Visitors to Palm Springs can minimize their environmental footprint in celebration of Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary, April 22, by exploring the destination’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, as well as attending Earth Day events.

Palm Springs offers over 150 miles of scenic hiking trails. Explore the natural setting of the ancient Indian Canyons, where the rich cultural history of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians began. In addition, the City is a gateway to three natural jewels in the form of the Mount San Jacinto Park, Joshua Tree National Park and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument.

Earth Day Events
“Earth Through a Lens” Photography Exhibit, April 1-22, in the windows of storefronts along Palm Canyon Drive featuring photographs that highlight a sustainable planet.
Green Friday Palm Springs on April 30 – A free event celebrating Palm Springs’ commitment to a greener community. Look for Green Friday signs in downtown store windows offering discounts, entertainment and more.

Palm Springs Eco-Tours and Adventures

• Take an eco-adventure to unspoiled, remote locations. Learn about geology, desert plants and animals through an eco-tour of the San Andreas Fault, Joshua Tree National Park, Coachella Valley Preserve or the Whitewater Canyon Preserve.
• Learn about wind energy by exploring the giant wind turbines with a Palm Springs Windmill Tour.
• Join a ranger-led interpretive hike of Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon. Learn about the landscape, the flora, the fauna, and the Cahuilla Indian legends that are associated with the canyons and their natural springs.
• Take a ride on the world’s largest rotating tramcars on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to access a pristine wilderness of the Mount San Jacinto State Park offering over 50 miles of hiking trails.
• Visit The Living Desert, a 1,200-acre wildlife and botanical park, featuring rare and endangered desert animals.
• Stroll through The Moorten Botanical Gardens featuring over 3,000 examples of desert cacti and other desert plants Bike, Walk and Explore Palm Springs
• Get out of the car and enjoy a walk along the palm tree lined streets of downtown Palm Springs. Spend the afternoon gallery hopping and enjoying fine art, sculptures, and unique boutiques along Palm Canyon Drive. Dine alfresco at many of the restaurants offering organic specialties.
• Enjoy an eco-friendly Carriage Ride through downtown, and then attend VillageFest, a free street festival on Thursday evening’s featuring local artists and entertainment.
• Rent a bike or take SunLine Bus, the City’s environmentally-conscious bus line, to go to seasonal Certified Farmers Market held every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. featuring fresh local produce.

Palm Springs has more than 130 hotels including luxury resorts, mid-century modern retreats, boutique inns, vacation home rentals and condos. For visitor information, go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com.

If you’re an outdoors kind of person and really enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, or simply enjoy not being trapped inside a building all day, then Seattle Washington has plenty to offer you should you decide to visit. When planning your visit to Seattle, you will probably find that there are many things that appeal to you and it is quite difficult to narrow them down by interest alone.

This is the point when I divide activities into categories such as: things I really want to do, things that seem interesting, and things that will really just pass the time. Then, I take those things and do a reality (which translates to price) check. I try to justify the expenses of the things I really want to do that are more than I’d like to pay by sneaking in things I’d like to do equally as much for free. It’s a great concept and works really well when giving children a choice of activities. Let them choose between two free activities. They still get a voice and feel as though they are an important part of the decision making process and you aren’t spending $50 an hour for them to jump on a fancy trampoline.

Here are some of the excellent free activities that can be enjoyed in the great outdoors of Seattle Washington. The really great news is that many of these are actually both entertaining and educational. This is good for you and the kids who will leave Seattle with some degree of knowledge about something other than the ice cream flavors that are offered there.

The first freebie that I recommend is the Volunteer Park Conservatory. This is of special interest to those who love flowers. The conservatory is divided into five houses which each provides a suitable habitat for growing very specific plants. The five houses are: Bromeliad House, which is members of the pineapple family; Palm House, which consists of about 1200 species; Fern House, which features an assortment of tropical ferns and other exotic plants; Seasonal Display House, which changes with the season and consists of many common and recognizable house plants; and Cactus House, which is rather self explanatory. The conservatory is free to the public and a great way to pass time for any flower lover in your group.

Next there is the Washington Arboretum Park. This park is actually a 200-acre arboretum that was designed by the same firm responsible for the design of Central Park in New York. The park hosts 40,000 trees, shrubs, and vines. You can pay for a tour or simply wander around and enjoy the landscape. The purpose of this park is to preserve certain species of plants while offering education to the public and anyone who wishes to learn and benefit from the knowledge that can be gained there.

