). Most years the resorts were shutting down; a couple of times there were only one or two resorts operating. And the conditions every time we went were marginal at best. Of course it's not that way every year, a few years ago I was in Tahoe the last week of March while the Basin was getting some big snow dumps.

[cyseitz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cyseitz]

Yeah....have you been to Massanutten before? I have not been there but that is a destination we have considered. Are there easy slopes there and what else is there to do besides ski?

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

This year was very unusual. When we lived in the Bay Area and the kids were smaller, we tried to go skiing in Tahoe several times when school was out for Spring Break (generally the first or second week of April). Most years the resorts were shutting down; a couple of times there were only one or two resorts operating. And the conditions every time we went were marginal at best. Of course it's not that way every year, a few years ago I was in Tahoe the last week of March while the Basin was getting some big snow dumps.

About 10 years ago when we were living in the Bay area we frequently went to Reno. I remember there being snow one year right into June at Donner Pass.

[kirbytravels Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kirbytravels]

WE go to Breckenridge every year, and it's an awesome place to ski. Plenty of beginner hills. There are hills for all levels and the more advanced can easily find you at the bottom of any hill.
The town is really family friendly. Lots to do. Shopping, fun pizza and burger joints, and you can take the shuttle all around town for free. They also have skating rink, and you can go tubing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or just hang by the pool at your resort.
When my kids were young I was afraid to take them to the mountains because I thought it would be too severe. Boy, was I wrong! There is much more space with really wide runs for the kiddos to learn. The midwest ski resorts are waaaay to crowded, and therefore much more dangerous to learn on in my opinion. Take it from someone who learned in midwest. I wish I'd have taken my kids all along.
Have fun!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

About 10 years ago when we were living in the Bay area we frequently went to Reno. I remember there being snow one year right into June at Donner Pass.

I can remember snow in June on Skyline Highway in the Santa Cruz Mountains in June. That doesn't mean I would recommend someone plan a ski vacation there!!

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Peek 'N Peak in Western New York might be a good place for beginners. It is rather rural but not too far from Erie, PA and about an hour and a half from Niagara Falls. Nice resort, nice units, good slopes for beginners, but may be a bit far for a driving trip.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I can remember snow in June on Skyline Highway in the Santa Cruz Mountains in June. That doesn't mean I would recommend someone plan a ski vacation there!!

You have to be kidding. We lived for several years in the Bay area and snow in the Santa Cruz mountains is pretty rare even in the winter. What year was that? About 12 years ago, when we were living in downtown Los Gatos it snowed one day but didn't stick. We used to drive a long Skyline Drive quite frequently.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

You have to be kidding. We lived for several years in the Bay area and snow in the Santa Cruz mountains is pretty rare even in the winter. What year was that? About 12 years ago, when we were living in downtown Los Gatos it snowed one day but didn't stick. We used to drive a long Skyline Drive quite frequently.

Probably about 20 years ago - I think it was shortly after we moved back from southern California. Nothing was sticking but heading along Skyline Drive some big goopy flakes were mixed in with the rain.

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

I would second the recommendation of going to Colorado or Utah. It might be a longer drive, but for a full week's vacation it would definitely be worth it. All of the major ski resorts have plenty of beginner terrain, so that is not a concern.

The big advantage is a major resort will not have such crowded runs for beginners. Although there is no guarantee, but the western resorts will generally have much better snow conditions for learning -- much less "icy" conditions, wider runs, and more runs / whole areas dedicated to beginners. The larger resorts will have the the most options for lessons as well (private, small group, large group, focused skill ranges, etc.). Plus, if anyone catches on quickly, they would have access to more advanced levels of terrain. I just think that for learning to ski, there is no better place than out west.

Kurt

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

I'm going to Massanutten in February, mainly as a winter trip not so much as a skiing trip...But hope to get my little one in ONE lesson while we are there. The thing is...It's $120! Link: Massanutten Resort: Slope Sliders Children's Program i'd love to have my daughter to be able to say she went skiing...But if the program isn't that great i may not do it

Soo, i have the same question as you....But your 17yr old probly won't be taking classes next to my (then) 6yr old

That $120 includes lift ticket, equipment rental and lunch. Sounds like a decent deal to me! Consider going on a weekday and save $25 -- then it is a fantastic deal. Consider how much you would spend doing other all-day activities such as an amusement park -- it puts the cost into perspective.

As to whether or not the lessons are decent there, I have no input.

Kurt

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

\
Skiing is NOT a cheap hobby.

That said, Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires has become our annual New Year's trip. The SkiWee program there has gotten my daughter zipping around after two seasons (she's 7). We figure one more year there and then go out West. Jiminy Peak has some more difficult trails to please the "real" skiers and the instructors at Jiminy know what they are doing and make it fun.

There are two timeshares...VV at the Berkshires across the street and the Wyndam Bentley Brook that is ski in/ski out. We stay at VV - we've not been able to get a trade to BB over the holiday.

I'm going to Massanutten in February, mainly as a winter trip not so much as a skiing trip...But hope to get my little one in ONE lesson while we are there. The thing is...It's $120! Link: Massanutten Resort: Slope Sliders Children's Program i'd love to have my daughter to be able to say she went skiing...But if the program isn't that great i may not do it

Soo, i have the same question as you....But your 17yr old probly won't be taking classes next to my (then) 6yr old

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

Just noticed that you are trying to drive. Then VA or WV (no timeshare that I know of) would get my vote.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

\
Skiing is NOT a cheap hobby.

That said, Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires has become our annual New Year's trip. The SkiWee program there has gotten my daughter zipping around after two seasons (she's 7). We figure one more year there and then go out West. Jiminy Peak has some more difficult trails to please the "real" skiers and the instructors at Jiminy know what they are doing and make it fun.

There are two timeshares...VV at the Berkshires across the street and the Wyndam Bentley Brook that is ski in/ski out. We stay at VV - we've not been able to get a trade to BB over the holiday.

Shawnee in the Poconos is another good beginner place - lots of timeshares around and the mountain stays open late which makes for a relaxed week if early mornings are your (or your kids) thing. My kids spent a lot of their beginner time there. Also really easy to sit in the lodge and watch them come down.