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| The New York Optimist March 2009 |
Although skiing is traditionally a costly sport, with the right search, you can discover some good deals on individual and family ski
packages. O ne way to save is to go either early or late in the ski season—in November or March, to be exact. However, if you
prefer to ski at the height of the season, from December-February, you can still find good deals, with a little due diligence.
Your vacation will be much less expensvie if you can travel by car, rather than airplane. Midweek, non-holiday times and one-day
passes can all work out to be more advantageous. There are many family-friendly ski resorts within five hours of NYC.
In New York State, some of the best ski resorts and slopes include: Belleayre, Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, Mount Peter and
Plattekill Mountain.
Belleayre Mountainoffers a kid’s camp and many winter sports programs especially for children.
They offer ski free/stay free packages for children 14 and under, as well as midweek getaways. Visit www.belleayre.com for more
information or call (800) 942-6904.
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort (RHR) is an all inclusive resort with numerous activities for kids and adults alike.
Rates begin as low as $49 per child and all packages include horseback riding (weather permi tting), skiing, snow tubing, use of the
indoor pool, nightly entertainment and much more!
Call (800) 64-RANCH for more information or visit: RHRanch.com. RHR is within two hours of NYC in the Catskill Mountains.
Mount Peter has the best deals for beginners and snowboarders. They offer free lessons on weekends and holidays. The lessons
teach you how to stand, stop and side step.
Like RHR, Mount Peter is located within two hours of NYC, In Warwick, NY (Orange County). Visit: www.mtpeter.com.
Plattekill Mountainoffers free group lessons for beginners. In the later part of the ski season, lift tickets are only $15!
Nearby B&B’s such as Stone Tavern Farm Bed and Breakfast and Scudder Hill House, both in Roxbury, NY have quaint rooms with
private baths. They offer trail rides and ATV tours as well. Both are within six miles of Plattekill Mountain, where you can enjoy
endless snow tubing, snowboarding and skiing.
New York State, through their main tourist website, www.iloveny.com, is offering great winter deals and ski packages— deals such
as free skiing for 4th graders when they are with paying adults. On specific weekends in February and March, travelers get a third
day of skiing free when they book a weekend ski and stay package at participating ski/mountain areas.
Pennsylvania
Hotels in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania have economical ski packages, as well. At rates starting at $69 a night, you can stay
at The Inn at Jim Thorpe. Your package there will include lodging and a pass to either Jack Frost, Big Boulder or Blue Mountain ski
areas. Visit: www.poconoski.com for more information!
Camelback Ski Mountain offers ski lessons from very experienced teachers, a beautiful lodge, and it is also within two hours of
NYC. They have the unique Explorer Pass which is an all inclusive pass.
You can stay at The Inn at Pocono Manor, a full service resort near Camelback. With reasonable rates, a full service spa and
nightly entertainment, the Inn at Pocono Manor is a wise choice for a ski weekend for couples or families. Visit: skicamelback.com
and poconomanor.com for more information.
New England Region
There are so many intense and pristine ski mountains in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Okemo in Killington, VT, Magic Mountain in Londonderry, VT and Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA are some of the best.
Okemo is great for singles, as well as families. There are numerous ski houses to rent shares in, in Killington. You are not far from
The Norman Rockwell Museum or the Cabot Factory for those who would rather sightsee than ski.
It is a bit of a drive, approximately five hours, but the views and the air are breathtaking! Visi t: www.okemo.com for rates, area
events and lodging.
Ski Butternut in MA is considered the affordable family mountain in the Berkshires. Butternut offers three-pack lift tickets,
midweek ski and stay from only $45 a night. This rate includes lift ticket and lodging. You can also purchase season ski passes for
very reasonable rates. Visit: www.skibutternut.com for rates and great deals.
Magic Mountain offers unique carpool Wednesdays, where a car with at least four passengers gets lift tickets for the entire car, for
$80. On other midweek days, three or more in a car get $25 lift tickets per person! Visit: www.magicmtn.com.
Clearly, there really are great regional ski resorts, most within a three hour radius of NYC. I hope you take advantage of these great
stay-and-play ski deals and enjoy a great escape from everyday stress. There’s no better way to spend time with your friends and
family in a winter wonderland!
packages. O ne way to save is to go either early or late in the ski season—in November or March, to be exact. However, if you
prefer to ski at the height of the season, from December-February, you can still find good deals, with a little due diligence.
