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Summer in the city has its perks, but fresh air and room to stretch out aren't among them. Here's an easy fix: Head to one of the ski resorts in Vermont, Massachusetts, upstate New York, New Hampshire or Maine to get your mountain fix. These resorts have a fun mix of family diversions, good accommodation and food, and an informative calendar of events with something for everyone.
Top 5 Northeast Ski Resorts for Summer Fun
Killington, Vt.
Killington has done a great job of upgrading its inventory of summer activities over the past few summers, and those investments are paying off at a perfect time: right now. With adventure centers for kids and plenty of events for adults, it's easy to please everyone this summer.
Summer dates: May 26-Oct. 15, 2022
Hot ticket: Killington Wine FestivalJuly 21-22, 2023. The 22nd annual wine festival kicks off with a scenic mountaintop gondola ride and tasting and also features food pairings, wine dinners, music and the Killington Wine Trail, where local restaurants get in on the action.
Killington Summer Checklist
- The Snowshed Adventure Center will keep you and yours busy for hours with bungee trampoline, ninja obstacle challenge, mazes and more.
- Feeling adventurous? Take a 5,000-square-foot maze, a 42-foot obstacle course, or a double-zip runner.
- board the Flying eaglea two-person cable car ride that sends you flying 100 feet above the resort at 30 mph;
- Beast Mountain Coaster, an adrenaline-filled 4,800-foot cruise at the base, leaves riders breathless.
- Kayak on Snowshed Pond, which is kept fresh by mountain runoff during the hot summer months.
- From the base area, miles of hiking trails at all levels are accessible for hikers on a boots-on-the-ground tour of the iconic mountain.
- Three high-speed lifts provide access to over 30 miles of downhill mountain biking trails in Killington Bike Parkwith beginner, intermediate, expert and freestyle terrain available.
- The resort's golf club is open to the public from late May to October, with unique mountain scenes that fully enrich the experience.
Sugarloaf, Maine
Defy gravity at Maine's largest ski area this summer on the anti-gravity complex, or keep it level and hike the Appalachian Trail. Either way, you'll earn bragging rights with no lobster traps required.
Summer dates: Mid June-October? The scenic lifts start on July 1st
Hot ticket: THE Enduro World Series makes one of 11 stops at Sugarloaf this summer 19-20 August 2023. In addition to stunning East Coast mountain biking on new trails cut by legendary course designer Adam Craig, there will be live music, a beer garden and even group rides so participants can experience the mountain on two wheels.
Sugarloaf Summer Checklist
- Get a new view of the blooming mountain in a scenic summer lift ride.
- Grab a trail map and start a hike. the resort is filled with miles of maintained trails, including a section of the Appalachian Trail.
- Try zipping around the mountain on a self-balancing, one-wheeled motorized board called a Onewheel.
- Fly some of the richest rivers in the American Northeast
- Experience white water rafting with Northern OutdoorMaine's premier resort-affiliated clothing company.
- Test your skills on both the driving range and the golf course, with spectacular scenery to boot.
- Trade your club for a Frisbee on an 18-hole disc golf course open all summer.
- Do you have any children; Sugarloaf's Anti-Gravity Complex contains Maine's largest indoor skate bowl and park, an indoor climbing wall, trampolines and more.
Bretton Woods, NH
Summer at Bretton Woods is reminiscent of the golden days of summer in the mountains, with everything from hiking to tennis, fly-fishing and horseback riding. Stay at the classic Omni Mount Washington Hotel for the full resort experience.
Summer dates: May 27-Oct. 22, 2023
Bretton Woods Summer Checklist
Berkshire East, Mass.
With one of the largest mountain coasters in the East and class IV rafting, it's hard to believe this place is so close to Boston. And Thunder Mountain Bike Park is designed and maintained by leading company Gravity Logic, so who says you have to go west to have a real mountain adventure?
Summer dates: Weekends beginning May 26 and full hours June 22 through Labor Day, 2023, with some activities open through October
Hot ticket: The Deerfield River Festival is at Berkshire East again this summer August 5, 2023. The event, hosted by American Whitewater, is a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization that supports conservation and river access work in the Northeast.
Berkshire East Summer Checklist
- Whitewater raft the Class II, III, and IV rapids of the Deerfield River (or lazily float the calm waters).
- Choose from three different zip line tours:
- The Valley Jump Tour, which has adventurers gliding through valleys and forests.
- The Mountain Top Tour, with intermediate zip lines between seven high-altitude towers.
- The Base Area Tour, ideal for groups, beginners and families.
- Younger children can benefit from one Aerial adventure park and Tree House Trail, where they can wander from platform to platform on a net course in the trees.
- The Thunderbolt Mountain Coaster is among the largest on the East Coast, climbing 1,580 feet up the mountain before letting gravity take over, sending riders flying through dense trees and sharp turns for nearly 4,000 feet.
- Take a mountain bike over well-maintained downhill and cross-country trails, or get serious on Thunder Mountain Bike Park in the progression bicycle trail system, with blue to black routes for the experienced mountain biker.
Whiteface Mountain, New York
Ever wondered what it's like to send it off an Olympic jump? Now you can drive to the top of the Olympic Jumping Complex on a glass-enclosed elevation and enjoy the same view. You can also explore miles of guided biking, hiking, and ATV trails, as well as roller coaster, zipline, and gondola rides.
Summer dates: 2 Jun 30 – Sep 29, 2023; some activities may be expanded later
Hot ticket: Whiteface Oktoberfest is one of the best celebrations in the area, a weekend-long ode to all things Bavarian with live music, great beer, dancing, authentic food and activities for the whole family. September 30 & October 3.
Whiteface Mountain Summer Checklist
- The iconic Lake Placid Olympic Museum is being renovated and is expected to reopen in late 2022. A temporary exhibition is currently on display at the Olympic Centre.
- board the Cloud Separator Gondola for views of the Adirondack High Peaks. Bring a picnic and relax over these views at the summit. The gondola operates from June 30 – Sept. 4.
- Take a guided or self-guided hike among granite cliffs and high-altitude waterfalls.
- The Coaster at Cliffside it is the longest in North America, following the trajectory of the 1932 and 1980 Mt Van Hoevenberg bobsled courses.
- The Sky Flyer Zipline flies at 700 feet at speeds up to 30 mph.
- Many of the same trails can be explored on ATV tours, where knowledgeable guides navigate groups through the more secluded mountain areas.
- Mountain bikers should take advantage of 18 miles of cross-country trails that wind through the Adirondack forests.
- A nine-hole disc golf course runs down the lower slopes.
Looking for more summer activities in more North American ski areas? Check out SKI's entire summer content channel here.
