February vacation is rapidly approaching. You haven’t made travel
plans to visit the big mouse or some deserted tropical isle. If you
are dreading a week at home with the kids, knowing full well that
video games and movies won’t cut the boredom for an entire week, cheer
up! The good news - there are still plenty of options for some rousing
outdoor activity within a short drive.
If you never quite got the hang of skiing or snowboarding, (or didn’t
have the courage to try), you will find that the traditional day on
the slopes has evolved with a refreshing attitude toward fun combined
with wacky ingenuity. The result is less intimidating snow “toys”
available for you to sample, even by the hour.
Some mountain resorts,
like Loon Mountain and
Gunstock in New Hampshire, are offering
activities beyond just strapping long planks to your feet and charging
down the hill. Take for example skiboards, a.k.a. “snow blades”, which
are short and double tipped so they maneuver more like an in-line
skate than a ski. Even non-skiers find them easier to pick right up
and have a good time. Tubing is another great family diversion you’ll
find popping up all over. Tubing requires absolutely no talent, just
some hearty laughter as you careen down the groomed lanes.
Canopy Tours and Zip Lines are a thrill at Bretton Woods, Loon,
Wildcat, Sunday River,
Sugarloaf and Gunstock. A few of
these novelties are a bargain too; giving you that extra nudge to try
something when you might otherwise chicken out. Mountain Coasters are
an amusement park style roller coaster ride at Jiminy Peak,
Cranmore, Okemo and
Attitash.
Ragged Mountain lets you try snowblades. They provide the equipment
and even offer lessons, then you can take your skills to the half
pipe to play around.
Up north near Burke Mountain Vermont, the Wildflower Inn specializes in
rejuvenating family getaways. Everything from sledding, ice skating,
a petting zoo, indoor and outdoor play areas for the kids, snow
shoes and cross country skiing, to a much appreciated spa and sauna
are all part of the breathtaking grounds of this delightful “family”
Inn, just 3 miles from Burke ski area.
With all these extra curricular activities, the customary “ski trip”
can now be an adventure for the family-big and small, coordinated or
not. If you have real little ones in tow, resorts have also tuned in
to the importance of quality daycare as essential to entertaining
today’s families. Be sure to call ahead for reservations and rates for
hourly, half or full day childcare.
So get out and savor winter in a whole new way. You may learn
something new, find a hidden talent, and you are sure to have fun
while you are at it. With this new school of fun on the slopes, the
kids’ vacation could be down right educational. Most importantly,
you’ll have some family thrills and chills to commemorate the winter
vacation!