Your vacation will be much less expensvie if you can travel by car, rather than airplane. Midweek, non-holiday times and one-day
passes can all work out to be more advantageous. There are many family-friendly ski resorts within five hours of NYC.
In New York State, some of the best ski resorts and slopes include: Belleayre, Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, Mount Peter and
Plattekill Mountain.
Belleayre Mountainoffers a kid’s camp and many winter sports programs especially for children.
They offer ski free/stay free packages for children 14 and under, as well as midweek getaways. Visit www.belleayre.com for more
information or call (800) 942-6904.
Rocking Horse Ranch Resort (RHR) is an all inclusive resort with numerous activities for kids and adults alike.
Rates begin as low as $49 per child and all packages include horseback riding (weather permi tting), skiing, snow tubing, use of the
indoor pool, nightly entertainment and much more!
Call (800) 64-RANCH for more information or visit: RHRanch.com. RHR is within two hours of NYC in the Catskill Mountains.
Mount Peter has the best deals for beginners and snowboarders. They offer free lessons on weekends and holidays. The lessons
teach you how to stand, stop and side step.
Like RHR, Mount Peter is located within two hours of NYC, In Warwick, NY (Orange County). Visit: www.mtpeter.com.
Plattekill Mountainoffers free group lessons for beginners. In the later part of the ski season, lift tickets are only $15!
Nearby B&B’s such as Stone Tavern Farm Bed and Breakfast and Scudder Hill House, both in Roxbury, NY have quaint rooms with
private baths. They offer trail rides and ATV tours as well. Both are within six miles of Plattekill Mountain, where you can enjoy
endless snow tubing, snowboarding and skiing.
New York State, through their main tourist website, www.iloveny.com, is offering great winter deals and ski packages— deals such
as free skiing for 4th graders when they are with paying adults. On specific weekends in February and March, travelers get a third
day of skiing free when they book a weekend ski and stay package at participating ski/mountain areas.
Pennsylvania
Hotels in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania have economical ski packages, as well. At rates starting at $69 a night, you can stay
at The Inn at Jim Thorpe. Your package there will include lodging and a pass to either Jack Frost, Big Boulder or Blue Mountain ski
areas. Visit: www.poconoski.com for more information!
Camelback Ski Mountain offers ski lessons from very experienced teachers, a beautiful lodge, and it is also within two hours of
NYC. They have the unique Explorer Pass which is an all inclusive pass.
You can stay at The Inn at Pocono Manor, a full service resort near Camelback. With reasonable rates, a full service spa and
nightly entertainment, the Inn at Pocono Manor is a wise choice for a ski weekend for couples or families. Visit: skicamelback.com
and poconomanor.com for more information.
New England Region
There are so many intense and pristine ski mountains in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Okemo in Killington, VT, Magic Mountain in Londonderry, VT and Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA are some of the best.
Okemo is great for singles, as well as families. There are numerous ski houses to rent shares in, in Killington. You are not far from
The Norman Rockwell Museum or the Cabot Factory for those who would rather sightsee than ski.
It is a bit of a drive, approximately five hours, but the views and the air are breathtaking! Visi t: www.okemo.com for rates, area
events and lodging.
Ski Butternut in MA is considered the affordable family mountain in the Berkshires. Butternut offers three-pack lift tickets,
midweek ski and stay from only $45 a night. This rate includes lift ticket and lodging. You can also purchase season ski passes for
very reasonable rates. Visit: www.skibutternut.com for rates and great deals.
Magic Mountain offers unique carpool Wednesdays, where a car with at least four passengers gets lift tickets for the entire car, for
$80. On other midweek days, three or more in a car get $25 lift tickets per person! Visit: www.magicmtn.com.
Clearly, there really are great regional ski resorts, most within a three hour radius of NYC. I hope you take advantage of these great
stay-and-play ski deals and enjoy a great escape from everyday stress. There’s no better way to spend time with your friends and
family in a winter wonderland!
Ellie Robyns: Ski Season Is
Here
Here
