Finding a way to get my kids to learn how to snow ski exhausted me.
It was primarily the tedious, multi faceted preparation/research process that freaked me out, like choosing a destination that was easily reached from my home in northern New Jersey. And choosing a resort that was appealing, well-reviewed, and as parent-friendly as it was kid-friendly. And making sure that other activities were available to keep my 14 year-old child (Eddie) and 11 year old daughter (Lee) occupied after their skiing. And finding a convenient lodging set-up where we all could nicely collapse at the end of a very long day.
My wife Sue added to my dread when she told me that getting our children geared up for skiing would also be challenging: families would crowd the rental area in a frenzy of equipment try-ons/exchanges. A mad scrum of last minute bathroom stops would cease all forward momentum. Snack bar lines would be long. Patience and tact would be tested and trampled. (She would know: she went on many ski trips with her family, and although she owned her own equipment, she recalled the long and tiring process that renters endured and was delighted to not be a part of it.) I weighed my skiing trepidation against my (and Sue's) wish to give our youngsters the chance to try it and see whether they enjoyed it. The latter won out, so I began researching options for our debut family ski journey.
We checked out a number of possible family winter resort destinations, including Hotel Hershey (Hershey, PA), Woodloch Springs (Hawley, Pennsylvania), The Greerbrier (White Sulphur Springs, WV), Inn at Pocono Manor (Pocono Manor, PA), and Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, New York). Sue's aunt recommended Skytop Lodge in Skytop, PA . While she hadn't actually been to Skytop herself, she had heard from friends who stayed there that it was "fabulous". Not wanting to miss aunt-endorsed fabulousness, I took a peek at Skytop's website, investigated guest comments on a range of travel review sites (there are lots of enthused endorsements on Tripadvisor, Familyvacationcritic, Yelp, VirtualTourist, Orbitz, and lots more), and presented my findings to the fam. They approved, and I got in contact with Skytop to set up a weekend stay.
The excursion to Skytop seemed direct: using Google Maps, the trip time was estimated at 90 minutes thru Route 80, a wide interstate that travels across New Jersey and into eastern Pennsylvania. After passing through the Delaware Water Gap (the dividing line between NJ and Pennsylvania), we exited Route 80 and drove for 15 minutes on local roads to Skytop. Turning off the main local road, we pulled into Skytop's property, and our collective (although not simultaneous) "whoa!" reactions filled the car. An endless panorama of smooth, treeless, snow-covered country stretched across our view, as the entrance road climbed and curved for a quarter mile or so to the grand and majestic Skytop Lodge.
The opulent Lodge, which offers 125 guest rooms and suites, was constructed in 1927. One year later, the Lodge opened and was an escape for the well-to-do from New York, NJ, and Philadelphia who sought the out of doors adventures the area offered. Load-in and check-in were fast, and we wheeled our stuff up to our room, which was comfortable and charming. Famished, we went downstairs to the dining room to grab some lunch.
Skytop offers an all-inclusive meal plan for their guests. We would never experienced this type of arrangement at a resort facility, so I was not expecting anything impressive. For lunch, I thought it would be hearty, simple selections like soup, sandwiches, basic salads, and burgers. Nothing notable, nothing elaborate, just "get-em-in, fill-em-up, move-em-out" type fare. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The menu selections were a surprise. Yes, there were soups (French onion), salads (mesclun and panzanella), and sandwiches (Angus burger, black bean burger, turkey panini, deli-style Reuben, and Philly cheesesteak). But there were also unexpected treats such as blackened mahi soft shell tacos, cornmeal encrusted trout, a frittata with fresh veggies, and chicken scallopini. Impressed and really hungry, we ordered - and we were subsequently blown away by the display and quality of each of our meals, as well as the amazing service.
(This type of impeccable cuisine, along with the outstanding professionalism and attentiveness of the Skytop servers, would be consistent through our entire stay, at all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.)