Next there is the Woodland Park Rose Garden. This garden is located next to the zoo but is open to the public free of charge. There is a $4 parking fee during zoo hours, but parking is free after hours. The climate of Seattle is mild enough that roses seem to flourish and grow beautifully here. The rose gardens receive over 200,000 visitors each year and are a great sight to see while you are visiting Seattle.

Finally, there is Discovery Park. This park offers stunning views and a place to contemplate the beauty of nature and the surroundings of Seattle. The park itself is 534-acres making it the largest city park in Seattle. The purpose of this park was to provide sanctuary for wildlife and a place to learn about nature for those who were interested. The park has a play area for children, picnic equipment, and trails and paths for exploration.

Nature is a wonderful thing to behold and Seattle is blessed with some of the most beautiful natural surroundings on earth. It only makes sense that while on vacation you should be able to enjoy the beautiful plants, animals, and scenery that abound in the area. I sincerely hope you take the opportunity to enjoy some of these great places.

Have you ever dreamed of being on a reality show? Here is your chance! Universal Studios Tours now has Fear Factor Live, which is a stunt show that uses audience volunteers. With three to five shows each day, the chances of getting on the show are pretty good!

Are you ready to face your fears? There are some important things to know about Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios Tours before you sign up. First, this is for real. This is not a cheesy attempt to replicate Fear Factor and please a studio audience. The stunts are very real, and they are performed by audience members just like you. There is no coddling here!

If you still want to participate, simply visit the casting office, which is located near the Terminator ride in the theme park. You must meet certain physical requirements to ensure that you can handle what is about to be asked of you. You must also complete and sign a liability form, holding Universal Studios and Fear Factor harmless of any injuries or damages you may incur.

Before the show begins, some audience members who were not selected to participate are called on stage to face smaller challenges, such as eating various bugs. The winner of the pre-show contest wins great prizes, such as an annual pass to the theme park. This is followed by an audience warm up with the hosts of the show.

The show consists of six contestants that were chosen from the casting office – if your lucky, you might be one of these! They are dressed just as the contestants on the original Fear Factor dress – in tight uniforms. A series of challenges, much like the challenges on Fear Factor are presented to the contestants. Falls from high places, skill tests, and of course, the famous gross-out challenge. During the show, a random audience member is picked for yet another challenge – such as sticking their head in a tank full of scorpions.

If you’ve ever watched Fear Factor, and told all of your friends that you could handle everything that was thrown at those contestants, be careful. Here is your big chance to prove yourself – or your friends’ chance to prove you wrong! Win or lose, Fear Factor Live at Universal Studios Tours could be the highlight of your visit! If you want to be on the show, visit the casting office as soon as you get to the park to make sure that you meet the physical requirements – and if you don’t meet the requirements, ask about being in the audience.

Visiting San Francisco, California is great to do with a family; it is even better to do as an adult without children along. Frisco has a thriving nightlife and plenty of entertainment that simply isn’t meant for children. From the slightly off color to the seriously bawdy, San Francisco nightlife has entertainment of almost every flavor. Of course there is still plenty to do during the daylight hours too.

If you’re looking for a taste of nightlife that is ‘belly busting’ funny, there’s Comedy on the Square that offers comedic variety shows. You can also check out Lila Theatre for some of the best long-form improvisation. If you need a good laugh these are great places to start. 50 Mason Lounge is also a great place to go to get in on the laughs. The problem with San Francisco is that there are so many great comedy clubs they can’t all be listed in one place. My suggestion is that you ask around for suggestions and find out who’s playing. You never know when someone you recognize might be popping in for the evening.

In addition to the great comedy clubs there is the general ‘gentleman’s’ nightlife alive and well in this fair city. I would be remiss if I failed to mention some of the more unique adult entertainment that San Francisco has to offer. In addition to the typical gentlemen’s clubs such as Broadway Showgirls Cabaret, which boasts more luxurious surroundings than other clubs, there is Crazy Horse, Inc., which has totally nude live shows, The Gold Club, and Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club. There is one club that goes above and beyond what any of these clubs offer though and is worth checking out with a date if you and your partner are so inclined. This club is called Power Exchange and while there are a few places like this around the country, they are extremely rare. If you aren’t easily offended and are the least bit curious, I would recommend checking it out.

