Smugglers' Notch - Fakten Skigebiet

Smuggler's has gained such a good reputation as a family resort that many people don't know there's a lot of tough terrain to savor. That's the problem with a good rep as a family mountain - folks think it concentrates on off-slope activities and amenities and buffing out mostly beginner and intermediate trails and slopes. Smugg's certainly has a lot to do, and in very comfortable surroundings, but serving up the steep and deep along with the buffed and blue is simply part of treating your family well. The family treatment permeates everything from guest services to the lift attendants (always making sure that the little ones get on the lifts safely) but resides in Smuggler's comprehensive village. Lodging is here, and the village is command central for a never-ending stream of activities for all ages. Here you'll find SmuggsCentral with an indoor pool, hot tubs, FunZone Family Center, and the Outer Limits Teen Center. Child care, restaurants, a country store, an outfitter, and the Nordic Center can all be found in the village. A shuttle service with convenient stops holds it all together if you don't wish to use your car. Terrain The village sits at the base of Morse Mountain, where you will find plenty of novice and beginner terrain and easy-to-use lifts. From the top of the Morse lift you can cruise down to the base of Madonna and Sterling Mountains, where Smugg's steeper soul is revealed. Yes, there are a lot of blue square trails on the map but they are a bit more challenging than you might be used to thanks to the pitch of the place. Chilcoot, Drifter, Rumrunner, and Thomke's are four classic intermediate trails, and there are four intermediate glades on the map if you're up for a foray into the trees. Madonna and Sterling are also a playground for advanced and expert skiers and riders, who enjoy testing themselves on the likes of Freefall, Upper Liftline, Doc Dempsey's, and a number of other steeps and glades both official and not. While the upper mountain's twists, turns, trees, and steeps can be thought of as a giant natural terrain park, an Olympic-sized half pipe and four terrain parks, ranging from entry level to expert, are available for more formal play. Off-slope Fun On the slight chance that you can't find something to do off the slopes, Goodtime Charlie has an idea. A professional entertainer, musician, master of ceremonies, and Smuggler's Director of Fun for more than two decades, Goodtime Charlie makes sure that the weekly family dances, family game nights, theater, and more keep visitors of all ages happy and occupied when the lifts close for the day. There are DJ dance parties, bingo, karaoke, tubing, sledding parties, and more. If that isn't enough, enjoy a family snowshoe trek, cross-country skiing, drive-your-own snowmobile tours, and ice skating. Teen Alley is aimed at the 13 to 15 year crowd; the Outer Limits Teen Center is for teens 16 and older, and there's even a newsletter written by and for teens, For Teens Only. If your childhood and teen years are but a distant memory, don't worry; Smugg's has you covered. If the novelty of enjoying a quiet, romantic dinner alone isn't enough, there are other grown-up activities, including art workshops, guided day trips to Montreal, art and craft galleries to visit. Nearby Johnson is home to the famous Johnson Woolen Mill and retail outlet, as well as Johnson State College. Inside Line It's not unusual for a couple inches of new snow to fall overnight here, especially up on Madonna, after the trails have been groomed. When that happens, get up early, check the grooming report, and hope that Chilcoot and Drifter are on the list.