|
Skiing in Maine
Maine, by far the largest state in New England, attracts many visitors all year long, in the spring and summer months for its coastal beauty, and in the autumn to experience the gorgeous fall foliage. Skiing has been in existence throughout the New England area for a hundred years and, during the long cold winter months, Maine becomes an adventure playground for skiers looking for a good choice of well developed terrain with constant conditions and extensive lift systems. The ski resorts of Maine are situated along the same mountain range that spans Vermont and New Hampshire, scattered amongst the charming historic towns and villages and offering less crowded slopes and cheaper passes, lessons and lodging than many of the other familiar ski areas in North America.
Skiing in Maine – The Resorts
Maine is home to many ski resorts, the larger more familiar ones, such as Sunday River and Sugarloaf, attracting the most visitors from both in and out of state, and the smaller less well know resorts, such as Shawnee Peak, Black Mountain and Lost Valley offering day trippers night skiing and convenient family skiing to the locals. The aforementioned major resorts are both very different in style, yet they offer the same varied terrain for all levels of skiers and both have invested heavily in snow-making facilities – an amazing 90% in each resort – and grooming machines. The remote Sugarloaf has an intensive ski area on its’ enormous single mountain, the second highest peak in New England, with a total of 118 trails, and is home to the Snowfields, the only lift-served above tree-lined skiing in the East. The layout at Sunday River is much more sprawling, with 120 trails spread out over 8 mountains providing terrain full of moguls and bumps, wide open cruisers and tree-studded descents. Both offer typical Maine skiing at its’ best – a great choice of terrain in a beautiful, natural setting with no crowds, yet the added bonus of the best of modern technology. Because of Maines’ location so far north, and its’ commitment to snowmaking, the ski season lasts longer than many other North American resorts.
Skiing in Maine – The Après-ski
The towns of Maine found around the ski resorts still have a traditional feel, with general stores, clapboard houses and quaint inns and bed and breakfasts, all offering true New England charm. The larger resorts provide laid back and casual après-ski entertainment, with Sugarloaf served by a village right at the base of the slopes, home to accommodation, restaurants and bars, whilst the main après-ski entertainment in Sunday Valley is to be found just 10 minutes away in the picturesque town of Bethel. Restaurants offer home country cooking at its’ best, and, even in the mountains of Maine, the coastal specialities such as lobster and crab are not to be missed. Whilst skiing in Maine, there are plenty of other activities to try, such as snowmobiling, ice-skating, ice-fishing, sleigh-riding and dog-sledding.
Maine Skiing Holidays & Resorts
Sunday River
|
Back to USA skiing holidays
Search Skiing Holidays
