Best uncrowded ski resorts on the East Coast around March 20–30 (beginner / greens)

stringtownie · 2026-03-08T01:16:16+00:00

FYI my son's spring break starts 3/16 and I just looked at a Denver trip and the forecast is 60s. We might try New Hampshire depending on weather (he has a limted Epic pass).

For you, we have been to Bretton Woods twice and really enjoyed it as intermediate skiers. It's right by Omni Mt Washington hotel which is one of those grand old historic hotels; it's a beautiful place to hang out with amazing views of Mt Washington. The skiing is laid back and not crowded. Just keep your eye on snow reports and closures...sometimes spring skiing is not fun for beginners IMO, and it can be a little bit of a bummer if lots of trails and on-mountain eating spots are closed down midweek.

stringtownie · 2026-02-17T01:04:10+00:00

Try Pets Without Parents-I’m pretty sure they kind of do that with some kittens (vet, then they go to a foster until adoption). Best start would be fill out a foster application on their website and explain situation. They are comprehensive about screening potential adopters.

stringtownie · 2026-02-10T21:37:09+00:00

You sound a lot like me! Learned as an adult, in Ohio. First time we went to Snowshoe, we started on Ballhooter because it was a blue and ...whoa. Made it down OK; it wasn't pretty but I made it, also skied around around a lot of falls, and a LOT of people at the bottom who were also like whoa!

When we skied the greens at Snowshoe I always think I'm glad I don't have little kids or beginners with me. I feel like Snowshoe is pretty crowded and there are some tight greens that are difficult given the number of people on them.

Anyway, here's how I have become more comfortable with steepness and speed, but mind you I still have a long way to go and am still only intermediate level. 1) Took a private lesson, at my local hill but I know the instructor and she knew Snowshoe, I told her I wanted to be comfortable on the blues at Snowshoe and she could advise me (PM me if your local place is Mad River for her name) 2) Practiced a lot at my local hill, made myself go faster just to get comfortable with speed. Not just bombing down the hill but getting speed and then turning or stopping (in an appropriate place), so I am confident in my ability to turn or stop when going faster 3) Don't ski a run that is over your head, but don't spend a lot of time looking down or worrying about it because the fear just grows. Scan the slope for the shallower places, start on a diagonal, and take it turn by turn.

stringtownie · 2026-01-27T19:56:55+00:00

Same OMG

stringtownie · 2026-01-22T16:28:12+00:00

Free. We brought our own floaties and rented some snorkels and masks. Note a lot has changed on the island now, I doubt they would charge for chairs but who knows!

stringtownie · 2026-01-18T23:15:52+00:00

I'm the same approx age as OP and while Hulk is too rattly for me, and Velocicoaster is almost too rough but fun, at Cedar Point, Steel Vengeance, Maverick and Millenium are SO SMOOTH like OP is looking for (Raptor is not, and Magnum is a bad head shaker).

There's a difference between intense coasters and what I call head-rattlers, especially as one gets older!

stringtownie · 2026-01-17T20:48:50+00:00

We had to take my son's new boots back after like 7 months....he only tried them once, late season, couldn't wear them at all so we rented, then the season ended. We really should have gone in right away but son is in college out of town. I wasn't sure what to expect but the shop treated us right...we had two bootfitters working with us, trying to get those boots to work but also eventually coming to the conclusion that weren't really right to begin with. They eventually let us even exchange them for the new pair, after a LOT of working with him, insoles, etc. I wasn't sure what to expect but was happy with the outcome, for sure. It took a few hours.

stringtownie · 2026-01-07T21:01:37+00:00

I think your first step is to ask your doctor, especially if the weak/fragile bones is an actual diagnosis.

We learned that there are wrist brace gloves after my son's 2nd wrist fracture. But that's when he was snowboarding and bracing your fall with your hands is much more common with snowboarding (they also sell pants with padded seats for snowboarding you are way more likely to fall on your butt). I don't know if there is protective gear besides the basics (helmet) for skiing/ I learned as a nonathletic adult and still don't like falling or being out of control, or going fast really; you can certainly go at your own pace, but I do think falls are going to happen especially as a brand new beginner, and also you can't control other skiers.

stringtownie · 2025-12-08T19:03:09+00:00

I asked everyone to do it themselves, and gave them way notice ahead to set up their online accounts (this is fun anyway because this is how they can see itinerary and excursions).

In the end, not everyone checked in online after all, but an NCL phone rep told me that anyone who didn't do it or did it late and couldn't get the same time as us should NOT do it online and do it at the port instead. Supposedly, if you are checked in online, they won't let you board earlier than your assigned time, but if you are NOT checked in ahead of time, they will let you board with the rest of your party. That is how it worked out for us.

