SNOW wanted. Hiking. Family vaca.

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Please advise…</p>

<p>Looking for suggestions for a family vacation/holiday during the Christmas break.</p>

<p>Looking for snow (sledding)
maybe skating
fireplace
charm
K1 has been skiing once.
K2 has been snowboarding 2-3 times
DH has skiied infrequently
I have skiied maybe 3 times in my life–I prefer sledding, ice skating and charm haha</p>

<p>Several years ago we spent the break with grandparents and 3 generations of guys went hiking/skiing etc. We all went sledding.</p>

<p>Since then the FiL has passed. Extended family etc has changed. K1 and K2 loved the outdoor activities. So before K2 leaves for college in a yr+ we hope to find a nice place for a COLD winter holiday.</p>

<p>All advice welcome. US, Canada and beyond.
Budget friendly preferred though as said, all advice welcome</p>

2

<p>Stowe Vermont. There is a nice family resort there. Should have everything you want.</p>

3

<p>We have loved a place called The Far Hills in Quebec. Cross country skiing, sleigh rides, fantastic food at the resort and in the little villages around. Unfortunately the web site is under construction. And… it isn’t really inexpensive. But we had some wonderful vacations there in the past. You also have to book far ahead for Christmas, I think.</p>

<p>[Far</a> Hills](<a href=“http://www.farhillsinn.com/]Far”>http://www.farhillsinn.com/)</p>

<p>We also enjoyed family vacations at Steamboat Springs in Colorado many years ago. Lodging was relatively inexpensive, and I think there was quite a bit to do.</p>

<p>Finally… not for this Christmas (too late to book), but Yellowstone in the winter is an amazing vacation. You can take a snowcat into the Snow Lodge (by Old Faithful). Again, that one is pricier, but it is the vacation of a lifetime.</p>

4

<p>Whistler, BC, if you like a European feel in North America. Might not be that budget-friendly. NH might be a good choice along with Vermont. NH offers tax-free shopping too. Of course we can’t always guarantee snow in December.</p>

5

<p>It is probably too late to book for Christmas… but this is a great place that matches your criteria:</p>

<p>[Washington</a> State’s best destination resort: Sun Mountain LodgeSun Mountain Lodge](<a href=“http://www.sunmountainlodge.com/]Washington”>http://www.sunmountainlodge.com/)</p>

<p>Or alternatively you can go to Vancouver BC, stay downtown (e.g., Fairmont Pacific Rim has rooms with outdoor fireplaces that face the outdoor swimming pool where you can swim in December), enjoy the fabulous food, parks and other conveniences of the city and ski your heart out at the Grouse Mountain (within a very short driving distance,) etc.</p>

6

<p>If you are not big skiers/snowboarders, it would make sense to avoid the huge ski centers. Maybe try for a town with smaller slopes and lots of other winter activities. Where will you travel from?</p>

7

<p>Cross country skiing in Yellowstone National Park. Oh, I see that’s been suggested. So I’ll second it. An amazing experience. The trails are novice-friendly as I remember.</p>

8

<p>The Mount Washington Valley area in NH (big town is North Conway) has good cross-country ski trails and there are several ski areas nearby. The town is cute and includes the HQ store of EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports). Years ago, I think we did a timeshare exchange into the Attitash Mountain Village Resort. (memory fuzzy). It is across the street from a ski area and offers 2 bedroom condos.</p>

9

<p>I recently stayed at the Rendezvous B & B in Lowell, VT and then went dogsledding:</p>

<p>[Rendezvous</a> Bed & Breakfast - Lowell, Vermont | Jay Peak and Vermont Northeast Kingdom](<a href=“http://www.rendezvousbandb.com/]Rendezvous”>http://www.rendezvousbandb.com/)</p>

<p>[Eden</a> Dogsledding Adventures | Vermont Dog Sled Tours | Vermont Family Vacation Activities | Eden Dogsledding](<a href=“http://www.edendogsledding.com/]Eden”>http://www.edendogsledding.com/)</p>

<p>This B & B has only three rooms, so maybe you could book the whole place, which would be fun.</p>

<p>You’d also be close to Jay Peak for snowy activities.</p>

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<p>[Hudson</a> Valley Winter Activities : Upstate New York Winter Resorts : Mohonk, New Paltz](<a href=“http://www.mohonk.com/Activities/Day-Guests/Winter-Activities]Hudson”>Mohonk Mountain House | Mohonk Daily Schedule | Activities | Mohonk Mountain House)</p>

<p>I’ve heard from people who have gone that it is lovely.</p>

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<p>Queenstown, NZ (2005). Our summer is their winter. You go do it right before he starts college.</p>

