Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1067657
106 deck. On a clear day, the view stretches to the Atlantic Ocean. 2. SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING. Out of 135 trails, 75 percent are either intermediate or beginner. Five of eight peaks have a beginner trail off the top, so you never have to worry about riding a lift to a trail that is beyond your family's ability. Plus, with trails spread over 870 acres and 16 lifts, you may have a trail completely to yourself, which is good for youngsters who zig while others zag. e best strategy is to pick a lift and lap several runs, and then bop over to the next peak, so you aren't always traversing. Five high-speed lifts keep you moving. As the cen- tral runs get skied out, move to White Cap to the east for serious pitch and Jordan Bowl to the west for long, scenic cruisers and young- ster-friendly tree skiing at Blind Ambition and Wizards Gulch. 3. EASY ACCESS. Start at the South Ridge Base Lodge, which has all the essentials: tick- ets, eateries, ski school, rentals, ski shop, cub- bies, and easy terrain for warming up. Keep tabs on the action through large windows facing the slopes. It's just a few steps to the popular Chondola (gondolas plus six-person chairs) that whisks you to the top of North Peak in less than seven minutes. 4. ADRENALINE. Double black White Heat is one of New England's premier trails. Aurora Peak's glades and steeps keep experts coming back for more. At Oz, from Kansas, drop into ungroomed double blacks like Flying Monkey and the Tin Woodsman. 5. BIG AIR. Local boy and X Games winner Simon Dumont designed North Peak's T72 and 3D terrain parks, while Wonderland, with its easy snow rollers and berms, is perfect for little rippers. Four terrain parks in all. 6. TOP-NOTCH CONDITIONS. In 2007, Mich- igan-based Boyne Resorts bought Sunday River and channeled $20 million into improve- ments, including extending snowmaking to over more than 90 percent of the terrain. As for grooming, that perfect corduroy you see in the photos? at's for real. 7. BETHEL. A small Maine town of 3,000 souls just six minutes from the mountain, Bethel has lodging, shops, and eateries. Says Wende Gray, a 40-year resident, "I love Bethel because it is a real rural town, not just a 'made for the resort' town. Our Brooks Brothers is the local hardware store, not a haberdash- ery. Timberland Outlet is a woods road with logging truck traffic. You can eat with the locals at the Crossroads diner." 8. DINING. On-slope, you are never far from fuel. South Ridge Base Lodge offers everything from burgers to a sushi bar. North Peak has the sticky buns. Barker's Lodge is known for its crêpes. e best lunch spot, some say, is Sliders at Jordan Bowl. Try the kids' buffet at Camp in the Grand Summit Hotel. Downtown Bethel has a good share of pub food for affordable family dining. e recently renovated Sunday River Brewing Company specializes in casual dining op- tions like pizza and burgers. Bethel also has many choices for more upscale eateries. 9. VARIETY OF LODGINGS. From a ski dorm to rambling old inns to motels to the swank slopeside Grand Summit and Jordan Grand, plus 700 condominiums, there's something for every family. 10. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AND SNOW- SHOEING. e Bethel Village Trails at the Bethel Inn Resort offer 25 miles of XC ski, snowshoe, and fat bike trails. Families like to ski to the historic Artists' Covered Bridge. Carters X-C Ski Center in Bethel has 34 miles of trails with great views of Sunday River Resort and the Mahoosuc and Presi- dential Ranges. 11. KIDS' NIGHT OUT. At the River House in South Ridge on Saturdays and some holi- days: pizza and movie night for kids ages 5-12. Mom and Dad can enjoy a nice even- ing out, whether they head to the Foggy Goggle for live music and a great selection of beers or into Bethel to explore the dining options. Snowtubing, lighted ice-skating, and fireworks at South Ridge on ursdays and Saturdays are other kids' entertain- ment options. 12. DOG-FRIENDLY OPTIONS. e Bethel Inn and other hotels accept pooches, and you can cross-country ski and snowshoe on the Bethel Village Trails with them. ere's also day boarding right in town. 13. DON'T FEEL YOUR FAMILY HAS TO DO IT ALL. You will just have to come back. sundayriver.com