In a word, Sunday River is about one thing: Snow. It's got it -- and often more of it, and sooner, than any other mountain in the East. Part of that powdery distinction has to do with the resort's location in the wild, far northern Maine's wild Western Lakes & Mountains region. But mostly, it has to do with the snow-making equipment that Sunday River invested in heavily since its earliest days. Opened in 1959, Sunday River was put on the map in the 1970s by legendary ski resort developer Les Otten, who doubled down on snow making as the key to the resort's success. Now, Sunday River has more snow-making equipment than any other mountain east of the Mississippi, with some 1900 guns ranged along 8 different peaks, 350 of which can blast out the white stuff at any one time.
Because of their expertise in snow making, Sunday River has for years been a reliable choice for the first mountain to open in the Northeast -- and sometimes the country. For the past five years, it has opened for business on or before Halloween, with the season extending into mid-April. That distinction makes it a perfect choice for families looking to pre-book skiing over the holidays, when the mountain is often running full-blast on several lifts when neighboring resorts are left praying to the snow gods.
Of course, all the snow in the world is no good without the terrain to put it on, and here Sunday River delivers. The mountain's eight peaks feature 132 trails, spread out over three miles from White Cap to the Jordan Bowl. While the advanced trails may not measure up to the most challenging in the East, there are more than enough black-diamonds to keep all but the most advanced skiers happy, and intermediates and beginners have a huge selection of blues and greens, many accessible from its two grand hotels and hundreds of ski-on/ski-off condos.
The convenience of slope-side lodging is a big plus for Sunday River -- but the resort offers the best of both worlds in its location a few minutes drive from the town of Bethel, an honest-to-goodness quaint New England village. The town is full of white-spire churches and cutesy independent boutiques and restaurants (to say nothing of a few notorious apres-ski bars) giving families the feeling that they are truly vacationing in back-country New England, not some soulless ski resort.
That combination of mega ski resort and authentic New England countryside has made Sunday River a winning formula for families for decades, and by all accounts the resort is only getting better. In 2007, Sunday River was acquired by the Boyne Resorts (which also owns neighboring Sugarloaf and New Hampshire's Loon Mountain), which promptly pumped some $30 million into improvements. The property installed its first chondula (part chair lift -- part gondola) and replaced all 16 lifts; created a four-season zip line course, renovated its hotels, and, of course, added even more snow-making equipment to ensure that Sunday River's reputation as the snowiest ski area in the East won't soon be beat.
Sunday River, ME Family Vacations
Sunday River, ME Family Vacations
Families will love:
- A range of terrain on a huge mountain with eight peaks over 130 trails
- Reliably snowy conditions due to the best snowmaking in the East
- Lots of family-friendly activities off as well as on the mountain
Written by Michael Blanding
Read more about Sunday River, ME Attractions
Best Sunday River, ME Family Hotels
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...