I’m not usually a fan of winter but that changed recently after our family ski weekend at Mount Snow, Vermont. I had no idea if my daughter would love skiing or not but we loaded up the car with cold weather gear and drove four hours to find out.

Taking a peek at Ski Vermont’s map, Mount Snow, is Vermont’s closest big mountain resort making it a great weekend getaway for New Yorkers.

GRAND SUMMIT RESORT HOTEL

Thanks to Momtrends, our accommodations at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, ski rentals and Mount Snow ski lessons were all pre-arranged so when we arrived on a late Friday night, we were all set to ski the next day. Note: The front desk, bell staff and valet were on hand to assist late arrivals on Friday which was nice considering we arrived around 11pm.

Staying at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel makes things so easy since we could walk everywhere we needed to be. We had a big one-bedroom suite with more closets than I’ve ever seen, a large balcony overlooking the slopes and a full kitchen and dining area which we used every morning for breakfast. If you’ve gotten kids dressed and undressed for snow, you know what a perk this is…

Guests can check skis and snowboards in the lobby for easy access which makes traveling with multiple kids a breeze.

Aside from its awesome location and ski services, the hotel offers multiple dining options, a full-service spa and an array of complimentary family activities like games and movies with popcorn. If you’ve got adventurous kids, pack bathing suits for the outdoor pool and hot tub.

MOUNT SNOW’S SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL AND GROUP LESSONS

Saturday morning, we headed out to The Discovery Center where you check in, get your rental equipment and gear up before meeting the instructors. Kids check-in is on the first floor and adult check-in is on the main floor making the process very smooth for families.

The Discovery Center staff was so helpful with sizing all our equipment (skis, boots and helmets, oh my!) and making sure we were comfortable. With our snow boots in the cubbies (there are locker rentals there too), we headed out to our classes. FYI – their ski and snowboard rentals feature the latest technology making turns and learning easier.

Mount Snow’s Ski & Snowboarding school offers a variety of lesson options beginning at just three-years-old. My nine-year-old daughter attended the Mountain Riders full-day ski camp (for kids 7-14), where kids are grouped by age and level. The 9:30 am to 3:30 pm camp includes snacks and lunch making it extra easy for parents.

Mount Snow has classes for every skill category and small group classes ensure kids get plenty of attention. This was my daughter’s very first experience with skiing so she started in the red group. We watched from afar as they learned how to put on the skis and shuffled around like ducks, once they mastered those skills, they headed inside for a hot cocoa break. My daughter gave me thumbs up and I headed off to find my class while my husband remained on photographer duty.

I have skied a bit, many years ago, so I was eager to try it again and hopeful to not break anything. My two-hour group lesson was full of fellow New Yorkers, Bostonions and a few study-abroad students. We introduced ourselves and it was amazing how quickly the teacher knew our names. After some basic drills, we were all up on skis and ready to tackle turns on a small hill.

After two-hours, I was proud of my ski prowess and ready for a delicious Vermont grilled cheese sandwich!

One of the most impressive things about Mount Snow is their massive snowmaking abilities. It had rained a few days prior to our visit but the snow coverage was perfect during our stay. I later learned that Mount Snow has the largest snowmaking operation on the east coast, following a $54 million upgrade to their snowmaking system.

My daughter ended up enjoying her day at ski-school and I was happy they were able to get her up and skiing, and even on the chair lift! I was really impressed with the staff and everything they did to keep the kids happy and engaged. I loved hearing the sense of accomplishment as she told us about her day and all she had learned.

The Saturday afternoon crowds were in full force so we headed back to our room for some warm showers and snacks before our blogger group dinner.

On Sunday, we headed out for a bit more skiing before the snow storm arrived. It was so fun to see my daughter’s new skills first-hand watching her go up and down the bunny slopes.

My husband packed up the car and checked out before meeting us for a waffle break. If you’ve traveled to Belgium for a warm Liège waffle, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Mount Snow’s Waffle Cabin version is THAT good.

TUBING AT MOUNT SNOW

Tubing is one of those winter activities the whole family will enjoy and Mount Snow makes it extra enjoyable with a “magic carpet.” Gone are the days of walking back up the hill with your tubes. This magical covered transport is a flat escalator that gets you back uphill in seconds. Amazing!

BIG SAVINGS FOR SKI FAMILIES

Ready to plan your ski trip? Mount Snow features a variety of deals throughout ski season.

For new skiers, the Peak Discovery Program is just $139 and includes three days of lessons, rentals and lift tickets for seven mountains across the Northeast, including Mount Snow, Hunter Mountain, Attitash, Wildcat and more.

Be sure to check out the Momtrends ski guide for more information on family ski getaways.

FAMILY BONDING ON THE SLOPES

Between the top-notch ski conditions, encouraging teachers and convenience of staying at Grand Summit, I highly recommend a ski weekend at Mount Snow, Vermont for a family vacation. It was great opportunity to enjoy the fresh outdoors, unplug and have some quality family time.

Check out my Must Have Travel Items for Family Vacations before you plan your next getaway…

Note: Thanks to Momtrends and Mount Snow for hosting our awesome ski weekend at Mount Snow. As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!