I plan to head to the USA or Canada for the last week of February and first week of March 2009 to do some cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and the like. Complete novice, so instruction and gear hire will be necessary. At 61 comfortable accommodation is a requirement - preferably avoiding "family" oriented resorts. I have no particular area preference and would aprpeciate any suggestions as to where to head.

There's lots of places throughout Canada and the USA which have cross-country skiing and/or snow shoeing. All the way from California to Alaska to the east coast. I would suggest that you narrow down where you want to go to at least a country/region. Then re-post asking for input for that area.

If you are new to it I think I would pick somewhere like the Eastern Townships of Quebec. They offer Inn to Inn cross country skiing. It is a very pretty area.

Gatineau Park
the ski trails start 20 min from Ottawa. You can stay in the city and combine skiing by day with city life at night!

I live in Ottawa and ski in the Gatineau Park. The network is immense and there is a great variety of trails in some very scenic countryside. It's one of my favourite place for cross-country skiing in Canada.

http://tinyurl.com/6h583n


However Ryetee is looking for a place with instruction and rental equipment. That certainly can be arranged for the Gatineaus, but it is not as convenient as other.

My suggestion would be the Far Hills Inn near Val Morin in the Laurentians in Québec. It's a classic cross-country skiing resort in the midst of the Laurentian trail network. In fact you just have to walk out the door to begin skiing. Needless to say, there is excellent instruction and rental equipment available there. Snowshoeing and other winter activities are also available there.

For the Gatineaus, one could either stay in Ottawa (about a 30 minute drive away) or in Wakefield, right on the edge of the park. The Moulin de Wakefield is a nice inn, converted from an old grist mill.