Just north of Utica, New York is Oak Mountain Ski Center---which is actually not very far from Montreal, Canada or the Green Mountains of Vermont. It is a medium size ski area that also offers snow tubing, sledding, and snowmobiling.
Oak Mountain has a vertical drop of 650 feet with 1 quad chair lift and 2 t-bars taking skiers up to 14 trails. It can transport 3,000 skiers per hour so the lines are never very long. As for the snow, there is an annual snowfall of 120 inches and when that is not adequate Oak Mountain has a 30% snowmaking capability.
There's a base lodge where you can order breakfast and lunch including sandwiches, French fries, soups, burgers, chili and daily specials. The T-Bar serves beer and wine.
There's free wifi in the lodge and it is also where you can pick up your tickets for ski lessons and ski lift tickets.
The ski area is diversified enough that skiers of all levels will enjoy it and it also offers a slower laid-back pace than bigger ski areas, making it an excellent destination if you want to learn how to ski or just ski in peace without the crowds and high prices for lift tickets.
Oak Mountain is in the Adirondacks so lodging can be rustic Adirondack style or more conventional accommodations. Oak Mountain is in Speculator, New York, a town alongside Lake Pleasant. In Speculator take a look at Pleasant Point Country Inn. It is 100 years old and located right on main street so it is easy to find and is known for serving a hearty home cooked breakfast to order in the morning.
The Copperfield Inn in nearby North Creek is another good choice. Its Trappers Tavern is ideal with a roaring fire, moose heads mounted on the wall and loads of river stone work on the walls. Warm and cozy, it makes a great place to go for drinks and food within the hotel.
Or the Dillon Hill Inn B&B in Wevertown is another good choice. It is totally rustic and charming, even providing sticks and marshmallows and chocolate by the fireside for you to make your own s'mores! Any of the above accommodations provide a good sampling of what is meant by Adirondack style.
A great vacation package you could put together would be to stay in the Speculator area for a couple days of skiing in the beautiful Adirondack countryside, then make a side trip to Saratoga Springs, one of New York state's most interesting towns for its ambiance, fine dining and lovely shops.
If you go, make sure to also visit the Children's Museum at Saratoga, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, play golf at Tarks Indoor Golf, visit the famous National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Saratoga Winery, the Roosevelt Baths, Crystal Spa and take in entertainment at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
For accommodations in Saratoga Springs, take a look at the lovely Victorian inn called the Adelphi Hotel. It is filled with period antiques, loads of personality, and serves a great breakfast buffet in the morning.
Skiing at Oak Mountain and tacking on a tour through Saratoga Springs offers you the chance to experience the very best of this picturesque part of the state.
