The best of New England – ExploreNewEngland.com

Interesting piece over at ExploreNewEngland.com on the best places to go in New England (US). Their list includes: Best Night Life, Best Tree Skiing And Riding, Best Cross-Country Skiing, Best Parks And Pipes, Best Views, Best For Families, Best For Romance, Best Night Skiing, Best Spring Skiing, Best Early Season Snow, Best Backcountry Experience, and Best Non-Mega Resort. (I have just found it… it was published in November).

So, lets have a look at the list (I used to do a lot of skiing in New England):

Best Night Life
ExploreNewEngland: Killington. Check out The Wobbly Barn.
Me: Agreed. Killington does have a great night life. Not as good as you will get in European ski areas (in my opinion), but still very good. One piece of advice, if you are staying up the mountain, and are not driving, make sure you catch the last bus back up the hill (I can confirm that it is a long, cold, hard up-hill walk).

• Killington at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Tree Skiing And Riding
ExploreNewEngland: Jay Peak.
Me: I can’t comment on this one as I have not skied Jay Peak. There is some good tree skiing and riding at Killington…

• Jay Peak at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it
• Killington at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Cross-Country Skiing:
ExploreNewEngland: Jackson Ski Touring Foundation.
Me: I have not been to Jackson so I can’t comment on it. My favourite cross-country skiing area is the Von Trapp Family Lodge at Stowe.

• Jackson Ski Touring is not in the theSnowSite.com database.
• Stowe Cross-country at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Parks And Pipes
ExploreNewEngland: Stratton.
Me: No comment – I am not a snow boarder…

• Stratton at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best View
ExploreNewEngland: Wildcat.
Me: Agreed – that one was a bit of a ‘no-brainer’. The views of Pinkham Notch and Mount Washington are stunning.

• Wildcat at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best For Families
ExploreNewEngland: Smugglers’ Notch.
Me: I have not skied Smuggler’s, so I can’t comment. I always thought Okemo was pretty good.

• Smuggler’s Notch at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it
• Okemo at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best For Romance
ExploreNewEngland: Bretton Woods.
Me: No idea! I have not been to Bretton Woods.

• Bretton at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Night Skiing
ExploreNewEngland: Wachusett.
Me: Again, no comment. I have never been night skiing in New England.

• Wachusett at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Spring Skiing
ExploreNewEngland: Sugarloaf.
Me: I will have to disagree with this one. I have skied at Okemo a number of springs and the snow has been great and there have been a lot of fun activities going on.

• Killington at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file
• Okemo at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file

Best Early Season Snow
ExploreNewEngland: Sunday River.
Me: Yes, Sunday River is good, Killington usually has the earliest skiing available in New England.

• Killington at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it
• Sunday River at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Backcountry Experience
ExploreNewEngland: Tuckerman Ravine
Me: Yes, I will have to agree with this choice. I have not skied Tuckerman Ravine, but I have hiked it in the summer and it is fantastic. I can imagine skiing it would be incredible.

• Tuckerman’s at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

Best Non-Mega Resort
ExploreNewEngland: Mad River Glen.
Me: I have not skied Mad River, but everyone I know that has skied it says it is great. I always enjoyed Dartmouth Skiway (very small, just 2 lifts), but that was mainly because it was just 15 minutes from where I lived. Pico was also great. A nice fun place. However, I have not skied it since it was bought out by Killington. Sunapee was also good.

• Mad River Glen at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it
• Dartmouth Skiway at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it
• Sunapee at theSnowSite.com – download Google Earth kml file – map it

An interesting list and it is well worth visiting explorenewengland.com to read the full article – explorenewengland.com