cinnamonsugah's Passport
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
I have two great kids ages 15 and 11. They are finally at the age when I feel like I vacation WITH them instead of FOR them. There is nothing quite so nice as relaxing with my family!
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, relaxed, simple, energetic, easy_going, scheduled
We Just Got Back From
Nassau, Bahamas
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Disneyworld
A Place We'd Love To Visit
New York City
Favorite Vacation Memory
My favorite vacation memory of all time is when we took my daughter to Disney World for her fourth birthday and she hid under the table when Prince Charming tried to talk to her. She's 15 now and I miss the days when she was running away from boys!
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
When we went skiing for the first time, we got caught on the road to Snowshoe in a blizzard. We had to sit in the van for several hours waiting on the roads to be clear enough to pass. Lesson learned: next time we're renting a 4WD!
Websites I Like:
Kid-friendly winter fun at Snowshoe Mountain
Fun things for kids on a trip to Snowshoe! There's more than just skiing!
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, West Virginia
reviewed on: March 16 2010
"Nothing short of wonderful!"
My family recently spent a weekend at Snowshoe Ski Resort in Snowshoe, WV. We arrived in the middle of a blizzard that extended our journey an additional 4 hours as we crawled up the last 5 miles of the mountain. Fortunately, once we arrived, the rest of our stay at Snowshoe was nothing short of wonderful.
The check in process went quickly. The desk was well staffed and they were ready for us. Our information was already printed and packaged for pick up. The check in area was a little bit of a drive from our hotel. After checking in, we had to load the kids back up and drive to the Brigham Center to unload. Snowshoe is a resort full of thoughtful details. For example, once you load your luggage on the cart at the Brigham Center, you travel underground to the Highland House which is on the other side of the Village. It was a thoughtful perk in the middle of a blizzard.
Since we arrived in a dark blizzard, the view of the snowy West Virginian Mountains that greeted us the next morning was particularly breathtaking. Drinking our morning coffee and watching the snow fall is an amazing way to greet the day. By the time breakfast was done, we were ready to tackle the slopes. With more than two feet of fresh snow from a 2 day blizzard, the slopes were especially powdery. Although this was our first ski trip, more experienced skiers that I spoke with described the ski conditions as “amazing” and “ideal”. With 60 trails and 14 lifts, Snowshoe has enough variety to please skiers and snowboarders alike.
Drawn to the mountains because of the recent snow, the resort was busy with skiers, but the crowds were not overwhelming. We did see lines for rentals and lessons but we had made our reservations before our arrival so we didn’t have to wait. Even the line at Starbucks moved quickly! The only time the lines were really a problem was the first night when we tried to eat at Cheat Mountain Pizza. We gave up and got takeout. Planning ahead really did make a difference. The reservation specialists were able to answer all of my questions so I knew what we needed to reserve before we arrived. Because we were first time skiers, we rented our equipment. The staff at the rental area was able to outfit us quickly and answer all of our “first-timer” questions.
Snowshoe is a ski resort but they have much more than just skiing. While we were there, we also enjoyed a couple of hours at the Big Top Entertainment Center and the Split Rock Pools. The Big Top is not included in the room rates but with every activity a kid could want from video games to rock climbing, it provided a nice break from the cold. Split Rock Pools are included in the room rate. Split Rock is an indoor/outdoor pool area for kids and adults with slides, a geyser, a water dumping barrel, a sauna and 2 outdoor hot tubs. Sitting in the hot tub while the kids raced down the slide was an incredibly relaxing end to the day.
The resort also offers a variety of restaurants but we didn’t eat anything extraordinary while we were there. The restaurants that we tried ranged from mediocre to just so-so. Cheat Mountain Pizza was a let down and we would have done better with a frozen pizza cooked ourselves and saved $60. The Wood Chip appetizer we had at the Junction was the best thing we ate on the whole trip however, the Open-faced Roast Beef Sandwich was inedible. If you have a kitchen in your room, you’d eat better if you brought your own provisions.
