Every year as the Christmas rush approaches (and it starts earlier every year) my husband and I start to plan what we are going to do with the Boys over the Christmas Break.  Two weeks can seem like a long time if you don't have anything planned to keep them busy.  This year we wanted to do something totally different that would create new Christmas memories and have lots of fun with winter in all its snowy glory.

Visiting Smugglers' Notch in the winter was a great opportunity to have some fun in the snow, spend Christmas in New England and showcase this wonderful family resort's winter activities and facilities for a www.hotelfun4kids.com 'Visits..." feature.

Winter Fun at Smugglers' Notch Resort

If I had to choose three words to describe Winter at Smugglers' Notch, they would be "Fun, Snow, Fun".  Nothing describes it better.    There are activities for all ages that are Fun, there is a lot of Snow and there is a lot of Fun that involves Snow.

TIP:  All Smugglers Notch activities are detailed in the Ski Smugglers' Notch Resort Information Guide.   The Guide is a comprehensive "What you need to Know" about the Resort from December to April (there is a summer guide too) and helps to plan out your days with a weekly schedule.  If possible pre-register for those activities that you really want to do to ensure you won't be disappointed.  Many activities fill up fast.  Reserve Child care, Snow Sport University lessons, selected activities before you arrive and you will be all set.

SmuggsCentral, appropriately named, is the central area for winter fun at Smuggs (aside from the Mountains).  During the winter the Courtside Pool and hot tubs are enclosed under a bubble, open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. 

This indoor play area is fun for the whole family and includes many of the inflatables that we have enjoyed during the summer as part of the Peak of the Week festival, including the 22 foot giant double lane slide, a 45 foot obstacle course and for younger children a mini inflatable play area called Chopperville.  Ping Pong, Mini-golf, a Basketball area and game zone keep kids and families busy for hours under the dome.  

Just outside The Fun Zone is The Outer Limits at the Yurt, a teen center for ages 16 and older  This Center and Teen Alley, are strictly for teens - No Parents Allowed.

Special features include video games, music and even internet access so teens can send emails to friends back home in a club like atmosphere with special evening events starting nightly at 9:00 pm.  The New Teen Alley, catering to 13 to 15 year olds, permits 11 and 12 year olds to check it out in the early evening, I got an opportunity to talk to some teens at the resort to see what they thought of the two Teen Centers for future reference.  I have it on reliable authority that these are great places to hang out! 

The Snowshake Video Arcade, located in the Village Lodge is open for all ages.  We added a few video game challenges to our Christmas Eve memories at Smuggs along with Pizza upstairs at Riga Bello's.  According to my younger son I am awesome at Pac Man -  it just goes to show that some skills you learn as a teen  pay off later in life and are useful when trying to impress your nine year old son.

For the very young, Smugglers' Notch has just added a State of the Art child care center called Treasures, located slopeside near the lower Morse Liftline.  Private Babysitting and Parent's night out programs will also run out of the new facility.

For grownups there are plenty of activities from artistic pursuits to pampering and adult entertainment at Bootleggers Lounge.

Snow, Skiing and Snow Sports University

During the winter months Smugglers' Notch Resort becomes one of the best family ski resorts in North America.  In fact, Ski Magazine's 15th annual survey has rated this resort #1 for Family Programming, marking the 9th year in a row that Smugglers has won this distinction.  

One of the reasons for Smugglers' popularity with skiing families is its extensive facilities for beginners and novice skiers/riders.   Morse Mountain provides an ideal learning environment for beginner and novice skiers including children enrolled in all day Discovery Dynamos (ages 3-5), Adventure Rangers (6-10) and Notch Squads (11-14) with ability levels 1-4.  Morse Mountain's gently sloping terrain, Family Snow Making Learning Center, Snow Science Stations and for beginner skiers and boarders, Sir Henry's Learning & Fun Park are combined with innovative learning techniques that let guests learn to ski or ride quickly and have fun doing it.

For kids that don't want to enroll in the all day program  1 1/2 hour lessons for skiing and snowboarding are grouped by ability and ages.  Teens aged 15-17 can join the Mountain Explorers for a more adventurous exploration of the mountains.   Adults can also get in on the action with SSU group and private lessons.

We enrolled Stephen in Adventure Rangers (6-10) and Mitchell participated in a day with the Notch Squad (11-14) - both boys were level 6 so they had a challenging day on Sterling Mountain with their groups.   It was their first experience with Glades and they amazed us with their skill the next day.  

The Boys also decided they were going to teach us how to navigate Birch Run Terrain Park.   I took the easy way down but my husband gave them a run for their money, surprising all of us.

I took part in an adult group lesson which was great opportunity to brush up on my skiing.  Changing to parabolic skis last year, this was the first lesson I have had that actually focused on the difference these skis make on your skiing style.  I noticed a marked improvement thanks to Ed D's lively instruction.

It was interesting to learn that one of our group members had brought his family up from Florida.  It was the first time his children had experienced snow and it was great to hear that they were having a ball.

And when the lifts close at 4:00 the snow fun doesn't end.  Sir Henry's Hill turns into a tubing park, teens flock to the Snowdeck Park, a skateboard-like park on snow located next to teen alley, and then there is still snowmobile tours and special evening activities like I Did a Sled and the Family Snowshoe Walk.

The Nordic Ski Centre located at SmuggsCentral is where cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on 27 kilometers of trails, programs, rentals and lessons are offered as well as the outdoor ice skating rink and skate rentals.

At the Resort's skating rink I had an opportunity to practice some long forgotten figure skating moves while the boys and their dad engaged in a grudge match hockey game.   

Christmas at Smugglers' Notch

Having Christmas away from home was going to be a different experience for us as a family and we were eager to find out what Smugglers Notch had planned for this special holiday season.

Families could reserve a Christmas Elf Cover-up for a magical bedtime tuck in with stories and snacks.  I only wished my kids were young enough to try this out.  I could just imagine how much fun it would be to watch little ones experience this.

On Christmas Eve two special events took place for guests and staff at the Resort.  First we gathered around the gazebo for holiday caroling with Goodtime Charlie and watched as the torchlight parade brought Santa down Morse Mountain. 

Breaking from our usual Christmas Day traditions, we had a hearty breakfast then donned our equipment to enjoy fresh powder skiing and a family day on the slopes.

While the kids were wondering about our traditional holiday supper, I surprised everyone by making reservations for the Christmas Dinner Buffet at The Morse Mountain Grille.   The holiday selection included Roast Prime Rib, Roasted Vermont Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Vegetables, festive desserts and more to top of a great day of skiing and add to our Christmas Memories of Smugglers' Notch.