After lunch, we took a tour of the Lodge's indoor activities. We found a swimming pool that was packed with joyous little kids, a modest yet spotless exercise room that featured a selection of cardiovascular and strength apparatus, and a wide, open game room area. Ping pong, billiards, mini golf, air hockey, and Guitar Hero were among the choices, and we ended up spending plenty of time here in the afternoons and early evenings during our stay.
Following a succulent supper, we had just enough steam for some nighttime skating in Skytop's indoor rink, which was a two minute walk from the Lodge. The rink was nicely sized and moodily lit with candles and multi-colored pin spots playing off a revolving ceiling mirror ball. I laced up and did one or two laps round the ice while the kids skated circles around me (literally) and had a blast squeezing out their last gusts of expendable energy before bed.
The next morning was Eddie and Lee's first ski lesson. Convenient shuttles ran during the day between the Lodge and the rustic Skytop Adventure Center, where the skiing happened. Following Sue's guidance, we got there as soon as it opened, and boy oh boy, was that a good idea: both youngsters were sized up and out the door within 15 minutes. This quick turnaround was due not only to our early arrival, but also to the Adventure Center's conscientious staff, easily accessible ski gear in a selection of sizes, and well-rehearsed sizing/testing process. (On a safety note, sanitized/disinfected helmets were included at no extra charge.) After a speedy sign-in, Eddie and Lee met John, their skiing trainer at the Skytop Ski School. John was an enthusiastic early twenty-something bro who was assured in his capability to get the kids up and skiing swiftly.
John brought Eddie and Lee to a short, gently sloped hill that was ideal for beginners. He gave them a brief explanation of how to get their skis back on when they came off, the way to stand up without sliding down the hill, and most importantly, ways to "pizza" (referred to in the old days as a "snow plow") - which is the method of pointing the back of the skis outward and the front tips of the skis inward to the point at which they were just about touching (forming a pizza cut triangle shape). The pizza strategy would permit Eddie and Lee to control their speed and direction while going down the hill. John's lesson was also pole-free, which gave the youngsters a greater sense of balance and stability.
There were some obligatory slips and non-bruising tumbles, but after about a half hour, both Eddie and Lee were able to smoothly navigate the beginners' hill with impressive grace and self-assurance. John felt they were prepared to take a run or 2 down the area's main slope (with a vertical lift of 295 feet), and the children were pumped up to take on the challenge. Ascending the slope utilizing the t-bar required a bit of getting used to, and making their way down topple-free wasn't quite as effortless as they believed (John may have slightly overestimated their capabilities), but overall Eddie and Lee loved the excitement and the experience. After 2 hours on their skis, their zeal began to fizzle, but they were overjoyed about their new abilities and they were hooked on skiing.
Back at the Lodge, it was time to clean up, enjoy another grand lunch, and take in some relaxing "apres ski" in the rec area. Eddie and I went walking around the back of the Lodge through 2 of feet of fresh snow. We admired the regal massiveness of the Lodge structure on one side of us and the beauty of the snow-covered trees that surrounded us in a miles long semi-circle on the other.
In the late afternoon, we strolled down to the Lodge's superb Pine Room, where coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and fresh baked cookies were served. The Room's high ceilings, gorgeous wood paneling, and opulence were transportative: it was as if we had wandered into the dignified state room of an early twentieth century mansion (which, given the Lodge's history, we kind of did). A large fire provided warmth, enormous sofas and chairs offered comfort, and a lady playing pop standards from the 60s and 70s on a grand piano (her hubby turned the pages of her music book) supplied background sounds. It was a superb way to unwind and warm up after a day in the Poconos' winter chill.
The following day, getting the kids set up for their skiing lesson was even faster than the day prior, thanks to the Adventure Center's convenient policy of checking and reserving hardware (which prevented Eddie and Lee from needing to get utterly refitted). John was prepared for them, and he got them going instantly on the main slope. This time, he stayed with the children during each of their runs, giving them precise pointers and advice along the way. After a couple of these guided runs, Eddie and Lee made it down the slope with no spills, and on their own.
