Smugglers Notch Resort, Smugglers Notch, Vermont
Smugglers’ Notch Resort is famous for providing families with wonderful vacation memories year round in Vermont’s beautiful Green Mountains. Smugglers’ commitment to service, an array of activities that suit all ages and interests, and a Family Fun Guarantee make it America’s Family Resort. Summer family activities include enjoying the resort’s eight pools and four water slides, hiking, playing mini golf, llama trekking and more. There are daily camps for children ages 3-17 and specialty camps focusing on high adventure, tennis, wilderness survival skills, and skateboarding for ages 9 – 17. Winter visitors play on three interconnected mountains with 78 trails catering to all ability levels. Expert instruction for children and adults is provided by Smugglers’ Snow Sport University in skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Other winter activities include snow tubing, ice skating, snowmobiling, swimming in the resort’s indoor pool, and craft and health and wellness classes. Family games and climbing inflatables in the indoor FunZone are popular during all seasons. A year-round canopy tour experience offers a thrilling descent on ziplines, suspension bridges and rappels in the woodland surrounding the resort. The resort’s fully-certified nursery is open year-round for children 6 weeks up to three years old. The resort village features condominiums ranging in size from studios to five bedroom townhouses as well as a country store, restaurants, a sport shop, and a ski rental and repair shop. The resort is located 35 miles east of Burlington, Vermont.
Suzanne Kelleher (verified owner) –
Family-friendly skiing par excellence
This beloved Vermont institution is perennially voted the no. 1 family ski resort in the country in Ski magazine’s readers’ survey, thanks to a wide range of slopes and trails for beginners and experts alike, an annual average of 287 inches of natural snow each year, and a staff that bends over backwards for families. A staggering 25,000 families return to Smugglers’ Notch year after year. The formula is simple: Well run + kid-friendly + hassle-free = family nirvana. We not only went skiing, but also packed in snowshoeing and dogsledding. We didn’t have time for some of the other activities on offer, such as cross-country skiing, snowboarding, airboarding, snowmobiling, skating, and tubing. I don’t know of any ski resort that caters to every member of the family so well, from 6-week-old babies right up to grandparents. Kids 5 and under ski for free. Plus: The youth lift ticket covers 6- to 18-year-olds, so your teen won’t pay the full adult price until his 19th birthday. Babies and toddlers are cooed over by a team of nannies in the state-of-the-art, 5,400-square-foot Treasures childcare center. Once your kids are walking and talking, there really is a program or lesson for every age and ability. Kids can learn to ski at 2-1/2 (even if they’re not yet potty trained) and snowboard at 4, but fearless teen freestylers will learn a thing or two, too. In the afternoons, there are winter science workshops, bonfires with hot chocolate, and movie matinees. At the end of the day, parents can hop online and retrace their child’s ski route, speed, and distance and post to social media thanks to interactive GPS devices (which are given out during all-day lessons). Teens have two indoor hangouts—one for 13- to 15-year-olds and one for 16-and-ups. Accommodation is condos only, ranging from studios (max 4 people) to 5-bedroom (max 12 people). Most of the five communities are scattered throughout the village at the base of Morse Mountain and up the side slopes for ski-on/ski-off convenience. Each has a fully-equipped kitchen, cable TV, telephone, Internet access, linens, and in-home or in-building access to laundry facilities.
Tips for Families
Beware of using Mapquest or other online navigational systems for your driving directions. The road from Stowe through Smugglers’ Pass (Rte. 108) is closed all winter, so consult the Smugglers’ Notch web site for the best route in. Also, book early. You’ll get next year’s vacation at this year’s prices if you book before the end of this season such as half off Treasures childcare, and SuperSaver value weeks.
Jodi Grundig (verified owner) –
Perfect Summer Family Retreat
While Smugglers Notch is a big ski resort, we’ve only visited in the summer. It’s a great place for a family vacation – with multiple pools and kids’ attractions onsite, kids really enjoy it. Our children spend the day in the optional camp, and then we all come together at the end of the day for some family time.
Tips for Families
The suites include kitchens, but the small on-site general store doesn’t offer much. Bring a cooler of your own food, and make sure you also bring along soap and shampoo.
David Bain (verified owner) –
Smugglers’ Notch Resort: All Day and Night Time Fun
Smugglers’ Notch Resort has it all. Ski by day, swim, go to the FunZone, fireworks, out-door-hot chocolate, snowtubing, snowshoeing. Really nice slopeside condos, easy to get around the resort.
Tips for Families
Pack you own beach towels for the pools. Get up early for skiing and riding before everyone gets up or drives in.
Krista Stern (verified owner) –
Awesome Trip!
My family and I vacationed here in July 2012, and we had a great time! Smuggler’s Notch was awesome – so many things for the kids and adults to do! It is beautiful here and the weather was perfect in the summer. There are so many activities to choose from – from the many kids camps, to all the different pools, play centers, etc, etc. Honestly there are so many to choose from I don’t know where to begin. They had movie nights in the parks/fields, a county fair type/bbq type of deal. There was something going on every day and night there were geared towards everybody and all ages. Our room/condo was nice with a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. It was nice and housekeeping did a good job. We stayed in the Mountain Laurel section of the resort. I would highly recommend this resort and my family and I will most definitely come back!
Tips for Families
This is a great place for families – any age(s)! You will have a great time!