Attitash Bear Peak: Great Skiing for Families
Written: Feb 25 '03 (Updated Nov 05 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: great conditions, friendly staff, terrific children's programs
Cons: no night skiing, about an hour and a half off the nearest major interstate
The Bottom Line: For the family that skis together, Attitash Bear Peak is a great choice!
|
|
|
| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Attitash Bear Peak |
I have not been skiing in over ten years. This trip did not change that. However, my older two children (ages 12 & 7) had asked me at the end of last ski season if they could learn to ski. Armed with a plethora of timeshare points to trade, I scoured the northeast resorts for a place for them to learn.
I had actually been to Attitash Bear Peak many years ago and had a bad experience. However, that was in the summer and on their alpine slide. Still, something like having the car slide out from under you and getting "track burn" all down your leg haunted me, even twenty-five years later.
Was it love at first (web)site? Absolutely not. I was actually looking more at Loon Mountain Ski Area What pushed me to Attitash Bear Peak was their Adventure Kids Program.
LOCATION
Attitash Bear Peak is located in northern New Hampshire. It's about a three hour ride from Boston on Route 302, just north of North Conway where there is great outlet shopping for the non-skier in your group. There is an extensive selection of restaurants and lodgings available within twenty minutes of the slopes.
The views in the area are very beautiful. On a clear day from the top of the mountain, Mt. Washington can be seen in the distance.
FACTS
Attitash Bear Peak boasts 70 trails over two connected mountains, ranging from the child-friendly green slopes to double black diamond rough terrain. Mogul trails are available as well. There are twelve lifts which operate on various schedules. These also range from the 18-foot snow belt which takes beginners up a gentle hill for practice sessions to the Yankee Clipper, a high-speed chairlift which takes riders halfway up the mountain in just a short span of time.
For snowboarders, Attitash Bear Peak boasts New Hampshire's longest superpipe.
The one downside is that there is no night-skiing available. While we were there the slopes closed at 4 PM every day. I really wish they would stay open later, especially when the days start to get longer. I can see closing at 4 in December, but by the end of February it stays light out a fairly long time.
CONDITIONS
Every time we have been here the conditions have been great. Each evening after the slopes had closed, I could see the grooming machines out taking care of the trails. The staff here makes every effort to keep the trails in top condition! Those times we’ve been there with temperatures up to a balmy fifty degrees there has been some melting and iciness, however the conditions were primarily packed powder for the majority of our visits. Our last trip just a couple of weeks ago (February 2005) the conditions were fantastic and my girls had probably the best skiing they’ve ever had. Seventeen inches of new snow fell while we were there as well - it’s been a terrific winter!
Attitash Bear Peak has extensive snowmaking capabilities which keep the season going from late November through early April.
LEARNING FACTOR
The first thing I am going to say is that if you plan to make use of any of Attitash Bear Peak's learn-to-ski programs, is make reservations!
Perfect Turn is the name of the program offered. There are programs available from group clinics to private sessions for ages 13 and up. Snowboarding lessons are also available. There is a very wide selection of schedules to choose from as well.
For children, there is the Adventure Center. This is actually divided into two programs. One is Buddy Bear available for ages 4 through 6. This is strictly a learn-to-ski program and gives young children a chance to learn about skiing at a young age with their own age range. Adventure Kids and Low Riders are for children ages 7 through 12. The former is for ski sessions while the latter is for snowboarders. Children here are grouped according to ability, then age level. A 12 year old learning to ski for the first time can end up being grouped with 7 year olds. The program goes all the way from beginners to supervised mogul skiing and half-pipe riding.
Both of these programs are available in either full or half-day sessions. With the full-day session the children will receive lunch as well. The first year we visited Attitash Bear Peak my daughters loved the program and went to Adventure Kids three days in a row. Both went from a red level (never skied before) all the way through yellow to green in just that short time. My older one even rode the Yankee Clipper lift and did some rough-terrain skiing. My younger daughter has participated in the program for three years now and is accelerating rapidly in her skills. I give a lot of credit about that to the wonderful coaches in the program who remember her from year to year and make her experience and overall positive one.
The staff that worked with the kids were all very friendly, nice and very patient. This was especially a factor for my younger daughter who has a tendency to not pay attention and have meltdowns. However, her experience was completely positive as well. She managed to attach herself quite nicely to one of her coaches while up there a year ago. He remembers her from year to year and we’ve built up a nice friendship. This year he even took out my very headstrong 4 year old son for a private lesson when he wouldn’t stay in the Buddy Bear program. If you want your children to learn and will spring for a private lesson, I highly recommend asking for Byron.
What tipped me to choosing Attitash Bear Peak for my children's learning experience was that I did not have to remain on the mountain while they were in the program. This was quite different from the programs at other ski areas. I retreated across the street to curl up in front of the fire with my 2 year old while my other children learned to ski. Other parents took off to North Conway for a day of outlet shopping, knowing their children are in good hands.