Snowshoe is much more expensive than other resorts in the area but they do offer a few discount packages that vary with the season. What you are paying for is convenience. From our room at the Highland House, we were truly within walking distance of everything in the Village area. A free shuttle was available for other areas of Snowshoe. Highland House and several other hotels at Snowshoe are “ski-in, ski-out” meaning you literally walk out of the hotel and onto the slopes. After all, skiing is the primary draw during the winter at Snowshoe. What you are not getting is luxury. Our room at Highland House was just okay. Snowshoe is a resort for “skiers” and since that is who they cater to, they do it well.
*This review is based on a 2-night complimentary stay at Snowshoe Ski Resort. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, West Virginia
reviewed on: March 16 2010
"Who can resist a guarantee?"
Who can resist a guarantee? Snowshoe is so confident in their programs that they guarantee that your child will learn to ski in two days. Their confidence is well placed! Both of my children were able to ski on their own after just one day with Snowshoe’s instructors. My daughter is 13 so she enjoyed a 2 hour adult lesson while my 9 year old son went to a half day kids program. It was the first time either had been skiing and they both felt really confident after their lessons.Ski School Areas and Facilities:
The ski school area is right beside Expedition Station which is one of Snowshoe resort’s four ski rental locations. A big plus for us was being able to pick up our equipment and walk right out to the lesson area. The lessons for all age groups begin about the same time (kids @ 8:45, adults at 9:00). The drop off process was a little chaotic. We were told to go to the flag for your lesson and check in with the instructor there. The problem is that the flags were divided by color and there was no explanation as to which color was for which age group. The wording on the flags only divided the kids from the adults so we had to ask around a little to make sure we were at the right areas. Once we found the right area though, we felt very comfortable with the instructors. They seemed knowledgeable and friendly. It is obvious that safety is important to the ski school staff. Snowshoe requires helmets for all kids under 12 while participating in lessons. The helmet was included in the rental pricing. Because of the layout, it is hard to watch from the sidelines but we did catch a few minutes before they went off over the hill. The instructors started off teaching the kids how to put the skis on and taught them how to walk with the skis. Once the kids had mastered a few basics like stopping and turning, they learned how to get on and off the lift and tried out the big hill.
Kids Ski Instructors:
Both kids really liked their instructors. The instructors were very approachable and used frequent positive reinforcements. My 13 year old commented that her instructor rode the ski lift with her twice because she was nervous. I really like that she was sensitive to my daughter’s apprehension and encouraged her to try it again. By the end of the lesson, my daughter was much more confident on the lift. After his lesson, my 9 year old said that he “wanted to ski again the next day and the day after that and the day after that!” His instructor took the time when we were picking him up to let us know how he did which was nice because it showed that he had been paying particular attention to my son. Although it was a group lesson, there were only 8 kids so the instructor was really able to to give some individualized attention
Reservations and Pricing:
Prior reservations are recommended to save wait time. Reservations can be made by phone either before your trip or while at the resort. Equipment rentals are not included but reservations for equipment can be made at the same time. Kids’ lessons are available for children from ages 4 to 12. They are divided into two groups: 4 to 6 and 7 to 12. Kids over age 13 must attend adult lessons. Snowshoe offers full and half day programs for kids and 2 hour lessons for adults. Full day programs include lunch. They also offer adaptive lessons for individuals with disabilities. Pricing is very expensive compared to other resorts in the area and is not all inclusive. Rentals and lift tickets must be purchased separately. However, it was worth it to us because of the emphasis on safety. Our kids also learned a lot and had a great time. While I can’t compare the quality of their service since we haven’t tried any other ski resorts, it seems worthwhile to pay more to start the kids out with enthusiastic instructors who spend the necessary time to teach them the basics.
Noteworthy:
*Make sure to pack warm layers, gloves, and goggles. They can be purchased at Expedition Station but the prices there were much higher than what they cost away from the resort. Also make sure to use sunscreen and send lip balm.
*Snowshoe has daycare available for kids ages 3 months to 12 years old. Reservations are required for daycare.