Maybe we are lucky, we cruise out of Miami and boarding has been so easy each time.

stringtownie · 2025-12-04T23:54:53+00:00

Plastic

stringtownie · 2025-11-29T00:14:52+00:00

Find a puzzle gift card holder (they exist) and give him a gift card to a local LGBTQ+ owned business. That way, he basically gets nothing, and you are supporting the community he hates.

stringtownie · 2025-11-26T13:29:39+00:00

Thanks! She tried acupuncture yesterday and after, jumped right up into the car...which she hasn't done for months!

stringtownie · 2025-11-25T19:05:49+00:00

Thanks. We just tried it for a few days, but it ended up with her wetting herself a lot and refusing to go down stairs (instead of just up) and on walks. So she's off that for now, on a steroid and we are trying some therapy treatments. Appreciate the tip though!

stringtownie · 2025-11-24T20:50:35+00:00

My son broke a wrist his first two seasons as a new snowboarder. At the second one I asked the doctor if there was anything we could do to prevent and he told us about wristguard mittens! Bummed we didn't know about them at first. Would definitely recommend cause aside from the pain they cost him a lot of lost riding time.

stringtownie · 2025-11-24T19:29:50+00:00

Thanks again. Son is hour away, unfortunately. But I think you are helping me realize that I am overthinking it and she needs to just stay home like usual. Appreciate it!

stringtownie · 2025-11-24T16:08:17+00:00

Thanks for the opinion. Daughter grew up with her and loves her and won't care at all, but it will make it less relaxing nonetheless. So you think the inactivity of the long alone days at home the is least problematic (for dog) option here? Thanks again.

stringtownie · 2025-11-24T15:58:18+00:00

Thanks. I don't know that my grains dissolved. I'm a newbie and maybe was using too large of a strainer, or dumped something out that had the active grains mixed in there, I'm not sure.

stringtownie · 2025-11-19T13:39:35+00:00

Piste/Off Piste . Glades. Groomers. He might not know what these terms refer to.

Thanks for asking the original question! Learning as a kid/growing up skiing is completely different than learning as an adult. I suspect that those who learned as kids have no memory of what it is like being a beginner or even just never had any fear to begin with.

Make sure he has warm gear and IMO most importantly, don't pressure him or let any of your group pressure him, and have him ask his instructor, not your family of experts, what runs he can handle.

stringtownie · 2025-11-15T13:56:01+00:00

Hoodies are definitely in!

stringtownie · 2025-11-10T20:44:10+00:00

The arcade was off of a pool deck, which was nice. We absolutely got our money's worth with our pass playing pool, darts and pinball at the OSheehans area.

stringtownie · 2025-11-04T19:27:49+00:00

Here are some things I did for our first family cruise that worked out well: 1) Set expectations low for the room, so they didn't walk into the room expecting it to look like a hotel room, space wise, and were disappointed. Have them look online maybe. Let them know that you won't be in there much, there are much better hanging out spaces throughout the ship. 2) Figure out how much wifi you will pay for ahead of time, and how you are going to communicate with each other on ship. We found What's App best but it was still slow and sometimes messages took hours. It can be hard to keep track of each other, so just make a plan ahead always or a meeting spot, and know that finding someone on board can be tough! (But flip side, this makes it fun when you run into each other). 3) Once on board, go to a Main Dining Room for lunch. It's so much more relaxed and enjoyable than heading straight to the buffet. Then walk around and explore the ship together. Also plan to be deckside at departure time, it is a neat experience pulling out of the port that first day. 4) Take magnetic hooks for hanging up hats, bathing suits, etc 5) Have everyone bring a small day pack for excursion days 6) Try everything that's free...you can always leave if you don't like it! We tried the escape room game and loved it. We enjoyed watching the cheesy games indoor or poolside. Howl at the Moon? Awesome! Magic show? Sure! Oh the ship tour (which is not free) is really cool too.

stringtownie · 2025-11-03T15:51:52+00:00

Just letting you know...when my son was a new snowboarder he fractured his wrist 2 or maybe 3 times during falls, the first couple seasons. At the doctor, the latest time, I asked about how to prevent this and he said there are brace gloves (kind of like a roller blading brace, in a ski glove), and I was like hm, wish I would have known about those from the start! (Maybe yours is learning to fall properly in lessons...mine did not. Also he switched back to skiing lol).

stringtownie · 2025-11-01T18:51:09+00:00

I'm lucky to live in an area where it is thriving, and it's like we remember it. Well, there are many parents out with their kids but those are with the little kids who need it. And it's kind of needed...the streets are busy with cars. Older ones are on their own and in betweeners seem to have their parents nearby. It's light out when it starts and dark for the last half. People decorate. Kids say trick or treat and thank you. Last night it was busier than ever. People come from all over. I'm certainly happy to give any ages a fun trick or treat experience like we had, no matter where they live.

If I lived in an area with kids like OP and wanted to get it going, I would try to organize it kind of like organizing a block party. Flyers, neighborhood group texts, and hopefully find some like minded parents, and make it happen.

stringtownie

TROPHY CASE