PA Ski Vacation Suggestions?

[5thIndian]

You say you are beginner/intermediate? Bear Creek Mountain is a real small mountain, but has 2 new hotels right on their slopes. They try to give you the "resort" experience. Spa, restaurants, nice lodge, etc. It is not dead on weekdays too as are most other pa mountains, making them seem like ghost towns. It's too small if you are wanting a good challenging skiing experience, but if a few hours of greens and blues is enough for you then you'll have a good time.
If you really want a good and romantic skiing trip tho, drive 5 hours north to Vermont and book a b and b (from Philly - only a 5 hour trip). I know of one near Okemo and we have stayed at one at Mount Snow too. Also I think a great time, is to drive to Lake Placid, NY (about 8 hours from philly). Nice ski mountain plus a great town. If you have the money, The Mirror Lake Inn is absolutely beautiful and within walking distance to the town. ALSO, right downtown, they have ice skating--outdoor skating (same place Eric Heiden won his medals) and other olympic things you can try like bobsledding. Dogsledding, indoor skate shows...just a lot to do there. Five days at a Pa resort may become boring.

[WakingLife]

Thanks for the replys. I did look at Lake Placid but it is a 9 hour drive from us...and I am not sure if we want to go that far. It looks nice though. We need the easy slopes for sure! My husband has been skiing before but I have only been water skiing (and I hear they are different). I don't want to dodge a lot of people but I guess we need some people around to find us if we break something

[ki0eh]

It might be possible for the proportion of school aged kids to go UP on weekday evenings - I spent a lot of my high school and college years skiing on the weekly "student night".

[TehStone]

Originally Posted by WakingLife

Thanks for the replys. I did look at Lake Placid but it is a 9 hour drive from us...and I am not sure if we want to go that far. It looks nice though. We need the easy slopes for sure! My husband has been skiing before but I have only been water skiing (and I hear they are different). I don't want to dodge a lot of people but I guess we need some people around to find us if we break something

Camelback is my favorite but it's probably the hardest slopes within a 2hr drive of philly. As a beginner I cannot recommend camelback. Jack Frost may serve you guys better as it's loaded with fun beginner/intermediate slopes and the mountain is easier than Camelback. Also Blue mountain could be good but its a little bit smaller than jack frost. I ALWAYS go on weekdays when I go, and sometimes the weekdays after school will see a few busloads of kids. Avoid weekends unless you don't mind standing in line.

As far as resorts go, I hear the "skytop lodge" is excellent:
Skytop Lodge - Top 10 Poconos Resorts - Skytop Lodge - ResortsandLodges.com

[Jfoldno7]

Blue Mountain has 158 skiable acres sitting on 1000+ ft. vertical. Jack Frost is 100 skiable acres sitting on 600 feet of vertical. By no means would I call Blue smaller than Jack Frost.

That said, I do agree with TehStone concerning Skytop Lodge. It is a great hotel, albeit pretty expensive.

Elk mountain is another good place to look at. Slow lifts but its very remote and romantic. Stay at Stone Bride Inn in Union Dale, its a very short drive to the slopes. Great place with good food and rooms with private fireplaces. We spent a night there last winter and were thrilled.

[karen_s]

For an actual resort-type experience for beginners/intermediates, I would personally recommend Bear Creek or Seven Springs.

Camelback seems all about their summer stuff lately and skiing is almost like an afterthought these days (hence the hideous fake palm trees in the lodge last winter). We always liked Shawnee too but the lifts are slower and hence more crowding and lines.

[oceantine]

Seven Springs is my favorite. I love the night skiing there, and the hotel at the base of the mountain has rooms that overlook the slopes. There are a ton of things to do for the entire family, including the kids.

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by Jfoldno7

Blue Mountain has 158 skiable acres sitting on 1000+ ft. vertical. Jack Frost is 100 skiable acres sitting on 600 feet of vertical. By no means would I call Blue smaller than Jack Frost.

The quality of the snow is what distinguishes Jack Frost from Blue Mt. Jack Frost = much better man made snow, and much better grooming. Blue Mt's snow is much more like hard pack ice, and their grooming doesn't do much to help the situation.

[karen_s]

Here's a great link to give you some more information:
Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association 2009/10

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by karen_s

Here's a great link to give you some more information:
Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association 2009/10

I call foul. That is a list of ski areas that belong to (pay fees to) a state wide lobbying association. And not all ski areas belong.

Two better sites are:

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