Route 66 | Cities | Beaches |
Lodging |
More so than any other resort in the region,
you need to stay on the Snowshoe property while skiing here. Not only are
there few choices down in the valley, but the parking challenge becomes
insurmountable when you aren’t actually a guest. We know people who
have received refunds for their lift tickets because they drove around all
day and never did find a parking space. So just accept the fact that you’re
staying on the grounds. But this is not all bad. Snowshoe offers over 1300 rooms with more being built. Every conceivable type of lodging, location, and price bracket is provided. The challenge is to make an appropriate choice. Skiiers who have been coming here for 30 years have still not stayed at every facility on the mountain. |
Accept the fact that Snowshoe rooms fill early. Call in October.
If you are bringing a youth group, you need to consider Spruce Lodge and Snowshoe Mountain Lodge. Spruce is a funky low cost alternative high on the mountain. It is a few steps from the nearest lift, has its own rental facility in the basement, and offers the choice of rooms with bunk beds or rooms with double beds. The shuttle bus stops at your front door, a major advantage considering once you find a parking space you won’t want to move your own vehicle. And Spruce is within walking distance of most of the restaurants and stores along the edge of the slopes. It is considerably upscale from the youth group dorms at Timberline and Seven Springs and the makeshift arrangement at Winterplace’s Mountain House. |
Your second low cost option is Snowshoe Mountain Lodge, which
is actually down at the base of the mountain across from the Visitor Center.
Compensating for its valley location (the drive to the top is six miles
up windy and sometimes icy or snowy road), SML offers a restaurant, pool
and much plusher accommodations for the same price as Spruce. If you arrive
late at night or depart in the morning, you’re right at the front
entrance and don’t need to navigate that six mile road. And you can
actually park near your room, a luxury nobody else here enjoys Or you could try Overlook Condominiums, very low priced units eight miles down in the valley. These become hot commodities in the summer, since they’re near the golf course and other warm weather attractions, but in ski season they’re often…uh… overlooked. If you do stay down in the valley, your best parking strategy is to drive halfway up the mountain and turn left to Silver Creek. Park at the lodge there and take the shuttle over to Snowshoe. |
Families should investigate Silver Creek Lodge (left). This eight story structure offers studio, one, two, three and four bedroom units, most with full kitchens, fireplaces, washers, dryers and balconies. It includes an indoor/outdoor pool, fitness center, hot tubs, and several restaurants. Once a separate resort before being bought out by Snowshoe, Silver Creek retains its own ski school, tubing hill, equipment rental, day care and arcade. You can come here and enjoy a completely self contained weekend. Or you can step on that shuttle to Snowshoe. Up on the mountain, you face a bewildering array of rooms, condos, and townhouses
on the slopes, back a few steps, across the road and at various points along
the road. |
Another cost saving angle is to book one of the units in the middle of the ridge but back across the road from the slopes, actually looking down into the valley away from all the action. Staying at Summit or Sundown, you will then have to walk about a block to ski, but your accommodations will be more upscale and you’ll be closer to all the restaurants and shops. Shamrock and Treetop units are located between lifts and trailheads and a little walk to amenities, so are priced somewhat below the top line accommodations even though they’re on the slopeside of the road. But if you’re coming to Snowshoe for an all out ski vacation and want the best lodging available, investigate Highland House and Rimfire Lodge. In addition to their central location looking right down the main slopes, they have the shops and restaurants at their very base, and reserved and underground parking. An adventure worth considering is a night out at Sunrise Backcountry Hut. This unique chalet is reachable only by skiis, sleigh, snowshoes or snowmobile. You ski out, enjoy a fine dinner, sit around the fireplace, bed down, awaken to a fine breakfast, and ski back. Sunrise sleeps 14, so you could take a group. Make reservations before Thanksgiving. |
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