Clau

We are thinking about going to the Poconos March 12-19. We live in Florida and have 3 children ages 13, 11 and 8. What are the skiing conditions at that time of the year? Only my husband is a good skier. Everyone else is interested mainly in tubing. Are there enough things to do besides skiing to keep everybody entertained?

Thanks, Clau

RoamsAround

Skiing in the Poconos in mid- March will be "iffy". It all depends on the temperatures and what conditions were in the weeks preceding your visit. While you may find some snow on the ski slopes at best it will be somewhat sloppy - what most people describe as "spring skiing". At worst it will be non-existent. Some of the ski areas have "snow makers" but it may not be cold enough for them to be of much use. Unless the area has had massive snows during January or February there's likely to be very little natural snow left in mid-March. If conditions are such that you are unable to ski there's not much else in the way of "family activities" that you can do in the Poconos at that time of year. It's too early for summer activities and will probably be too late for winter ones.

If you must take your trip in March and if skiing is a big priority for you, I'd suggest going further north to either Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine as you are more likely to find better snow conditions there than in Pennsylvania.

nytraveler

Really to be sure of good skiing in mid March you should head to the Rockies (or the Alps) - any place on the east coast is iffy. You need to go a month earlier.

Seamus

I love the Poconos - grew up near there and even worked the resorts as a college kid - but as noted above skiing in March is really iffy. If skiing is the focus of your trip look elsewhere.

Gretchen

I don't know anything about the Poconos, but Snowshoe in West Virginia "might" be a possibility. But Colorado would be terrific.