My son (13 years old) and I would like to have 3-4 days in the snow (sledding, sking, snowball fights)this winter. We live in Florida. Where is a good place. We have never been sking.
Thanks
Randy

What time of year and do you have budget?

I too live in Florida and love to get away to the snow occasionally. It can be very unpredictable so the best place is a ski resort where they can make snow if needed. The best ski area that is closest to Fl is Snowshoe in West Virginia. For a Southern East Coast ski areas go it is the largest and best equipped. It is also an upside down ski resort (the resort is on the top of the mountain) so there is a better chance of getting snow at the higher elevation. The Beech, Sugar ski areas in NC are iffy and do not have near the number of ski trails and acreage as Snowshoe. Check it out. If you do not try to compare to West (Colorado, Utah) you should be very happy.

We live in Florida too. We go to a place in Virginia that is a beginner's spot. It is called Bryce Resort and is in a town called Bayse (Bay-see). This would be a perfect spot for beginners. They allow both skiing and snowboarding here (some places don't allow the boards). You'll need to buy your own sled as they aren't rented. It is a 13-hour drive there and we've done it in one day. They have condo rentals on the slopes and some house rentals up in the mountains that fringe this beautiful valley. And it is a very reasonably priced place.

Thanks for the quick responses.
As far as a budget, I'm not sure what the ski packages cost. 150 - 200 a day maybe. Location is not important. We can fly or drive. With gas prices, it may be better to fly.

I got married in Lenox MA, at a place called Eastover resort - it is the best winter fun I can imagine! They have snow tubing, sledding a tobaggan run (like a sled track made of ice, and you are towed back up by a hay wagon wench), cross country skiing... it's in the Berkshire Hills, is beautiful, and has weeks designataed for family events. Its full board so you can stay right there, has indoor pool, game nights... and IF the deal is still good, they had a shuttle and free lift passes to Bosquet Skiing - its a small ski place near by.

Eastover sold their chair lift to them for a deal that their guests got free skiing for a number of years, I'm not sure if that number is up yet, but would be a great cheap place for you and your son to check out skiing.

www.eastover.com - the nearest airports are both an hour, Albany or Hartford (Bradley is the name), but its a great famiy area. I looked at the website, and yes, skiing is still free! Sounds perfect for what you're looking for - happy planning! Kristy

What about Whistler?

If you don't want to get on a plane Snowshoe would be a good bet. They have a nice website and last year they ran packages during the week 2 days lodging 2 days lift tickets for $100 DO. I am sure they rent snowboards too.
Bryce is okay. I learned how to ski there when I was a kid but they do not get much natural snow and the mountain has only 800 feet of vertical drop. Bryce is known as a good mountain to learn on 1) good ski school 2)lots of hardpack verging on ice- once you learn how to ski ice the rest is easy
If you decide to get on a plane Salt Lake City is a very affordable western ski area. More hill than beginners might want but LOTS of snow and the mountains are large and scenic-quite a change from Florida. SLC has cheap flights and lots of competition on lift prices/deals. Check out Powder Mt.- no crowds, easy terrain, 500 inches average snowfall

If you haven't already gone skiing, we just returned from snowshoe in wv. It is a great ski area and has skiing, snowboarding and tubing. We went during the packed week after Christmas and we had no problem with crowds on the slopes. The instructors were great with my family. We took a family lesson. My kids are beginners and I was amazed at how fast they picked it up. We skied once last year at Wintergreen in VA and it was so crowded that I had a hard time avoiding the crowds on the slopes. It is also a ton of beginners there and that can be dangerous also!

I have to disagree with most of the above. I love Snowshoe and Bryce is a great local hill, but it will cost you almost as much money to get to either of those two resorts as any of the large ski/winter destinations. The lodging at Snowshoe is also about as expensive as other big resorts. Conditions in the Mid-atlantic right now are very sketchy and will be that way for a while. Rather than risk sub par conditions, I'd spend a few extra bucks and head to New England or out West. Steamboat, Vail, Whistler would be great choices. In Utah, Powder, Park City/canyons/deer valley would be great. Given you only have three-four days, the Utah resorts may be your best bet as they are closest to the airport. I'm not sure as to the best New England site for your needs. Your son may be a bit old for most of Smugglers Notch's fun. Stowe is a great mountain, but I don't know if I'd take a 13 year old beginner there. Okemo may be the best choice for you in New England.

Don't know how you feel about booking on USAirways, but they just announced incredibly low fares northeast to Florida (I assume it would work in the other direction). Boston-Tampa for example is $98 RT. Also cheap fares to Manchester, NH (an hour north of Boston). This might figure into your plans.

Hit the rockies. If you are going to fly, go to where the best snow is. Numerous choices within two hours of denver, with flights to vail or steamboat also leaving out of denver.

I'll disagree with the "Go west young man" proponents. For the first time on skis, why deal with altitude issues if you don't have to?

Suggest Vermont; Stowe, Smuggler's or Sugarbush, all an hour's drive from Burlington VT airport, or NH; Bretton Woods or Cranmore, both 2 hours from Manchester, NH airport.

Cranmore and Bretton Woods have gentler terrain overall, and Cranmore faces south, meaning more warm sunshine.

All have excellent ski schools. VT will, generally have more snow.

After April 1, it gets iffy in the east.

if you want to ski one of the best places to go is OKemo for beginners. this is in ludlow vt. but if you want a variety, although i have never been, time after time skiers and non skiers like whiteface at lake placid, NY the olympic venues give you variety. it's cold, but heck it always is in the east when you ski. we're finally getting snow so conditions should be good for a while. go to the web sites i am sure there are packages available