For all of you aspiring to have a ski family (and aren't we all)  - there are plenty of great options within a 2 and a half to 3 hour drive from mid-Long Island.  The Catskills and the Berkshires both offer multiple ski areas good for overnights or even day trips.  You better understand right now that you're not exactly getting Aspen.  What you are getting is quality time with the kids on a family oriented mountain at an affordable cost...and isn't that way better than Aspen?

 

Quick note.  We prefer the Catskills/Berkshires to the Poconos simply because we think the drive is so much more pleasant.  We'd rather cross the Throgs Neck then fight our way across NYC.  Just personal preference.  Also, Vermont is left off the list since it's at least a four hour drive to the Green Mountains. 

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Quick note to that quick note - we take back everything we just said about the Poconos.  You can get to some great family ski areas (Bear Creek Mountain and Ski Big Bear) in somewhere between 2 and a half to three hours.  Traffic across the city is always problematic so time your trip accordingly.  If you do it right you can enjoy some fantastic family fun time on the slopes for the day.  Here's a blog post on Bear Creek and one on Ski Big Bear

 

Here is our take on a couple of local options. 

 

Jiminy Peak - We will start at Jiminy Peak for a couple of reasons.  1st - they offer great children's programs.  Their Kids Rule packages are not to be missed.  You can enroll your little ones in full day programs starting at age 3.  Jiminy has a fantastic beginners area with a small chair lift and terrain based learning programs.  The mountain really caters to families so thier programs are pretty much clockwork.  Another thing we like about the mountain is that there is legitimate ski on ski off lodging options for a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere.  Mind you this isn't luxe accomodations, but it is a descent suite and the convenience is pretty much priceless.  The only minor gripe is that once your kids graduate of of the learning area, the terrain becomes a little bit steep - kind of beginners plus.  But overall this ski resort does it right by families. 

 

Jiminy Peak is located 2 hours and 45 minutes from Long Island in the Berkshires.

 

Mohawk Mountain - Located just 2 and a half hours from LI, this small Conneticut mountain is a great spot for a day trip or an overnight stay.  The two reasons that it makes the list are proximity to Long Island and also great family learning programs.  Of special note is thier Parent Tot program for 3 and 4 year olds.  Instructors teach parents the finer points of ski instruction while also providing a lesson for the kids -probably the best introduction to skiing of any local ski area.  The terrain is flat and once you get off the magic carpet there are some descent short chairlift runs so the kids won't be bored.  

 

If you decide to stay the night check out the Sharon Country Inn.  A refurbished motor inn 10 minutes from the slopes.  

 

Noteables:  We are excited to revisit Bellayre in the Catskills.  Mostly because, much like Jiminy Peak (and many other resorts for that matter), they offer full day kids programs plus day care options.  But more specifially because the lower moutain offers wide flat runs that appear to be perfect for little learners (but truth be told, the last time we were there we didn't exactly have our eye on the kids stuff). 

 

It is also worth noting that you can get to Thunder Ridge in less than two hours.  Sure it's not much of a ski resort, but compared to other areas of comparable distance (oh wait...there aren't any), it gets the job done.  Your kids will be having too much fun to notice they're not at Stowe.