Press Kit

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, iPR@MtWashingtonValley.org 

SIX GREAT IDEAS ON THE SLOPES FOR NONSKIERS  

Mt Washington Valley, NH - Mt Washington Valley's 13 ski resorts and XC Centers have something for every skier and boarder in the family.  Long known as New England's premier skiing destination, Mt Washington Valley's ski resorts and XC Centers have created a winter playground for non-skiers too.  While Learn-to-Ski Programs make skiing easy to master, for those who'd rather not strap sticks or boards to their feet, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the ski slopes in Mt Washington Valley, New England's premier winter playground.  This is the year to hit the trails - skier or not!

Let's explore a number of ways to enjoy the ski resorts from far above or right on the trails:

Bretton Woods Canopy Tour:  Located in Bretton Woods, NH, and descending over 1000 feet of elevation, the tour takes nature-lovers and thrill-seekers across a series of tree-top zip lines through a network of platforms high in the ancient hemlocks of the mountain year round. This unique canopy tour features a dual-cable construction (you slide below two separate cables, instead of just one), coated cables (to make for a quiet, more natural flight through the trees) and platforms and bridges milled from locally-harvested wood sources, in keeping with our commitment to environmentally sustainable programs. Once on the tour, our Adventure Guides describe the native flora and fauna, in addition to discussing the surrounding area, its natural history and White Mountain lore. Each pair of guides may accommodate up to eight participants. All in all, a unique New Hampshire experience not to be missed! Kids will also love the “snowdeos” (pint sized snowmachines) available through Bretton Woods Resort too!

Mountain Adventure Park, Cranmore Mountain: Cranmore Named #3 in the East for Off-Hill Activities by Ski Magazine in 2013 and there’s a good reason why.  The Mountain Adventure Park, open every season, is filled with fun for those who’d rather get down the mountain without skis.  Ride the Mountain Coaster, popular in Europe, the Coaster is thousands of feet of twisting, turning fun through the woods! You control your speed so you may take a leisurely ride or get your thrills at speeds up to 25 mph or choose a ride on the Big Swing or the Soaring Eagle side-by-side zipline.  There’s also a tubing park too.  It’s open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, January 2-March 31, plus Holiday periods.

N’oreaster Mountain Coaster, Attitash Mountain Resort: Open on weekends throughout the ski season, The Nor’Easter Mountain Coaster is essentially a rollercoaster set on the Attitash mountainside. Riders begin and end at the base of Attitash in two-person carts on twin, stainless steel rails. The experience begins with a scenic 1,420-foot trip straight uphill before a heart-pounding 2,880-foot journey down through the forest. Cruise at rider-controlled speeds of up to 25 miles per hour through banked curves, dips and a helix. Restrictions: hildren must be at least 3 years of age to go on the ride. Riders must be at least 9 years old and 52”+ to ride alone. To ride double, at least one rider must be 16 years old. 350 lbs. combined maximum weight.

Tubing at Cranmore, Great Glen Trails and King Pine:  When the lifts close, the tubing starts at many Mt Washington Valley ski resorts.  Tubing parks may be found at Cranmore, King Pine and Great Glen Trails.  Tubing is generally available on weekends and holidays, with expanded schedules for some areas.  The snowtubing hill at Great Glen Trails was expanded to three times its original size with a much longer run out for the 2008-09 ski season, making it possible to accommodate twice as many tubers. Cranmore's popular Cranapalooza weekend events combine snow tubing with plenty of other family fun in their Adventure Park too.  If the kids just can't get enough of the slopes during the daytime, or would rather spend their time going down the hill in a tube, there are a number of great options for on-snow tubing in Mt Washington Valley.

Ice Skating and swimming at King Pine Ski Area at Purity Spring Resort: While it's free for skiers with a lift ticket and lodging guests, the Ice Skating rink at King Pine Ski Area/Purity Spring Resort is a bargain for non-skiers too at $6 per person on the weekends and $4 per person midweek.  Lace up the skates and enjoy the illuminated, zamboni-groomed Tohko Dome ice rink, open during the winter season (weather permitting) from 9am-10pm.  Skate rentals are available.  For those with endless energy, visit the Mill Indoor Pool and Fitness Center here too, with a 50x21-foot indoor pool and 8-foot hot tub and fitness center. Nonskiers are also welcomed here. Weekend day passes are $8 per person, ask about family and group rates. Massage and Reiki available too. 

The SnowCoach at Great Glen Trails: Great Glen Trails is home to the SnowCoach, your ticket to Mount Washington's world above treeline. A specially constructed all-wheel drive and unique 4-track system allows the nine-passenger SnowCoach to transport passengers to a winter sightseeing spectacle above treeline at the 4.5 mile mark on the Mt. Washington Auto Road. For the truly adventurous, take the SnowCoach up and snowshoe down the Auto Road. SnowCoach tours last approximately 75 minutes and depart daily, weather permitting, from December through March from Great Glen Trails on a first come, first served basis. Operating hours are approximately 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, depending on weather and road conditions. Call for daily operating schedule. For the best value, purchase the T-3 ticket, including a trail pass for cross country skiing and snowshoeing; cross country ski and snowshoe rentals; all-day access to the tubing hill and SnowPark, a session on the climbing wall and a tour on the one-of-a-kind SnowCoach up Mt. Washington - a $93 value for $59.  Still a deal for non-skiers too!

Mt Washington Valley is New England's premier vacation destination.  Located in the shadow of the Northeast's highest peak, this White Mountains region is idea for family vacations, romantic getaways and outdoor adventure.  For more information about on-and-off the slope ideas, accommodation packages, and vacation planning in Mt Washington Valley, visit http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org or call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (1-800-367-3364).