 Family Travel Files Ezine Family Vacations Resource |
Vermont: Smugglers' Notch, Smugg's Resort – Skiing, Boarding, and Winter Family Fun.  Why not vacation with the best? SKI Magazine's readers have chosen Smugglers’ as #1 in North America for family programs. Not surprising because not only do they relate to what parent’s need and kids want but each season they manage to add a few extra benefits for more fun.
Ski the day away. From mid-Village rises a chairlift that begins the link of trails and lifts that connect the three mountains. With 300 acres of trails and another 700 of wooded terrain in between, snow sports enthusiasts may claim a world of mountain topography to live out their dreams of adventure. Beginners develop their stance and first turns on Sir Henry’s Hill, a gentle slope with an easy-to-ride conveyor-style lift. When ready, they advance to the Magic Lift, a double chair purposely built low to the ground which transports them to mid-station or the top of Morse Mountain for access to the trails marked with green signs indicating novice level. By the time they have advanced to level four, all skiers and riders are ready for Sterling Mountain, the home of over 50 percent of Smugglers’ intermediate trails. Madonna Mountain beckons the more audacious and skilled slope sliders by presenting lots of expert and super-expert terrain – a mountain that also cradles intermediates with two winding trails with thrilling views – Chilcoot and Drifter.
Maximize your ski day with MAX5 - Introduced last season, MAX5 is Smugglers' answer to skiers and boarders who want more time with an instructor and a small group of fellow students. MAX5 includes 2.5 hours of instructional time in the morning and a maximum of five students in a group. Another 1.5 hours can be added in the afternoon. This season, skiers who reserve four days of MAX5 instruction receive a fifth day free! The cost per day is $75. Bonus points: Guests may also tour Smugglers' extensive gladed terrain and learn to become experts among the trees by requesting glade instruction in their MAX5 session. They may form their own group or join another group.
Family private lesson day - Make a Snow Sport University (SSU) pro part of the family! During a family lesson, the pro can help teach family members as a group, and offer individual tips, as well as take everyone out for a memorable group ski of Smugglers' three mountains. The cost is $399 for six hours with an SSU pro.
Stay on track. Smugglers’ is teaming up with flaik, Inc. a satellite-based Global Positioning System to offer students in the Snow Sport University all-day ski and snowboard camps a way to capture their on-mountain fun. The tracking device is the size of a cell phone attached to the leg above the boot in a neoprene pouch. At the end of the day youngsters can use their particular code to download statistics on the total vertical, the individual trails, their maximum speed and the total number of miles for the day, and cumulatively over several days. Smuggs SSU director, Harley Johnson, introduced the device because “it’s a great way to initiate family conversations about the ski day and relive the day’s experiences!”  Another advantage will be the Resort’s ability to locate a youngster anywhere on the mountain – a feature that may be reassuring to parents.
The tykes have their own lift. Smugglers' innovative teaching program for toddlers, has its own conveyor lift right at its homebase, Treasures Childcare Center to ensure the best experience possible for Little Rascals on Snow. The lift was installed during Winter 2007/2008 and enjoyed with great enthusiasm by the Little Rascals!
Winter Vacation Ideas 2009-2010 - Mush! Whoosh! Cheers! Zoom! Really wild adventures at Smugglers' Notch Resort include dog sledding for all ages of mushers, airboarding rubber rafts on snow, snowshoeing to dinner on a mountain top or motoring through Smugglers’ Notch Pass on tracks. Bonus points: Each weekend there is a Family Fun Race on Madonna with a timed and announced course and prizes for all participants. Sundays alternate the Superpipe Jam with the Altitude Adjustment at the SnowZone. These events, created for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders, provide a little show off time for participants while the crowd goes wild. For the smallest wanna-be snowboarders there is a camp. They'll get avid attention from an instructor and equipment sized to fit them.
Create family energy together. Doing things together as a family is easy at Smuggs. The rich menu of ideas includes the Funmeister’s Family Tubing Party, Bingo Blast, I-Did-a-Sled family-to-family competition, the Great Adventure Race & Discovery Cookie Race, Torchlight Parade & Fireworks Finale, the FunZone Hawaiian Hula Party, Family Snowshoe Cider Walk, family private ski or snowboard lessons, and the Friendly Pirate’s breakfast.
Go with the kids and the dogs. Smugglers’ offers many options for guests who want to extend their winter adventures beyond skiing and snowboarding. The Resort’s extensive cross country skiing trails are the setting for late afternoon and evening dog sled outings. Teams from Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures transport novice mushers through picturesque snow-covered trails in the woods and meadows surrounding the Resort.
