Sugarbush ~ My Kind of Family Mountain!

This article is part of a hosted stay at Sugarbush. 

I think we finally found “our mountain.” It’s hard to find something for everyone in our family– the kids are still learning and one isn’t even on skis yet, I’m an intermediate and my husband is an expert who loves to tear it up through the woods. It can be challenging to find a mountain that satisfies everyone, but I think we finally did!

About Sugarbush

Sugarbush is located in Warren, Vermont and spans a whopping 4,000 acres! There are five peaks that make up the Sugarbush resort: Mt. Ellen, Lincoln Peak, Castlerock Peak, North Lynx Peak, Gadd Peak and Inverness Peak.

You can choose from 111 trails and 3 terrain parks that provide skiing and riding for all levels. If skiing or riding through the woods is your jam, you’ll find 28 different areas of the mountain to do just that! The mountain features 16 different lifts, with 5 high-speed quads. For more details on lift tickets and pricing, click HERE.

Lodging

There are several lodging options on the Sugarbush property that cover all different budgets. Whether you choose Clay Brook, the Sugarbush Inn or resort condos, you won’t be disappointed! We were very fortunate to spend two nights in Clay Brook, and we were so sad to leave when our stay ended! No detail is missed at Clay Brook, whether it’s a game room for the kids, valet ski and boot service, a super helpful concierge or anything else you might desire during your stay.

We enjoyed relaxing in front of the gas fireplace after a day of skiing and enjoying the heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi area! The boys were so excited about swimming in the snow! 🙂

Dining

There are a number of delicious places to dine while at Sugarbush, and I wish I had had the opportunity to try them all! We enjoyed breakfast and dinner at Timbers (connected to Clay Brook) and enjoyed delicious farm to table fare and cocktails! The building is modeled after a 19th century round dairy barn, so it offers beautiful views of the surrounding slopes!

We also enjoyed a dinner at Fit To be Thai’d, which is attached to the Sugarbush Inn. Our family will never turn down the opportunity to grab Thai food! We also enjoyed lunch in the Gate House Lodge (love their salads made fresh to order!). Other options are the Chez Henri, Castlerock Pub, Wünderbar, the Waffle Cabin, Allyn’s Lodge, Skinny Pancake, Mt. Ellen Cafeteria, Walt’s at The Glen House, Green Mountain Lodge and the Valley House Cafeteria.

Skiing

As I mentioned above, the skiing is great for all abilities. It’s often hard to find terrain that challenges my husband at some family mountains, but that wasn’t the case at Sugarbush! There were plenty of trails for everyone, including skiing through the woods and ungroomed powder for my husband. 🙂 Unfortunately we didn’t make it over to Mt. Ellen due to wind holds on the lifts during the morning we were supposed to head over. Since I know we will be back, we’ll check it out then!

Kids’ Lessons

The boys enjoyed full day lesson programs at the Ski & Ride School. I love the school’s motto of “Be Better Here!” The instruction was great, and the whole drop off process was super easy! They met the boys and then had them fitted for skis and boots and they were out on the slopes! We had a chance to talk with both of the boys’ instructors, and they were very friendly and patient teachers.

By the end of the day, both boys were confidently riding the chair lift and making turns! More importantly, they had fun and are looking forward to hitting the slopes again soon!

Childcare

Because my youngest (who will be 3 in May) wasn’t old enough to start skiing yet, he went to the Sugarbush Day School on both days. The childcare facilities were AWESOME as was the staff. I love that they had three areas for the nursery, toddler and pre-school. They had an indoor bounce house and other great equipment and toys, and they also take the kids swimming and out for walks (weather dependent of course!).

Nordic Skiing at Ole’s Cross Country Center

If downhill skiing isn’t your thing, why not try nordic skiing? We stopped by Ole’s Cross Country Center on the way to Sugarbush for some afternoon cross-country skiing. The staff at Ole’s couldn’t have been more helpful, and all 3 boys were able to get out on skis! The views in Vermont are always gorgeous, and nordic skiing is a great way to stay warm, burn a lot of calories, get in some great cross-training AND enjoy beautiful scenery

Ole’s Cross Country Center is also located in Warren, Vermont, not too far from Sugarbush. You can rent everything you need, and if you’re in the market to buy gear, they have that too! There are all different levels and lengths of trails– check out a trail map HERE. Half and full day passes are available, and you can find all of the info you need on their website.

Final Thoughts

If you’re headed to Vermont to ski, I would definitely put Sugarbush at the top of your list. It’s a great family mountain with a friendly vibe and something for everyone. Check out their website, Facebook and Instagram pages!