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 KidzView:
Smuggs was one of the
first major resorts to pay special attention to kids, and the fun continues. Check
out the ski-through snowmaking center to learn how snow is made - by people and
by Ma Nature. After skiing, the FunZone has slides, a giant crawl-through whale,
basketball and volleyball, while Professor Alpine and his Winter Wizard Show is
funny, crazy science.
For
Sanity's Sake: Ride the school bus from the Village to the base of Sterling and Madonna - even if it looks crowded, it's faster and easier. The ski back is okay, but often flat. Go over the busy apres-ski event schedule early in your visit to maximize fun. If kids are unsure about snowboarding but think they might want to try, the Night School for Boarding is perfect - short, sessions under the lights at Sir Henry's Learning & Fun Park without a huge time or psychological commitment.
KidzPoints:
Study Hall Smuggs gives kids 7-17 a chance to get homework done in a supervised situation, including a visit from Marko the Magician.
Where
to Ski: There are three
peaks. Sterling has the most varied terrain, including some old- fashioned
eastern wiggly trails, a wide bowl-like slope, and neat, not-too-ornery, shots
through the trees. Madonna is famous for its double-diamond "Fab Five," but the
lower half is pretty tame. Check out Doc Dempseys, a glade trail supreme with
a sense of humor (look for traffic signs). Madonna has Black Hole at Freefall
Woods - the East's only triple-diamond run. New for '07-'08 are three additional gladed areas. Morse, adjacent to the Village, is
beginner territory, and features the Village Lift and Mogul Mouse's Magic lift, a half-speed double
chair. Morse Highlands is a beginner
area with five trails and its own lift. The Children's Park, on lower Morse, is
designed with rolls, bumps and spines for beginners.
 Where
to Board: Prohibition
Park is a huge 350-foot terrain park on Madonna that's served by the Madonna II lift, with an Olympic-sized half-pipe
and non-stop music. The Birch Run Terrain Park on Sterling is a place where entry-level
and intermediate riders can learn to handle hits. Freeriders can roam the entire
mountain, will also love Doc Dempseys, and can carve huge turns where Sterling
bottoms-out onto the Practice Slope.
Special
Programs: There are so many programs and "specials" included in the Club Smugglers' packages, they're hard to list. Discovery Dynamos Ski Camp is aimed at ages 3-5, and includes special races, lunch, and apres-ski activities like storytelling and supervised activities. Also available is Dynamos Snowboarding Camp for four and five year-olds. Both programs are included with your Club Smugglers' Advantage Package. Adventure Rangers is for ages 6-10, skiers or snowboarders, the Notch Squad is for skiers/riders ages 11-14, and Mountain Explorers is for teens, 15-17. Smugg's also offers teen apres-ski activities at the FunZone, at Teen Alley (ages 13-15) and at the Outer Limits Teen Center (ages 16+) and around the Village.
Child
Care:
Care is provided for kids ages 6
weeks to 3 years daily from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Kids' Night Out offers kidcare from 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with special supervised activities for ages 4-11. Full-day day care cost is $72, including lunch.
Good
Groceries: In the base Village, we like either the Mountain Grille or Riga-Bello's Italian Eatery.
Sleep
Tight:Smugglers' own
fully-equipped condos range in size from efficiencies to five-bedroom units; prices range based on their maximum occupancy capacity.
This is the place to sleep, if possible, because it's so integral to the
self-contained Smuggs experience.
Gear:
Rent:
3 Mountain Equipment has outlets in the village and the base lodge. They've got everything from skis and boards to helmets,
plus accessories like hand warmers and goggles.
Buy: 3 Mountain Outfitters sells
gear and clothing. The No School Snowboard Shop is located near the resort entrance
on Route 108.
Other
Fun Stuff: The indoor pool has a sauna and hot tub; Teen Alley and the Outer Limits Teen Center are two of the best teens' facilities around; the Night School for Boarding is one of the easiest ways to introduce yourself to riding; and don't overlook the opportunity to go tubing and snowshoeing.
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