I'm thinking about planning a ski vacation for late December. Sure the mountain laurel are in bloom, the spring lettuces are still in the ground, and summer isn't even here yet, but that's me! Thinking at least two seasons away from now.

We had a great family trip last year at Mont Tremblant outside of Montreal--nice pedestrian village at the base of the mountain to keep non-skiers like me happy, great skiing for the adventurous in our clan, outdoor hot tubs, pleasant European feel, ski in-ski out, high-speed lifts and an awesome heated gondola steps from the hotel. Well, for various reasons, we need to stay closer to home this coming year. Thinking Vermont or New Hampshire.

I'm looking for suggestions for New England places that have at least a few of the features I listed above. I envision a place where the kids can amuse themselves while the adults "play." Critical though is the skiing, and high speed lifts/gondola. Freezing your bippie while getting up to the mountain summit on pokey lifts isn't fun.

If you made it as far as Tremblant, then I'd say you should look - particularly if you're serious skiers - at Le Massif, in Charlevoix.

Absolutely beautiful (UNESCO World Biosphere Site) and big mountain terrain.

And/but it's a very different feel from Intrawest developments...

Thanks, Deep Lover, but time constraints will be limiting me to New England or New York. I'm making note of your recommendation should we have more latitude (and maybe longitude ) in the spring.

Notice all these months since posting my original question, I still haven't booked anything for sure. I'm thinking Stowe because I hear it is more apt to have snow in late December than more southerly Vermont resorts such as Okemo, Killington and Mount Snow. Anyone ski the northeastern US and live to talk about it?

As for me....I can't strap skis on with my kitten heel shoes, so I'm not skiing, no way....no how! I can bring my books, knitting and sex toys, but wouldn't mind a place where some breezy, fun chat can be had. That would help wean me off the F & E chatroom for a few days!

Any comments on skiing New England?

west mountain has a nice place
skiwestmountain.com

there are also many hotels in the area that are nice to stay at.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Firestarter,

Thanks, Firestarter. Sounds lovely.

We've delegated the responsibility for setting up the vacation to a friend of ours who comes with us with his daughter.

He just called about a nice place at Smuggler's Notch with an indoor waterpark. $1,000 per night, unless you bring your wife. Then, the rate goes down to $600. Makes me wonder what the wife has to do the make up the difference

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cecily,