*This review is based on 2 complimentary lessons at Snowshoe Ski School. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, West Virginia
reviewed on: March 16 2010
"Big Tops is Tops"
My family recently spent a couple of hours at the Big Top Entertainment Center at Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort. Big Top has rock climbing, euro-bungy, a mechanical bull, several inflatables, pool tables, a small indoor playground and an abundant supply of coin operated video games. You can purchase individual activity tickets ($3-$12) or all-access passes ($25-$35 depending on time of day) for two hours which is a much better deal. There is also carnival style food available for purchase at reasonable prices. Big Top has a good variety of activities for school aged kids but the toddler set might get a little bored. Young teens love this place. My 13 year old daughter was able to enjoy all of the attractions, but my 9 year old son was too short for the sky bikes and the Orbitron. Not a big deal since he was more than happy to spend some extra time playing video games. The video games were current and all of the ones that we played were working properly with the exception of one of the skee-ball games.
The food that was available was similar to what you would purchase at a county fair and the prices were about average for the area. We paid about $30 for a family of four to eat lunch. The food is precooked and reheated when you order, but was surprisingly tasty. We especially enjoyed the chicken sliders and the Italian Sausage. They also have funnel cakes, cotton candy, and popcorn in case you just want a snack.
The only real complaint I have is that Big Top doesn’t have adequate staffing during the day. During the two hours that we were there, only two staff members were available to run all 10 of the attractions. This meant that every time the kids wanted to move to a new activity, they had to wait until a staff member was available to assist them. Once staff members were available, they were friendly and helpful. We visited in the middle of the afternoon so the staffing may be improved during the evening hours.
The positive side of visiting in the middle of the day was being able do an activity as many times as we wanted without waiting. Before we went to Big Top, I looked online to see what they offered and showed the kids. My daughter had already planned on making a bee-line for the mechanical bull. Even though she only lasted a few seconds, she jumped up and asked with a look of pure joy, “Can I go again?” Since the Center was almost empty, she was able to ride as many times as she wanted. It took several tries before she got the hang of it but that last ride was pretty triumphant!
Overall, Big Top was a really fun activity for our family. Even though we had to wait for staff members, the lack of crowds and the responsiveness of the staff made up for the inconvenience. I would recommend purchasing the all-access pass because your kids will want to enjoy the attractions more than once. Make sure to bring your camera to get some great shots of your kids hanging off the climbing wall or riding a raging (mechanical) bull!
*This review is based on a complimentary visit to Big Top Entertainment Center. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, West Virginia
reviewed on: March 16 2010
"The Junction serves its function"
On our second night at Snowshoe, we ate at The Junction Restaurant and Saloon. We walked in and were seated immediately. Because we arrived early, we were given the option of ordering from the regular menu or the early bird menu. There is also a children’s menu available for the 12 and under set. The early bird menu features comfort food dishes and is a steal because all of the dishes were only $9.99! Regular menu prices average $30 for entrees including steak and trout which seems expensive even for a resort area. We started with the Wood Chips appetizer which was a cross between cheese fries and potato skins. It was honestly the best thing we ate all weekend…absolute deliciousness! For entrees, my daughter and I tried the BBQ ribs. The meat was literally falling off the bone and the garlic mashed potatoes served with them were total comfort food. My husband had the open face roast beef sandwich and he was very disappointed. It was a soggy bland mess. The kids macaroni and cheese at $4.99 was just a small side order of Kraft from a box so if you have a good eater, you may want to encourage them to try one of the early bird entrees instead. The Junction is a good budget place to eat if you can get there during the early bird dining hours.
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, West Virginia
reviewed on: March 16 2010
"Cheat Mountain Pizza left us feeling a little cheated"
On our first night in Snowshoe, we decided to give Cheat Mountain Pizza a try since it was right next to our hotel. I had read several less than stellar reviews, but since it was so close, we decided to go for it. We should have listened to the reviews. When we walked in, we were told there was a 45 minute wait even though we could clearly see two tables available. I asked if we could see a menu for take out. I was given a take out menu that was a much abbreviated list of options (3 pizza choices, salad, & breadsticks). After waiting 10 minutes in a very crowded corner of the bar area, we ordered 2 small pepperoni pizzas, an order of breadsticks, and a salad. The bill was $54!
