The Snow Sports Trip
All this week we're posting about things to do in and around town.** Betty was going to post about the Eric Carle Museum today, wax nostalgic about The Very Hungry Caterpillar and how Carle has assembled a stellar collection of book illustrations in his state-of-the-art museum.
And then the great blizzard of 2010 hit and every ski mountain north of Cranston got a dreamy foot-plus of snow. So we're posting about skiing cross country and snowshoeing.
Seasoned skiers, you have your favorites- so this list isn't for you. If you're new-ish to the sport, here are good, Betty reader-vetted choices for local-ish snow sports.
Downhill Skiing {in order of the closest to farthest away}
Blue Hills- {It’s basically in Milton so, what, maybe 25 minutes from here?}
www.skibluehills.com
great for beginners, young kids, and those who have never put a ski on before in their lives. Limited trails and terrain.
Rates [this week is considered holiday rate] Day rates $36 and $26 12 and under
Rentals available too $28 a day
Vacation camps and lessons are available
Nashoba Valley- {1hour 20 minutes from Hingham according to Google Maps}
www.skinashoba.com
17 trails, 9 lifts
Day rates $46 adults, $44 12 and under, $20 5 and under
Snow Tubing Park $25 for two hours
Rentals available
Lessons available
Wachusett- {1 hour 48 minutes from Hingham according to Google Maps}
22 trails, 8 lifts
www.wachusett.com
Open from 9am-10pm [night skiing available]
Day Lift Tickets $56, $42 for juniors, $10 under 5
Vacation kids club
Lessons available
From December 12th through March 28th Saturdays and Sundays only, the MBTA train from North Station Boston and bus shuttle courtesy of Wachusett will get you back and forth to Wachusett for only $15.50!
8:35 Departure from North Station
10:06 arrival at Fitchburg where the Wachusett shuttle will pick you up and cart you to the mountain.
4:45pm shuttle back to Fitchburg and a 5:35pm departure back to Boston.
Sunapee- {2 hours 25 minutes according to Google Maps}
www.mountsunapee.com/mtsunapeewinter/index.asp
65 trails, 11 lifts
Mount Sunapee is the closest mountain with some more serious skiing opportunities. It’s really manageable for kids as well. Easy lodge, very family friendly and surprisingly good food.
Day rates $66 for adults, $58 ages 13-18, and $44 for ages 6-12
Rentals available
Lessons available
Bretton Woods -{3 hours 16 minutes according to Google Maps}
www.brettonwoods.com
This place, according to the locals we’ve talked to, is a great family mountain and has something for everyone, even a spa for us. [speak for yourself Blonde Betty, Redhead Betty loves the slopes…] Wonderful skiing, a swanky lodge, and Mount Washington Hotel has some great ski and stay packages from time to time.
102 trails
Day rates $76 adults, $62 ages 13-17, $47 ages 5-12
Night Skiing
Nordic [cross country] skiing
Zip Line
Rentals available
Lessons Available
Okemo Mountain- {3 hours 30 minutes according to Redhead Betty}
We like Okemo so much we gave it it's own post. Read all about it here.
Other areas to check out: Loon Mountain [2hrs 51 mins], Waterville Valley {2hrs 57 minutes}, Attatash {3hrs 26 mins} and Wildcat {3hrs 41 mins}
Cross Country and Snowshoeing
Locally you can rent your snow shoes or cross country ski gear from REI at the Derby Street Shops. [technically it's spelled Derby Street Shoppes. But Betty can't bring herself to type the words shoppes or olde but we digress...] There are great locations for this fantastic outdoor sport right in our back yards if you are familiar with the how-to’s. However, if you are a newbie, don’t fret, you don't have to travel too far to find a one stop place for rentals, lessons [if you want them] and a dedicated “track” /area for skiing and shoeing.
Weston Ski Track [over 9 miles of groomed trails] is a great place to go for Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing. Rentals are available, lessons are available, there are dedicated courses and tracks as well as “off-road” if you’d like. The Leo J. Martin Golf course transitions into a fantastic opportunity for outdoor activity in the winter months.
Day rates are $15 adults, $11 juniors, $8 ages 6-12 and free for 5 and under. Rentals for skis begin at $15 for adults and the snowshoe rentals begin at $13. It's not far away and it's an opportunity to try something other than careening down a mountain with all the other skiers and snowboarders.
www.skiboston.com/skitrack/skitrack.
The best part about snow sports is the warming up part. The hot tub, the sauna, the hot toddies. Go here for delicious tea-based toddy recipes [tea based- that makes them health drinks then, right?]