<p>We went to Jackson Hole WY most years (last time 2003, as a family–S went 2008-9 winter), but Big Mountain in Montana and Whistler were both enjoyable. </p>

<p>Whistler was much more “resort” with better dining and non-skiing activities. Jackson Hole offered lots to do and a couple of excellent restaurants, but the skiing is on a more difficult level. Big Mountain was a more remote situation at least in the late 1990s.</p>

12

<p>We had hiking with snow in Moab Utah this past year. It was great!</p>

<p>Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.</p>

13

<p>Perhaps the Lake George region in the Adirondacks?
[Lake</a> George - Official Guide to Lake George NY: Hotels, Restaurants, Vacations & More at LakeGeorge.com](<a href=“http://www.lakegeorge.com%5DLake”>http://www.lakegeorge.com)</p>

<p>Or Lake Placid?
[Lake</a> Placid, NY - Invent Your Own Perfect Day](<a href=“http://www.lakeplacid.com%5DLake”>http://www.lakeplacid.com)</p>

<p>I suppose it depends on where you’re traveling from. Do you want to fly or drive?</p>

14

<p>Skiing at Whistler over Christmas break is very, very crowded. Condos can be up to $1000/night. </p>

<p>Sun Peaks or Big White near Kelowna, BC, might be better. Whitefish MT, near Glacier NP, is another option. That far north, though, “hiking” would likely include snowshoes.</p>

15

<p>Another option - fly into Seattle, spend a few days around the city, drive to Leavenworth WA, a Bavarian village (“certified” as authentic-looking by our Bavaria-born visitor :)) located on Hwy 2 across the Stevens Pass with plenty of snow and hiking options. If you want downhill skiing and snowboarding, the Pass is close by, if you want snowshoeing and cross-country, it is available right there or at the Nordic Center (you can drop your snowboarders off at the Pass and drive a few miles to the Nordic center and enjoy your activities wile the snowboarders are having their fun time).</p>

<p>[Yahoo</a>! Image Search Results for leavenworth wa](<a href=“Yahoo Image Search”>Yahoo Image Search)</p>

<p>[Stevens</a> Pass Washington Ski Resort | Stevens Pass](<a href=“http://www.stevenspass.com/]Stevens”>http://www.stevenspass.com/)</p>

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<p>Leavenworth is fun. Friends really like the Sleeping lady.
[Sleeping</a> Lady - A Mountain Hotel Resort in Leavenworth, WA](<a href=“http://www.sleepinglady.com/]Sleeping”>http://www.sleepinglady.com/)
We go further to the Okanagan. Loup Loup is a nice downhill resort in Twisp that is family run & you can skate at an outdoor rink in Winthrop. ( Leavenworth is a Bavarian theme town, Winthrop is old west)
I love Winthrop. Mountain hut for ski rentals, The Duck for lunch & the Rocking Horse Bakery for treats to take home.
[Go</a> ice skating in the Methow sun | Travel | The Seattle Times](<a href=“http://seattletimes.com/html/travel/2019683835_odwinthropskatexml.html]Go”>http://seattletimes.com/html/travel/2019683835_odwinthropskatexml.html)
Snowshoe hikes led by local naturalists leave from the country store/inn & they also have community hay rides at Christmas time.
[The</a> Mazama Store](<a href=“http://www.themazamastore.com/]The”>http://www.themazamastore.com/)</p>

<p>If you are traveling in the northwest at all, you owe it to yourself to visit the Okanagan. Great snow, very friendly people and outdoor activities for every ability level.
[Lodging</a> in the Methow Valley, Winthrop, Mazama, Twisp, Leavenworth, and Stevens Pass with Central Reservations](<a href=“Lodging in the Methow Valley, Winthrop, Mazama, and Twisp with Methow Reservations”>Lodging in the Methow Valley, Winthrop, Mazama, and Twisp with Methow Reservations)</p>

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<p>Lake Tahoe. They have multiple ski resorts, lots of outdoor activities, and there is almost always snow by Christmas. Seems like east coast is more “iffy” if you’re looking for snow. I went to Lake Tahoe the week between Christmas and New Year’s a couple of years ago, and I was surprised at the lack of crowds. Colorado- Breckenridge is very nice, and I hear great things about other Colorado resort towns.</p>

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<p>Thanks
I will start looking at more of these.
I am SHOCKED at prices. One place wants $600 a night for a double double room
Are they insane!!!
We can book a great cruise for better than that!<br>
Somehow I don’t think I am doing this correctly.</p>

19

<p>The B & B I referenced is $100/night per room – so you could have the whole place for $300/night! – not that that is cheap!</p>

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<p>Christmas break is the peak cost time at most winter resorts. That is when everyone has time off to go… and a lot of places book up quickly, too.</p>