Pico Mountain Ski Resort

"A Family Ski-Weekend at Pico Mountain"

I have been wanting to learn to ski for 22 years. I had tried once before, in Italy of all places, but the weather was warm for the season, and there was no snow. Then, I just never had the chance. Until recently, when my family and I had the opportunity to head to Killington, VT to check out Pico Mountain.

The town of Killington, VT is about 4 hours and 40 minutes from Upper Manhattan where we live. If you take I-87, it requires more tolls, but a lot less traffic than the other routes. My younger boys had no idea what to expect, though my 12 year old having discovered snowboarding with his father not too long ago, was very excited.

We arrived at Pico Mountain around 8:30PM. The area was dark, and it was clear that a lot was shut down for the night. We checked in at the Sports Center, and the young gentleman was friendly and very helpful, even guiding us to the main area where we would find dinner.

We stayed at Pico Mountain Condominiums, located a short walk to the main ski area.

The resort itself was lovely. Smaller than other ski resorts I have seen, but this is exactly why I chose it. The environment is perfect for beginner skiers like myself and my children, and though my husband is a more advanced skier, he still felt that the variation of slopes provided him with enough options for his level. He also thought the quality of the slopes was good, though the lifts were a bit older. As a beginner skier, I had no problems with either.

There is an separately owned day care on site called Kid's Quest for children 6 months to 3 years old and a ski lessons program called Mini Stars Slide and Play, set for kids ages 4 to 6. My 3 year old stayed at Kid's Quest and my  4 year old participated in Mini Stars.  The resort hosts a Sports Center which is equipped with a weight room and a pool, and also serves as a membership gym for community residents.

Both my 12 year old and I took lessons. He, for snowboarding, and I, for skiing. The lessons are in the morning around 10AM and in the afternoon around 1:00PM. My son didn't feel he got much from his first lesson, though he liked his instructor on day two much better.

The staff at the equipment rental offices were helpful and very knowledgable. One of the young ladies even stepping out from behind the counter to help my 12 year old put on his snowboarding boots. The equipment was in good condition, fit well, and functioned without flaw.

I had wonderful instructors. Mark was my first and he was great in really taking us slow and not challenging us too much (we were all just learning to ski). Leslie, my instructor on day two was amazing. I would wish her on any beginner skier. After two days of skiing, I managed to not fall once! Not bad for a first-timer. I thought the value surpassed the cost of $35 for 1.5 hours.

Pico hosts a program called Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, where they offer lessons and activities to children and adults with disabilities. I witnessed a few members of the groups in action and everyone seemed be enjoying the experience.

There is a food court in the main building, where you can find pizza slices for $3.50 and a little over $5.00, among other food and beverage options. The Waffle Hut is located outside the main building and often filled the air with the scent of sweet, caramelized waffles - a favorite of most people at Pico.

The visitors were very friendly and approachable. I met a nice lady from Kent, England who spoke to me about her preference for Pico over Killington because of the size. I also met a Latino family, from the grandmother to the grandchildren, all frequent visitors of Pico, all avid skiers, who said they really enjoyed the laid back feel of the resort.

We cooked at the loft. I found out this was the best option for families with kids as most restaurants in the area experience huge lines at dinner time.

It is important to note that for larger families like mine, the ticket price for our experience is a bit high. Our weekend included: 2-night stay in the 2 BR, 2 BR loft; 2 full-day day care with lessons for our 3 year old, 2 full-days at Mini-Stars for 4 year old, 2 1 1/2 lessons for myself and also for my son, ski rentals for one junior and two adults, and 3 lift tickets. An estimated total cost: $1,520.00

However, Pico regularly offers ski and lift specials, including discounts on lodging throughout the season, discounted vacation packages, which can significantly help to reduce the cost.

My children cried as we crossed the bridge coming back into NYC. They begged their father to turn the car around, and to this day, almost a week later, my 4 year old refuses to take the ski tag off his coat and often talks about his experience at the "mountain house". I on the other hand, learned the basics of skiing, without falling once, and am longing to return soon as well.

Bottom line, I would recommend Pico Mountain as a ski resort destination, especially for beginner skiers. I researched a few ski sites nearby, including the larger, more popular Killington Ski Resort, but like many of the other skiers I spoke to, I decided on Pico Mountain because of it's smaller size, more intimate setting and environment.

This review is based on a complimentary visit to Pico Mountain. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.