Just a couple of hours from New York, Philadelphia and central New Jersey, the Poconos are popular and affordable if you're looking for a family ski vacation close to home (if you live in the greater New York/Philadelphia area). You'll find most of the ski resorts in the area are family-friendly, and several also offer lessons, snow-tubing and childcare.
Here are some of our favorite Pocono family ski resorts:
Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort
Shawnee is a great mountain for intermediate and beginner skiers, with its 700-foot vertical drop and 23 trails. Shawnee offers lessons for children, starting at age 3, as well as Mommy & Me lessons and snowboarding lessons for kids, 7 and older. There is an on-site nursery for children, 18 months and older, and baby-sitting is also available. Shawnee is an affordable and beginner-friendly mountain, and kids will love the two terrain parks and snow-tubing. In the fall, Shawnee has a popular hot air balloon festival with demonstrations, balloon rides and entertainment.
Camelback Mountain Resort
Camelback, in Tannersville, has 34 trails and an 800-foot vertical, as well as terrain parks and pipes. Trails are 15 percent expert, 24 percent intermediate, 54 percent novice and 7 percent beginner. Children, 6 years of age and younger, ski free -- one per paid adult. Camelback's skiing and snowboarding program is designed around terrain for kids, ages 6 through 12, and lessons begin at age 4. There are nine dining options on-site at the resort.
Sno Mountain
Sno Mountain has 30 trails and seven lifts, a terrain park and tubing and is great for beginners and families. It does have 10 percent expert trails. There are lessons available for children, 3 and older, and an on-site nursery for children, ages 2 to 5.
Blue Mountain
With a 1,082-foot vertical, 34 trails and 10 lifts, Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Palmerton is a favorite for families because of its proximity to Philadelphia, Delaware, Baltimore and Washington D.C. There are novice, intermediate and expert trails for every level of ability, and the mountain has a 3,000-foot double black diamond trail, Challenge and a terrain park. There are several dining options on the mountain, including Valley Cafe and Courtyard, a grill and pizza place. Lessons are available for skiers, 4 and older, through the mountain's Explorers program.
Jack Frost Big Boulder
Jack Frost Big Boulder in Lake Harmony offers ski lessons for children, ages 3 and older. Snow-tubing is also a popular activity; Big Boulder has 20 snow-tubing chutes, two tows and a 600-foot conveyor carpet to transport snow-tubers up the hill. Jack Frost has six snow-tubing chutes and two tows. There are no restaurants on the mountain, but there are several family dining options nearby.
Alpine Mountain
Billed as the Poconos' best ski value, it also has snow-tubing, snowboarding, a half pipe and terrain park. Alpine has 21 trails, three lifts and a 500-foot vertical drop -- far from the largest -- and there is a kids' ski program for children, ages 4 to 12, which includes a lift ticket, lesson, lunch and supervision.
Ski Big Bear
Ski Big Bear, located in Lackawaxen, is a great mountain for intermediate skiers and also offers snowboarding, snow-tubing and terrain parks. The mountain features 18 trails, 650 feet of vertical drops and six lifts. Group lessons for kids are available for ages 8 and older, and private lessons are offered for ages 3 and older.
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