Yes, you can ski in Maryland: Here's what I learned during my trip
I live in Texas, so for my family, skiing always requires travel.
Typically, we use points and miles to visit ski destinations such as Colorado, Utah and even British Columbia, Canada. So, when I casually mentioned to a few folks that we went skiing for the weekend in Maryland, of all places, I received more than a few confused looks. People wondered whether there's actually any skiing in Maryland (there is), and why we chose to go skiing in Maryland, which really isn't any closer to Texas than Colorado.
OK, so skiing in Maryland isn't even close to skiing in the Rockies. But it was still fun and, as an added bonus, there was no risk of getting stranded in snow on the side of Colorado's I-70, so it was already off to a good start.
Just in case you've ever wondered, here's what it's really like to ski in Maryland.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
It's cheap
We went on the busiest ski weekend of the winter -- President's Day weekend — so the rates we paid weren't dirt cheap at Wisp Resort. But there are many winter dates when you can book a lift ticket with equipment for just $50 for adults. Lift tickets with rental equipment for kids ages 6 to 12 years of age start at $38 total. Kids ages 5 and under and seniors 70 and over can ski for free.
Compare that to the price of single-day lift tickets in Colorado that can surpass $200 for the lift ticket alone, and that's a crazy cheap price for a sport known to be pretty pricey.
Related: Best credit cards for skiing
It's not fancy
If your idea of a ski trip is leisurely mountaintop glasses of rosé in a faux fur-lined chair while wearing a Moncler ski jacket, you're probably not going to love Maryland's version of skiing. (Though you'll fit in very well at Telluride's Alpino Vino, located at 12,000 feet.)
By way of comparison, in Maryland, I saw folks skiing in jeans, hoodies and ski jackets that have definitely seen a turn or two around the mountain. Frankly, I loved it. It no longer felt like a sport reserved just for the elite — instead, it felt like something a family next door could reasonably enjoy on a spontaneous Saturday morning.
Kids have more freedom
Ski resorts such as Vail, Breckenridge, Park City and Whistler Blackcomb are absolutely massive. That can be great if you're after varied terrain, but it comes with challenges if you have kids who are ready to start exploring on their own, but not with so much freedom they could accidentally find themselves on a trail way beyond their skill level. Or, heck, they could simply end up at a base area very different than intended.
The gift of a smaller mountain is that there's probably only one true base area, and you're much less likely to accidentally end up somewhere you shouldn't be.
At Maryland's Wisp, there aren't all that many ways to get up or down the mountain, so my 10-year-old knew where to go pretty quickly.
Related: Best ski resorts for families
Skiing in the Northeast can be challenging
Snow conditions can and do vary everywhere, so this part won't always be true. But, while the mountain wasn't imposing, skiing in Maryland (at least during our visit) wasn't as easy as you might assume.
My I'm-too-cool-for-green-runs daughter quickly changed her tune when her skis had trouble catching edges on the icy terrain.
I've heard East Coast skiing referred to as "Iced Coast" skiing, and that's not inaccurate. Much of the snow here was manmade, so it gets slushy in the afternoon sun but refreezes at night. It's slick and icy, and you can't half-do your turns here. If you do, you're probably in for a serious fall. You'll need to work on technical skills while skiing somewhere like Maryland.
This all came as a bit of a shock to my kiddo, who quickly decided that icy green runs were plenty to keep her occupied without the gift of fluffy powder to catch the fall.
Related: How to enjoy a ski vacation as a non-skier
Ski school is less overwhelming
Dropping a child off for ski school somewhere like Snowmass could easily be described as overwhelming. Don't get me wrong: I think some of the best ski schools for kids are worth the drop-off and pick-up pandemonium. But a smaller ski school was a nice change of pace.
We slept in a bit that morning and were consequently late to ski school, and that was OK. It was easy to spot my kiddo on the practice hill when I wanted to see how she was doing, and it was just as easy for staff to find her when we needed to leave early. Everything seemed simpler by virtue of the smaller size. When your kid is first starting out on skis, bigger isn't always better — or, at least, necessary.
Arcades are still a thing
When it comes time for après ski, or even enjoying a day off the slopes, the differences between East and West continue.
Apparently, visiting an arcade is a popular activity near the slopes in Maryland -- and not just for the kids. Whether you pay by the game or by the hour, you can add some pinball, Skee-Ball and racing games to your list of après activities. And there wasn't just one area arcade -- there are several to choose from.
Bottom line
We said yes to a last-minute ski trip to the East Coast because some friends of ours were there for the weekend in a big house with empty rooms we were happy to fill. And when we realized we could cash in some Avianca LifeMiles to book flights on United from Houston (IAH) to Dulles International (IAD) in Washington, D.C. for just 10,000 miles each way with no last-minute booking fees, the deal was sealed.
I skied into our Maryland ski trip not knowing what to expect. And though I definitely prefer skiing out West, I'd test my skills on East Coast slopes again. No doubt I'd leave with sore calves, perhaps a bruised ego and hopefully improved skills that will play out well on western powder.
All images by Summer Hull / The Points Guy.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.