Skiing in Iowa!??
 

I was searching for kid friendly ski resorts and found one that looks great. It's called Sundown near Dubuque. Am I nuts for considering a ski trip with my 7 year old to IOWA?? I mean, I didn't even know they had mountains in Iowa!! Anyway, looks fun and inexpensive. Considering Presidents Day weekend in February. Anyone familiar with it?

It depends on where you're coming from. I wouldn't drive very far for 475 vertical feet--not exactly a mountain.

I agree with abram...how far are you traveling? Are you nearer to South Dakota? There is skiing in Sioux Falls which is about 6 hours from Dubuque.

http://www.greatbearpark.com/

No I'm flying from Florida. I really see your point, but the website looks great, especially for kids. Maybe I AM NUTS!!!
http://www.sundownmtn.com

You are nuts! If you're traveling 1/2 way across the country, go to a real mountain.

I've never skied in Iowa and I live in CO so I'll admit I'm biased, but what looks great about that resort compared to resorts in CO, UT or CA? Please take another look at the photo of their hill - err "mountain" - before booking a ski vacation.

www.sundownmtn.com/ourmountain/index.html

I was reading this thinking it had to be a joke. Then I looked at the website and I see that yes, it is a joke. Travel from Florida for this? You are kidding right?

I love to ski, and do it every Saturday at the little bump in the road near us. But there's no way I'd fly to a resort like that--what a waste.

All of the big resorts are great for kids. Pick someplace near where you can fly non-stop. For example, Park City, the Canyons, and Deer Valley are within 45 minutes of the Salt Lake City Airport.

There is a t-shirt you can buy if you go to Dubuque. It is pigs pulling a skier and it says - SKI IOWA

Coming from Florida to ski Iowa???
IMHO, yes, you are nuts!!!

You are completely insane if you even consider making this trip.

If you are looking for a smaller resort, try Blue Mountain near Toronto:

http://www.bluemountain.ca/

Thanks guys. I think I'm straight now. I was looking for something kid friendly and economical. Airfare to the west (Utah, Colorado, WY, etc) is twice as much as in the east. Toronto would be too expensive as well.

I don't know where you are in Florida, but you could hop on Spirit or USA3000 to Detroit for not too much. You would then have to drive about four or five hours, but you would have Blue Mountain and all of northern Michigan available to you. There are many great resorts in Northern Michigan. I know Homestead is one of them:

http://www.thehomesteadresort.com/

as is Boyne

http://www.boyne.com/

attyWSW - if the airfare to IA was within your budget, try Lutsen Mtn Resort on Northshore of MN. Fly into MSP or DUL. We usually ski in CO, but went to Lutsen one year (relatives close by). Was surprised how good it was - very kid/family friendly and costs were about half of CO.

www.lutsen.com

I've skiied Sundown several times and yes it is a kid-friendly resort. The "mountains" obviously aren't Colorado caliber (I've skiied in CO, CA, IA, WI and MN) so have a good idea what is out there. It's a great little weekend ski trip. That being said there is not a lot to do around the area and certainly no "resort" to stay at, just chain hotels in Dubuque. Chestnut Moutain in Galena has a resort on site but there is no way I would fly from Florida to vacation at either one. Check out some of Wisconsins options for a get away on the cheap, better hills and you could fly in to Madison.

North Carolina ski areas get a lot of Florida business, and we have real mountains. But chance of real snow is iffy these days. www.skinc.com or http://www.skisoutheast.com/ for a broader list of Southeast ski resorts.

xrae: Iowa may not have "real" mountains but I can pretty much guarantee real snow!

You are a bit nuts for considering this place.

If you're flying all the way to the midwest, go to Michigan's UP or Minnesota's North Shore (as others have already suggested). Bigger hills, better snow and more to do in those areas. Sundown is likely to have lots of man-made snow/ice.

From FL, I would say your better off staying closer to home. There have to be kid-friendly resorts in the Northeast. I wouldn't fly all the way out west - I'm sure they will have the best conditions, but along with that will come higher altitude and bigger crowds. Holiday weekends will be a bear at any real resort, so you're better off picking something smaller and a little off the beaten path.

Southwest airline flies out of Florida to Denver for very reasonable fares. PS -- N Carolina doesn't have any real mountains either. Just higher hills.

I also agree that Lutsen in MN is a very good non Mtn. skiing experience. Might be a better experience for young kids too. I think it would be far better than any ski area in Iowa. Sorry Iowans!!

What about the northeast? New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine. Quebec has great ski areas as well. Plenty of ski areas to choose from plus lots of airport options.
I'm biased and prefer Vermont ;)
www.skivermont.com

I live in the Northeast and have a local season pass. If I were flying to ski, I would (and do every year) go west. There is the possibility of rain in the East! The only rainy ski day we've had out west is at Whistler/Blackcomb, which is to be expected sort of. I am not sure what I would advise for a long weekend from Fla. In upstate NY the schools are closed the week of presidents day, in NH it is the week after. I hear it is different all over the country. I would take more than a weekend and go west.