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Looking for something fun to do during the winter months? Check out Liberty!
Just over the Maryland line sits Liberty Mountain Resort where you can go skiing, snowboarding and/or tubing. Personally we have not tried out the resort or tubing but do snowboard here often. The process from parking lot to the lift is very seamless and easy. (Side note that we gave always prepaid for our lift tickets and rentals so it has cut down on the lines.)
Parking for the day is across from the resort and most everyone gets dressed at their cars before walking to the lodge. There is a drop off area for those with little kids or too much to carry close to the lodge. After you pass the hotel parking lot there is a little pull off with a roundabout on the right. There is a rack for you to drop your snowboard or skis into and leave the rest of your gear on the sidewalk before you park.
The line to purchase passes and rentals sits on the right. That line is usually a little bit of a wait. If you purchase your stuff ahead of time there are employees with handheld scanners that are able to scan the barcode in your email and give you a lift ticket right there. Your lift ticket is a plastic card that you put into your pocket and they are able to scan right through your clothing. If your gloves have a zipper for hot hands then the card fits nicely into that pocket for adults. Like these gloves for Men and Women. No more paper on a zip-tie!
If you need a locker you will find them in the first door to your right. You can rent a medium sized one for the day for $15. You will have access to it the entire time and can open it as many times as you need to. We use this size for a family of four and it worked great. It holds shoes, jackets and our water and snacks.
For those that need a rental you will follow the path around to the back of the building on the left. You will first be fitted for your helmet and then given a piece of paper to take around to the back side of the helmet counter. Once you are there you will find snowboard boots on the left and ski boots on the right. They will take the paper from you to give the board and ski counter so they can get them ready while you get your boots on. In the back of the room they will have your board/skis ready on the counter with your paper on top so you know its yours. They have really done a great job on getting the gear quickly and it makes the process effortless to get you out on the slopes.
If you are like me you enjoy the quiet time while your family is wearing themselves out. If it is a nice day out I will try to sit outside. They have a bunch of tables you to sit at on the patio. They usually go fast because people like to put all their stuff at them and then go out on the slopes to hold their spot. There is The BBQ Deck where you can grab a quick bite without having to go into the lodge. Along the edge of the patio is a bunch of adirondack chairs and a fire pit. The chairs are nice because your can turn them to the slopes and there is a ledge you can prop your feet up on.
When it is too cold to sit outside you can go to the upper level of the lodge and sit. The bottom of the lodge you will find all the lockers and bathrooms. There is also a retail shop if you need to pick anything up as well as a The Bakery where you can find baked goods and warm drinks.
Upstairs you will find cafeteria style food, Alpine Market, and a bunch of tables. There is also a fireplace with a few couches around it. At the back of the room is a counter that goes the full length with windows overlooking the slopes. It does get crowded up there, if you are planning on grabbing a spot of the counter good luck. There is a pizza shop called Sneaky’s Pizza up there as well. If you cannot find seating in the main room there is a counter that runs the length of the bridge with windows. All the seating with a view goes quickly. There are more tables if you keep following that around and bathrooms. The overflow seating doesn’t have all the windows. It’s great for a quick bite but not if you are planning on staying there for hours. There are other restaurants if you are wanting a table to sit down enjoy your meal. You will find McKee’s Tavern, McKee’s Dog Haus Bar, as well as Eagle & The Owl.
The mountain has several slopes of all difficulty levels from the bunny slopes to the double black diamonds. The front side of the mountain is always open and they make snow when there is not enough. The backside of the mountain is weather dependent. If you are more on the beginner side then this is definitely a great option. For the more experienced snow bunnies the chances of multiple difficult level trails being open is slim. You can always check before you make your way there. Liberty Mountain Lodge is very family friendly and a great place for learners to go. They offer lessons if you need a refresher and/or starting out. They were great with my kids when they first started out.
If you are looking for a great fun way to spend family time during the winter with your family this is the place to check out!
With Love,
Jamie