Finding a way to get my youngsters to learn how to snow ski exhausted me.
It was mainly 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 selecting 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 son (Eddie) and 11 year old child (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 better half Sue added to my anxiety when she told me that getting our children suited up for skiing would also be challenging: families would crowd the rental area in a frenzy of equipment try-ons/exchanges. A crazy scrum of last minute bathroom stops would cease all forward momentum. Snack bar lines would be long. Patience and tact would be tested and trounced. (She would know: she went on many ski vacations 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 out 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, Pennsylvania), Woodloch Springs (Hawley, PA), The Greerbrier (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia), Inn at Pocono Manor (Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania), and Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, New York). Sue's aunt suggested 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 out on aunt-endorsed fabulousness, I took a peek at Skytop's website, investigated guest comments on a variety of travel review sites (there are many enthusiastic endorsements on Tripadvisor, Familyvacationcritic, Yelp, VirtualTourist, Orbitz, and lots more), and presented my findings to the fam. They approved, and I got in touch with Skytop to book a weekend stay.
The trip to Skytop appeared to be direct: using Google Maps, the trip time was estimated at ninety minutes via 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 New Jersey 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. A never ending panorama of smooth, treeless, snow-covered country stretched across our view, as the entrance road climbed and curved for 1/4 mile or so to the massive and majestic Skytop Lodge.
The opulent Lodge, which houses 125 guest rooms and suites, was constructed in 1927. One year later, the Lodge opened and was an escape for the well off from New York, NJ, and Philadelphia who sought the out of doors adventures that the area offered. Load-in and check-in were quick, and we wheeled our stuff up to our room, which was comfortable and charming. Famished, we went downstairs to the dining room to have some lunch.
Skytop offers an all-inclusive meal plan for their guests. We would never experienced this kind of arrangement at a resort facility, so I wasn't expecting anything monumental. For lunch, I figured it might be hearty, straightforward selections like soup, sandwiches, basic salads, and burgers. Nothing notable, nothing grand, just "get-em-in, fill-em-up, move-em-out" type fare. I could not 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 vegetables, 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 overflowing with joyous kids, a small yet tidy fitness room that featured a selection of cardiovascular and strength equipment, and a big, open game room area. Ping pong, billiards, mini golfing, air hockey, and Guitar Hero were among the offerings, and we ended up spending plenty of time here in the afternoons and early evenings during our stay.
Following an exquisite dinner, we had just about enough steam for some night 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 1 or 2 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 took place. Following Sue's guidance, we arrived there as soon as it opened, and boy oh boy, was that a good idea: both children were sized up and out the door within 15 minutes. This fast turnaround was due not only to our early arrival, but also to the Adventure Center's conscientious staff, easily accessible equipment 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 fast 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 confident in his ability to get the kids up and skiing quickly.
John brought Eddie and Lee to a short, gently sloped hill that was good for newbies. He gave them a brief explanation of how to get their skis back on when they came off, the easiest way to stand up without sliding down the hill, and most importantly, the way 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 where they were almost touching (forming a pizza slice triangle shape). The pizza method would allow Eddie and Lee to regulate 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 steadiness.
There were some obligatory slips and non-bruising falls, but after about a half hour, both Eddie and Lee managed to smoothly navigate the beginners' hill with impressive grace and self-assurance. John felt they were ready to take a run or two down the area's main slope (with a vertical lift of 295 feet), and the kids 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 might have slightly overestimated their capabilities), but overall Eddie and Lee loved the excitement and the experience. After two hours on their skis, their zeal started to fizzle, but they were ecstatic about their new talents and they were hooked on skiing.
Back at the Lodge, it was time to scrub up, enjoy another incredible 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 walked down to the Lodge's magnificent Pine Room, where coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and freshly baked cookies were served. The Room's high ceilings, beautiful wood paneling, and opulence were transportative: it was as if we had wandered into the dignified state room of an early 20th century mansion (which, given the Lodge's history, we kind of did). A large fire provided heat, large sofas and chairs offered comfort, and a woman playing pop standards from the 60s and 70s on a grand piano (her husband 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 frost.
The following day, getting the youngsters geared up for their skiing lesson was even faster than the day prior, thanks to the Adventure Center's convenient policy of checking and reserving equipment (which prevented Eddie and Lee from having to get completely refitted). John was ready for them, and he got them going immediately on the main slope. This time, he stayed with the children all though each of their runs, giving them specific tips and advice along the way. After a couple of these guided runs, Eddie and Lee made it down the slope with no spills, and all by themselves.
Our final Skytop activity that day was a guest fave and came highly recommended on travel sites: dogsledding with a team of huskies. Kim Darst operates Skytop's dogsled tours. She led the 1st New Jersey 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, N.J. and she brings them to Skytop throughout the winter. The team of eight dogs can pull around 1,000 pounds, and they really love to run: when Darst signaled that a ride was about 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 around 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 superb lunch (I can't say enough about Skytop's remarkable 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 an excellent choice, for a number of reasons:
- The Adventure Center's ski equipment outfitting process was efficient and fast.
- There were lots of indoor and out of doors activities to keep families busy through the day and into the evening.
- The Skytop locale is gorgeous in winter, especially after a snowfall.
- Skytop is a reasonable and easy commute from the NY/NJ area.
- The Skytop staff was pro, courteous, accommodating, and really helpful.
- The food at Skytop was fantastic.
For parents who are looking for a convenient way to get their youngsters hooked on skiing - and also have some fun themselves - a weekend at Skytop Lodge is an excellent, pleasurable, and anxiety-free choice.
