Family Fun in Vermont

The kids absolutely loved going to ski school at Smugg's Snow Sport University, and they love the Fun Zone and swimming. Soon they will be enjoying the teen clubs there! I myself enjoy cross-country skiing through all that beautiful Vermont scenery while my husband loves heading to the top of Madonna Mountain. The nighttime snowmobile tour to the Notch is not to be missed... stars so close that you can reach out and touch them. The family dance party with Goodtime Charlie is a blast, as is the family bingo! I am not much of a skier, but there is something for everyone here.

Quick Tips:

You can pick up many brochures and magazines of local events and points of interest upon checking in and also at many of the little maple outlets and quaint stores in the villages on your drives in. Groceries are best purchased before you get to the resort, as the little grocery store in the resort village is pricey. There is a small grocery store in Jeffersonville that is closest to Smugg's but also not the most inexpensive. This is where we usually buy groceries on the way in.

NOTE: This is an excellent place for families with children of any age, or for couples looking for a romantic escape. However, the focus here is on families. While there are a couple of pubs at Smuggler's Notch, excellent restaurants, adult evening activities, and one or two small bars locally, if you are looking for an active nightlife, this is not the place for you!! For singles or couples without children who enjoy nightclubs and such, I would not recommend it. Stowe would proably be a better option for you.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you plan on leaving the resort during the week, your vehicle is a must (four-wheel drive in winter is best!). You can easily spend the week at the resort; they have free on-call shuttles running from the main village to all of the condominiums and the outer mountain ski areas, and most of the resort facilities are within easy walking or skiing distance.

Best Things Nearby:
The gorgeous Green Mountains of Vermont; many small quaint villages nearby; many unique art galleries in Stowe and the surrounding villages; gondola rides, shopping, dining, and the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe; Vermont Maple Outlet; Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory; Vermont Teddy Bear Factory; Quebec

Best Things About the Resort:
So many to name...in a nutshell, it has something for everyone and is a true family vacation paradise.

Resort Experience:
We went to Smuggler's Notch for the first time during Christmas week of 2003. Our in-laws have owned a timeshare there for many years, and we reluctantly agreed to join them. I wasn't expecting much from Vermont, as I am more of a beach person, but this was absolutely the best vacation our family ever had, and we purchased our own unit that very week. We just returned from our first week in our very own unit and will be returning every Christmas...we are also going in August to enjoy Vermont in the summer.

Our unit is in the condominiums called Sycamores. It is a newer complex that is decorated very nicely. We have a one-bedroom unit that sleeps six people. There is a kin-size bed, a twin trundle bed that sleeps two in the bedroom, and a pull-out sofa bed in the living room.

Sycamores is like home away from home. Our one-bedroom unit has a gas fireplace, a nice-size deck, a large living room/dining area and bedroom, and a large bathroom with a whirlpool tub. All the appliances are new. There is a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, two TV's, plus a DVD player and stereo. The two- and three-bedroom units are even more awesome! Each unit has its own ski locker located on the ground level of each building (there are three buildings in Sycamores).

Sycamores is located in what is called the West Hill Community, which is small, conveniently located, and away from the bustle of the main village (but only a 5-minute walk or 1-minute shuttle ride away.) The West Hills Community enjoys its very own Community Center, which had a heated outdoor pool (open all year), exercise room, locker/shower room, massage therapy room, a pool table, two ping-pong tables, and some video games.

The scenery is gorgeous, and the people more than friendly. The setting is relaxing and laid-back, whether you stay in a slope-side condo or down in the main village. At our unit in the Sycamores, we can swim outside in a steaming pool in mid-winter and throw snowballs at each other... the kids love it!

Winter activities at Smugg’s are endless, and no matter what you enjoy, you are surrounded by the beautiful Green Mountains. Our kids attended ski school for the week, never having skied before, and returned home pretty darn good little skiers! The instructors at Smugg’s Snow Sport University are excellent, and results are guaranteed by the resort. There is terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. There are so many things to do, it is hard to fit them all in: downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. There are dogsled rides and sleigh rides available very close to the resort, also.

We can’t wait to experience this summer in Vermont! Smugg’s offers free summer camps for the kids, and they are grouped according to ages and interests. There are wonderful water parks on the resort property we can’t wait to try, and the hiking will be spectacular with the views from those mountains! The activity offerings in summer are as many and varied as in winter: canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, mountain boarding, diggling (look it up… it looks like a lot of fun!), horseback riding, tennis, and swimming.

The resort focuses on the enjoyment of the entire family. It is such a wonderful feeling to have your children so looking forward to the activities they will enjoy that day and to be able to enjoy your day knowing that the kids are having a blast and are being taken care of by the awesome staff. Even more wonderful is the joy of reconnecting with your family during your stay here. Even though you may have each spent the day enjoying your individual interests, you come together as a family again at dinner time, when stories are exchanged about your day, laughter is shared, and bonds are strengthened. Family activities are offered every night: family dance parties, bingo, karaoke, sing-alongs, and bonfires.

This is the place that family vacation dreams are made of - a place to unwind, reconnect, and make memories that last a lifetime.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Very Good