Family Resort over Christmas, snowtubing....possibility of snowfall?

[caribear]

We live in Florida and would like to travel north for a family Christmas at a nice resort. We would be a group of 9 adults and 3 kids....and would like to be able to go snow tubing...and have the possibility of a snowfall. The issue is the drive time...as we will be driving from FL to the destination. We really do not want more than 1 travel day.....so we are having issues finding a resort that fits our needs/wants. We found the Chetola Resort in NC....however I am thinking the kids will be bored. Would love to hear of any suggestions you might have...even if the drive time is a little longer. Thanks!!

 

[3boymthr]

Not sure exactly where you are in FL but Ober Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg TN offers tubing and there is more than enough going on in Gatlinburg on top of the tubing to keep you busy for a week!

 

[HM]

The Homestead Resort in VA has a tubing hill (and skiing) and lots of other activities for families. Fairly expensive, but if you get on their mailing/email list, you may get periodic discount offers that may help.

 

[caribear]

Not sure exactly where you are in FL but Ober Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg TN offers tubing and there is more than enough going on in Gatlinburg on top of the tubing to keep you busy for a week!

Thanks for the reply! We actually rented a cabin in Gatlinburg last Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time! We did the snow tubing, aquarium and go carting. I would love to do it again at Christmas time, but others in our party are not so inclined. It even snowed for our Thanksgiving 2013 stay!

We are driving from Jacksonville, FL.

Thanks again!

 

[caribear]

The Homestead Resort in VA has a tubing hill (and skiing) and lots of other activities for families. Fairly expensive, but if you get on their mailing/email list, you may get periodic discount offers that may help.

Will check it out! Thanks!!

 

[rnorwo1]

Subscribing as we are talking about a similar trip, too. My kids are just desperate to see snow, so last year we went to Stone Mountain in GA. It was ok for a two day thing, but we want to rent a house or cabin and stay a week somewhere. We are in Louisiana, but we are willing to fly, as long as we can use SWA.
Have you looked at Maggie Valley in NC? If we end up driving, that may be where we go.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Subscribing as we are talking about a similar trip, too. My kids are just desperate to see snow, so last year we went to Stone Mountain in GA. It was ok for a two day thing, but we want to rent a house or cabin and stay a week somewhere. We are in Louisiana, but we are willing to fly, as long as we can use SWA. Have you looked at Maggie Valley in NC? If we end up driving, that may be where we go.

If you're willing to fly, look into the Mount Washington Hotel in NH. It's a beautiful old mountain resort, lots of skiing nearby, not too far from North Conway (lots of stuff to do there - check out the Polar Express if you have little kids), not a long drive to Santa's Village (really nice little amusement park open weekends in December and lit up for Christmas).

 

[caribear]

Subscribing as we are talking about a similar trip, too. My kids are just desperate to see snow, so last year we went to Stone Mountain in GA. It was ok for a two day thing, but we want to rent a house or cabin and stay a week somewhere. We are in Louisiana, but we are willing to fly, as long as we can use SWA. Have you looked at Maggie Valley in NC? If we end up driving, that may be where we go.

We were looking at the Cataloochee Ranch, but I think that is a little too rustic for my family....and I believe that is close to Maggie Valley.

If we were able to fly then I don't think we would be having an issue finding a resort. Lots to choose from in CO and some nice looking resorts in the Poconos too.

 

[rnorwo1]

If you're willing to fly, look into the Mount Washington Hotel in NH. It's a beautiful old mountain resort, lots of skiing nearby, not too far from North Conway (lots of stuff to do there - check out the Polar Express if you have little kids), not a long drive to Santa's Village (really nice little amusement park open weekends in December and lit up for Christmas).

Thanks, I will definitely check it out, it sounds great!

We were looking at the Cataloochee Ranch, but I think that is a little too rustic for my family....and I believe that is close to Maggie Valley.

