Don’t let the cold weather keep you on the couch this winter. Remain undaunted by the wind chill factor with a few heart-pumping sports. When the DMV is cold, it’s likely that the nearby local ski resorts are blanketed with that pretty white stuff. There are so many ways to keep adventure in your life. Here are some activities within a three hour drive of Washington D.C. offering nonstop action and family fun. For all resorts, please check the websites for hours of operation.
Deep Creek Lake
The coldest lake in Maryland, Deep Creek has 69 miles of shoreline and is high in the Allegheny Highlands. Here, winter sticks around a lot longer than it does in the DMV. Garrett County is the home of Wisp Ski Resort with its downhill skiing, snowboarding and ice skating rink. But for an exhilarating ride through the mountains, try the Mountain Coaster. No matter what winter sport you love, Deep Creek is the place to do it.
Massanutten continues to draw winter sports enthusiasts to its summit for panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Two hours from the Beltway, Massanutten has so many activities; guests should plan their visit with a Massanutten concierge before arriving. This four-season resort has gone from day-trip destination, to a weekend getaway that might include hot-stone massage, snow tubing, and surfing at an indoor WaterPark. In the winter, skiing remains the main attraction. Skiers appreciate Massanutten’s three quad chairs with conveyer belts that move you forward while boarding. The resort lights the trails at night on the weekends, and snowboarders value how the staff grooms, hand shapes and changes the layout of the terrain parks daily. Looking for a break from the cold, splash around at Massanutten’s Indoor Waterpark.
Snow tubing tracks are not created equal. Liberty Mountain Resort has a multi-lane track called Bubly Tube Park where you can race your friends. They make snow all winter long so if it’s cold, they’re gonna have tubing. They also offer kiddie tubing and an arcade where you can go warm up. The full service moving carpet makes it easy to ride dozens of times. Liberty is also known for nighttime skiing. Check the website for hours of operation.
What we love is the Dark Sky experience at this beautiful mountain recreation area. The 1,860-acre park has scenic views, woodlands and the rolling pastures of a historic farm that captures the colonial through modern life of the Crooked Run Valley. Nature and history programs are offered year-round. Winter hiking offers unfettered views of the panoramic landscape and has access to the Appalachian Trail.
This picturesque rural county is situated just south of the northernmost entrance to Shenandoah National Park on the scenic banks of Shenandoah River. Within the county are so many gems, includingShenandoah Caverns with its unique bacon-style formations with the only elevator in the region. No matter the temperature outside, the caverns remain 55 degrees year-round. Shenandoah Caverns is a three-for-one attraction where you can see giant floats used in Inaugurations, Mardi Gras and Rose Bowl Parades at American Celebration on Parade. Take a walk through the quirky and whimsical Main Street of Yesteryear, a hallway decorated like the windows of famous department stores in the 1940’s. Afterward, stop by Route 11 Potato Chip factory to watch chips being made, or visit one of the many vineyards nearby, including Cave Ridge Vineyard, winner of the Virginia Gold Cup winner for its 2019 Fossil Hill Reserve.
With this cold weather, Bryce Resort is the place for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing and ice skating. Offering a wide array of accommodations. Bryce Resort offers the best in four-season outdoor adventure, but it’s especially fun in winter. Youngsters enter ski school or take private lessons as soon as they’re potty trained. Bryce’s two magic carpets whisk them up to a deck where they can walk off and get their “snow legs.” At the base of the mountain, parents watch their child’s progress from the lodge. As they gain competency, students get a report card and are treated to hot chocolate breaks. All the trails are accessible by way of a high-speed quad lift. Spend your apres ski time at the Copper Kettle Restaurant with live entertainment on weekends.
Nestled on 11,000 acres in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Wintergreen Resort offers a sporty, yet refined getaway just 2.5 hours from Dulles. Well-equipped to entertain in all four seasons, Wintergreen is especially attractive to skiers and snowboarders thanks to the well groomed trails and challenging terrain parks. Wintergreen is one of the largest ski resorts, both in number of ski trails and overnight beds. It has a beautiful mountaintop setting, and powerful state-of-the-art snowmaking system that can work wonders despite the fickle winter weather we get in the Mid-Atlantic.
The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA
The Homestead is a nice splurge for folks who are casual skiers or snowboarders. The accommodations are extraordinarily beautiful, in the style of a grand old hotel. The ski hill is a couple of miles from the hotel. Though modest in size, it’s not usually crowded and has a modern snowmaking system. Guests of the resort take the shuttle to the European-style ski lodge, complete with multiple roaring fireplaces. Parents enjoy sitting by the picture windows watching their kids take a lesson or ski down to the base. The chairlift allows beginners and intermediate skiers to hop off midway; then it continues to the top of the 700-foot vertical slope for more advanced runs with wooded trails. Robinson says their moderate speed chairlift is easier for new skiers to board and disembark.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Located in Tucker County, WV, you’ll find two mountains for the price of one ski pass. Canaan Valley has some of the longest runs in the Mid-Atlantic. The Canaan Valley typically receives around 180 inches of snowfall annually. Skiers and snowboarders can choose from Canaan Valley Resort’s 26 trails, ranging from beginner to advanced. Even on prime weekends and holidays, Canaan Valley is a good choice for skiers seeking a less hectic vibe. There’s also ice skating, tubing, cross country, snowshoeing and ski biking for a full adventure experience.
Timberline offers serious skiing with an unpretentious vibe. Well-priced lodging includes private rental homes, and Timberline Hotel, both located slope side on a mountain with a 1000-foot vertical drop. Timberline is also known for inexpensive, professional instruction, especially for groups.
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