My husband waited for the pizza and I took the kids back to the room because there was no place to stand. It took 35 minutes for our order to be ready and with the exception of the salad; it was not worth the wait. For the prices Cheat Mountain Pizza charges, the pizza should really be something special. Our local take out pizza restaurant blows them out of the water and costs much less.
10 Snowshoe Drive
Snowshoe, West Virginia
reviewed on: March 16 2010
"A skiers paradise but not very luxurious"
Highland House is a great stay if you’re looking to be in the middle of everything, but you’re not going to find luxury accommodations here. Have your expectations set so you aren’t disappointed. When traveling with my family, I try to strike a balance between going for luxury that mom and dad would enjoy and having a room that’s practical and kid-friendly. Which means that with a 13 year old and a 9 year old, anything too grown-up is out but nice sheets and fluffy pillows are a must when I stay in a hotel. For us, Highland House falls a little too far from luxury for my particular taste. With rooms that cost $500 a night, I was expecting more, and was disappointed at the homeliness and lack of details from check-in, to the size of the beds, to the lack of towels in the health spa. However, to its credit, the biggest positive about Highland House is its location. Being right in the center of everything at Snowshoe is really what you are paying for when you stay at Highland House.Checking in:
The Mountain-top check-in is a bit of a drive from the Highland House which meant unloading and re-loading the kids. After check-in, you must drive to the unloading area at the Brigham Center and travel underground to the Highland House which is on the other side of the Village. We really appreciated being able to avoid going back out into the blizzard conditions outdoors.
Rooms:
The condos at Highland House are individually owned so it is a bit of a potluck as to what your room will be like. I can only speak from our experience. Our room had 2 bedrooms and a nice sitting area with a fold out couch. The master bedroom was a nice size with vaulted ceilings and a small wet-bar. Unfortunately, the bed was tiny, hard and uncomfortable with scratchy sheets and two flattened pillows. Even with the extra room created by the tiny bed, there were no drawers to unpack into. Although there is a closet, not everything can be hung up so we ended up just leaving our clothes in the suitcase all weekend. The same problems existed in the second smaller bedroom. In the second bedroom, there was only space for the same tiny, hard bed. The kids were able to co-exist in the space partly because we also used the fold out couch at night. Two adults would have been tripping over each other in that room.
Staff:
One area that Highland House does win points for is the excellent housekeeping staff. They were extremely friendly and even took care of the breakfast dishes that we left in the sink. Our room was clean and we had plenty of fluffy towels the whole time we were there.
Facilities:
Highland House guests are able to enjoy both the Split Rock Pools and the outdoor hot tub in the health spa. The Split Rock Pools were one of the highlights of our trip. They are a short walk from Highland House, but well worth it. Split Rock has indoor/outdoor pools with slides, a geyser, and two outdoor hot tubs for mom and dad. The pool towels were fluffy and big enough to wrap up in which is important when leaving the warmth of the hot tub for the cold run indoors. The outdoor hot tub at the Highland House was a nice touch; however it would have been nice to have towels available in the spa for guests.
Overall, we really did enjoy staying at the Highland House. The best thing about Highland House is its location right in the center of the village. Not having to hike everywhere we went actually made up for the lack of luxury. Everything we wanted to do at Snowshoe was truly within walking distance of the Highland House. It is also a ski-in/ski-out facility. Each room has a locker for ski equipment so you can grab your skis and literally be on the slopes straight from your hotel. After all, Snowshoe is a ski resort and they cater to skiers. If you are looking for a hotel convenient to the village and the slopes, then Highland House will meet your expectations. If you are looking for a bit of luxury, just know that you are not going to find mints on your pillow or valet service here.
Tips:
The Resort offers a number of restaurants but they were overpriced and the food wasn’t great. If you are renting a room with a kitchen, do yourself a favor and bring food to cook yourself. I am generally against cooking at all on vacation but I was wishing for a frozen pizza after trying the pizza from Cheat Mountain Pizza.
*This review is based on a 2-night complimentary stay at the Highland House. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
