Looking for snow, not skiing

Has anyone been to a non-skiing-oriented, non-mountain resort in December/January that has lots of snow and lots of snow activities on-site or nearby? My California family would very much like to experience cold weather and snow...sledding, skating, cross-country skiing maybe, snow shoe hiking etc. I do not much like driving on snowy, curvy, mountainous roads, so I am hoping to find a resort with somewhat easy, reliable access roads. Would anyone have any suggestions for us? Thanks!

I don't know how far you want to travel for this, but there is an all inclusive resort (non-timeshare) in PA in the Pocono Mountains called Woodloch Pines that is supposed to be wonderful for families. We are going to check it out this year, but we are within driving distance. You can see all the activities they offer on their website www.woodlochpines.com. They have thing like snow tubing and ice skating, ect.

I am willing to travel anywhere in North America (except way up north, e.g., Alaska). The resort you are trying out in the Poconos sounds very nice...but I would really like to arrange a vacation by making an exchange.

Royal Gorge Resort near Tahoe might work for you, because it is a cross country ski resort (as opposed to down-hill skiing) that also offers other activities. I don't think you are going to find to many resorts in the CA/NV area that only focus on non-skiing activities. However, you still have to drive in the snow, and I don't know how you will get around that anywhere.

Tahoe itself has all kinds of indoor and outdoor winter recreation, and you could fly into Reno and take a shuttle to Tahoe. Then at least you would only have to drive in the immediately area. Tahoe has LOTS of timeshares.

svoboda said:

Has anyone been to a non-skiing-oriented, non-mountain resort in December/January that has lots of snow and lots of snow activities on-site or nearby? My California family would very much like to experience cold weather and snow...sledding, skating, cross-country skiing maybe, snow shoe hiking etc. I do not much like driving on snowy, curvy, mountainous roads, so I am hoping to find a resort with somewhat easy, reliable access roads. Would anyone have any suggestions for us? Thanks!

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Whistler is your best bet. While Whistler is known for skiing, it is a sufficiently big destination that there are many other snow related activities, including every one of the items you mention. Access is also pretty easy.

A second option is take any timeshare in Vancouver. From Vancouver you can access all of the snow activities in the immediate Vancouver area, plus you have the advantage of visiting the most beautiful in western North America. (I lived in the Bay Area for 17 years, and Vancouver's beauty easily outclasses San Francisco, IMHO.)

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Added comment:

Among snow resorts in western North America, Whistler is probably at the lowest elevation. That means much less likelihood of encountering snow and ice. I've been going to Whistler for eight years now, and I've never needed to chain up - or even had to deal with significant ice for that matter. Certainly there is occasionally ice or snow on the road, but it occurs much less frequently.

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I just realized another great selection for you would be Island Park in Idaho. IP is in the heart of prime snowmobiling and cross-country areas, and almost no mountain roads to get there. IP is also pretty close to West Yellowstone, where you can get a snow coach into Yellowstone to view Yellowstone in the winter. In the winter the geysers are spectacular and the wildlife is incredible. The animals come down from the mountains in the wintertime, so there is much more wildlife easily viewable.

Getting to West Yellowstone does require crossing one mountain pass, so another option is to stay in West Yellowstone. West Yellowstone is probably the snowmobile capital of North America, and it is also the takeoff point for snow coaches into Yellowstone National Park.

I've done snowmobiling out of West Yellowstone and it is simply fantastic. We took our machines to the peak of Two Top Mountain, then crossed the continental divide into Idaho and stopped at the headwaters of the Henrys Fork of the Snake River.

svoboda said:

Has anyone been to a non-skiing-oriented, non-mountain resort in December/January that has lots of snow and lots of snow activities on-site or nearby? My California family would very much like to experience cold weather and snow...sledding, skating, cross-country skiing maybe, snow shoe hiking etc. I do not much like driving on snowy, curvy, mountainous roads, so I am hoping to find a resort with somewhat easy, reliable access roads. Would anyone have any suggestions for us? Thanks!

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I expect that many of the "ski resorts" in the middle part of the country have snow, but not a whole lot of steep roads. They usually just have some fairly small hills somewhere near the resort, not real mountains like out west. Boyne Mountain in Michigan might fit what you want, but it isn't close to any major airports, so you would have a lot of driving (on relatively flat roads, though.) Maybe something in Wisconsin?

Jackson Hole, WY

Jackson Hole might work. You fly in and land in the Hole which is a reasonably flat area. There are mountains all around but driving within the Hole is fairly flat. There are many activities besides the downhill skiing. Snow shoeing, cross country skiing, elk wild life refuge tours, museum, a really nice town and alpine village, snowmobiling, dog sled tours, and access to Yellowstone which is very interesting in the winter. You can even spend a few days at the Snow Lodge, right near Old Faithful, in the park (access is only via snow coach in the winter, a unique experience).