San Francisco is swimming with active and awesome nightclubs and as such it is quite difficult to single one out as superior to any other. I recommend finding a nightclub that is within walking distance of your hotel. This diminishes the odds of your driving while intoxicated. As always it is important to enjoy responsibly.

If you want to make the most out of your trip to San Francisco, be sure to remember that while there is plenty to do at night, you want to be awake and aware for at least part of the day so don’t have too much fun at night. If you are very brave and adventurous and looking for more adult only entertainment you can try one of the nude beaches in the area. While these beaches are not for everyone and they aren’t exactly nighttime activities, they do offer some adult only entertainment that is worth considering if it floats your boat.

You can also rent sailboat and powerboat cruises in the bay, if you are with a loved one, try one of the sunset cruises. These cruises are romantic time away from the crowds of the city. Even if these times aren’t exclusively for adults, if you close your eyes and imagine, you can whittle the world down to just the two of you.

Whatever your pleasure in this great city, I hope you have found some ideas for great fun and entertainment that will get your trip off to a great start. Remember to have fun and enjoy the time you spend visiting San Francisco, California whether that time be day or night. If none of the things I’ve mentioned above have struck your fancy there are always more cultural undertakings such as museums, guided tours, or trips to Alcatraz. Just remember the purpose of a vacation is fun, if you aren’t having fun where you are, go somewhere else!

Vacationers can also save with ‘room only’ offer at an on-site Disneyland Resort Hotel

Disneyland Resort in Southern California has the perfect solution for shaking off the winter blues: irresistible vacation savings and a lineup of exciting family entertainment at the place “Where Dreams Come True.”

This May through September, vacationers can receive two extra nights of hotel accommodations and two more days of theme park adventures for free when they purchase a three-night, three-day Disneyland Resort vacation package. This special vacation package provides guests five days and nights of Disneyland Resort experiences, for the price of three.

For those who already have theme park admission tickets, the Disneyland Resort is rolling out a second offer that features great savings at any of its three on-site resort hotels. Guests can take 40 percent off their room rate at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; save 35 percent at the Disneyland Hotel; or get 30 percent off at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. These hotel room offers require a two-night minimum stay. Resort hotel benefits include Disney character wake up calls, easy access to character dining locations, and a Key to the Magic card – which allows guests to charge meals and merchandise to their hotel account. In addition, clients staying at any one of the Disneyland Resort hotels are within an easy walk to both theme parks and the Downtown Disney District, an exciting shopping, dining and entertainment zone.

Booking for either vacation offer begins March 16 and runs through Sept. 1, 2010. Travel must occur between May 1 and Sept. 26, 2010. The “Two More Days & Nights Free Vacation Package” when you buy three days/nights is valid at all three Disneyland Resort Hotels and at participating Anaheim-area Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels, allowing a wide range of hotel accommodations and prices to fit every budget. Vacations may be booked through travel agents, at www.disneyland.com, or by calling the Walt Disney Travel Company at 800/854-3104.

Along with all the fun and entertainment of the Disneyland Resort attractions, a spring or summer visit offers some special highlights. Spring marks the return of Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival to Disney’s California Adventure park and other Resort locations. The return of the “Summer Nightastic!” entertainment lineup to Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks will be highlighted by the all-new “World of Color” nighttime spectacular.

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival

Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival will create culinary experiences for guests of every palate – April 16 through May 31 – at Disney’s California Adventure park and select locations across the Disneyland Resort. Chefs, winemakers and brewmasters will celebrate The Art of Flavor at this year’s tantalizing festival, which features entertaining culinary demonstrations, outstanding wine and spirits seminars, and delicious food, wine and beer. Some events, including culinary demonstrations, are included with admission to Disney’s California Adventure park. Signature events are separately ticketed and require reservations. For details, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.

* Guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend; valid ID required. Space is limited. Admission to Disney’s California Adventure Park is required for events held within the Park and is not included in the event price. Information is subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.

“Summer Nightastic!” Returns

Beginning June 11, “Summer Nightastic!” returns to the Disneyland Resort, featuring exciting evening events that will electrify the night. “Summer Nightastic!” runs through Aug. 29 at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks.

