Four Popular Ski Resorts in New England
More than 2,000 snow guns keep the powder fresh at Maine’s Sunday River Resort. / Courtesy Photo
Killington Resort
4763 Killington Rd., Killington, Vermont, killington.com.
Why Go: On November 26 and 27, the resort plays host to an alpine skiing World Cup event: the women’s giant slalom and slalom races.
Can’t-Miss Trail: Rime, with a 900-foot vertical drop, is the first to open for the season.
Stay: The Killington Grand Resort Hotel (starting at $223 per night) is home to a heated outdoor pool overlooking the Green Mountains.
Eat: Relax over burgers topped with local cheeses or house-smoked salmon BLTs at Preston’s, which opened last year at the Killington Grand.
Off-Slope Fun: Take in the snowy landscape from the resort’s new “Skyeride,” a 600-foot-long zip line with stunning views all around.
Sunday River Resort
15 S. Ridge Rd., Newry, Maine, sundayriver.com.
Why Go: Sunday River is known for generating the most reliable snow in New England. In fact, it’s possible to ski here until May, thanks to more than 2,000 snow guns.
Can’t-Miss Trail: Instagram-happy skiers should glide down Excalibur: Known for its prime views of the Mahoosuc Range, it’s one of the resort’s most-photographed slopes.
Stay: The ski-in, ski-out Jordan Hotel (starting at $105 per person per night) offers plenty of creature comforts, including two hot tubs, a steam room and sauna, and gratis breakfast.
Eat: Satisfy your après-ski cravings with cocktails and apps at the resort’s Mountain Room, a new 20-person bar from the Portland restaurateur and chef Harding Lee Smith.
Off-Slope Fun: Catch a flick at the Gem movie theater in nearby Bethel, a funky haven for first-run and indie films.
Waterville Valley Resort
One Ski Area Rd., Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, waterville.com.
Why Go: The resort’s expanded Green Peak debuts this season, offering powder hounds 10 new trails.
Can’t-Miss Trail: Extra-wide with a steep head wall, True Grit is a favorite with regulars.
Stay: Brood in tow? Town Square Condominiums’ one- and three-bedroom units (starting at $179 per night) are in close proximity to the resort’s shops, restaurants, and Saturday evening fireworks in January and February.
Eat: Tuck into rugged dishes such as elk loin and wild boar meatballs at the Coyote Grill, situated in the shadow of Mount Tecumseh.
Off-Slope Fun: The Margret and H.A. Rey Center at the Curious George Cottage keeps little ones busy with crafts, Curious George art, and readings.
Stowe Mountain Resort
5781 Mountain Rd., Stowe, Vermont, stowe.com.
Why Go: With an outdoor skating rink, a wine pavilion, and moonlit snowshoe tours, the $80 million Spruce Peak Village—the centerpiece of Stowe’s 10-year renovation—has a decidedly European vibe.
Can’t-Miss Trail: Hayride is long, steep, and incredibly picturesque.
Stay: Kiddie and adult spa services; suites with fireplaces and washer-dryers—the Stowe Mountain Lodge (starting at $259 per night) is packed with winter-friendly amenities.
Eat: Stock up on all the local cider, charcuterie, and farmhouse cheeses you need for a fireside rendezvous at the Pantry, a new gourmet market.
Off-Slope Fun: Indulge in the spa’s Stowe Cider treatment, featuring a cider scrub, a massage, and a glass of refreshing Stowe cider, of course.
Vail, Aspen…Dixville Notch?
Once a 400-room grand hotel for New England aristos, New Hampshire’s 150-year-old Balsams Resort is getting a massive upgrade. The Dixville Notch landmark will reopen roughly a year from now as an 11,000-acre mega resort complete with a spa, a performing arts center, a hotel, an open-air marketplace, farm-to-table restaurants, and a cooking school. Oh, and the skiing? With 2,200 acres of alpine terrain, 22 lifts, and a gondola, it’ll have more powder than any resort in the state. If this sounds tempting, plan ahead: Fractional time shares are on sale now, starting at $100,000.
