This story was Published in The Daily Evening Item

 

Surely you have heard the buzz about the snowmaking and speedy lifts at Sunday River in Maine. This was the flagship of American Skiing Company and home to ski conglomerate titan, Les Otten, where he started his skiing empire in Newry Maine. He put in lifts and trails at a high-speed pace in the 90's. Now its owned by Boyne USA and the future is equally energetic.

In our never-ending search for that perfect family ski experience, we decided to go for a ski weekend to the source of so many skiing superlatives: biggest, fastest, best!

“Mommy, it looks fancy!” says our 3 year old daughter as we approach the slopeside Grand Summit Hotel. Our unbridled enthusiasm as we piled out of our van was met by a ready to assist Valet staff, easily identified by their brightly colored nametags and smiles! We were whisked into the Hotel Lobby, along with our copious ski gear and luggage. My 5-year-old commented as we entered the lobby, “look at the gigantic fireplace Dad”.

Our room was clean and neat, though certainly not vying for a spread in any glossy interior-decorating magazine. But Sunday River isn’t known for its plush accommodations, we’re really here to ski! The kids immediately discovered their creature comforts, “Mom, a TV, VCR, and a fridge just like home!”

After a long trip in the car, we were all happy to jump into the swimming pool and watch the skiers zoom by from the 80ºF water, which is great fun in itself. Swimming from indoor to outdoor kept the kids amused while we big kids took shifts in the hot tub! Time for a light dinner at the Hotel’s Legends, and off to bed for this troop.

Sharing one room with the kids is easier on the wallet; in fact no charge for kids 5 and under. But early Saturday morning our little friends were up admiring a glorious pink sunrise and clear blue sky.  “Lets go! The lifts open at 8,” says my eager hubby as I struggle with layers and buckles and zippers on our 3 and 5 year olds, thinking to myself - “bring on the kids’ programs”.

There's a Daycare Center in the Hotel. So we brought our daughter Aspen (age 3) right down stairs to this brightly colored playroom where she was soon engrossed in activity, while I filled out the necessary forms. Again I was impressed with the wonderful smiles of the staff. We added on the “tiny turns” program, a one-hour ski lesson for 3-year-olds enrolled at Daycare. I felt a little spring in my step, even in my ski boots, this was going to be a great day for all. One child down, one to go!

Our 5-year-old Ian has experienced more than a few ski camps in his 2-year skiing career. Sunday River’s Perfect Kids program greeted us with a quick and painless, but also complete and reassuring check-in registration process. Ian loved the big green balloon, taped to his helmet, color coordinated for his level with his name so every instructor knows the whereabouts of each mini-skier. We observed the well-uniformed instructors as we walked to the South Ridge Express. I wish I had the same energy level as these instructors. My husband noticed the cute ski merry-go-round for Mogul Munchkins as we were leaving the Kids meeting area. Kids love holding on to the brightly colored ride and skiing round and round, forgetting that they are learning how to ski and turn in the process. Cleverly disguised learning all rapped up in fun!

We had just lost a collective 70 lbs., (two kids), and now it was time for Mom & Dad to ski. So many lifts, so many trails - so little time! Fortunately, 18 lifts, including 9 quads (4 of which are high speed detachables) and 126 trails allowed us to ski around the eight mountain peaks very nicely. By lunchtime at the sunny mid-mountain North Peak lodge, we had 12 outstanding runs to talk about and wobbly knees to massage. We commented that some of the best runs were before 9am, thanks to our slopeside lodging, efficient kid drop offs, and speedy lift service.

But most impressive to us both was the Sunday River Snow. It is so dry and fresh, it skis like talcum powder. Ski Magazine frequently recognizes Sunday River as #1 for Snow Quality in the East and I must agree it is sweet! Something so peaceful about carving up the turns and not hearing your skis on the snow! Sunday River's mountain ops crew pride themselves on understanding the technology of creating the perfect snow in every temperature/humidity combination.

The trail system is elaborate; each lift accesses a variety for different tastes and ability levels. We did find ourselves consulting a trail map more frequently than at other eastern ski hills. It’s big! Hard to choose a personal favorite, but I love the pitch on Airglow dropping down into Black Hole. Of course Sunday Punch, one of the original Sunday River trails has a classic fall-line not to be missed. Am I dreaming? No, but I am skiing Dreamaker! You can ski it all, and take in some fabulous panoramas too! We managed two dozen runs! “A decent day, honey” declared my die-hard husband with a smile as we headed to retrieve our kids at 3:00pm.

We spotted our son Ian with his lesson group skiing back to the Perfect Kids center. Above any of our expectations, he was linking parallel turns. My proud husband exclaimed, “that’s my boy”! “That’s our boy”, I reminded him. I started to wonder how they handle those kids who are not so “Perfect”. Perhaps their skiing program brings out the best in these lucky kids. Ian’s instructor greeted us with a grin and a report card, so detailed and boastful I deemed it suitable as a keepsake for our son’s baby book. Ian was so excited to see us and share every aspect of his adventure, but paused mid-tale to wave bye, see you tomorrow to his teacher and fellow campers. Back at the Hotel daycare, we found Aspen playing happily with a new friend!

The best part of the day came to me while stretching out by the fire, watching the children’s delightful faces as they related to Mom & Dad their adventures at “camp”, new friends, games, cool instructors, and skiing! While we had been discovering OZ, our son had graduated from pizza pies to French Fries (that’s snow plow to Stem Christy)! Was he beaming, or were those rosy cheeks the result of the great outdoors and the roaring fire? I thought to myself, now this is a family vacation! Everyone is having fun, experiencing new things and enjoying the great outdoors! And I knew that none of us would need to be rocked to sleep tonight!

But I must mention that Sunday River doesn’t end when the lifts close. In addition to a few on-mountain restaurants, there is a Shipyard Brew Pub - sister to Federal Jack's in Kennebunkport, plus ice-skating, lighted tubing & half pipe and a video arcade for teens all located conveniently at the White Cap Lodge in the evening. If all this isn’t enough, 6 miles down the road is the quaint New England village of Bethel, which has some charming Inns and fine restaurants, shops, and the Casablanca multi-plex movie theatre. Next trip, I think I'd prefer to lodge in a private mountain home - just a short drive to the slopes - but offering solitude and serene views of the ski slopes.

To cap off our full day, the kids watched their first ever fireworks show. Thanks to the dark winter evening, and smart planning by the resort, the fireworks display is early enough for the children to enjoy before bed.

Sunday was another spectacular day, the kids were anxious to go to their “camps”, and my husband and I enjoyed touring the mountain, revisiting some of yesterday’s favorites with a fresh coat of legendary Sunday River snow. Weekend tip: Saturday crowds were handled efficiently, but Sunday was noticeably less busy. What a delight! I suppose weekend warriors burn themselves out on Saturday.

Our weekend was action packed fun and ended only too soon! So we packed up the van to head home, with an exhausted mogul munchkin, a feverish little camper, and a lead footed dad. We had skied hard and fast all weekend and no one seemed to mind, no one but the Police Officer who pulled us over doing 60 in a 35 zone. Watch out, those small towns dotting the Rt. 26 trek to Sunday River want a piece of the action, and your money clip! Well, for a moment, it was family vacation perfection!

If You Go…
The Summit or Jordan Grand Hotels at Sunday River offer ski and stay packages, or there is plentiful ski lodging in Bethel.

 

 

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