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KidzView
Ascutney has lots of family activities. Check out the snowtubing and ice skating. Saturday nights rock with bonfires and torchlight parades. Best of all, you can be in it! Little sis or bro will like Cheddar's Happy Hour, and the Arcade/Game Room is lots of fun.
For
Sanity's Sake:
Stay at the resort, which has 100% slopeside lodging. If traveling with real little ones, ask for rooms in the Bennington, Windham or Hanover buildings to be closer to the three restaurants, kids programs and day care (kids programs and day care are located in the Bennington building).
KidzPoints:
This is an ideal spot to visit with children of all ages, especially the young ones. Everything is centrally located, the hill has a wide diversity of terrain which all funnels back to the resort village without being overly intimidating, and the staff handles little ones brilliantly. Also, the indoor apres-ski activities are well supervised and fun, and the outdoor snow play park is right in the heart of things. Ascutney defines "junior" for ages 16 and under, which offers some pricing relief to parents of older kids.
Where
to Ski:
Everybody will want to ride the North Peak High Speed Detachable Quad lift to the very top. From there two intermediate options are Gateway and Trust Me, from which Cloudspin offers a green meandering option, or Upper Snowdance presents a nice, wide, blue-square cruise. Skiers' left offers the most black-diamond options, with some double-diamond glades in Cabin Chute and The Dark Side.
Where
to Board:
Ascutney emphasizes the free-riding concept and they offer up classic Vermont terrain on which to ride. Boarders will find double fall lines, narrower trails and twisting runs especially on boarder's left. And many natural hits litter the mountain from novice Cloudspin to advanced Face. Ascutney has a small terrain park but one shouldn't plan a trip around hitting the park. Try some wide-open black diamond riding on Terminator and Gun Barrel or, if you don't mind riding under the chairlift, follow Upper Snowdance to Raven's Pass and then to Lower Exhibition for a nifty intermediate ride.
Special
Programs:
Ascutney has a spacious 10-acre Learning Area with its own lift, wide slope and gentle pitch. The Learning Area is host to Cheddar's Discovery Zone where kids will find the Wonder Carpet surface lift and the Mouse House Lodge where they can take breaks and have a cup of hot chocolate.
Cheddar's Happy Hour is an excellent option if parents want to dine by themselves on a Saturday. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., kids 4-10 get supervised play, a pizza party with DJ-dancing and a movie. Cost is $4. A shorter version, Midweek Music Munchie Madness is offered on Wednesdays.
Child
Care:
Ducklings is offered for kids under 6 ($50/half-day and $65/full-day with lunch).
Flying D.U.C.K.S. combines childcare and ski lessons for ages 3 - 6 ($60/half-day and $80/full-day with lunch).
Mini Olympians offers primarily on-snow lessons with some time indoors for ages 4 - 6 ($55/half-day and $80/full-day with lunch).
Young Olympians offers lessons for all ability level skiers and snowboarders age 7-12. It provides a significant amount of on-mountain instruction and discovery combined with the camaraderie of meeting other children of similar age and ability level. $55/half-day and $80/full-day with lunch.
Good
Groceries:
Brown's Tavern, Biscotti's Cafe and Harvest Inn, located in the base village inside the Windham building; congenial atmosphere with New England menu and a kids menu, too; good spot for breakfast, if you're so inclined.
Windsor Station Restaurant, located in Windsor, is set in a restored railroad station; offers a fine dining menu, and live jazz on Friday and Saturday evenings; reservations recommended; 802-674-2052.
Shepard's Pie Restaurant & Deli, also located in Windsor; home cooking to eat in or take out; only open til 8 p.m. (3 p.m. on Sundays); 802-674-9390.
Sleep
Tight: Staying slopeside here truly makes sense. All the resort's lodging is slopeside, and the full range of options from hotel rooms to roomy condos is available. The resort offers a plethora of lift/lodging packages that can be as inexpensive as $59/$75 per person during early- or late-season or midweek. On weekends, in season, One -Two- or Three-bedroom condominiums cost $94 - $125 per person/per night and include skiing.
Gear:
Rent:
Cunningham's Ski Barn in base area; 802-484-5415
Buy:
Cunningham's Ski Barn in base area; 802-484-5415
Other
Fun Stuff:
Ascutney has invested a lot of money in their Sports & Fitness Center. Definitely bring your swimsuits and head over there to splash in the Olympic size pool, take a soak in the hot tub or relax in the dry heat saunas. If you have the energy hit the weights or sign up for a cardio class, or indulge in a massage.
Your kids will demand to play at the Family Fun Park after skiing. They can tube, ice skate, or huddle by the bonfire. Sidewinder's Arcade Room and the Billiard Room will keep them entertained once they come inside.
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Ascutney Mountain Resort:
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