Ski Areas
Carter's Cross-Country Ski Center. Mountain views await at this acclaimed cross-country ski center, which offers 34 miles of trails for all levels of skiers. Skis, snowshoes, and sleds to pull children are all available for rental, as are fat-tire bikes. The place also rents lodge rooms and ski-in cabins, available year-round. 786 Intervale Rd., Bethel, Maine, 04217. 207/824–3880; www.cartersxcski.com. $18.
Mt. Abram Ski and Ride. Family-friendly and affordable, Mt. Abram is open Thursday–Sunday during ski season. It allows off-trail "boundary-to-boundary" skiing, has two terrain parks, and welcomes uphill snowshoers and skiers ($15 day pass). Westside, the popular lift-served beginner area, has its own base lodge. The main lodge is home to Loose Boots Lounge, which occasionally features live music. Mountain biking is big here during the warm months: Mt. Abram offers rentals and lessons and trails are lift-served–-aside from one for the hearty. Facilities: 51 trails; 250 acres; 1,150-foot vertical drop; 4 lifts. 308 Howe Hill Rd., off Rte. 26, Greenwood, Maine, 04255. 207/875–5000; www.mtabram.com. Lift ticket: $49.
Sunday River. Once-sleepy Sunday River has evolved into a sprawling resort that attracts skiers from around the world. Stretching for 3 miles, it encompasses eight trail-connected peaks and five terrain parks. Off-trail "boundary-to-boundary" skiing is allowed, and there is night skiing on Friday and Saturday. On some weekends and during holiday weeks, fireworks light the skies at the main South Ridge base lodge, one of three at the resort. Sunday River has several lodging choices, including condos and two slope-side hotels: the family-friendly Grand Summit, at one of the mountain bases, and the more upscale Jordan Grand, near a summit at the resort's western end. (It's really up there, several miles by vehicle from the base areas, but during ski season there's a shuttle, or you can ski over for lunch.) At both slope-side hotels, the outdoor heated pool and hot tub are open year-round. From the less costly Snow Cap Inn, it's a short walk to the slopes. Come summer, the resort offers archery, kayaking, and standup paddleboarding lessons and guided kayak tours, and the main South Ridge Base Lodge hosts a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, and chairlift rides to North Peak. Many visitors opt to hike down or hit a trail up top before riding down. You can hike or ride up to play disc golf–-or head over to Sunday River Golf Club, acclaimed for its wide-open mountain and valley views and challenging elevation changes. Don't golf? Grab a drink or a bite at the clubhouse and hit those views—there's a building-length deck and a soaring Palladian window framed by polished wood walls. Facilities: 135 trails (includes glades); 870 acres; 2,340-foot vertical drop; 18 lifts. 15 S. Ridge Rd., Newry, Maine, 04261. 207/824–3000; 207/824–5200; 800/543–2754; www.sundayriver.com. Lift ticket: $119.