Smugglers Notch in VT has fairly easy access from Burlington. It's about a one hour drive. The drive is flat from the airport until you actually get to the mountain, and then it's about a 10 minute drive actually up the mountain. The drive is fairly straight, and not that steep.

January is your best bet for the North East. We have had some iffy winters and the snow seems to come pretty late. While you stated you want to stay in the US, I would consider Quebec, Canada. We like the Mont St. Anne area outside of Quebec City....always tons of snow when we go. They offer a wide range of snow activites and there is usually good availability for timesharing. And...you get the ambiance and feel of France. But everyone speaks English.....In 20 + vacations there, we have always had lots of snow and a fabulous time.

Thanks so much to all for your great suggestions and detailed information. Each of the mentioned locations sounds like what we are looking for. Perhaps we will love the snow and end up visiting them all! Well, we will see what the exchange goddess bestows!

svoboda said:

Thanks so much to all for your great suggestions and detailed information. Each of the mentioned locations sounds like what we are looking for. Perhaps we will love the snow and end up visiting them all! Well, we will see what the exchange goddess bestows!

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Don't to forget to factor in airfare - it can easily double or triple the cost of your vacation. There are so many areas with snow within driving distance, you should really consider them first.

Colorado has all kinds of winter activities. In all of the towns in the Rocky Mountains there are sleigh rides with cocoa and warm blankets, snowmobiling, sledding, etc. Most of the ski areas have an area for sledding. I know Winter Park has a nice sledding spot that our kids enjoyed when they were younger.

The drive from Steamboat Springs Airport in Hayden CO is over flat roads. Steamboat has lots of things to do for the non skier including Hot Springs in and out of town, Ranch outings, Snowmobiles, lots of cross country skiing, horseback rides in the snow, Gondola rides half way up the Mountain for evening dining or snow shoeing to a mountain restaurant and a funky cowboy town. I live there in the ski season and besides skiing every day, I indulge in other activities as well.

Its about 1:30 to the Summit county (albeit over a mountain pass) areas of Breckenridge, Keystone and others. Its also about 1:30 to Winter Park mentioned by rickandcindy.

Cheers

I agree with either Island Park or Jackson Hole. We have done both in the winter & in fact will be snowmobiling in Island park over new years. Yellowstone is fantastic in the winter. either cross country skiing or snowshoeing in the park or just the ride in the snow coach.

We also went to Estes Park several winters ago and went snowshoing in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was awsome.

I have an excellent solution! As a public service to your family and in the interests of promoting international co-operation, I will trade our snow-bound, prairie flat, ice-cold home for your California home anytime between January and March of any year you would like. To heck with the limitations of a timeshare - this would include appropriate winter clothing, cars with block heaters and ice scrapers, snow pants, toques (northern headgear) and the fixings for hot toddys ! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

happymum said:

I have an excellent solution! As a public service to your family and in the interests of promoting international co-operation, I will trade our snow-bound, prairie flat, ice-cold home for your California home anytime between January and March of any year you would like. To heck with the limitations of a timeshare - this would include appropriate winter clothing, cars with block heaters and ice scrapers, snow pants, toques (northern headgear) and the fixings for hot toddys ! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

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Ahhh, but do you have the little plastic thing that fits on the rear window to keep at least one patch clear of frost??? Maybe those aren't needed any more, but when I was in Winnipeg as a teenager, almost every car on the road had one.

The dad in my host family mentioned how he occasionally considered how nice it would be to live in a warm city - such as Minneapolis.

I certainly remember them! After a season or two they turned a sickly yellow and cracked, but the glue seemed to last forever.

happymum said:

I certainly remember them! After a season or two they turned a sickly yellow and cracked, but the glue seemed to last forever.

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My sister lived in Saskatoon for a couple of years. She, too, was glad to return the warm climes of Minnesota.

I grew up north of Saskatoon, we considered it the balmy south!

I like the idea of a house exchange to Canada! The appeal to me would be, however, for the months of July, August and September...when the thermometer can show 102 Farenheit for days on end. Without copious applications of high SPF sunscreen the lobster skin look can develop very quickly with our hot, hot sun ( and no, we are not in the desert or even way inland).

You're right- anything in the triple digits doesn't sound appealing! I guess that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. I do enjoy our summers and we have amazing sunsets. Its just hard to remember that in the dark,cold winter months.
For anyone who really wants to experience a true prairie winter, PM me and I am sure I can help.