Seven Springs, Pa., 800-452-2223
Miles from DC: 191
Number of slopes and lifts: 31 slopes, 14 lifts
Vertical drop: 750 feet
Terrain parks: 6
Half pipes: 2
Weekend lift ticket: $68 and up for adults, $51 and up for ages 6 to 11
The scene: This resort excels at post-skiing activities. It has several bars, restaurants, and nightclubs with live music and DJs on weekends. There’s a roller-skating rink, indoor mini-golf, swimming pools, and a bowling alley.
Best beginner trail: Lost Girl—a run that’s removed from the crowds of other new skiers.
Best intermediate run: The Corkscrew—serpentine swooshing nestled in the trees.
Best expert slope: The North Face. It’s rare to find an expert slope this wide open—it almost feels like skiing in a bowl.
Coolest fun off the slopes: Sporting clays. Try your hand at shooting bright-orange clay disks against the snowy whiteness.
Best restaurant: Helen’s—fine dining in a rustic setting.
Insider tip: This is the place for night skiing—23 slopes and all six terrain parks are lighted and open till 10 PM seven days a week.
This article appears in the December 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.