It was mainly 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 selecting 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 son (Eddie) and 11 year old child (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 better half Sue added to my anxiety when she told me that getting our children suited up for skiing would also be challenging: families would crowd the rental area in a frenzy of equipment try-ons/exchanges. A crazy scrum of last minute bathroom stops would cease all forward momentum. Snack bar lines would be long. Patience and tact would be tested and trounced. (She would know: she went on many ski vacations 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 out 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, Pennsylvania), Woodloch Springs (Hawley, PA), The Greerbrier (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia), Inn at Pocono Manor (Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania), and Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, New York). Sue's aunt suggested 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 out on aunt-endorsed fabulousness, I took a peek at Skytop's website, investigated guest comments on a variety of travel review sites (there are many enthusiastic endorsements on Tripadvisor, Familyvacationcritic, Yelp, VirtualTourist, Orbitz, and lots more), and presented my findings to the fam. They approved, and I got in touch with Skytop to book a weekend stay.
The trip to Skytop appeared to be direct: using Google Maps, the trip time was estimated at ninety minutes via 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 New Jersey 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. A never ending panorama of smooth, treeless, snow-covered country stretched across our view, as the entrance road climbed and curved for 1/4 mile or so to the massive and majestic Skytop Lodge.
The opulent Lodge, which houses 125 guest rooms and suites, was constructed in 1927. One year later, the Lodge opened and was an escape for the well off from New York, NJ, and Philadelphia who sought the out of doors adventures that the area offered. Load-in and check-in were quick, and we wheeled our stuff up to our room, which was comfortable and charming. Famished, we went downstairs to the dining room to have some lunch.
Skytop offers an all-inclusive meal plan for their guests. We would never experienced this kind of arrangement at a resort facility, so I wasn't expecting anything monumental. For lunch, I figured it might be hearty, straightforward selections like soup, sandwiches, basic salads, and burgers. Nothing notable, nothing grand, just "get-em-in, fill-em-up, move-em-out" type fare. I could not 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 vegetables, 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 overflowing with joyous kids, a small yet tidy fitness room that featured a selection of cardiovascular and strength equipment, and a big, open game room area. Ping pong, billiards, mini golfing, air hockey, and Guitar Hero were among the offerings, and we ended up spending plenty of time here in the afternoons and early evenings during our stay.
Following an exquisite dinner, we had just about enough steam for some night 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 1 or 2 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 took place. Following Sue's guidance, we arrived there as soon as it opened, and boy oh boy, was that a good idea: both children were sized up and out the door within 15 minutes. This fast turnaround was due not only to our early arrival, but also to the Adventure Center's conscientious staff, easily accessible equipment 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 fast 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 confident in his ability to get the kids up and skiing quickly.
John brought Eddie and Lee to a short, gently sloped hill that was good for newbies. He gave them a brief explanation of how to get their skis back on when they came off, the easiest way to stand up without sliding down the hill, and most importantly, the way 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 where they were almost touching (forming a pizza slice triangle shape). The pizza method would allow Eddie and Lee to regulate 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 steadiness.
There were some obligatory slips and non-bruising falls, but after about a half hour, both Eddie and Lee managed to smoothly navigate the beginners' hill with impressive grace and self-assurance. John felt they were ready to take a run or two down the area's main slope (with a vertical lift of 295 feet), and the kids 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 might have slightly overestimated their capabilities), but overall Eddie and Lee loved the excitement and the experience. After two hours on their skis, their zeal started to fizzle, but they were ecstatic about their new talents and they were hooked on skiing.
Back at the Lodge, it was time to scrub up, enjoy another incredible 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 walked down to the Lodge's magnificent Pine Room, where coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and freshly baked cookies were served. The Room's high ceilings, beautiful wood paneling, and opulence were transportative: it was as if we had wandered into the dignified state room of an early 20th century mansion (which, given the Lodge's history, we kind of did). A large fire provided heat, large sofas and chairs offered comfort, and a woman playing pop standards from the 60s and 70s on a grand piano (her husband 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 frost.
The following day, getting the youngsters geared up for their skiing lesson was even faster than the day prior, thanks to the Adventure Center's convenient policy of checking and reserving equipment (which prevented Eddie and Lee from having to get completely refitted). John was ready for them, and he got them going immediately on the main slope. This time, he stayed with the children all though each of their runs, giving them specific tips and advice along the way. After a couple of these guided runs, Eddie and Lee made it down the slope with no spills, and all by themselves.
Our final Skytop activity that day was a guest fave and came highly recommended on travel sites: dogsledding with a team of huskies. Kim Darst operates Skytop's dogsled tours. She led the 1st New Jersey 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, N.J. and she brings them to Skytop throughout the winter. The team of eight dogs can pull around 1,000 pounds, and they really love to run: when Darst signaled that a ride was about 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 around 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 superb lunch (I can't say enough about Skytop's remarkable 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 an excellent choice, for a number of reasons:
- The Adventure Center's ski equipment outfitting process was efficient and fast.
- There were lots of indoor and out of doors activities to keep families busy through the day and into the evening.
- The Skytop locale is gorgeous in winter, especially after a snowfall.
- Skytop is a reasonable and easy commute from the NY/NJ area.
- The Skytop staff was pro, courteous, accommodating, and really helpful.
- The food at Skytop was fantastic.
For parents who are looking for a convenient way to get their youngsters hooked on skiing - and also have some fun themselves - a weekend at Skytop Lodge is an excellent, pleasurable, 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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