RATES
Lift Tickets: The actual rates depend on the amount of terrain open, so I would check the website to be certain - http://www.attitash.com/lifttickets.html There are discounted rates for seniors age 65-69 and age 70 and up. Also discounted are lift tickets for juniors ages 6-12 and young adults ages 13-18. Children 5 and under ski free! Half-day tickets are also available and go on sale at 11:45 a.m.
Purchasing your lift tickets online through their website (www.attitash.com) can save 10%. The more days in a row you purchase tickets for, the cheaper it is as well.
Rentals are available of primarily Rossignol equipment at a rate of $35 for 1 day, $65 for 2 days, $95 for 3 days, $125 for 4 days, and $155 for 5 days (additional days are $30 each). Junior/senior rates are $25 for 1 day, $45 for 2 days, $65 for 3 days, $85 for 4 days, and $105 for 5 days (additional days are $20 each). High performance gear is also available for rental. Tuning of your own equipment can be performed as well.
Snowboard equipment can be rented for the same rates.
A great learning package consists of three Perfect Turn clinics, three days of lift tickets, and three days equipment rental for $155. This is a great way for anyone over the age of 13 to learn who wants to.
For the Buddy Bear, Adventure Kids, and Low Riders is $79 for the full-day sessions which last from around 10 AM to 3 PM. Children also receive a lift -ticket which remains valid for the hour following the program so they can spend more time on the slopes if they choose. Rentals secured for this program are only $15 extra. A half-day program is $55.
When I compared the Adventure Kids rates to what just a lift ticket and rentals would cost for three days, there really wasn't that great of a difference. It's really a terrific program at a great price.
MISCELLANEOUS
Attitash Bear Peak offers daycare. A full day costs $65, or a half-day is
$40.
Cross-country ski trails are available across Route 302 from the main mountain, in the woods surrounding the Saco River.
There are snowshoeing tours available with a guide/coach at a rate of $40 for a 2-3 hour tour including rentals.
There is a full-service restaurant on the property, as well as several snack bars. I found them to be rather expensive, and typical of fast-food. I only peeked in the restaurant one day and found the ambience to be nice, but it's not some place I would seek out because of the price when there are so many more options a short ride away.
On the milder days, the staff brought over huge barbecues and cooked hamburgers and hot dogs slopeside. This was a nice treat!
FINAL THOUGHTS
I would highly recommend Attitash Bear Peak to families who wish to take a skiing vacation together. Their children's programs are terrific and well worth the money. The staff is very friendly. Each morning as I entered the Adventure Center I was warmly greeted by the staff who have actually remembered us over the three years we have been visiting here.
My children loved learning to ski here. From the Family Fun area to the wooded trails, conditions were top notch. Every time we go here we have a great time and the staff is so friendly and warm it feels like family. Imagine my surprise when I was dropping my 9 year-old off for her first Adventure Kids program in a year to be greeted by name and remarked about how big she’s gotten!
I’ve written letters and comment cards to the resort stating just how happy I am with their learning programs. Janine is my a.d.d. child and her favorite instructor, Byron, watches out for her even when she’s not in his group. All of the instructors she’s had have helped her really gain confidence on the slopes and have a terrific time. We were toying with the idea of visiting some place closer to home for our ski vacation, but I can't imagine my children anywhere else or to anyone else.
Other sites to see in New Hampshire:
Bretton Woods Ski Resort ~ Canobie Lake Park ~ Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort ~ Franconia Notch State Park ~ Kancamagus Highway ~ King Pine Ski Resort ~ Loon Mountain Ski Resort ~ Madison Boulder Natural Area ~ Mount Washington Cog Railway ~ North Conway, NH ~ Polar Express Event ~ Shawnee Peak, Bridgeton ME ~ Six Gun City ~ Story Land ~ Whale's Tale Waterpark ~ White Lake State Park ~ White Mountain National Forest ~ Wildcat Mountain
Some places to stay in New Hampshire:
Attitash Mountain Village - Bartlett NH ~ Comfort Inn & Suites - North Conway NH ~ Hampton Inn - Concord/Bow NH ~ Yankee Clipper Motel
Other places to eat in New Hampshire:
Bea's Cafe, Conway NH ~ Cafe Noche, Conway NH ~ Decades Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Delaney‘s Hole in the Wall, North Conway NH ~ Harts Turkey Farm, Meredith NH ~ May Kelly's Cottage, North Conway NH ~ Merlino's Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Moat Mountain Smokehouse, North Conway NH ~ Muddy Moose, North Conway NH ~ Peach's Restauran, North Conway NH ~ Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub, Glen NH ~ Yankee Smokehouse, West Ossipee NH
Books about the area:
Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide ~ 50 Hikes in the White Mountains
© 2005 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Level of Experience Needed: All
Best Suited For: Families
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
AliventiAsylum
|
 in Movies, Hotels & Travel |
 in Movies |
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
Reviews written: 2077
Trusted by: 687 members
About Me:
Now writing reviews to pay for the "out of network" costs of our health insurance...
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.