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 KidzView:
The West Mountain
side rocks! The Wood's has got lots of killer events - including apres ski parties for kids every Saturday and during vacation weeks - be sure to check the schedule.
And, check out that huge hotel - it's like somebody built a fairytale house in
the middle of the woods, or something. Is it huge, or what? Bummer, though - when
you eat dinner there, you've gotta dress up.
For
Sanity's Sake: Even though Bretton Woods is expanding (they've added another high-speed quad and a dozen new trails), there's still just one base, a godsend when you're sending kids out alone. When staying in any of the resort's properties, take advantage of the free shuttle that runs throughout, even up to local condos and houses.
KidzPoints:
The Mt. Washington Hotel is a beautiful building that deserves exploring - even if you're not staying there. Do take the time to explore some of the vast cross-country ski network; do it on snowshoes if you don't want to skinny ski. The ski area has long been a haven for families, and the ski school does a super job. There's enough tame terrain here that it's a good place to try other conveyances - get on that snowboard or zip out on a pair of blades, just to show the young-'uns you're not afraid to try something new.
Where
to Ski: OK, we'll say it: this used to be a pretty boring place, but the opening of West Mountain and Rosebrook Canyon has added much needed black-diamond dimension. Pepper Sass, Cherry Mountain Slide and John Grave's Glades present nifty advanced tree skiing over there. And yet, Jacob's Ladder and Avalon offer terrific blue and green-rates cruising, too. On the main mountain, Granny's Grit and Herb's Secret are two nifty blue runs that smack of narrow, New England old-style, while In-Between is a squiggler that heads right down the middle that's often overlooked. Rosebrook Canyon Glade, thirty acres with ten named runs, mostly advanced snowsliding. Another six new trails you see being cut from the eastern summit of Mount Rosebrook this year, will be open in 2004.
Where
to Board: The Woods has a 500-foot pipe they call Accelerator that's open for riders and skiers. There's a new terrain park there, too, but West Mountain is rife with bumps, jumps and glades. Check out the headwall drop on Little Tuckerman's. For some neat green cruising, try Range View and the Big Ben/Bigger Ben combo.
Special
Programs: The ski school offers skiing programs for ages 4-12, and snowboarding for ages 8-12. All-day program includes two lessons, equipment rental, lift ticket and lunch. Half-day programs also available. Sign up on the second floor of the Family Learning Center building adjacent to the base lodge.
Child
Care: The Babes in the
Woods Nursery is professionally staffed. Activities include
games, storytelling, and arts and crafts, with lunch and snacks included. Ages
2 months to 5 years are accepted. Rates: $59 full-day (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); $45
half-day (8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.); $12 hourly with a two-hour
minimum.
The Snow Play & Ski Readiness Program is a good one, aimed at kids 5 and under.
You get an hour of semi-private instruction, rental equipment, lunch and indoor
nursery care. Children must be properly  attired
and toilet-trained to participate. Sign up in the nursery. All-day $89; half-day
$69.
The Mount Washington Hotel offers has its own kids program, "The Mount Washington
Kids Kamp," for ages 5-12 on a full-day, half-day or evening program basis.
Good
Groceries: Fabyan's Station Restaurant & Lounge serves lunch and dinner daily in a renovated railroad station across the street from the ski area.
Darby's Diner is in the Lodge at Bretton Woods, and specializes in traditional American diner fare. Breakfast and dinner are served daily.
The Main Dining Room of the Mount Washington Hotel serves superb cuisine, four-course dinners, as well as lunch and breakfast. There's dancing to a live band nightly, and the menu changes daily. Gentlemen are expected to wear jackets to dinner, and ladies and kids should bring appropriate attire. A must at least once during your stay.
Sleep
Tight:
Spendy:
The Mt. Washington Hotel is a must if you can afford it. A classic created
at the turn of the (last) century, it's an historic wonderland (check out the
post office in the lower level), and dining in the main dining room is delightful.
Rates: $330 - $798; kids under 12, add $35 - under four, free; price includes dinner and breakfast daily.
Moderate: The Townhomes at Bretton Woods
is a condo complex with 65 fully furnished units, ranging from one to five bedrooms.
Rates $149-$599 daily; $839-$3,359 per 7-day week. The Bretton Arms Country
Inn is a 34-room, classic but modern country inn. Rates $110-$195.
Thrifty: The Lodge at Bretton Woods is a good,
50-room motel with on-site dining, an indoor heated pool, and access to the resort
shuttle. Rates $79-$199, children under 12, free. Above
the Notch Motor Inn offers 14 rooms at reasonable rates of $63-$78; 603-846-5156.
A number of budget motels
are also located in Twin Mountain, about five miles from the ski area.
Gear:
Rent:
Rent skis, boards, snowblades or telemark skis in the base lodge.
Buy: Sport Thoma Ski Shop features high-quality
ski equipment, accessories, clothing and repair service on the second level of the
base lodge. Shopping is tax-free in New Hampshire.
Other
Fun Stuff: Night skiing is offered on four trails on Friday, Saturday and holidays.
This is one of the cross-country skiing capitals of the east with some 100 kilometers of groomed trails for classical and skate skiing, as well as snowshoeing. The Cross Country Center houses a ski school, retail shop, cross country ski and snowshoe rentals, and a cafeteria.
A Family Fun Week is offered during the Christmas holidays that are rife with activities, including kids' apres ski parties with magicians, clowns, sing-alongs, storytelling, sledding, and more fun for children ages 4-12. Kids' Apres-Ski Parties are offered February 15-March 1, and every Saturday during the season.
North Conway, one of the major discount/outlet mall shopping capitals of the world (if not the universe) is about twenty minutes away by car. Indulge in tax-free shopping till you've more than dropped - perhaps until you're broke?
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