Headlining the entertainment is the new nighttime water spectacular – “World of Color” – at Disney’s California Adventure park. Surpassing all previous water productions, “World of Color” brings Disney animation to life with powerful fountains that are the stars of the show, forming the world’s largest projected water screen. In the making since 2005, “World of Color” combines hundreds of magnificent fountains, LED-produced dazzling colors, and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects to take water-infused entertainment to a new level of artistry.

Located in Paradise Bay, Disney’s newest production features an unprecedented infrastructure of water effects, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, fog, surround sound and stunning images. This technical wizardry, combined with classic, animated Disney and Disney-Pixar film sequences, creates an emotional experience for guests as jaw-dropping effects sweep across the lagoon and soar into the sky.

Meanwhile, at Disneyland park, “Fantasmic!” ignites the night with thrills, life-like creatures including a fire-breathing dragon, and spine-tingling adventures for Sorcerer Mickey. Also, in the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle, “Magical” sparks to life with a dazzling fireworks spectacular in which colorful choreographed pyrotechnics burst and soar to a soundtrack of celebratory Disney songs. “Magical,” which premiered in summer 2009, features both Tinker Bell and Dumbo in flight over the castle.

Walt Disney Travel Company Vacation Package Benefits

Booking a package through the Walt Disney Travel Company comes with magical extras, including preferred seating** to some of the most popular shows and attractions in Disney’s California Adventure park, a Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket that makes it easy to experience the best of both theme parks, and one Magic Morning admission*** into Disneyland one hour before it opens to the general public. In addition, each person included in the package receives a collectible Disney pin, lanyard and luggage tag.

To book a Disneyland Resort vacation package, visit www.disneyland.com, call 800/854-3104 or visit your local travel agent. For general Disneyland Resort information, park hours and entertainment schedules, call 714/781-4565 or visit www.disneyland.com. The summer vacation offer cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Resort Hotel Disclaimer

Offer is valid for bookings from 3/16/10 through 9/1/10 and for arrivals from 5/1/10 through 9/26/10 with travel being completed by 10/1/10. Upon the purchase of a 3-night package, with 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir tickets at a participating Hotel for a family of four (3 adults and 1 child (age 3-9)), two (2) consecutive free nights will be added to the hotel stay and two (2) days added to the tickets. Offer applied once per package/reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers associated with other lengths of stay. The Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir tickets expire 13 days after first use or 10/13/10, whichever occurs first, and each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial purposes. Offer subject to availability; advance reservations required. Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Good Neighbor Hotel Disclaimer

Offer is valid for bookings 3/16/10 through 9/1/10 and for arrivals from 5/1/10 through 9/26/10 with travel being completed by 10/1/10. Blockout Dates vary and other restrictions apply. Upon the purchase of a 3-night package, with 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir tickets at a participating hotel for a family of four (3 adults and 1 child (age 3-9)), two (2) consecutive free nights will be added to the hotel stay and two (2) days added to the tickets. Offer applied once per package/reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers associated with other lengths of stay. The Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir tickets expire 13 days after first use or 10/13/10, whichever occurs first, and each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial purposes. Offer subject to availability; advance reservations required. Not valid with any other discount or promotion. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

**Preferred seating and show capacity is limited and subject to availability. Valid only during dates of vacation package. Show times vary.

***Early entry allows admission into selected attractions at Disneyland® Park before the Park opens to the public on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Each Guest must have a valid Admission Ticket to the Park. To maximize your early entry experience, it is strongly recommended that you arrive at least one hour and fifteen minutes prior to regular Park opening. Applicable days and times of operation, and all other elements including, without limitation, operation of attractions, entertainment, and services may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to capacity and other restrictions.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I like cheap and free things to do with the family. It isn’t that I’m not willing to pay good money for good fun, I just happen to believe that the best fun is sometimes as free as the wind.

The same holds true when visiting new cities like San Francisco. I will invest a great amount of time looking for activities that me and other members of my family can enjoy for little or no money. This saves money for other things like good food and souvenirs.

I’m also a big fan of David Letterman and in that spirit I decided to devise a top five list of my very own in honor of Mr. Letterman’s Top 10 list. My big 5 list consists of things to do for free when visiting San Francisco.

