Feature articles are reprinted from previously published Kids' Guides. Please consult the featured website links for current information and rates.
Smugglers Notch, Vermont
It would be difficult to find a resort
more dedicated to families than Smugglers'
Notch in Vermont. In fact, if you are single or without children and don't want to be overrun by little ones,
it's best to visit when school is in session. For our family,
however, two adults and an eleven and four-year-old, Smugglers' Notch handily
earned its title of "#1 Family Ski Resort."
The resort, situated in the Green Mountains just north of Stowe Ski Area, is a seven hour drive from northern New Jersey. Smugglers' Notch Pass, a four-mile narrow, winding stretch of road that conveniently connects Stowe and Smugglers' Notch Resort, is closed from mid-October through May. In winter, access to the resort is via Route 15 to 108 South, adding an additional thirty minutes to the trip.
Smugglers' Notch Resort is a village unto itself, nestled at the base of three mountains comprising the ski area. Accommodations range from studio condominiums to five-bedroom townhouses. All have kitchens, living and dining rooms. Many have fireplaces, balconies, and scenic mountain or woodland views. You can walk to the village core and all activities from most lodgings. Many accommodations are slopeside offering ski-in and ski-out capabilities. An on-demand shuttle service also operates continuously every day. Premium vacation accommodations at Highlands Hill, North Hill, and West Hill offer exclusive use of special amenities within their neighborhood, such as exercise facilities, indoor/outdoor pools, playgrounds, game rooms, hot tubs, plus a whirlpool in the master bath.
All dining in the village is casual and, of course, family-friendly. The resort has two full-service restaurants, a pizzeria, an ice cream shop with deli and small, country grocery store. The Hearth and Candle Restaurant, a privately operated finer dining establishment, offers an adults-only dining room. There are other restaurants down the valley and in Jeffersonville, five miles away. Kitchens in all accommodations are also fully stocked with dishes, pots and pans and utensils for meals at home.
The ski area, while offering plenty of gentle slopes and groomed cruisers, also offers some of the most challenging terrain in the east. With a 2,610-foot vertical rise, eight lifts and seventy-eight trails, 19% of the terrain is easier, 50% more difficult, 25% most difficult and 6% for experts only. There are some beautiful glades, serious bump runs, and a gnarly triple black diamond. For a unique adventure, Snuffy's Trail at the top of the Sterling Mountain lift connects Smugglers' Notch Ski Area to Stowe. After a short traverse across a frozen pond, skiers and snowboarders can ski an intermediate trail down to Stowe's Spruce Peak.
Ski and snowboard programs are offered for adults and children starting at age 3 (children must be out of diapers). Children are grouped in camps by age and ability. Our 11-year old started out as an advanced beginner in need of some formal lessons. He had an excellent instructor who played lots of games on the mountain and whose enthusiasm was contagious. After 2 1/2 days, Brad was anxious to take us all down the mogul run he had mastered with confidence. His skiing had improved tremendously.
This was the first time on skis for our 4-year old, Kate. She eagerly packed her backpack for camp each day and by her third day, we watched as she confidently negotiated the bunny hill, stopping, starting and turning on command.
Children in camp go out to ski in the morning and afternoon. Parents are welcome to pick up their children between 2:15 and 2:45 if they would like to ski together for the rest of the afternoon or children can remain in camp until 4pm. After 2:15, a movie, live show or other entertainment is provided.
Other instruction programs include group and private alpine ski, telemark, snow blade and snowboard lessons for adults; group and private instruction for children; Mom & Me and Dad & Me private lessons on skis or snowboards; cross-country and snowshoe lessons; and a night school for boarding.
Smugglers' Notch has developed many programs for teens and has adapted the mountain for snowboarders. The ski area has two terrain parks and a 400-foot half pipe with lift service and music. Ski and snowboard fun sessions and lessons are offered daily for ages 15-17. A teen center is open for 13-18 year-olds only from 5pm-midnight nightly.
For children six-weeks to age 3, care is provided at Treasures, a state licensed child care center. The well-equipped facility includes separate rooms and playgrounds for different age ranges and a supervised crib room. An introductory ski program is offered for children 2 1/2-3 years old. Reservations are required at the child care center. Programs are available on a space-available basis. Treasures will also help arrange private babysitting in the evenings in your condo.
After skiing, families can choose from many activities-- tubing, ice skating, bonfires, and swimming. The kids will, no doubt, want to visit the Fun Zone Family Entertainment Center, formerly an indoor tennis center, now a huge indoor playland with a 22-foot double inflatable slide, a 45-foot obstacle course, a bouncy house, kid climbing wall, crawl-through whale, basketball hoop, miniature golf and loud music.
For non-skiers, the resort offers a series of art workshops, sightseeing trips, fly tying workshops and ice fishing trips.
Summer at Smugglers' Notch is an entirely different experience, but an equally beautiful time to visit the mountains. The resort is transformed into a giant family playground with eight heated pools, three children's pools, four waterslides, ten tennis courts and a ten-acre lake for swimming, fishing, boating, and picnicking. Mountain bikes are fun on the cross-country ski trails and also on a paved trail from Stowe Ski Area to the historic town of Stowe. In addition to kids' camp, there are many optional programs to choose from daily including canoe, kayak and fishing trips, golf instruction, tennis school, hikes and walks, and special interest programs for children, teens and adults.
Club Smuggler packages are the best value for families. In winter, the basic package includes lodging, lift tickets, use of pools, cross country ski trails, FunZone, teen centers, snow tubing, outdoor ice skating and nightly family and adult entertainment. Package upgrades include group lessons, discounts on kids camps and other activities. In summer, FamilyFest vacation packages include lodging, unlimited use of pools, waterslides, FunZone, hot tubbing, skate park, guided walks and hikes, evening entertainment for families and adults, and full-day camp programs for ages 3 to 17. Significant discounts are offered during June and off-season as well as for early booking. Visit website for current special offers.
FAST FACTS
Smugglers Notch Resort
4323 Vermont Rt. 108 South
Smugglers' Notch, VT 05464
800-419-4615
J. Unger, June 2001, updated 2011