Smuggs? 12/29/06

[NJmom]

My family has an exchange into Smuggs (TA 10) for 12/29/06. We have been patiently waiting for this trip for almost 2 years! I will be traveling with my DH, and 2 kids 13 and 16. There is a possibility my BIL SIL and nephew 15 will join us. Will the kids be able to walk anywhere form this location?

Does anyone have any input regarding the weekly fee and if it is cost effective in the winter?

My kids will ski for a day or two. I would like for them to take a lesson. Also, does anyone know what Activities are available for New Year's Eve?

What other activities will be available for the kids? Adults?

Any other recommendations gratefully accepted.

[charford]

My, you're lucky!

Tamaracks 10 should be in the Tamaracks I building which is close to the village. It should be walking distance.

The SmuggsPass is $175 (plus tax) for the unit for the week. You can see the discounts that you get for lift tickets and lessons on this page: Smuggs RCI info If only a couple of you are skiing for a couple of days, then it may not be worth it for you. If however, your children did the camps for the week, it would be cost-effective.

There are way too many other activities to list here, OK, I'll try. There is skating, skiing, snowboarding, downhill tubing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, snowmobiling. There is a parents' night out. You will have access to the North Hill indoor waterpark. There will be fireworks on New Years' Eve. This year, my daughter is trying snowboarding camp and I may try winter walking.

I highly recommend the camps. They have children's camps and adult camps.

When you check in , you will get a book about 30 pages long listing the activities available.

Have fun!

[NJmom]

Thanks Charford.

I tried to post a reply earlier, but my computer froze and I lost the whole thing.

I'm glad to hear that the unit will be within walking distance to the village. I called Smuggs and they said it is on the thrid floor.

I also asked about the Smuggs Pass. They said without it we could use the North Hills Community Center but not the Fun Zone or Teen Center. I don't know for sure how much they will use those areas, but I'd hate to spoil a nice vacation by not being able to use the ammenities. Does anyone know how far in advance you need to register for the pass?

[charford]

There is no restriction on the number of SmuggsPasses they can sell. You should be able to get it at check-in or anytime during your stay. The one thing that you would need to reserve before check-in day is any camps that anyone wants to enroll in. Those must be reserved 2 weeks in advance of check-in.

You may want to consider the SmuggsPass to access the Teen Alley and Outerlimits. My kids are not yet teenagers, so perhaps someone with teenagers can weigh in. Here's what the brochure says: Teen Alley for ages 13-15 and The Outerlimits for ages 16 and older. Open daily at 5:00 with special events on selected days at 9:00 pm.(for example on Saturday there is Nightspiker DJ Dance Party for ages 13-18) ....With internet access, pool tables, XBox 360, games, music and dancing.

Now, given that there are some nice restaurants in the area, you may want to take advantage of the teen hangouts for those evenings when the parents want to go out alone. I like Hearth and Candle in the village. There are 3 different rooms. One they use for families, on the main floor, one they use for large groups, on the lower floor, and one for adults only, on the upper floor. I recommend the duck.

Keep in mind the SmuggsPass also gives you a discount at the 3 Mountain Outfitters for the lost goggles, gloves that were forgotten, cute sweater....

[NJmom]

One problem I have with the Teen centers / Camps is my DD is 16 and DS 13 putting them in 2 different groups. I don't know if either of them would go alone. I was hoping they might do some combined things both could attend.

[Avery]

Originally Posted by NJmom

One problem I have with the Teen centers / Camps is my DD is 16 and DS 13 putting them in 2 different groups. I don't know if either of them would go alone. I was hoping they might do some combined things both could attend.

they can hang out together at the Teen Center. I don't know about the camps since my son and his friend opted out this summer and we haven't been there in winter. Seems to me if they enjoy being together, they won't need too much in terms of 'programs.'

[SueC]

As an owner at Smuggs I would say your 13 and 16 year old will not want to be at the FunZone. There are a lot of inflatable things there and a small indoor golf course, ping pong etc. But is mostly geared toward small kids. The Teen Alley is not a big deal just a place to hang out and maybe use the internet if it works and maybe playstation.
The best thing my kids enjoyed was the ski camps. Try a day or so -you may find they want to do more. Sometimes they find a buddy that they will want to ski with after camp or hang out with after camp. Usually after skiing all day we found we were too tired to do much else at night but we did do the ski mobile tour one year and it was awesome. A bit pricey but I thought worth it. The bingo and karoake for the kids is alway a hoot. And if they have the adult hypnotist- he is awesome -also the adult magic show is good as well.
If you have any specific questions feel free to email me. I am jealous-we will not get up there this winter!

[helenbarnett1963]

Hi NJmom,
I think Cathy (Charford) has already covered most things!
You will have wonderful views from the top floor of the building.
We own weeks 52 & 1 in TA#1, (ground floor) and will be there for 2 weeks starting 29th December (well, our co-owners arrive 29th, we're not arriving until 31st).
Feel free to call us or drop by if you want to.
Our kids are younger than yours (ages 11 down to 6) but I know some families with teenagers who swear by the Teen Centres - it all depends what your teens like doing in the evenings I guess. They should at least go to check it out. There are even some teen events organised in the evenings in the Fun Zone where 'little kids and grown ups' are excluded.
I would recommend getting the Smuggs Pass - its only $175 split between all of you, and it gives you good discounts on just about everything as well as access to all the resort activities - you may find yourselves rather limited if you don't have it.
Have a good browse around www.smuggs.com and you will get a good feel for everything thats happening at the resort. The Resort Map shows how close the lower Tamaracks bulding is to everything. Though you would probably want to use the free door-to-door on-demand shuttle if you are carrying ski gear.
New Years Eve will have parties and other events happening plus a huge fireworks display at midnight. If you want to dine in the village best make a reservation beforehand if you can, otherwise the pizza takeaway is good!
Even if your kids are not sure about doing camp I would register them for it now as the resort will be very busy over new years weekend (though less so the rest of the week). You can cancel camp, and get a full refund, as late as the night before if you need to.
You may find your kids are in different age groups, but older kids can join the younger groups to be with siblings - and you can swap between camp, group lessons, ski or snowboard anytime.
If your kids don't want to join in camp or lessons, you can arrange a private instructor/guide to be with them all day. not sure of the cost but may not be too expensive for 3 or 4 kids.
Any more questions, let me know, and hope to see you at Smuggs!

Helen

[ctreelmom]

Originally Posted by NJmom

One problem I have with the Teen centers / Camps is my DD is 16 and DS 13 putting them in 2 different groups. I don't know if either of them would go alone. I was hoping they might do some combined things both could attend.

As the proud holder of the "meanest mom in the world" title, my 13 year-old LOVES Teen Alley at Smuggs. Since I don't let her do "anything" at home she loves the independence she can have (within mean mom reason of course) at Smuggs. The 13 year-old would not be permitted at the Outer Limits as that's for the older teens but they will meet other kids their ages during the day and will want to hang out with their new friends at night. You may need to enforce the "not going to camp isn't an option" rule (I told you I was mean) for about the first day, then you won't have a problem!

Enjoy your first visit to Smuggs!