1) Golden Gate Bridge. This is a favorite among tourists for many reasons. One of those reasons is the fact that it is one landmark that belongs only to San Francisco. It is uniquely a part of this city and represents, for many, your entire trip. Another reason is that there are so many ways to get there. I recommend walking and if you’re up for it, try one of the guided walking tours-this will provide valuable background information about the bridge as well as insuring that you don’t get lost on the way.
2) Golden Gate Park. This park is larger than New York’s Central Park and in my opinion equally grand. There is so much to do and see in Golden Gate Park that you could spend a good portion of your vacation here alone.
3) Cable Car Museum. Kids of all ages will find this museum interesting, especially big and little boys. This museum definitely offers a great deal of education and excitement for the family. In addition to learning about these neat cable cars which have become a trademark of San Francisco transportation. This is one museum I would pay to go to, the fact that it is free is a bonus that I can’t resist and the primary reason it is on this particular top ten list.
4) Walking Tours of San Francisco. These free walking tours are not only entertaining; they are also very informative as well. Learn about the history of the neighborhoods that this city is famous for as well as the great people who rebuilt a grand city, literally from the ashes of what it once was and made it even better. San Francisco has a wonderful story to tell and these guides narrate it wonderfully.
5) San Francisco Fire Department Museum. For the big kid in all of us that wanted to grow up to be a fire fighter, this museum takes the cake. Not only does it provide great historical references and artifacts but it is also really cool! I can think of no greater compliment to give a museum than that. This one, even your children will enjoy and beg to go back again and again.

Whether you are a big kid, a little kid, or just a kid at heart these activities are a great and inexpensive way to pass a day or two while on vacation. If you can’t stand the thought of saving money or not spending it, I’m sure each of these places will be glad to accept donations or at the very least sell you something at the gift shop (if the place you are visiting has one).

Regardless, I hope my suggestions have gotten your mental wheels turning and you are coming up with your own great ways to enjoy the day without spending a lot of green.

If you are looking for a great place to go for your family ski vacation, Fun Valley, Iowa is the place to go. This resort caters to families and beginner level skiers, but it is also great for intermediate and expert skiers as well. There is something to suit all levels at Fun Valley.

The top elevation at Fun Valley is 1201 feet, with a vertical drop of 200 feet. There are six lifts, including three chair lifts and three surface lifts. The new learning center is something to see – and experience if you are a beginner. Tubers and snowboarders are welcome, and there is an excellent terrain park available. Rental equipment, including tubes and boards, is available.

Fun Valley offers outstanding group rates for groups of ten or more. Birthday packages are also outstanding for kids twelve and under. Every Wednesday and Thursday night, the resort offers a student night, with greatly reduced rates. Buddy Pass Friday’s are also popular – bring your friends and you will all save on lift tickets. Coca-Cola sponsors Sprite Saturday’s at Fun Valley, where you can participate in three activities for one flat affordable fee. Sundays are Family Four Pack Day.

Mount Snow, located in Vermont, is the one of the largest ski resorts in the Eastern United States. Featuring 26 lifts and more than 135 trails, the top elevation at Mount Snow is 3600 feet, with a vertical drop of 1700 feet. There are 20 chair lifts and six surface lifts available.

Snowboarders are welcome at Mount Snow, and there is a ‘kids only’ terrain park as well as a special tubing park. The Grand Summit Hotel and Crown Club sits right off the slopes, and guests enjoy a heated outdoor pool and ski in/ski out accommodations. There is something to suit everyone at Mount Snow.

Many different winter ski vacation packages are available. Many of these packages are really great deals designed to save families money. Child care is available at Mount Snow, and the youngsters will be well cared for, and learn to ski as well. The adults aren’t left out of the learning process either! Both group and private lessons are available.

Mount Snow is very family oriented. At Mount Snow a unique ‘back-to-base’ trail system is used that keeps everyone in your family from getting lost. Kids under six ski and ride for free. When an adult buys a 3 – 5 day ticket during mid-week, their kid receives a free ticket for that same time period as well. During January, the Kids Ski & Learn Free weeks seem to be the most popular family deals.

Mount Snow features a full service health spa that you should take full advantage of. A variety of massages are offered, as well as various skin treatments. Spa packages are also available, and the spa caters to couples as well, and wedding parties are also welcome.  There is also a fully equipped health club and fitness classes are offered. There is always something to do at Mount Snow – even if doing nothing but relaxing is on your agenda!

