


Pleasant Mountain was the ideal sobriquet for this delightful-yet-challenging area just a snowball's throw from the New Hampshire line. With brand marketing all the rage, Shawnee Peak will never reclaim its original name. Shawnee Peak, Bridgton, Maine Shawnee Peak Ski Area. So consider this a "starter list," and then expand your search to other ski gems throughout the region.

And that generally adds up to more smiles per ski outing.Īdmittedly, it's a shame to select only 9, leaving off such worthy hills as Berkshire East in Massachusetts, Mount Abram and Camden Snow Bowl in Maine, Middlebury College Ski Bowl and Burke Mountain in Vermont, or Gunstock in New Hampshire. You'll also find outstanding customer service, shorter lift-lines, and a few extra bucks in your pocket at the end of the day. But what these smaller areas lack in bells and whistles they more than make up for in character. They won't be the first to open in late fall, or the last to close in late spring, and you won't hear any "highest, steepest, longest" boasts. With improvements in grooming and snowmaking technology, smaller areas like these 9 can produce splendid conditions while retaining the magic of yesteryear. I have selfish motivations – I want my daughters to have memories similar to mine (minus the lace-up ski boots and bear-trap bindings). So when the mercury dips these days, nostalgia rules my winter compass. There was something special about bundling up against the elements, and embracing the challenge of tackling winter's persnickety offerings. These areas are tethered like a rope tow to our past, our childhoods, when skiing was so new and a bit more rough-cut. What many mega-resorts don't always offer is the ability to pull at our heartstrings the way small ski areas can. You'll also find plenty of company in the lift lines, regardless of how fast those high-speed quads whisk people up the hill.
#Hidden folks ski resort plus
Today's mega-resorts have every amenity imaginable, plus the financial wherewithal to pump tons of man-made snow to ensure a pristine experience.
