Why Go
Stratton Mountain has relaxed southern Vermont charm combined with a neat, purpose-built resort away from the bustle of the big boys. The family condos don’t scrimp on facilities, yet come at a price well below that of major name ski areas. Stratton’s location makes access easy from large areas of the east coast, although it is still very much a locals’ hill and a place to get away from it all rather than go to be seen.
The Skiing
The highest mountain in the south of Vermont at 3,875 feet features a beginner trail from the very top. The beautifully groomed slopes have fabulous New England panoramas over the rolling, tree-covered Green Mountains. The slopes are as relaxed as the village; of the near 100 trails, more than 40% are for beginners, and another 30 per cent for happy, cruising intermediates—not that there aren’t runs to progress on to and black diamonds to conquer. It’s an easy and safe place to manage youngsters with all the skiing on one peak and the runs coming down to the main village or to the Sun Bowl base.
There are four highly-rated terrain parks for boarders and adventurous skiers, from the easy-going Progression to the freewheeling Suntanner. Despite its relatively southern situation, Stratton has a good snow record and almost all the pistes have the backup of snowmaking machines.
The Resort
The car-free village is built in a neat New England style with a Disneyesque touch; lots of clapboard, muted colors and even a clock tower looming over everything. There’s a feel of a mini Vail and enough restaurants and bars to keep everyone happy in a laid-back way. Many families cook in their rooms as lots of boutique products can be found locally. A collection of buildings houses a wealth of apartments either a stroll or a shuttle hop away from the village. There are townhouses, including some in the heart of the village. The fitness center, with a 75-foot saltwater pool, accepts children. For something different, try 24 Hours of Stratton, a family-friendly charity ski marathon.
Children’s Facilities
Stratton boasts the nation’s first ski school for children, as well as the first snowboard school. Little Cub lessons combine skiing/snowboarding, mountain exploration and supervised indoor sessions. Big Cub lessons concentrate on the mountains. Boarding guru Jake Burton is from Vermont and the Snow School offers Burton Learn to Ride lessons from age 13. The resort has the four-lane Coca Cola Tubing Park, ice-skating on the Village Commons Pond with hot chocolate on offer around the fire pit, mini snowmobiling around a track and sleigh rides with hot Vermont cider and marshmallows at nearby Taylor Farm.
Getting Around
You’ll need to come by car, but you can be here in three hours from Boston and less than five from New York. It’s a couple of hours from Albany and its airport if you’re travelling from farther away. Once here, skiing and restaurants are on your doorstep, but the car gives you the option of exploring quaint Manchester with its individual stores and collection of designer outlet shops, as well as a wealth of other pretty towns (think gabled barns) in and around the charming Green Mountains.
Nick Dalton, a U.K.-based travel writer for newspapers, such as The Times, has visited nearly 90 U.S. ski resorts (and another 20 or so in Canada). When not skiing he’s also an expert on cruises, and his children, Georgia and Henry.