Our final Skytop activity that afternoon was a guest favourite and came highly recommended on travel websites: dogsledding with a team of huskies. Kim Darst operates Skytop's dogsled tours. She led the 1st NJ team to qualify, enter, and run the Iditarod, the world's foremost long distance (1,050 mile) dogsled race, which is held yearly in Alaska. Darst has 38 huskies on her farm in Blairstown, NJ and she brings them to Skytop throughout the winter. The team of eight dogs can pull around 1,000 pounds, and they actually love to run: when Darst signaled that a ride was going to begin, they yelped, barked, and howled to get moving. They were also very friendly with the guests, who lavished the energetic pups with attention, praise, and tenderness.
The sledding experience lasted for roughly an hour, and included a fascinating presentation from Darst about how she cares for and raises the dogs, and what it was like to take part in the 2009 Iditarod (she tells the amazing story in the children's book "Cotton's Tale"). After the sled ride, we caught the shuttle back to Skytop, got changed, grabbed one last fantastic lunch (I cannot say enough about Skytop's outstanding meals), and headed back home to the Garden State.
Using Skytop as a location for Eddie and Lee to test the water (ok, make that snow) of skiing was a brilliant call, for a bunch of reasons:
- The Adventure Center's ski equipment outfitting process was efficient and fast.
- There were lots of indoor and outdoor activities to keep families busy through the day and into the evening.
- The Skytop locale is gorgeous in winter, particularly after a snowfall.
- Skytop is a reasonable and straightforward commute from the NY/NJ area.
- The Skytop staff was pro, polite, accommodating, and extremely helpful.
- The food at Skytop was incredible.
For mothers and fathers who are looking for a convenient way to get their children hooked on skiing - and also have some fun themselves - a weekend at Skytop Lodge is an excellent, enjoyable, and anxiety-free choice.
It was primarily the tedious, multi faceted preparation/research process that freaked me out, like choosing a destination that was easily reached from my home in northern New Jersey. And choosing a resort that was appealing, well-reviewed, and as parent-friendly as it was kid-friendly. And making sure that other activities were available to keep my 14 year-old child (Eddie) and 11 year old daughter (Lee) occupied after their skiing. And finding a convenient lodging set-up where we all could nicely collapse at the end of a very long day.
My wife Sue added to my dread when she told me that getting our children geared up for skiing would also be challenging: families would crowd the rental area in a frenzy of equipment try-ons/exchanges. A mad scrum of last minute bathroom stops would cease all forward momentum. Snack bar lines would be long. Patience and tact would be tested and trampled. (She would know: she went on many ski trips with her family, and although she owned her own equipment, she recalled the long and tiring process that renters endured and was delighted to not be a part of it.) I weighed my skiing trepidation against my (and Sue's) wish to give our youngsters the chance to try it and see whether they enjoyed it. The latter won out, so I began researching options for our debut family ski journey.
We checked out a number of possible family winter resort destinations, including Hotel Hershey (Hershey, PA), Woodloch Springs (Hawley, Pennsylvania), The Greerbrier (White Sulphur Springs, WV), Inn at Pocono Manor (Pocono Manor, PA), and Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, New York). Sue's aunt recommended Skytop Lodge in Skytop, PA . While she hadn't actually been to Skytop herself, she had heard from friends who stayed there that it was "fabulous". Not wanting to miss aunt-endorsed fabulousness, I took a peek at Skytop's website, investigated guest comments on a range of travel review sites (there are lots of enthused endorsements on Tripadvisor, Familyvacationcritic, Yelp, VirtualTourist, Orbitz, and lots more), and presented my findings to the fam. They approved, and I got in contact with Skytop to set up a weekend stay.
