I'm going to begin in the home State of New Hampshire, listing the Best
resorts for skiiers - snowboarding is an entirely different story altogether.
They are listed in my order of my personal favorites so feel free to express
your opinions at any time. Also check out the complete 2002
readers poll by Ski Magazine for complete rankings of all North american
ski resorts.
#1. Wildcat.
The greatest skiers Mountian in New Hampshire, hands down. Challenging
(and often steep and bumpy) terrain, small resort feel, few crowds, Beautiful
unparalleled views of Mt. Washington (apparently SKI magazine readers just
proclaimed the Cat to have the best views in North America). All around
the best choice for a solid day of pleasant, fun, and challenging skiing.
Perfect for: Experienced skiers looking for a quality day of sliding.
Positives: You can normally park and not have to take a series of buses
to hit the slopes. Little observable development (aka Condos). Some off-pist
(be careful - it's serious unpatrolled stuff)
Downsides: Long drive, a bit far far from 93, less snowmaking than some
of the major resorts(thus less crowds) and very cold at times. Wind from
Mt. Washington can shut the resort down at anytime.
Nightlife/Party Scene: very little at this skiiers Mtn. Just what's going
on in the Conways.
Loon is a great mountain resort - on weekdays. It's beauty and serenity,
views over Loon Pond are outstanding. Plus it has a gondola (see downsides).
Overall this mountian has a bit of everything - check out the North Peak
for some nice wide screamers.
Perfect for:
a) Those who access 93 easily, it's only 3 miles off.
b) Love Bostonians. Seems like nearly everyone at Loon is from Boston.
(Thank good marketing)
Positives: It's a beautiful mountian, lots of options for all abilities.
Four person Gondola (which some people enjoy)
Downsides: This is not only one of the most expensive, but easily the
most crowded. Not recommended on weekends even for your worst enemies. This
place can be a zoo. The Gondola is also a downside for me, waiting in just
as- long - if not longer lines to be trapped in a tiny moving jail cell
with strangers surrounded with the odor of exercise. Some people come for
it, I prefer the exposure of the lifts. Loon is like that.
Nightlife/Party Scene: Some happenings in nearby Lincoln. Lots of Condo
development and places to stay.
The greatest place for snow lovers of all abilities. Pamper yourself
and hit the Balsams for a day or two. You get it all with your high priced
lodging - X-country, snowshoeing, Downhill on one of NH's quietest and prettiest
small resorts. All trails and facilities in basic walking distance from
your room.
Perfect for: Those who love snow activities and hassle free pampering.
Families, beginners.
Positives: Once you pay the hefty lodging, everything is essentially free.
For those just out to ski, it's just a pretty, fun, small town feeling fun
resort. No pretense.
Downsides: Not incredibly challenging, it's small and a bit behind in
technologies and lifts.
Nightlife/Party Scene: The Balsmas or the Balsams. Dixville Notch's population
is somewhere in the vicinity of 33.
Actually two mountians, bought and remodeled by the American Skiing Company,
who did a solid job in renovating an older resort.
Perfect for Those who:
a) Love to ski steep black diamonds
b) Glades skiiers
Positives: Two separate resorts merged into one keeps you from getting
bored, when one set of trails has been done, cruise over to the other peak.
This concept also keeps the sun at your side most of the day.
Downsides: Lifts on Attitash are slow (non-detachable) and practically
none of the lifts have foot rests - by days end your legs are strtched and
killing...
Nightlife/Party Scene: Conway/Glen. Close to the Red Parka Pub, an institution
(but apparently not for the food - it stinks)
Yes, a mountian named after part of a gun. Where else but New Hampshire?
Gunstock is the closest, easiest, and most fun mountian to reach for those
with limited time. Small, accessible, and not all that bad on the skiing/boarding
front, with great views of Winnipisaukee and some fun runs to boot.
Perfect for Those who:
a) sleep late and
b) hate driving
Positives: It's not a bad little mountian by any means. Actually quite
fun and a number of activities make up for the lack of size.
Downsides: Not incredibly challenging, often quite crowded on weekends.
Nightlife/Party Scene: Umm, no. Back in Boston or Portsmouth where you
probably came from.
Cannon is a kind of secret society, tucked way far North where most folks
don't seem togo, primarily because one passes so many other resorts on the
lonely ride up North. Cannon is a notriously cold windy and icy resort,
but well loved and appreciated by its faithful patrons. Besides, where else
can you ride up to the top of a mountain in a giant suspended bus! The arial
tramway ride makes it worth visiting - at least once in your life. Besides,
the skiing is challenging, steep, and uncrowded. And there's some wierd
twisted skiing museum to boot.
Perfect for:
Those who love it way up North, don't mind driving a bit further North,
hate crowds and crave challenge..
Positives: The challenge, the steeps, the museum, and the arial tramway.
The lodge is fun, and the whole thing lacks the sterile corporate feel.
Downsides: Ice. Cannon is often synonymous with ice. The again so is skiing
in New England.
Nightlife/Party Scene: Put it this way, Cannon doesn't even have lodging.
