Boston Area's Best Ski Slopes For Kids
Blue Hills Ski Area
4001 Washington St.
Canton, MA 02021
(781) 828-5070
www.bluehillsboston.com
Blue Hills is not a resort mountain, but it is less than 20 minutes away from many Boston neighborhoods and has easy trails for learners. There are also lessons available for beginners. Families with younger and older kids will be happy to know that Blue Hills has a terrain park for more skilled skiers and snowboarders. If the weather does not cooperate for the family, Blue Hills has that covered too. Artificial snow is created on the mountain, so there is no lull in ski season for Boston residents.
Related: Hitting The Slopes: Skiing & Snowboarding Around Boston
Nashoba Valley Ski Area
79 Power Rd.
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 692-3033
www.skinashoba.com
Nashoba Valley not only has everything kids need to have a safe ski trip, but it also has everything kids want to have a fun one. There are lessons, rentals and easy slopes to make learning simple. There is also snow tubing, a terrain park and even racing. Parents can throw kids' birthday parties at Nashoba as well. This is a top choice for ski vacations, as it is a resort with restaurants and other amenities that make for an easy and relaxing trip.
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area
499 Mountain Rd.
Princeton, MA 01541
(978) 464-2300
www.wachusett.com
Anyone who has lived in the Boston area for any amount of time has heard the Wachusett Mountain jingle on the radio and knows its "minutes away." This mountain is not only close, but has everything families need. With slopes for every skill level, food, lodging, rentals, lessons and more, Wachusett Mountain is a wise choice for any family. It is close enough that no one has to stay the night, but nice enough that Bostonians can stay and get a full vacation feel.
Crotched Mountain
615 Francestown Rd.
Bennington, NH 03442
(603) 588-3668
www.crotchedmountain.com
Some of the best skiing in New England is north of Boston, sometimes far north. Crotched Mountain is a small trip away, but still "up north," so the weather usually cooperates. Crotched Mountain also has a full lineup of kids' services that parents and kids will enjoy. They include basic lessons, private lessons, racing lessons and radical kids' lessons. With concerts, lodging and events going on all season, no one in the family will be bored at Crotched Mountain.
Weston Ski Track
190 Park Rd.
Weston, MA 02493
(781) 891-6575
www.skiboston.com
Families wanting to keep things level for kids can hit the Weston Ski Track. It is close to the city and has cross country skiing and snowshoeing for all ages. Rentals are available on site, as are lessons for beginners. The trails are all groomed by professionals when there is natural snow, so you know the going will be smooth for everyone. The trails total 15 kilometers, so there is much more than most beginners can handle, but there is space for kids to get better and go further as they grow.
Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.