The excursion to Skytop seemed direct: using Google Maps, the trip time was estimated at 90 minutes thru Route 80, a wide interstate that travels across New Jersey and into eastern Pennsylvania. After passing through the Delaware Water Gap (the dividing line between NJ and Pennsylvania), we exited Route 80 and drove for 15 minutes on local roads to Skytop. Turning off the main local road, we pulled into Skytop's property, and our collective (although not simultaneous) "whoa!" reactions filled the car. An endless panorama of smooth, treeless, snow-covered country stretched across our view, as the entrance road climbed and curved for a quarter mile or so to the grand and majestic Skytop Lodge.
The opulent Lodge, which offers 125 guest rooms and suites, was constructed in 1927. One year later, the Lodge opened and was an escape for the well-to-do from New York, NJ, and Philadelphia who sought the out of doors adventures the area offered. Load-in and check-in were fast, and we wheeled our stuff up to our room, which was comfortable and charming. Famished, we went downstairs to the dining room to grab some lunch.
Skytop offers an all-inclusive meal plan for their guests. We would never experienced this type of arrangement at a resort facility, so I was not expecting anything impressive. For lunch, I thought it would be hearty, simple selections like soup, sandwiches, basic salads, and burgers. Nothing notable, nothing elaborate, just "get-em-in, fill-em-up, move-em-out" type fare. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The menu selections were a surprise. Yes, there were soups (French onion), salads (mesclun and panzanella), and sandwiches (Angus burger, black bean burger, turkey panini, deli-style Reuben, and Philly cheesesteak). But there were also unexpected treats such as blackened mahi soft shell tacos, cornmeal encrusted trout, a frittata with fresh veggies, and chicken scallopini. Impressed and really hungry, we ordered - and we were subsequently blown away by the display and quality of each of our meals, as well as the amazing service.
(This type of impeccable cuisine, along with the outstanding professionalism and attentiveness of the Skytop servers, would be consistent through our entire stay, at all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.)
After lunch, we took a tour of the Lodge's indoor activities. We found a swimming pool that was packed with joyous little kids, a modest yet spotless exercise room that featured a selection of cardiovascular and strength apparatus, and a wide, open game room area. Ping pong, billiards, mini golf, air hockey, and Guitar Hero were among the choices, and we ended up spending plenty of time here in the afternoons and early evenings during our stay.
Following a succulent supper, we had just enough steam for some nighttime skating in Skytop's indoor rink, which was a two minute walk from the Lodge. The rink was nicely sized and moodily lit with candles and multi-colored pin spots playing off a revolving ceiling mirror ball. I laced up and did one or two laps round the ice while the kids skated circles around me (literally) and had a blast squeezing out their last gusts of expendable energy before bed.
The next morning was Eddie and Lee's first ski lesson. Convenient shuttles ran during the day between the Lodge and the rustic Skytop Adventure Center, where the skiing happened. Following Sue's guidance, we got there as soon as it opened, and boy oh boy, was that a good idea: both youngsters were sized up and out the door within 15 minutes. This quick turnaround was due not only to our early arrival, but also to the Adventure Center's conscientious staff, easily accessible ski gear in a selection of sizes, and well-rehearsed sizing/testing process. (On a safety note, sanitized/disinfected helmets were included at no extra charge.) After a speedy sign-in, Eddie and Lee met John, their skiing trainer at the Skytop Ski School. John was an enthusiastic early twenty-something bro who was assured in his capability to get the kids up and skiing swiftly.
John brought Eddie and Lee to a short, gently sloped hill that was ideal for beginners. He gave them a brief explanation of how to get their skis back on when they came off, the way to stand up without sliding down the hill, and most importantly, ways to "pizza" (referred to in the old days as a "snow plow") - which is the method of pointing the back of the skis outward and the front tips of the skis inward to the point at which they were just about touching (forming a pizza cut triangle shape). The pizza strategy would permit Eddie and Lee to control their speed and direction while going down the hill. John's lesson was also pole-free, which gave the youngsters a greater sense of balance and stability.