Airboarding anyone? The newest craze for on-slope sliding is airboarding. Squeals of delight announce that airboarding is in session at Smugglers’ Morse Highlands. An airboard is an inflated sled similar in look and weight to a water raft. Grooves on the bottom of the airboard act as edges to facilitate steering, and the smooth bottom assures a speedy ride. Sized for youth and adults and offered afternoons at Morse Highlands, this new family activity has a short learning curve and promises to yield fun the first day. First time users participate in a short instructional clinic and then venture out on their own to the Logjam Trail in the Morse Highlands trail network.
Snowshoe trekking made simple. Smuggs’ offers snowshoe instructions and coaching so that those willing may enjoy the snowshoe treks with the resident naturalist. Each snow outing features a different theme. The effort will guarantee that the kids will sleep soundly. On the “Tree Times Tour” the guide explains how to identify tree species in winter. Participants learn how trees and wildlife interact during the coldest season of the year.  On the “Winter Wildlife Walk” snowshoers look for tracks in the snow and try to identify the animal. Bonus points: The unique Adventures After Dark series includes snowshoe night tours, Thursday night fireworks, how-to-board Night School.
Go for a "wike". The selection of walks range from an introductory outing in the beginning of the week to the Meadows in Winter Wike and the Winter Woods Wike (a wike is a cross between a walk and a hike) to a more vigorous Nordic Walking trek. The Explore the Notch Wike takes guests into Smugglers' Notch Pass with its rich history as a smuggling route and its unique geological formations. It is from this pass that the Resort derives its name.
Toddlers learn skiing basics. Now little children as young as 2 ½ years of age have an opportunity to develop beginning skills on the slopes. The fun day matches up with a toddler’s attention span and physical capabilities. Operated from a home base at the cozy Treasures Child Care Center, the cost includes instruction, equipment and helmet rental, snack and lunch. Bonus points: On the snow, the teaching staff uses tools specially designed for younger kids, such as H bars and harnesses. These support aids allow beginning skiers freedom to move while maintaining a sense of balance and security. Their first on hill experience incorporates the use of a WonderCarpet, a gently moving conveyor lift.
Welcome to Snow Sport University. The staff at Smugglers' has found a way to improve on the best. They have expanded the teen groupings in the Snow Sport University to include the often fickle 11-14 year olds. The new age category will be known as "Notch Squad" and they will have their own ski/ride camp activities. Notch Squad will offer instruction in skiing or snowboarding, fun races, mountain adventures, and guided treks in a full day format that includes lunch. The old standards will still be available. The day camp categories include "Discovery Dynamos" (ages 3-5), "Adventure Rangers" (ages 6-10), and "Mountain Explorers" (ages 15-17).
Save on the fun. Additional discounts are available to guests on the Club Smugglers’ Advantage Package.As for ski and snowboard lessons, the Club Smugglers’ Advantage Package makes sure every family member receives lessons regardless of their age or ability level. On a daily basis children 3-5 may participate in the all-day camp; those 6-17 are scheduled into a group ski or snowboard lesson. Adult beginners head off to their daily learn-to-ski or learn-to-snowboard sessions. And new this season is the perk for other adults in levels above beginner – each is treated to one group lesson with additional lessons offered at 50 percent off. Bonus Points: Just to make sure families know how serious Smugglers’ is about delivering on a great winter vacation, the Club Smugglers’ Advantage Package comes with a Fun Guarantee. This means that each guest participating will learn or improve their skiing or riding skills or their lesson portion of the package will be refunded with no questions asked.
Winter package information and online booking can be found at www.smuggs.com/winter/packages The reservations and information phone number is toll-free 1-800-451-8752 (US and Canada).
Smugglers' Notch Resort. 4323 Vermont Route 108, South Smugglers' Notch, Vermont 05464-9537. Toll free 1-800-451-8752 (US & Canada), 0800-169-8219 (UK) or www.smuggs.com
About Smugglers’ Notch Resort - Smugglers’ Notch Resort is located in Vermont’s northern Green Mountains about 45 minutes from Burlington, Vermont. The Resort’s extensive family programs have been recognized by SKI Magazine, the Family Travel Forum, FamilyFun Magazine, and Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, among others. Lodging includes more than 500 privately owned and timeshare condominiums centered around a Resort Village. Smugglers’ has received awards from SKI Magazine, the Vermont governor’s office, and other state agencies for its innovative approach to environmental stewardship.
Want more? For more fun, kid-friendly Smugglers Notch Hotels check out Uptake.com. They search 5000 travel sites...so you don't have to!
Content and images provided by Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Copyright 2009.
|
