Advise on a ski trip?

[dlbleak]

Monarch is beginner friendly, offer lessons all day long and even if crowded it's pretty efficient. If your son is like my son and daughter he'll pick up on it quickly. They did lessons the first morning, spent the first afternoon on the easy stuff and by midday the second day they were on the blacks.

I can vouche for Monarch if budget is a concern. Nice place with something for everyone. Back in college we would save all our money and go skiing as often as we could. Been to Santa Fe, purgatory,wolf creek, crested butte, copper mountain,winter park and a few others. Like I said, it was college, I don’t remember much. BUT, did monarch and purgatory later on as a responsible adult in disguise.

 

[Jwryan84]

Man, we loved Nederland. Close to home, easy in and out, slopes were never jammed with people, lots of easy routes down the mountain, cheap lift tickets, quick rentals. It was the bomb. Now, twent-five years later, lodging anywhere close is too expensive. Looking to book in March, the only thing left at this point is crappy rentals and ridiculously expensive rentals. We decided on Winter Park. Snowmobiles had better be like dirt bikes lol

Snowmobiles at Winterpark is one of the most fun things I've done Ever in life. They have a round track up in the mountain the let you race around, it's a hoot

 

[dennishoddy]

Man, we loved Nederland. Close to home, easy in and out, slopes were never jammed with people, lots of easy routes down the mountain, cheap lift tickets, quick rentals. It was the bomb. Now, twent-five years later, lodging anywhere close is too expensive. Looking to book in March, the only thing left at this point is crappy rentals and ridiculously expensive rentals. We decided on Winter Park. Snowmobiles had better be like dirt bikes lol

You ride snowmobiles like the old three wheelers. Lots of body shifting.

 

[JD8]

Make sure you take layers..... and buy good/clothes.... thermals, goggles, etc. Your equipment and clothes will make all the difference in your comfort. Gonna strongly second the notion that you need to strengthen you core. Take some magnesium and Ibuprofen with you LOL. Stay somewhere with a hot tub.

 

[tRidiot]

Stay somewhere with a hot tub.

Interesting you should say this... this is something we have essentially made a 'must have' on our shopping list of places to stay. lol.

And we are prolly gonna shop on Ebay for a bunch of heavy winter stuff before we leave.

 

[JD8]

Interesting you should say this... this is something we have essentially made a 'must have' on our shopping list of places to stay. lol.

And we are prolly gonna shop on Ebay for a bunch of heavy winter stuff before we leave.

I'm telling ya... don't go heavy. Layers. Breathable layers.

Nothing will feel better than a drink in the hot tub while it's snowing out after the first day on the slopes.

 

[Duncandl]

Sipapu, New Mexico

 

[Parks 788]

A little different opinion here. Not sure how old your son is but it would maybe look at Killington as a couples trip with just you and the wifey. I've heard it is really a nice mountain but to me it seems like a more "romantic" place to get a small one room log cabin with fire place and hot tub and do some skiing and relaxing. It also is a place that if I'm going to spent $1800 on flights, $1000 on rental SUV for a week, $3000 on lodging, $1500 on food/drink, etc, I want better skiing and a bigger mountain.

Since it is a bit more special of a ski trip being that it is Christmas I would give some serious consideration to 1) Park City, UT and 2) Big Sky, MT.

Park City has a ton to offer for everyone and is a great mountain for all levels. You also have 5-8 other mountains to choose from that are not too far of a drive if you have a rental car. Alta and Brighton were great mountains also and in my top 10 favorites. Snowbird is too but it is known as being a fairly steep mountain if anyone in your family are beginners. Flying into SLC should be very reasonable too.

Big Sky Resort is awesome. Only been in the Summer and is on our bucket list to spend Christmas in Big Sky. It is the largest "Single" mountain ski resort in the country. It is massive. THe reason it is on our Bucket List is that we really want to to the snowmobile tour through Yellowstone in the winter. West Yellowstone is about an hour from Big Sky so if the weather cooperates then it is an easy drive. THe only down fall for Big Sky is that the time from about a week before Christmas to just after New Years, the lodging in Big Sky up near the resort is VERY EXPENSIVE. Literally the rates triple and quadruple.

Hope I didn't confuse you more. Anyplace you go with the wife and kiddo will be awesome. Have fun.

 

[xseler]

Last time I went to Alta, they didn't allow snowboards (it's been a while since I've been, though).

 

[TwoForFlinching]

I'm telling ya... don't go heavy. Layers. Breathable layers.

Nothing will feel better than a drink in the hot tub while it's snowing out after the first day on the slopes.

This. Don't know about the East coast, but in the high country Colorado, we used to ski in scotch guarded Jean's and hoodies. Go heavy and you'll sweat like crazy. It's like doing cardio. Then you'll freeze your wingnuts off during rest on the lift. Thin, warm, breathable layers.

Chapstick is your friend to keep your face from wind-chapping too. Just smear it on.