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Winter activities at Mount Snow also include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing, cross country skiing, and sleigh rides. There is a ski shop on the premises and rental equipment is available. There are several restaurants and bars on the mountain to choose from as well. Again, Mount Snow is family oriented. You will find that this is a very safe environment for your entire family, where you can relax and have fun – without any worry. Be sure to ask about the family deals when you call for reservations or information.

Photo: © Vertexpress

Red River, New Mexico is home to one of the most popular ski resorts in the United States, and has been for many decades. The resort offers six chair lifts and one surface lift, and the trails are equally divided for beginners, intermediates, and experts.

Top elevation at Red River is 10354 feet, and the vertical drop down the face of the mountain is 1601 feet. Unfortunately, it doesn’t snow much, and about 85% of the powder is man made. There are 58 trails scattered over 247 acres. Red River is called the ‘ski town of the Southwest.’

The resort has three restaurants, all of which offer fabulous fare. Lodging can be obtained in cabins, chalets, inns, or private condominiums in the area, and many lodging packages, as well as ski packages are available through Red River Central Reservations. Red River also offers snow pass rates which allow children to ski for free, and teens to ski at reduced rates. This is a great way to save money on your family ski vacation.

Red River also has a ski school, and group lessons and private lessons are available. Even if you’ve never skied before, you will quickly be on the slopes after your lessons. There are even lessons for snowboarders, who are welcome on the Red River slopes. You can also rent all of your ski and snowboarding equipment for very reasonable rates.

The nightlife in Red River is also great. After a day on the slopes, you can kick back and relax at the lodge, or visit one of the taverns in the area. For the younger crowd, there is a great game room located right in the center of the town. One of the great things about Red River is that everything is within walking distance of the lodging areas, and shuttles are provided for transportation to and from the slopes.

You can also enjoy taking scenic chairlift rides, hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, snow-mobiling, and hunting. You can even take one of the jeep tours to go see the abandoned gold mines in the area. So, even if you don’t ski, there is still plenty of fun to be had at Red River Ski Resort.

Childcare is available while you spend your day on the slopes. Your child will be well tended at the Li’l Buckaroos Child Care Facility, and the center provides lunch for your child as well. At Red River, everything has been thought of and taken care of to ensure that your ski vacation is as enjoyable as possible.

If you will be in Michigan, you should definitely visit Nub’s Nob Ski Resort. Nub’s Nob has what is considered to be the Midwest’s best snow, and the resort has a reputation for being a family friendly mountain. Generations of families have brought their children here for their very first ski run.

The mountain layout is fairly simple with an elevation of 1338 feet and a vertical drop of 427 feet. There are 43 trails serviced by eight chair lifts. Boasting one of the best skiing and snowboarding schools in the country, both private and group lessons are available.

If you are brand new to the sport, you can even learn to ski free, and take advantage of Nub’s Cubs Childcare Center while you learn.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that intermediate or expert skiers won’t find any challenges waiting for them at Nub’s Nob! The terrain is varied, and you will find challenges. Night Skiing is also available. The Ski School offers training programs for advanced skiers who are interested in racing, and many racing events are held at the resort. You can signup for race leagues at the resort, and many league events are planned each season.

Equipment rental is available, and there is a General Store right inside the lodge, where you can purchase gloves, hats, and neck warmers among a variety of other items. You should also visit the technology center to have your ski’s tuned or repaired.

You won’t go hungry either! Nub’s Nob Cafeteria is open for breakfast and lunch, and if you brought your own lunch, you can eat in the ‘brown bag’ room.

Nub’s Winter Garden serves grilled burgers when the weather allows. Pintail Peak Warming Hut is located at the top of the Black Lift. Here, you can enjoy amazing views while enjoying home made soups and sandwiches.

Nub’s Nob is the place to go if you want to have a great family ski vacation – or if you are already an expert skier interested in racing and skill events. There is plenty to do and see. In fact, you may find that you have a problem deciding which activity to participate in first! Don’t worry about missing anything, though – if you want to ski now and board later, you can do that. Most events are planned for the weekends, so arrange your schedule so that you are able to attend or participate in the planned events.