There were some obligatory slips and non-bruising tumbles, but after about a half hour, both Eddie and Lee were able to smoothly navigate the beginners' hill with impressive grace and self-assurance. John felt they were prepared to take a run or 2 down the area's main slope (with a vertical lift of 295 feet), and the children were pumped up to take on the challenge. Ascending the slope utilizing the t-bar required a bit of getting used to, and making their way down topple-free wasn't quite as effortless as they believed (John may have slightly overestimated their capabilities), but overall Eddie and Lee loved the excitement and the experience. After 2 hours on their skis, their zeal began to fizzle, but they were overjoyed about their new abilities and they were hooked on skiing.
Back at the Lodge, it was time to clean up, enjoy another grand lunch, and take in some relaxing "apres ski" in the rec area. Eddie and I went walking around the back of the Lodge through 2 of feet of fresh snow. We admired the regal massiveness of the Lodge structure on one side of us and the beauty of the snow-covered trees that surrounded us in a miles long semi-circle on the other.
In the late afternoon, we strolled down to the Lodge's superb Pine Room, where coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and fresh baked cookies were served. The Room's high ceilings, gorgeous wood paneling, and opulence were transportative: it was as if we had wandered into the dignified state room of an early twentieth century mansion (which, given the Lodge's history, we kind of did). A large fire provided warmth, enormous sofas and chairs offered comfort, and a lady playing pop standards from the 60s and 70s on a grand piano (her hubby turned the pages of her music book) supplied background sounds. It was a superb way to unwind and warm up after a day in the Poconos' winter chill.
The following day, getting the kids set up for their skiing lesson was even faster than the day prior, thanks to the Adventure Center's convenient policy of checking and reserving hardware (which prevented Eddie and Lee from needing to get utterly refitted). John was prepared for them, and he got them going instantly on the main slope. This time, he stayed with the children during each of their runs, giving them precise pointers and advice along the way. After a couple of these guided runs, Eddie and Lee made it down the slope with no spills, and on their own.
Our final Skytop activity that afternoon was a guest favourite and came highly recommended on travel websites: dogsledding with a team of huskies. Kim Darst operates Skytop's dogsled tours. She led the 1st NJ team to qualify, enter, and run the Iditarod, the world's foremost long distance (1,050 mile) dogsled race, which is held yearly in Alaska. Darst has 38 huskies on her farm in Blairstown, NJ and she brings them to Skytop throughout the winter. The team of eight dogs can pull around 1,000 pounds, and they actually love to run: when Darst signaled that a ride was going to begin, they yelped, barked, and howled to get moving. They were also very friendly with the guests, who lavished the energetic pups with attention, praise, and tenderness.
The sledding experience lasted for roughly an hour, and included a fascinating presentation from Darst about how she cares for and raises the dogs, and what it was like to take part in the 2009 Iditarod (she tells the amazing story in the children's book "Cotton's Tale"). After the sled ride, we caught the shuttle back to Skytop, got changed, grabbed one last fantastic lunch (I cannot say enough about Skytop's outstanding meals), and headed back home to the Garden State.
Using Skytop as a location for Eddie and Lee to test the water (ok, make that snow) of skiing was a brilliant call, for a bunch of reasons:
- The Adventure Center's ski equipment outfitting process was efficient and fast.
- There were lots of indoor and outdoor activities to keep families busy through the day and into the evening.
- The Skytop locale is gorgeous in winter, particularly after a snowfall.
- Skytop is a reasonable and straightforward commute from the NY/NJ area.
- The Skytop staff was pro, polite, accommodating, and extremely helpful.
- The food at Skytop was incredible.
For mothers and fathers who are looking for a convenient way to get their children hooked on skiing - and also have some fun themselves - a weekend at Skytop Lodge is an excellent, enjoyable, and anxiety-free choice.
About the Author:
Barry Zeger is a travel writer who, together with his family, spent a weekend at Skytop Lodge in Skytop, PA.
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