It’s just as fun to go up the mountain as it is to go down thanks to Vermont resort’s well maintained and sprawling trail networks. Thousands of acres of wilderness offer both challenging and meandering trails with beautiful views and the ability to choose between half-day hikes complete with summit dining, to overnight hikes and the opportunity to connect with Vermont’s iconic Long Trail system and the longest hiking foot path in the world, the Appalachian Trail.
Snowshoeing at Trapp Family Lodge. (Trapp Family Lodge)
The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018. The family that inspired “The Sound of Music” will host a week of special events scheduled at the lodge January 19-26 on the trails and in the Bierhall to commemorate the occasion.
Canmore Nordic Center hosts race on machine made snow. (Canmore Nordic)
As the days become colder and winter approaches the ski season beckons, but about 40 cross country (XC) ski areas are no longer waiting for the snow to fly to begin their ski season because they’ve invested in snowmaking, just like their alpine ski area cousins.
A green mountain backdrop for Jay Peak's Jeezum Crow Festival. (Jay Peak)
The kids are out of school and it's time to grab your lawn chairs and blankets for some music in the mountains at Vermont ski resorts. Musical offerings range from free outdoor concerts and weekend music festivals to mid-week jams at local bars and restaurants.
The Vermont hills are alive with stunning views from a Trapp Family Lodge sleigh ride. (Trapp Family Lodge)
With all the snow piling up across the country, we may just have to use sleighs to get to the mountains. The classic winter experience is a must-do for a chance to enjoy another side of your favorite resort, many with perks like hot chocolate or dinner as part of the adventure.
There’s no better way to enjoy the outdoors than hiking on a trail alone or with your friends or family. Whether you are a first time hiker or a walking aficionado, hiking with the family provides quality time together, allows the family to grow closer, develops life-long memories, and introduces the next generation to the outdoors.
The Sound of Music movie, first shown 50 years ago (1965) features the story of the von Trapp family. If there was an American Cross Country Ski Hall of Fame, Johannes von Trapp would be one of the surefire inductees. The famous story of the von Trapp family is well known - their escape from Austria in the beginning of World War II and the Broadway and Hollywood songs such as Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, and Do Re Mi.
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 79th year and the 2014 Summer Festival Tour called "Let's Dance!" The performance features music from the world of dance - waltzes to swing and polkas to salsa. Toe-tapping melodies by Strauss, Delibes, Borodin, and Gershwin will put you "in the mood" for dance hits from Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. The 1812 Overture, marches, and fireworks conclude the show.
Plan to gather up the kids and head to the hills during the school breaks next winter. No need to head to warmer climes - winter can be snowy, yet mild, and perfect for a family vacation with plenty of activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
According to the experts, who regularly update XCSkiResorts.com and here at SnoCountry.com, the nation's top XC ski resorts are exceedingly family-friendly with lots to enjoy together both on the snow and off. What families want and need is exactly what an XC ski vacation delivers: multi-generational participation, quality time and shared memories.
There are special touches such as talent shows, child-friendly classes and family style meals to help your XC ski and snowshoe vacation become the perfect memorable getaway with your loved ones. Families can find resorts that offer the perfect combination of carefree atmosphere and picture-perfect views together with beautiful lodging, family dining, and expertly groomed trails and learn how they can enjoy the winter outdoors together.
Here are some suggestions:
East:
Lapland Lake Ski & Vacation Center in Northville, N.Y. has nightly bonfires on the weekends and the kids love to play Napa Kikku, which is a Finnish game on ice with a sled and a pole. Kicksleds, tubing, ice skating and parents use pulk sleds to pull the kids along the xc ski trails.
Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine has family programs to engage kids and adults with outdoors and educational activities such as XC skiing, mountain biking, equestrian, exploring life and animals on the farm, apple cider making, butter making, milking a cow, carving pumpkins, and much more.
Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. is one of the most famous family resorts where the hills come alive with the "Sound of Music." In the Green Mountains of Vermont, Trapp Family Lodge is a paradise for families with a fitness center, an indoor pool and the Mountain Kids Club provides playtime, craft time and movies for kids.
Smuggler's Notch Resort in Smuggler's Notch, Vt. has a dynamic lineup of family programs with 1,000 acres for alpine skiers and snowboarders, teen centers, kids camps and FunZone play area, resort village with shops and restaurants, condo lodging, and walk-to free shuttles. There's XC ski and snowshoe trails, winter walking, ice skating, and more. Recognition for family focus has been awarded by numerous magazines.
Central:
Maplelag Resort in Callaway, Minn. is run by a three-generation extended family and this resort has families coming back year after year. They serve family-style meals and host a talent/variety show, which is a big hit. The state’s largest hot tub, bottomless cookie jars, sledding, ice skating, and XC ski/snowshoe trails combine to make this one of the most popular family destinations.
As the name implies, Palmquist Farm in Brantwood, Wisc. is an XC ski center on a farm with kid-friendly animals such as horses and a dogs. There are sleds to use on sliding hills and ice skating pond, plus horse-drawn sleigh rides and kids rental ski equipment. They say that a visit to Palmquist's is like coming home to Grandma's house.
West:
Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash, Colo. has outdoor adventures from XC skiing and snowshoeing to Zipline, horseback riding and laser biathlon. There are "cowpoke camps" for overnight guests with kids in half and full-day programs, heated pool, movie nights, game room, and more.
Snow Mountain Ranch is operated by the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, Colo. and is a destination for the whole family with the most affordable options for lodging which includes a Day Pass covering a weekend kids program with outdoor fun and indoor activities such as a pool, climbing wall, roller skating, craft shop, and more.
Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, Mont. has programs for outdoor youth adventures that include animal tracking, snowshoeing, tubing, snow kickball, obstacle Olympics, finger painting, scavenger hunts and ice cream socials. Parents will love the cuisine, massage and xc skiing on picturesque trails.
You'll be amazed by the giant trees in Sequoia National Park and Monument near the Montecito-Sequoia Lodge in Kings Canyon National Park, Calif. There is a daylong program for children, which has a break for the family to join together during lunch. The kids build igloos, go tubing and XC skiing or snowshoeing on nature hikes to see and learn about animal tracks. At night there is a dance, karaoke and bingo.
Photo: Family cross skiing at Lapland Lake Ski & Vacation Center in NY
A comprehensive Nordic ski exhibit opened at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Nov. 2 with two floors of extensive cross country skiing memorabilia on display. This is clearly the largest exhibit of its kind about the sport.
Carrie Underwood, the winner of five Grammies and multiple other music awards, with sales of 15 million albums and 16 number-one singles, and of course a winner of the American Idol TV show is slated to star as Maria Von Trapp on NBC's live broadcast of the Rodgers & Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music" in the 2013 holiday season.
Cross country skiers, unlike their alpine brethren, generally experience little or no snowmaking equipment on their favorite trails. Things looked exceedingly dismal last year at this time, but that's all changed as we move from 2012 into 2013.