If we were able to fly then I don't think we would be having an issue finding a resort. Lots to choose from in CO and some nice looking resorts in the Poconos too.

There are several resorts and VRBO rentals in that area. I have a friend who has gone to the area several times and loved it, they did the tubing there. We have two SW companion passes, or we wouldn't be able to fly the 5 of us. I still have to have relatively inexpensive accommodations and activities, though!

 

[DisneyDiana]

There are some really wonderful resorts in the Poconos. You would be close enough for day trips to Hershey Park which does a fabulous Christmas event! The Strasburg Railroad does a great Christmas event too. We go to the Poconos every year for tubing. Love it!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I know its late but for 2015 & with distance in mind, 'Bear Creek' in Pa is an absolutely lovely ski lodge/resort, set up similar to what you see in the movies. It's not a really big place and tends to have families so you don't have it over run with the board park stunt teens like many of the other bigger places in the poconos which my kids prefer but newer skiers might not, it's a common complaint teens tend to be reckless and unaware of young children around. BC is where my kids both learned to ski and snowboard, perfect for learning & staying. Also as the PP said, Hershey is a bit west off 78 for their beautiful Christmas Candylane & Sands casino in Bethlehem is a bit East for adult time & at Christmas you'll find Christkindlemart & Horse drawn carriages down Main St in the historic district. Only thing is we can get randomly warm Christmases on occasion so this spot is no guarantee of snow, late Jan to Feb you are good.

Snow guarantee you need to go further North, I've heard amazing things about Smugglers Notch in Vermont, although I've never been everyone who goes loves it. If I was down south and my kids just wanted to see snow I would go to that region.

BTW, can't really go by the snow reports, no matter how terrible the conditions are in Pennsylvania the reports will tell you it's perfect because they know once people get there they will pay- been burned a few times, I hear many visitors run into the same problem throughout the moderate northeast. What you never want to do is try to sk/boardi on snow after it's been warm a few days it turns into a sheet of ice and and they blow the snow on top of it and after a few hours it's just dangerous, you'll get hurt. Watch the weather and if its been cold for a few days, like now for the weekend, things will be perfect.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Snow guarantee you need to go further North

As a former Vermonter, I can tell you that December is iffy for snow, anywhere in New England or on the East Coast. Yes, there's the chance of snowfall, but it could be dreary and rainy too. In Manchester, Vermont (where I lived in my youth) we had a White Christmas less than half the time.

If you want a very high probability of snow falling Christmas week, you have to head to the Rockies, in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming.

Otherwise, anywhere from Gatlinburg to Northern Maine *could* have snow, but it'll just be the luck of the draw.

 

[LuvOrlando]

As a former Vermonter, I can tell you that December is iffy for snow, anywhere in New England or on the East Coast. Yes, there's the chance of snowfall, but it could be dreary and rainy too. In Manchester, Vermont (where I lived in my youth) we had a White Christmas less than half the time.

If you want a very high probability of snow falling Christmas week, you have to head to the Rockies, in Colorado, Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming.

Otherwise, anywhere from Gatlinburg to Northern Maine *could* have snow, but it'll just be the luck of the draw.

My bad, we have family in Rochester and they start getting buried in snow in October, I thought the whole region North of there gets that way but maybe its just lake effect snow. Figured since Vermont is where people from PA go it must be better, good to know

 

[HM]

OP, The Homestead came out with a discount code yesterday. I don't know what dates it covers, but it may be worth looking at it if it truly covers all year. It's good through Jan 8 for reservations.

You pay full price for first night but $24.90 for the second night of the stay.(non-refundable) It is probable that this works for multiple night stays as well (one night at discount for each full night). There are additional fees (resort fee and taxes show up when you choose dates and room types) and you'll pay $10 for parking each car (not mentioned in rate rules).

https://ssl.omnihotels.com/Omni?hot...dst=RR&rate_abbrv=249BDAY&Phoenix_state=clear

 

[MommyMK]

Massanutten resort in VA!