What to do at Smugglers’ Notch Resort if you don’t Ski

I got a lot of odd looks when I told people that we were going to a ski resort in January but that none of us skied. But we weren’t worried. We had plans for Jackson to learn how to ski and we knew that the resort offered plenty of activities for us non-skiers.

We were invited to visit Smugglers’ Notch this winter, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What to do at Smugglers’ Notch Resort if you Don’t Ski

Learn to Ski (or snowboard)

The obvious thing to do when you find yourself at a ski resort and not knowing how to ski would be to learn how to ski or snowboard. Smugglers’s Notch offers ski and snowboard lessons for kids and adults of all ages and ability. They offer a women’s ski clinic and Mommy and Me lessons. There is an opportunity for everyone to learn, no matter your age or ability.

Snowshoeing

I had never been snowshoeing and was really pretty clueless about the the whole experience. Lucky for me, so was everyone else on the back country showshoeing adventure John and I went on. Our guide took a group of 4 of us back country snow shoeing up the side of the mountain. It wasn’t quite walking in snow and you definitely didn’t glide across the snow the way me and another woman on the tour had envisioned it. It was more like hiking in the snow and it was incredibly fun. I don’t think I had laughed so long and so fully as when we I was sliding back down the hill and slipped and slid down on my backside. It was wonderful and a great way to explore the mountains without skis or a snowboard.

Snow Tubing

I hadn’t been snowtubing since I was a kid and while not much has changed it is still a lot of fun for kids and adults. Smugglers’ Notch offers 2 locations for snowtubing one on the North Hill that is open during the day and another on Sir Henry’s Hill that is open on select nights. We enjoyed a few kid free rides down the North Hill before our snowshoe adventure.

Ice Skating

I have tried ice skating a few time. It’s not my thing. But my husband really likes ice skating so I strapped some skates on and headed out to the rink. My husband loved that the rink had two hockey nets so that you could play a game of ice hockey. While skating is not my thing I did enjoy the views.

Swimming

Swimming may not come to mind when you think of a ski resort but after a long day out in the cold, jumping in a heated pool can definitely be fun. The indoor Courtside Pool has a heated pool and hot tubs.

Snowmobiling

John and Jack were so excited to go snowmobiling. The tour took them down the notch where they got to see an area of the mountain that isn’t accessible unless you are on a snowmobile or skis. This was their first time snowmobiling and John said it was very user friendly and that the tour allowed him to really get a feel for the snowmobile. On select nights of the week Smugglers’ Notch also has mini snowmobile rides for kids ages 6-12.

Fun Zone 2.0

My family loves Fun Zone 2.0 it’s the perfect place to warm up after a fun day outdoors. You can play arcade games, climb the rock wall, try the obstacle course or play laser tag. You can also go upstairs and enjoy bounce houses and an area geared to kids ages 2 to 8 years old. I was amazed that after a day of skiing my son still had tons of energy for the Fun Zone.

Relax

There is so much to do at Smugglers’ Notch that it’s easy to feel like you have to do it all. But you don’t. What I love about being at Smuggs is that their is time to unwind and reconnect. John and I enjoyed lunch in the Morse Mountain Pub and got to see Jack heading in for lunch during Snow Sports University. We also grabbed a drink in Morse Mountain Pub after snowshoeing and one of the other women on our tour joined us. It was fun to sit and enjoy a flight of Vermont wine with new friends.

Recharge

I am the type of person who frequently says, “we shouldn’t be hanging out in the room” when I’m on vacation. But I never feel that way at Smuggs. With so much to do I don’t mind my family having some downtime in the room and the accommodations invite you to slow down and enjoy yourself. One of my favorite moments was when my whole family was relaxing in the room after a fun day with the fireplace on. We had all had a wonderful day and had earned some time to unwind.

You don’t have to ski or snowboard to enjoy all that Smugglers’ Notch has to offer or to experience the mountains. Smugglers’ Notch finds ways to make the mountains accessible to everyone. You can be as adventurous as you want and their is no pressure to be hitting the slopes unless you want to. Had we stayed longer my son would have happily hit the slopes every day at Snow Sports University, my husband would have taken a Snowcat ride and I definitely had a few more snowshoeing adventures in mind.

If you are interested in learning more about Smugglers’ Notch check out our posts about our visit to Smugglers’ Notch in the Summer and Treasures Childcare. You can also find Smugglers’ Notch on Facebook and Instagram.