Skiing with my family is my favorite thing. What could be better than
carving turns as a tight knit family? I’ll tell you what: an occasional ski
weekend without the kids.
Skiing can be romantic you see, if you aren’t stressing about everyone’s
gear, cold fingers and tears, worried that little Tina took the wrong turn,
trying to find Jonny’s goggles in the baselodge bathroom. Imagine just you
and your sweetie sneaking away for a romantic retreat in the mountains. Just
the two of you, leaving extra room in the car and extra time for après ski
indulgences.
Perhaps you met on the slopes, or you fell for each other at a cozy country
inn. It’s time to recapture that romance and make tracks together while
enjoying a reprieve from parenting – if only for two days. Here are a five
romantic ski spots, to keep your love alive. The kids will survive.
Stowe
Maybe it’s because my first ski date was at Stowe that I find this Vermont
ski resort to be uber-romantic. Stowe Village has an alpine elegance
befitting a postcard. The Mountain Road leads to dozens of dreamy inns and
delicious restaurants, and Stowe’s slopes are among the best around. Any guy
will fall for his gal if she can ski Stowe’s Front Four: Liftline, Goat,
Starr and National. Since “The Ski Capital of the East” has gotten a
makeover at Spruce Peak, there is now super swank slopeside lodging and a
spa at the grand
Stowe Mountain Lodge. End your day by handing your skis to
your Alpine Concierge, saving your energy for après indulges at the Lodge.
Jackson
As you enter though the classic Covered Bridge, you slip into a magical
place. Jackson is just the quaintest ski town in New Hampshire. In the heart
of the White Mountains, you can ski at nearby Black, Attitash, Wildcat or
Cranmore, or cross country ski for miles around the pretty river valley.
Then lodge at the lovely Wentworth Inn where your Jacuzzi tub, candles and
fluffy robes awaits, followed by a fireside four course dinner.
Bretton Woods, NH’s largest ski area, offers the best of
both worlds: modern, manicured skiing with century old grandeur at th
e Hotel
Mount Washington. After carving the scenic slopes, enjoy the Alpenglow over
Mount Washington with cocktails, spoil yourselves at the Presidential Spa,
then dine and dance in the elegant ballroom. The prohibition vintage Cave is
cool for a nightcap, then tuck in and dream of your next day skiing side by
side.
Sugarbush
The Mad River Valley is actually a very happy place. A romantic weekend here
includes requisite covered bridges, Vermont country shops, and charming inns
set amongst snowy landscape. By day you have
Sugarbush’s two interconnected
mountains - Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen, and nearby Mad River Glen if you
are more hard core about your turns. Either way, you will have an action
packed ski day, followed by your choice of some topnotch restaurants to
refuel while you reminisce about your favorite ski runs. Then retreat to a
romantic room at The Pitcher Inn or The Inn at Round Barn Farm, or stay by
the slopes at the Clay Brook Inn.
Quebec’s Tremblant in winter is like April in Paris. The
highlight of this Eu-romantic ski resort is the perfectly planned Intrawest
ski village which simulates a snowy village from the Alps. Once you have
made the drive, 90-minutes past Montreal, you can park your car underground,
walk to the ski lifts, the boutiques, the gourmet bistros, and the après
bars that rock till late (after all the French invited après ski). Try
Tremblant for alpine amour, best enjoyed midweek as weekends get busy given
the proximity to Montreal.
Missing the kids yet? I didn’t think so. Enjoy your romantic ski getaway.
Reasons to leave your kids at home for a ski weekend:
1. The kids need to bond with their Grandparents, Aunt/Uncle, (fill in the
blank caregiver).
2. Imagine an entire car ride with no one saying “are we there yet?”
3. Kids should learn the joys of sledding in the backyard, which they miss
if you spoil them with skiing every weekend.
4. You will save money on lifts, lodging, meals, when it’s just the two of
you.
5. You will find it easier to make first tracks, only two to keep track of.
6. Ski the runs you want to for a change without a whole family discussion.
7. When’s the last time you had a real date? A ski date is even better.
8. You can actually enjoy après ski.
9. The parental guilt will subside after a few gorgeous glade runs and a
Jacuzzi.
10. The kids will appreciate your next family ski trip more.
