You know how when you get older, things that your dare-devil younger self wouldn't even blink about doing now make you a bit nervous? That's how I felt just before we left for our skiing and snowboarding trip to Bear Creek Mountain Resort earlier this month. I hadn't been skiing since high school. Back then, I never took a lesson. I just strapped on the skis and took off down the mountain, having no idea how to slow down or stop. A friend eventually helped me so I didn't hurt myself. Now that I am older and it has been so many years, I had a bit of anxiety about our trip and letting my kids go for their first time.
Thankfully Bear Creek Mountain Resort offers lessons. I signed us all up. The instructors were incredible and relieved any stress I had about my kids skiing and snowboarding for the first time. You go through a series of stations. Different techniques are shown at each station and once you master that technique, they advance you through to the next station. Once you are comfortable at all the stations, you are ready to go up the "magic" carpet lift and are taught how to go down a hill safely. Private lessons are also available.
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Once you master the lessons, it's time to hit one of the many slopes. Choose from beginner-friendly, intermediate, or expert slopes spanned across 86 skiable acres with the top elevation at 1100' and verticle rise of 510'. The lodge is located at the base of the trails making access to the lifts easy and the view from the top of the slopes stunning. All the trails are lighted so you can enjoy them both night and day.
Since we didn't have our own equipment, we rented equipment from the resort. Everything was well organized making it a quick and easy process getting our boots, skis, poles, snowboards, and helmets for the kids. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There was plenty of storage to keep your shoes or other items that you didn't need on the slopes.
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Snow Tubing - Thrilling and so much fun! Ride the carpet lift to the top and enjoy a fast tube ride down. The resort offers single rider tubes only. You must be at least 6 years old and 42" tall. My youngest son is 5 and was unable to tube, so I took him over to the Snow Zone play area. Young kids can practice skiing snowboarding, or just play in the snow. Another option for young kids is an hourly rate Daycare with a variety of age-appropriate toys for children up to 10 years old. The staff is CPR and First Aid certified and have their Act 153 clearances.
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Bear Creek Mountain Resort is gorgeous. Very warm and inviting. There were many comfortable seating areas where you could eat or relax and stay warm by a fire. You can even sit and enjoy a family board game. Beautiful stacked stone throughout and huge windows offering great views of the slopes. It featured both indoor and outdoor heated pools and hot tubs that are open all year long, a fitness center, and a full-service spa! My husband and I relaxed our sore muscles in the hot tub adjacent to the indoor swimming pool while the kids swam. In the warmer months, there is equipment available for tennis, basketball, geocaching, kayaks, and paddleboats. There are also trails available for disc golf, hiking and biking. There are many dining options available for everyone's palette whether you want a quick meal on the go or sit down and enjoy a nice meal with your family. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and there is free WiFi throughout the lodge.
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The hotel rooms were amazing too. We stayed in a suite which sleeps up to six people with two queen beds in a private guest room and a queen-sized sleep sofa in the living area. It featured a kitchenette with a wet bar, microwave, mini-refrigerator, and dinette table and chairs. The entire suite was very clean and spacious with shelves everywhere for storing your belongings.
My kids have not stopped talking about all the fun they had. They keep asking when we are going back. With it being such a short 1 hour and 20-minute drive from the Wilkes-Barre Area, going back is a definite.
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Bear Creek Mountain Resort hosted a group of Macaroni Kid publishers and their families for a press trip. Accommodations, some meals, and activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received in consideration of this article and all opinions are that of the author.
