I HATE to Ski - Help!!

I really really hate skiing. My husband cannot ski - hard stop. Our kids are 6, 8 and 11.

I feel like I have to take them at least once just to try it out. Ideally in December when I have a lot of time off.

Is there somewhere you would suggest that is great for beginners.

Is it even ok to send my 6 year old out alone or do I have to get on skis?

Maybe some place with other activities so I only have to do one day skiing and spend the rest of the time doing something else.

I have time, so doesn't matter if it's far away.

Thanks.

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

Camelback is great for beginner skiers. If you are not planning to ski then I would enroll them in a full day lesson. They are young to be left alone on a mountian. It will be hard for the 6 year old to get on and off the lifts unassisted. There are also a ton of other activities there. The big issue though is that snow is hit or miss in December in the poconos.

I have also heard great things about Smuggler's Notch in Vermont, which will have a better chance of having snow than the Poconos, but I am not sure how many non skiing activities they have.

If you are willing to go even further, I have been dying to go to Mont Tremblant in Canada. The village looks super cute and there are a bunch of other activities.

I will say though, it's hard to learn to ski in one day. I think that if you are going to do this enroll them in a couple of days lessons.

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

I HATE to Ski - Help!!

Why do you feel like you have to take then skiing? I have never taken my kids and they are now grown adults. If they want to learn they can go ahead but I have never felt compelled to take them or they'd miss out.

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

If you and your husband don't like it- why do you HAVE to take the kids?
I never once took my daughter skiing because I hate it and DH doesn't ski either.
It would be torture for ALL of us.

There are many many activities that we don't enjoy- so we just.....don't do them.
Focus on doing things you DO enjoy.
Different strokes for different folks.

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

While I see what everyone is saying that you shouldn't feel compelled to take your kids skiing if it's not something you enjoy, I will say that it is a LOT easier to learn how to ski when you are young. I think that most people that don't enjoy skiing didn't do it as a child. I really wanted my kids to know how to ski, but I also enjoy it. For us, it became away to keep our kids active on weekends when they would have otherwise been sitting in front of screens all weekend long. I think it's definitely a nice option to get your kids outdoors in the wintertime.

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

Thank you very much for the suggestions - I will look into them all.

There is a long list of things I feel I should expose my kids to or teach them (riding a bike, eating various foods, learning to swim, basic cooking, learning to read music, the rules of sports games, other cultures, art museums, how to clean a bathroom, do laundry, basic gardening skills, etc.). Some (learn to swim) are higher on the priority list than others. Even if they really dislike something...it's important to me that they have exposure/have tried it once (except the cleaning, lol). I'm sure you all have lists like this...even if they look very different than mine.

Skiing - lu is exactly right, some things are just easier to do when you are younger. I taught swimming lessons years ago and adults were BY FAR the hardest to teach. I don't want to pass along my dislike. Sure I can cross this one off the list and let it go, but I don't want to.....so I appreciate the ideas!!

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!

My kids have been learning to ski over the past few years as it is a process.

My recommendation is Hope Lake Lodge resort by Cortland. It's a little further than places like Camelback and Hunter but its also far less crowded. Greek Peak is the mountain resort and Hope Lake Lodge is the resort right across the street. It's not expensive, comparatively, and there is also snow tubing, zip lines and the hotel has a small indoor water park and arcade. We love it there. It's reasonably priced, clean and the kids love it. I think group lessons, rentals and lift ticket were roughly $100/kid. Greek Peak is a good mountain to learn on.

We did Camelback a few years ago. It was a freaking mob scene so we couldn't get them in lessons. We hired a free lance instructor who was great. It was less expensive to rent the equipment from a place that was right outside the mountain, right off the highway. I do not love Camelback.

This year we are going to Mont Tremblant. We have been before. It is really amazing. Lots to do and it is so pretty. However, it is pricey. I have 3 kids and it's costing $1200/day for lessons and lift ticket. That's not including rentals. I'm hoping I only have to do one day of lessons but the mountain there is hard in my opinion.

I have also been to Smugglers Notch pre-kids. It's pretty awesome there. Lots to do, good place to learn. I would go back but I just haven't made it there yet.

I HATE to Ski - Help!!

We like Greek Peak and stay at Hope Lake Lodge. It's Western NY. They have an indoor water park, snow tubing a mountain coaster. We go over Christmas break and it's never super busy. Affordable skiing as well. They have lesson packages. We always do the night skiing there. Check it out. Camelback is a mob scene usually. Alternate option is Big Snow at American Dream. They have kids ski lessons. We go there often and my daughter likes it for what it is

I HATE to Ski - Help!!

Rocking Horse ranch is also a nice option. They have a small Bunny hill and then a little larger hill. Its no frills type of thing just a straight hill but good to try out. Also has snow tubing, horse back riding, ice skating, pools, shows many fun activities. It seems $$ but everything but booze is included (gratuities too) and the have instructors t help with skiing

Re: I HATE to Ski - Help!!