Need help with east coast ski resorts
 

My husband and I are planning a ski trip with another couple. We initially researched trips out west but had to decide to stay local to save costs and vacation days... :(

As I'm not at all familiar with these resort areas, I'd very much love some help: Snowshoe, WV; Poconos; Seven Springs, PA.

We're in our late 20s and intermediate to advanced skiers. I think nightlife is not hugely important but a couple of bars to throw back a few beers is a must. Would also love, love, love specific recommendations for lodging in any of the ski areas.

Many thanks and happy holidays!

Don't know where you are coming from, but New England places we have enjoyed with couples when we were younger (and still now)

Okemo, Vt (great ski on, ski off condos, comfortable for 2 couples)
VonTrapp Family Lodge ( downhill, cross country, snow shoeing, hiking trails, cute chalets for lunch, nice accomodations, etc.)
Mt. Snow
Waterville Valley
Killington, Vt
North Conway, NH area: all of which gives you access to Wildcat, Attitash, Cranmore, Loon (Lincoln, NH) etc and has ice skating, sledding, downhill, and outlets and restaurants - casual and fancy.
All have condos ski on and off or not, most have shuttle buses evry 30 min from off site condos (across or down road from mountain) Many have slopeside hotel accomodations wtih pools, hot tubs, etc.
The Balsams is also lovely, but the ski trails may not be extensive or advanced enough for you, but you can have a look at their web page.

I've only skied Killington, VT and Snowshoe WV and they were both fantastic. Being that I grew up on the slopes of Wintergreen, they were both a big deal to me.

Another vote for Killington; so many trails, so little time.

For local (close to DC) ski areas your choices are good. Before I answer your OP keep in mind that DC folk can easily hop the train to Vermont.

Snowshoe is highly rated (locally), has lots of natural snow and GREAT bang for your buck if you can go midweek.(2 nights/lift tickets $99 per person) Try and stay "up" on the mountain to be close to the action.

Seven Springs is highly rated for it's Lodge and base options. Local ski shops sell affordable packages including bus rides ect...Try Willis in Fairfax(??)I have never been to SSprings BUT friends with kids love it.

My wife and I will spend Christmas this year at Snowshoe.

We would rather go west (UTAH!!!- I don't know why people go anywhere else!!) but cannot so Showshoe it is.

The website has decent descriptions of available lodging- I have stayed in the budget place (Snowshoe Inn) at the bottom of the mountain. It was fine (think old Ramada)but for Christmas we opted for a one bedroom up the hill.

Fireplace, kitchen, bedroom and a pullout sofa (3 nights with lift tickets around $500) Sorry- no dogs

Hope this helps- BTW- what language ?

If you can go up to Vermont...do that. There is no comparison to the places you have mentioned.

However, if you are geographically restricted, I can comment on a couple of your suggestions. (I have no knowledge of the Poconos area.)

Seven Springs has a decent variety of terrain. It can get horribly crowded on weekends, but it is well-laid out...if you are good enough to ski the black runs, you can get away from a lot of the crowding. On a weekday, it's wonderful. The hotel is supposed to be nice, & there are also cabins & condos that you can rent.

I absolutely loathe Snowshoe, however. Every trail looks like every other trail (except the western territory is icier and steeper - a kid was killed on it last year - some moron ran into him). Horribly crowded on weekends. The calibre of skier is abysmal. I think because they draw a big crowd of casual southern skiers who don't get a lot of time on skis (the poor, deprived dears!), you will see a ton of people flailing down the slopes in a flying wedge. Fear for your life! They also have no clue on lift line etiquette...people from the main lines will back off & let single line skiers go up alone because they don't get the concept of the singles line....further backing up the lift line on a crowded day, since the lifties don't help. Presumably, this won't be as bad an experience on a weekday, but Snowshoe is one of the few ski resorts I wouldn't go back to if you paid me, and I have skied at over 50 different areas. (If in spite of my negativity you go there, DO have dinner at the Red Fox Inn - it is fabulous.) Lodging varies - when we have gone mountain biking there, we got some of the nicer condos for a song & they are quite nice - but, if you get an older unit, they can be really run down.

Not knowing where you are coming from, this may not be a good suggestion, but you might consider Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, NY. It has an even better variety of terrain than Seven Springs, including an intermediate sloped mogul field and easy tree skiing. Even though it also gets crowded on weekends, I think the lift & trail layout make it not such a horrible weekend experience. You can combine that with a day trip - on a weekday only - to the private ski area Holimont, which is similar to the other places you are considering...non-members only allowed on weekdays. You'll have the place to yourself. Ellicottville is a quaint town which fancies itself the Aspen of the East - oh, it's not THAT good, but it's a real town instead of just a ski resort base. You can stay in town, or at the base of the ski area.