On 17 Nov 2006 07:42:33 -0500, (Melinda Shore) wrote:

In article LCa7h.3129$5F2.1909@trnddc04,
Oleg Konovalov wrote:
1) need snow before Christmas (Dec.21-25);
2) lots of trails of about intermediate level;
3) not too boring, so kids don't kill you (smth to do after skiing);
4) some level of comfort (hotels, good restaurants, etc.)
5) not too far from NJ [6-7hrs drive]

Best bet for snow at that time is probably the Tug Hill area
of NY state, but it's largely incompatible with requirements
3 and 4 (might be able to keep the kids entertained by
snowmobiling?). The hotels and restaurants are almost all
pretty much dives, but at least they're inexpensive. The
touring centers are Salmon Hills (http://www.salmonhills.com/)
and Osceola (http://www.uxcski.com/). Salmon Hills also
provides lodging in yurts. If you bring your own gear
there are plenty of other places to ski at Tug Hill on
public land (http://www.visittughill.com/).


I second the Tug Hill region as most likely. My experience is that
most - but not all - years have adequate snow just before Christmas.
Osceola and Salmon hills are in the heart of the snow band and usually
have snow even if Winona isn't skiable.

I usually stay at a hotel in Syracuse at Carrier Circle. It's an
industrial area just adjacent to the NY Thruway. Reasonable prices
and not too bad a drive to the ski areas. The plus is a Wegman's
nearby, with a microwave & mini fridge in the hotel, prices for a
weeks stay becomes very reasonable even with the extra driving..

Daily snowfall across the NE
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphi.../sf1_today.jpg

Daily snow cover across the NE
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphi...now_depth.html



At the outside edge of your maximum distance from NJ,
there's always the Ottawa area.